Happy 2015, darling listeners! I rang in the New Year with a craving for a great hamburger. I discussed this issue with a few friends, and after a heated discussion, decided to go to Tj’s Burger House, in the Delano district. It was a good choice, and everyone had consensus that it was one of the better burgers in Wichita.
Tj’s is best approached from behind, like any new adventure. The big sign and lights are really nice. The Douglas street front is plain in comparison. The entire restaurant is homage to the 1950’s, jukebox and all. Décor aside, the food is what’s important.
I ordered a regular cheeseburger with mayonnaise, pickles, mustard, onion, and tomato, American cheese. My friend got one with provolone, mustard, onion, and pickles only. All the sandwiches come with lettuce, but that is a travesty upon hamburgers and I deny it. We got a large order of fries to share.
The burgers and fries arrived at our table and I was so ready to eat that I took a giant bite. The patties are hand-formed, real beef, thick and juicy. The crusty exterior of the meat was a delicious contrast to the softness of the bun and the rich condiments. I took another bite and loved the sour pickle and onion savor.
Halfway through my sandwich, my friend said, “Wow. You can really eat! Don’t forget these French fries.”
The fries are hand cut and delicious. A large order is gigantic. They are not a crispy kind of French fry, but more of a tender, rich, homemade kind. I liked them a lot, but I prefer and crunchier version. Still, everything disappeared. Tj’s was a New Year’s revelation.
