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.
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Tours, tastings and classes from the cities on this page, bookable on GetYourGuide.
Top picks
The best-scored burgers place in each of 12 cities.
Astro Family Restaurant ★ 4.8
Astro Family Restaurant on Fletcher Drive is a 24 hour diner and coffee shop that cooks in its own kitchen, with daily specials from family recipes.
OrderThe daily specials, made with recipes that have been in the family for generations.
TipIt is open 24 hours, 7 days a week; call 323-663-9241 to hear the daily specials.
Katz ★ 4.8
Cafe Katz mixes classic Mediterranean favorites with the traditional Danish cuisine, and also serves great coffee and cocktails every day of the week.
TipBook online at least 9 hours in advance, or call to reserve a table.
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.
House of Burgers ★ 4.8
House of Burgers at Västerlånggatan 50 in Gamla stan serves chicken wings, salads and milkshakes made from scratch, with a Cheese & Bacon Burger at 149 kr.
TipOpen every day from 11:00 to 01:00; the site's current offer is the American Cheese & Bacon Burger for 149 kr.
The Burger Room ★ 4.8
The Burger Room at Paulus Potterstraat 30 H serves hand-pressed Black Angus and Wagyu beef burgers in the Fashion and Museum District, and cocktails.
OrderA hand-pressed Black Angus or Wagyu beef burger.
TipLunch is served as well as dinner, and the bar mixes creative signature cocktails if you want a drink with the burger.
Tuning Bar and Burger ★ 4.8
Tuning Bar and Burger, at Akácfa u. 45 in Budapest, serves burgers with craft beers and says any high-quality restaurant would be proud of its ingredients.
TipIf you want to be sure of an evening with a superb burger, book a table on the site.
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.
TryHardwood-grilled burger
Smashny Burger ★ 4.8
Smashny Burger at Wilcza 26 serves smash burgers with double Black Angus beef in a brioche bun, from a short menu, and aims for affordable prices.
TryOriginal: double Black Angus beef, triple cheese and house pickles
TipThere is a Beyond Meat burger on the menu, and you can order online.
Messorem ★ 4.8
Messorem is an industrial microbrewery with a tasting lounge at 2233 rue Pitt, specialising in the brewing and design of IPA, sour and barrel-aged beers.
TipProducts are available to take away with pickup at Messorem, and the online shop also delivers.
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.
TryAlaska seafood chowder and burger
Tapfield ★ 4.8
Tapfield is a craft beer bar at Navarchou Apostoli 4 serving craft beers from local Greek microbreweries, plus guest craft beers from all over the world.
TipIt stays open until 02:00 AM from Wednesday to Saturday, and until 12:00 AM on Sunday.
LambicZoon ★ 4.8
LambicZoon on Via Friuli selects beers from around the world to drink with burgers, open until 01:00 Monday to Thursday and 02:00 on Friday and Saturday.
OrderA burger on its crisp, compact bread, with one of the beers selected from around the world.
TipThe kitchen selects Piedmontese meats; the burgers come on extremely crisp, compact bread that holds the whole filling.
Find a place
Astro Family Restaurant ★ 4.8
Astro Family Restaurant on Fletcher Drive is a 24 hour diner and coffee shop that cooks in its own kitchen, with daily specials from family recipes.
OrderThe daily specials, made with recipes that have been in the family for generations.
TipIt is open 24 hours, 7 days a week; call 323-663-9241 to hear the daily specials.
Katz ★ 4.8
Cafe Katz mixes classic Mediterranean favorites with the traditional Danish cuisine, and also serves great coffee and cocktails every day of the week.
TipBook online at least 9 hours in advance, or call to reserve a table.
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.
House of Burgers ★ 4.8
House of Burgers at Västerlånggatan 50 in Gamla stan serves chicken wings, salads and milkshakes made from scratch, with a Cheese & Bacon Burger at 149 kr.
TipOpen every day from 11:00 to 01:00; the site's current offer is the American Cheese & Bacon Burger for 149 kr.
The Burger Room ★ 4.8
The Burger Room at Paulus Potterstraat 30 H serves hand-pressed Black Angus and Wagyu beef burgers in the Fashion and Museum District, and cocktails.
OrderA hand-pressed Black Angus or Wagyu beef burger.
TipLunch is served as well as dinner, and the bar mixes creative signature cocktails if you want a drink with the burger.
Tuning Bar and Burger ★ 4.8
Tuning Bar and Burger, at Akácfa u. 45 in Budapest, serves burgers with craft beers and says any high-quality restaurant would be proud of its ingredients.
TipIf you want to be sure of an evening with a superb burger, book a table on the site.
L.A BURGER ★ 4.8
L.A BURGER, at Budafoki út 22, makes its burgers from premium ingredients: juicy patties, fresh vegetables and house-made sauces in creative combinations.
The Bodega ★ 4.8
The Bodega, at Táncsics Mihály út 38, serves smashed burgers with Black Angus beef patties and craft brioche buns, plus gluten-free and vegan options.
TipPlease order through the online ordering page; for anything else, write an email or a Facebook message.
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.
TryHardwood-grilled burger
Smashny Burger ★ 4.8
Smashny Burger at Wilcza 26 serves smash burgers with double Black Angus beef in a brioche bun, from a short menu, and aims for affordable prices.
TryOriginal: double Black Angus beef, triple cheese and house pickles
TipThere is a Beyond Meat burger on the menu, and you can order online.
Messorem ★ 4.8
Messorem is an industrial microbrewery with a tasting lounge at 2233 rue Pitt, specialising in the brewing and design of IPA, sour and barrel-aged beers.
TipProducts are available to take away with pickup at Messorem, and the online shop also delivers.
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.
TryAlaska seafood chowder and burger
Tapfield ★ 4.8
Tapfield is a craft beer bar at Navarchou Apostoli 4 serving craft beers from local Greek microbreweries, plus guest craft beers from all over the world.
TipIt stays open until 02:00 AM from Wednesday to Saturday, and until 12:00 AM on Sunday.
LambicZoon ★ 4.8
LambicZoon on Via Friuli selects beers from around the world to drink with burgers, open until 01:00 Monday to Thursday and 02:00 on Friday and Saturday.
OrderA burger on its crisp, compact bread, with one of the beers selected from around the world.
TipThe kitchen selects Piedmontese meats; the burgers come on extremely crisp, compact bread that holds the whole filling.
Burger Food Porn ★ 4.8
Burger Food Porn's Bermejales restaurant, at Avenida de Alemania 19, opened on 13 September 2019 in a local of about 60m with some 10 tables.
