Irma’s Burger Shack: does ‘no name’ beef really make a difference?
by Tim | October 20, 2007 | 10 Comments
(votes: 19, average: 3.68) 
Loading ...Irma’s Burger Shack operates two OKC restaurant locations: 1035 NW 63rd (map), and 1120 Classen Drive (map). Visit them for lunch or dinner. For more information, visit their website.
Irma’s Burger Shack is fairly well-known around the Oklahoma City metro. Their flagship restaurant near 63rd and Western is generally packed during the lunch hour as hoards of hungry people from Chesapeake Energy and elsewhere crowd in to grab a lunch. I ate at the original Irma’s restaurant once a while back and enjoyed it, but I became even more interested in Irma’s when I saw they were opening a second location at Plaza Court in midtown OKC. Since I live in a historical neighborhood near this area, I am very happy to see new restaurants moving in. So, I had to give Irma’s II a try.
First of all, I just have to say what a great location, and what a great renovation they’ve done. Credit is due to the developers of the property as well as the folks at Irma’s. If you haven’t been to this area of our great city, you really should check it out. The whole area around Plaza Court is getting built up with restaurants and the Plaza Court building itself is a real architectural treasure. Irma’s corner space, in particular, is so inviting as huge windows seem to wrap around the whole restaurant. Come on down and check out a piece of history sometime.
Ok, on to the food. I took up a special mission on this trip to Irma’s. I wanted to find out if their famed “no name” beef really made a difference. You see, at Irma’s you can get a burger made with special beef from a private herd of cattle at the No Name Ranch in Wynnewood, OK. On their website, they make a big deal about this special breed of cattle and that it is raised naturally with no pesticides or hormones or any of that stuff. Sounds great, right? Well, I wanted to find out for myself. Does “no name” beef really make a better burger?
In a word: yes.
I tried them both side by side in an effort to bring you my official verdict and, in my opinion, there is a huge difference in texture between the two. The “no name” patty was cooked all the way to well done, yet still moist and juicy, with an almost crumbly texture that sort of melts in your mouth. The regular patty, cooked similarly, was much more dry and the meat was a bit compressed. Both burgers had great flavor, but this texture really made the difference. My wife, who runs screaming at the site of any pinkness on a piece of meat, was really pleased that she could get a well done burger that still had some life to it.
It’s this type of commitment to quality that really makes Irma’s great. They’re not trying to be fancy, but whatever they do, they do it very well. The onion rings are hand-breaded. The fries are fresh cut in-house. The burgers are seared first on a griddle to lock in juices, then flame-grilled the rest of the way. Whenever possible, you can bet that Irma’s is taking the extra steps to add just that little extra touch of quality and flavor to all of the simple foods they serve.
All this extra attention to quality comes at a price, though. The basic, “no name” burger is $6 ala carte. Add cheese for $0.50 plus a side of fries for $2, a drink for $1.50 and you’re at $10 for one person, plus tax and tip. Now, I’m pretty cheap and spending upwards of $10 on a burger meal stretches me a bit, but what I really care about is value. Does the quality of the meal justify the higher price tag? In Irma’s case, I’d have to say “yes,” and judging by their history of long lunchtime waits, I’d also have to say that a lot of people agree with me. I tell you what, I’ll drink water, split some fries, leave off the cheese, and focus my funds on the “no name” beef and the all-around quality you can only get at Irma’s.
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So far, 10 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?October 23rd, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Erma’s burgers are wonderful. As for the price of $10 for burgers, fries and a drink, well you gotta figure the order is HUGE! One order of fries alone would feed a family of four! Love Erma’s!
October 28th, 2007 at 11:56 am
2 things:
1) Another difference I’ve found between the two burgers (and I don’t know why it is): Irma Burger tastes better with mustard, No Name tastes better with ketchup.
2) Even though it’s not on the menu you can always get mac and cheese as a side if you ask.
October 28th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Good point, Carol. Andy, thanks for those tips!
October 29th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
I had no idea you could order mac and cheese off menu. This changes my life!
January 17th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I just ate there yesterday for lunch and had the No Name burger thanks to you guys. I also had some of the chipotle poppers (I think that is the name), which are stuffed peppers with smoked cheese. It was wonderful!
February 12th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Oh my god, I love the chili cheese burger! An order of fries are huge and can easily be shared between two people. The staff are great and very friendly people. My absolute favorite place to eat a burger!
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I recommend getting the No Name burger and adding green chiles and avocado. If I don’t want to feel too guilty, I order it with a side salad and it’s quite satisfying. Then again, if I do want to feel some guilt, I’ll order the delicious stuffed olives. I really enjoy Irma’s innovative appetizers!
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Irma’s is absolutely wonderful! The Chipotle Poppers are good because they are not too spicy to share with friends who aren’t into much spice. The No Name Burger is my personal favorite. There is certainly nothing wrong with the Irma Burger, I just prefer the texture of the No Name beef.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Burgers are great. It’s very crowded at lunch so we go at dinner. I love the mushroom swiss burger.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Went to Irma’s for the first time ever about a month ago. I don’t normally eat much in the way of carbs, so I’ve got to be really tempted in order to not stick to my diet. We walked in and I was prepared to try to be good, but all of my intentions flew out the window at my first sniff. I had a bacon cheese burger and the other person I was with had a No Name Burger. Both were so wonderful! Next time, though, I’m definitely having the No Name.
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