The undersung cousin of an American classic is a superior sandwich, our critic argues. Resistance to the ebb and flow of fashion is baked into the patty melt’s being.Credit...Nico Schinco for The New ...

Ah, the patty melt — a true culinary paradox. Believed to have originated in Los Angeles in the mid-20th century, the patty melt is a hybrid of a burger and a sandwich, with crispy toasted bread ...

If you grew up in the South, chances are that you've come across Waffle House's late-night patty melt, preferably served with scattered, smothered, and covered hash browns -- basically a special order ...