No. 109

George Motz’s Hamburger America

The Banter

The Guys discuss cookout foods for the 4th of July. Find out Mark’s cheat code for eating hotdogs.


The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys welcome George Motz, hamburger historian and operator of Hamburger America in NYC. George tells the story of his steady rise to expertise (and fame) and shares his passion for creating an authentic, multi-napkin burger experience.

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George Motz

George Motz is an American television personality, burger flipper, author and filmmaker. George directed the 2004 documentary film Hamburger America and has written books detailing the history of the hamburger in the United States. He hosted the Travel Channel show Burger Land from 2012 to 2013. He is a contributor for First We Feast on YouTube with a series titled Burger Scholar Sessions. He is also the owner and head chef of Hamburger America, a luncheonette-style restaurant in SoHo, Manhattan.

THE INSIDE TRACK

The Guys recently visited Hamburger America and found George at the flat top making burgers. They particularly enjoy George’s featured hamburgers that he, along with the current creator, craft to be exactly like the iconic burgers found around the U.S. George tells how he had to re-create one that had not been served in years: The Doodle Burger.

George: Between his memory, my memory and my photos, we actually did this sort of food forensics figuring out exactly what went into this burger. To the point where when he had the first bite of that burger, he cried


Francis: Oh, oh, that's amazing. I love it! It's like you're the Jurassic Park of Hamburgers.

George Motz on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025

Big Apple BBQ: Lotsa Q!

A Vintage Selection from 2005

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