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  3. Best Burgers in Philadelphia

Best Burgers in Philadelphia

By Food & Wine Updated April 25, 2017
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Tired Hands Brewing Compnay
Credit: © Neal Santos
Philadelphia offers an impressive array of burgers, from single-patty standbys to towering stacks made with wild boar meat, spicy pimento cheese and all kinds of secret sauces. Here are photographer Neal Santos's picks for the best burgers in Philly.
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The Hungry Pigeon

The Hungry Pigeon
Credit: © Neal Santos

This bright neighborhood restaurant, located in the historic "Fabric Row" area of Queen Village, serves a burger made with grass-fed beef from Rineer Family Farms. It features a secret burger sauce, plus cheddar, lettuce, pickles and onions on a double-sesame-seeded bun. hungrypigeon.com

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Kensington Quarters

Kensington Quarters
Credit: © Neal Santos

Hop on the Market-Frankford Line to the bustling Fishtown neighborhood. Part butcher shop, part restaurant and part bar, Kensington Quarters uses freshly butchered and ground grass-fed beef for their patty, and serves it on a house-made sesame-seed brioche bun with raw-milk cheddar, garlic chili aioli and pickled red onion. kensingtonquarters.com

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Standard Tap

Standard Tap
Credit: © Neal Santos

If you find yourself in Northern Liberties, head over to the Standard Tap, one of Philadelphia's best neighborhood bars for local draft beers and award-winning burgers. Order the Standard Burger, served with melted Monterey jack, pickled green tomatoes, lettuce, onion and skinny-cut fries.

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South Philadelphia Taproom

South Philadelphia Taproom
Credit: © Neal Santos

This spacious South Philly bar can warm you up with solid beers, friendly staff, and food that is prepared with thought and care. Their happy hour is awesome—the perfect time to saddle up with a beer and burger. They make theirs with a grass-fed beef patty, smoked cheddar and pickled veggies. southphiladelphiataproom.com

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Tria Taproom

Tria Taproom
Credit: © Neal Santos

Amid the ritzy restaurants of Rittenhouse Square sits Tria Taproom, a draft beer and wine bar that impressively straddles the fine line between casual and refined. The cozy bar has a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help guide you through their lists of beers and wines. Grab their beer burger, served with Chimay cheese, beer pickles and a "Beer-naise" sauce that glues the bun and patty. triataproom.com

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Fountain Porter

Fountain Porter
Credit: © Neal Santos

Just a few blocks off of Philadelphia's evolving Passyunk Square is a corner bar that boasts one of the city's best burgers—delicious, no-frills and just $5. Order one with fries and start working through the ever-changing draft beer list.

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The Blue Duck

The Blue Duck
Credit: © Neal Santos

Any visit to the Northeast should include The Blue Duck. On the outside, it's an unassuming spot tucked in a strip mall, but the interior has polish to rival any Center City restaurant. And the duck fries alone, topped with duck confit and smoked gouda, can justify the trip. But the star is a burger called the Beast of Northeast Philly: a wild boar and beef patty with smoked gouda, fried Sriracha onions, bacon and a sweet tomato jam. blueduckphilly.com

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LoSpiedo

LoSpiedo
Credit: © Neal Santos

Drive or take the Broad Street line down to Philadelphia's Navy Yard, a large industrial park and commercial shipyard. Here you'll find one of the city's six Marc Vetri restaurants, LoSpiedo. This is a true Vetri experience, with a sharp interior and impressive menu. Their brisket cheeseburger is one of Philly's best. lo-spiedo.com

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The Khyber Pass Pub

The Khyber Pass Pub
Credit: © Neal Santos

In the heart of Old City is The Khyber Pass Pub, a one-time music venue that became an impressive pub serving a menu that blends New Orleans–style Creole with new American. Come here for the beers and the Khyber burger: an angus beef patty with bacon, smoked cheddar and Creole mustard. khyberpasspub.com

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Royal Tavern

Royal Tavern
Credit: © Neal Santos

Royal Tavern's Angus burger is beautifully well-rounded, with sweet, spicy, salty and spicy flavors from a brilliant stack of toppings: bacon, caramelized onions, pickled long hots, smoked gouda and chile mayo. This award-winning favorite belongs on every burger bucket list. royaltavern.com

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Shake Shack

Shake Shack
Credit: © Neal Santos

The New York-based chain has put down roots in Philadelphia with locations in Center City and University City. The classic Shack Stack is a welcome addition to the city of Brotherly Love, featuring a beef patty topped with lettuce, tomato, ShackSauce and a crisp-fried, cheese-stuffed portobello mushroom. Round out your order with crinkle-cut fries and a shake. shakeshack.com

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Grace Tavern

Grace Tavern
Credit: © Neal Santos

Situated off of South Street's buzzy business corridor is Grace's Tavern. With tin ceilings and a dark, cozy atmosphere, this neighborhood bar has the perfect atmosphere for enjoying a solid burger without excess adornments or flavors. The Grace Burger comes with lettuce, tomato, red onion and swiss cheese, and it's served with fries or crispy fried green beans. gracetavern.com

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SpOt Burger

SpOt Burger
Credit: © Neal Santos

What was once a tiny food cart is now a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Philadelphia's booming Brewerytown section. The burgers are made with tremendous care, usually by chef-owner Josh Kim. Order the SpOt burger, made of freshly ground sirloin and topped with hickory-smoked bacon, cheddar, pickles, coleslaw and SpOt sauce.

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Rex1516

Rex1516
Credit: © Neal Santos

Executive chef Justin Swain tops his excellent burger with bacon, fried red onions, bibb lettuce and spicy pimento cheese. But it's not the only attraction at this South Street restaurant: Cocktails are fantastic, and the interior has the charm of what the restaurant calls "a faded Southern mansion." rex1516.com

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Bud & Marilyn

Bud & Marilyn
Credit: © Neal Santos

This Midtown Village spot is an homage to The Spot, a restaurant that chef Marcie Blaine Turney's grandparents owned when she was growing up in Ripon, Wisconsin. The interior, which evokes classic Americana, is almost as beautiful as the burger: two beef patties, yellow cheddar, Nueske's bacon, red onion, shredded lettuce and pickles. budandmarilyns.com

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Tired Hands Brewing Compnay

Tired Hands Brewing Compnay
Credit: © Neal Santos

Philadelphia's Main Line is lucky to have the impressive Tired Hands Brewing Company, which makes an impressive lineup of house-brewed beers along with this burger, served with lettuce, tomato, onion, candied bacon, smoked cheddar, whiskey-infused dill pickles and mustard made with the brewery's HopHands Pale Ale. tiredhands.com

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    1 of 16 The Hungry Pigeon
    2 of 16 Kensington Quarters
    3 of 16 Standard Tap
    4 of 16 South Philadelphia Taproom
    5 of 16 Tria Taproom
    6 of 16 Fountain Porter
    7 of 16 The Blue Duck
    8 of 16 LoSpiedo
    9 of 16 The Khyber Pass Pub
    10 of 16 Royal Tavern
    11 of 16 Shake Shack
    12 of 16 Grace Tavern
    13 of 16 SpOt Burger
    14 of 16 Rex1516
    15 of 16 Bud & Marilyn
    16 of 16 Tired Hands Brewing Compnay

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