'Always an honor'

COEUR d'ALENE - Opened in 1907, Hudson's Hamburgers on Sherman Avenue has been satisfying customers for over a century.

The diner's fresh, juicy creations are widely regarded as the tastiest in town, but according to a recent USA Today article, Hudson's grills up the best burgers in all of Idaho.

"It's very cool," said co-owner Todd Hudson. "Always an honor to be mentioned in any kind of publication like that."

Headlined "51 great burger joints across the USA," the story lists one restaurant for every state, plus the District of Columbia. Hudson's is noted for its single or double hamburgers, "hand-formed and cooked to supreme juiciness."

The "Huddies," as they're known locally, come with pickles, onions and a choice of three sauces: spicy ketchup, regular ketchup or spicy mustard.

"They have delicious burgers," said Brett Farrington, from Seattle, who first stopped at Hudson's on a cross-country road trip several years ago. "They're kind of old-school. Simple. I don't think it's anything fancy or special. It's just tasty."

With its long 1950s-style counter, sizzling grill and a refrigerator full of fresh pies, Hudson's is quintessentially small town. Up on the wall, there's a snapshot of Harley Hudson, the diner's original owner, standing outside his little hamburger stand 103 years ago. The diner has been family-owned ever since.

"Haven't changed a thing," Todd Hudson said. "Same exact menu it was in 1907. Just keep it simple. Everything's fresh here."

Back in the '30s, when the Great Depression hit North Idaho hard, Harley Hudson had a problem: Hungry patrons were draining his ketchup bottles whenever they ordered a burger. So Harley whipped up some spicy ketchup, filled his bottles, and the customers could only eat a few drops at a time.

The secret recipe was passed on to the next generation of Hudsons, and the sauce is still plenty hot.

"Great people, good food," said Sue Butters of Spokane, who had just ordered a burger. "It's amazing. It's the first place we come when we get to Coeur d'Alene."

The patties are delicious, but some folks come to Hudson's just for dessert. From banana to coconut to lemon meringue, the pies are a major draw.

"Word of mouth is the only advertisement we get," Hudson said.

A North Idaho native, Paula Batchelder-Padgitt is a Hudson's regular.

"I was born here (in Coeur d'Alene)," she said. "My family grew up with their family (the Hudsons). I like the experience of the whole place. The ambiance of the whole place. Everybody knows everybody."

Hudson's has plenty of repeat customers. Out-of-towners drop in whenever they visit Coeur d'Alene, and some locals grab a burger every chance they get.

"We have regulars that come in four or five times a week," Hudson said.

Some first-timers are disappointed when they realize the diner doesn't serve french fries. They don't think it's right, Hudson said.

But the best burger joint in Idaho isn't about to change its ways.

"People couldn't eat here four times a week if we had fries," Hudson explained. "People would probably be 600 pounds."