Burger Nut? Get to Carolina Beach
by Kurt Epps—The PubScout April 22, 2022
The PubScout, who writes about food and beer, is not ordinarily a fan of “Best of's” in anything subjective. Like art, music or movies.
And like food or beer.
Online polls, surveys and the like are used basically for bragging rights when a restaurant or brewery produces a solid product. But “best of's” as selected by various respondents are so dependent on a variety of factors that to name a “best” beer or a “best” anything leaves wide room for discussion among even the cognoscenti. So I eschew “best of's.”
But I embrace “exceptionals,” “outstandings” and “damned goods.”
And if you’re looking for a damned good burger in Brunswick County, there are a few places to try, like Beaches Burgers in OIB. But there are none better--none--
than those at a little place over in New Hanover County—Island Burgers and Bites in Carolina Beach.
The brainchild of Ajay Singh, who, twelve years ago, bought a convenience store/gas station on the corner of the aptly-named Carl Winner Drive, Island Burgers and Bites is doing a land office business, both in and out of season.
Ever since Ajay removed the gas pumps and put in a grill three years ago, burger nuts are flocking to this out-of-the-way, nondescript little business that overlooks the marina in Carolina Beach.
Offering a wide array of sandwiches, burgers, Philly Cheesesteaks (done right!) and sides like the spicy fries that can feed a family of four from one bag, Island Burgers and Bites fills the need for a solid burger experience for those who love their burgers.
Ironically, there’s a McDonald’s a half-block away, but I’m guessing that even the vaunted Big Mac can’t compete with what Ajay’s “kids” produce for the grill. The Double Cheeseburger with Mayo, Ketchup, Lettuce and Onion that I had was so good—and so huge—that I needed a beach towel to deal with the drippings from my face.
Worse, it was so good and so filling that I knew I’d be skipping supper, despite chowing down just shortly after noon. The Candied Bacon that the “kids” put on bacon burgers was damned good (if not the best) I’ve had. And, as aforementioned, one bag of those spicy fries could feed an entire family.
You’ll have two choices as to where to consume this ambrosia. One is on the sun-splashed back deck overlooking the marina. During my visit, every table was filled and as one table left, it was quickly filled by another party.
Ditto the parking spaces out front, which is your other choice for consuming what comes off that magic grill—your own car.
Soft drinks—VERY large soft drinks— come with a combo meal, but the store also has some quality beers (look for the Beer Cave inside...see photo below) you can enjoy with your meal, if that’s your thing.
But in retrospect, what makes Island Burgers is the meat. That meat is 100% Certified Angus Beef—an 80/20/% mix that’s made fresh every day—and it’s juicy, flavorful and absolutely delectable. In fact, that beef was once a subject of contention from Ajay’s suppliers, who said the company had a policy that no 100% Certified Angus Beef could be sold from a gas station. Ajay responded with a lawyer’s aplomb. “I buy it from you and I sell it in huge quantities. And we have no gas pumps. So what is the problem?
None, apparently, as the company deep-sixed its policy in favor of profits (imagine that!) and the meat just kept on coming in fresh. And going out cooked to thousands of burger nuts.
An employee inside shared this tidbit with me: there was a poll taken (don’t ask me where) to name the best burger on the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. Island Burgers came in 4th in that poll.
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