RI-RA JULY BURGER AND SAM ADAMS SPECIALS (PHOTO)

During its final summer in downtown Bethesda, Ri-Ra on Elm Street is offering a burger special all this month.

It includes a 1/3 pound bacon cheeseburger, Firecracker Fries and a salad for $10.95. Add a draft of Samuel Adams for just $4 more.

MCDONALD'S BACON AND CHEESE QUARTER POUNDER REVIEW (VIDEO) - EXCLUSIVE! NEW QUARTER POUNDERS

Incredible! I've completed the trifecta, testing all 3 of McDonald's new Quarter Pounders. Today, I have a video review of the Bacon and Cheese Quarter Pounder for you.

In the video description, you will find links to my reviews of the Habanero Ranch, and Deluxe Quarter Pounders, as well.

BALL PARK FLAME GRILLED CHEESEBURGER SLIDERS EXCLUSIVE REVIEW! (VIDEO)

There's a new entry in the frozen burger wars that just arrived at Safeway: Ball Park Flame Grilled Cheeseburger Sliders.  Will they succeed where other companies have failed in the past?  Click here and find out, as I put these burgers to the test!

MCDONALD'S GRILLED ONION CHEDDAR BURGER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REVIEW AND UNBOXING!

Enjoy this exclusive, first and only video review and unboxing of McDonald's newest sandwich: the Grilled Onion Cheddar burger!

The Grilled Onion Cheddar arrived in stores this week, and is on the Dollar Menu.

DU-PAR'S HAMBURGER HAMLET BETHESDA BURGER AND MENU PREVIEW

If you're a fan of classic American food, this Saturday's grand opening of the new, 24-hour Du-par's Hamburger Hamlet, in Bethesda's Georgetown Square shopping center, is wonderful news.

While chefs on two coasts continue to confer on the final menu, let's examine the Du-par's menu at its existing Los Angeles and Las Vegas locations (which just happen to be two of my favorite cities in the world!).

You have some standard starters like crab cakes and chicken tenders.  But you also have their signature Yellow Split Pea Soup, for something new and different.

24-hour breakfast may be the best part of Du-par's concept. Not a cheap diner-quality breakfast, but freshly made from high quality ingredients.  Du-par's takes pancakes as seriously as I do. So seriously, that their secret pancake recipe is kept under lock and key at 6333 W. 3rd Street in Los Angeles.

One California touch is Knott's Berry Farm jelly for your toast. I hope they keep that.

One example of a morning Blue Plate special that sounds great to me is the Country Fried Prime New York Steak with 2 large, fresh eggs.

How about those burgers? Out west, Du-par's burgers are made with fresh-ground Harris Ranch grain-fed, all-natural chuck. 

Du-par's will eventually compete directly with Bobby's Burger Palace up Democracy Boulevard at Westfield Montgomery Mall.  I can't wait to try the Du-par's burger.

In California and Vegas, Du-par's offers the basic hamburger and cheeseburger.  Beyond that, they have a Patty Melt, Bacon and Swiss Burger, Mushroom and Jack Burger, and Avocado and Bacon Burger.

One major part of the Du-par's concept that Bethesda is definitely getting is the on-site bakery.

Du-par's bakes pies fresh daily, and you can also order whole pies to go. These aren't just your standard apple and cherry varieties, either.  Out west, Du-par's has a massive list of pies, and the ones that get my attention are peach, chocolate meringue, banana cream, chocolate cream, rhubarb, gooseberry, Southern pecan, and blueberry cream cheese.

As a brownie sundae nut, I'm pleased to report they have one on the menu, as well as classic malts and milkshakes. How about a Banana Split Boat? Can you tell I'm hoping the dessert menu stays true to its West Coast origins?

Frankly, I don't know how we lucked out and managed to get a Du-par's here in Bethesda. But I'm ready to test out the menu, and find out if it lives up to its storied, 70-year history.

GET YOUR KRAZE BURGERS FASTER: CALL AHEAD AT BETHESDA ROW

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

When you order a burger at Kraze Burgers, you're not getting a burger heated up in a microwave, or premade.

Your burger is fresh, and cooked to order.  But that takes time (although the wait is reasonable).

Now you can save a few minutes, by calling in your order ahead of time.  Time it right, and your meal will be ready when you arrive at the restaurant.

Just call 301-215-9068, and the Kraze chefs will spring into action!

BULG-ING BULGOGI BURGER - ONE WEEK ONLY AT KRAZE BURGERS BETHESDA ROW!

Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row is concluding its celebration of National Burger Month with its final limited-time-only burger...

The Bulgogi Burger!

This burger pays homage to the Korean roots of the Kraze Burger franchise, and to a Korean dish that pre-dates the modern hamburger by many centuries.  That would be bulgogi, of course.