TipOpen every day from 13:00 to 16:00 and from 20:00 to 00:00; you can book a table, or order delivery or take away.
Shanghai Brewery ★ 4.8
Shanghai Brewery is a craft brewery at 20 Donghu Road in Shanghai with an extensive food menu and beers brewed with only the best imported ingredients.
TipPromotions include Weekend Brunch, Daily Happy Hour, Tuesday BOGO Burgers and Wednesday Pub Quiz Nights.
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.
OrderA Jumbo cheeseburger and a small of the flavour of the day with a chocolate cone.
TipLines 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.
OrderThe original butter burger with stewed onions and a chocolate malt to go.
TipCounter only; arrive before 12:30 weekdays to skip the lunch queue.
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.
OrderA Melting Pot burger with hand-cut onion rings on the side.
TipClosed Sundays; the front bar gets loud on football and basketball game days.
The Apple Pan ★ 4.7
The Apple Pan on West Pico Boulevard is a homey 1940s institution with 26 counter seats, hickory burgers and fresh cream pies from a U-shaped counter.
OrderAlan Baker's quarter-pound burger with hickory sauce and his mother's apple pie.
TipOrder for pickup or delivery online, or take one of the 26 counter seats; the counter stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Too Old To Die Young ★ 4.7
Too Old To Die Young at Ravnsborggade 14C is a craft beer bar, eatery and bottle shop in Nørrebro with 24 taps, great burgers and shuffle boards.
TipThe basement has shuffle board rounds and darts for the late hours, and the kitchen is closed on Sundays.
Fusion ★ 4.7
Cafe Fusion at Amager Strandvej 22 takes the best of the Nordic kitchen and spices it with a Vietnamese touch; guests can eat in or order take-away.
TipParties of up to 30 people can be hosted with a planned menu; call or email to arrange it.
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 goThe Fountain City burger counter since 1946 has anchored North Knoxville's hometown dining without ever leaving its residential setting.
TipCash and card both work; the bakery case sells out by mid-afternoon. Closed Sundays.
Skip's Kitchen ★ 4.7
Skip's Kitchen on El Camino Avenue in Carmichael is a local neighborhood eatery serving gourmet casual cuisine in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.
TipSkip's Kitchen is open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers curbside pickup.
Franky's Burger ★ 4.7
Franky's Burger at Blekingegatan 36 makes burgers fresh to order with daily baked buns from a local bakery and homemade dressings, with a single at 135kr.
TipA single 160g burger is 135kr and a double 230g is 155kr; any burger can come with the vegetarian patty or a gluten free bun.
Lily's Burger ★ 4.7
Lily's Burger at Hornsbergs Strand 47 serves American classics in a playful 60s setting on Kungsholmen, with a vegan cheeseburger at 130 KR.
TipThe menu is mostly American classics; the vegan cheeseburger with Lily's dressing, onion, salad and tomato is 130 KR.
Lombardo's ★ 4.7
Lombardo's at Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 50 is a boutique burger restaurant established in 2010, with a menu that blends traditional recipes and modern techniques.
OrderThe hamburgers, which blend traditional recipes with contemporary techniques.
TipOpen every day from 12:00 to 21:00, so you have a long stretch of the day to drop in.
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.
TryJucy Lucy
Peebz ★ 4.7
Peebz is a burger shop at R. da Sra. da Luz 448 where the burgers are prepared in the shop and cooked at the moment of the order, for take-away or delivery.
TipThe new yorker and its veggie burger version cost €10,40 each, served with homemade fries.
The Bogside Inn ★ 4.7
The Bogside Inn at Landesgerichtsstraße 18 is a pub serving beers, whiskies and classic cocktails, with pub food and burgers, around since 1997.
DrinkThe collection of 100+ whiskies from Eire to Canada to Japan.
TipThere are darts and a Monday quiz, plus snacks and full meals, and tables can be reserved on the website.
Crazy Horse ★ 4.7
Crazy Horse is a bar and grill at Avda. de las Universidades 5 on the bank of the Nervión estuary, with live music, giant burgers and views of the Guggenheim.
OrderThe Crazy Horse Gigante burger with bacon and egg, one of the giant burgers made for two.
TipThe kitchen serves 12:00 to 16:00 and 19:00 to 23:00 from Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and until 24:00 on Friday and Saturday.
Dambo Beef And Grill ★ 4.7
Dambo Beef and Grill, at Piazza Municipio 2, is a steakhouse and braceria with a cocktail bar and live music, open daily, with the kitchen until midnight.
OrderFocaccelle, the gourmet take on the Neapolitan bite that Dambo serves in place of traditional pizza.
Why locals goThe site calls it the salotto buono of Piazza Municipio, an elegant, sober and relaxed room where you can sit without hurry.
TipCuts are chosen in the display, paid by weight and brought from the grill to the table sliced on a board, cooked as you prefer.
Impact Food ★ 4.7
Impact Food, at Viale Maresciallo Pilsudski 86, is a burger restaurant in Parioli that works on environmental sustainability with a low-impact menu.
OrderPlant-based bratwurst with tasty sauerkraut, mustard sauce and a pretzel.
TipTables can be booked on WhatsApp, and the special of the month comes with a cold beer.
Cuddle Pub ★ 4.6
Cuddle Pub is a grill and bar at Nieuwe Nieuwstraat 20-H in Amsterdam, a retreat from Dam Square with a Black Angus burger, tacos and cocktails.
TryBeef Black Angus burger
TipTables can be reserved online on the pub site, which also has a page for online orders.
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.
TryTostada burger and cheese fries
TipSplit a Macho-sized burger to halve the cost. The Tostada Burger and a side of cheese fries is the value play.
Barn Burger ★ 4.6
Barn Burger at Złota 9 makes its burgers daily on site from freshly ground, aged Charolais beef, with its own BBQ sauce, coleslaw and home-made fries.
TryNagi Instynkt burger, 39 zł
TipThe Nagi Instynkt burger is 39 zł, and limited-edition burgers rotate, so check the menu or the Facebook page for the current ones.
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.
TrySmash burger
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.
OrderSoul Burger with a cold beer; sit at the bar.
TipCash works fastest. Upstairs the rooms run quiet most nights.
Handcraft Burgers and Brew ★ 4.6
Handcraft serves smash burgers, loaded tots and cold beer at a counter. The 100% beef is pressed thin on a 450° flat top so the crust runs to the edge.
TryDouble Ultimate Smash
TipIt is walk-in only with no reservations needed. City Parking at 136 W 40th St is usually the closest garage.
Burger Van Bistro ★ 4.6
Burger Van Bistro on Strada George Vraca sells juicy burgers from fresh beef and loaded fries such as Chilli Con Carne, and calls its food urban food.
