Thegrilled cheeseis having a import . One very unlike from the moment when you bite into one in third tier and get third - degree burn mark from the magma - blistering , meltedAmerican cheese . Hey , it was your first time cooking . Do n’t sudate it .
The lowly quilt solid food mainstay has been steady climb up from after - shoal favorite to true foodie indulgence . The simplistic sandwich is being remixed , revamped , and redesign in taphouse , diners , and even high - last eating place all across the nation . So much so , it may be hard to suss out which grilled cheeses are of the high bore , and which are middling much just your third - grade self bumbling over a skillet while standing on a raft ofTV Guides .
With that in mind , we huddled up with our editor , writer , and third - grade savants across the area to accumulate our picks for the best takes on the premier grilled cheeses across the country . Some are just the simple overture done miraculously right . Some are mutant sandwich , stacked with pierogi . Some even switch bread for waffles . It ’s a dotty humans out there , people . All grill cheese might have some inherent note value .
Mackin' Melt|Ms. Cheezious
But some , are simply better than the residuum .
Melt Bar & Grilled
Melt has an extensivemenuthat covers classic blends ( chorizo and potato ) , pork ( Cuban War Pig ) , beef ( Cleveland cheesesteak ) , and pierogi ( the Parmageddon ) . It ’s the good thing to come out of the Forest City since a certain basketball game stud ( we ’re talking aboutEarl Boykins , obviously).Freezing weather and deficiency of championships be beshrew ! This grilled cheeseflower shop gives the intact city of Cleveland a reason to stick around . Also , if you get a Melt tattoo , you get a 25 % discount rate for life-time . It ’s believably worth it .
Grilled Cheese Grill
We ’re not saying that the Grilled Cheese Grill invented the sandwich - bunned burger ( we ’re also not enunciate it did n’t … ) , but the fact of the matter is that a grill - cheese Warren E. Burger is only as good as the sandwiches that bookend the cake . Luckily , GCG ’s Cheesus is held together by two of the best grilled Malva sylvestris in the country , serve from an OG food cart and best eaten on a psychedelic heap parked next to the mini kitchen . Not into burgers ? No problem . Gourmet grilled tall mallow here also include one made to savour like a jalapeño Karl Popper , another with Brie and roast white pepper , and an Italian variation stacked with vulcanized meats known as the Shocker . Miraculously , the simple American cheeseflower rendering manage to still place upright out . particularly when there ’s a beefburger on top of it . –Andy Kryza , senior editor in chief
The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen
The seven - time winner of theGrilled Cheese Invitationalhas to keep up appearances , but this NorCal eatery more than covers its bottom with some of the well grilled cheese on the West Coast … or any coast , for that matter . Originator Heidi Gibson has a academic degree in engineering from MIT , which explain how she add up up with the surpassing idea of thebreakfast grill cheese– which beat the hell out of a simple cup of Folgers , in the " good part of inflame up " arena .
{Three} Sheets
In increase to its signature grilled cheese with applewood - smoke Cheddar and a red-hot cupful of bisque , this Hot ' Lanta ( sorry ) basic hold a monthlygrilled high mallow - and - wine dinnerthat pairs young blends with worthy bottles of vino . The resto articulate , " This combination permit diners reminisce about childhood with a touch of added sophistication . " We say , " Sounds good ! "
Clementine
When Barker Bradford write " Oh My Darling , Clementine " in the 1850s , this quaint SoCal mini - string of kinsfolk - owned bakeries is almost decidedly what he had in judgement . offer some timeless favorites like grilled pimento cheese and a classic white cheddar grill cheese , all with locally sourced ingredients , Clementine is a breather of fresh , simple , cheesy air in the land of Kardashians , fake tans , and plastic body parts .
HopCat
If you could n’t tell from the name , HopCat is – primarily – a joint focused on sports and beer first , and everything else second . But considering they have 130 beer on tap ( meaning , if you tried one per minute , you ’d be there for five - and - a - one-half day ) , it only make sense to provide athirst patrons with something appetizing to line their stomachs – and to make the latest Lions loss more bearable . Their legendary Madtown grill Malva sylvestris combines smoked Gouda , Muenster , and dill havarti – the greatest Michigan - based trifecta since Rip Hamilton , Rasheed Wallace , and Chauncey Billups – with apple slices , honey , and garlic aioli , all between two slurred - as - Barry - Sander’s - thighs slices of sourdough lettuce . HopCat , which now has 16 locations throughout Michigan and the Midwest , is consistently recognized nationally as one of the full craft beer bars in the States . It ’s about time its grill cheese gets some realisation , too .
Cheesie’s Pub and Grub
Is it possible to have too much of a skilful matter ? Probably … but when chicken tenders are ask , the more redundant , the better . This is exactly how people inChicago think , God bless their gluttonous heart . Cheesie ’s Tenderizer ( visualize above ) features tenders , mozz , Cheddar , Viscount St. Albans , spicy sauce , and Sweet Baby Ray ’s BBQ sauce squeeze between two slices of thick Texas toast . And this is just a single offering fromthe menuthat features a 12 other cheesy iterations , all of which come with a clear-cut dipping sauce ( the Tenderizer comes with spread , just so you know ) . douse your GC in cattle ranch is totally satisfactory , unlike other solace intellectual nourishment .
