Hvide Svin ★ 3.5
No-frills late-night bar with the cheapest burgers and hot dogs in the city running until 02:00. At Studsgade 16. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
Try: Hot dogs and burgers until 02:00
The hamburger is, by some measure, America's most globally consequential food contribution: a griddled or grilled beef patty served on a soft bun with toppings, ubiquitous on six continents, the foundation of the largest restaurant chain in the world (McDonald's), and the subject of more cultural argument than almost any other dish in the American canon. The origin is contested (Hamburg-style ground beef in late-19th-century immigrant communities in New Haven, New York, and Wisconsin all claim invention), but the modern American hamburger took shape in the 1900s through the 1920s, with White Castle's first store in Wichita in 1921 standardizing the small-square-bun-and-patty format that became fast food.
The defining variants today span four broad categories. The smashburger is the modern revival of the original style: a small ball of fresh ground beef smashed flat on a screaming-hot griddle, producing a thin, crackly-edged patty with a deeply browned crust. The diner burger or grill burger is a hand-formed quarter-pound or third-pound patty cooked on a flat-top, juicier and thicker. The pub or restaurant burger is a half-pound or larger, often dry-aged or specialty-beef, cooked to a specific temperature, with sophisticated toppings. The fast-food burger is the industrial descendant, optimized for cost and consistency rather than flavor.
Regional variants are real and worth seeking out. The In-N-Out double-double of Southern California; the Shake Shack East Coast version that descended from Danny Meyer's burger stand; the Wisconsin butter burger (Solly's, Culver's); the Mississippi slugburger (beef stretched with bread); the Oklahoma onion burger (smashed with shaved onion pressed into the patty); the Louie's lunch steamed cheeseburger of Connecticut; the New Mexico green chile cheeseburger. Each is a real local tradition.
Regional variations
California / Southwest
In-N-Out (Southern California, since 1948), Animal Style (mustard-grilled patty, grilled onion, extra spread, pickles), Double-Double, the secret menu. Shake Shack now national but New York-rooted. California-Mexican burger overlap with green chile and avocado.
New York / East Coast
Shake Shack (since 2004), J.G. Melon (the unimproved old-school NYC burger), Peter Luger (the steakhouse lunch burger), Corner Bistro (the late-night classic). Slightly thicker patty, often a brioche-bun upgrade.
Midwest
Wisconsin butter burger (Solly's in Milwaukee, Culver's chain): a patty with a slab of butter on top of the bun. Oklahoma onion burger (smashed with shaved onion pressed into the patty, originated during the Depression to stretch beef). Steamed cheeseburger of New Haven (Louie's Lunch, since 1895, the contested birthplace).
South
The Mississippi slugburger (beef stretched with bread or soy, fried), the Carolina pimento cheeseburger, the Texas chile burger. Whataburger as the regional chain anchoring much of the South and Southwest.
New Mexico
Green chile cheeseburger: a beef patty topped with roasted, peeled, chopped Hatch green chile and melted cheese. The state's defining variant, with annual competitions for the best.
Defining burgers dishes
- Smashburger
- Small ball of fresh ground beef (80/20 chuck typical) pressed flat on a screaming-hot flat-top with a metal spatula, producing a thin patty with a deeply crusted edge. Often single or double-stacked with American cheese, soft potato bun, and minimal toppings. The most flavor-forward burger style.
- Double-Double (In-N-Out)
- Two thin smashed patties, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and 'spread' (a Thousand Island variant), on a soft toasted bun. Animal Style adds grilled onions, mustard-grilled patties, and pickles.
- Diner cheeseburger
- Quarter-pound hand-formed patty, griddled to a medium-rare or medium center, on a soft bun with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle. The benchmark American hamburger before the smashburger revival.
- Pub burger / Restaurant burger
- Half-pound or larger patty, often a custom beef blend (brisket-chuck-short rib), cooked to temperature, with elevated toppings (caramelized onion, aged cheddar, smoked bacon, special sauce). Often on a brioche bun. The gastropub category.
- Butter burger
- Wisconsin specialty: a patty with a thick slab of butter melted on top of the bun (or sometimes incorporated into the patty). Solly's Grille in Milwaukee is the canonical version.
- Oklahoma onion burger
- Thin smashed patty with a generous handful of shaved white onion pressed into the meat as it cooks on the griddle. The onion caramelizes into the patty and becomes part of the bite.
- Slugburger
- Mississippi-Tennessee Depression-era burger: ground beef stretched with bread, soy grits, or potato, formed into a thin patty, and fried in deep oil. Served with mustard, onion, and pickle.
- Green chile cheeseburger
- New Mexico specialty: a beef patty topped with roasted, peeled Hatch green chile (mild, medium, or hot) and melted cheese. The state's official sandwich.
- Steamed cheeseburger
- Connecticut specialty (Louie's Lunch in New Haven, since 1895): the patty is cooked in a vertical steam cabinet rather than on a griddle, served on white toast (not a bun), with a slice of cheese and tomato. Possibly the original American hamburger.
- Patty melt
- A diner classic adjacent to the burger: ground beef patty with grilled onion and Swiss cheese, on griddled rye bread. The burger that became a sandwich.
- Cheesy bacon burger
- The default modern American customization: a burger with American or cheddar cheese and 2 to 4 strips of bacon, plus standard toppings. The most-ordered upgrade across chain and casual restaurant menus.
- Hawaiian burger
- Burger with a grilled pineapple ring, often teriyaki sauce, sometimes a fried egg or bacon. California chain Original Tommy's and Hawaiian regional places anchor the form.
How to order
At a smashburger spot, single or double is the question, with cheese always (American is the textbook choice, not aged cheddar). At a diner, medium-well is the default; ask for medium if you want pink. At a pub or restaurant burger, the chef will guide on temperature and toppings. Specify pickles, raw onion, lettuce, tomato (or 'no veg' for the purist style), and any sauce. Fries are the universal side, with onion rings as the alternative. A milkshake (chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry) is the canonical drink pairing.
The rookie mistakes: ordering a well-done burger at a serious restaurant (the meat dries out and the flavor disappears), asking for a brioche bun at a smashburger spot (the soft potato bun is part of the design), expecting In-N-Out to make a custom Wagyu burger (the menu is fixed; the magic is in the consistency), and tipping less than 20 percent on a counter-service burger (the labor model assumes a tip jar at minimum).
What to drink with it
Milkshake (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry) is the canonical American burger pairing, especially at diners and roadside stands. Cold beer (a crisp pilsner or American lager) is the next most common. American whiskey or bourbon for a steakhouse burger. Coca-Cola or a cherry Coke as the soda choice. The wine pairing at a pub burger is typically a soft red (Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Gamay) or a structured beer (Belgian dubbel, English bitter, IPA). With a smashburger, a malted milkshake is the move; the salt and fat are balanced by the dairy-and-sugar.
Where to eat it
Los Angeles for the In-N-Out and the California burger tradition (Apple Pan, Father's Office). New York for Shake Shack, J.G. Melon, Corner Bistro, Peter Luger, and the bistro burger tradition (Le Coucou, The Spotted Pig legacy). Wisconsin for butter burger (Solly's in Milwaukee). Oklahoma for the onion burger (Sid's, Tucker's). Connecticut for the steamed cheeseburger (Louie's Lunch). New Mexico for green chile (Bobcat Bite was the legendary one; Santa Fe Bite, the Owl Cafe in Albuquerque). Outside the US, the burger has gone global; the best non-US burgers are typically in Japan (Tokyo's Blacows, the BillyQ kitchen) and London (Bleecker, Patty & Bun, Honest Burgers).
