Tucson Lifestyle Magazine had a big write-up about Truland Burgers and Greens recently. So I had to give it a try to see if it should be added to our List of Best Burgers in Tucson.

It was a Friday and, as typical, I went with Neighbor Roy to check out this place on North Oracle Road in Tucson. The lunch crowd was already in place when we arrived, but we were seated immediately in the back by the kitchen where we could watch food being prepared.

Both Roy and I had experienced one of the best burgers we have every enjoyed at the Willcox Wine Festival in October a few years ago. It was a bleu cheese special from a food truck whose name we no longer recall. So that is what we ordered at Truland; the Western Bleu Cheese Burger: Bleu cheese, all-natural nitrate/nitrite-free bacon, crispy onions and bbq sauce. ($12.49) The waitress told us it was an excellent choice. (Wait staff tend to say that a lot I have noticed.)

The burger did not come with fries so we ordered some: “Kennebec potatoes, twice-fried, Belgian style, in non-gmo rice bran oil, seasoned with kosher salt: ($5).”

At the top of their menu it reads: “To ensure a great burger experience, Truland uses premium hormone/antibiotic free beef* from Niman Ranch. Every burger has two patties which are smashed, seared and cooked to medium well on our state-of-the-art grill to seal in the meat’s natural juices and flavors. Although we feel strongly that our standard “double” is the way to go, for those who prefer a thicker “single” burger to temp*, we do offer that as an option. Just let your server know!”

I know that Niman Ranch raises mostly grass-fed beef, so I was concerned that cooking such meat to medium-well it could be dry. It was, unfortunately. (Diablo Burger Downtown (read our review) offers only grass-fed beef too, but they don’t over-cook it. Thus, our Truland Burgers did not hold a candle to Diablo Burger or the Bleu Cheese beauty we enjoyed in Willcox so many years ago. The fries, however, were excellent.

Roy’s comments included: “The burger turned out to be well done and a bit on the dry side. I would suggest they mix the cheese in a cheese sauce and layer it on the bread. This sandwich was best from a food wagon in Willcox, AZ during the wine festival.
As for the restaurant, it was clean, staff was friendly, the kitchen open to inspection from dining area. To me it resembled some chain restaurants, so I asked the waitress if it were part of a chain. She assured me it was the only one, but that they were opening a branch in Chandler. It was a good experience, wide menu choice, did see platters of greens being served to others–looked good.”

We rated Truland Burgers and Greens three and a half saguaros. Sadly, it won’t be added to our List of the Best Burgers in Tucson.

Truland Burgers and Greens
7332 N Oracle Rd.
(520) 395-2975

Hours: 11-9 Sun-Thurs and 11-10 Fri and Sat.