The idea seems simple enough. Grab some meat, cheese and vegetables and throw it on a bun, but it takes more than that to put together a truly delicious hamburger.

Sacramento has so many different types of cuisines from Chinese to Mexican to Japanese to Italian, but sometimes you crave something simple like, say a hamburger. And it is hard to find a place that cooks a burger just the way you want it. Are you looking to break the mold of the same, old burger joints? Here’s what Sacramento has to offer.

Willie’s HamburgersIf you’re on the late night tip, Willie’s Hamburgers is the way to go. Located on 16th Street near Broadway, Willie’s is Sacramento’s best kept secret hamburger joint. And really, when it comes to hamburgers, you’re looking for two things: price and taste and Willie’s has both. The food is made right as you order it and as a customer you get an array of choices from a plain hamburger to the chili burger which is better known as a Slammer. The Slammer gets raves but it is Willie’s pastrami burgers that are a favorite among most.

The prices are very reasonable but do not expect to see a meal-type menu. All the food is ordered separately; including the fries and just a heads up, adding garlic to the fries is free of charge and is a delicious addition to an already delicious hamburger.

Jim Denny’sTucked away on 12th Street is a hole in the wall that goes by the name of Jim Denny’s which is home to one of the most mouth-watering sourdough hamburger this writer has ever tasted. One of the appeals of Jim Denny’s is its location, it seems to add to the sort of kitschy-ness that comes with the restaurant. And don’t think for just one second that you are going to roll into Jim Denny’s with a party of 15, because you will be lucky if you can fit just the five of you and your friends in there. Yeah, it’s that small.

Ford’s Real HamburgersFord’s Real Hamburgers is a favorite especially among Sacramento City College students and like Jim Denny’s what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in flavor. These homemade burgers are yummy, juicy and best of all handmade! Along with hamburgers, this land park restaurant also features other sandwiches such as turkey, ham and cheese and grilled chicken. Ford’s is on the pricy side so if you are looking to do a little splurging, absolutely give Ford’s a try.

Famous BurgersRight here in the neighborhood of Sacramento State is Famous Burgers and they are certainly on to something with the cheap eats and the exceptional size of the hamburgers, not to mention the choices! Famous Burgers call the corner of Folsom and 65th home and it is a prime location. Great off-campus eats and variety for a low price. Although it may not look like at much, the service is outstanding and if that doesn’t keep you coming back the food sure will.

In-N-OutWhile trying to search for the best kept secrets of Sacramento, there is one restaurant that is well-known for their burgers and that place is In-N-Out. Located in various regions of the Sacramento area, In-N-Out specializes in simplicity but still manages to keep their hamburgers delicious. Most regulars opt for the Double-Double but if you’re a risk taker, you may want to try taking on the 3×3. Three patties, three slices of cheese. Sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen?a delicious heart attack.

When looking for a good hamburger, make sure to venture outside the realm of familiarity and try something new because at the end of the day, it’s just a hamburger and who can mess that up?