3821 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122
I'd tried to eat at Maillard more than once before I ever made it through the door.
For years, Maillard operated as a burger stand at local farmers markets, and I'd seen the lines firsthand. I'd heard plenty about how good the burgers were, but somehow never managed to stick around long enough to try one. So when Maillard finally opened a brick-and-mortar spot on Noriega, I wanted to see if the burger could live up to the hype.
I got there early. Apparently, not early enough.
A line was already forming before the doors opened. Standing there, I wasn't sure if I'd be eating at a table or walking out with a bag of burgers to take home. Thankfully, you can order a beer from the bar while you wait, which makes standing in line considerably easier.
Once I made it to the counter, I went all in. I ordered both burgers, the Maillard and the Bird's Eye, plus an order of the natural-cut fries.
I also got lucky and grabbed a seat at the bar, where they had Two Pitchers Brewing on tap.
The Maillard
Caramelized Shallots, Housemade Pickles, American Cheese, Maillard Sauce
The Maillard is the burger I'd been hearing about for years. It's a proper smash burger without trying to turn itself into something more complicated. The caramelized shallots bring some sweetness, the housemade pickles cut through the richness, and American cheese does exactly what American cheese is supposed to do on a burger.
After years of hearing about it, I was worried my expectations had gotten too high.
They hadn't.
It's a damn good burger.
The Bird's Eye
Fried Shallots, Ginger Herb Salad, American Cheese, Thai Chili Aioli
This was the surprise.
The Maillard may be the namesake burger, but the Bird's Eye was the one I couldn't stop thinking about.
Fried shallots give it crunch. The ginger herb salad brings freshness to what could otherwise be a very rich burger. Then there's the Thai chili aioli, which pulls everything together with heat and another layer of flavor.
There's a lot going on, but it works.
I won't lie. I was genuinely sad when I finished it.
The Fries
Natural-Cut Fries Sea Salt, Fried in Beef Tallow
If you're already ordering a burger, get the fries.
They're natural-cut and fried in beef tallow, which gives them a deeper, savory flavor without needing a pile of toppings or sauces. Just fries, sea salt, and beef tallow.
The Verdict
It took me years to finally try Maillard. After seeing the farmers market lines and hearing people talk about these burgers for so long, there was always a chance the actual experience wouldn't match the reputation.
It does.
The Maillard is a solid burger and absolutely worth ordering, especially if it's your first visit.
But I'm coming back for the Bird's Eye.
That's the burger that got me.