The hamburger has been a meaty meal staple since the dawn of time - well at least since around 1900. The hamburger's born-on date is still being debated in burger circles.

Who cares?

The South Sound is a burger-loving region, and you can find excellent versions all over: beefy patties, oozing juice, coated with cheese and served on tasty rolls. The region is already stuffed with burgers, but two recent additions - well, almost two - have shoved our obsession with burgers back to the forefront.

South Sound Magazine latest issue dedicated a double truck to local burgers of the South Sound. Sadly, two of this year's contenders were omitted due to press deadlines and code frustrations: Shake Shake Shake and DeLong's DeLuxe.

Heavily anticipated burger joint Shake Shake Shake - a 40-seat, retro-themed walk-up Stadium District burger joint - had projected a late 2012 opening, but Health Department inspections and permit run-arounds has prevented owners Steve Naccarato and Robert Stocker as well as Chef Gordon Naccarato from serving their roadside diner style burger, hot dogs, fries and local fruit shakes to the folks pounding on the door. Stocker anticipates a March opening.

"Boy, this is starting to become the most anticipated restaurant opening in the history of Tacoma," says Stocker. "I only say that because that's what people keep telling me. We are just a week and a half or so away."

When the doors do finally open, diners will be devouring the juicy burgers and sip shakes in re-purposed diner chairs from the old Elks Club bowling alley in a sea of muted blue and electric orange.

"We have also been approached by a film director who wants to shoot four hours here in the next week or so," says Stocker.  "We are trying to negotiate that and fit it in so hopefully we can open very soon."

Instant burger joint stardom.

For those restless over Shake Shake Shake's opening should shake it off and head to DeLong's DeLuxe in Lakewood.

Tim and Marie Delong opened their family owned and operated burger house on the busy corner of Steilacoom and Bridgeport Way earlier this month. DeLong's features an outdoor grassy courtyard center stage for dining in the warmer months and a couple of picnic tables. The walk-up service has already rallied quite the line of burger lovers, but the service remains swift and super friendly. The sharp winds had me sitting in my warmed vehicle as I waited for my number to be called.

Crowd favorites such as the Old Fashioned, Stadium Dog and Frito Chili Pie feature quality ingredients such as 100 percent ground chuck beef, 100 percent beef franks and Tillamook cheddar. These ingredients make for delightful juicy bites smothered in proper amounts of relish, mustard, or DeLong's special sauce.

The Stadium Dog arrives stuffed with cream cheese, mustard, relish and sautéed onions.

While it's not glamorous, the messy Frito Pie is darn tasty. The diced onions, Tillamook cheddar and fresh lettuce costumed the crispy chili smothered chips. I might have bumped up the spice. And I certainly wouldn't try to eat it on the go.

Even in the brisk cold I felt obligated to order one of DeLong's handspun shakes. With flavors such as blackberry, banana and marshmallow, I opted for a hot fudge shake and delighted in its chocolate, creamy concoction.

Next spring the Weekly Volcano will host the Tournament of Burgers. No doubt these two burger joints will be voted into the tournament.

SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, 124 N. TACOMA AVE., TACOMA, 253.507.4060

DELONG'S DELUXE, 8901 BRIDGEPORT WAY SW, LAKEWOOD, 253.922.6423