Whether you enjoy your burger from a five-star restaurant or out of a sack from a local fast-food joint, there's no arguing the hamburger is one of America's favorite foods. With over 50 billion hamburgers served up annually, they remain a household staple across the country, as well as around the world. While its origins have been contested, the history of the hamburger sandwich dates back over 100 years. Learn more about the beloved dish in the guide below.

Origins of the Hamburger

The earliest ground meat patties can be traced back to the Mongolians in the 1200s when Mongols stored them beneath their saddles as they rode.

Contemporary hamburgers trace their roots to Hamburg steaks, made famous in the 19th century when German immigrants brought their recipe for beef that had been chopped, chipped, ground, or scraped, then formed into a patty, traditionally served raw, to the United States.

When a New York doctor named James H. Salisbury suggested cooking the patty, the "Salisbury Steak" was born, paving the way for the modern-day hamburger. 

The Hamburger Sandwich

While the site of the transformation is highly contested, the modern hamburger appears to have evolved into the well-known burger on a bun you know today during the last decade of the 19th century.

While numerous lunch wagons and roadside restaurants claim to have created the hamburger sandwich, it found its widest audience in 1904 when a Texas cafe owner known as Uncle Fletcher Davis brought his "hamburger sandwich" to the St. Louis World's Fair.

These days, hamburgers are enjoyed worldwide in a variety of preparations, featuring regional toppings, sauces, and fillings. They can be found deconstructed, creating high-end gastronomic experiences, or at popular fast-food restaurants, served with traditional toppings, like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles.

Depending on where you are in the country, the addition of sauces, such as ketchup and mustard, can be highly controversial. Some restaurants believe that the flavor of their patties would be masked by applying condiments, while others encourage it. 

No matter where it originated, you can enjoy the best hamburgers in Rochester, NY, when you visit Steve T. Hots & Potatoes. This family-owned and -operated restaurant offers a wide variety of fast food favorites such as burgers, fries, hot dogs, and sausages, along with breakfast and traditional diner staples, 24-hours a day. Contact them today at 585-429-6388 to ask about their daily specials, or visit them online to view their generous menu.