Hires Hamburgers: A Utah Icon.
Hires Big H is the name of Utah’s most famous hamburger joint, as well as the signature burger sold there. It’s a landmark in Utah fast food eateries, partly due to the delicious food and partly due to the longevity of the place. Hires is a place I’ve been visiting for a long time, and for many years whenever I had nieces and nephews staying at my house we would always go to to “Hire’s Hamburgers” as they called it. This past weekend I’ve had three of my youngest sister’s eight kids staying with me for Pioneer Day weekend in Utah, a celebration of the Mormon pioneers who settled Utah in 1847. Of course I haven’t been to Hires much for the past two years, since I’ve been eating the South Beach way, but a visit to Aunt Kalyn’s really would not be complete without a visit to Hire’s Hamburgers.
Olivia, or Livi is 11, and a very good cook. When the kids stay at my house or I visit their family in central Utah, she’s the one who helps me cook. She’s also a relatively adventurous eater for an 11 year old who lives in a small town in Utah.
Emma is nearly 9, and quite the fashion icon. She favors glittery clothes, and brought at least 10 different pieces of jewelry to supplement her wardrobe while she visits at my house. Emma doesn’t like many different foods, but she does love eating at Hires.
Ethan is five years old, and full of questions. He also frequently makes us laugh with “Ethanisms,” funny things he says. Ethan is a little more of an adventurous eater than Emma, but he also likes to stick to the basic kid foods as much as possible.
Hires Root Beer is one of the things Hires is famous for, and it comes in big frosty mugs.
Emma also went for a frosty mug of root beer.
Ethan went for Sprite, the kids standard in Utah where most parents don’t let their kids drink cola drinks. Aunt Kalyn however, got Hires famous cherry syrup added to her Diet Coke.
Hires is famous for “cheese fries,” but we managed to resist ordering them. I shot this photo from a neighboring table of college kids who were quite excited that their fries were being blogged.
Here’s what we ordered. Kids meal hamburger and fries for Livi.
Kids meal grilled cheese and fries for Emma.
Kids meal chicken and fries for Ethan. All these fries come with Utah
“fry sauce” which is a blend of ketchup and mayonnaise.
Onion rings with fry sauce for Aunt Kalyn.
Besides the onion rings, Aunt Kalyn abandoned her diet and ordered the famous Hires Big H, a burger on a sourdough bun, with Hires own brand of special sauce. It was a delicious splurge and a fun time spent with three cute kids.
11 Comments on “Hires Hamburgers: A Utah Icon.”
I drank a lot of Hires as a child. Haven’t had any in years. Thanks for sharing pictures of your family–they are beautiful
Chocolate Lady, your chilled soups sound healthier than frying, but this was good for a treat.
Sara, Chris and Ruth, I promise to have a lot of fun at Blogher.
Chris, fun to have someone from Utah reading the blog! I agree, the Midvale Hires just doesn’t seem up to the quality of the downtown one, the two or three times I’ve been there, but it’s still not bad.
Ruth, I agree. Some things are worth indulging in, and Hires with the kids is one of them.
Great post and what a perfect reason to take a short South Beach break.
Have fun at the conference.
How very interesting – I just discovered your site and it happens to have the Hires post at the top – I live about 15 minutes from the Midvale location. (Yes, I know it isn’t the good one, but it is closer).
I hail from down Sandy way – enjoy the trip to San Jose!
chris
have fun at blogher!
It looks like you had great fun with your nieces and nephew. The photos in the burger place are so evocative of the pleasure of just gathering together over prodigal heaps of food.
Makes me wanna fry something.
Ruby, yes, I live in Sugarhouse. (Very close to downtown Salt Lake for those who aren’t familiar with Utah.)
Rand and Pam, we wish you could have been there!
Kath, immediately leave this Hires post and go to the archives!! Seriously, there are plenty of phase one recipes. Good luck on the diet.
I’ve just come across your blog by searching “South Beach Diet” at Blogher and am I ever glad I did! I’ve just completed week 1 of the SBD and lost 8 lbs. (woohoo!) and begun the 2nd week today. My husband is dieting with me and has lost 5 or 6 lbs. himself. I can’t wait to have a look at all your recipes. Even though I’m still on the restricting portion of the diet – I’m sure I’ll be able to find something delicious for next week! Thanks
Hires Big H —absolutely the best in burgers and fries. I love the homemade cut fries, or course you must have fry sauce too. Maybe I will get invited next time!! Love ya, Pam
I can’t really think of anything better than a Big H, fries with fry sauce, and sharing it all with Livi, Emma, Ethan, and you. Gosh I wish I were there. And the commentary of “Ethanisms” would have been much better than dessert. Much love. Rand
Wow..I found your blog over at Elise’s Simply recipes…and had no idea you were from UT. I so remember Hires. I ate there about once a week in College.