A short history
The American hamburger emerged in the late 19th century from German immigrant communities, with multiple contested origin stories: Louie's Lunch in New Haven (1895), Charlie Nagreen at the Seymour, Wisconsin fair (1885), Hamburg, New York Erie County Fair (1885), and others. White Castle in Wichita (1921) standardized the small-square format for industrial fast food. McDonald's San Bernardino (1940) and its franchising in the 1950s exported the burger globally. The 21st-century smashburger revival (Shake Shack 2004, the slow proliferation of Bay Area and East Coast smashburger spots) returned the focus to ingredient quality and technique.
Frequently asked
What is a smashburger?
A burger made by smashing a small ball of fresh ground beef onto a screaming-hot flat-top griddle with a heavy spatula, creating a thin patty with maximum surface area and a deeply browned, crusty edge. The technique was the original American burger method (Depression-era diners did it this way) and has been revived since the 2000s.
What is the ideal burger temperature?
Medium to medium-rare for a thick (half-pound or larger) hand-formed patty; well-done is the necessary endpoint for a smashed thin patty (which cooks through in 60 to 90 seconds and develops its character from the crust, not the interior). Avoid medium-well for a thick patty (dry without the benefit of fully developed crust).
Why is In-N-Out so loved?
Consistency, ingredient quality (fresh-ground, never-frozen beef; American cheese; soft buns; fresh produce), reasonable price, and the secret menu that makes regulars feel in-the-know. The chain has a cult following partly because it has chosen not to over-expand, maintaining quality control across a limited geography.
Burgers by city
Burgers in Aarhus
Burgers in Albuquerque
The Owl Cafe ★ 4.4
The Owl Cafe on Eubank Boulevard is the green chile cheeseburger anchor on the New Mexico GCCB Trail, modeled after the Owl Bar and Cafe in San Antonio NM.
Signature: Green chile cheeseburger, Owl burger
The Owl Cafe ★ 4.4
The Owl Cafe on Eubank Boulevard in Albuquerque is the green chile cheeseburger anchor on the New Mexico Tourism GCCB Trail
Signature: Green chile cheeseburger, Owl burger
Burgers in Amsterdam
Burger Bar Leidseplein ★ 3.6
Burger Bar near Rembrandtplein runs Amsterdam late-night patties, build-your-own toppings, the room open into the early hours over weekends.
Try: Build-your-own burger with sweet-potato fries
Burgers in Anchorage
F Street Station ★ 4.8
F Street Station's downtown long bar stays open to 02:30 most nights since 1944, serving Alaska seafood chowder and burgers until last call.
Try: Alaska seafood chowder and burger
Burgers in Asheville
The Rankin Vault ★ 4.4
The Rankin Vault on Rankin Avenue, a one-way downtown alley, opened in 2008 and serves a 100 percent grassfed Vault Burger until 02:00 daily.
Try: The Vault Burger
Tip: Late-night menu kicks in at 23:00. The Vault Burger is the local-cult late-night order.
Farm Burger ★ 4.1
Farm Burger's downtown Asheville room on Patton Avenue, just off Pack Square, runs Hickory Nut Gap grassfed burgers, order-at-the-counter format, since 2014.
Signature: Grassfed cheeseburger, Farm fries, Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich
Order: A double cheeseburger with farm fries; build-your-own with the No 5 (oxtail marmalade) is the move.
Tip: Counter service. Order pickup ahead online; counter line moves fast.
Farm Burger ★ 4.1
Farm Burger on Patton Avenue serves Hickory Nut Gap grassfed burgers and farm fries counter-style, under $15 for a single cheeseburger and side.
Try: Grassfed burger and fries
Tip: The build-your-own with a single patty is the value play. Counter service; order pickup ahead online.
Burgers in Atlanta
R. Thomas Deluxe Grill ★ 4.0
R. Thomas Deluxe Grill in Atlanta is the Midtown organic late-night room: free-range burgers, vegan bowls, an outdoor patio of yard ornaments since 1985.
Try: Free-range burgers, vegan bowls, blue-green-algae smoothies
Tip: Cuts off at 05:00 Wednesday through Saturday now, not 24-hour anymore. Yard ornament patio is the move on warm nights.
Bucket Shop Cafe ★ 3.7
Bucket Shop Cafe in Atlanta's Buckhead has poured the late shift since 1982: lemon pepper wings, burgers, draft beer until 03:00 most nights.
Try: Lemon pepper wings, burgers, draft beer
Tip: Holding down Buckhead's late-night since 1982. Kitchen runs to 02:30; the bar carries the last half-hour.
Burgers in Auckland
Wise Boys Burgers ★ 4.3
Wise Boys Burgers on Great North Road in Grey Lynn, Auckland runs plant-based burgers and shakes at sub-NZD $22. Vegan, founded 2017, food-truck origin.
Try: Plant-based burger and chips
Burgers in Austin
Hopdoddy Burger Bar (South Congress) ★ 4.2
Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Austin is the South Congress flagship since 2010, a counter-order burger room that grinds chuck daily and built a national chain.
Signature: Llano Poblano burger, Truffle fries, Hand-spun shake
Order: The Llano Poblano with house-ground chuck and truffle fries on the side.
Tip: The line moves; queue at 5pm or 10pm. The Sack of Sliders is a four-burger flight worth ordering once.
P. Terry's Burger Stand (South Lamar) ★ 4.2
P. Terry's Burger Stand in Austin is the South Lamar original since 2005, the local burger chain serving fresh-ground beef burgers on the cheap.
Try: Cheeseburger and fries
Tip: The double cheeseburger combo runs around $9 with drink and fries; the soft-serve cone is the dessert.
Burgers in Belgrade
Z Burger ★ 4.6
Z Burger on Cetinjska is the Belgrade Burger Festival winner four years (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025). Dry-aged premium beef under 1,100 dinars per burger.
Try: Smash burger
Burger House Bros ★ 4.1
Burger House Bros on Kralja Petra in Stari Grad runs Belgrade's central burger counter. Double cheeseburgers, parmesan chicken and a small craft beer list.
Signature: Double cheeseburger, Parmesan chicken sandwich
Burgers in Birmingham
Paramount ★ 4.0
Paramount on 20th Street North downtown Birmingham keeps arcade tokens and the smash burger flowing until 22:00 weeknights and on weekend evenings.
Try: Smash burger and arcade tokens
Burgers in Boise
Big Jud's ★ 3.8
Big Jud's is a Boise institution serving one-pound hand-pressed burgers since the 1960s, with a free-burger challenge for finishing the full-pound meal.
Order: The one-pound burger with house sauce -- finish it and it is free
Big Jud's ★ 3.8
Big Jud's is a Boise institution famous for one-pound hand-pressed burgers and a free-burger challenge that has tested local appetite since the 1960s.
Order: The one-pound burger challenge or the double cheeseburger with Idaho fries
Big Jud's ★ 3.8
Big Jud's serves one-pound hand-pressed burgers from $13 and a free challenge version to anyone who finishes the full-pound meal at budget pricing.
Burgers in Brisbane
Ben's Burgers ★ 4.4
Ben's Burgers off Winn Lane in Fortitude Valley runs a A$20 burger, fries and Burleigh schooner meal-deal. Three lunch options, house-made patties.
Order: BB Classic with fries and a Burleigh schooner
Felons Brewing Co. ★ 4.3
Felons Brewing Co. at Howard Smith Wharves runs to midnight by the river. Crisp Lager, wood-fired pizzas, burgers and outdoor tables under the Story Bridge.
Felons Burger ★ 4.2
Felons Brewing Co at Howard Smith Wharves serves a cheeseburger for A$20 and Crisp Lager for A$10. Under A$25 with a pint, eaten by the river.
Order: Felons cheeseburger with a Crisp Lager
Burgers in Buffalo
Gabriel's Gate (Late) ★ 4.4
Gabriel's Gate on Allen Street stays open to 01:00 on weekends, with the city's most defended jumbo wings and a full Allentown late-night bar.
