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July 31, 2004
Sacramento - Willie's Burgers
Sacramento isn't renown for being a hot spot, so imagine my surprise when a few weeks ago the New York Times had a whole piece on Sac in their Sunday travel section. Featured prominently in the NYT article is the downtown burger joint Willie's, whose owner cashed in the corporate life to run the restaurant.
Willie's recently opened a location at the corner of Fair Oaks and Arden Way, walking distance from where I grew up in Carmichael. So of course I had to check it out and see what the fuss was all about. Willie's is well known for burgers, chiliburgers, and tamales. A lover of tamales, I ordered the one shown above while a friend ordered the Tommy burger. The line was slow getting to order, as the young gal taking the order chatted up the equally young guys ahead of us. Once our orders were taken however, they came up quickly. (I have had the reverse experience on other trips to Willie's - no line to order, lots of apparent disorganization by the grills, and much too long a wait getting my order.)
My tamale was excellent. So good that on several subsequent trips, that's all I've ordered. My friend's Tommy burger was, according to him, also very good and precisely what he recalled a Los Angeles Tommy's Joint burger tasted like.
Details:
Downtown location -
2416 16th St
Sacramento, CA
916-444-2006
Carmichael location -
Corner of Fair Oaks and Arden Way
Posted by elise on July 31, 2004 to Restaurants, Sacramento
| Comments (5)
Comments
There n back again, or my trip to willie's chiliburgers
I had heard that there was a hamburger joint in Sacramento faithfully reproducing a pinks or Tommy's chili experience. There almost is . The chili is a near knockoff of pinks chili which is great, but the hot dog n burger experience is off the mark. The staff is using microwaves to heat the hot dogs, burgers n chili. The chili is a little to thick, needs less flour. Needs to be served hotter "not more spicy" hotter temp. The tomato's are pre-sliced. Way to many at a time n then microwaved with the burger n chili. Makes for a soggy tomato which ruins an otherwise perfect combo of cold crisp, pickles, and tomato's which is mixed with an awesome but way to cold n thick chili. In summation lose the microwaves get steamers for the hot dogs n buns. thin the chili out n serve lots hotter n do not pre-slice your tomatoes to the point where they lose that crisp crunchy contrast that makes a Tommy's burger what it is. Meanwhile you have success within your grasp. A few changes n you could have it. The chili is really very good. I appreciate what is trying to be done here.
Posted by: gdog at June 27, 2006 2:34 AM
Willie's rocks. They make the best burgers in Northern CA.
Posted by: Thomas Hawk at February 8, 2007 4:22 PM
This place is great, but the tamales are complete and utter sh**. Went to the 16th st. location. Love the chili, love the burgers and fries, but anyone who eats the tamales doesn't have half an idea what a tamale is. It's supposed to be moist and tasty, not this awful and dry.
Posted by: Alex at October 9, 2007 10:20 PM
Hmm. Either you and I have very different taste when it comes to tamales, or you got them on an off day. I love the Willies tamales. Order them practically every time.
Posted by: Elise at October 9, 2007 10:33 PM
hey! i love willies! its the best! may b... well my mom used to work there and we used to go there all the time, but now its rare to go, but when i go... i always order the chili cheese fries! they are so yummy, also the hammer 2, and every thing else! heee
Posted by: @ngel aka zurda at November 15, 2007 12:23 PM
