Scottsdale’s family-owned restaurant started as a food truck before opening their brick-and-mortar location at 14891 N Northsight Boulevard serving chef-driven street food with a fine dining twist.
Voted 2025 Best of the Valley Cheeseburger, Culinary Gangster now operates two Arizona locations including a new downtown Phoenix spot with full bar. 🍔
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What sets Culinary Gangster apart is the 8-ounce specialty burgers made from prime beef patties with creative combinations you won’t find elsewhere.
The menu goes far beyond burgers, featuring sandwiches, wraps, quinoa bowls, salads, breakfast, and even kids’ menu. Tucked away in a humble strip mall, the cozy spot boasts aesthetic indoor seating and charming patio with plenty of umbrella coverage.
Spicy Gangster Burger: The Signature Fire
The Spicy Gangster Burger tops the popular dishes with 13 photos and 11 reviews at $15.90, featuring prime beef patty, fresh jalapeños, pickles, fried onions, white American cheese, sweet chili sauce, and habanero sauce on brioche bun.
The heat comes at you in every direction with jalapeños providing fresh heat while habanero sauce brings serious fire. The spice level was just right—enough with plenty of zing, but still enjoyable, according to competitive eaters who tackled the burger challenge.
Crispy fried onions add unique textural contrast while sweet chili sauce balances the heat beautifully. This is one customers would order outside of challenges, proving it’s genuinely delicious beyond just being spicy. 🌶️
PBJ & J Burger: Nostalgic Genius
The PBJ & J Burger combines beef patty, peanut butter, jelly, and bacon in a cult-favorite creation that sounds wild but works perfectly. Competitive eater Randy Santel picked up the creamy sweetness immediately, recognizing the peanut butter and jelly combination creates something special.
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The salty bacon balances the sweet jelly while peanut butter adds richness that complements the beef beautifully. This nostalgic combo earns praise as “Delicious pb&j burger” from Uber Eats customers who repeatedly order it. The combination delivers sweet, salty, savory, and rich in every bite, proving that sometimes the craziest combinations create the most memorable burgers.
Chi-Town Burger: Big Mac Homage Done Right
The Chi-Town Burger pays homage to McDonald’s Big Mac with two beef patties, secret sauce, American cheese, lettuce, red onion, and pickles. With two half-pound patties, this creates a full pound of beef total.
Reviewers note “loads of their secret sauce”, with competitive eaters admitting maybe a little too much for their liking but acknowledging fans of Big Mac-style burgers will love it.
Each burger patty is a half pound, making this a serious meal for serious appetites. The secret sauce, American cheese combo recreates that familiar flavor profile while the quality beef elevates it beyond fast food origins. This burger proves Culinary Gangster respects classic American burger culture while making it their own.
Atmosphere
The cozy spot features aesthetic indoor seating and charming patio adorned with plenty of umbrella coverage at the Scottsdale location. Quick and efficient service means ordering at the register, paying, then sitting back as genuinely friendly staff bring food right to your table.
The interior stays pretty small, but tables get cleaned and turned over pretty fast—it’s a quick bite kind of place. BYOB policy at Scottsdale location lets you bring your own wine or beer, while the new Phoenix location features full bar with canned spritzers, wine, spirits, and trendy bottled beer. Hours run Monday-Thursday 10 AM-7 PM, Friday 10 AM-3 PM, Saturday-Sunday 10 AM-7 PM, making it accessible for lunch through early dinner.
Bottom Line
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Voted 2025 Best of the Valley Cheeseburger by Arizona voters
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8-ounce specialty burgers made from prime beef patties
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Born in food truck, built for flavor with chef-driven street food approach
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Funnel cake fries and Oreo churros for dessert lovers
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Undefeated burger challenge featuring 8 signature burgers in 20 minutes
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Address: 14891 N Northsight Boulevard, Suite 135, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
📞 (480) 572-1857
🕔 Mon-Thu: 10 AM–7 PM, Fri: 10 AM–3 PM, Sat-Sun: 10 AM–7 PM