The 101 Best Burgers In America 2016
Is there any food more quintessentially American than the burger? The simple sandwich of ground beef on a bun allows for considerable creativity from the chef or home cook who's making it, and there are thousands of variations, from one end of the country to the other. And when done properly, there are few foods more delicious.
#101 Thunder Burger, Thunder Burger, Washington, D.C.
This Georgetown gourmet burger establishment offers one of the best customizable burger experiences in the country. A "Thunder Burger" order will give you the base of a beef patty, to which you can add a seemingly endless array of toppings, including basics like grilled red onion and jalapeño, of course. But if you're looking to go next level, get creative and choose something like their pineapple salsa, triple cream brie, pulled pork, foie gras, and, well, the list goes on...
#100 The Texas, Waterfront Bar & Grill, San Diego
Packing in crowds since 1933, what's quite possibly the oldest bar in San Diego also serves what very well might be its best burger. Called the Texas, this half-pound, hand-formed patty is topped with melt-in-your-mouth fried onions and your choice of seven cheeses (opt for American). When washed down with a cold beer, it'll become pretty obvious why this place has become such an institution.
#99 Tony's Beer Battered Cheeseburger, Tune Inn Restaurant & Bar, Washington, D.C.
Opened in 1947, Tune Inn has been family-owned and -operated for three generations, and even survived a fire back in 2011. The spot is popular with locals and politicians alike, and just about everyone has tried Tony's Beer Battered Burger at least once. First, a beef patty is dipped in beer batter and fried to a crispy golden brown, then it's topped with a slice of America cheese and served open-faced on a white bun with lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes. Opt for crispy tater tots on the side, because, as we're pretty sure you've already said to yourself before ordering, why not?
#98 Double with Cheese, P.Terry's, Austin
It's not going to break the bank for you to try No. 98 on this list of America's best burgers, which has 14 Austin-area locations. Two 100-percent all-natural Black Angus beef patties, topped with two slices of American, will set you back just $3.95 (onions and pickles are free on request, jalapeños and wheat buns are 20 cents each, and bacon is 85 cents), but will soon set your standard for fast food fare.
#97 Tap Room Burger, Schlafly Tap Room, St. Louis
Sitting in a sprawling, fully refurbished turn-of-the-century printing building, Schlafly's name implies the star of the show here is beer — of which there is plenty — but the real menu gem is the ground sirloin tap room burger, featuring burger slaw, white Cheddar, and an English muffin bun. Burger adventurers can also go with the equally delicious Mediterranean-style lamb burger with feta and cucumber sauce, served on a ciabatta bun.
#96 The All American, 2941 Restaurant, Falls Church, Va.
Hidden on an upscale American, French, and Mediterranean menu in the affluent Washington, D.C. suburb of Falls Church, Virginia, is the available-at-lunch-only All American burger at 2941 Restaurant, which makes the metro ride from Downtown worth the trip. This is a straightforward beef burger topped with lettuce, melted Cheddar, onion, and tomato on an olive oil bun. Don't let the simplicity fool you: The simple, fresh ingredients work together in beautiful flavor harmony.
#95 Double Meat Cheeseburger, Lankford Grocery, Houston
This homey Houston institution has been going strong since 1938, when Nona and Aubrey Lankford set up a small fruit stand. Burgers were introduced in the late 1970s, and they were such a hit that the fruit (and the entire grocery store concept) was phased out to let the burgers take center stage. Today there are 20 burgers on the menu, topped with everything from mac and cheese, jalapeños, bacon, and a sunnyside-up egg (the Grim Burger) to shoestring fries, Cuban sauce, Swiss cheese, red onions, and ham (the Cuban), but the Double Meat Burger is the best way to learn what put this place on the map. Supremely juicy and packing a chargrilled flavor punch, these hand-formed burgers are filling, beefy, cheesy, and wildly satisfying.
#94 Sirloin Burger, BV's Burger, New York City
Bobby Van's steakhouse is a New York institution, but this tiny offshoot, located in a courtyard next to the 45th street location and specializing in burgers and hot dogs, is somehow still less known than it should be. It shouldn't be. Loosely-packed eight-ounce burgers are made with fresh-ground sirloin and given a deep crust on a griddle before being draped in ample cheese and tucked into a soft and squishy bun. Soft, juicy, and full of flavor.
#93 Sirloin Burger, The Le Tub Saloon, Hollywood, Fla.
If you like your burger big and bold, the sirloin burger sold at this converted gas station about a half-hour's drive from Miami is worth seeking out. The place will be crowded, you'll most likely wait for more than an hour for your order, and you'll leave smelling like smoke, but it'll all be worth it as soon as you see the 13-ounce, hand-formed, fresh-ground grilled burger hit your table. It's a behemoth, sure, but the crowds don't lie: this burger is a thing of beauty.
#92 Hubcap Decker, Hubcap Grill, Houston
Open since 2008, the Hubcap Grill, which now has two locations in Houston and one in Kemah, isn't for the faint of heart. To make their popular Decker, two deeply seared fresh-ground hand-formed burger patties (with a slice of Texas toast in the middle for good measure) get topped with American and Swiss cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and a mayo-based "special sauce" perfected by owner Ricky Craig's father Richard, who runs the popular nearby Craiganale's Italian Deli. You can pile on more patties if you like, but save the stomach space for some of their perfectly-seasoned fries.
#91 The Filler, Giant Drive-In, Lake Oswego, Ore.
Husband and wife duo Bill and Gail Kreger have been serving 28 different burgers on a stretch of suburban Portland road for more than 35 years, and have garnered a loyal following for their awesome burger concoctions. The Filler is one of them; it comprises two all-beef burger patties, bacon, a fried egg, ham, lettuce, raw white onion, Tillamook Cheddar, and tomato, and is served on a sesame seeded bun. As Yelp user Hannah K. puts it in her review, "It is a handful, mouthful, and messy, but worth it!"
#90 The Original, Slowburger, Portland, Ore.
This Portland gem is all about using the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available, and that commitment definitely shines through in the finished product. There's a deft hand on display here, too, evident in the flagship burger, The Original. This burger is made with a thick hand-formed patty of free-range beef from Columbia River Reserve, Gruyère, onion rings, pickle relish, butter lettuce, and aïoli, and it's served on a brioche bun from a local bakery. There's a lot to love about this delicious beast.
#89 Frita Cubana, El Mago de las Fritas, Miami
he frita is a perfect representation of the American influence on Cuban culture, and vice versa. It was created in Cuba and brought over to the States after the revolution, and the one served at Little Havana's El Mago de las Fritas is arguably the best. Here's the breakdown: A fresh-ground patty of spiced beef (possibly with some chorizo mixed in) is pressed flat onto the griddle along with some diced onions and a mysterious red sauce, then tucked into a fresh Cuban roll. It's topped with freshly fried potato sticks (not from a can here, as they are at some other places), more diced onion, and a squirt of ketchup. It's mind-blowingly delicious and unlike any other burger you'll ever try.
#88 Congress Burger, Second Bar + Kitchen, Austin
Executive chef David Bull grew up in his family's restaurant, where he picked up not only a love of cooking, but also a deep knowledge of how to run a successful kitchen and restaurant. All of this is on display at Second Bar + Kitchen. His approach is "Natural American," as he puts it, which means using local ingredients when possible and cooking with the seasons. One menu item that's available year-round — and for good reason — is the Congress Burger. The patty is a blend of ground brisket and chuck, and Bull tops it with Gruyère, lettuce, shallot confit, and tomatoes. Then comes the really fun part: You have the option to add avocado, crisp pork belly, an over-easy egg, and/or seared foie gras. You can also just put all your cards on the table, so to speak, and tell them "double meat double cheese." Happy napping.