Try: Wings and burger
Gabriel's Gate (Bar Menu) ★ 4.4
Gabriel's Gate on Allen Street in Allentown serves jumbo wings, a house burger and tavern plates that anchor Buffalo's neighborhood budget bar menu.
Try: Wings and house burger
Founding Fathers Pub ★ 4.3
Founding Fathers Pub on Edward Street stays open until 02:00, with trivia, presidential history theme and a long Buffalo late-night beer and burger crowd.
Try: Wings, burger, trivia bar food
Burgers in Charleston
Smash City Burgers ★ 4.3
Smash City Burgers on Cooper Street runs a stripped-back smashburger counter in the old Fair Deal Grocery on the Charleston Eastside. At 47 Cooper St.
Try: Classic Single cheeseburger with crinkle fries
Tip: Open Wed-Sun for dine-in, delivery to midnight. Cash or card; build-your-own option for catering orders.
Burgers in Charlotte
Heist Brewery ★ 4.2
Heist Brewery on N Davidson runs a full-service kitchen until 2am Friday and Saturday in NoDa, with brewery burgers and pizzas to soak the late-night.
Try: Brewery burgers and pizzas
Order: A brewery burger and a pour off the tap list.
Tip: The kitchen closes earlier other days. Late-night runs Friday and Saturday only.
Pinky's Westside Grill ★ 4.1
Pinky's Westside Grill on West Morehead is the Charlotte burger institution open until 11pm Thursday to Saturday, with a dog-friendly outdoor patio.
Try: Burgers and fried pickles
Order: A burger stack with fried pickles to share.
Tip: Closes at 22:00 Sunday-Wednesday. Late hours run Thursday through Saturday.
Burgers in Cincinnati
Northside Yacht Club ★ 4.4
Northside Yacht Club on Spring Grove Avenue in Cincinnati's Northside runs Cincinnati's late kitchen until 2am, with smash burgers and vegan fried chicken.
Try: Smash burgers, vegan fried chicken, wings
Burgers in Cleveland
ABC the Tavern ★ 4.3
ABC the Tavern on West 25th Street in Ohio City runs the West Side late-night kitchen, tavern burgers and house wings through 01:00 alongside an extensive.
Try: Tavern burger and house wings
Burgers in Cologne
Grabz Smashburger ★ 4.0
Grabz Smashburger in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel serves American-style smash burgers with crispy patties and house sauces; one of the neighbourhood's best.
Order: Classic smashburger with double patty, American cheese and house sauce
Tip: Open until 03:00 on Friday and Saturday nights. One of the best late-night food stops in the Belgian Quarter.
Burgers in Columbus
Old Mohawk ★ 4.3
The Old Mohawk on Mohawk Street has been a German Village tavern since 1933 with turtle soup and tavern burgers, off the South Third Street tourist trail.
Why locals love it: Off the German Village tourist path on Mohawk Street, the Schumacher Place tavern has the turtle soup and a cash-friendly bar since 1933.
Tip: Order the cup of turtle soup and the tavern burger at the back-room bar.
Old Mohawk Tavern Burger ★ 4.3
The Old Mohawk tavern burger with fries on Mohawk Street in Columbus's German Village, since 1933, runs under $15 for the neighborhood-bar staple.
Try: Tavern burger with fries
Bodega ★ 4.2
Bodega on the corner of North High and Third Avenue runs the Short North's reliable late-night kitchen until 01:00 with smash burgers and craft beer.
Try: Smash burger and craft beer
Burgers in Copenhagen
Gasoline Grill (Landgreven) ★ 4.6
Gasoline Grill's original Landgreven location in a former petrol station near Kongens Nytorv smashes thin-patty Texas-style burgers from 11:00 until they.
Try: Smash burger and fries
Tip: Outdoor seating only. Pre-order on the app to skip the queue at lunch.
Restaurant Pluto ★ 4.5
Restaurant Pluto on Borgergade in Copenhagen runs a full kitchen and bar until 02:00 on Friday and Saturday, with sharing plates, burgers and an open.
Try: Burgers, sharing plates, French wine
Tip: The bar takes walk-ups after 22:00 when the dining room slows.
BRUS (Tapperiet BRUS) ★ 4.5
BRUS on Guldbergsgade in Nørrebro keeps the brewpub running to midnight Wednesday to Sunday, with smash burgers, bao buns and 30 To Øl taps brewed on site.
Try: Smash burgers, bao buns, craft beer
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. The brewery patio is the summer late-night seat.
Burgers in Cork
Son of a Bun ★ 4.4
Cork's most celebrated burger joint, operating from a former music store on MacCurtain Street. Everything - patties, sauces, pickles - is made in-house daily.
Order: The signature Cork burger with house sauce and pickles - the combination of daily-fresh patty and fermented.
Son of a Bun ★ 4.4
Cork's best burger for the money. Everything made in-house, open daily from noon, with burgers priced under €15 including fries. The quality-to-price ratio.
Son of a Bun ★ 3.9
Cork's most awarded burger counter, running Aberdeen Angus beef freshly minced daily through a classic smash-style format on MacCurtain Street.
Signature: Classic smash burger, Monthly special, Hand-cut fries
Burgers in Dallas
Katy Trail Ice House ★ 3.9
Austin-style beer garden and burger joint at the trailhead of the Katy Trail in Uptown, with a massive outdoor patio that draws cyclists, dog walkers.
Order: Texas craft beers on draft; Katy Trail burger
Tip: Dog-friendly on the patio. Arrives packed by 6pm on weekdays. First-come patio seating only.
Burgers in Denver
Park Burger ★ 4.1
Park Burger in Highland is the Front Range mini-chain burger counter with grass-fed Colorado beef patties, fries and milkshakes under $14. At 2643 W 32nd Ave.
Try: Park Burger combo
Burgers in Des Moines
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab ★ 3.9
East Village's theatrical burger destination: zombie-themed patty combinations, deep-fried mac and cheese buns, and a Drink Lab serving cocktails and
Signature: Mac and Cheese burger, Dawn of the Dead burger, Spiked milkshakes
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab ★ 3.9
Horror-themed East Village burger bar with creative named combinations: 28 Days Later, Walking Ched. Thick Angus patties and milkshakes worth the trip.
Signature: Mac and Cheese burger, Dawn of the Dead burger, Spiked milkshakes
Burgers in Detroit
Green Dot Stables ★ 4.3
Green Dot Stables on West Lafayette in Corktown serves $3 sliders in Detroit. Cash and cards; loud and busy at peak. Walk-in only. At 2200 W Lafayette Blvd.
Signature: Sliders, Korean BBQ slider
Order: Order four sliders across categories, the fries, and a $3 cocktail to match.
Tip: Cash and cards; loud and busy at peak. Walk-in only.
Brome Modern Eatery ★ 4.3
Brome Modern Eatery on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves halal grass-fed beef burgers and hand-spun shakes in metro Detroit. Open through 02:00 on weekends.
Signature: Halal beef burger, Hand-spun milkshake
Order: Halal beef burger with crispy onions and a salted-caramel milkshake.
Tip: Late-night kitchen runs to 02:00 Wednesday to Sunday; vegetarian and vegan options too.
Brome Modern Eatery ★ 4.3
Brome Modern Eatery on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves halal burgers and shakes in metro Detroit through 02:00 most nights. Hand-spun milkshakes.
Try: Halal beef burger, milkshake
Tip: Cards and cash both fine; the milkshake list is the editorial draw at late hours.
Burgers in Dublin
Dash Burger ★ 4.5
Dash Burger on Kevin Street Lower in Dublin 8, Barry Wallace's 2020 smash-burger room that landed at the top of every Dublin best-burger list.
