Great source for ground beef?

[Senor Popusa]

I am going to a bbq and was asked to bring some ground beef to make burgers to grill on a patio bbq. Are any local markets or purveyors better sources for either ground beef or shaped patties? Haven't shopped for this before in San Francisco.

Any help or thoughts of places within SF proper would be much appreciated. Thanks hounds!

[Robert Lauriston]

I like the ground beef I get at my local halal market. Great flavor and low price.

[sfpizzalover]

Which halal market is that, Robert? I have been going to the one in Berkeley (San Pablo Ave), and been very happy with the quality and the prices there.

[wolfe]

Be specific, the north or the south one on the block of San Pablo north at University?

[sfpizzalover]

North at University. Sorry, I do not remember the name. They have a restaurant attached to one side of the market with great food, too. Tried the samosas and tandoori chicken and chole yesterday at the Berkeley International Food Festival. All delicious and cheap!

[wolfe]

Thanks the market furthest from University with the restaurant is Indus Food. The one south is called Halal Market. Both have butchers,

[sfpizzalover]

Yes, Indus.

[Robert Lauriston]

I shop at Indus.

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Indus Village Restaurant
1920 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

[chemchef]

I bbq'd some Prather Ranch burgers over the weekend, and my husband and I both thought that they were awesome. Juicy, flavorful, delish!

[palmer.ranch]

A great way to buy beef, and meat of all kinds, is at your county fair "Jr. Livestock Auction". Kids from 9 - 18 years of age raise market animals (steers, sheep, hogs, goats and rabbits). Each animal is raised humanly, usually just a few at a time, with the support of their local 4H or FFA leader. You can meet the person that raised your food, you'll know exactly where your meat comes from and you're supporting the next generation of Bay Area farmers and ranchers. Alameda County Jr Livestock Auction is July 12th, Pleasanton, CA

[wolfe]

Good advice but read this before you go.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/621238

[SFDude]

Drewes Brothers is a great butcher on Church St. in Noe Valley. They sell Estancia grass feed ground beef. It makes an excellent burger. The overall texture is a bit firmer than standard beef and the flavor is excellent.

[pilinut]

I got a pack of ground beef from Prather Ranch at the Ferry Plaza a couple of weeks ago, and it was the most flavorful ground beef I've ever had. Initially, I was skeptical about prepacked ground beef, and I had been very happy with the freshly ground organic chuck at Draeger's, but the Prather Ranch beef had even more beefy flavor!

[Senor Popusa]

Alas I didn't get this in time so I got some ground lamb at Whole Foods, which was actually flavorful and quite good. I just mixed in some salt, pepper and herbs.

Is Prather Ranch meat in one of the stores in the bldg or is it part of the weekly Farmer's Market?

[wolfe]

One of the stores and grilling outdoors on the southside Saturdays.
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.c...

[Ruth Lafler]

Another option is ground buffalo/bison. I find it to be much more flavorful than regular beef, even though it's leaner. I don't know where to buy it in SF, though.

[wolfe]

I had a Prather Ranch buffalo burger at their stand FB.

[MargotB]

Don't judge Prather's ground meats by the burgers at their stand. I've had their stand's grilled beef burger often and am always a little disappointed as they're quite dry (although the char is nice). On the other hand I've bought their packages of ground beef frequently from their inside- Ferry Building store -- this is great stuff!!!

[wolfe]

You read my mind. The buffalo burger was dry but I attributed it to the leanest of the meat but their beef is also, I assume, lean and probably needs special care to avoid over cooking when grilling.

[Xiao Yang]

They usually have it at my Safeway (North Point).

[OldTimer]

I have been getting my ground beef for years at Costco...but you must buy 5 pounds or so. While travelling in the midwest several years ago, I asked a meat manager what they did with their tenderloin tails, he said they went into the ground beef with all the other trimings. No wonder it is so good.

[Xiao Yang]

Costco in SF also carries organic ground beef in a 3-pack (one pound each) unfrozen. I believe it's around $4/lb.