Chingu Cheeseburger Review

Welcome to our new blog. This is a joint production of James and Jerome, a father-son duo that loves cheeseburgers and fries. We are going to slowly review all of the cheeseburgers Eugene has to offer, and Bucky the Toddler and Erin the Wife may occasionally tag along. Today, we review Chingu.

Chingu is a restaurant that is dear to our hearts. Oddly enough, though, that is not why we chose it as our first place to review. We actually did a Yelp search for the highest-rated burger place in Eugene, and Chingu came up. We used to live nearby and would stop in every week or two. The owner, Mike, loved to come to our table and make Bucky the Toddler crack up by making silly faces. In fact, when we came in for this review, he immediately asked, “Where’s your wife?”

Unfortunately, Chingu is closing its doors on July 31, 2016. Mike did not seem too interested in talking about it. He just handed me one of his patented newsletters (see below.) Here is how Chingu’s cheeseburger stacks up:

Cheeseburger 23/25

Jerome and I both ordered the Mega Size Cheese Burger, which consists of two one-third-pound patties, two slices of cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a Thousand Island-like special sauce. They don’t ask you how you want your burger done, but that was fine. It turned out to be medium well and incredibly juicy. The burger melts on your tongue.

Just add ketchup.

Fries 22/25

They serve waffle fries (or criss-cut fries) that come unseasoned. I generally like my fries seasoned with at least a little salt, but I can totally understand why they would leave the level of sodium intake to the customer. There was a salt shaker on the table to remedy the situation. Anyway, Bucky ate most of our fries, so they were clearly good.

The fry thief at work.

Cost 23/25

Mega Size Cheese Burgers cost $8 with fries included. As a fat man, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it filled me up even with Bucky eating most of my fries. With the tip (well worth having someone bring your food to you and bus your table), it was quite affordable in today’s economy.

Ambiance 15/15

Chingu’s décor and branding have always confused me. For one, they serve amazing Korean food (I strongly recommend the Stonebowl Bibimbap) and soul food alongside their delicious burgers. In fact, they are also commonly known as “Burger Lovers” and still have signs with that branding. With this menu, what kind of décor would you expect? If you guessed framed paintings of cartoonish Italian chefs, you would be spot on! At first, we thought the place was a front for some sort of mob operation because there are several cameras throughout the restaurant.

Another reason we thought it had to be a front was that there was rarely anyone there. In fact, when we went at around 11:30 on a Friday morning, we were the only people in the restaurant. I kind of like the weirdness of it.

Service 10/10

The servers are very attentive to the customers’ needs and are willing to bend over backwards to accommodate. We have never had anything but the best service at Chingu.

Jerome’s Review

Korean food and burgers, an interesting combination if you ask me. And Chingu is an interesting place, so the array of food they serve is fitting. I’ve eaten there many times before, and I feel that every time the food tastes a little better and is a little more filling than the last time I ate there. Mike the owner and head chef at Chingu, will always have a special place in my heart because of his kindness and knack for making the best burgers and Korean food in the whole Eugene area. Mike would also write newsletters to his customers telling of the events taking place in his life at the time as well as asking for advice on how he could make his food better. In conclusion, Chingu, the best burger and Korean food joint in all of Eugene may be closing on the 31st, but it will always live on in our hearts and our stomachs.

Cheeseburger bliss.

Chingu’s Overall Score: 93/100

We strongly encourage you to check out Chingu before they close. Just don’t go on Saturdays: that is the only day they are closed. Enjoy!

This is Chingu's final newsletter.

Do you want James and Jerome to review your cheeseburgers? We happily accept free food in exchange for an unbiased review. Email us at jamesbrains55@gmail.com if interested.