# Relish on hamburgers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 6, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728 "2015-10-06T16:12:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/1 "2015-10-06T16:12:52Z")
I’m starting this so as not to derail the “pickles on sandwiches” thread. Sometimes, when I go out for lunch, I’m in the mood for a burger. And lots of restaurants make great burgers. But I confess that I really like relish on a burger. Which pretty much ruins the burger-at-a-restaurant experience for me, because at the vast majority of restaurants that have burgers on the menu, when I ask if they have relish, the answer is no. What is up with that? Is putting relish on a burger such a surpassingly bizarre act that the idea of keeping a jar around for the occasional freak who wants it not even in the realm of possibility? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/2 "2015-10-06T16:15:41Z")
Go to Fuddrucker’s if you can, you can put five pounds of relish on your burger if you’d like. I have no idea how common or uncommon it is and I like relish (especially on hot dogs) but I find that if I am wanting relish on a burger it is a sign it isn’t a very good burger and I’m looking to cover things up. Note: I don’t eat beef so generally I’m talking turkey burgers. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/3 "2015-10-06T16:19:18Z")
I don’t do it myself, having pickles take their place, but relish on a burger sounds perfectly fine to me. It’s just finely diced pickles, essentially, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/4 "2015-10-06T16:22:59Z")
Please tell me that you aren’t referring to sweet relish. That shit is an abomination in any form on anything and shouldn’t exist at all. It is one of the very few foods that I will not eat in any form. Dill relish is OK on a hotdog but only so-so on a hamburger. Pickle slices work better on burgers for me and most others seem to agree. The main difference is textural. Good hamburgers have layers of bread, meat, sometimes cheese and then crisp vegetables. Crisp vegetables including pickle slices provide a contrast that you don’t get from relish. That is also the reason that it is better to use sliced rather than chopped onions on a hamburger. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/5 "2015-10-06T16:35:22Z")
I grew up putting ketchup and (sweet pickle) relish on burgers, mustard and relish on hot dogs. I remember from childhood that fast food restaurants had relish in the same kind of squeeze packets as the other condiments. Is that not a thing anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/6 "2015-10-06T16:39:37Z")
I’ve seen some places (smaller mom/pop places and in more rural areas) that have condiment packets with relish so some places do have them. That said, you know that you like it and you know that there are packets that can be had. You can ask management and try to coax them into ordering some in their next shipment or you can try to find a place that has relish and eat there. Also, as a work around, would you consider buying some for your home and taking some packets with you when you go out to lunch? Google shows that they do sell and ship relish in packets. How important is this issue to you? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/7 "2015-10-06T16:41:27Z")
Sweet relish rocks! Any place that lets me add it to my burger gets my business. Just take those slimy dill slices off it first. Favorite burger (other than In-N-Out) is the burger at The Hat. It comes with lettuce, tomato, onions and 1000 Island, but they have a whole counter of add-ons, so I grab a handful of relish packets and make the burger _perfect_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/8 "2015-10-06T17:01:26Z")
Green relish on hot dogs, red (tomato-based) relish on hamburgers. :o ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/9 "2015-10-06T17:35:04Z")
It’s like asking for a dish of mayo for your fries. There’s always this look of “ewwww” that they try to suppress before giving you the straight-faced ‘no’. Never had potato salad, I’m guessing. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/10 "2015-10-06T17:56:06Z")
I love sweet relish on anything, hot dogs or hamburgers. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/11 "2015-10-06T18:00:37Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I’ve seen some places (smaller mom/pop places and in more rural areas) that have condiment packets with relish so some places do have them. That said, you know that you like it and you know that there are packets that can be had. > You can ask management and try to coax them into ordering some in their next shipment or you can try to find a place that has relish and eat there. > > Also, as a work around, would you consider buying some for your home and taking some packets with you when you go out to lunch? Google shows that they do sell and ship relish in packets. How important is this issue to you? It’s not very important to me, which is one reason I didn’t put this in the Pit. You’re right about the packets, although their presence is more common in places where the burgers aren’t too great. (And I do understand the sentiment that putting relish on a burger is like putting ketchup on a steak.) ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/12 "2015-10-06T18:25:00Z")