The Bulgogi Burger is actually authentic to bulgogi in several ways:

First, it is bulg-ing with thinly-sliced, rib-eye steak marinated in a sweet sesame-soy sauce.  Bulgogi sauce often has sesame and soy flavors.  And it is made from thin-sliced, marinated meat.

Second, the burger contains lettuce and onion, both of which you might find in a bulgogi recipe, as well.

Kraze finishes the Bulgogi Burger with American appointments like American cheese, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise.

All of this is served up on their fresh-baked original bun.  Which, I can tell you from personal experience, comes out looking like a bun you'd see in a food magazine photo.  It's that good.

So hurry over to Kraze Burgers for lunch or dinner. This burger will only be on the menu for a week!

Kraze Burgers, 4733 Elm Street, Bethesda.  301-215-9068.

BETHESDA'S ULTIMATE CHILI BURGER - FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!

Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row continues its celebration of National Burger Month with its third, limited-time-only burger:  The Chili Burger.

Check out the size of that 100% natural all-beef patty.  Now add Kraze Burgers' patented Maximum sauce.

How do you top that?  With a generous portion of house-made beef chili, of course!  Then some diced onions and fresh tomatoes, and American cheese, all on the original Kraze bun.

Hold on, though - the piece de resistance is the addition of french fries.

Yes, the fries are in the burger!

Hurry in, because this will only be available through next Tuesday.

Kraze Burgers, 4733 Elm Street, Bethesda.

BURGER HISTORY MADE AS BURGER CROSSES PACIFIC TO BETHESDA KRAZE BURGERS

Big Bethesda burger news x 2 today!

Not only has Kraze Burgers announced their second, limited-time-only burger, in honor of National Burger Month.

But they are also making burger history.

Remember when Kraze Burgers opened last year, and while every single item from the original Kraze Burgers menu in Korea didn't end up on the US menu, I said that didn't mean they wouldn't in the future?

The Semi-Nude Burger is one of the original Korean Kraze Burgers, and it is now available here in the US for only one week!

Aside from the Kraze Dressing not being mentioned, the ingredients are exactly the same as the Korean version:  2 all-natural, 100% beef patties, American cheese, Swiss cheese, grilled sun-ripened tomato, grilled onion, bacon, and a sunny-side up fried egg to top it off.  I guess the only way to find out if it has the Kraze dressing, is to try it at Bethesda Row this week!

Order this limited-edition burger, and you will be part of burger history!

Kraze Burgers, 4733 Elm Street, Bethesda.

WIN A GRILL AND A PLACE IN BURGER HISTORY IN BLACKFINN'S BURGER MONTH CONTEST!

Burger fans know it's National Burger Month.  Are you hardcore enough to invent your own burger?

BlackFinn Bethesda has launched a Burger Month Recipe Contest, to find the best new burger concept in the DC area.

The Grand Prize?

The burger maker's best friend - a grill!

But wait, there's more!

Your winning burger recipe will be added to the BlackFinn Burger Month menu!

Why, this could start your career as a burger baron.  You might have your own gourmet burger joint in DC.  You would serve burgers to the president, first lady and vice-president.  You'd tease and fake-out Bethesda burger lovers, by pretending you might or might not open a Bethesda Row location.

And you'll remember it all started with the BlackFinn contest you entered after finding out about it here.

Are you ready to share your Ultimate Burger Recipe with the world?

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTRY FORM!

Contest ends May 28.

MCDONALD'S BACON MCDOUBLE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REVIEW!

The new McDonald's Bacon McDouble has arrived just in time for National Burger Month in Bethesda.

On sale as of yesterday, the Bacon McDouble adds 2 slices-worth of bacon to the Dollar Menu version of the Double Cheeseburger.

The magic word is "bacon," of course.  Bacon is hot right now, appearing on plates from breakfast to dessert in popular and expensive restaurants.  I've even found it in cocktails and milkshakes on downtown DC menus!

McDonald's is right on top of this trend, giving diners what is a $1.89 Bacon Double Cheeseburger, but with one slice of cheese rather than two.

Check out this exclusive unboxing of the Bacon McDouble on video! 

Then, head to McDonald's and try one yourself!

KRAZE BURGERS CELEBRATES NATIONAL BURGER MONTH WITH SPECIAL BURGERS

May is National Burger Month.  Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row is celebrating by offering limited-time-only Burgers of the Week.

The first is the KS Upgrade Burger.

In addition to the usual, all-natural, 100% beef patty, and multi-grain bun, toppings include Kraze Sauce, fried egg, grilled oyster mushrooms, lettuce, red peppers, sprouts, American cheese and mayonnaise.

A delicious combination.  Having been introduced Tuesday, it should be available through Monday night.  Then they'll have another special surprise burger Tuesday.

Hurry in to try the KS Upgrade.  If you haven't tried Kraze Burgers yet, find out for yourself if this is the best burger in Bethesda.

Kraze Burgers, 4733 Elm Street, Bethesda.