Signature: Double smash burger, Skin-on fries, Buttermilk chicken nuggs
Order: Double smash with American cheese and onion; skin-on fries on the side.
Tip: Walk-ins only at both rooms, kitchen from 12:00-21:00 daily. The Kevin Street room is small and turns fast at lunch.
Dash Burger Capel Street ★ 4.5
Dash Burger on Capel Street in Dublin 1, the larger of Barry Wallace's two smash-burger rooms, a terrace and beers on tap with the kitchen on the griddle.
Try: Double smash burger
Tip: Walk-ins only, kitchen closes at 21:00; the double smash with cheese and skin-on fries is the order. Beers on tap at this branch.
Bunsen ★ 4.2
Bunsen on Wexford Street in Dublin, the chef-built burger that built a five-shop Dublin chain on one menu of beef, cheese and fries, the city's reference.
Signature: Cheeseburger, Fries, Milkshake
Order: Quarter-pound cheeseburger with onion, fries and a chocolate milkshake.
Tip: One menu, no specials; the smallest tables turn fastest. Late till midnight at the Wexford Street flagship.
Burgers in Durham
Bull City Burger and Brewery ★ 4.0
A downtown Durham burger and brewery institution. The kitchen grinds beef daily; the brewery rotates a pilsner and IPA. Opening time 11:11 is a tradition.
Signature: Craft beef burger, Truffle fries, House-brewed IPA
Burgers in Edinburgh
OX184 ★ 4.0
OX184 on Cowgate in Edinburgh Old Town, a late-night bar and kitchen open until 03:00 with wood-grill burgers, steaks and loaded fries in an industrial space.
Try: Wood-fired grill burgers, steaks and ribs
Tip: Late-night food runs until 02:00 Wednesday to Sunday only. The craft beer selection is Edinburgh's most serious at this hour.
Burgers in Fort Worth
Kincaid's Hamburgers ★ 4.5
Kincaid's Hamburgers on Camp Bowie Blvd in Fort Worth has served award-winning hand-formed beef burgers from a converted grocery store building since 1946.
Order: Classic cheeseburger with house spread on a buttered bun; chili cheese fries.
Tip: The original Camp Bowie location keeps a small seating area; arrive before noon on weekends.
Kincaid's Hamburgers ★ 4.4
Kincaid's Hamburgers has been grilling Fort Worth's favourite burgers at Camp Bowie Blvd since starting life as a grocery store butcher in 1946.
Order: The original half-pound burger, house-made pimento cheese, pecan pie slice.
Tip: Order at the counter and grab a spot at the butcher-block tables. The half-pound patty is pressed fresh daily.
Kincaid's Hamburgers ★ 4.4
Kincaid's Hamburgers has been grilling Fort Worth's favourite burgers at Camp Bowie Blvd since starting life as a grocery store butcher in 1946.
Order: The original half-pound burger, house-made pimento cheese, pecan pie slice.
Tip: Order at the counter and grab a spot at the butcher-block tables. The half-pound patty is pressed fresh daily.
Burgers in Glasgow
El Perro Negro ★ 4.5
El Perro Negro is a multi-award-winning burger joint on Argyle Street in Glasgow's Finnieston, fusing American and Korean flavours into dirty, messy patties.
Try: American-Korean smashed burgers
Tip: The Top Dog is the signature; it started as a market stall before landing this permanent Argyle Street site.
Bread Meats Bread ★ 4.2
Bread Meats Bread is a St Vincent Street burger joint in Glasgow, stacking award-winning patties, poutine and vegan options for a hungry city-centre crowd.
Order: A dirty-style cheeseburger with a side of poutine.
Tip: The vegan menu is more than an afterthought here, with dedicated plant-based burgers and poutine.
Bread Meats Bread ★ 4.2
Bread Meats Bread is a St Vincent Street burger counter in Glasgow, stacking award-winning patties, poutine and vegan burgers for the city-centre lunch crowd.
Try: Burgers and poutine
Tip: The poutine is the sleeper hit alongside the burgers, and the vegan menu is a full second line-up.
Burgers in Gothenburg
Diket ★ 4.3
Diket stays open until 23:00 on weekends, making it the best late-night burger stop in Gothenburg's city centre for those who want a proper meal rather.
Order: ['Double smash burger', 'Crinkle fries', 'Late-night burger and beer']
Burgers in Hamburg
Vincent Vegan Hauptbahnhof ★ 4.0
Vincent Vegan at Hamburg Hauptbahnhof runs a fully vegan fast-food counter at €7 to 12, with burgers, kebab fries and milkshakes through a self-serve.
Try: Vegan burgers and kebab fries
Tip: Card payment only. Mon to Thu 10:30-21:00, Fri 10:30-21:30, weekend 11:00-21:30.
Burgers in Helsinki
Jaskan Grilli ★ 4.4
Jaskan Grilli is an open-air burger kiosk near the National Museum open to 4:30am, the classic Helsinki end-of-night stop for a burger or sausage.
Try: Burgers, sausages and meat pies
Tip: Open-air and cash-friendly, near the Parliament. The Jaskan burger on toast is the order after a night out.
Burgers in Houston
Lankford Grocery & Market ★ 4.4
Lankford Grocery & Market in Houston is the 1939 corner-store-turned-burger-shack on Dennis Street in Midtown, with the Grim burger, weekday breakfast.
Signature: Grim burger, Eggs and grits breakfast
Order: The Grim (a Hatch chile burger with American cheese, jalapenos and house sauce).
Tip: Cash and card. Closed weekends. Sit at the picnic tables outside; the indoor counter is a single bench.
Lankford Grocery & Market ★ 4.4
Lankford Grocery & Market in Houston is the 1939 Midtown corner-store-turned-burger-shack on Dennis Street, with the Grim Hatch-chile burger under $15.
Try: The Grim Hatch-chile burger
Tip: Get the Grim with sweet potato fries. Closed weekends. Counter and outdoor picnic tables only.
Burgers in Indianapolis
Workingman's Friend ★ 4.5
Workingman's Friend in Haughville, Indianapolis is a 1918 lunch counter. The thin-patty smash double cheeseburger is the West Side standard.
Signature: Smash double cheeseburger
Order: The smash double cheeseburger with mustard, onion and pickle.
Tip: Cash only. Lunch counter; in and out. Closed Sunday.
Workingman's Friend ★ 4.5
Haughville tavern on Belmont since 1918, founded by Louis Stamatikin; thin-edged smashed double cheeseburgers, chili and cold draft beer, cash only.
Why locals love it: A 1918 Macedonian-immigrant lunch counter in Haughville, off the West Side tourist map but still grinding out the city's defining smash burger.
Tip: Cash only. Don't ask for ketchup, ask for mustard. Closed Sundays.
Workingman's Friend ★ 4.5
Workingman's Friend in Haughville, Indianapolis runs a smash double cheeseburger for 7 dollars. Cash only, since 1918. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Try: Smash double cheeseburger
Burgers in Istanbul
Kızılkayalar ★ 4.1
Kızılkayalar at Taksim Square open until 03:00, the 1978 wet-burger counter that finishes a Beyoğlu rakı table with a steamed bun and garlic tomato sauce.
Try: Islak hamburger (wet burger)
Kızılkayalar ★ 3.9
Kızılkayalar at Taksim, the 1978 ıslak hamburger counter still selling under 80 lira for a steamed bun in garlicky tomato sauce, three for a meal.
Try: Islak hamburger (wet burger)
Burgers in Kansas City
Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill ★ 4.1
Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill on Westport Road in Kansas City serves a 10-ounce burger that the Food Network's Meat and Potatoes named the city's best.
Signature: 10oz burger, Onion rings, Steak fries
Order: 10-ounce burger built at the condiment bar, with a side of onion rings.
Tip: Cash and card; the bar takes walk-ins. Loud, vintage, no reservations.
