Minneapolis has a burger that hides its biggest surprise inside the beef patty. Known as the Juicy Lucy, this local favorite replaces the usual cheese topping with a molten center that has sparked a decades-long rivalry between two neighborhood restaurants. Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club both claim a place in its history, and even the spelling has become part of the debate. Here are six facts behind the stuffed burger that put Minneapolis on the culinary map.
The Juicy Lucy Hides Melted Cheese Inside the Beef Patty
A cheeseburger usually puts its best-known ingredient right on top, but Minneapolis has a famous version that keeps the cheese hidden until the first bite. The Juicy Lucy, also spelled Jucy Lucy by one of its best-known sellers, is made by sealing cheese inside the beef patty before cooking it. As the meat grills, the cheese melts into a hot, gooey center, giving the burger a different texture from a traditional cheeseburger. The filling also makes the first bite something to approach carefully, since the molten cheese can be hot enough to burn your mouth. The burger is typically served on a bun with straightforward toppings, allowing the beef and melted cheese to remain the main attraction. This simple change has become a defining part of Minneapolis food culture, with locals and visitors seeking out the burger at the restaurants associated with its history.
Matt’s Bar Claims It Invented the Jucy Lucy in 1954
At Matt’s Bar in south Minneapolis, the story behind the famous burger begins with a customer who wanted something different from an ordinary cheeseburger. According to the restaurant’s account, a customer asked founder Matt Bristol to put a slice of cheese between two hamburger patties rather than on top. After taking a bite of the newly created burger, the customer reportedly exclaimed that it was a juicy Lucy. The restaurant dates the creation to 1954, the year it opened under the Matt’s Bar name. The burger became a signature item, and the establishment still calls its version the Jucy Lucy, deliberately leaving out the first letter “i” in “Juicy.” Although the story is central to the restaurant’s identity, it remains an account passed down by the business rather than a documented historical fact that conclusively settles the question of who made the first cheese-stuffed burger.
The 5-8 Club Challenges Matt’s Claim to the Original Burger
Across south Minneapolis, the 5-8 Club has its own claim to the cheese-stuffed burger’s history. The establishment opened in 1928 as the 58th Street Club, originally operating as a speakeasy during Prohibition. Today, it is known for its Juicy Lucy, a burger with cheese sealed inside the beef patty. The club says its version originated in Minneapolis during the 1950s, putting its claim in roughly the same period as Matt’s Bar. However, its account does not provide the same detailed customer anecdote or a specific invention date. That leaves the two establishments competing over a story that has become part of the city’s food identity. Both restaurants have loyal customers who stand by their preferred version, and neither has produced conclusive evidence that definitively settles the dispute. The rivalry has endured for decades, helping turn a simple stuffed burger into a must-try experience for visitors exploring Minneapolis’s local dining scene.
One Missing Letter Separates Minneapolis’ Two Burger Rivals
In Minneapolis, choosing between the two famous cheese-stuffed burgers can be as much about spelling as it is about taste. Matt’s Bar calls its creation the Jucy Lucy, dropping the first “i” from the word “juicy,” while the 5-8 Club uses the conventional spelling, Juicy Lucy. Matt’s explains the unusual spelling as a mistake that remained when the burger’s name was printed on its menu. Rather than correcting it, the restaurant made the misspelling part of its identity. The 5-8 Club, meanwhile, uses the standard spelling and promotes its own version as the original. The difference is small, but it gives customers an easy way to distinguish between the two establishments and signals which side of the rivalry they favor. Both names refer to the same basic idea: a burger with melted cheese sealed inside the meat instead of placed on top. The competing spellings have become an enduring part of the story surrounding one of Minneapolis’s most recognizable foods.
The Two Restaurants Take Different Approaches to Their Cheese-Stuffed Burgers
Although Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club share the same central idea, their menus offer different ways to enjoy the cheese-filled burger. Matt’s keeps its signature Jucy Lucy relatively straightforward, focusing on beef, American cheese, and a simple presentation. That approach places the emphasis on the molten cheese center and the flavor of the grilled meat. The 5-8 Club offers its classic Juicy Lucy with American cheese but also provides alternatives such as Swiss, blue cheese, and pepper jack. These options let diners choose between a familiar, mild cheese and flavors that are sharper or spicier. The 5-8 Club also serves a wider range of menu items, while Matt’s is particularly associated with its namesake burger and traditional neighborhood-bar atmosphere. Neither approach changes the defining feature of the dish: the cheese is enclosed inside the patty and melts as it cooks. For anyone curious about the rivalry, trying both versions offers a practical way to compare their preparation, cheese choices, and overall dining experience.
The Juicy Lucy Has Become a Minneapolis Food Tradition
Some regional foods become famous because of elaborate recipes, but the Juicy Lucy’s appeal comes from a simple idea executed in an unusual way. By moving the cheese from the top of the burger into its center, Minneapolis restaurants created a dish that feels familiar while delivering a different eating experience. The burger has become a recognizable part of the city’s culinary identity, drawing visitors to Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club while inspiring other local restaurants to create their own variations. Places such as Blue Door Pub have introduced alternative stuffed burgers with different cheeses and fillings, demonstrating how widely the concept has spread. The original rivalry remains a major part of its appeal, giving diners a local food debate to join whenever they order one. There is still no universally accepted answer to which restaurant invented the burger first, but that uncertainty has helped keep the story alive. For many visitors, sampling a Juicy Lucy is now a memorable way to experience Minneapolis beyond its better-known attractions.
