Greenville (NC) Eats: Pop's Old Fashion Burger

Cheap, fast local mom and pop burgers are something that I've always loved for many reasons. The fact that there's something defiantly regional about them that makes it a fun item to get wherever you travel in the US. Butter burgers at Culvers in Des Moines, Iowa where I grew up and pimento burgers in South Carolina are a few things that come into mind. For most of the Carolina's, however, they like to carry on the classic barbecue tradition on theirs, loaded up with slaw, chili, mustard and onions, which is exactly what Pop's is all about.

There are other things going on on their menu these days, but for me Pop's is strictly a burger joint, and what they do best. For starters, they get automatic bonus points for using local naturally grown beef from just down the street in Ayden, NC. And the difference is totally there. The burger is juicy, flavorful and nicely grilled every time. The chili and slaw is not the best I've ever had, but holds up fine. The meat's really the star here, and the juices dripping from it usually satisfies my burger cravings every time. The biggest gripe though? The bun. Not toasted and kind of boring, it's a bit of disappointment in an otherwise good burger.

If you like, you can also pick up funnel cake - I think the only place in town - but otherwise there's not much else I could recommend at Pop's outside of the special. The fried pickles are a bit on the oily side, and the apple pie is not so exciting; a water-downed version of the McDonalds pie in some ways. It all really doesn't matter though; Pop's is the kind of burger joint that's kind of ideal for your random burger cravings, and that they do fairly well, for a fair price to boot.

They currently don't have an urbanspoon, but you can find out more about them here or head over to their spot on the corner of Evan's and 10th in the strip mall behind Krispy Kreme.