One Of Memphis' Oldest Restaurants Serves World-Famous Historic Burgers

Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the great bucket list destinations for music lovers. The birthplace of rock 'n' roll is home to Sun Studio, where Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison cut their early records; Beale Street, where the likes of Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King once worked the blues clubs; and around half a million people make the pilgrimage each year to Graceland, Elvis Presley's famous home. The King's love for a good burger has long since passed into lore, and the city has plenty of classic spots just a short ride from the former Presley household. One of the oldest is historic in every sense: Not only has Dyer's Burgers been serving for over a century, but it is still cooking patties in grease from around the time the Titanic sank.

The hamburger is an important part of American culture and trends come and go. Everyone has gone wild for smash burgers over the past few years, and studies reveal that millennials love experimenting with waffle buns, teriyaki sauce, and hummus to go with their patties. Yet the classics die hard, and Dyer's is about as simple as you can get: When it comes to toppings, it is mustard, pickle, and onions, and that's it. If you desire other retro basics like lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup, you're in the wrong place. But garnishes are not the main draw at Dyer's two locations on Beale Street and in nearby Collierville — diners flock from far and wide for a taste of that 100-year-old grease.

Elmer Dyer first opened his namesake cafe on North Cleveland Street in Memphis in 1912. Ownership has changed hands, and the location moved around before settling in its two current spots, but one thing has remained consistent: The grease. When Dyer's relocated to Beale Street, buckets of the fat received a police escort.

Dyer's burgers are cooked in a skillet, which is where the legend originates. The story goes that a cook forgot to throw out the old fat one night and carried on sizzling burgers in the same grease the next day. Customers loved it, and the grease built up over time until the point that the patties were deep-fried rather than griddled. Century-old grease is Dyer's biggest claim to fame, and the burgers have gone viral in recent years. Their huge skillets can cook up to 75 burgers at a time, which is necessary to satisfy demand. Dyer's gets through around 1000 pounds of beef every week as the super-greasy reputation draws visitors from all over, including famous guests like Tom Hanks and Michael Jordan.

Some people might turn their nose up at eating burgers cooked in ancient grease, but it isn't as gross as it first sounds. It is strained and topped up daily with fat from new burgers, which may prompt skeptics to question how original it really is if it's constantly refreshed. Nevertheless, Dyer's has a great gimmick, and the proud tagline is: "Have you had your Vitamin G today?"

Dyer's method of cooking burgers has remained the same for over a century, even if the new locations at Beale Street and Collierville are a far cry from the grease-encrusted original shack. Balls of premium beef are pounded wafer-thin before they are dropped into a big skillet of bubbling grease. The patties sink to the bottom and rise to the surface when done. Excess fat is drained off before the burger is introduced to its bun and simple garnish. No fancy modern waffles or brioches here, just good old-fashioned Wonderbread buns. The burgers shrink during cooking, so a single isn't enough for many diners, making the double double (two patties, two slices of cheese) and the triple triple popular menu items. With a full combo meal, you also get hand-cut fries and a drink. If deep-frying burgers isn't unhealthy enough for you, follow the lead of some regulars who like theirs double-dipped. The whole burger, bun and all, is dunked in the grease once more before serving.

It's not all about the burgers, however. Other options include the Big Rag Baloney, a hefty chunk of meat cooked in the same grease; hot dogs; the Filthy Diablo Sandwich (a triple with added Polish sausage); and "good old-fashioned American chilli." Drinks are retro with soda floats and classic shakes. Dyer's in Memphis holds a four-star rating on Tripadvisor, and it's a must-visit if you're in the iconic Midwestern rock and roll city and fancy a taste of history.