TryChilli Con Carne Loaded Fries or the Honest Burger.
TipBurger Van also sells at weekly locations, or you can call it to come to you.
MoJoe's Burger Joint ★ 4.6
MoJoe's Burger Joint at 620 Glenwood Ave has been a local go-to spot for burgers, sandwiches and salads for over two decades, at Glenwood and Peace Street.
TipIt sits on the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Peace Street in the Glenwood South district.
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.
TryBite Burger (winner, 2015 Green Chile Cheese Burger Smackdown)
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.
OrderClassic cheeseburger with house spread on a buttered bun; chili cheese fries.
TipThe original Camp Bowie location keeps a small seating area; arrive before noon on weekends.
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 goThe Marquette neighborhood east-side dive runs a small back room of working pinball machines alongside a strong burger menu and late kitchen.
TipArrive before 21:00 on a weekend to claim a pinball table; cash bar tips appreciated for the bartender.
The Oinkster ★ 4.5
The Oinkster on Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock is chef Andre Guerrero's fast-casual spot for American classics, from house-cured pastrami to burgers.
OrderThe Classic 1/3lb Hamburger of Grade-A Nebraska Angus beef with the signature thousand island.
TipAsk about this month's special burger, and finish with a hand scooped shake made with Fosselman's ice cream.
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.
OrderDouble smash with American cheese and onion; skin-on fries on the side.
TipWalk-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.
TryDouble smash burger
TipWalk-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.
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.
OrderA house burger with a bourbon flight off the 300-deep American whiskey list.
TipWalk-up is reliable weeknights before 18:00; the bar runs later than the kitchen on Friday and Saturday nights.
Litton's Burger Counter ★ 4.5
Litton's Market on Essary Drive in Fountain City since 1946 runs $8-13 burgers, the family-run counter that pairs the famous burger with award-winning.
TryThunder Road burger
TipClosed Sundays; weekday lunch is the easiest budget window Cash is faster than card.
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.
OrderThe Crown burger with pastrami plus fry sauce and a gyro on the side.
TipLunch turns the counter fast; the original downtown location is the canonical seat among the seven Utah branches.
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.
OrderThe smash double cheeseburger with mustard, onion and pickle.
TipCash only. Lunch counter; in and out. Closed Sunday.
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.
TipGo at lunch: the lunch burger with one side is €12 and the queue is shorter.
El Perro Negro ★ 4.5
El Perro Negro serves burgers at 152 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6LF.
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.
TryHouse-made sodas, classic cocktails on tap, soda bar burgers
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.
OrderSoul Burger with a cold beer; sit at the bar.
TipCash works fastest. The kitchen runs late, food until 02:00.
Joyo Burger ★ 4.5
Joyo Burger at 3036 rue Masson makes smash burgers from halal beef ground daily, with hand-cut fries, poutines and craft beer, open daily 11am to 10pm.
TryPoutine Joyo: fries, beef patty, sautéed onions and mushrooms, curds and gravy
TipAny beef burger can be ordered with a vegetarian patty, and every burger is available on a gluten-free bun.
Sobelman's Pub and Grill ★ 4.4
Sobelman's Pub and Grill on West St Paul Avenue serves Milwaukee's most photographed Bloody Mary with brat, slider and pickled garnish stack since 1999.
OrderThe Masterpiece Bloody Mary garnished with a brat, slider and pickled vegetables.
TipLines wrap weekends; weekday lunch is the calmer window. Five Milwaukee locations.
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.
OrderA Wisconsin butter burger with fried cheese curds on the side.
TipClosed Sundays; the bar runs faster than the dining room midweek.
2 Guys ★ 4.4
2Guys is a burger restaurant in Reykjavík specializing in flavorful smash burgers, chicken burgers and fresh sides, at Laugavegur 105 and Gnoðarvogur 46.
OrderA smash burger or a chicken burger, with fresh sides.
TipThe kitchen is open every day from 11:30 to 21:00, at both Laugavegur 105 and Gnoðarvogur 46.
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.
OrderThe signature Cork burger with house sauce and pickles - the combination of daily-fresh patty and fermented.
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.
TryElevated bar burgers, wings, atomic mac
TipThe 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.
TryDouble-Double Animal Style, vanilla shake
TipDrive-thru moves fastest after 23:00; order Animal Style for the mustard-grilled patty and grilled onions.
The Rankin Vault ★ 4.4
The Rankin Vault at 7 Rankin Ave opened in July 2008 in the Imperial Life Insurance Building, with a custom walnut bar, local draft beers and patio seating.
TryVault Burger of 100% grass-fed beef from Hickory Nut Gap
TipThere are no reservations at this casual, counter-service restaurant and bar, which opens daily at 12pm.
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.
TryWings 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.
TryWings and house burger
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.
OrderThe smash burger paired with a creme brulee ice cream, flamed at the counter.
Why locals goOn a quiet Uptown side street off Lyndale, the original Bebe Zito flies under the radar of the Lake Street crowd ten blocks south.
TipOpen daily 11am to 10pm. The Malcolm Yards stall at 501 30th Ave SE is the easier sit; Uptown is the original.
Boulevard Burger House ★ 4.4
Boulevard Burger House is an American diner at R. de Adolfo Casais Monteiro 17, with barbecue ribs, mac & cheese and vegan and vegetarian burgers.
TipSave room for dessert: the menu runs from apple pie to New York cheesecake, with milkshakes too.
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.
OrderThe Double Bacon Cheeseburger with the works.
TipThe line moves; queue at the side door for takeout. Park your car blocks away on weekends, Newport Avenue fills up.
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.
TryBurgers and ward-themed cocktails
TipThe patio and the burger make it a good late drink-and-bite. Cocktails are named for St. Louis wards.
The Owl Cafe ★ 4.4
The Owl Cafe at 800 Eubank Blvd NE serves New Mexican comfort food, with famous green chile cheeseburgers, enchiladas and breakfast dishes served all day.
SignatureGreen chile cheeseburgers, Enchiladas, Owl burgers
Ben's Burgers ★ 4.4
Ben's Burgers, which calls itself Brisbane's Favourite Burger, sells burgers, fries, soda, milkshakes and beer from 5B Winn Street in Fortitude Valley.
Tremont Tavern ★ 4.4
Tremont Tavern has hand-crafted burgers and a deep beer list on Hixson Pike in Chattanooga since 2006, a neighbourhood pub that takes its patties seriously.
OrderThe house burger, medium, with a rotating Tennessee draft.
TipKitchen runs to 22:00 most nights and 23:00 Thursday to Saturday; Monday opens at 15:00, not lunch.