The Grilled Cheeserie
When you think of Nashville ’s food prospect , BBQ and hot crybaby immediately recoil to mind . And by all means , you should entirely gorgeon all that stuff on your next Aziz Ansari - flair jaunt to the Music City . But please , economise a niggling pocket of stomach blank space for this foodie sandwich truck , establish by a husband - and - married woman team of LA transplants ( one of which materialize to be a Le Cordon Bleu - trained chef ) . Their truck is always wad eco - friendly melts like the B&B of Tennessee ( Benton ’s bacon , buttermilk Cheddar , and seasonal jamming on multigrain ) , and they ’re even cool enough to let you work up your own sandwich on the fly , with any combo of their 15 + constituent .
Meltkraft
New York owe the City of Brotherly Love a thank you , as the PA original Meltkraft has spread out its line of revered grilled cheeses throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn . The cheese in the artisanal sandwich at Meltkraft issue forth from Bos taurus , sheep , and goats that are in reality owned by the restaurant . Be certain to attempt the Valley Thunder ( 12 - calendar month - aged Cheddar , squawk brisket , and baked macaroni & cheese ) and/or the Melter Skelter ( three - month - aged raclette , pickle gullible tomato , jalapeños , BBQ white potato chips , and cresson ) . See , there ’s more to this citythan cheesesteaks . There ’s also Meltkraft . Oh , and a Rocky statue .
Alchemy
If you ’ve ever been to Madison , Wisconsin , domicile of the Badgers , you ’ll know they care about cheese … mayhap moreso than any other position / people on the planet . You jazz , Wisconsin Cheddar , cheeseflower curds , cheeseheads , and all that . So , it probably should n’t amount as that much of a surprise that a sandwich from Madison made the cut . What might be semi - surprising , is the vapourous number of ( ! ) vegetables that somehow slid their way into the best grill cheese in our cheesiest , most calorie - laden State Department . Alchemy , long a medicine locus and late - night comfort food haunt for wonder University of Wisconsin scholarly person , is known locally and across the country for their gormandise grilled cheese , a packed - to - the - gills cheese sandwich with roasted carrots , red onion , tomato , Brassica oleracea italica , and cilantro pesto sauce . All this come in together to smother the combo of Swiss and ( duh ) local Cheddar into some levels of health - knowingness … all between two thick slices of sourdough bread . I ’m pretty sure that ’s your everyday dose of vegetables right there . And hey , in Wisconsin , you might even be place for the entire hebdomad .
The Commodore
The " Adult Cheese " sound like the worldly concern spoilt dirty movie … in world , it may be New York City’sbest and most distinct grilled cheesein a sea of copycat and soggy to - go containers . The addition of roja salsa , cream cheese , and poblanos to the classical Cheddar and ( probably ) pimento blend may strike some as violating grilled cheeseflower sacrosanct – but really , if that ’s your mindset , you need to grow up . Oh … peradventure that ’s why they call it the " Adult Cheese . "
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
Beecher ’s Pike Place Market location speedily gained cult condition during the former ' 00s as one of the best grill tall mallow spots in Seattle – and the intact state . It in the end need its show to the East Coast , open up a New York outfit in 2011 ( we are very thankful ) . It ’s a true - up cheese workshop , first and first , but the coffee bar also offers a variety of kernel - laden grilled cheeses on crispy artisanal pelf that makes you wonder why Starbucks remains the Emerald City ’s second most loved export . ( No . 1isFrasier , obviously . )
24 Diner
the great unwashed can debate all 24-hour interval about the everlasting grill tall mallow ratio , but at 24 Diner it ’s two parts freshly bake sourdough ( from its baby restaurantEasy Tiger ) , two parts cheese ( Cheddar and havarti ) , and one part butter to grow that bread into a crispy , golden dieting - destroyer . On top of the basics , it add roasted tomatoes for a big volley of umami , and when the host postulate if you ’d like to add bacon and avocado , the answer should always be a resounding " yes . " –Dan Gentile , faculty writer
Woodstock Farmers' Market
If you’re able to wade through all the crunchy " Vermont - ness " ( if you ’ve been there , you know what I ’m talking about ) present at the all - around pleasant James Leonard Farmer market in Woodstock , Vermont , you ’ll find one of the well grill cheeses of your life . The expansive menu touts myriadsandwichespacking genuine Vermont Cheddar , with options for carnivores and vegetarians likewise . If you ’ve ever met someone from Vermont , you ’ve probably heard about " how great Vermont is " no less than 30 times . When it comes to sandwiches , they may be sell themselves short .
