The Juicy Lucy, the burger with cheese inside, and the dispute over its origin in Minneapolis
Two Minnesota restaurants are vying for the title of birthplace of a cheese-stuffed hamburger that, according to legend, originated from a hungry customer.
“does line up with the legend. Supposedly, the burger got so popular so quickly that the sign advertising the Juicy Lucy burger was put up missing an”
Minnesota boasts well-known dishes, such as the hot dish, a Midwestern classic, and its own variations on American recipes that the state is proud of. Among them is the Juicy Lucy burger, which has the cheese inside the patty instead of on top.
According to the most widespread version, a hungry customer asked for a slice of cheese to be placed between two hamburgers. Upon tasting it, he exclaimed that it was "a Juicy Lucy," and thus the name was born on the spot. The customer's name is unknown.
Almost everyone agrees that the hamburger was born on Cedar Avenue in South Minneapolis, but from there, accounts differ. Two Minnesota restaurants, Matt's Bar & Grill and the 5-8 Club, debate who has the right to call themselves the home of the original Juicy Lucy.
The 5-8 Club, with its 70-year history, proudly claims to be the birthplace of the hamburger, though its story is somewhat convoluted. Unlike Matt's Bar & Grill, its website offers few details and simply states that the Juicy Lucy is its signature dish, touted as having received praise from cooking shows and celebrities.
Neither of those places is the only one to try it. Today, it's served in restaurants all over Minneapolis, and the dispute over its origin remains open.