Burgers and Beers Grillhouse ★ 4.4
Burgers and Beers Grillhouse at 192A High St serves handmade burgers, ribs, wings and Scottish craft beer on the Royal Mile, beside St Giles' Cathedral.
TryHandmade burgers, ribs and wings
TipIts reward scheme gives access to exclusive deals to earn free burgers, cashback and more.
Big Al's Burgers and Dogs ★ 4.4
Big Al's Burgers and Dogs grinds its 60/40 bacon burger on Mountain Avenue in Fort Collins, with Chicago dogs, truffle fries and hand-scooped shakes.
OrderThe 60/40 bacon burger with truffle fries
TipHappy hour 14:00-17:00 daily puts burgers, Chicago dogs and milkshakes at 5 dollars each; the art on the walls rotates.
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.
OrderThe Grim (a Hatch chile burger with American cheese, jalapenos and house sauce).
TipCash and card. Closed weekends. Sit at the picnic tables outside; the indoor counter is a single bench.
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.
TryDeluxe burger and fries
Roxy Burger ★ 4.4
Roxy Burger on Granville Street is a locally owned, full service restaurant serving homemade comfort food, from casual lunch to late-night munchies.
OrderA burger with two patties, two slices of American cheese and secret sauce.
TipOne burger has a huge 8oz patty of Certified Angus Beef, topped with crisp bacon and cheddar cheese.
Choppers ★ 4.4
Choppers has served Chicago since 1987 and is the home of the Choppak, which it calls the happy meal for adults, with food at an incredible value.
TryThe Choppak, the happy meal for adults.
TipIt is open 10am to 9:30pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 7:30pm on Sunday, with ordering direct for pickup and delivery.
Northside Yacht Club ★ 4.4
Northside Yacht Club on Spring Grove Avenue in Cincinnati's Northside pours until 02:30 at weekends, with smash burgers from a kitchen open until 22:00.
TrySmash burgers, wings, house-made seitan sandwich
Jaskan Grilli ★ 4.4
Jaskan Grilli serves burgers at Dagmarinkatu 2, 00100 Helsinki.
Burgerino ★ 4.4
Burgerino, at Via Guido D'Arezzo 2 in Verona, is a burger restaurant that also has starters, BBQ meat, hot dogs, salads and cakes on its menu.
TryHamburgers, with a vegan burger and a gluten free burger on the menu.
TipOrder online with the app, which lists allergens; it is available only for the Verona branch.
Love Shack ★ 4.3
Love Shack by Tim Love in Fort Worth is a Stockyards counter-service burger stand on Exchange Ave serving the celebrated Dirty Love Burger since 2009.
OrderDirty Love Burger, hand-cut fries, root beer on tap.
TipCounter service only. The root beer on tap is brewed in-house. Tables on the outdoor deck fill fast during the evening cattle drive hours.
Pop's Place ★ 4.3
Pop's Place at Cankarjevo nabrezje 3 is a burger bar since 2015 that dry-ages local grass fed beef for up to 45 days and bakes its brioche buns in-house.
SignatureGourmet burgers, Authentic BBQ
HiHo Cheeseburger ★ 4.3
HiHo Cheeseburger griddles 100 percent grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farm on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, a classic double for fast-casual money.
OrderDouble cheeseburger, mustard-grilled, with fries
TipThe mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.
Heavy Handed ★ 4.3
Heavy Handed smashes short-rib-blend patties on Main Street in Santa Monica, beef tallow fries and Straus soft serve from a pandemic pop-up made good.
OrderDouble smashburger with beef tallow fries
TipDouble smash with American cheese, fries in tallow, soft serve after; the line moves faster than it looks.
Atomic Burger ★ 4.3
Atomic Burger on Veterans Blvd in Metairie grills burgers from a custom beef blend, house ground, hand pattied and cooked to order, with fries and shakes.
TryThe Jamburger, with mayo, american cheese and bacon-onion jam.
TipFries come with a choice of house-made sauces such as roasted garlic aioli or spicy ketchup, and it is open 10:30AM to 10pm daily.
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.
OrderOklahoma onion smash burger; crispy tater tots
TipExpect a short wait at peak lunch hours. The 23rd Street location is the most local-feeling of the multiple OKC spots.
Suzie Burger ★ 4.3
Suzie Burger is a burger restaurant at 2820 P St in Sacramento.
TipYou can phone in food orders in advance or order online, and the counter is open 11AM to 9PM, 7 days a week.
Gami Burger Midtown ★ 4.3
Gami Burger Midtown is a burger restaurant at 2301 K Street, Suite 100, in Sacramento.
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.
TryWings, burger, trivia bar food
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 goOff the German Village tourist path on Mohawk Street, the Schumacher Place tavern has the turtle soup and a cash-friendly bar since 1933.
TipOrder 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.
TryTavern burger with fries
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.
OrderOrder four sliders across categories, the fries, and a $3 cocktail to match.
TipCash 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.
OrderHalal beef burger with crispy onions and a salted-caramel milkshake.
TipLate-night kitchen runs to 02:00 Wednesday to Sunday; vegetarian and vegan options too.
VQ Chelsea ★ 4.3
VQ Chelsea is a late-night place at 325 Fulham Road, London SW10 9QL, open daily 24 hours.
Camélia - Brunch Garden ★ 4.3
Camélia Brunch Garden, at R. do Passeio Alegre 368, is a flowering garden by the river in Foz with views of the Douro, serving meals through the day.
Lokal ★ 4.3
Lokal at ul. Patriotów 129 in Wawer serves 12 beef burgers with 200 g of beef each, plus a burger of the month, and any burger can be made vegetarian.
TryThe burger of the month, built on 200 g of beef
TipLunch sets with a choice of three burgers are served Monday to Friday from 1pm to 4pm at special prices.
Hawidere ★ 4.3
Hawidere at Ullmannstraße 31 is a burger and beer bar with 14 beers on tap, plus cider and frizzante, close to Längenfeldgasse underground station.
TryThe suckling pig burger, or the vegan Veige Sau burger.
TipOnline table bookings for the same day are taken only until 15:00; after that, reserve by phone.
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.
TryPlant-based burger and chips
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.
TryClassic Single cheeseburger with crinkle fries
TipOpen Wed-Sun for dine-in, delivery to midnight. Cash or card; build-your-own option for catering orders.
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.
TryTavern burger and house wings
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.
OrderDouble smash burger, Crinkle fries, Late-night burger and beer
Bululú Bar and Coffee ★ 4.3
Bululú Bar and Coffee at Calle de Santa Cruz de Marcenado, 13 in Madrid serves café, burgers and craft beers, and invites you to feel at home.
