(5) Pop's, 4400 Benbrook Highway, Fort Worth vs. (3) OC Burgers, 1201 Airport Freeway, No. 190, Euless
Just as college basketball has underdogs, so does Battle of the Burgers, where fast-food OC Burgers made it to the Elite Eight. And just as in college basketball, the underdog eventually got kicked around by a powerhouse. OC's No. 1 burger -- with cheese and special sauce -- arrived overcooked despite a sign at the register saying that all burgers are cooked medium rare. (It's a slip-up it has made previously in this year's Battle of the Burgers.) The toppings were unexceptional, and the special sauce was so faint that we had to check the bun to see if it was there. There was no such stinginess with Pop's Belly Buster, a juicy monster that became a forkburger after three bites. The thick patty -- made from meat sauteed in Worcestershire sauce -- had a dusky flavor that held up to two cheeses, jalapeños, mushrooms, grilled onions and bacon. Admittedly, we didn't notice everything on this beautiful mess -- Pop's website says it also includes onion rings and bell peppers, which somehow got lost amid the culinary chaos -- but we didn't care, because this was burger nirvana.
The winner: Pop's
