Fried Onion Burgers in Oklahoma City and El Reno

Fried onion burgers in Oklahoma City are a local habit: burger shops in the city serve the style, and the old-school versions are a short drive west in El Reno, where diners serve onions fried right into the patty. Go for one burger, then compare and rate.

The style is a hallmark of the area. This page covers what a fried onion burger is, what to expect at a counter diner, what else the diners serve and how to compare burgers. Kitchens change hands and hours shift, so a quick call before the drive saves a wasted trip.

What is a fried onion burger?

A fried onion burger is a thin patty cooked with onions on the flat-top, so the onions soften and caramelize against the meat. The style is tied to El Reno, where onions were long used to stretch the meat. Many versions come wrapped in paper to keep them warm.

Places differ: some mash the onions into the patty, some pile them on top and some cook them separately. That is why tasting two is more useful than reading about one.

Where are fried onion burgers in Oklahoma City and El Reno?

El Reno is a short drive west of Oklahoma City, and its onion burger diners sit within a few blocks of each other, so you can compare more than one in a single visit.

Plan the drive around lunch, since the diners are busiest then, and bring a friend so you can split a second burger. Eat the burgers while they are hot, and compare them side by side while you remember the first.

What do El Reno onion burger diners serve?

The classic El Reno diner is known for fried onion burgers, soft onions and milkshakes. Order a burger and a shake, and rate the shake separately, so the burger and the milkshake each get their own stars and a friend planning the drive can see which diner earned the longer trip.

Sit at the counter if you can, and watch the grill. A short wait is normal at busy times, so go outside the lunch rush. Notice how the onions look and taste in the bite, because that is the part that differs most between kitchens, and write it into your rating.

What makes a counter-and-stool diner special?

A tiny counter diner with a handful of stools serves fried onion burgers and coneys. The small room means a wait is possible at busy times, so go early.

Because seats are few, plan to wait or to eat quickly. Order the burger and, if you want a second taste, a coney to split. Rate the burger and the coney by name. A small counter is also a good place to ask the person at the grill what regulars order, and to note the answer.

What else does an El Reno diner serve besides burgers?

Some El Reno diners serve the fried onion burger alongside a Coney Island hot dog, breakfast dishes such as biscuits and gravy, Frito pies and a sweet and tangy mustard slaw.

That makes them the easiest stop for a group, since there is more on the menu. Go for breakfast one morning and a burger the next, if you are staying in the area. If the group cannot agree, let each person pick a different plate, such as a burger, a coney and a Frito pie, and pass them around.

Where can you get a fried onion burger in the city?

Burger shops in Oklahoma City serve fried onion burgers in their own versions, plus chicken sandwiches and hand-dipped shakes. Patties are often wrapped in paper that keeps them warm on the way to your table.

If you do not have time for the drive, a city shop is the easy way to try the style in town. Eat one in the city and one in El Reno and note how they differ: the bun, the onions, the thickness of the patty and whether the burger arrives wrapped.

Napkins are the one essential: a thin, juicy burger with soft onions drips, so eat it while it is warm and do not wait for a second photo.

How do you keep track of onion burgers with Mosey?

Rate the burger, not just the diner. In Mosey, name the dish, add tags such as Family Friendly or Great Value, and attach a photo. A note such as "onion burger, soft onions, shake worth sharing" helps the next person decide what to order.

Make a list called Onion burger trail with each stop and one line on what to get, then invite friends by link so they can add theirs. Follow friends to see what they rated and saved, and tag the people you ate with.

What else should you read?

For more Oklahoma City food, the pho guide covers the Asian District and the Laotian food guide covers the Plaza District. The Tulsa burger guide covers the other big Oklahoma burger town, and the statewide chicken fried steak guide goes deeper on another dish. See the Oklahoma City page, the Oklahoma page and the US food guides.

Before your next drive west, download the Mosey app, rate every burger by name and keep the best in a list.