Relish on Hot Dogs, Yum! Relish on Hamburgers, Yum! Relish on Tuna, Yum! Relish on Relish, Yum! ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/13 "2015-10-06T18:36:07Z")
I don’t object to the idea of relish on a burger, but it just seems like it’d be really messy to eat. Now if I can just get Hellman’s to make Big H burger sauce again! It was a delicious mayo/relish thing that I used to eat in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/14 "2015-10-06T19:43:03Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > when I ask if they have relish, the answer is no. You have pickles? And a knife of some kind? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/15 "2015-10-06T20:04:52Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I don’t object to the idea of relish on a burger, but it just seems like it’d be really messy to eat. . . . Alas, true. Now, some people go for that! “If it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face.” Carl’s Jr. slogan. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/16 "2015-10-06T21:30:11Z")
I prefer fresh cut sweet pickle chunks. If they aren’t available, then relish will do but not quite the same. Relish also goes bad quickly and the little packets are chemical messes. Why so many chains think that dill pickles are the only type anyone ever wants is beyond me. I remember way back in the day A&W served relish on some burgers (Mamas?) that was really great. You just don’t find that nowadays. And then there’s homemade bread-and-butter pickle slices… ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/17 "2015-10-06T23:29:24Z")
Pickles or relish, either way I’m fine. Gotta be dill though. My big grocery store has about a hundred brands of sweet relish, one or two of dill relish. I usually get the Mount Olive brand. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/18 "2015-10-06T23:50:59Z")
So _you’re_ the person that buys that shit. When I am elected God-Emperor Mt. Olive brand anything will be banned and the company wiped from the histories. Horrible stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/19 "2015-10-07T01:26:14Z")
I didn’t even know dill pickle relish was a thing. I’ll take your word for it, but I’m not planning on running out and buying a jar. Local Brooklyn pickles are the best, so I’ll continue slicing them with a knife when I want them sandwichized. Only knowing about sweet pickle relish, it’s never been a condiment I turn to. When in Chicago, however, I will accept it on a hot dog with everything. I won’t, like, try to scrape it off or anything radical like that. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728/20 "2015-10-07T02:50:42Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Pickles or relish, either way I’m fine. Gotta be dill though. My big grocery store has about a hundred brands of sweet relish, one or two of dill relish. I usually get the Mount Olive brand. Yes and the general public has been tricked into liking sweet relish because of lack of availability of other kinds. It is honestly one of the strangest mysteries in all of human psychology and marketing. People don’t buy whole sweet pickles much at all because they are an assault on everything that is decent and kind with the world. However, as soon as you chop them up, suddenly people start to think that they are edible and even presentable. I have eaten snails, grasshoppers, grub worms, random weeds picked out of my yard, haggis, Vegemite, Marmite, chitlins, head cheese, fish eyes, fried ants, gizzards and even Circus Peanuts and the only thing that will make me hurl a dish straight into the trash or at the cooks head is any presence of sweet relish because that is beyond the pale. It never should have been invented let alone marketed to the general public. I am sure it was a funny joke when the first prankster whipped up a batch to terrorize his little brother but that does not explain why it is still made as a widely available prank today. There are lots of styles of really good pickles ranging from homemade to store bought styles but that does not include the joke versions we are discussing. I am not kidding when I say it is a really weird marketing phenomenon and I would wish the mass marketers would call off their long-running joke because it isn’t funny anymore. The vast majority of people pick dill or sour pickle styles when they are whole or sliced but mass marketers force their sick, sweet abomination on everyone when they are diced. It makes no sense. If you don’t believe me, look closely at the pickle selection at your local supermarket, You have plenty of good choices for whole pickles but there may very well be nothing but sweet relish available at all and, even if there is, it will be a tiny selection. If I ever decide to run for President, that is going to be the first item on my platform. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relish-on-hamburgers/733728.md?page=2)