TipReservations are taken by phone, and the bar is closed on Wednesday afternoons for staff rest.
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.
TryChili dog with cheese and onions
Fred's Texas Cafe ★ 4.2
Fred's Texas Cafe is a Fort Worth burger institution on Camp Bowie W, open daily for straight-talking Texas comfort food and cold beer since 1978.
OrderClassic double cheeseburger, chicken fried steak, hatch chile queso.
TipHatch chile season in late summer brings limited specials worth seeking out. The double cheeseburger is the crowd favourite.
Pop's Place bar ★ 4.2
Pop's Place is a burger bar on Cankarjevo nabrežje, open since 2015, making burgers from local grass fed beef with brioche buns baked in-house.
FoodGourmet burgers and BBQ
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.
OrderQuarter-pound cheeseburger with onion, fries and a chocolate milkshake.
TipOne menu, no specials; the smallest tables turn fastest. Late till midnight at the Wexford Street flagship.
Proper Brewing ★ 4.2
Proper Brewing on South Main runs Friday and Saturday until midnight, with draft beer, pool and Proper Burger next door for the late-night Granary trade.
TryCraft beer plus Proper Burger next door
Tommi's Burger Joint ★ 4.2
Tommi's Burger Joint at Geirsgata 1 holds that simplicity is the key to a good burger, made from quality ingredients put together in a simple way.
OrderA simple burger, since Tommi holds that simplicity is the key to a good burger.
TipOrder online and the burger is ready when you arrive, or order through Deliveroo to have it delivered.
Foodies ★ 4.2
Foodies sells burgers on Rue François Rude in Dijon, made by Julien Chauvenet, the cook who won the 2023 World Burger Contest at the Sirha show in Lyon.
OrderA burger from the current board, from the cook who won the 2023 World Burger Contest.
TipFriday and Saturday nights run latest; weekday evenings the kitchen closes earlier.
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.
OrderThe signature smash burger with Asian-inspired toppings.
TipThe shoestring fries with truffle mayo are shareable and worth ordering alongside the burger.
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.
TrySmash burger and craft beer
Bread Meats Bread ★ 4.2
Bread Meats Bread is a family business founded in the belief that freshness means flavour, with a burger joint at 65 St Vincent Street in Glasgow.
OrderTry the poutine, which the restaurant says it brought to the Scottish masses.
TipIt is just off Buchanan Street, a couple of minutes' walk from both Queen Street station and Glasgow Central.
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.
OrderThe venison patty with Gorgonzola and mint pesto on a pretzel bun.
TipClosed 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.
OrderA pot of mussels in white wine and garlic, plus the house burger.
TipBook on OpenTable for the dining room. The bar runs walk-in and pours craft beer.
Fat Mo's ★ 4.2
Fat Mo's on 8th Avenue South is a family-owned burger shop that cooks 100% pure ground beef fresh to order, with no microwave or heat lamp in the kitchen.
TryFresh home made burger
TipTo save time, call your order in ahead and the shop will happily have it ready at your convenience.
Gabbys Burgers and Fries ★ 4.2
Gabbys Burgers and Fries on Humphreys Street is a simple burger joint named for the owner's daughter, aiming for great food and service at a reasonable price.
TryBurger and fries
TipPolice, fire, military and teachers get 20% off; note that it does not open on Sunday.
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.
SignatureBrick House burger, Local craft beer flight
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.
TryCrispy-edged burgers and root beer
TipA double burger and root beer is the order for a few dollars. Only 16 stools, so expect a short wait at peak.
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.
OrderThe Llano Poblano with house-ground chuck and truffle fries on the side.
TipThe 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.
TryCheeseburger and fries
TipThe double cheeseburger combo runs around $9 with drink and fries; the soft-serve cone is the dessert.
Felons Brewing Co. ★ 4.2
Felons Brewing Co. brews its beers under the Story Bridge on the banks of the Brisbane River at Howard Smith Wharves; walk in any time from 11am.
OrderA Crisp Lager, brewed by Felons down under the Story Bridge.
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.
OrderA brewery burger and a pour off the tap list.
TipThe kitchen closes earlier other days. Late-night runs Friday and Saturday only.
Bonnie Burgers ★ 4.2
Bonnie Burgers is at 61 Mayfield Road in Edinburgh, offering freshly cooked burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken wings and loaded fries to take away.
TryBurgers, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken wings and loaded fries
TipPop in or call to ask about allergens in the food, to order for a party, or with any special requests.
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.
TryIn-house patty burger with gluten-free option
Burger Circus ★ 4.2
Burger Circus brings the spirit of classic American diners to 22 Hollywood Rd, with USDA Prime smashed burgers, fries and house-made milkshakes.
TryClassic diner-style burgers made from six ounces of smashed USDA Prime patties.
TipThe diner does not take reservations, so walk in; walk-ins are welcome.
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.
Order10-ounce burger built at the condiment bar, with a side of onion rings.
TipCash 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.
TrySmashed burger and chili
TipCloses at 20:00 now; cash works fastest.
Bru Burger Bar Mass Ave ★ 4.1
Bru Burger Bar opened on Mass Avenue in 2011 and remains the avenue's standard burger room. Hand-pattied house grinds, scratch brioche, craft-beer list.
OrderThe Bru burger with sharp cheddar, truffle fries, an Indiana draft.
TipWalk in for the bar, reservations on OpenTable for the dining room.
Shake Shack (New York-New York) ★ 4.1
Shake Shack at New York-New York in Las Vegas is the Strip walk-up window where ShackBurger combos run $14 to $18 with crinkle fries and a concrete.
TryShackBurger $8, fries $4, shake $6
TipOutdoor corner window walks fastest after 21:00; SmokeShack with bacon is the upgrade, the Strip Concrete uses local mix-ins.
Farm Burger ★ 4.1
Farm Burger, at 10 Patton Ave in Asheville, serves 100% grassfed, grass-finished beef burgers made without GMOs, hormones and antibiotics, from a simple menu.
OrderA grassfed burger, paired with rings and fries or a handmade shake.
TipThe chain's locations page says you get more when you order through the app.
Der Fette Bulle ★ 4.1
Der Fette Bulle grills Frankfurt's most argued-about burgers on Kaiserstraße, with hand-cut fries and vegan patties holding their own since 2013.
OrderThe cheeseburger with chilli cheese fries; the falafel burger for the meat-free
TipA second branch on Oeder Weg serves the Nordend; the Kaiserstraße original is louder and closer to the station crowds.
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.
SignatureDouble cheeseburger, Parmesan chicken sandwich
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.
