13 Spots for Epic Burgers in the Triangle

"During the pandemic, chef Oscar Diaz popped a smash burger deluxe up on the Cortez menu for the first time. “We as a group spent many pandemic nights eating burgers to get ratios and sauce right,” Diaz says. “Our patties are small but we double them and they are smashed paper thin on a ripping hot flat top that has our house rendered beef fat,” he says. American cheese prevails, and as Cortez notes, much like the bun, the cheaper the better. Add crispy leaf lettuce, sliced tomato, crunchy house pickles, onion, and Cortez sauce, and it’s easy to see why it’s a hit. “The Cortez sauce is what really takes the burger over the top,” he says — “but also the house cut fries people loose their shit over.”" - Jenn Rice