El Reno in Canadian County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Onion Burgers

— Hungry for History —

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 11, 2025

1. Onion Burgers Marker

Inscription. Introduced in the 1920s, shredded onions fused with limited amounts of ground beef made these burgers an affordable local specialty.

Erected 2024 by William G. Pomeroy Foundation. (Marker Number 18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Hungry for History, and the U.S. Route 66 series lists.

Location. 35° 31.893′ N, 97° 57.272′ W. Marker is in El Reno, Oklahoma, in Canadian County. It is at the intersection of Wade Street (U.S. 66) and South Choctaw Avenue (U.S. 66), on the left when traveling east on Wade Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: El Reno OK 73036, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country

and in Greater Oklahoma City.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory

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of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Major General Jesse Lee Reno (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Canadian County War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Goff House (approx. 0.2 miles away); POW - MIA (approx. 1.2 miles away); Darlington (approx. 3.8 miles away); Fort Reno (approx. 4 miles away); The Chisholm Trail and Fort Reno (approx. 4.9 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Reno (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Reno.

Also see . . .
1. Onion Burgers. This marker commemorates the creation and longevity of the fried onion hamburger, created during economic hard times and celebrated with an annual festival in El Reno. (William G. Pomeroy Foundation) (Submitted on June 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. The 'Depression Burger' of Route 66. In the small community of El Reno, a dreamer named Ross Davis and his father opened the Hamburger Inn, scoring a prime location along

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 11, 2025

2. Onion Burgers Marker

the brand-new famed Route 66 highway right as the economy shattered. Savvy as only those who struggled during the economic crash of the Great Depression, Davis knew that while hamburger meat was expensive, onions were cheap. (Heide Brandes, BBC, Jun 27, 2023) (Submitted on June 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Oklahoma Onion Burgers. The hallmark ingredients of an onion burger are few but mighty: soft steamed buns, creamy American cheese, and lots and lots of griddled onions. (Kimberly Holland, Southern Living magazine, Sept. 18, 2024) (Submitted on June 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Oklahoma Onion Burgers image. Click for full size.

Houstonman6; via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

3. Oklahoma Onion Burgers

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.