#87 Dick’s Deluxe, Dick's, Seattle
With six locations, Dick's is a Seattle institution. Since 1954, they've served burgers, hand-cut fries (named the second best in the country earlier this year), and milkshakes, and the owners know that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Double Deluxe an ideal burger specimen: two patties, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickle relish, on a soft, squishy bun, sold for a whopping $2.90. Want onions? That'll cost you an extra 5 cents, please.
#86 Double Cheeseburger, Zwieg’s Grill, Watertown, Wis.
With its ancient sign propped up on a slightly lopsided roof (and a completely out-of-place ornate clock), Zweig's is one of those places that you'd be a fool to drive past. Located about halfway between Milwaukee and Madison in the small, sleepy town of Watertown, this mainstay has been slinging burgers and other classic diner fare for 70 years, and the burgers coming off of the griddle are just about perfect. Enjoying two of these thin and crusty burgers draped in melted cheese and tucked onto a squishy bun while perched on a stool at the counter may just be the perfect burger-eating experience.
#85 The Croque, Park Burger, Denver
With four Denver locations, Park Burger has made a name for itself by serving fresh-ground, high-quality Angus beef from Harris Ranch on custom-baked buns. The most creative (and delicious) burger on its menu is the Croque Burger, a third-pound patty that's given a deep crust and topped with ham, Swiss cheese, and a fried egg. Rich yet not overly so, all the components play perfectly off of each other.
#84 The Buffalo Burger, The Grind, Phoenix
The Grind is the proud home of the only 1,000-degree coal-burning ovens of their kind in the United States, which make for some pretty amazing burgers. They use locally sourced meat almost exclusively, as well, so we suggest straying from the normal beef and going for the Buffalo Burger, made up of a half-pound of local buffalo meat, bacon, caramelized onions, jalapeños, steak sauce, and white American cheese on a brioche bun. We bet it pairs really well with their Maker's Mark old fashioned.
#83 Double Burger, Irv's Burger, West Hollywood, Calif.
Being greeted by the eager-to-please Hong family that owns Irv's, known to draw up personalized doodles on their plates and bags, is a big part of this West Hollywood spot's attraction. But another huge draw, of course, is the juicy, old-fashioned burgers that are flavor-packed and the perfect size for stacking, so you'll want to order the Double. Angelenos breathed a savory sigh of relief when Irv's reopened in a new location last year after losing their lease in 2013. Their revival was partially thanks to a local community group calling themselves the Burger Brigade, dedicated to saving their beloved burger institution. Now that's a cult following.
#82 Cheeseburger, Paul's Da Burger Joint, New York City
Paul's is a bit of a downtown New York institution: They have been serving burgers to Cooper Union students and other hungry New Yorkers for over 25 years (the lines on their 25th anniversary itself were around the block). You can't really order wrong here, but your best bet is probably the cheeseburger, which is an eight-ounce burger that's cooked with a metal bowl over it to seal in the juicy goodness. In classic fashion, a wealth of Cheddar cheese is melted on top of the patty, and the whole thing is served open-faced with the top half of the bun, iceberg lettuce, onion, and tomato on the side.
#81 The Nancy Pants Burger, MEAT Eatery & Taproom, Islamorada, Fla.
The buns on the burgers at MEAT Eatery & Tap Room come stamped with the word "MEAT" in all caps, so if you couldn't already tell by the name, these folks are serious about, well, meat. The Nancy Pants is the burger to order, and we implore you to add their maple-cured cherry wood-smoked bacon to it. The patty is only five ounces, but it's well seasoned and packed with flavor, and comes dressed with American cheese, lettuce, and tomato. The bun is toasted, you can add on their house-made ketchup, and the whole thing is served with a tiny gherkin pickle skewered to the top. Their fries are fried in duck fat and totally worth ordering to accompany your Nancy Pants, as are the crispy chicharrónes, or pork cracklings.
#80 Country Fried Bacon Burger, Christian's Tailgate, Houston
This loud and lively sports bar offers diners a choice of sizes, burger-wise: one-third pound, one-half pound, and one pound. The country-fried bacon version is a half-pound patty slathered with mustard and mayo and layered with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and country-fried bacon — which, yes, is bacon that has been battered and deep-fried — has got to be about the most mouth-filling burger in America. And it's a really good one, too.
#79 Cheeseburger, The Varsity, Atlanta
The Varsity is not included on this list because it claims to be the world's largest drive-in, or because it's one of the few restaurants in America that still employs carhops. No, neither is it The Varsity's staying power (founder Frank Gordy launched it with a $2,000 nest egg and "million dollar taste buds" in 1928) and its expansion to some eight locations in the greater Atlanta and Athens areas. It's because it sells one of the country's most idiosyncratic burgers: the double chili cheeseburger. There's something going on with the buns 'round these parts — they get condensed and sweeter once find yourself in Atlanta. Make no mistake, this is a greasy cheeseburger, more compact than most double cheeseburgers, but one whose sloppy, cheesy saltiness all comes together in a solid, but proportionately fluid burger, both texturally and flavor-wise. No wonder it's one of America's best burgers (and for just $4.08).
#78 Cheeseburger, Cassell's Hamburgers, Los Angeles
Along with its near-contemporary, the 1947-vintage Apple Pan, Cassell's, opened in 1948, defined hamburger excellence in LA for many decades. Cassell's now occupies a corner of the historic Hotel Normandie in Koreatown, a few blocks from its original location, but stays true to founder Al Cassell's old ways: the beef is Colorado Angus chuck and brisket, ground daily in-house, formed in the original burger press and cooked with Cassell's original crossfire broiler. Cheddar or Swiss draped over the top and a Parker House bun complete the burger. All the usual condiments are available (the mayo is house-made with organic eggs), and bacon, a fried egg, or avocado are available as optional enhancements.\
#77 Cowbell Burger, Cowbell, New Orleans
Who couldn't use more cowbell? (Sorry, had to.) This New Orleans burger joint, headed up with a focus on handmade, high-quality burgers by chef Brack May, is a Big Easy favorite. Their "Locally World Famous Cowbell Burger" includes a natural beef patty on a toasted potato roll with lettuce and tomato and onion. It all sounds pretty by-the-numbers, but when you see — and more importantly, taste — the results, you'll know why Cowbell gets a name check in pretty much every New Orleans "best of" burgers list.
#76 The Dirty South Burger, Chuck's, Raleigh, N.C.
The most outrageous offering at this down-home burger joint starts with a house-ground, 100 percent chuck patty that's seared on a flat-top. You have your choice of a 5-ounce or 8-ounce patty, and we recommend going with the 5-ouncer because what comes next is delicious insanity: smoked pork shoulder, Anson Mills red pea chili, crispy tobacco onions, roasted tomato malt vinegar slaw, Cheddar, and yellow mustard are all piled on top of the patty before being sandwiched between two halves of a bun. All the components work perfectly together thanks to the deft hand of a great chef: Ashley Christensen, who was the recipient of the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast.
#75 Hell’s Fury Burger, The Vortex, Atlanta
The Vortex, which has two Atlanta locations, is a crazy place. First of all, just to enter the restaurant you have to walk through a giant skull with crazy eyes that also happens to be the main entrance. The menu has a full page of rules ("We maintain the right to refuse service to any person that, in our sole opinion, is a great big jerk."). They also don't allow anyone in who's under the age of 18 because of smoking laws. And while all of this kitsch and attitude might make for a great distraction from underwhelming food anywhere else, the burgers here are the real deal (and so are the sweet potato tots). The Hell's Fury burger is a gargantuan half-pound patty of Choice sirloin, topped with pepper jack cheese, something called Atomic Death Sauce, habanero relish, and a whole roasted jalapeño. Not for the faint of heart, but if you're into spicy food, this very well might be the tastiest burger you'll ever encounter.
