Nancy Jo's Burgers & Fries (Salem OR)

Nancy Jo’s Burgers & Fries (Salem OR)

Date: March 22, 2025

Location: 4550 Commercial Street S, Salem OR

Website: https://nancyjosburgers.com/

With seven locations in and around Salem, Oregon, Nancy Jo’s brings together the best of both worlds: the uniform consistency of a successful chain restaurant, with the quality and care of a beloved mom-and-pop shop. Founded by Nancy Giddens in 2012, this popular spot consistently wins “Best Burger” honors in the Willamette Valley.

I tried the Bacon Cheeseburger with cheddar cheese, whole leaf lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles, grilled onions, mayo, ketchup, and mustard, on a beautiful golden bun.

1 Aesthetics — Beautiful! 7.5

2 Flavor — Mouthwatering! 8

3 Mouthfeel — So good. The crispy caramelized meat, the crunchy bacon, the ripe tomato, the toasted bun with just enough give. 8

4 Quality/Freshness — Incredible! Everything is prepared fresh daily and made to order. Perfectly seared and seasoned 100% Certified Angus Beef! Ripe, fresh veggies! They even make their own burger buns! 9

5 Integrity — Firm and strong, carefully assembled, with the perfect ratio of bun to burger! 8

6 Atmosphere — The facade and exterior signage convey a nostalgic 1950s drive-in look, similar to Mel’s Diner in San Francisco. The indoor dining area is clean and spacious with plenty of red booth and table seating, but the walls are literally covered in large, framed, exclamatory advertisements (Best in Willamette Valley for over 10 years! The Proof Is In The Burger! etc.). It’s visually overwhelming. 6

7 Service — Outstanding! When I arrived, the dining area was full and they were doing a brisk business at the drive-through window. Nevertheless, they greeted me warmly, took my order right away, and before I knew it the grill man himself brought my piping hot burger to the table. 9

8 Satisfaction — Very satisfying. The burger patties here are thick and sized correctly to the bun. All the ingredients are fresh, flavorful, and piled high. A single patty is plenty! 8

9 Creativity/Uniqueness — Nothing particularly unique about this classic cheeseburger, but they get bonus points for preparing every burger to order and offering five different cheeses, two types of lettuce, and sixteen different ingredients to choose from. 7.5

10 Value — At $9, a respectable value. 7

Nancy Jo’s serves excellent burgers at a reasonable price. My kind of place! Recommended.

Total Score: 78