El Reno, Oklahoma Is the Onion Burger Capital of the World. Johnnie’s Has Proved It Since the 1940s.
A thin patty pressed hard into raw onions on a hot griddle: this is the Depression-era Oklahoma burger technique, done the way it's been done since the 1940s at Johnnie's
El Reno, Oklahoma, made the onion burger famous during the Great Depression, when cafe owners stretched their beef further by pressing thin patties into piles of raw onions on a hot griddle, letting both cook together in a caramelized combination that became one of the most distinctive regional burger traditions in America.
Johnnie's Hamburgers and Coneys at 301 South Rock Island Avenue has been doing it this way since the 1940s.
National Geographic called it 'probably the best burger I've tasted on this trip' during a Route 66 feature. In May, the town hosts an annual Onion Burger Day festival that draws thousands. It made a coast-to-coast list of the best burgers.
El Reno's onion burger tradition involves three active practitioners: Johnnie's, Robert's Grill (circa 1926), and Sid's Diner. Johnnie's earns the most consistent national press, but all three are worth visiting if you're making the detour.
What to Order
The onion-fried hamburger is the singular reason for the visit. Raw yellow onions are pressed hard onto the griddle with the patty as both cook, the onions caramelizing directly into the beef.
A double is the standard recommendation from anyone who's been more than once. Mustard adds the acid balance. The aroma of caramelizing onions greets you from the parking lot.
Johnnie's Coneys, hot dogs with house chili and a tangy-sweet slaw topping, are the other essential order and have their own fierce defenders among regulars. Pair your burger or coney with a side of their crispy, golden crinkle-cut fries and a classic, thick milkshake to round out the ultimate throwback diner experience. Breakfast runs Monday through Saturday from 6 to 10:30 a.m. For more on the food scene nearby, see the history behind El Reno's onion burger tradition.
A Route 66 Institution With the Original Technique Intact
The counter layout, open grill, and kitchen rhythm at Johnnie's are unchanged from the restaurant's decades-old operating style. You can watch every onion burger being made.
El Reno is about 35 miles west of downtown Oklahoma City on I-40. The detour is short. The burger makes it worthwhile.
The onion burger technique, pressing raw onions hard into the griddle with the patty so both cook together, creates a caramelization built into the beef rather than layered on top. The textural and flavor result is unlike any other burger preparation.
El Reno's Onion Burger Day festival in May draws thousands of visitors annually and has been recognized as one of Oklahoma's signature food events. Johnnie's is the anchor of that tradition. For more of the state's dining history, see Route 66 food stops in Oklahoma worth a detour.
Plan Your Visit
Johnnie's Hamburgers and Coneys is at 301 South Rock Island Avenue in El Reno, just off Route 66. Breakfast runs Monday through Saturday from 6 to 10:30 a.m.; lunch and dinner follow.
El Reno is about 35 miles west of downtown Oklahoma City on I-40. While you're planning the trip, check out Oklahoma's most iconic restaurants.
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