The Big Shef

We begin at Burger Chef, the chain that decided to curiously call its namesake burger the "Shef." Two all-beef patties, golden melted cheese, garden-fresh lettuce, special sauce on a toasted triple-decker bun. The description sounded a good deal like the Big Mac jingle. Those who ate both settle the debate — which was better?

Image: Reddit

Druther's Burger

"I'd ruther go to Druther's," the commercial campaigns declared. The franchise that began as Burger Queen — no relation to the King — rebranded itself nationally in 1981, the year this here burger was shown in a TV ad. Like any self-respecting burger chain, Druther's had a mascot, Andy Dandytale, a banjo-plucking vagabond with a feather in his cap.

Image: YouTube

The Big Barney

Mayberry and Flintstone fans might have flocked to bite into the "Big Barney," Red Barn's version of the Big Mac. Actually, the pioneering, farm-themed chain introduced the Big Barney a few years before the Big Mac. Likewise, Burger Chef introduced its "Fun Meal" before McDonald's came up with its Happy Meal. Remember the innovators!

Image: eBay

The Ollieburger

Lum's was best known for its hot dog cooked in beer, a nostalgic meal so fondly remembered it got its own scene in Martin Scorsese's The Irishman. The Florida-based chain had more unique flavors. The Ollieburger, a recipe whipped up by Ollie Gleichenhaus, who was pitched as sort of the Colonel Sanders of hamburgers, mixed "23 herbs and spices from all over the world" into its patty. The stuff was so intoxicating, there are websites today offering the seasoning for sale.

Image: Newspapers.com

The Big Scot

Sandy's, "home of the plaid beret," carried a Scottish highlands theme, much like the fictional McDowell's in Coming to America. The Big Scot, like the Big Barney and the Big Shef, was a Big Mac–like triple-bunned beheamoth.

The Hi-Lo

We're doubling up on Sandy's, the star of our image at the top of this post, as the Midwestern favorite served up another burger that continues to linger in our tastebud memories. Speaking of doubling up, the "Mighty" Hi-Lo lured customers with its two patties, cheese oozing in between. "Come as you are…hungry," the slogan proclaimed… perhaps influencing Nirvana?

Image: Eastern Iowa

Wetson's Superburger

"2 Big W's for 79¢!" Two Superburgers! That's a full pound of hamburger for less than a buck. Ah, the day of buying meals with change…

Image: Long Island '70s Kid

The Little Boy Blue

With its sherbet orange and teal color scheme, "HoJo's" holds a place as perhaps the most beloved bygone restaurant in Americana. It helped that the hotel chain's restaurant served up 28 flavors of ice cream — and not ones you might expect. We're talking Burgundy Cherry, Buttercrunch, Frozen Pudding, Fruit Salad, Lemon Stick and Pineapple, just to name a few. Anyway… this is a burger list, right. The "Little Boy Blue," the namesake dish of the chain's kid mascot, was a deconstructed burger for future Atkin's dieters. It was a grilled hamburger patty served with mashed potatoes and vegetable (peas, often). Okay, there was roll, too. And that ice cream on the side! Bonus: the menu turned into a basecall cap!

The Samburger Jr.

The most unique burger on this list comes courtesy of Sambo's. It's hard for this image to do justice to the scale of this tiny little treat. The fact that it cost a mere quarter in 1980 gives away its diminutive size. Check out the commercial for a better look. The bun has the circumference of a squash ball.

The Mr. Steak Burger

This child actor is going to town on this Mr. Steak burger in a 1981 commercial. You can't teach acting like that. He's in heaven. The ad for the steakhouse chain had some spiel about offering "burgers for the kids," but c'mon, adults love burgers, too, Mr. Steak.