It’s Burger Week (Again)- Fred’s Old Fashioned Burgers (El Cajon)

This location fo Fred's has closed.

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog written by Kirk, ed (from Yuma), Cathy and a few other friends.  Today, it's Cathy's turn.

Hi.  I knew it was the Third Annual Burger Week for us at mmm-yoso!!! and thought I would share some East County places The Mister and I enjoy.  First, Fred's Old Fashioned Burgers.   
The building that houses Fred's used to be a Taco Bell,  so you know it is not very large inside.  When it is busy, there are full outdoor tables.  
The indoor ordering counter is pretty much unchanged from the old Taco Bell blueprint. 
The Additional  Condiment Bar is right behind you after you place order and pay.
You take a seat in the different-than-Taco-Bell decorated area.  Your food will be delivered to your table. 
If you've ordered a shake ($2.95) (which you *must* do), it will be brought out first.  The Mister and I decided to share a chocolate peanut butter one. Thick, rich, using real peanut butter, this satisfies my salt cravings and His chocolate cravings. You can order your shakes with or without malt and 'extra thick' or 'regular'. There are about 8 flavors to choose from. 
Your burgers are brought out.  Mine was a "Patty Melt" ($3.79).  I must confess, the breads that are served here are the best and the real reason I like the food here. Even though this was not rye, it was a very fresh, very thick sourdough, grilled to perfection.  The burger is topped with grilled onions, (sadly) American cheese and an excellent Thousand Island. I know, American Cheese and sourdough does not a Patty Melt make, hence the quotation marks above.  The burger is hand shaped, not frozen, 1/4 pound and not thick, so as to fit on the breads.  They pretty much can't be  cooked to a medium rare, which I like.  The meat is not overly flavored on its own ( I added salt, pepper and pickles near the end of finishing the burger).  
This time, The Mister ordered a Half Pounder ($4.64), without onions.  It comes with lettuce, tomato and Thousand Island sauce (he got pickles at the bar) and is served on the wonderfully fresh, toasted potato roll you see here. Again, the bread is what brings me back more than the taste of the burger.  Oddly, the crinkle cut fries are somehow seasoned with a light layer of salt and apparently are cooked in beef fat.  They have a wonderful flavor without having to add anything, not even catsup.   
 

One other item of note, both Coke and Pepsi are served here.  Buying a "combo" does not save any money, the individual prices add up to be the same.  It's an interestingly decorated good use of the old Taco Bell space that does a steady business.  Not bad, but not outstanding burgers.

Fred's Old Fashioned Burgers 1285 East Madison (two signal lights south of I-8, behind the gas station on the SW corner) El Cajon 92021 (619)447-2300