When Kevin Alexander, James Beard award-winning writer, embarked on a journey in search of America’s top 100 burgers, we were surprised to see White Hut listed as number three in the national rankings. Between the “melt-in-your-mouth ‘cheeseburgs’” (the “-er” is dropped from the traditional word) the hand-cut fries and their famous, fifty-cent fried onions, we were almost certain they would snag the number one spot and put West Springfield on the map as the King of Burgers.
Since 1939, White Hut has been dangling delicious burgers in our faces in hopes that we would never leave their stuck-in-time diner and their strategy continues to work. Drawing the attention of fans from all parts of the country, White Hut is more than just a local gem; it is a tribute to the art of simplistic dining. At White Hut, you either order a burger – with or without cheese – a side of fries or a hot dog. And if you’re feeling crazy, you can order all three and splurge the extra fifty-cents on their fried onions and remain within a ten-dollar budget. (When was the last time you spent less than ten dollars on a burger?)
While the best part of the White Hut is obviously their cheeseburgs – with caramelized onions, lettuce, BBQ sauce and chili peppers – there is a fun fact about the White Hut that simply can’t be ignored. In 2016, they launched The White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Competition and it has quickly become a recognizable big eater event. Each burger with a bun, 2 oz. of patty and fried onions, weighs about 5 ½ oz. In total, for a grand prize of $2000, the big eater winner is anticipated to eat between 30 to 50 burgers. Competitive eater, Joey Chestnut, ate a world-record 52 cheeseburgers in 10 minutes in this year’s competition. We recommend eating one burger but if you are up for the challenge and decide to make #SundayFunday a competitive day of eating 52 burgers – actually 53 to beat the record- be sure to send us a photo!