There’s a wide variety of dishes that could be on the menu at a diner, drive-in, or dive, but no single item is as synonymous with all three as the burger—a classic American comfort food that Guy Fieri has seen in every state. From peanut butter burgers in Utah to cayenne-basted patties in Texas, the Mayor of Flavortown has tracked down some of the boldest burgers across the country. Whether piled high with cold cuts, loaded with homemade hot sauce, or drenched in melted cheese, these over-the-top creations are exactly the kind of dishes that earn a spot in the Flavortown hall of fame.

As the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host once said, “If you’re gonna eat a burger, make sure it’s a really righteous one!” Below are some of his favorite burger joints in America that more than deliver.

1. Boston Burger Co. – Somerville, MA
2. Sabores – Logan, UT
3. Lankford Grocery – Houston, TX
4. Burger Me – Truckee, CA
5. In a Pickle Restaurant – Waltham, MA
6. Skirted Heifer – Colorado Springs, CO

Boston Burger Co. – Somerville, MA

The beauty of a burger lies in its endless topping possibilities—including mac ’n’ cheese, which pairs the classic side with the meaty main course at one of Fieri’s favorite burger spots on the East Coast. At Boston Burger Co. in Somerville, the Mayor of Flavortown indulged in the restaurant’s famous Mac Attack Burger, which he called “the dictionary definition of comfort food.” Featuring a hearty scoop of homemade mac ’n’ cheese and bacon atop a freshly made Angus beef patty, it’s easy to see why Fieri gave it his stamp of approval—and returned for more.

The indulgence doesn’t stop there. The burger is layered with a gooey blend of cheeses—American, cheddar, jack, Parmesan, and pecorino—stacked onto a half-pound patty, making it the kind of over-the-top meal that all but guarantees a food coma. Founded in 2009, the Boston burger joint is known for its creative takes on comfort food, from the popular Killer Bee burger topped with onion rings to the Smooth Operator frappe for dessert, crowned with an entire slice of peanut butter pie.

Sabores – Logan, UT

While there are some foods he won’t eat, Fieri is all about giving fun flavor combinations—like peanut butter on a burger—a chance. After an initial unsavory experience with a peanut butter burger in Indiana, he decided to give the dish another shot at Sabores International Cuisine, an eclectic eatery in Utah. Known for its inventive Latin American– and Asian-inspired dishes—from classics like Lomo Saltado to the Peanut Butter Burger—Sabores was featured on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, spotlighting Fieri’s sampling of the sandwich.

Crafted by chef Eliseo Garcia, the burger features an unexpected mix of toppings: peanut butter, bacon, cheese, and curry aioli. Altogether, Fieri likened the sweet-and-savory combination to a spicy Thai peanut sauce, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Lankford Grocery – Houston, TX

The host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives knows how to take the heat, whether it’s in the form of a classic hot wing or a pepper-packed burger so fiery that Fieri joked it might “cook raw chicken.” The latter is aptly named the Firehouse Burger, a bold creation from Lankford Grocery in Houston, Texas, that took the celebrity chef by surprise when he tried it on his show.

He wasn’t kidding when he likened it to “licking the volcano out of Flavortown.” The patty is basted in cayenne butter for a kick of heat in every bite, then doused in homemade hot sauce made with serrano, jalapeño, and habanero peppers. Of course, it also features classic toppings like onion, tomato, pickle, and American cheese, though you probably won’t be focusing on them when the hot sauce hits. Despite struggling with the extreme spice, Fieri powered through in the name of Flavortown, leaving with a numb tongue and a full tummy.

Burger Me – Truckee, CA

Loaded Italian hero or greasy American burger? Why not both? That may have been the thinking behind the creatives at this casual California burger spot when creating the Italian Stallion, which Fieri aptly describes as a “burger meets a deli sandwich.” As a proud Italian-American, it’s no surprise Fieri featured Burger Me on DDD, giving each layer of meat—beef, salami, and mortadella—a well-deserved close-up.

Like a classic deli sandwich, the Italian Stallion also gets a healthy dose of hot peppers, provolone, and cabernet vinaigrette, making it a towering bite Fieri had to hunch over to tackle. During his visit, he also took note of Burger Me’s famous BBQ Bison Burger, made with a thick bison patty, bacon, cheddar, jalapeños, and, of course, BBQ sauce.

In a Pickle Restaurant – Waltham, MA

When Fieri visits this Boston suburb, he’s never in a pickle about what to eat, thanks to Tim Burke’s beloved restaurant, In a Pickle. The breakfast and lunch spot offers plenty of creative culinary creations, like the Pumpkin Bread French Toast that Fieri once featured on an episode of his show, but there’s one plate in particular that keeps the DDD host coming back time and time again: the Toro Loco Burger. On paper, the fiery toppings, including sriracha aioli, jalapeño sour cream aioli, Flamin’ Hot Cheeto-breaded onion rings, and not just one regular patty, but a second fried pepper jack cheese patty, might seem loco. But for Fieri, they made for a satisfyingly spicy bite that kept him coming back for more.

Skirted Heifer – Colorado Springs, CO

For the Mayor of Flavortown, no trip to Colorado Springs is complete without a visit to the Skirted Heifer—and yes, that’s the name of a burger joint, not a broad. As its name suggests, the burgers at this family-owned spot come dressed in more than just ketchup and mustard. One of the most popular ways owners Kevin and Suzette McGary serve a grass-fed beef patty is with a cheese “skirt,” made by spreading a thick layer of cheddar on the grill and letting it melt into a crispy shell around the patty.

This is just one savory feature of Fieri’s favorite menu item at the Skirted Heifer: the Hangover Burger. It’s also topped with a fried egg, cream cheese, bacon, and Bloody Mary sauce, the finishing touch that, as Fieri puts it, “really takes it over the top.” And if those quintessential breakfast flavors aren’t enough to cure your hangover—or at least your hunger—the spot also serves up a side of fries seasoned with brown sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper.

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