My whole life I’ve always hated burgers that you get from fast food/restaurants. It’s just a bland beef patty with a bunch of toppings that make it a pain to eat. These places advertise their burgers as being “100% Angus Beef!” or whatever, like that makes it appetizing… Why is this the norm? Do people just not know any better?
I learned how to make burgers from my dad and our approach is completely different. It’s all about the patty, not about the mountain of toppings. We throw onions, garlic, bell peppers, egg, worcestershire, salt and pepper (anything you want really) into a blender. Blend it all up and incorporate it directly into the beef. Then you shape your patties. This method makes the actual burger patty delicious, you could eat it as is if you wanted (which we sometimes do).
I’ve yet to meet anyone who didn’t prefer our burgers. Try it and you’ll never go back to those bland meat disks.
The 100% beef is really just about it not having fillers added. Fast food seasons with at least salt.
Personally I think there’s a line between what you add to a burger and it still being a burger. I draw the line at more than dry seasonings. Better beef, or a better blend of cuts will have a bigger impact on taste. The other toppings are meant to be separate to provide contrasting textures and enhance the flavor.