They have a well-designed menu which I appreciate, but that doesn’t matter to me.

As I take a look through it, I can see that they’ve worked hard on creating a menu with options ranging from healthy salads to finger-licking ribs. However as I flip from page to page, the only thing that I care about is their burgers. In no way does that mean their salads are uninteresting or that their ribs are forgettable—in fact, it’s the opposite. Those plates have found such popularity amongst guests who frequent the restaurant that even the waitress highly recommended them when I asked her opinion. But for me, it was a moot point; a welcome suggestion that really didn’t influence me any. Reason being, I already knew what I wanted, but thought maybe I could have been persuaded otherwise. I wasn’t. I remained faithful to the plate that won me over the first time and felt that it was the only plate to order on this visit. If you’re going to Meat District Co. in Pasadena and you’re looking for a single plate that will satisfy your appetite while leaving your bank account in some favorable fashion then you have to get a burger.

Not just any burger. Looking through the section there are ten options to choose from including a grilled chicken to a quinoa and squash burger, with a few other creative creations to fall in between. Although each of their signature burgers had parts that intrigued me, there was only one that drew me in completely. Oddly enough, at any other restaurant it would be the most simplistic burger, but here it was anything but that. My choice and my favorite is the Cheeseburger ($15) with Bacon ($2) and a side of Fries ($2). I admit, $19 for a burger and crispy fries may be expensive at any other restaurant, but at Meat District Co., the taste justifies the price.

What was so delicious about this seemingly simple burger was the quality of it all. It started with the soft whole-wheat bun that formed to the grooves of my fingertips and perfectly managed to hold all of the wonderful components of the burger in place. The semi-sweet thick cut of bacon dripped with a delicious saltiness that mixed into the melted aged cheese which absorbed the creamy house sauce. Was it Thousand Islands dressing or something else? To be exact, I don’t know but it too didn’t matter. What did matter the most with this burger was the meat. The 1/2 pound patty was made with pure natural ground beef that was seasoned with the restaurant’s signature spices. This incredibly juicy beef was succulent and mouthwatering. Even eating pieces of the beef on its own gave way to a beautifully flavored meat that when assembled with the caramelized onions, lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes was perfect.

Although the cheeseburger was a simple burger, Meat District Co. is the perfect example of the way quality ingredients can create an exceptional product. The amazing taste then could be found in the combination of all of the fresh ingredients and the incredible meat is what made this burger a clear favorite. It’s one that I will return to get continuously and one that I highly recommend others to try for themselves in hopes of it being a favorite of theirs as well.

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Address: 69 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103
Phone: (626) 765-9902
Hours: Sunday to Friday – 11:00am to 9:00pm and Friday & Saturday -11:00am to 10:00pm
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