Behold, N9NE’s Burger

Last weekend, I had the best hamburger in recent memory: the Kobe burger at N9NE Steakhouse in Aspen.

This sandwich is huge in both girth and height, and it’s easily shared (which lessens the sting of the $20 price tag). The rare-cooked patty comes stacked with thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, Vermont cheddar, and grilled onions. The combo is so flavorful, there’s no need for ketchup, mustard, or even a shake of salt. Plus, the addition of a robust blue cheese coleslaw (just try it) and a mountain of truffle chips, makes this one hearty meal.

The best seats in the house are at the kitchen bar, where the chefs (lead by Chris Conlon) are just an arm’s-length away. Chat them up and learn more about this temporary restaurant. Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings (through Labor Day), N9NE is a pared-down version of Scott DeGraff’s renowned N9NE steakhouses in Chicago, Dallas, and Las Vegas.

Local Eats: For notable burgers closer to home, order the stellar Croque burger–Harris Ranch beef topped with a fried egg, ham, and Swiss cheese–at the brand-new, Platt Park ParkBurger. Or bite into Houston’s veggie burger, a meaty blend of brown rice, mushrooms, almonds, and melted Jack on a house-made bun.

N9NE Steakhouse (located in the Fun World Wide Lab space), 414 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, 970-920-1090 ext. 1; ParkBurger, 1890 S. Pearl St., 720-242-9951; Houston’s, 303 Josephine St., 303-333-4688