#74 Double Cheeseburger, Workingman's Friend, Indianapolis
In business since 1918, this Indianapolis old-timer reportedly got its name because owner Louis Stamatkin allowed regulars to run a tab until payday; the fact he supplied them with homemade whiskey probably didn't hurt, either. Nowadays its run by Louis' granddaughter Becky, and it's turning out stellar burgers that haven't changed since day one, still cooked on the original grill. Patties are hand-formed from fresh ground chuck and smashed down on the grill until they're essentially all crust, deep and dark and salty and loaded with umami. Order a double and you'll receive two cheese-topped patties stacked on top of each other, with a segment of bun in-between to absorb some of the juice. It's a beaut.
#73 Onion Fried Burger, Sid’s Diner, El Reno, Okla.
At this friendly, no-frills diner, it's all about the onion-fried burger. Sit at the counter and watch the magic happen: Chef and owner Sid Hall (or his brother, Bob), take a ball of fresh-ground beef, place it on a ripping hot griddle, and smash it down along with a handful of thin-sliced white onions. The onions fuse into the meat as it cooks, and the end result is all crust and fried onions. Make it a double, and you get twice as much. No ketchup, no lettuce, no tomato — just meat and onions on a soft bun.
#72 Cheeseburger, Bowery Meat Company, New York City
That guy who wins the burger contest every year in Miami and New York City? You mean Josh Capon of B&B Winepub? Yup. That's the one. Here he is again with another winning burger creation, this one at his New York City East Village outpost Bowery Meat Company. What's his secret? A dash of confidence, a little cockiness, and a whole lot of knowing what he and his customers want to eat. In this case, that means a cheeseburger with griddled onions, raclette, and tomato aïoli.
#71 Burger Italiano, Culina, Los Angeles
Everybody's got to have a burger on the menu these days, it seems, and why should the sleek, upscale Italian restaurant at the Los Angeles Four Seasons Hotel, especially famous for its imaginative crudo menu, be any different? The Four Seasons has always served great burgers in various styles over the years, but never before has it presented one like its $19 lunch-only "burger Italiano" — ground short rib with pancetta, provolone, pickled onions, and Calabrian chile aïoli on a ciabatta roll. If Italy had invented this all-American specialty, it would probably taste exactly like this.
#70 Sammy's 50 Burger, Sam's Tavern, Seattle
Sam's Tavern, founded in the 1940s on the corner of Furhman and Eastlake Avenues in Seattle, was the original birthplace of national chain Red Robin. Before adopting the name "Red Robin," it was just "Sam's Tavern," and then "Sam's Red Robin." 70 years later, the original Sam's Tavern was resurrected, this time on Pike near 11th Street, and they still serve awesome burgers. They have one in particular that's perfect for all you bacon fans out there: Sammy's 50/50 Burger. The patty is half Certified Angus beef and half hickory smoked bacon, topped with avocado, buttermilk bacon ranch dressing, Gouda cheese, and (you guessed it) more bacon. Might as well go whole hog and start with the wedge salad with bacon bits and see if they'll load your side of fries up with it, too.
#69 F.T.W., Grill Em All, Los Angeles
What do you get when you combine a love of heavy metal and a passion for good food? A menu of some 16 burgers with names like "Napalm Death" and "Dee Snider" and topping combinations as unusual as you can imagine. Peanut butter, strawberry jam, bacon, and sriracha? Fried chicken, Cheddar, bacon, maple, and hot sauce on waffle buns? You bet. Chef Ryan Harkins and Matthew Chernus of Grill 'Em All rose to national prominence as winners of the first season of Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race. The truck is still in operation, but like a fair number of successful food truck entrepreneurs of the past few years, the crew has since settled into a brick-and-mortar location. Grill 'Em All's crazy combinations are tasty, mostly because of their sound technique and sense of balance; if they go with an over-the-top bread, they'll be sure there's enough moisture to go with it, but there's perhaps no better example of why they deserve to be on this list than the F.T.W. It's just a big old juicy burger on a bun with cheese. And you have to respect that.
#68 Kuma Burger, Kuma's Corner, Chicago
Kuma's Corner is not a quiet place to eat — the restaurant's ethos is "Support your community. Eat beef. Bang your head." But with all the pyrotechnics that go off when you take a bite, the heavy metal doesn't just make sense, it's a perfect fit. There are burgers with tomatillo salsa and fried chiles and burgers with sriracha and grilled pineapple, but if you have to choose just one, go for the signature Kuma Burger: a fried egg, bacon, lettuce, onion, sharp Cheddar, and tomato. It's not as though there's not enough flavor in the burger, but that egg adds the extra "oomph" to make it truly memorable.
#67 The Original Redcoat Special Hamburger, Redcoat Tavern, Royal Oak, Mich.
When a burger hasn't changed in more than 40 years, you know they're doing something right. And at the Redcoat Tavern, that burger is a half-pound beauty, served on a traditional sesame seed-topped bun and topped with shredded lettuce, tomato, and your choice of toppings including cheese and "burnt" onions. It's packed daily, and just about all the regulars will tell you that the no-frills burger is the best they've ever had. Don't miss the onion rings and clam chowder.
#66 The Classic Burger, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Austin
No corner is cut at Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Austin, where hormone- and antibiotic-free black Angus beef is ground in-house, buns are baked from scratch, and only the freshest vegetables are allowed. There's a staggering variety of specialty burgers, but our pick is the Classic: topped with bacon; beefsteak tomato; cheese; house "sassy sauce," a combination of horseradish, mustard, and mayonnaise aimed at bringing out the fresh patty's natural flavors; onion; and red leaf lettuce.
#65 Green Chile Cheeseburger, Steuben's, Denver
Opened in 2007, but named in honor of a famous restaurant and nightclub co-proprietor Josh Wolkon's great-uncles owned in Boston for several decades in the middle of the last century, Steuben's is a neighborhood diner serving American regional specialties. Representing Colorado's neighbor, New Mexico, the menu presents what is regularly named the best green chile (or chili, as Steuben's puts it) cheeseburger in Denver. Said to be inspired by the classic version at the Owl Bar in San Antonio, New Mexico, it's a fat burger patty topped with American cheese into which green chile strips seem to melt. Lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, and mustard ornament the burger, which is served on a challah bun.
#64 The Burger, Company Burger, New Orleans
Company Burger chef and owner Adam Biderman set out to create the perfect double cheeseburger, and one bite will tell you that he hit the nail right on the head. He starts with two 3.25-ounce patties, which are given a light crust on the flat-top before being loaded with red onion and high-quality American-style cheese and then stacked. A couple of pickle chips and a toasted white bread bun complete it. You're left to your own devices at the expansive condiment bar, which includes Creole honey mustard, basil mayo, and pickled jalapeños. Before getting creative, though, make sure you try the burger as-is — you might be compelled not to mess with perfection.
#63 The Burger, J.M. Curley, Boston
J.M. Curley's Angus burger is a straightforward approach that steers clear of gimmicks — this is 9 ounces of perfectly seasoned and cooked beef topped with Cheddar, grilled onions, house Russian dressing, and pickles, all moistened with excess drippings. The Burger won this unpretentious dinner and after-bar eatery Best Burger honors from Boston Magazine in 2013.
#62 Hamburger, Pie n' Burger, Pasadena
If you want to experience what a perfect burger tasted like in 1963, head to Pie 'n Burger, where nothing about the place — including the butcher from whom they source ground chuck — has changed in decades. The double is the best way to go, with two quarter-pound balls of beef smashed down on the well-seasoned flat-top with a big can of tomato juice, then topped with lettuce and homemade Thousand Island dressing, all tucked into a toasted white bun and wrapped in wax paper. Don't leave without trying some pie; the butterscotch variety is legendary.
