Like most everything else in the world, the simple back yard burgers Dad used to pull off the grill with a slab of melted cheese on top have evolved in recent years and as much as we loved those burgers, what some restaurants have done to them is simply amazing. Gourmet hand-patted burgers, with toppings galore, are all the rage for the past few years and we can't think of a better foodie road trip than one with intentions to satisfy your craving for a mouthwatering burger taste sensation.

Load up the car and travel off the beaten path to Emma Keys, a tiny burger joint found deep within a mixed use neighborhood in Greensboro.

You'll twist and turn all the way once you leave whatever major road that carries you to Emma Keys but your efforts to get to this neighborhood burger spot on the fringe of the UNC-Greensboro campus will soon pay off.

Emmas puts together some hearty burgers topped with pretty much anything you want and the fries are a trusty side you won't be able to pass up.

Of course, if you want to just order from the menu, Emmas has plenty of gourmet combinations from which to choose. The Hotel California, for instance, is a six-ounce Angus beef patty topped with provolone cheese, Sriracha sauce, grilled onions, grilled tomato, and guacamole. (Is your mouthwatering yet?)

Have an appetite that just won't stop?

Try the Double Lone Star burger and sink your teeth into two six-ounce hand-patted Angus beef patties, topped with cheddar cheese, Neese's bacon (because... well, it's Neese's...), Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. The single Lone Star, by the way, is the most popular item on the menu.

Once you travel off the beaten path to Emma Keys you'll be back for more, so be sure to load the address in your GPS and leave it there for next time.

Emmas is a small establishment with minimal parking, but there is plenty of seating outside.

You may have noticed the quirky building where Emma Keys can be found; it's an old, converted barber shop from the 1950s.

If you prefer your burger toppings to have enough kick to make your ears tingle, then order the El Diablo.

In case you haven't brushed up on your Spanish lately, El Diablo translates to The Devil. This six-ounce Angus beef patty is smothered in grilled jalapeno peppers, pepper jack cheese, spicy mayonnaise, spicy ketchup, tomato, and lettuce. Whoa. Guaranteed to turn up the heat!

There are 17 different affordably-priced burgers on the menu (including three vegan selections) and you can up-size to a double for only $2 more.

But Emma Keys has more than just burgers on the menu. Their version of a Philly Cheese Steak is called The Balboa and features a chopped burger, grilled onions, grilled green peppers, provolone cheese, Worcestershire Sauce, and mayo. You can also get a hearty breakfast (that doesn't feature burgers) seven days a week from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.

The crave-worthy burgers at Emma Keys are most definitely worth traveling off the beaten path in order to score these huge flavors. This restaurant may be tiny, but the flavors here are enormous. Emmas is open seven days a week: Sunday through Wednesday until 9 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday until 10 p.m. Learn more on their official website.

Have you discovered this hidden secret in North Carolina yet? We'd love to hear about your experience! And for another gourmet burger spot, but found all the way over on the coast, keep reading here!