Town Topic Hamburgers ★ 4.1
Town Topic on Broadway in Kansas City's Crossroads has run a stainless-steel diner since 1937. Closes at 20:00 now; cash works fastest. At 2021 Broadway St.
Try: Smashed burger and chili
Tip: Closes at 20:00 now; cash works fastest.
Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill ★ 4.0
Westport Flea Market in Kansas City's Westport keeps the kitchen and bar open until midnight, serving the city's most-cited burger with a build-your-own.
Try: 10-ounce burger
Tip: Patio runs later than kitchen; the bar takes walk-ins on Saturdays.
Burgers in Knoxville
Litton's Market and Restaurant ★ 4.7
Littons Market on Essary Drive is the 1946 Fountain City burger counter that anchors North Knoxvilles hometown dining without leaving its residential setting.
Why locals love it: The Fountain City burger counter since 1946 has anchored North Knoxville's hometown dining without ever leaving its residential setting.
Tip: Cash and card both work; the bakery case sells out by mid-afternoon. Closed Sundays.
Stock and Barrel ★ 4.5
Stock and Barrel on Market Square, the burger and bourbon room running since 2013, sources beef from Mitchell Family Farms with a bar pouring more than 300.
Signature: House burger, Bourbon flight
Order: A house burger with a bourbon flight off the 300-deep American whiskey list.
Tip: Walk-up is reliable weeknights before 18:00; the bar runs later than the kitchen on Friday and Saturday nights.
Stock and Barrel ★ 4.5
Stock and Barrel on Market Square, the bourbon-and-burger counter since 2013, sources beef from Mitchell Family Farms with bread from Flour Head Bakery.
Signature: House burger, Bourbon flight
Order: A house burger with a bourbon flight off the 300-deep American whiskey list.
Tip: Walk-up runs weeknights before 18:00; the bar stays open past kitchen close on weekends.
Burgers in Las Vegas
Atomic Liquors and Atomic Kitchen ★ 4.4
Atomic Liquors on Fremont East in Las Vegas is the city's oldest freestanding bar since 1952, with Atomic Kitchen alongside doing burgers, wings and bar.
Try: Elevated bar burgers, wings, atomic mac
Tip: The Atomic Kitchen menu runs the same late hours as the bar; order the smash burger and an Old Fashioned on the Fremont patio.
In-N-Out Burger (W Sahara) ★ 4.4
In-N-Out on West Sahara in Las Vegas is the nearest Sahara Avenue branch to the Strip, with drive-thru, dine-in and Double-Double service until 01:30.
Try: Double-Double Animal Style, vanilla shake
Tip: Drive-thru moves fastest after 23:00; order Animal Style for the mustard-grilled patty and grilled onions.
In-N-Out Burger (W Sahara) ★ 4.4
In-N-Out on West Sahara in Las Vegas is the close-to-Strip burger drive-thru where a Double-Double, fries and a vanilla shake combo runs $11 to $13.
Try: Double-Double, fries, shake combo around $11-13
Tip: Animal Style, Protein Style and the Neapolitan shake are free off the secret menu; weekends after 23:00 the drive-thru is the fastest route.
Burgers in Lisbon
Fabrica Musa late ★ 4.4
Fabrica Musa in Lisbon's Marvila: a brewery taproom on Rua do Acucar open until 03:00 on weekends, beer with burgers and live music in the front room.
Try: Bar food, burgers, beer
Burgers in Ljubljana
Pop's Place ★ 4.3
Pop's Place is the riverside burger bar run by the same family behind Gostilna As, plating gourmet burgers with local beef and a long craft-beer list.
Signature: Gourmet burger, BBQ ribs, House fries
Pop's Place ★ 4.3
Pop's Place is the riverside burger bar run by the family behind Gostilna As, plating local-beef burgers and a long craft beer list off the footbridge.
Pop's Place ★ 4.2
Pop's Place takes burger and ribs orders till 01:00 daily from the Cankarjevo nabrezje terrace. Reliable late kitchen on the river crawl. A TableJourney pick.
Try: Gourmet burger and BBQ ribs
Burgers in London
VQ Chelsea ★ 4.3
VQ (Vingt-Quatre)'s 24-hour cafe and diner on Fulham Road in Chelsea London, trading since 1995, runs eggs Benedict, burgers and a full alcohol licence.
Try: All-day diner classics, eggs Benedict and burgers
Tip: 24-hour alcohol licence. Post-club crowd peaks 02:00-04:00; weekday late nights are quieter and walk in without waiting.
Honest Burgers Brixton ★ 4.0
Tom Barton, Phil Eeles and Dorian Waite's first Honest Burgers counter in Brixton Village London, opened 2011, runs dry-aged Ginger Pig beef.
Signature: Honest burger with rosemary chips, Plant burger
Order: The Honest burger (smoked bacon, mature cheddar, red onion relish), with rosemary chips on the side.
Tip: Walk-up only at the Brixton original. Online queue system; expect 30 minutes on weekend lunches.
Honest Burgers Brixton ★ 4.0
Honest Burgers' first counter inside Brixton Village London, opened 2011, runs dry-aged Ginger Pig beef burgers at £12 with their famous rosemary-salt chips.
Try: British burger
Tip: Walk-up only at the Brixton original. Online queue system shows wait times. The Plant burger is the £12 vegan option.
Burgers in Los Angeles
In-N-Out Burger Sunset ★ 4.4
In-N-Out Burger on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, is the chain landmark closest to the Walk of Fame, with late-night drive-through service until 1:30.
Order: A Double-Double Animal Style with grilled onions and extra spread, plus fries well done.
Tip: Late-night Friday and Saturday closes at 1:30, the queue spills around the block by midnight.
Cassell's Hamburgers ★ 4.3
Cassell's Hamburgers inside the Hotel Normandie in Koreatown grinds its own chuck for griddled patties, a recipe in continuous use since 1948.
Order: The third-pound cheeseburger with grilled onions, plus a vanilla malt for the side.
Tip: Cassell's grinds beef in-house every morning; the breakfast burrito is the under-rated order from the same kitchen.
In-N-Out Burger LAX ★ 4.3
In-N-Out Burger near LAX on Sepulveda sits at the end of runway 24R, making it the chain branch that doubles as a plane-spotting picnic spot.
Order: A Double-Double Animal Style and a chocolate shake to eat on the patio.
Tip: The patio is the move; aircraft pass directly overhead on approach to runway 24R every two minutes.
Burgers in Louisville
Game Restaurant ★ 4.2
Game Restaurant in Louisville grills exotic-meat burgers from antelope to yak inside a lodge-themed Lexington Road dining room near Butchertown.
Signature: Venison burger, Wild boar burger
Order: The venison patty with Gorgonzola and mint pesto on a pretzel bun.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The patio is dog-friendly with the full menu.
Mussel and Burger Bar ★ 4.2
Mussel and Burger Bar in Louisville pours pots of steamed mussels and grills smashed burgers at a casual American bistro counter on South 7th Street downtown.
Signature: Steamed mussels, Burgers
Order: A pot of mussels in white wine and garlic, plus the house burger.
Tip: Book on OpenTable for the dining room. The bar runs walk-in and pours craft beer.
Game Restaurant ★ 4.2
Game Restaurant in Louisville: burgers room. Antelope, yak, wild boar and venison on Lexington Road, a Butchertown-adjacent burger menu most.
Why locals love it: Antelope, yak, wild boar and venison on Lexington Road, a Butchertown-adjacent burger menu most Louisville visitors miss for the bigger downtown rooms.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The venison patty with Gorgonzola is the menu's loudest plate.
Burgers in Madison
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry ★ 4.7
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry on North Frances, downtown Madison's burger institution founded by Jeff Stanley, runs a long burger menu with cheese-curd toppings.
