Rating
5.0

A review of Flagstaff’s latest burger joint, Diablo Burger, is long overdue. Since opening in early March, the restaurant hasn’t lost momentum in becoming one of the most distinct and tasty eateries Flagstaff has to offer.

Located just off Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff, Diablo Burger is housed in a tiny semi-circle building with red walls and has seating for 25 customers.

Diablo Burger in downtown Flagstaff, Ariz. - Bryan Kinkade/ The Lumberjack

The place was packed when I visited. Rather than hinder my dining experience, having to find seating among a multitude of unfamiliar faces actually enhanced my meal by creating a feeling of camaraderie and community. 

All of the burgers prepared at Diablo Burger are made from antibiotic- and hormone-free beef raised at the Diablo Trust ranches southeast of Flagstaff. Similarly, all the fixin’s one gets with his or her Diablo burger are mostly the products of local and family-owned businesses. Diablo also only takes cash, attesting that this method stimulates local economies more than debit or credit payments do.

Okay, the all-natural approach is great and all, but that kind of local-only manifesto isn’t going to mean a thing if the business in question can’t present a fantastic and delicious product. Luckily, Diablo Burger’s food is amazing. I can say with total certainty the burger I ate at Diablo was the best I’ve ever devoured.

Before taking my seat, I ordered The Cheech, an inspired combination of beef, guacamole, jalapenos and pepper jack cheese. The meal, served with Diablo’s own fries and a drink, cost slightly more than $10. This might be a little pricier than your average diner burger, but it was well worth it. 

When my burger arrived, it wasn’t on a typical and bland sesame seed bun. It was presented on a toasted English muffin — an unexpected twist that, if anything, complemented the unique taste of the burger. By the time I had piled my burger high with all the fixings, it was nearly impossible to take a bite of it. 

Upon my first bite, I realized this was not your average burger. The beef was the best I had ever eaten. It was lean and medium rare. Every aspect of the burger complemented the overall taste, from the warmth and crunch of the jalapeno — fresh, not canned — to the guacamole, which was as phenomenal as the burger. Equally delicious were the fries, which were cut on-site. All in all, the meal deserved a standing ovation.

If this more eccentric fare doesn’t suit your palate, Diablo also serves the fastidiously named Monk burger, without any trimmings.

Diablo Burger is proof that just because it’s a cheeseburger, doesn’t mean that it has to be greasy, overdone, underdone or the product of an unreformed beef industry. Their name might be Diablo Burger, but man, do they serve one holy cow.