Like any self-respecting chefs serious about launching a burger empire these days, Greg Eng and Jason Low reportedly took inspiration from New York City's Shake Shacks. What resulted in Oakland ― TrueBurger ― opened in January. And while the burgers are perfectly tasty (bracketed in buttery challah buns from Berkeley's Bread Workshop) the visuals at the casual spot near Lake Merritt might be even more memorable than the food.
That includes an Oakland city skyline mural by Lisa Pfeiffer, and this bit of letter-board art executed by Low. "It's starting to get a lot of attention," Greg Eng told us yesterday. "We wanted to do something to make the place not so stuffy." Plus it can't hurt that the quote from the 2003 hit by Kelis works on the level of not-so-subtle advertising for TrueBurger's superthick milkshakes, made with Humboldt Creamery ice cream. And though we didn't ask, we got the feeling Low would totally teach us how to make our own trashy song art. Only he'd have to charge.
TrueBurger 146 Grand (at Valdez), Oakland, (510) 208-5678