Signature: Melting Pot burger, Onion rings
Order: A Melting Pot burger with hand-cut onion rings on the side.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the front bar gets loud on football and basketball game days.
Mickey's Tavern pinball room ★ 4.5
Mickey's Tavern pinball room (Burgers) in Madison: Arrive before 21:00 on a weekend to claim a pinball table; cash bar tips appreciated for the bartender.
Why locals love it: The Marquette neighborhood east-side dive runs a small back room of working pinball machines alongside a strong burger menu and late kitchen.
Tip: Arrive before 21:00 on a weekend to claim a pinball table; cash bar tips appreciated for the bartender.
Tipsy Cow ★ 4.4
Tipsy Cow on King Street, just off Capitol Square, runs an American burger menu with Wisconsin cheese curds, craft beer and a long whisky and cocktail list.
Signature: Wisconsin butter burger, Fried cheese curds
Order: A Wisconsin butter burger with fried cheese curds on the side.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the bar runs faster than the dining room midweek.
Burgers in Manchester
Wholesome Junkies ★ 4.1
100% vegan junk-food kitchen tucked inside the Hinterland Bar basement on Turner Street. Truffle burgers, kimchi loaded fries, oat-cream shakes.
Why locals love it: Hidden inside Hinterland Bar's basement off Turner Street, no street signage and not on most food-guide lists. Cult plant-based junk food with rotating monthly specials.
Tip: Inside Hinterland Bar; ring the doorbell if the entry looks closed at 5pm pre-service.
Burgers in Marrakech
Beats Burger ★ 4.0
Beats Burger near Dar el Bacha in Marrakech's medina is a casual gourmet burger counter built around a music-and-food concept; expats and tourists, 70 MAD.
Signature: Beats burger, Bagels, Music-themed menu
Order: Standard Beats burger with frites; bagels are the lunch alternative.
Tip: Burgers from 70 DH, bagels from 55 DH. The terrace fills at lunch; counter seats inside are usually open.
Beats Burger ★ 4.0
Beats Burger near Dar el Bacha in Marrakech runs gourmet-counter burgers from 70 MAD and bagels from 55 MAD; one of the medina's cheaper sit-down options.
Try: Beats burger with frites
Tip: Burgers 70 DH, bagels 55 DH. The terrace fills at lunch; counter seats inside are usually open.
Burgers in Memphis
Earnestine and Hazel's ★ 4.6
Earnestine and Hazel's on South Main downtown Memphis runs Soul Burgers and a jukebox until 03:00 daily, the city's defining late-night dive bar.
Try: Soul Burger
Order: Soul Burger with a cold beer; sit at the bar.
Tip: Cash works fastest. Upstairs the rooms run quiet most nights.
Earnestine and Hazel's Soul Burger ★ 4.5
Earnestine and Hazel's Soul Burger on South Main downtown Memphis is the city's $8 late-night bar burger, griddled with onions, pickles and Soul Sauce.
Try: Soul Burger
Order: Soul Burger with a cold beer; sit at the bar.
Tip: Cash works fastest. The kitchen runs late, food until 02:00.
Burgers in Milwaukee
Kopp's Frozen Custard ★ 4.7
Kopp's Frozen Custard on North Port Washington Road, founded by Elsa Kopp in 1950, serves jumbo cheeseburgers and a daily-changing custard flavour today.
Signature: Jumbo cheeseburger, Daily flavour custard
Order: A Jumbo cheeseburger and a small of the flavour of the day with a chocolate cone.
Tip: Lines move fast; counter only and three locations across the Milwaukee suburbs.
Solly's Grille ★ 4.7
Solly's Grille on North Port Washington Road in Glendale, founded by Kenneth Salmon in 1936, popularised the butter burger with a pat on a griddled patty.
Signature: Butter burger, Chocolate malt
Order: The original butter burger with stewed onions and a chocolate malt to go.
Tip: Counter only; arrive before 12:30 weekdays to skip the lunch queue.
Kopp's Frozen Custard ★ 4.7
Kopp's Frozen Custard on North Port Washington Road in Glendale serves jumbo cheeseburgers and a daily-changing custard flavour at counter prices since Elsa.
Try: Jumbo cheeseburger and custard cone
Burgers in Minneapolis
Matt's Bar ★ 4.7
Matt's Bar on Cedar Avenue has run a $9 Jucy Lucy in South Minneapolis since 1954. The original cheese-stuffed burger, fries and a beer for under fifteen.
Try: Jucy Lucy
Bebe Zito ★ 4.4
Bebe Zito on West 22nd Street is Minneapolis's chef-driven ice cream and smash burger counter, with a flamed creme brulee scoop as its calling card.
Order: The smash burger paired with a creme brulee ice cream, flamed at the counter.
Why locals love it: On a quiet Uptown side street off Lyndale, the original Bebe Zito flies under the radar of the Lake Street crowd ten blocks south.
Tip: Open daily 11am to 10pm. The Malcolm Yards stall at 501 30th Ave SE is the easier sit; Uptown is the original.
CC Club ★ 4.0
CC Club in Minneapolis is the Uptown dive that fed The Replacements and Husker Du, with Heggies burgers and cheese curds served until 2am every night.
Try: Heggies burger, hot dogs, pickle fries and cheese curds
Tip: The Replacements and Husker Du local. Kitchen runs late but pickle-fries-and-curds order is the safe 1am pick; jukebox is the room.
Burgers in New Orleans
Buffa's Bar ★ 4.0
Buffa's Bar in New Orleans is the Esplanade Avenue corner bar at North Rampart on the Quarter-Marigny edge, a 24-hour bar with a back kitchen plating burgers.
Try: Bacon double cheeseburger
Tip: Live music in the back room most nights; the burger with bacon is the canonical late-night meal.
Burgers in New York City
Minetta Tavern ★ 4.8
Minetta Tavern on MacDougal runs the kitchen until 02:00 in Greenwich Village New York City. The Black Label burger is on the late-night menu.
Try: Black Label burger and pommes frites
Tip: The kitchen serves the full menu until 02:00. The bar takes burgers and steak frites past midnight without a wait.
Burgers in Oklahoma City
Tucker's Onion Burgers ★ 4.3
Tucker's Onion Burgers in Oklahoma City serves the Depression-era smash burger with thin beef patties, caramelized onions, and American cheese on a bun.
Order: Oklahoma onion smash burger; crispy tater tots
Tip: Expect a short wait at peak lunch hours. The 23rd Street location is the most local-feeling of the multiple OKC spots.
Tucker's Onion Burgers ★ 4.2
Tucker's Onion Burgers in Oklahoma City keeps the smashed onion burger tradition alive, pressing thin-sliced onions into each patty on the griddle.
Tucker's Onion Burgers ★ 4.2
Tucker's Onion Burgers in Oklahoma City keeps the smashed onion burger tradition alive, pressing thin-sliced onions into each patty on the griddle.
Burgers in Orlando
Graffiti Junktion ★ 4.1
Graffiti Junktion on East Washington Street in Thornton Park is the burgers-and-beer joint with stuffed burgers, tater tots and a graffiti-walled patio bar.
Signature: California cheeseburger, Tater tots
Burgers in Oslo
Illegal Burger ★ 4.2
Illegal Burger on Møllergata near Youngstorget plates a budget in-house patty burger across a tight bar-counter room, with a dedicated gluten-free bun.
Try: In-house patty burger with gluten-free option
Illegal Burger ★ 4.1
Illegal Burger on Møllergata near Youngstorget keeps a late counter on weekends, with the same in-house patty burger and the gluten-free bun option.
Try: In-house patty burger
Burgers in Phoenix
The Stand ★ 4.1
The Stand Arcadia Burger Shoppe on Indian School Road is a counter-service burger window, griddling smash patties with fries and shakes in the Arcadia strip.