#61 The DuMont Burger, DuMont Burger, Brooklyn
When it comes to DuMont Burger, there's a distinct sadness that locals in the know won't be able to see far beyond. It wasn't long ago that chef and owner Colin Devlin was found dead after an apparent suicide, said to have been brought on by the pressures and financial difficulties behind running his three restaurants, DuMont, Dressler, and DuMont Burger. But even after Devlin's death, the food that brought him into the spotlight can still be found at this Brooklyn burger joint. They serve a burger that satisfies newcomers and long-time fans, a burger that lives up to the expectations of locals and Lonely Planet-wielding Italian and French tourists alike. Yet it's a simple iteration: A basic thick-patty burger that features pickles (and you'll want to add cheese), juicy with a slight char; the sweet-smelling, buttery brioche provides just enough handle through to the last bite.
#60 Tostada Burger, Chris Madrid's, San Antonio
When you've been selling burgers since 1977 and your restaurant is always packed, you must be doing something right. At Chris Madrid's, the "macho" tostado burger made it into George Motz's book, Hamburger America, and the author's 25 Essential U.S. Burgers Checklist. Chris Madrid reinvented the Texas bean burger (hamburger, refried beans, Fritos, and Cheez Whiz), which is said to have been created at the now-defunct Sills Snack Shack in San Antonio, by subbing in Cheddar and house-made corn chips. The bun is soft and toasted crisp inside, but the weight of the burger and the moisture of the patty, beans, and cheese presses down on the bottom, condensing it, making it sweet. So you have that sweetness, the juiciness of the patty, the comforting refried beans, and cheese flowing out all over. What a burger.
#59 The Special, Stanich's Tavern, Portland, Ore.
You won't find many customers nursing only a beer at this circa-1949 sports bar; people come here for the food. Namely, the burger known only as "The Special:" a big toasted bun topped with a quarter-pound of fresh-ground chuck, ham, bacon, a fried egg, cheese, red onion, lettuce, and tomato, finished off with mayo, mustard, and vinegary burger relish. It's a step back in time, and a legendary burger.
#58 Slider with Cheese, Motz's Burgers, Detroit
Serving some of America's best sliders since the 1930s inside a circa-1929 White Castle, this humble Detroit mainstay is a must-visit for any burger-lover passing through the city. Located inside a quiet industrial neighborhood, the interior is the exact opposite: bright, cheerful, and welcoming. Grab one of the six round stools and watch the magic happen: 1 ½-ounce balls of fresh-ground sirloin are smashed down onto an ancient griddle with a hefty spatula, this-sliced onions are pressed on, it's flipped, cheese is applied, the toasted top bun is placed on top to steam, and the finished product is served with a squirt of ketchup and mustard. They're oniony, beefy, cheesy, crusty, and everything you look for in a good old-fashioned slider.
#57 The Mac, The Macintosh, Charleston, S.C.
Chef Jeremiah Bacon has been nominated for three James Beard awards and is widely regarded as one of Charleston's best chefs, so we should all be thankful that he's added a burger to the menu at his fun-loving and freewheeling modern American restaurant, The Macintosh (to give you an idea of the vibe here, look no further than the extremely popular bacon happy hour). His "The Mac" burger, which sells for an eye-opening $18, is worth every penny and is surprisingly restrained. It starts with an eight-ounce house-ground patty and is simply topped with Nueske's bacon and aged Cheddar, but the whole exceeds the sum of its parts. This thick slab is perfectly complemented by its toasted bun, as well as the accompanying pecorino truffle fries.
#56 Sliders, White Manna, Hackensack, N.J.
A North Jersey legend, White Manna is one of the last remaining diner-style burger joints that arose in the tradition of White Castle. What's served here is the perfect interpretation of that form, honed over decades and decades, unchanging. Walk up to the tiny counter, place your order with the grillman, and watch as he smashes a small wad of meat onto the flattop with a handful of thin-sliced onions, keeps careful track of it as it cooks, and sandwiches it into a Martin's potato roll. Make it a double with cheese, and the burger that will end up on your plate next to some pickle chips won't be pretty, but it's astonishingly delicious.
#55 Juicy Lucy, 5-8 Club, Minneapolis
All you need to do is get a glimpse at the 5-8 Club's menu to realize that the Juicy Lucy is no by-the-numbers burger menu item. The establishment features their most famous menu item smack in the center in bold, noting that their Lucy has been featured on Man vs. Food and Food Wars, and won a whole host of Twin City burger accolades. So what's the secret? A mouth-watering, cooked-to-order half pound patty, stuffed with your choice of cheese that melts in the center and mingles with the meat's natural flavors. Just one look at this molten, mammoth burger creation is enough to kick in some serious burger and cheese cravings.
#54 Whiskey King Burger, Village Whiskey, Philadelphia
Chef Jose Garces has won heaps of praise for the burgers he's serving at Village Whiskey, and it's well-deserved. His burgers are so lightly packed that they're almost fluffy, and come on a house-baked pain au lait bun that's similar to brioche, but less eggy. The patties are well seasoned, super juicy, and full of flavor. If you're looking for something especially decadent, go for the Whiskey King Burger, which is topped with maple bourbon-glazed cippolini onions, blue cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, and foie gras for good measure. It's a wonder to behold.
#53 Velveeta Cheese Burger, Redamak’s, New Buffalo, Mich.
Founded by George and Gladys Redamak in 1946 and owned by Jim and Angie Maroney since 1975, the legendary Redamak's is only open from March 1 to November 15 due to the fact that it only holds a 10-month resort liquor license, but it's definitely worth a detour to the sleepy hamlet of New Buffalo on the shores of Lake Michigan. Expect a wait (even though the restaurant seats 400), and when you finally snag a table, do what everyone else does: Order a burger — the Velveeta Cheeseburger, in particular. Butchered and ground in-house, these patties (which are available in either 5 1/3- or 8-ounce portions) get a nice sear in their own individual skillet and are then draped with a glob of melty, oozy Velveeta. It's served with ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions (lettuce and tomato were only introduced within the past few years), but honestly all you really need is meat, cheese, and bread. You'll never receive a burger cooked below medium, but something about these burgers makes them irresistibly delicious. Cash-only and undeniably quirky, there's nothing else quite like Redamak's.
#52 Cheeseburger, Shady Glen Dairy Stores, Manchester, Conn.
With two Manchester, Connecticut locations (the first opened in 1948 and the second in 1965), Shady Glen is nothing short of a New England legend. While the ice cream served at this family-owned business is certainly worthy of note, the burgers here really are something else. Fresh-ground patties get a sear on a well-seasoned flat top, and where most burger joints will add a slice or two of cheese, Shady Glen does something unique: They add four, forming a huge square of cheese with the patty in the middle. The overhanging cheese melts directly onto the griddle, and is folded up slightly into a "skirt" when it's served. Whether you eat the browned, bubbly cheese separately or fold it up under the bun, there's nothing else quite like a burger from Shady Glen.
#51 "Le Pigeon" Burger, Le Pigeon, Portland, Ore.
When Gabriel Rucker first opened Le Pigeon in 2006, he only served five of these outstanding burgers per night. How cruel. Until recently, it was also available at Rucker's downtown spot Little Bird, where it's been replaced with the bistro's own signature burger. Today, thankfully, the burger can be purchased at all times at the original Le Pigeon. And what a burger it is: A thick square patty of beef from a local farm is seasoned with salt and pepper; grilled (a rarity); topped with sharp Tillamook white Cheddar, an iceberg lettuce slaw, thick slices of grilled pickled onions, mayo, mustard, and house-made ketchup; and piled atop a ciabatta bun. If you find yourself in Portland, run, don't walk, to this burger.
#50 The Lambs Club Burger, The Lambs Club, New York City
A bun should never steal the burger show, but the fresh, toasted challah loaf bun at Geoffrey Zakarian's Theater District gem The Lambs Club comes pretty close. But the lunch-only burger has plenty more going for it, including Cabot sharp Cheddar, shallot, and just about the highest quality beef burger you can find. Not to mention the perfect speared pickle on top.
#49 Ben's Chili Cheeseburger, Ben's Chili Bowl, Washington, D.C.
