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\u201cWhen in Phoenix, do as Phoenicians do.\u201d\u00a0 If that means staying in air conditioned confines during the summer, we\u2019re doing it.\u00a0 If that means sticking with local culinary fare, not so much.\u00a0 Blame that on \u201cOnly in Arizona,\u201d a travel and lifestyle publication from the good folks who bring us \u201cOnly In Your State.\u201d\u00a0 A recent edition of Only in Arizona celebrated a \u201cPhoenix Burger Joint<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u201d that \u201cHas Cooked Over Real Mesquite for 40 Years<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 As if mesquite grilled burgers aren\u2019t enticing enough, the article boldly declared \u201cThe green chile cheeseburger, with jalape\u00f1o cheese and a grilled green chile on top, is the one that converts first-timers into regulars<\/em>.\u00a0 \u00a0Hmm, a green chile cheeseburger in Arizona that might actually be pretty good; it just hasn\u2019t been my experience.<\/p>\n Admittedly, I\u2019ve only had fewer than a handful of green chile cheeseburgers in the Grand Canyon State.\u00a0 Any memorability they have can be attributed to how mediocre (or worse) they\u2019ve been.\u00a0 Arizona would never be able to entice savvy staycators and Hatch familiar visitors to the \u201cArizona Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail.\u201d\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean they shouldn\u2019t try.\u00a0 They might first want to spend some time on New Mexico\u2019s trail<\/strong><\/a> to see how it\u2019s done.\u00a0 Better still, leave it to the pros at the Land of Enchantment\u2026or at least, Only in Arizona might want to steer readers toward \u201cOnly In New Mexico\u201d for burgers which will convert first-timers into visitors.<\/p>\n There\u2019s so much to love about the aptly named Orignal Hamburger Works.\u00a0 \u00a0A condiments cart has nearly everything with which you might want to adorn a burger, making it truly \u201cThe Works\u201d in the style of Dagwood Bumstead.\u00a0 \u00a0Then there\u2019s the enticing aroma of mesquite charcoal (as much as 120 pounds each day) which emits a bold, earthy and intense \u201ccampfire\u201d aroma when burned property. It imbues griled foods with a rich, savory smoke. You\u2019ve got to give the restaurant\u2019s smoke masters credit. The improper use of charcoal can emit a bitter, pungent odor comparable to burning tires or road tar.\u00a0 That\u2019s something you\u2019ll never find at the Original Hamburger Works.\u00a0 Is it any wonder it was named Arizona\u2019s representative in \u201cOnly In Your State\u2019s\u201d feature on the \u201c50 Best Burgers Across The U.S<\/strong><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n The Original Hamburger Works\u2019 website invites guests to \u201cRelax and enjoy our casual and friendly dining atmosphere where all our burgers, from the Small One to the Super Great One, along with our half pound chicken breasts are all prepared to delicious, savory perfection over real mesquite charcoal\u2026never gas! Then you pile on your choice of condiments and fixin\u2019s at the legendary fixin\u2019s wagon<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 That\u2019s pretty much how the restaurant has operated for nearly five decades.\u00a0 Originally opened in September 1977, and modeled after The Chuckbox<\/strong><\/a> in Tempe, The Original Hamburger Works has been a mainstay in Phoenix\u2019s Encanto area.<\/p>\n Just as the aroma of mesquite will trigger memories of campfires,\u00a0 youll be instantly transported back in time through the eclectic d\u00e9cor that is will remind you of years gone by.\u00a0 \u00a0Walls are covered with memorabilia \u2014 from S&H green stamps to Carnation Ice Cream, along with dozens of advertising signs from previous eras and more.\u00a0 It\u2019s truly a trip down memory lane.\u00a0 More than any restaurant we\u2019ve visited recently, the Original Hamburger Works knows how to help thirsty guests survive the blazing heat.\u00a0 In addition to the usual Coke or Pepsi fountain drink suspects, you can enjoy such beverage rarities as Barq\u2019s Cream Soda.\u00a0 Adult beverages are also available.