OrderA burger stack with fried pickles to share.
TipCloses at 22:00 Sunday-Wednesday. Late hours run Thursday through Saturday.
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.
TryIslak hamburger (wet burger)
Moose's Down Under ★ 4.1
Moose's Down Under is an Australian bar and grill at 830 W Pender St serving meat pies, kangaroo burgers, chicken parmies, lamingtons and pavlovas.
OrderA kangaroo burger or a chicken parmie, with a Cooper's Pale Ale.
TipThe bar streams AFL, NRL, Union and Cricket live, with replays on request, and holds a Wednesday Trivia night.
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.
TryPark Burger combo
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 goHidden 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.
TipInside Hinterland Bar; ring the doorbell if the entry looks closed at 5pm pre-service.
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.
SignatureCalifornia cheeseburger, Tater tots
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.
OrderA double smash burger with a side.
TipClosed Mondays; the patio is the only seating, so it is a take-away room in summer.
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.
TryCheesy Todd burger
Vitrina Lili ★ 4.1
Vitrina Lili on Lilienblum Street is the second branch of a Tel Aviv burger shop founded in 2011, serving 220 gram burgers, sweet potato fries and tacos.
OrderThe Butler burger with blue cheese and onion jam, plus a side of the lemon zest fries.
TipClosed Friday and Saturday; the Thursday night sitting runs latest, until midnight.
The Hood Kitchen ★ 4.0
The Hood Kitchen is a Rocklands, Mitchells Plain burger counter near Cape Town, built around a build-your-own gourmet beef and chicken patty menu.
OrderThe Design-a-Burger beef double, stacked with four toppings of your choice.
TipThe Bison Tower challenge runs Thursdays and Saturdays from 13:00: finish it in 25 minutes to win R140 and naming rights, and book a day ahead.
AA Paraatha ★ 4.0
AA Paraatha is a halaal burger stall inside Mojo Market in Sea Point, Cape Town, wrapping flame-seared Wagyu beef patties in fresh paratha bread daily.
TryHalaal Wagyu beef patty wrapped in a fresh paratha bun
TipCome hungry; the paratha bun soaks up the signature sauce, so eat it fresh off the grill.
Hood Burger Center ★ 4.0
Hood Burger Center at Nazorjeva 4 is the third Hood Burger restaurant, opened in November 2016 in the centre of Ljubljana, 50m from Prešeren Square.
SignatureClassic burger, Veggie burger
Apollo Burger ★ 4.0
Apollo Burger on Redwood Road, the Utah burger chain since 1984, serves charbroiled pastrami burgers and Greek-American sides, souvlaki included, six days.
OrderThe Pastrami Burger with Apollo sauce plus a side of fries and a milkshake.
TipCheaper alternative to Crown Burgers for the local pastrami-burger ritual; multiple metro branches.
Winstead's Steakburger Plaza ★ 4.0
Winstead's on the Plaza runs daily until 23:00 with curb-service from the 1940 drive-in. The steakburger and Frosty malt are the canonical late Kansas City.
TrySteakburger, Frosty malt
TipCurb service still operates in the parking lot; the kitchen keeps later hours on weekends.
Revel Cafe and Bar ★ 4.0
Revel Cafe and Bar in Mid-City, founded by Chris and Laura McMillian, serves burgers and classic cocktails at 133 N. Carrollton Ave from 4pm daily.
OrderThe Revel Burger, a blend of prime brisket and choice chuck ground in-house, with pomme frites.
TipNOLA.com readers voted it New Orleans' Best Burger with 1.2 million votes; the doors open daily from 4pm.
Down the Hatch ★ 4.0
Down The Hatch is a Garden District bar and grill on Sophie Wright Place, serving reasonably priced burgers, wings and house specialties, plus a patio.
OrderThe Hell's Kitchen Wings, deep-fried and tossed in the house special sauce, with ranch dressing and celery.
TipLate nite delivery carries a $12.00 minimum order, and the bar is pet friendly with an outdoor patio.
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.
OrderThe Drama double smashburger; the loaded fries are large enough to share.
TipTwo 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.
OrderThe Drama double smashburger; loaded fries are large enough to share between two.
TipBranches at Panorama mall and Vokiečių 8. Late-night Friday-Saturday only.
Squeezed ★ 4.0
Squeezed flips national-award-winning burgers and homemade lemonades from two shipping containers at Cargo 1 on Wapping Wharf in central Bristol.
OrderThe cheeseburger with fries and whichever lemonade is fresh that day.
TipIt moved from Cargo 2 into a bigger Cargo 1 unit; lunch sells through on football and market weekends.
Honest Burgers Brixton ★ 4.0
Honest Burgers Brixton is in Brixton Village, London SW9 8PR. It serves British burgers made from fresh beef, chopped, not minced, so they eat like a steak.
OrderThe Brixton local burger: Ruben's Rubens salt beef, American cheese, burger sauce, onion and pickles.
TipWalk-ins are welcome, and groups of six or more can book ahead, especially as Brixton Village gets lively in the evenings.
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.
TryHeggies burger, hot dogs, pickle fries and cheese curds
TipThe Replacements and Husker Du local. Kitchen runs late but pickle-fries-and-curds order is the safe 1am pick; jukebox is the room.
The Slider House ★ 4.0
The Slider House at 1907 Division Street specializes in gourmet slider burgers and a curated selection of craft beers, run by STW Midtown since May 2018.
TryGourmet slider burgers
TipThe Slider House also does catering and sells gift cards, so its sliders can come to your next event.
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.
OrderA build-your-own burger and a hard milkshake.
TipHandy near the North Shore stadiums. The spiked shakes are the gimmick worth trying.
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.
OrderA grass-fed burger and a spiked shake.
TipBuild a burger and chase it with a spiked milkshake. The house ice cream uses no artificial ingredients.
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.
OrderTucker's Onion Burger with cheese
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.
TryFree-range burgers, vegan bowls, blue-green-algae smoothies
TipCuts off at 05:00 Wednesday through Saturday now, not 24-hour anymore. Yard ornament patio is the move on warm nights.
Jonny Poppers ★ 4.0
Jonny Poppers flips burgers and fried snacks from a Chattanooga food truck, a Sunday regular at the Chattanooga Market's food truck row in season.
TryBurgers and jalapeno poppers
TipMost reliable find is Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion during market season, April to November; weekday stops rotate.
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.
OrderStandard Beats burger with frites; bagels are the lunch alternative.
TipBurgers from 70 DH, bagels from 55 DH. The terrace fills at lunch; counter seats inside are usually open.