Signature: Smash burgers, Fries, Shakes
Order: A double smash burger with a side.
Tip: Closed Mondays; the patio is the only seating, so it is a take-away room in summer.
Burgers in Pittsburgh
Tessaro's ★ 4.8
Tessaro's on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield grills a famous burger for under $16 in Pittsburgh. A hardwood-fire burger many call the city's best.
Try: Hardwood-grilled burger
Tessaro's ★ 4.5
Tessaro's on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield runs a late bar and grill in Pittsburgh. The hardwood-fire burger and a drink at the bar into the night.
Try: Hardwood-grilled burger
Burgatory ★ 4.0
Burgatory on the North Shore serves build-your-own burgers and spiked milkshakes in Pittsburgh. A homegrown chain near the stadiums and rivers.
Signature: Build-your-own burger, Spiked milkshakes
Order: A build-your-own burger and a hard milkshake.
Tip: Handy near the North Shore stadiums. The spiked shakes are the gimmick worth trying.
Burgers in Plovdiv
Brick House Kapana ★ 4.2
Brick House sits a few doors from Cat and Mouse on Hristo Dyukmedzhiev. Stylish but cosy Kapana bar-diner serving burgers and a Bulgarian craft beer list.
Signature: Brick House burger, Local craft beer flight
Brick House Kapana ★ 4.2
Brick House sits a few doors from Cat and Mouse on Hristo Dyukmedzhiev. Stylish Kapana bar-diner serving burgers and a Bulgarian craft beer list.
Signature: Brick House burger, Local craft beer flight
Brick House Kapana ★ 4.2
Brick House runs burgers and Bulgarian craft beer to midnight on Hristo Dyukmedzhiev. Pavement seating busy on weekends, the central Kapana late-night.
Try: Burgers and Bulgarian craft beer
Burgers in Reykjavik
2 Guys ★ 4.4
2 Guys on Laugavegur has won the Grapevine's best Reykjavik burger several years running, a smashburger counter with a short menu and thin patties.
Signature: Smashburger
Order: The classic smashburger; add a second patty if you skipped lunch.
Tip: Grapevine best burger four years in a row. There is a second branch on Gnodarvogur if downtown is full.
Tommi's Burger Joint ★ 4.2
Tommi's Burger Joint, known locally as Bullan, grills no-nonsense cheeseburgers by the Old Harbour on Geirsgata, a Reykjavik name that went international.
Signature: Offer of the Day, Cheeseburger
Order: The Offer of the Day, a burger with fries and a drink in one set.
Tip: Founder Tommi Tomasson exported the brand to London and beyond. The harbour branch is the original feel.
Chuck Norris Grill ★ 3.9
Chuck Norris Grill on Laugavegur runs a Texas-Ranger-themed diner in central Reykjavik, open late for burgers, milkshakes and an all-day American breakfast.
Signature: Wabamm burger, Diner breakfast
Order: The Wabamm burger, stacked with caramelised onion and chilli mayo.
Tip: Open into the small hours, so it doubles as a late-night feed after the bars. Cash and card both fine.
Burgers in Rochester
The Playhouse / Swillburger ★ 4.0
Swillburger at The Playhouse on S. Clinton Ave serves smash burgers and bar games in the South Wedge, named Best Burger in Best of Rochester 2025.
Signature: Smash burger, Pub fries, Milkshakes
Order: The double smash burger with American cheese and the house-cut fries.
Tip: Bar games open until 01:00 on Friday and Saturday. Kitchen closes before the bar; come early if you want food.
The Playhouse / Swillburger ★ 4.0
Swillburger at The Playhouse on S. Clinton Ave combines smash burgers, bar games, and a cocktail program in a South Wedge space popular with locals.
Signature: Double smash burger, House pub fries, Milkshake
Order: The double smash burger with American cheese and house fries.
Tip: Bar games available all evening. Kitchen closes before bar. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Burgers in Rotterdam
Ter Marsch and Co Late Night ★ 4.8
Rotterdam's top craft burger bar keeps its kitchen open until 23:00 on weekends. Located in Witte De Withstraat. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
Ter Marsch and Co ★ 4.5
Rotterdam's most acclaimed craft burger bar on Witte de Withstraat, using dry-aged Dutch beef and house-baked buns. Kitchen leans dutch burgers.
Tip: Go at lunch: the lunch burger with one side is €12 and the queue is shorter.
Ter Marsch & Co ★ 4.2
Rotterdam's most acclaimed craft burger bar on Witte de Withstraat, using dry-aged Dutch beef and house-baked buns. The best burger in the city by consistent.
Order: The signature smash burger with Asian-inspired toppings.
Tip: The shoestring fries with truffle mayo are shareable and worth ordering alongside the burger.
Burgers in Sacramento
Skip's Kitchen ★ 4.7
Skip Kitchen on El Camino Avenue in Carmichael is the suburban gourmet burger counter north of midtown, the chef-driven greasy-spoon institution.
Signature: Gourmet burger, Mini beef Wellingtons
Order: The gourmet burger with the mac puppies; the mini beef Wellingtons; the hand-cut fries
Tip: Closed Sunday. Counter ordering and patio. The signature joker card draw gives one diner a free meal.
Squeeze Burger Power Inn ★ 4.5
Squeeze Burger on Power Inn Road, Sacramento, is the long-running counter where a third-pound patty is buried in cheese that fries into a crisp skirt.
Signature: Squeezeburger with cheese skirt, Hand-cut fries
Order: The signature Squeezeburger with the cheese skirt; double Squeeze for the hungry; hand-cut fries
Tip: Counter ordering. Cash and card. Sacramento's original Squeeze Inn counter, on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Squeeze Burger K Street ★ 4.4
Squeeze Burger on K Street, downtown Sacramento, serves the signature third-pound patty with a fried cheese skirt under $12, the local institution.
Try: Squeezeburger with cheese skirt
Burgers in Salt Lake City
Crown Burgers ★ 4.5
Crown Burgers on East 200 South, the Katsanevas family's burger institution since 1978, popularized Salt Lake's pastrami burger at its Greek-American counter.
Signature: Crown burger pastrami burger, Gyros
Order: The Crown burger with pastrami plus fry sauce and a gyro on the side.
Tip: Lunch turns the counter fast; the original downtown location is the canonical seat among the seven Utah branches.
Crown Burgers ★ 4.5
Crown Burgers on East 200 South, the Katsanevas family's institution since 1978, popularized Salt Lake's pastrami burger at its Greek-American counter.
Signature: Crown pastrami burger, Gyros
Order: The Crown burger with pastrami plus a side of fry sauce and a gyro.
Tip: Original downtown location is the canonical seat among seven Utah branches; lunch counter turns fast.
Crown Burgers ★ 4.5
Crown Burgers on East 200 South runs until 22:00 Monday through Saturday, anchoring late-night counter service for the pastrami-burger crowd downtown.
Try: Pastrami burger and gyros at the late-night counter
Burgers in San Antonio
Chris Madrid's ★ 4.6
Chris Madrid's flips a Tostada Burger big enough to share for a modest price on Blanco Road, a family burger joint since 1977 where the Macho size feeds two.
Try: Tostada burger and cheese fries
Tip: Split a Macho-sized burger to halve the cost. The Tostada Burger and a side of cheese fries is the value play.
Chris Madrid's ★ 4.2
Chris Madrid's in Tobin Hill is a since-1977 burger joint where the huge Macho size is built for splitting and the bean-topped Tostada Burger is the order.
Order: The Tostada Burger and the Macho-sized cheese.
Tip: The Macho size is genuinely huge; split one. The Tostada Burger, topped with refried beans and corn chips, is the order.
The Cove ★ 3.9
The Cove in San Antonio: A Tobin Hill spot that is also a car wash and laundromat, so visitors assume it cannot be good. The fish tacos prove otherwise.