The celebrity (and presidential) photos on the wall are clear indications of Ben's Chili Bowl's city landmark status, but the continuous lines out the door are evidence that the restaurant's chili cheese burgers and dogs are some of the best in the country. When you order the quarter-pound beef chili burger, you get a never-frozen all-beef patty that they suggest you top with chili, lettuce, and mayo; we highly recommend splurging for cheese for an additional 40 cents. As the U Street Corridor/Shaw neighborhood around it has become trendy, it's a more than 50-year-old bastion of down-home D.C. where college kids, old-timers, and celebrities are all welcome as long as they're willing to stand in line like everybody else — though the President eats for free.
#48 House Burger, The Nomad Bar, New York City
It's a swanky burger to be sure, served in a bar in one of Manhattan's trendiest hotels, whose restaurant is helmed by one of the city's (and the country's) most well-respected chefs: Daniel Humm (also of Eleven Madison Park). And while the house burger at The NoMad Bar, which has a separate entrance and only starts serving food starting at 5:30 p.m., doesn't come out of the same kitchen that prepares the signature $84 whole-roasted chicken with foie gras and black truffles, it's still in the same sphere of indulgence, albeit more beefy and affordable. We're talking a dry-aged Cheddar burger laced with bone marrow and suet, and dressed with red onion and pickles.
#47 Steamed Cheeseburger, Ted's, Meriden, Conn.
Most burger purveyors griddle, grill, or pan-sear their patties, but since 1959, Ted's — in the historic community of Meriden, Connecticut, north of New Haven — has steamed theirs. Steamed meat? Yep. Steamed Cheddar cheese, too. Cooked in custom-designed steam boxes, the burgers, served on kaiser-like rolls, lose very little bulk while cooking and hence stay very moist. The steamed cheese is spooned over the patties and cloaks them thickly. Add lettuce and tomato (or complimentary sautéed onions and/or mushrooms) and you've got an unusual, and unusually good, burger.
#46 Cheeseburger, Gott's Roadside, San Francisco
Back in 2011, popular California hamburger stand Taylor's Automatic Refresher renamed its three locations (Napa, St. Helena, and San Francisco's Ferry Building) because its owners, brothers Joel and Duncan Gott, didn't own rights to the original name and couldn't persuade those who did own it to let them trademark it. It may have been jarring to see the name change and the introduction of the neon-lit red "G," but one thing didn't change when they adopted the family name Gott's Roadside Tray Gourmet were the storied grilled third-pound Niman Ranch burgers. Cooked medium-well and topped with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomato, and secret sauce on a toasted egg bun, Gott's cheeseburger gets pressed lightly in a machine at the end of the line (employees say this steams the bun, but leaves the underside crunchy). It's an icon.
#45 Fontina Black Truffle Burger, Cecconi's, West Hollywood, Calif.
This trendy Italian mainstay, part of the Soho House group, with sister restaurants in Miami, London, Berlin, and Istanbul, is a bright and sunny place to while away an afternoon, and those who arrive between the hours of 4 and 7 can treat themselves to one of L.A.'s most under-the-radar burgers: the fontina and black truffle burger. A thin patty gets a stellar sear on a griddle, and it's draped with plenty of truffled fontina and a folded slice of griddled pancetta. It's earthy, funky, salty, rich but not too rich, and best of all, it only costs $7.
#44 Motley Bleu 2.0, Dog Haus, Los Angeles
As their website states, Dog Haus' mission is to serve "uncompromisingly fresh, quality food in a clean, energetic and fun environment." We say mission accomplished. Although this place is best known for their hot dogs and sausages, they offer a couple killer burgers, too. Our experts narrowed it down to the Motley Bleu 2.0, which takes a 100 percent natural Black Angus beef patty that's been ground that day and tops it with bacon, "bleu sriracha," lettuce, "soy-racha" onions, tomato, and white American cheese, all sandwiched between two halves of a French bread-like bun. It's a fine example of a fusion burger that gets our stamp of approval.
#43 Cozy Burger, Cozy Inn, Salina, Kan.
There was a big White Castle-inspired hamburger stand boom across America in the early 1920s, and Salina, Kanas' Cozy Inn is one of the last ones standing. Started as a six-seat counter in 1922, it gained local popularity for serving 1-ounce burgers griddled with chopped onions that came to be known nationally as sliders, and so is the birthplace of this beloved dish. To this day the grillmen are still doing it the old-fashioned way, in the same tiny room, with fluffy white buns made especially for them. A few things to know before going: you'll want yours "all the way," meaning with ketchup, mustard, a pickle, and onions. Don't ask for it without onions; don't ask for it with cheese; don't ask for fries (just grab a bag of chips). Request a sack and you'll get six sliders, and expect to leave smelling like onions.
#42 Lola, B Spot Burgers, Ohio, Various Locations
Iron Chef Michael Symon has won too many burger contests to recall, and with good reason — the man understands good food, he understands meat, and more importantly, he understands how to make a great burger. The Lola, Symon's burger with bacon, Cheddar, pickled red onions, and a sunny-side up egg, is going to be on the rarer side, the saltier side, and the gooey-dripping side. If you're really into burgers, and really know the way chefs like to make them, well... you'll be into the Lola.
#41 Hut’s Favorite, Hut's Hamburgers, Austin
Homer "Hut" Hutson opened the original Hut's Hamburgers in 1939, and though it's now in a different location with different owners, the spirit of the place hasn't changed much since then. Fresh Texas-raised beef is at the heart of Hut's burgers (though, this being the twenty-first century, they're also all available in buffalo, grass-fed longhorn beef, boneless chicken, or vegan-friendly form). There are versions named for Ritchie Valens, Fats Domino, and other personalities, but the classic here is Hut's Favorite, with lettuce, tomato, mayo, American cheese, bacon, and tomato.
#40 The Prime Meats Burger, Prime Meats, New York City
Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo, affectionately known as "The Franks" by fans of their New York restaurants, including Frankies 457 and Frankies Spuntino, serve an epic burger at their meat-centric farm-to-table spot, Prime Meats. They start with a half-pound patty made with dry-aged Black Angus trimmings from Creekstone Farms, and it's so beefy, juicy, well-seared, and full of dry-aged funkiness that it really doesn't even need toppings or a bun. But the house-made bun stands up to the juiciness, and the additions of lettuce, onion, pickles, and tomato elevate it all to burger glory.
#39 The Mack, Ray’s Hell Burger, Arlington, Va.
After the closure of Michael Landrum's two D.C.-area locations of Ray's Hell Burger, devotees despaired that they'd never again be able to enjoy these perfectly seared, ingeniously topped burgers. The third outpost, however, is still going strong, with a second DC location back up and running as of April, and thank goodness for that. Hand-trimmed, aged in-house, fresh-ground throughout the day, and hand-formed, these burgers are a sight to behold. The Mack comes with one or two six-ounce patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and special sauce.
#38 Butcher's Cut, Flip Burger Boutique, Atlanta
There are plenty of basic, let-the-meat-speak-for-itself burgers on this list. Butcher's Cut at Atlanta's Flip Burger Boutique, run by the inimitable Richard Blais, isn't one of them. This Jenga tower of a sandwich is stacked high with a juicy beef patty, crumbled blue cheese, caramelized onions, soy truffle vinaigrette, frisée, pickled shallots, and red wine jam. But even with all those fancy words involved, this melt-in-your-mouth upscale take on an American classic will only run you $8.
#37 The Thurmanator, Thurman Café, Columbus, Ohio
Thurman Café has been serving all-American fare since 1942 to Columbus' German Town neighborhood, and it's a great place for locals to stop in or take out classics such as wings, pizza, fries, and of course, burgers. If it's your first time there, make sure you order The Thurmanator, which comprises not one but two twelve-ounce burger patties, American cheese, bacon, banana peppers, ham, lettuce, mayo, Mozzarella cheese, sautéed mushrooms and onions, and tomato, all served on a bun with fries on the side and a pickle spear. We wish you luck on your quest to vanquish this monster.
