There’s no wrong time to eat a cheeseburger, but next week might just be the best time to really up your cheeseburger intake. Pasadena is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the invention of the cheeseburger with their 12th annual Cheeseburger Week on Jan. 21-27, 2024. Pause your New Year’s health resolutions for the next week because you don’t want to miss this mouthwatering cheeseburger celebration.
It feels like the classic cheeseburger has been around forever, so you might be surprised to learn it was only invented 100 years ago right here in Pasadena. Lionel Sternberger was cooking at The Rite Spot, a local Pasadena roadside stand, back in 1924 when he accidentally invented a dish that would gain worldwide recognition and adoration. According to the legend, he accidentally burned one side of a hamburger and rather than waste food by throwing it away, he tossed a slice of cheese on top and created a global sensation that entices us to this day.
While The Rite Spot no longer exists, there are more than 40 different restaurants, burger joints, and bars participating in Cheeseburger Week this year with the best deals on their signature cheeseburgers plus brand-new special creations. There are so many amazing choices to fill that cheeseburger-shaped hole in your heart. Be sure to vote for your favorite cheeseburger in the 2024 Cheeseburger Challenge. Now this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best cheeseburger in Pasadena, simply the fan favorite for this year. With so many different delicious categories such as Favorite White Table Cloth Cheeseburger, Favorite Sliders, Favorite Lunch Counter Burger, and Favorite Cocktail with a Burger, there’s sure to be a cheeseburger out there to please everyone.
The centennial celebration this year is extra special with the addition of a Cheeseburger Passport. Download the passport, eat as many cheeseburgers as humanly possible, and collect prizes. So make sure to grab your Cheeseburger Passport and get ready to be transported on the culinary adventure you’ve always dreamed of.