HONEST ABE'S
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★
District: Lincoln
Burger Joint with Creative, Rotating Menu
Perfect For: Lunch; Casual Dining
Standout Dishes: Greatest Burger Ever; 1809; Parmesan Truffle Fries
There are really two types of burger joints: those that serve simple burgers, trusting that the quality of their meat, seasoning and ingredients will be enough to carry the entree, and those that specialize in creativity, either allowing patrons to customize their burger or offering up borderline insane combinations.
Honest Abe’s certainly falls into the latter category. The restaurant, which opened in 2012, is still relatively young, but it’s quickly gained a cult following in Lincoln. I know there is a good deal of debate about this, but it gets my vote for the best burger in Nebraska.
And given the way Abe’s is expanding, I’m willing to bet Lincoln agrees with me. Just a few years ago, Abe’s just a hole in the wall in a strip mall. Now it has four locations, including one right in the heart of downtown.
The vibe inside, regardless of which location you visit, is just fun. The restaurant doesn’t take itself too seriously. The walls are covered with illustrations of Abe Lincoln declaring his love for two things: freedom and burgers. Each location has its own ambience, but they all are open and welcoming.
Honest Abe’s menu is among the crazier ones I’ve ever seen. At all times there are five “staple” burgers which are permanently on the menu and five that are rotating every few months. The staple burgers include the Greatest Burger Ever (the most normal thing you’ll find at Abe’s, it’s basically a bacon cheeseburger; also pictured at the top of this post), the Fireside (my personal favorite, with has sriracha ketchup, jalapeños, cumin-lime mayo, and pepperjack cheese) and the 1809 (pickled apples, bacon, gouda, and smoky honey mayo).
Those are all good options, but Abe’s truly unleashes its creativity on the rotating menu, where the following items can be found on burgers: chili, potato chips, peanut butter, cinnamon cream cheese, fried eggs, queso… you get the point. If you can put it on a burger, Abe’s has probably done it.
The diversity of the menu makes it possible to go to Abe’s a lot and get something different every time. I have a friend who estimates he’s had more than 20 Abe’s burgers and loved every one (his favorite has Lay’s chips and baked beans).
I’m a big fan of the Bounty Hunter, which is topped with seared salami, BBQ sauce and a pineapple ring. I’ve had Abe’s dozens of times over the last few years, and this burger ranks right up there with any I’ve had. The flavors all blend together brilliantly:the sweetness of the pineapple and tanginess of the BBQ sauce meld perfectly with the burnt, salty flavor of the salami and the delicious ground beef. The bun, as always, is a soft billow that somehow manages to contain the mess inside of it.
One things that burger traditionalists knock Abe’s for is that the taste of the beef doesn’t stand out, and they have a bit of a point here. There are so many layers and flavors to an Abe’s burger that the meat itself isn’t the always the centerpiece. But if you actually taste the beef by itself, or order a more simple option like the Greatest Burger Ever, the flavor of the beef really sings. It’s salty and fatty in just the right ways, just perfectly delicious.
As you consider a visit to Abe’s, keep an eye out for The Fuzz. It’s a rotating option, so it’s not always available. But when it is, it’s worth seeking out.
The burger is topped with healthy chunks of crispy pork belly. There is no way to accurately describe how incredible this sandwich is. The fatty, tender pork belly cutes are just wonderful. Abe’s updates its menu each week on Facebook, and if this burger pops up on the timeline, I know I’m visiting soon.
The fries are thin, crispy and plentiful. I went with a normal side of Freedom Fries, though you can upgrade to Parmesan Truffle Fries for just a dollar more (and it’s worth it).
A burger and fries usually runs you about $10, which isn’t bad considering the quality and taste of the meal. Wait time is typically between five and ten minutes depending how busy the restaurant is (and even with the bigger space, it can get crowded).
If I can use one story to sum Abe’s up, I’ll go back to my first visit a few years back. I went with a friend and got the Fireside. He and I literally did not speak for the entire meal, because conversing meant we had to pause from eating this delicious burger. Abe’s is that good.
Dan, the fact I have tangentially made it onto the website, warms my heart haha. Love your posts!
Thanks, buddy! Get back to Omaha sometime so we can grab a bite and I’ll sneak you into another review!