2 Memphis burgers on Top 30 list

Not one but two--count 'em, two--burgers made the list of the 30 Best Burgers in U.S. on a list released yesterday by Food & Wine. That ain't bad, considering there are 50 states and who knows how many towns with untold burgers claiming to be the best.

In fact, the numero uno burger on the list is a hometown one: The John T. Burger at Hog & Hominy. It's a beloved and at times rare treat, a flat-top burger with grilled onion pressed in the meat, dressed with shredded lettuce tossed in salt and pickle juice (from house-made pickles, I'll bet my nickels). It debuted a few years ago when the back of the restaurant was called the Holding Pen and it was only available there, then it was gone, then back and so on. Now you can get it for lunch and brunch and on the weekend late night menu, but not at dinner. (An aside: Hog & Hominy owners Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman are up for Best Chef: Southeast in the James Beard Awards and the winners will be announced tonight, so send your good wishes their way.)

The second local burger to make the list is one you might've been eating your whole life: Dyer's. Famous for moving its ages-old grease under police protection some years ago, today the burger joint on Beale (the one that made the list, though there's another one in Collierville) is still doing burgers the old-fashioned way: Deep frying them and letting the cheese melt on top or in between patties (definitely go with the double) until oozy.

We could argue that there are plenty of other burgers worthy of this list (tell me your favorites), but congrats to H&H and Dyer's.

Go: Hog & Hominy is 707 W. Brookhaven Circle; 901-207-7396. Dyer's is at 205 Beale; 901-527-3937.