#36 Double Winstead, Winstead’s, Kansas City, Mo.
Winstead's is a household name in the Kansas City area, serving diner staples and "steakburgers" for more than 70 years. These burgers are what the locals crave when they leave the city: fresh-ground Choice beef served with ketchup, mustard, pickles, and a thick slice of onion (along with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and/or bacon if you want it), served on a soft white bun. Order the double, comprising two 2-ounce patties, smashed down on the griddle until they're essentially just crust, but retaining moisture. If this is your preferred type of burger, then you probably agree with Kansas City native Calvin Trillin, who proclaimed Winstead's burger one of the best in the world. Add cheese, order a limeade and fries, take in your surroundings, and enjoy what Hamburger America author George Motz calls "the perfect diner eating experience."
#35 Bistro Burger, The Corner Bistro, New York City
This always-crowded Greenwich Village institution, a semi-dive bar (no real dive bar sells a line of branded casual clothing, or opens outposts in Long Island City), is justly famous for its big no-nonsense burgers, cooked under a salamander-like broiler, draped with American cheese (and crisscrossed with bacon for the signature Bistro Burger), and served on a classic sesame bun with the usual trimmings. Old-timers complain that it isn't what it used to be, but the burgers still taste darn good to us.
Find more details on The Corner Bistro here.
#34 Juicy Lucy, Matt's Bar, Minneapolis.
Ah, the inimitable Jucy Lucy (yes, Matt's spells it without the "i"). While the battle rages between Matt's Bar and the nearby 5-8 Club over who invented this brilliant burger variation (basically a cheeseburger with the cheese inside the patty instead of on top), the one at Matt's Bar is the superior specimen. Legend has it that shortly after the restaurant opened in 1954 a hungry customer came in and asked for two burger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. He took a bite, proclaimed it to be "one juicy Lucy!," and an icon was born. Only fresh-ground beef goes into each hand-formed burger, and the first bite yields a river of molten, gooey cheese. These burgers are much more difficult to make than it may appear, and the one at Matt's Bar is absolute perfection.
Find more details on Matt's Bar here.
#33 The Viagra, Mr. Bartley's Burgers, Cambridge, Mass.
Fifty-five years ago, Joe and Joan Bartley took over a small convenience store facing Harvard Yard with the mission to perfect the great American hamburger. The Boston Herald seemed to think they'd done it when they proclaimed them the place home of the best burger in Boston, and locals agree: There's almost always a line to score one of the interestingly named burgers, such as The Hashtag and the Gay Marriage. We suggest taking a deep breath and going for The Viagra: a seven-ounce freshly ground chuck steak burger dressed with blue cheese dressing, bacon, lettuce, and tomato. You'll probably have stopped blushing by the time your order is up.
#32 Steak House Burger, Brindle Room, New York City
At the East Village's Brindle Room, chef/owner Jeremy Spector is serving a lunch-only burger that, at $12, is a certifiable steal. The reason? Dry-aged meat. Prime aged beef trimmings and deckle are brought in from his partner's New Jersey restaurant, and give this burger a pronounced mineral-rich funk. It comes topped with caramelized onions and your choice of cheese, but honestly, would you top a dry-aged rib-eye with cheese? The soft white generic bun perfectly holds it all together.
#31 Edmund's Bacon Egg & Cheeseburger, Edmund’s Oast, Charleston, S.C.
This clubby brew pub, the preserve of craft-beer advocates Rich Carley and Scott Shor, is named for Edmund Egan, an English brewer who started making beer in Charleston in the mid-eighteenth century (an oast is a kiln for drying hops). The beer selection, not surprisingly, is extraordinary, and there are interesting wines and seductive cocktails. The food is surprisingly varied (curried squash custard, pickled shrimp, whole fried flounder), but for many Charlestonians, it's all about the burger — a beautiful construction of thick burger patty, melted cheese, crisp bacon, a sunny-side-up egg, and all the usual trimmings on a smoked-salt-and-black-pepper brioche bun. It towers so high that some diners eat it with a knife and fork.
#30 Bash Style, B&B Winepub, New York City
"Bash Style," for the uninitiated, means American cheese, onion and bacon jam, pickles, special sauce, and, most importantly, a killer blend of meat cooked medium-rare by chef Josh Capon and his team at B&B Winepub, formerly known as Burger & Barrel. This is the foundation of what you could argue has become unparalleled burger greatness: Capon's clubby SoHo spot is a veteran winner of Burger Bash, the marquee event of the South Beach and New York City Wine & Food Festivals, having claimed the title five times in six years.
#29 Griddled Burger, Edzo's, Evanston, Ill.
To know Edzo's, you must first know Eddie Lakin, a former line cook who worked in high-end kitchens around the world before settling back on his home turf to flip burgers for a living. But what burgers these are: choice chuck, hand-cut, and ground on-premises every morning, handled gently and given a shake of salt and pepper as they cook. Burgers are available in two preparations: smashed flat on a griddle, or grilled over an open flame. We suggest the ordering the former — it's thin and crispy, served with up to three patties on a bun, topped with the classics as well as interesting options like garlic butter, fried eggs, and giardiniera.
#28 Double Bacon Cheeseburger, Hodad's, San Diego
With two locations in San Diego and another inside Petco Park, Hodad's might very well be the most popular burger destination in San Diego, and for good reason. These are some seriously good burgers, and when two patties get stacked with mayo, mustard, ketchup, onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and bacon, it's burger heaven. The secret to Hodad's success may be the bacon; instead of just adding plain ol' strips to the burger, they boil the entire belly until it falls apart, then fry up a patty on the grill before adding it on. It's nothing short of brilliant. And make sure you don't miss the fries, which are more like giant battered potato slices.
#27 Dirty Love Burger, Love Shack, Fort Worth, Texas
For anyone unacquainted with Tim Love, he's the bigger-than-life, straight-shooting, game-cooking, festival-circuit chef whose demos you don't want to miss — he's been known do tequila shots with the crowd barely past lunchtime. Love does fine dining, but Love Shack is where he exhibits playfulness. Normally, when a menu includes "love" as an ingredient, the appropriate response is an eye roll. That said, given the chef's name, you have to allow for an exception here. The menu is full of jokes and puns: Consider the Amore Caliente (hot love) burger and the section called "Love on the Side." But there's serious flavor here, too. The way to go is the Dirty Love Burger: lettuce, tomato, pickles, "Love Sauce," American cheese, bacon, and a fried quail egg. The patty is on a fresh bun with an excellent cheese-to-meat ratio. The perfect burger? No. Needs more sauce, a touch more seasoning, and it could stand to be juicier. But these are the finer points of burger debate. You're still going to want to go back for bite after bite.
#26 Cheeseburger, Au Cheval, Chicago
Is the burger served at Au Cheval "the perfect griddle burger?" According to Bon Appétit, it is. Its beauty lies in its simplicity: two patties (or three, if you order a "double") of no-frills ground beef topped with Cheddar, Dijonnaise, a few thin slices of pickles, and served on a soft toasted bun from Chicago's Z Baking. The patties are wonderfully crusty, the fries are fried in lard, and just about everything about this burger is perfect.
#25 Original Solly Burger, Solly's Grille, Milwaukee
Family-owned and -operated since 1936, Solly's claim to fame is the butter burger, one of the last and finest examples in the nation. Fresh-ground sirloin is delivered daily from a local butcher, and the shakes, fries, and burgers, complete with a healthy dose of real Wisconsin butter, are prepared in full view of diners. About 15 toppings and burger varieties are available, but the trademark Original Solly Burger is the way to go. Each 3-ounce patty gets cooked on a large flat-top griddle and is topped with impossibly flavorful stewed onions and a pat of butter — at least 2 or 3 tablespoons' worth — before being placed in between two halves of a soft white bun. The butter melts into the meat and into the bun, and it's unlike any other burger you'll experience.