Steuben’s
Steuben ’s is Denver ’s unofficial source fortop - nick puff food for thought , and it has been since it opened its doors 10 old age ago – if you interpret that age into " eating place long time , " it ’s practically 100 . But it still search damn just . Its sandwich is a decadent cheese bomb , with two slices of Texas goner necessitate to structurally support the yellow , bloodless , American , and Muenster cheese within , and it ’s somehow only $ 5 . With that low of a price point , the eating place is pray you to add green Republic of Chile ( because it ’s Colorado ) and bacon ( because it ’s source from local pork barrel geniuses Tender Belly ) . It comes with a side of micro chip and a pickle , but we ’re guessing you wo n’t have room.–Lee Breslouer , senior writer
Tupelo Honey Cafe
Tupelo Honey Cafe key its Southern Belle grill cheese " … as delicate as it is bold ! " This is very much the case with almost every southerly belle I ’ve ever see , and it decidedly holds up in sandwich physique . This classy dish packs Brie , Gorgonzola cheese , and business firm - made Pyrus communis & Allium cepa marmalade on sourdough , because sometimes , you just need a minuscule Southern sophistication . And now , that sophistication has disperse throughout the South , as Tupelo has outposts in Virginia , Tennessee , and that other Carolina .
Ms. Cheezious
A perennial favorite for " best food hand truck in Miami , " Ms. Cheezious has now take root in Vice City with a brick - and - trench mortar computer storage , so you always have a solid joint for sandwiches in between flogging sessions and watchingScarface(that ’s what multitude in Miami do , correct ? ) The brash name only exemplifies the playfulmenu : we ’re talking about barbecue pork melts , cheesy Phthirius pubis thawing , and even a waffle - and - chicken melt . And if you are the kind of person who likes to clean his roof of the mouth with a decadent dessert ( my man ! ) , try the s’mores melt , which is exactly what you ’d ask it to be .
New York Grilled Cheese
At first coup d’oeil , New York Grilled Cheese seemingly has a lot goingagainstit . First , for a restaurant that loudly touts itself as New York - ian , it for certain seems to be very much inside the state of Florida . One strike . second , in lieu of clams , NYGC unabashedly habituate waffles as its grilled cheese vas . While we ca n’t defendthe Florida thing , we certainly can assure you that New York Grilled Cheese ’s decision to opt for the waffle may be the good matter to fall out to the grill cheeseflower since sliced bread ( which is the first sentence that cliche actually make sense ) . They tout themselves as the " Home Of The Waffled Grilled Cheese ® , " and their menu is affluent with elaborated sandwiches , all featuring hot - pressed waffle buns . Some bill of fare standouts include the breakfast - centric Wall Street Grinder Award , with scrambled eggs , duncical - cutting Sir Francis Bacon , caramelise onions , and waffle Roger Fry on waffle - seared garlic shekels . Or , the Meatpacking District , with slow - ready brisket , chive and horseradish Cheddar , American cheeseflower , and their top - secret Holy Aioli sauce . It ’s enough to make you feel like Frank Sinatra in the middle of Florida , humidity be damned .
Grilled Cheese & Co.
Grilled Cheese & Co. – which owns the covetedILoveGrilledCheese.comdomain name – is a regional Maryland chain that serve up handmade sandwiches along with homemade soup . It sound like a lot of oeuvre , but it is decidedly worth the worry . The trademark is the literally trademark Crabby Melt ® , which combine the already - awing sandwiches with sweet claw pubic louse center and signature Crabby Dip . And you thoughtThe Wirewas the best thing to arrive out of Baltimore …
Roxy’s Grilled Cheese
You may see Roxy’sfood truckcruising the streets of Boston , and if you do , chase after it down like a rich kid scoping the first ice pick hand truck of the summer . Or do n’t , because it now has severalbrick - and - mortarjoints all over the greater Boston area . you may frequent them at your convenience to try looker like the absolutely essential Mighty Rib Melt , with fontina , braised unretentive rib , and caramelise onion plant . It ’s as sharp as a Harvard undergrad , without the crippling gumption of entitlement that ordinarily comes with .
Fair Oaks Farms
If you ’ve ever craved the chance to communicate with the cows who allow for the in the altogether material for the grilled cheese you ’re about to consume , Fair Oaks Farms is your place – a working dairy farm in Indiana that also go on to make a killer grilled cheeseflower at their … wait for it … Cowfe ( yep ) . Delightfully crisp ciabatta provides the base for your choice of their cheese – balmy cheddar , swiss , or havarti pepper – and they ’ll happily add ham actor or bacon should you hope , but this cheese does n’t need any assist from pork barrel products . –Matt Lynch , senior editor in chief
Courtesy of Melt
Courtesy of Grilled Cheese Grill
Courtesy of the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen
Courtest of Three Sheets
Courtesy of Clementine
Courtesy of HopCat
Sean Cooley/Thrillist
Instagram/TheGrilledCheeserie
Courtesy of Meltkraft
Jentri Colello
MacKenzie Smith/Thrillist
Courtesy of Beecher’s
Dan Gentile/Thrillist
WoodstockFarmersMarketVT
Lee Breslouer/Thrillist
Courtesy of Tupelo
Courtesy of Ms. Cheezious
NY Grilled Cheese Co.
Courtesy of Grilled Cheese and Co.
Instagram/Roxy’s Grilled Cheese
Fair Oaks Farms
