Swensons

Wesley “Pop” Swenson started selling hamburgers out of a station wagon at Akron’s Buchtel High School in 1933, and opened a proper drive-in on South Hawkins Avenue the following year. He sold it in 1949 to Robert Phillips, who began a slow expansion that has only recently reached Columbus, Cincinnati and Indiana.

Swensons is still a drive-in, and a local institution in Akron. Forbes called it America’s best burger in 1999, and LeBron James is among its well-known fans. The menu calls them “burgs”, and the signature is the Galley Boy.

Drive-ins across northeast and central Ohio, from Akron and Cleveland to Columbus and Cincinnati, plus the Indianapolis area.

• Steak 'n Shake (United States, since 1934). Steakburgers ground in front of customers, back when nobody trusted ground beef. Also built on beef, cheese and a double stack.
• Blake's Lotaburger (United States, since 1952). New Mexico’s own burger stand, where green chile is the default topping. Also built on beef, cheese and a double stack.
• Z-Burger (United States, since 2008). A Washington, D.C. burger shop with free toppings, peanut-oil fries and 75 flavours of shake. Also built on beef, cheese and a double stack.
• Big Boy (United States, since 1936). The chubby boy in checked overalls, and the double-decker that came before the Big Mac. Also built on beef, cheese and a double stack.