Bunny’s Onion Burgers

One of my earliest memories of moving to Oklahoma was my first visit to Bunny’s Onion Burgers.

I remember the buzz in the car on the way there of everyone talking about just how fabulous their onion burgers were.

“Onion burger” was a lovely sound to my foodie ears, and while I wasn’t quite sure what they were, I knew I wanted one.  And when Bunny Biggers yanked my one-year-old daughter Tori out of my arms soon after we walked through the doors,  hooked up a booster seat on the counter and began playing and talking with her, giving me a much-needed Mom break to enjoy the food, I was sold for life.

Back then, Bunny’s was owned by the Bunny herself who had bought the restaurant in 1990, and added a much-needed dining room.  She changed the name from its original title of Joe’s Onion Burgers which had churned out burgers in the building also since 1978 and bought their recipe as well.   In 2008, Bunny’s was picked up by Bill Burnett and Bobby Hawkins. When a good thing works, keep the building and keep doing what you’ve been doing.  When burgers are still grilled up afer 34 years, at the corner of NW 50th Street and Meridian, I just keep going back.

Rumor has it, the onion burger was created in the age of the Depression, when restaurants were looking for a way to stretch a buck, and stretch their meat, and thus slapped some sliced onions (onions were cheap) into the meat and grilled them up together.

Whether rumor or truth, I love this concept. This brilliance has kept me going to, and smelling like Bunny’s for years now.  If you dine in and are going somewhere afterward, just know you’re going to emanate a rather peculiar grilled onion scent.

When you walk into the restaurant, you just hope there’s a table available. Before the dining room was built, people lined up behind some lonely bar stools perched around the bar to watch the burgers being tossed on the flat top griddle.  Bunny added a diminutive dining room that seats about 12-16 people and its decor is reminiscent of a 50’s diner.

At Bunny’s, you can order quite simply – a single or double burger, (with or without cheese) or a hotdog.  The meat is always fresh and isn’t pulled from the freezer. There are a few options like chili and bacon and you can get them as a single item or order a basket.

There are also a few options, like a chicken sandwich, grilled cheese and chicken strips, none of which I’ve ever ordered. And there is chili, which I’ve never ordered.

I just can’t get past wanting the burgers.

It’s fun to sit at the bar as you can watch as the grill man creates the onion burgers.

Usually the meat is scooped out with an ice cream scoop and plopped on the grill where it is then smashed flat. He then tosses a good-sized handful of grilled onions on top of the meat, and when he flips it, the result is a juicy burger with some of the meat grease cooked right into the softened onions.  And the onions are cooked into the meat..and the whole thing is marvelously wonderful.

The buns are also tossed onto the grill and then the whole thing is put together in a masterpiece of perfection.

I always get the #4 – it’s a single with cheese, with pickles, onions, lettuce and tomato and I get the onion rings…but you could get fries.

It’s insanely delicious.

Your condiments of mustard, mayo and ketchup are on the counter in front of you as well as lots of much needed napkins.

If you haven’t tried Bunny’s Onion Burgers, you should check them out.

Just look for the sign.

Have you been to Bunny’s Onion Burgers? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!

Bunny’s Onion Burgers
5020 N. Meridian Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
(405) 949-2889
website & menu

There is a 2nd location at:
1023 S. Meridian Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73108

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