Ready to Pick the Best Burger in Town?

Baseball and hot dogs may be pillars of America's national pastime, but everyone knows football and hamburgers rule the day. Want a burger or a dog?

It's a no brainer.

In fact, any restaurant in America that doesn't specialize in chicken or Asian food can likely whip up some sort of burger for you, even if you're ordering off the menu. 

Off the menu? Hmm, sounds like In-N-Out.

Patch is banking that its readers have their favorite burgers, and we want to find them. Whether slathered in bleu cheese or special sauce, whether flanked by sesame seed buns or sourdough, whether the lettuce is leafy or chopped, whether shouldering bacon or mushrooms or both, there are a million combinations of burgers.

Patch will be designating a "Best Burger in Town" award to one establishment in each city.

The winner might come from a burger chain, an indie burger joint or a hoity-toity restaurant. The champ could be all-beef, or an ahi tuna burger. Every place, and every burger, is unique.

Once we get nominations, we'll have a poll for readers to vote for the best burger and also a forum to debate the issue because, really, that's going to be just as fun.

The presidential candidates can talk about health care; we want to talk about how to clog our arteries. Or, if you're into low-fat, or don't eat meat, tell us about your favorite veggie burger.

The best burger. Bring it on.

And bring an order of fries with it.

Here are a few local places where you can grab a juicy patty, but we need your help to complete the list. Let us know in the comments which others should be in the running and we'll get them added:

Brü Grill: 23730 El Toro Rd., Lake Forest

BurgerTown USA: 24418 Muirlands Blvd., Lake Forest

Fuddruckers: 23601 El Toro Rd., Lake Forest

The Habit Burger Grill: 23632 El Toro Rd., Lake Forest

The Hat: 23641 Rockfield Blvd., Lake Forest

In-N-Out: 26482 Towne Centre Dr., Foothill Ranch

Islands: 26582 Towne Centre Dr., Foothill Ranch

Original Tommy's Hamburgers: 24310 Swartz Dr., Lake Forest

Red Robin: 26522 Towne Centre Dr., Foothill Ranch

Sizzler: 23501 El Toro Rd., Lake Forest

Nominate your favorite before Friday at 9 a.m. Then, we'll start voting on Monday. If there's a tie, the location with the most positive comments wins.