Shake Shack Madison Square Park ★ 4.0
Shake Shack sprouted from a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, at 23rd Street and Madison Ave, and serves burgers, chicken, hot dogs and frozen custard.
TryBurgers and frozen custard
TipOrder ahead on the Shack App and choose a pick-up time, or use the walk-up window.
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.
OrderThe double smash burger with American cheese and the house-cut fries.
TipBar games open until 01:00 on Friday and Saturday. Kitchen closes before the bar; come early if you want food.
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.
TrySmash burger and arcade tokens
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.
OrderClassic smashburger with double patty, American cheese and house sauce
TipOpen until 03:00 on Friday and Saturday nights. One of the best late-night food stops in the Belgian Quarter.
SALT ★ 4.0
SALT at Kite Beach in Umm Suqeim, Dubai, is the airstream truck turned beach house that keeps grilling wagyu burgers through the night, daily.
TryWagyu smash burger
TipIt runs 24 hours on Kite Beach, so a late burger by the sea is the draw.
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.
SignatureCraft beef burger, Truffle fries, House-brewed IPA
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.
TryVegan burgers and kebab fries
TipCard payment only. Mon to Thu 10:30-21:00, Fri 10:30-21:30, weekend 11:00-21:30.
Tata Burger ★ 4.0
Tata Burger is a burger restaurant at 54 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie in the Marais, with a menu of signature burgers and a different burger of the day.
TryThe burger of the day, different every day
TipA different burger of the day is on offer each day, so ask what is on when you sit down.
Chuck Norris Grill ★ 3.9
Chuck Norris Grill at Laugavegur 30 is a burger place with takeaway and delivery offers on burgers, fries and soda, plus chicken wings with blue cheese sauce.
OrderThe takeaway deal of 4 burgers (2 children's), 2 large fries, 2 sauces and 2L of soda.
TipHome delivery is free for orders over 6000 kr, and 10 wings can be added for 700 kr on weekend orders.
Frisbee Burger ★ 3.9
Frisbee Burger is a family-run Oklahoma City food truck serving Oklahoma onion smash burgers, chili dogs and Frito pie at weekday lunch in south OKC.
OrderOklahoma onion smash burger; Frito pie
TipCheck @frisbeeburger on Facebook for the daily location before heading out.
Three Brothers Burgers ★ 3.9
Three Brothers Burgers grills its patties on a moored barge at Welsh Back in Bristol, from the Big Messy to a vegan tandoori tempeh special.
OrderThe Big Messy with a river-deck seat; monthly specials rotate hard.
TipThe boat deck is the draw, so book a water-side table in summer or arrive before the after-work rush.
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 goA Tobin Hill spot that is also a car wash and laundromat, so visitors assume it cannot be good. The fish tacos prove otherwise.
TipDo your laundry while you eat fish tacos and grass-fed burgers. The live-music nights are the locals' secret.
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.
SignatureMac and Cheese burger, Dawn of the Dead burger, Spiked milkshakes
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.
TrySmash burger and chips
TipThe 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.
TryBurger maison and frites
TipThe burger maison plus frites at €15 is the canonical Carmes working-day favourite at lunch.
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.
OrderTexas craft beers on draft; Katy Trail burger
TipDog-friendly on the patio. Arrives packed by 6pm on weekdays. First-come patio seating only.
Glasgow Burgers ★ 3.9
A burger counter tucked on Rue des Échevins behind the Bouffay lanes in Nantes, two tight services a day and a kitchen that shuts Sunday and Monday.
SignatureBurgers, House frites
TipLunch runs only two hours, so arrive before one; the room seats very few and there is no terrace outside.
Brash ★ 3.8
Brash is a halaal-certified smash burger joint on Regent Road in Sea Point, Cape Town, with a 1970s retro room and two burgers built on the same patties.
OrderThe Mack Daddy smash burger, two beef patties with the house mayo sauce, cheese and pickles.
TipThere are no cola drinks, so order the house 50:50 mix of ice tea and lemonade, which the Hungry for Halaal reviewer recommended.
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.
OrderThe classic smashburger combo; loaded fries are the chain signature.
TipTiny counter; busy at lunch. Order ahead via the Wolt app for a quick pickup.
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.
OrderThe one-pound burger with house sauce -- finish it and it is free
I Love Burgers ★ 3.8
I Love Burgers is a burger food truck at Marsana West on Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi, serving made-to-order patties and fries by the beach, open 24 hours.
TryMade-to-order burgers and fries
TipYalla mentions breakfast burger buns and cheesy late-night bites, with seats by the sea on Marsana Beach.
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.
TryLemon pepper wings, burgers, draft beer
TipHolding down Buckhead's late-night since 1982. Kitchen runs to 02:30; the bar carries the last half-hour.
Afterwork Grill and Chill ★ 3.7
Afterwork Grill and Chill is a neighbourhood grill house on Jalan Batur Sari in Sanur, Bali, serving handcrafted burgers, steaks and cold beer until 22:00.
OrderOrder The Slab burger with fries and an ice-cold Bintang.
TipBurgers use homemade buns and sauces and start from about IDR 49,000. Steaks and cold beer are on the menu too.
SALT ★ 3.6
SALT is the burger counter at Marsana East on Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi, serving sliders and fries beside the beach, open daily from 08:00 until 01:00.
TrySliders and fries by the beach
TipIt opens at 08:00 and serves until 01:00, so it works for an early burger as well as a late one.
La Gresca Food & Drinks ★ 3.6
La Gresca Food & Drinks is a low-priced burger bar on Carrer del Camí Reial in Salou, open from mid-morning until midnight most days and closed on Mondays.
OrderA burger, the speciality named on its Facebook page.
TipOn autumn 2026 Thursday evenings La Gresca is part of Tasta Salou: a small plate and a glass of wine or cava for €7.
Walle's Burger ★ 3.6
Walle's Burger by Piazza Statuto in Turin grills patties of 100% Garronese beef, keeps a Beyond patty for the rest, and serves every burger with dipper fries.
OrderThe Walle Bacon: Garronese beef, cheddar, crisp bacon and the house Walle sauce, dipper fries on the side.
TipClosed Monday and Sunday lunch, and the kitchen stops at 22:00 on weeknights; the menu also runs a Beyond patty and a cotoletta milanese for anyone not eating beef.
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.
TryHot dogs and burgers until 02:00
GONG Cafétéria ★ 3.5
GONG Cafétéria feeds the EuraTechnologies campus on Avenue de Bretagne in Lille, a weekday canteen of burgers and plates priced for the office crowd.
TryBurger and fries
TipWeekdays only, and it shuts at 17:30 every day except Thursday, when it runs on to 20:00.