#24 Hamburger Fon Fon, Chez Fonfon, Birmingham, Ala.
In Birmingham, Frank and Pardis Stitt are justly famous for their Highlands Bar & Grill (one of the first contemporary Southern restaurants anywhere) and Italian-Southern (as opposed to Southern Italian) classic Bottega, but they get the cozy French bistro thing right, too, at Chez Fonfon. A cozy French bistro, that is, where the country pâté, trout amandine, and croque monsieur share a menu with the Hamburger Fonfon. To make this impressive burger, chefs grind chuck in-house and form it into eight-ounce patties, to be griddled and topped with Comté cheese (whose sharp, nutty flavor adds a racy French flavor to the proceedings), along with grilled red onion, lettuce, pickle, and tomato. Très bien.
#23 The Original Burger, Louis Lunch, New Haven, Conn.
A conversation about Louis' Lunch is never simple. Is it the birthplace of the hamburger? Supposedly, one day in 1900, a gentleman hurriedly told proprietor Louis Lassen "he was in a rush and wanted something he could eat on the run," resulting in a blend of ground steak trimmings between two slices of toast, with which the gentleman was sent on his way. But was this a "burger," or was it a "sandwich" — because it wasn't a ground-beef patty on some form of yeast bun? Sandwich, hamburger, whatever. So what do you get at Louis'? A flame-broiled burger made in a vertical hinged-steel wire gridiron that cooks the burgers on both sides at the same time; a hamburger sandwich supposedly made from a blend of five cuts of ground steak. If you want condiments, you'll have to ask. Otherwise, all you'll get is cheese, tomato, and onion. No mustard, ketchup, or mayo. But do you really need all that? You can practically taste the nostalgia. And that never disappoints.
#22 Bill’s Burger, Becks Prime, Houston
There are 13 locations of Beck's Prime spread out in Houston, Dallas, and Augusta, Texas, and not one has a freezer. Founded in 1985, Beck's has become a beloved institution, serving half-pound Angus chuck burgers that are hand-ground and formed on-site every day. While they offer your usual variety of cheeses and toppings, the Bill's Burger is what to order here. With bacon, jalapeños, lettuce, sautéed onions, secret sauce, and sliced Cheddar, it's sure to make your dining companions jealous.
#21 Local Grass-Fed Burger, Craigie on Main, Cambridge, Mass.
Serious chefs never used to serve burgers in their restaurants, and when they started doing so, you always sort of had the feeling that they would much rather you didn't order one so they could sell you that heritage pork belly and bone marrow tower with kale pesto and quinoa foam instead. At his Cambridge restaurant, chef Tony Maws offers a really great burger — fat and dripping with flavor — and has figured out an easy way to keep the number of burger orders down: He prepares only 18 of them a day. If you're 19th in line, them's the breaks. It's worth getting to the place early for this 8-ounce grass-fed patty (custom-blended daily from various cuts of meat) on a house-baked dome-shaped sesame bun. It's topped with Shelburne Farm Vermont Cheddar, vinaigrette-dressed lettuce and tomato, and Maws' own mace-flavored ketchup.
#20 Hamburger, Keens Steakhouse, New York
Keens is primarily famous for its longevity (in business since 1885) and its incredible steaks (seriously among the best you'll find anywhere), but few visitors spend much time in two of its most charming rooms: the bar and the pub, which each have their own entrance and share a more casual, less expensive pub menu. The star of this menu — if it's not the celebrated prime rib hash — is certainly the hamburger, which, in our opinion, is just as worthy of praise as its legendary mutton chop. The thick half-pound patty is made with trimmings from the restaurant's dry-aged steaks, and it's rich and insanely juicy, slightly funky from the dry-aged beef, perfectly crusty and salty, packed just loosely enough, and just barely held together by its soft bun. Top yours with a slice of red onion; no cheese or ketchup required.
#19 Hamburger, Perini Ranch, Buffalo Gap, Texas
Tom Perini's steakhouse, situated in a converted barn on his family's ranch just outside Abilene, Texas, is famed for its 22-ounce "cowboy rib-eye" and other heroic slabs of good Texas beef, but burger lovers swear by the establishment's grilled half-pound burger, laden with Cheddar or provolone, green chiles, grilled mushrooms, and onions.
#18 Half Pound Niman Ranch Cheeseburger, Mustards Grill, Napa, Calif.
There are all kinds of good stuff on the menu at Cindy Pawlcyn's ever-popular wine country bistro (crispy calamari with curried slaw, Dungeness crab cakes with chipotle aïoli, Mongolian pork chop with homemade mustard...) but the cheeseburger (Maytag Blue is an optional choice, and one well worth making) is just so big and juicy that it's hard to resist. The house-made pickles and impeccable fries and onion rings don't hurt, either.
#17 The Cadillac, PJ Clarke's, New York City
There are now seven P.J. Clarke's locations, including two in São Paulo, but the Third Avenue Manhattan original is the feisty little brick building that refused to make way for the 47-story Skidmore, Owings & Merrill skyscraper that now looms over it. It is also the one that created the terrific pub-style burger known as The Cadillac — a juicy patty on a classic bun with smoked country bacon and American cheese as well as lettuce, onion, and tomato, with shoestring fries on the side. The name, by the way, was bestowed on the thing by Nat "King" Cole, who dubbed Clarke's "the Cadillac of burgers."
#16 Cheeseburger, Maple & Motor, Dallas
Maple & Motor has been known to serve its signature attraction with a side of attitude, although it certainly isn't the first casual spot with a following to develop a little arrogance. But Big D's burgerphiles will tell you it's worth braving the fray, and hey, you don't mess with Texas, right? The cheeseburger is really where it's at, and we'll let the menu description speak for itself "A half-pound of finely ground American beef flat grilled in its own juices. Dressed in traditional Texas fashion with mustard, lettuce, red onion, and dill pickle. Served on a toasted, grill-shined bun. If perfect ain't enough, add a slunk of America, Cheddar, or Pepper Jack." We're booking our plane tickets now.
#15 Hamburger, Zuni Café, San Francisco
The lunch-only grass-fed burger at this San Francisco classic is ground in-house, medium-lean, and comes on grilled rosemary focaccia slathered with aïoli. Beecher's Flagship or Bayley Hazen blue are available options, as are grilled onions or sliced heirloom tomatoes. There's very much of an only-in-Northern-California feel about the whole arrangement, which is just fine with us.
#14 Luger Burger, Peter Luger, New York City
Because of this burger's location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and its lunch-only appearance on the menu, out-of-town visitors free to venture over during the week are likely to have an easier time than locals experiencing one of New York City's best burgers. There are no bells and whistles, but Peter Luger has been handling meat since 1887, and its rich, half-pound Luger Burger, made from porterhouse and prime chuck roll trimmings, is worth figuring out how to sneak out of the office for a long lunch. Burgers are molded into a coffee cup, emptied onto the high-temperature broilers used for the restaurant's steaks until they develop a dark crust, and then settled into a sesame-studded bun. For a few dollars more you can have cheese and thick-cut bacon, but either way, if the famed gruff waitstaff unsettled you when you sat down, you'll have forgotten them after the first bite. Just make sure to arrive before 3:45 p.m., which is when they stop serving it.
#13 Hickory Burger, The Apple Pan, Los Angeles
This standalone counter-only burger-and-pie place in West Los Angeles hasn't changed since it opened in 1947 (well, except for the prices). The Apple Pan's signature Hickory Burger is a juicy round of hickory-smoked ground beef on a reasonably standard bun anointed with mayonnaise and a secret sauce that tastes like slightly spiced-up ketchup. Pickles and lettuce complete the package, with Tillamook Cheddar melted on top for an extra 50 cents.
