YOUR GUIDE TO NATIONAL CHEESEBURGER DAY 2024

Now we know what you’re thinking: wasn’t National Burger Day a few months ago? Yes, yes it was. But this is National Cheeseburger Day, and what a difference cheese makes. We love it on our burgers so much that for a past Burger of the Month, Juicy Lucy, we even put cheese inside the patty (and this year we have an even more over-the-top cheesy special coming to a restaurant near you)! Clearly, this holiday is near and dear to our hearts here at Hopdoddy and we’d like to take some time to share it with you.

WHEN IS NATIONAL CHEESEBURGER DAY?

National Cheeseburger day is celebrated on September 18th, just under four months after its cousin, National Burger Day in late May. However, there’s a lot of uncertainty and ambiguity around the origins of the cheeseburger as well as the holiday, so we’re here to try to set the record straight and uncover as much as we can about this national treasure.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH NATIONAL DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER DAY

While National Burger Day and National Cheeseburger Day can often be confused, at least they’re a few months apart. National Double Cheeseburger Day falls on September 15, just three days before our beloved National Cheeseburger Day that we’re covering today.

WHO INVENTED THE CHEESEBURGER?

Similar to the building of the Great Pyramid and Stonehenge, the cheeseburger’s creation is shrouded in mystery as to how such an incredible cult classic was assembled. Several states claim to be its birthplace but none have conclusive proof as to who the hero behind it was.

The most popular explanation is that 16-year-old Lionel Sternberger, perhaps destined by his surname, was working at his father’s sandwich shop in Pasadena, California when he dropped a slice of American cheese on a patty in 1926 to try how it would taste. He says the rest is history and they started serving it as a menu item after that. However, Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver, Colorado has a trademark for the name “cheeseburger” from 1935 to argue that they are the true inventors. Wherever or whoever first created a cheeseburger, we’re thankful that we can have this annual celebration today.

NATIONAL CHEESEBURGER DAY ORIGINS

Just as elusive as the beginnings of the cheeseburger itself, the national holiday celebrating it also has a murky history. Obviously we all understand the need to celebrate cheeseburgers, but no one really knows when it started or why it’s celebrated on September 18th. If the story is true, we like to think that it’s the day Lionel Sternberger dropped the first slice of cheese onto a burger and realized the magnitude of the change he had made.

Unfortunately, the world will likely never know the meaning behind the date. On the other hand, maybe we shouldn’t worry about the date itself and should just celebrate the day to the fullest and enjoy the cheeseburger’s history and importance to society.

EXPLORE DIFFERENT CHEESES

Many people think of a cheeseburger simply as adding a slice of cheddar or American cheese on top of a burger and calling it a day. But there’s so much more to celebrating and making a good cheeseburger, and so many more combinations. As our burger menu shows, it’s all about using a cheese that compliments the other ingredients, from the type of bun to the toppings and condiments.

We use Tillamook cheddar and pepper jack cheeses on some of our burgers, sharp blue cheese on the Buffalo Bill, and earthy goat cheese on Magic Shroom burgers. If you’re looking for a spicier pick, we use that Tillamook pepper jack cheese and seared peppers on our Llano Poblano. For the Primetime, it’s topped with two types of Swiss fondue cheese (specifically Gruyere and Emmental) and truffle aioli. Another cheesy burger is the Bacon Jam Double, which also has two types of cheese — this time white and yellow American, so there are endless choices to change it up and try something new.

Side note: We know that on holidays and celebrations like these, many restaurants often don’t provide options for those with dietary preferences and lifestyles (such as veganism). However, Hopdoddy wants to make sure that everyone can enjoy our food — in this case, a fully vegan cheeseburger. We have vegan cheese, mayo, and buns paired with our delicious Beyond patties, so everyone can enjoy the holiday (and burgers year-round)!

HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CHEESEBURGER DAY

Is this even a question? Do anything you want, just make sure to eat or make a cheeseburger. If you’re feeling adventurous we’d recommend trying one of our options that uses a cheese you haven’t tried on a burger before at one of our locations. If you want to take a cheeseburger to the next level, you can add queso to any of our burgers when you’re ordering. To turn it up even further, we’re going to be serving a special burger served in a bowl of queso on the 18th, so stop by a Hopdoddy and enjoy the occasion with a cold drink and some friends!