The Juicy Nookie, a local cult favorite, is classic and unassuming. Gooey American cheese is well-distributed throughout the not-too-thick patty. The Nook is a Twin Cities gem in terms of ambiance, too — downstairs there’s a small bar papered in dollar bills, and a bowling alley with arcade games. Note that you can get this same burger at sister restaurant Shamrock’s on West 7th in St. Paul.

This Mac Groveland neighborhood pub is popular with college kids and families alike. Possibly the best bite on the menu is a spicy take on Minnesota’s classic cheese-stuffed burger: the Cajun Lucy. Ample pepper jack cheese and jalepeños fit inside the patties with surprising ease. For an extra indulgent Lucy experience, try the BCO Lucy, made with bacon, American cheese, and fried onions.

The Blue Door Pub’s signature Lucy is actually a “Blucy” — it’s stuffed with blue cheese. That said, you can order a classic American rendition here, plus a number of other cheese-stuffed variations. The Longfellow Blucy is an herbed goat cheese and blackberry sauce combo, and the Mount Blucuvious comes with ghost pepper cheese, fried avocado, spicy bacon, and cilantro-lime sauce. Blue Door has another Minneapolis location on Como Avenue.

Matt’s, one of the Twin Cities most essential restaurants, claims to have invented the Jucy Lucy. (To distinguish its Lucy from other Twin Cities renditions, Matt’s spells its burger without the “i.”) The legend goes that in 1954, a Matt’s customer ordered two patties with a slice of cheese in the middle — after taking the first molten bite, he declared “That’s one juicy Lucy!” Matt’s Lucy is classic and unadorned (in the best way), flavor-dense and charred at the edges. The American cheese takes on a particular liquid quality compared to some oozier others.

The 5-8 Club (one of two contenders for the “Home of the Juicy Lucy” title, along with Matt’s Bar) first opened in 1928 as a speakeasy. Today, it’s better known for its cheese-stuffed patties: The 5-8 rendition involves classic American cheese, a broad patty, and a layer of pickles. For something a little wacky, try variations like the Buffalo Chicken Juicy, or the PB&J, stuffed with a gooey blend of peanut butter and American cheese and topped with strawberry jam.

Wendy’s House of Soul has a unique take on the Juicy Lucy. The Mogul Burger features two pre-baked, quarter-pound patties with a center of American, pepper jack, house, and provolone cheeses, plus green pepper, onions, and turkey bacon. The whole thing is encased in a gluten-free wrap and deep fried, then served with pepperoncini, a pickle, and fries. Grab a deep-fried Soul Roll to go while you’re here.

Crooked Pint runs a chain of restaurants across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, and the Dakotas, and offers a number of respectable Juicy Lucys. One you likely won’t find elsewhere in the Cities is the Poutine Lucy, which is stuffed with American cheese, then topped with more American cheese, plus chopped bacon, pub fries, cheese curds, and beef gravy.

Uncle Franky’s in Minneapolis offers an affordable, ketchup-washed riff on the iconic locals-only burger. It’s a half-pound burger with all the fixings for just $8.95, a classic Juicy Lucy for under $10.

Jersey’s Bar and Grill isn’t officially in the Twin Cities proper, but Inver Grove Heights is just a stone’s throw from St. Paul. A popular neighborhood bar with frequent live music and DJs, Jersey’s serves some of the best Juicy Lucys in the east metro. Choose between seven Lucy offerings, from the French Onion Juicy to the Jalapeno Popper Juicy, which comes breaded, deep fried, and topped with jalapeno cream cheese.