Why locals love it: A Tobin Hill spot that is also a car wash and laundromat, so visitors assume it cannot be good. The fish tacos prove otherwise.
Tip: Do your laundry while you eat fish tacos and grass-fed burgers. The live-music nights are the locals' secret.
Burgers in San Diego
Polite Provisions ★ 4.5
Polite Provisions on 30th Street in San Diego's Normal Heights, the apothecary cocktail room with classic cocktails on tap and Soda Bar burgers until last.
Try: House-made sodas, classic cocktails on tap, soda bar burgers
Hodad's ★ 4.4
Hodad's in Ocean Beach is the 1969 Newport Avenue burger shack with surfboards on the walls, the Guy Fieri Diners Drive-Ins and Dives stop and the canonical.
Signature: Double bacon cheeseburger, Mini burger, Onion rings
Order: The Double Bacon Cheeseburger with the works.
Tip: The line moves; queue at the side door for takeout. Park your car blocks away on weekends, Newport Avenue fills up.
Hodad's ★ 4.4
Hodad's on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, San Diego, the 1969 surf-shack burger counter where the single Hodad runs under twelve and the bacon cheeseburger.
Try: Bacon cheeseburger, single Hodad burger under $12
Burgers in Santa Fe
Bang Bite Filling Station ★ 4.6
Bang Bite's Galisteo Street truck plates the Bite Burger and a green chile cheeseburger under $18; on Food Network's 2019 Best 26 Food Trucks list.
Try: Bite Burger (winner, 2015 Green Chile Cheese Burger Smackdown)
Burgers in Sarajevo
Klopa ★ 4.3
Klopa in a passage off Ferhadija is the Sarajevo Centar 15-KM lunch sit, with veggie burgers, risotto and pizza for the office and student crowd.
Try: Veggie burger with chips
Tip: Lunch is the budget play; dinner mains move closer to 25 KM.
Burgers in Savannah
Cotton and Rye ★ 4.6
Cotton and Rye is converted 1960s bank on habersham south of the squares; locals' midweek room, off the tourist drag, house-ground burgers and weekly pate.
Why locals love it: Converted 1960s bank on Habersham south of the squares; locals' midweek room, off the tourist drag, house-ground burgers and weekly pate.
Tip: Book Resy for Tuesday or Wednesday; bar walk-in runs the full menu.
Crystal Beer Parlor ★ 4.3
Crystal's $15 burgers, $12 fried green tomatoes and $14 she-crab soup keep a 1933 historic-pub lunch under $20. Dark booths, long draft list, no reservations.
Try: Crystal burger and Southern pub plates
Burgers in Seattle
Dick's Drive-In Broadway ★ 4.4
Dick's Drive-In Broadway in Seattle's Capitol Hill is the 1955 burger window the city eats at after closing time: the Deluxe and hand-dipped milkshakes.
Try: Deluxe burger and fries
Dick's Drive-In Broadway ★ 4.4
Dick's Drive-In Broadway in Seattle's Capitol Hill is the 1955 walk-up burger window: the Deluxe burger, fries and a hand-dipped milkshake for under $10.
Try: Deluxe burger with fries and a milkshake
Burgers in St. Louis
The Royale ★ 4.4
The Royale keeps its kitchen and patio going late on the south side, pairing a strong burger with ward-themed cocktails, a reliable late bite.
Try: Burgers and ward-themed cocktails
Tip: The patio and the burger make it a good late drink-and-bite. Cocktails are named for St. Louis wards.
Carl's Drive-In ★ 4.2
A 16-stool roadside drive-in of six decades, Carl's griddles cheap crispy-edged burgers and pours house-made root beer, a Route-66-era bargain.
Try: Crispy-edged burgers and root beer
Tip: A double burger and root beer is the order for a few dollars. Only 16 stools, so expect a short wait at peak.
Baileys' Range ★ 4.0
Baileys' Range griddles grass-fed burgers and churns house ice cream for boozy shakes, a build-your-own burger spot that moved from downtown to the Shaw area.
Order: A grass-fed burger and a spiked shake.
Tip: Build a burger and chase it with a spiked milkshake. The house ice cream uses no artificial ingredients.
Burgers in Tampa
Datz Late Night ★ 4.1
Datz on MacDill Avenue runs comfort food and cocktails until midnight Friday and Saturday, with a 100-tap craft beer wall and the Cheesy Todd burger.
Try: Cheesy Todd burger
Burgers in Toulouse
Le Camion qui Fume ★ 3.9
Le Camion qui Fume on Place Roguet in Saint-Cyprien is burger truck and counter, with smashed-patty burgers at €12 and a working-day lunch crowd from 12:00.
Try: Smash burger and chips
Tip: The smash burger plus chips at €13 is the canonical Saint-Cyprien Saturday lunch.
Le Petit Bois Burger ★ 3.9
Le Petit Bois on Rue Saint Antoine du T in Carmes is the cheap burger bistro with the burger maison and frites at €15, the canonical Carmes working-day lunch.
Try: Burger maison and frites
Tip: The burger maison plus frites at €15 is the canonical Carmes working-day favourite at lunch.
Burgers in Tucson
Pat's Drive In ★ 4.3
Pat's Drive In on West Niagara in Tucson is the walk-up burger and chili dog stand running since 1961, the canonical Tucson cheap-eat West Side lunch.
Try: Chili dog with cheese and onions
Burgers in Tulsa
Tucker's Onion Burgers ★ 4.0
Brings the El Reno-born fried onion burger to Tulsa Hills, pressing sliced white onions directly into beef patties as they cook on a flat-top griddle.
Signature: Oklahoma-style smashed onion burger
Order: Tucker's Onion Burger with cheese
Tucker's Onion Burgers ★ 4.0
Tulsa's most celebrated smash-burger counter serving the Oklahoma-style fried onion burger, a flattop-griddled patty with onions pressed in and caramelized.
Tucker's Onion Burgers ★ 4.0
Oklahoma's iconic fried onion burger counter, serving smash burgers under ten dollars with onions caramelized right into the beef patty on a flattop griddle.
Burgers in Verona
Berfis Pub ★ 4.0
Berfis Pub in Veronetta runs the craft-beer late-night operation to 02:00 daily. TableJourney editor pick with address and booking notes inside the entry.
Try: Craft beer with pub food
Tip: Pints €5 to 7; the late kitchen runs burgers and fries Kitchen close differs from bar close.
Burgers in Vilnius
Drama Burger ★ 4.0
Drama Burger on Gedimino is the smash-burger flagship of a small Vilnius chain, with brioche buns, double patties and Lithuanian-craft draft beer on tap.
Signature: Drama smashburger, Beef-bacon double, Vegan patty
Order: The Drama double smashburger; the loaded fries are large enough to share.
Tip: Two more locations at Panorama mall and Vokiečių 8. Late-night service Friday-Saturday only.
Drama Burger (Gedimino) ★ 4.0
Drama Burger on Gedimino is the flagship of a small Vilnius smash-burger chain, with brioche buns, double patties and Lithuanian-craft draft on tap.
Signature: Drama smashburger, Beef-bacon double, Vegan patty
Order: The Drama double smashburger; loaded fries are large enough to share between two.
Tip: Branches at Panorama mall and Vokiečių 8. Late-night Friday-Saturday only.
Drama Burger Go (Vokiečių) ★ 3.8
Drama Burger Go on Vokiečių is the Old Town branch of the Vilnius smash-burger chain, a smaller takeaway-leaning counter on the strip near Halės Turgus.
Signature: Smashburger, Loaded fries
Order: The classic smashburger combo; loaded fries are the chain signature.
Tip: Tiny counter; busy at lunch. Order ahead via the Wolt app for a quick pickup.
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