#12 Hubert Keller Burger, Burger Bar, Las Vegas
Known as "the other Keller" (besides Thomas, obviously), Hubert Keller is familiar to fine-dining enthusiasts who have long enjoyed his exquisitely crafted modern French food at the now-defunct Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, and to the Las Vegas dining public for having created a $5,000 hamburger at his Fleur in the Mandalay Bay Hotel. The accomplished Alsatian-born chef has more recently established a reputation for producing sensibly priced burgers of great quality at his Burger Bar (with additional locations in San Francisco and Beijing). The basic burger here is certified Angus beef on a plump bun with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and dill pickle, but the burger that Keller enjoys so much he put his name on it starts with a bison-meat patty and is topped with caramelized onion, wilted baby spinach, and blue cheese, and is served on a ciabatta bun alongside red wine shallot sauce.
#11 Cheeseburger, Burger Joint, New York City
To New York burger-lovers and the tourists lining up in front of the ridiculously tall curtain it's "hidden" behind, the idea that Burger Joint is a secret is, well, silly. Still, you could argue it doesn't have the national renown that it should. This is a very simple burger, folks. And in a very satisfying setting: a fancy hotel's corner pocket of dive bar with scribbles on the wall, signs asking you not to scribble on the wall, bare booths, paper wrapping, servers who are rude (with good reason... depending on your perspective), and buns taken straight out of the bag. The Burger Joint's namesakes have all their components on point, which makes for one of the best total-package cheeseburgers you'll ever taste.
#10 Bacon Cheese Burger, The Little Owl, New York City
Chef Joey Campanaro knows his way around a burger, and the one that he serves at his West Village restaurant The Little Owl was named the world's best by The Guardian. Campanaro starts with a three-quarters-inch-thick patty of ground Pat LaFrieda brisket and short rib; seasons it liberally with a curry powder-kicked spice blend; grills it; tops it with American cheese, bacon, lettuce, onions, pickles, and tomato; and serves it on a homemade bun. It's rich, meaty, and hits all the right notes.
#9 The Office Burger, Father's Office, Los Angeles
What do you get when you go to Father's Office, chef Sang Yoon's gastropub in Los Angeles (now in both Santa Monica and Culver City)? No table service. And no pretension. It has the wood-paneled, comfortable vibe of a great local lived-in spot, but it's clean, to the point, and one of The Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants of 2012. You'll find great craft beers and small bites (think smoked eel, sobrasada, Spanish mushrooms, and white anchovies). You can also "Eat Big" and opt for the spicy oatmeal stout ribs or the bistro steak. But let's face it: you're there for the Office Burger, which many people in LA refer to as the city's best burger. There's nothing frou-frou about it, just arugula, bacon, caramelized onion, Gruyère, and Maytag Blue. It's a very, very juicy burger with funk, freshness, and great flavor.
Find more details on Father's Office here.
#8 Green Chile Cheeseburger, Santa Fe Bite, Santa Fe
Down the Old Las Vegas Highway (the original Route 66), the green chile cheeseburger served at Bobcat Bite, founded by Mitzi Panzer in 1953, was hailed by Hamburger America's George Motz, Roadfood's Jane and Michael Stern, Food Network, and Epicurious as not only the zenith of green chile cheeseburgers, but perhaps one of the greatest burgers, period, in the country. A dispute between the Panzer family and John and Bonnie Eckre, who took The Bite over 12 years ago, forced the Eckres to move to a new location on Old Santa Fe Trail and adopt a new name, Santa Fe Bite, but the restaurant's legendary ginormous burgers — 10-ounce house-ground, boneless chuck patties cooked to temperature preference and blanketed with green chiles under white American cheese on huge, ciabatta-like buns — remain. And for that we should be very thankful.
#7 Black Angus Burger, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, Miami
This popular Miami restaurant (with an outpost on the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman) serves its first-rate burger only at lunchtime, but it's beefy enough to make a substantial dinner. The beef is house-ground Black Angus from California's Harris Ranch and the bun is brioche. Optional accompaniments include house-smoked bacon and blue or Vermont white Cheddar.
#6 Cheeseburger, JG Melon, New York City
According to legend, burgermeister George Motz wanted to include J.G. Melon's definitive bar burger in the first edition of his book Hamburger America, but nobody at the place would return his calls — maybe because they were too busy actually turning out the darn things. The burger is simple and classic: a healthy slab of ground beef (the exact formula is kept a secret) sizzled on the griddle, served draped with American cheese on a toasted bun, with pickles and red onions on the side.
#5 Black Label Burger, Minetta Tavern, New York City
Sure, the côte de boeuf, roasted bone marrow, and various ungodly delicious potato renditions are big reasons why Minetta Tavern was called the city's best steakhouse and awarded three stars by The New York Times. But no less the stuff of legend is the Black Label Burger. Prime dry-aged beef, sourced and aged for six to seven weeks by Pat LaFrieda, is well seasoned and cooked on a plancha with clarified butter, developing a glorious exterior. The fussed-over burger is nestled onto a sesame-studded brioche bun designed specifically for it, topped with caramelized onions, and served with pommes frites. Juicy, savory, salty, soul-satisfying... these words lose meaning in the presence of a burger this good.
#4 Double Cheeseburger, Holeman & Finch Public House, Atlanta
Only 24 burgers used to be served nightly at Holeman & Finch Public House, but thankfully for us they've been made a permanent menu item. Each double-patty burger of fresh-ground grass-fed chuck and brisket comes topped with American cheese, pickles, onions, and homemade ketchup, and is served on a toasted house-baked bun alongside fresh-cut fries. Chef Linton Hopkins (who developed this burger while he was battling cancer; it's the only food he didn't lose his taste for) chose to offer it on such a limited basis in order to let the other items on his menu get their due, but you can save those for the second visit.
#3 Cheeseburger, Husk, Charleston, S.C.
So what's the secret to the burger at Husk, Sean Brock's Charleston landmark? Bacon ground right into the patty. Brock has been on a personal quest to perfect the burger, and after eating his cheeseburger you'll most likely agree that he's achieved his goal. House-made buns are steamed, sliced, toasted, and smeared with butter and beef fat. The two patties are a blend of chuck and hickory-smoked Benton's bacon, seared on a ripping-hot nonstick griddle and scraped off to retain their crust. The toppings? Three slices of American cheese, shaved white onions in between the patties, bread-and-butter pickles, a "special sauce" that closely resembles the one at In-N-Out, and lettuce and tomato only when they're in season. Sean Brock: in relentless pursuit of burger perfection. You: lucky.
#2 The Original db Burger, db Bistro Moderne, New York City
The idea of the "chef-inspired" burger, in all its renown and prominence, can be hit or miss these days. Lately, it seems like all chefs feel like they have to have a burger on the menu. But while some are just paying lip service to the trend, some of them really, really hit the mark. In that regard, it's very hard to disregard the importance of the Original db Burger, created by esteemed French chef Daniel Boulud for his db Bistro Moderne. A sandwich that's simultaneously very American and very French, the db Burger is a mixture of grilled beef and braised short rib — the ultimate upscale juicy Lucy, so to speak — with a foie gras center. This is a burger that's as tall as it is wide. There's a Dijon mustard layer on the bottom layered with tomato compote, chicory, and the gorgeously tall "patty" — and all that's topped with Cheddar, red onion slices, and grated horseradish. Indulgent? You bet. Juicy? Absolutely. Salty, sweet, and savory with a bit of a bite? Oh yeah.
#1 Chargrilled Burger, The Spotted Pig, New York City
The burger at the Spotted Pig, a restaurant that is widely considered responsible for launching the high-end gastropub trend, is a wonder. Chef and co-owner April Bloomfield created a half-pound behemoth of prime grilled beef, topped with a layer of creamy, stinky Roquefort, and sandwiched inside a brioche-style bun. Served alongside rosemary-scented shoestring fries, it's the kind of burger that will force you to close your eyes after taking the first bite and just be with the beefy, cheesy decadence. This is a burger that you'll be dreaming about for weeks to come, and is the best in America.