Kentucky Restaurant Among Most Iconic Burger Joints Across America

A Kentucky restaurant is one of 15 burger joints on a list of the most iconic and historic in America.

Who doesn't love a good burger, right? Personally, my bonus son, Carter, is obsessed with cheeseburgers. Anytime I ask him what he wants for dinner, I typically get one of two answers: "I don't know" or "burgers". So last night, I saw an article about the best burger in each state. I knew that I had to find Indiana's and write this up just for Carter because I know once he sees it, we'll probably have to go on a road trip to see just how good they are and where these burgers land on his "burger ranking scale." I know once he sees it, we'll go on a deep dive over how right or wrong this article is...and I am sure we will do that over a nice juicy burger.

Whether you're in the mood for a classic cheeseburger or a gourmet creation, you'll find a spot to satisfy your craving in Kentucky. After all, Kentucky has a pretty rich history when it comes to burgers. As it turns out, the iconic smash burger was claimed to have been invented in the Bluegrass State. However, before that, one Kentucky restaurant became known as the "Birthplace of the Cheeseburger."

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Kentucky Restaurant Named Among Most Iconic Burger Joints Across America

The website, Cheapism, has a list of the 15 most historic and iconic burger joints across America. This includes Louis' Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut. This restaurant was recognized by the Library of Congress as the Birthplace of the Hamburger Sandwich. So, how do you get more iconic than that? By throwing a slice of cheese on top of that burger, and creating the first cheeseburger.

That's exactly why 80/20 at Kaelin’s made this list from Cheapism. The Louisville, Kentucky, restaurant has quite the history with a pretty awesome claim to fame as the "Birthplace of the Cheeseburger." I mean, seriously, this place is pretty iconic. Here's a little bit of history of 80/20 at Kaelin's, according to their website:

In 1934 in a neighborhood community known quaintly as the Highlands a local couple named Carl and Margaret Kaelin decided to open a family restaurant. Kaelin’s Restaurant was born and over the years thrived creating countless memories for generations of Louisvillians. The restaurant became known as the “birthplace of the cheeseburger” serving the first version of this timeless classic for over 70 years. This claim to fame is argued amongst historians and the real origins are unconfirmed for the record books. However, if you mention the name Kaelin’s Restaurant to anyone from Kentucky you will resoundingly here, “the cheeseburger place?” As this angle wasn’t enough Kaelin’s boasts another equally impressive distinction, Kentucky Fried Chicken. In its infancy KFC and specifically Harland Sanders himself cooked and sold his famous chicken within these walls. Kaelin’s will forever be the first business to serve the colonels famous recipe in the city of Louisville. This is history to each and every member of our society and needs a rebirth to retain its former glory.

 

I don't know about you, but this sounds like a food bucket list destination to me. The place that created the cheeseburger, still serving the same creation all these years later. It has to be good! Have you been here before? If so, would you say it's one of America's most iconic burger joints?