Maybe President Obama and Vice President Biden needed a break from white-tablecloth dining or perhaps they just felt like getting out on the town. Either way, the two took a short lunch trip yesterday to a popular local burger joint called Ray's Hell Burger.
Upon arriving at the strip plaza eatery, the duo declined offers from other patrons to cut the line. Ray's — which prides itself in serving unconventional sodas and cheesy tater puffs in lieu of fries — couldn't accept Obama's order for fries, so he went with the potato puffs and a bottle of water instead. To check out footage of the presidential lunch outing, read more.
Since it's well-documented that President Obama prefers his burger medium well, it's no surprise that he ordered a basic cheddar cheeseburger, medium well, with lettuce, tomatoes, spicy mustard, and no ketchup. The executive branch must love its burgers medium well, since Biden ordered his Swiss cheeseburger prepared the same way, but topped with ketchup and jalapeño peppers, and a good old-fashioned root beer to drink.
The best part? When the cashier taking the presidential order wanted to take care of the tab, Obama insisted otherwise: "See all those people?" he said, pointing to the press pool that came along. "They'll write about how we were freeloaders." He paid for all the burgers in cash, leaving a $5 bill in the tip jar.
Check out the footage below — I was particularly entertained by the fans taking pictures of the president in the background — and tell me your thoughts.






Pepe Jeans
See? Anonymous comments bring out the psychos.
Anyway, I've been meaning to try this place. It always gets written up around here as one of the best places to get burgers.
1hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahaahahahaha thanks annoymous. good to know there are psychos on this blog now your ignorant moron. see? i can say dumb stuff too!
2oops, you ignorant moron. helps to spell correctly when attacking somebody else
3it's so true though about what the folks would have said if they didn't pay for their food. it's nice that obama and biden are so 'normal' though
it's nice to see them going into a different local joint.
4Why does that burger sound good? It's been a while since I had a burger.
@ snarkypants
5i live in the dc metro area..i'll have to try this place:)
6I don't care which political party you belong to, it's always great to see politicians just being 'regular folks.' He already one the election. He's not trying to drum up votes by mixing with the commoners. Sometimes you just get a craving for a burger.
Now ... Does this story make anyone else think of that old SNL sketch with Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton stopping in a McDonalds when he was supposed to be out for a jog? He keeps stuffing food in his mouth from other customers and at one point he actually gets so much in his mouth he can't talk--not part of the script--and Tim Meadows offers him a sip of his soda? "Warlords!"
7Medium well? I respectfully disagree.
8hahahahahaha familyfit, i love that sketch!!
9Wonder if they make turkey burgers? I'd check the place out when I visit my family if they had that option.
10I'm reminded (with a chuckle) of a comic strip I'd seen parodying him as "Barack Star"... with the number of folks in the crowds cheering him on, the nick fits. lol
11Lol. White cheddar. yum!
A photo similar to the one above is on the front of the San Jose Mercury news, with 2 guys in the background starring at the president. kinda funny.
12At least they did it before rush hour, that's all I have to say. Can you imagine trying to get into VA if the motorcade was on the bridge? I'm all for the Prez having fun...But not at rush hour.
13Ha ha, I recognize the plight of a fellow metropolitan area native, zoorph!
14GO VEGAN! SO MANY GOOD VEGAN BURGERS OUT THERE. You cannot say you pro environment until u stop eating animals. It's easy. No big deal.
15PEACE FOR ALL SPECIES. PARTY VEGAN STYLE.
They look pretty cool and relaxed with one another. They might even be real people.
Obama and I have the same taste in burgers except for the cheese!
16Ray's Hell Burger is so good. I've been wanting to take my family there when they visit; hopefully the inevitable crowds will die down by then.
Ray's Hell Steaks is amazing, as well.
17On a side note, I have to respectfully disagree, familyfit. Obama's won the 2008 election; I'm sure he already has his eye on the 2012 election. Whenever he appears in public, it's not be accident. It's orchestrated by his PR team. (I'm not trying to rag on Obama; that's how it is for every high level politician.) I'm sure he likes burgers, but let's not forget that just a few nights before this he went to the $200 plus per person Citronelle. (Which I am determined to try while I am still living in D.C.)
18Stop the Hero Worship - he's a man and a REALLY SUCKY President. Who cares what he eats.
19stop the annoying anonymous commenters-they're REALLY SUCKY.
20Who cares what they have to say.
It's not about what he eats, it's the fact that sometimes, he eats just like the average American. That's great to see that he is comfortable just acting like a regular guy sometimes.
What I found odd though was listening to some of the news reports; one acted all offended because Obama had a "fancy burger": his spicy mustard was Grey Poupon. Oh my god, I can't even believe that he might prefer Grey Poupon over regular mustard, that's so unacceptable. *eyeroll*
21this story changed my life
22I agree it's nice to see people who are normal. Not too long ago the media also reported that Mr and Mrs Obama went on a date together. Their food sounds good. I love spicy mustard and I'm such a southern girl haha. It's like when he went to the Chicago/Lakers game and had a beer and sat with the crowd instead of in a sky box.
23This was 2 blocks from my office! I was so bummed I didn't know he was going to be there!!!!!
24It's funny how people say he's a "sucky" president...he just had his 100 days in office not too long ago. Give him time. Great things don't happen overnight.
25Nice to see a President that is elected by the people is willing to eat with the people...why is that...I think its because he feels like he is one OF the people. He hasn't forgotten where he has come from, and what its like to be there. George W. didn't have the same connection to the average American because he NEVER had to live like an average American. Mr. Obama only wants to make this country better for the MAJORITY of its citizen's, not an elite few (Mr. Limbaugh).
26its rays the steaks. not rays hell steaks.
but yes, both rays hell burger and rays the steaks are excellent.
27Yeah, I knew that. I must have been typing too quickly.
28I'm there at least once a month. I hope I would know the name. Duh!
29This matters...umm why? Oh wait it doesn't.
30I'll be honest - I think I'm a little bit in love with Obama.
31ayo love dis place!!!
32I love this place. Great burgers, tater tots and the best mac & cheese ever! Check out my review and the menu at:
beansricelife.blogspot[dotcom]
33This guy is doing everything to stimulate the economy. Imagine how many has visited this restaurant.I hope his critics will see his wit approach
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