La Cabane à Burger ★ 3.4
La Cabane à Burger grills its smash burgers to go on Rue Salvador Allende in Dijon, a takeaway counter across from the Lidl supermarket in town.
TrySmash burger
TipClosed Mondays; the Lidl car park opposite is the easiest place to park for a quick takeaway order.
Burgers by city
Milwaukee11 places
Kopp's Frozen Custard, Solly's Grille
Fort Worth10 places
Kincaid's Hamburgers, Love Shack
Madison9 places
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry, Mickey's Tavern pinball room
Cape Town7 places
The Hood Kitchen, AA Paraatha
Ljubljana7 places
Pop's Place, Pop's Place bar
Los Angeles7 places
Astro Family Restaurant, The Apple Pan
Copenhagen6 places
Katz, Too Old To Die Young
Dublin6 places
Dash Burger, Dash Burger Capel Street
Knoxville6 places
Litton's Market and Restaurant, Stock and Barrel
Salt Lake City6 places
Crown Burgers, Proper Brewing
Kansas City5 places
Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill, Town Topic Hamburgers
Reykjavik5 places
2 Guys, Tommi's Burger Joint
Santa Monica5 places
HiHo Cheeseburger, Heavy Handed
Cork4 places
Son of a Bun
Dijon4 places
Foodies, La Cabane à Burger
Indianapolis4 places
Workingman's Friend, Bru Burger Bar Mass Ave
Las Vegas4 places
Atomic Liquors and Atomic Kitchen, In-N-Out Burger (W Sahara)
New Orleans4 places
Atomic Burger, Revel Cafe and Bar
Oklahoma City4 places
Tucker's Onion Burgers, Frisbee Burger
Rotterdam4 places
Ter Marsch and Co Late Night, Ter Marsch and Co
Sacramento4 places
Skip's Kitchen, Suzie Burger
Stockholm4 places
House of Burgers, Franky's Burger
Vilnius4 places
Drama Burger, Drama Burger (Gedimino)
Amsterdam3 places
The Burger Room, Lombardo's
Asheville3 places
The Rankin Vault, Farm Burger
Boise3 places
Big Jud's
Bristol3 places
Squeezed, Three Brothers Burgers
Budapest3 places
Tuning Bar and Burger, L.A BURGER
Buffalo3 places
Gabriel's Gate (Late), Gabriel's Gate (Bar Menu)
Columbus3 places
Old Mohawk, Old Mohawk Tavern Burger
Detroit3 places
Green Dot Stables, Brome Modern Eatery
Frankfurt3 places
Der Fette Bulle
Glasgow3 places
El Perro Negro, Bread Meats Bread
London3 places
VQ Chelsea, Honest Burgers Brixton
Louisville3 places
Game Restaurant, Mussel and Burger Bar
Minneapolis3 places
Matt's Bar, Bebe Zito
Nashville3 places
Fat Mo's, Gabbys Burgers and Fries
Pittsburgh3 places
Tessaro's, Burgatory
Plovdiv3 places
Brick House Kapana
Porto3 places
Peebz, Boulevard Burger House
San Antonio3 places
Chris Madrid's, The Cove
San Diego3 places
Polite Provisions, Hodad's
St. Louis3 places
The Royale, Carl's Drive-In
Tulsa3 places
Tucker's Onion Burgers
Warsaw3 places
Smashny Burger, Barn Burger
Abu Dhabi2 places
I Love Burgers, SALT
Albuquerque2 places
The Owl Cafe
Atlanta2 places
R. Thomas Deluxe Grill, Bucket Shop Cafe
Austin2 places
Hopdoddy Burger Bar (South Congress), P. Terry's Burger Stand (South Lamar)
Belgrade2 places
Z Burger, Burger House Bros
Brisbane2 places
Ben's Burgers, Felons Brewing Co.
Charlotte2 places
Heist Brewery, Pinky's Westside Grill
Chattanooga2 places
Tremont Tavern, Jonny Poppers
Des Moines2 places
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab
Edinburgh2 places
Burgers and Beers Grillhouse, Bonnie Burgers
Fort Collins2 places
Big Al's Burgers and Dogs
Houston2 places
Lankford Grocery & Market
Istanbul2 places
Kızılkayalar
Marrakech2 places
Beats Burger
Memphis2 places
Earnestine and Hazel's, Earnestine and Hazel's Soul Burger
Montreal2 places
Messorem, Joyo Burger
New York City2 places
Handcraft Burgers and Brew, Shake Shack Madison Square Park
Oslo2 places
Illegal Burger
Rochester2 places
The Playhouse / Swillburger
Seattle2 places
Dick's Drive-In Broadway
Toulouse2 places
Le Camion qui Fume, Le Petit Bois Burger
Vancouver2 places
Roxy Burger, Moose's Down Under
Vienna2 places
The Bogside Inn, Hawidere
Aarhus1 place
Hvide Svin
Anchorage1 place
F Street Station
Athens1 place
Tapfield
Auckland1 place
Wise Boys Burgers
Bali1 place
Afterwork Grill and Chill
Bilbao1 place
Crazy Horse
Birmingham1 place
Paramount
Bucharest1 place
Burger Van Bistro
Charleston1 place
Smash City Burgers
Chicago1 place
Choppers
Cincinnati1 place
Northside Yacht Club
Cleveland1 place
ABC the Tavern
Cologne1 place
Grabz Smashburger
Dallas1 place
Katy Trail Ice House
Denver1 place
Park Burger
Dubai1 place
SALT
Durham1 place
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Gothenburg1 place
Diket
Hamburg1 place
Vincent Vegan Hauptbahnhof
Helsinki1 place
Jaskan Grilli
Hong Kong1 place
Burger Circus
Lille1 place
GONG Cafétéria
Madrid1 place
Bululú Bar and Coffee
Manchester1 place
Wholesome Junkies
Milan1 place
LambicZoon
Nantes1 place
Glasgow Burgers
Naples1 place
Dambo Beef And Grill
Orlando1 place
Graffiti Junktion
Paris1 place
Tata Burger
Phoenix1 place
The Stand
Raleigh1 place
MoJoe's Burger Joint
Rome1 place
Impact Food
Salou1 place
La Gresca Food & Drinks
Santa Fe1 place
Bang Bite Filling Station
Seville1 place
Burger Food Porn
Shanghai1 place
Shanghai Brewery
Tampa1 place
Datz Late Night
Tel Aviv1 place
Vitrina Lili
Tucson1 place
Pat's Drive In
Turin1 place
Walle's Burger
Verona1 place
Burgerino
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.
More cities are in research. Want burgers covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.