<\/p>\n Diners can order a burger from a quarter pound up to the \u201cSuper Great One,\u201d which is a whole pound of beef. Also available are mesquite broiled chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, broiled fish sandwich, garden burger and fish and chips, as well as go-to sides and salads.\u00a0 Original Hamburger Works offers a wide variety of specialty burgers: the Big One (The Best 1\/3 lb burger anywhere) is a classic choice, plus there\u2019s the Border Burger (jalape\u00f1o cheese & grilled green chili), Fiesta Burger (guacamole, bacon, jalape\u00f1o cheese), Hawaiian Burger (teriyaki, pineapple, provolone), and a Bacon Cheese Burger.<\/p>\n Mesquite-grilled burgers smell different (better\u2026much better) than flat-top burgers. There\u2019s smoke in the crust, char in the bite, and a depth of flavor that a griddle simply can\u2019t replicate. Nor can a smash burger. One way or another, I was sure to like, maybe love the border burger (spicy south of the Border burger<\/strong><\/em> with jalape\u00f1o cheese and a grilled green chile on top).\u00a0 In some ways, I loved it more than many burgers I\u2019ve had across the Land of Enchilement.\u00a0 That mesquite grilled beef was unbelievably delicious. What I didn\u2019t love was the green chile, two strips of insipid beef lacking any sort of pungency or piquancy.\u00a0 The young lady at the counter was unable to tell me the chile\u2019s genesis.\u00a0 My guess was New York, not New Mexico.\u00a0 I also didn\u2019t love myself for not having ordered the beef at half a pound instead of a third-pound.\u00a0 Dressing the burger with the myriad condiments was also a love affair.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The counter girl was also unable to tell me what distinguished the \u201cArizona fries<\/em><\/strong>\u201d from your standard, run-of-the-mill fries.\u00a0 Not quite as thick as steak fries or Texas fries, these fries were nothing special.\u00a0 My usual treatment for fries that don\u2019t stand alone is a mixture of ketchup and Tabasco hot sauce.\u00a0 Unfortunately Original Hamburger Works didn\u2019t have Tabasco and I won\u2019t use Cholula because it reeks of cumin.\u00a0 Observing other diners, I noted most of them seemed to be enjoying the onion rings.\u00a0 That\u2019s what I\u2019ll have next time.<\/p>\n Original Hamburger Works may not have a burger worthy of the New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail, but it does offer a tempting array of other burger options.\u00a0 Mesquite grilling gives them a great start.\u00a0 It\u2019s up to you and the condiments you select to make the burgers even greater.<\/p>\n Original Hamburger Works<\/strong> Original Hamburger Works in Phoenix \u201cWhen in Phoenix, do as Phoenicians do.\u201d\u00a0 If that means staying in air conditioned confines during the summer, we\u2019re doing it.\u00a0 If that means sticking with local culinary fare, not so much.\u00a0 Blame that on \u201cOnly in Arizona,\u201d a travel and lifestyle publication from the good folks who bring us […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":358615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[180146,11456,180147,180148,180149,180150,173614,6254,34546,180151,14916,1034,3804,180152,1232],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-358613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-burger","tag-50-best-burgers-across-the-u-s","tag-arizona","tag-arizona-fries","tag-border-burger","tag-circa-1977","tag-condiments-bar","tag-green-chile","tag-hamburger","tag-memorabilia","tag-mesquite-grilling","tag-nostalgia","tag-original","tag-phoenix","tag-the-chuckbox","tag-works"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OriginalHamburgerWorks02.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\")
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<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OriginalHamburgerWorks05.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\")
2801 N 15th Ave
Phoenix, Arizona<\/strong>
(602) 263-8693
Website<\/strong><\/a> | Facebook Page<\/strong><\/a>
LATEST VISIT<\/strong>: 15 July 2026
# OF VISITS<\/strong>: 1
RATING<\/strong>: N\/R
COST<\/strong>: $$
BEST BET<\/strong>: The Border Burger, Arizona Fries
REVIEW #1532<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"