In my never-ending quest to grow to over 900 pounds before July 4th, I've noticed that I seem to write a lot about food, especially burgers. I've even done the investigative work to determine which burger joints Lubbock desperately needs to fuel my addiction. It's gotten so bad that I even know what they call a Quarter Pounder in Holland.

Tell 'em, Vincent:

via GIPHY

That's right. A Royale with Cheese.

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Sometimes in our quest for excellence, we do some research and realize that the best things don't necessarily come in a glamourous package. Sometimes, you gotta take a chance to find a little bit of heaven.

That's what brought me to Samburgers.

Image: Lance Ballance-Townsquare Media
Lance Ballance, Townsquare Media
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A quick peek online shows several rave reviews for this seemingly derelict burger stand, located at 4437 34th Street, just west of Quaker. When I pulled up to the location, I was very skeptical. I mean, take a look at that sign! An illuminated "OPEN" sign in the window assured me that they were serving burgers, even though they're only serving people via the drive-thru.

I pulled in and could almost make out the menu selections, even thought the painted descriptions had faded a bit over time. One sign definitely caught my eye, that boldly announced the "BIG SAM COMBO" -- a half-pound burger with a large fries and large drink.

After ordering, since it would take a little time to prepare my food (always a good sign, IMHO), I pulled around to wait at the back of the building. Looking around the alley, I made note of my glee that it was daylight, because at night if someone approached my window, food in hand or not, I would probably have maced their ass.

Getting back to Broadcast House with my lunch, I was a little suspect before I opened my bag. Then, I unwrapped an example of Burger Nirvana. The patties were big and  seasoned perfectly, the veggies fresh and plentiful, and the bun soft and fresh. I took a bite and completely forgot about the cannonball-sized hole in their sign. This was good. Damn good! There's a reason that this hole in the wall (or hole in the sign?) has 4 and 1/2 stars on Yelp. It deserves it.

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Leave your snooty judgment at the door and check them out.

The 12 Burger Joints That Lubbock Needs Now

LOOK: Here are copycat recipes from 20 of the most popular fast food restaurants in America

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

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