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The Best Burgers in the U.S.

The Best Burgers in the U.S.

By Food & Wine

Updated December 10, 2018

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Photo © Sara Hanna

The burger, America’s quintessential comfort food, can now be enjoyed in an impossibly endless number of ways. There are round-the-clock burgers at 24-hour-roadside joints and ephemeral late-night burgers sold out in mere minutes; burgers grilled in hundred-year-old cast-iron broilers and burgers steamed in state-of-the-art ovens; burgers crafted from Kobe beef imported from Japan and burgers made with Black Angus beef from just down the road. It’s clearly a great time to love the burger. Here, we’ve singled out the best.

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Memphis: Hog & Hominy

Photo © Justin Fox Burks

Signature Burger: John T. Burger.

Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman (F&W Best New Chefs 2013) pay tribute to food writer and Southern Foodways Alliance Director John T. Edge with this Oklahoma City-style patty that’s smashed and griddled with onions. A genius touch: the shredded lettuce dressed in salt and pickle juice.

F&W Photo Tour: Memphis

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San Francisco: Mission Bowling Club

Photo © Vittlemonster.com

Signature Burger: Mission Burger.

These outrageously delicious burgers made their debut at the short-lived Mission Burger pop-up in the Duc Loi Supermarket in 2009 and have now found another unorthodox home: this six-lane bowling club. Its loose, juicy patties are seared in beef fat, topped with Monterey Jack cheese and caramelized onions and served in buns from Acme Bread.

San Francisco Travel Guide

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Los Angeles: A-Frame

Photo © Amanda Friedman

Signature Burger: Double Cheeseburger.

F&W Best New Chef 2010 Roy Choi gives his architecturally impressive burger an Asian twist with toasted sesame seeds in the mayo and fresh shiso leaves on top of the lettuce. In keeping with Choi’s more-is-more ethos, there’s also tomato confit, pickled red onions, hot sauce and sharp cheddar cheese, all on a buttered brioche bun.

Los Angeles Travel Guide

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New Orleans: The Company Burger

Photo © Pableaux Johnson

Signature Burger: The Company Burger.

From Holeman and Finch alumnus Adam Biderman come two loosely packed, juicy patties topped with American cheese, house-made pickles and red onion.

New Orleans Travel Guide

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New York City: Brindle Room

Photo © Paul Wagtouicz

Signature Burger: Sebastian’s Steakhouse Burger.

Chef Jeremy Spector’s super-flavorful patties combine a 21-day dry-aged beef blend with fatty deckle. They’re seared on a cast-iron skillet before they're topped with melted American cheese and caramelized onions.

Best Bacon Burgers in the U.S.

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New York City: Shake Shack

Photo © William Brinson Photography

Signature Burger: ShackBurger (Black Angus beef patty topped with American cheese, tomato, lettuce, and “Shack Sauce,” served in a grilled potato bun).

Uber restaurateur Danny Meyer’s beloved mini empire has a cult following among Gotham burger geeks. Must-order items include the ShackBurger (served with American cheese, tomato, lettuce, and “Shack Sauce” in an old-fashioned wax paper wrapper) and a “hand-spun” chocolate-and-peanut-butter custard shake.

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Ohio: B-Spot Burgers

Photo © Paul Sobota

Signature Burger: Lola Burger.

Michael Symon, F&W Best New Chef 1998, specializes in “meat on meat” burgers at his Ohio-based chain B-Spot. Named after his Cleveland flagship, the Lola Burger could almost double as a breakfast sandwich since it's piled high with bacon and a fried egg (in addition to pickled red onions, cheddar cheese and mayo).

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New York City: Minetta Tavern

Signature Burger: Black Label Burger (topped with caramelized onions).

Minetta Tavern’s excellent burgers use a beef blend—dry-aged rib eye, skirt steak, brisket and short rib—from famed purveyor Pat LaFrieda, and buns from Balthazar Bakery.

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Atlanta, GA: Holeman & Finch

Photo © Jeff Moore

Signature Burger: Burger (two cheeseburgers on a house-made bun).

At Holeman & Finch, star chef Linton Hopkins reserves his burgers for those in the know. From the time the restaurant opens each day at 5 p.m., Hopkins and his team will only make 24 of the off-menu item. And when he’s out, he’s out. So you better show up early.

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California: In-N-Out Burger

Photo © Jess Lander

Signature Burger: Cheeseburger.

Even superstar chef Thomas Keller is a fan of the West Coast chain—and with good reason. The cooked-to-order burgers are made with beef from Southwest ranches and served with hand-cut fries. For a messier, more indulgent experience, order your burger “Animal Style” for extra sauce and chopped grilled onions.

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Miami, FL: Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink

Photo courtesy of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink

Signature Burger: Black Angus Burger (served in a brioche bun).

An optional topping for star chef Michael Schwartz’s Harris Ranch Black Angus beef burger: house-smoked bacon.

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San Francisco: Zuni Café

Photo © Bill Holmes

Signature Burger: House-ground hamburger (served in a grilled rosemary focaccia).

Instead of traditional cucumber pickles, legendary chef-owner Judy Rodgers accents her burgers with thin-cut zucchini strips pickled in apple cider vinegar, mustard seeds and turmeric.

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Buffalo Gap, TX: Perini Ranch Steakhouse

Photo courtesy of Perini Ranch Steakhouse

Signature Burger: Ranch Burger (topped with mushrooms, onions, green chiles and choice of cheddar or provolone cheese).

Self-taught cowboy cook Tom Perini masters the art of open-flame cooking using mesquite coals at his hay barn turned steakhouse, smack in the middle of the state.

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Boston, MA: Green Street Grill

Photo © Jared Razzano

Signature Burger: Bacon Double Cheeseburger (two four-ounce beef patties with white American cheese, smoked bacon and Russian dressing in a white bun).

A superb accompaniment to the burgers: house-made kettle chips.

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Napa: Gott’s Roadside

Photo © Michael Lamotte

Signature Burger: Ahi Burger (seared Ahi tuna burger topped with ginger-wasabi mayonnaise and Asian slaw, served in a toasted egg bun).

Brothers Joel and Duncan Gott’s witty, reimagined ’50s diner used to be named Taylor’s Refresher, but it’s still a Napa-area favorite for comfort cravings—especially burgers.

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New Haven, CT: Louis’ Lunch

Photo © Michael Franzman

Signature Burger: The Original Burger (prepared with a combination of chuck and sirloin beef).

Many restaurants claim to be the birthplace of the hamburger. Louis’ Lunch, in New Haven, Connecticut, since 1900, is a leading contender. The meaty hand-shaped patties are grilled on antique cast-iron broilers over an open flame.

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Memphis, TN: Dyer’s Burgers

Photo © Tracy O’Connor

Signature Burger: Dyer’s Cheeseburger.

The legendary patties here are pounded thin before they’re cooked in a cast-iron skillet filled with grease for a deliciously crisp exterior.

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New York City: The Spotted Pig

Photo courtesy of The Spotted Pig

Signature Burger: Spotted Pig Burger.

When the Pig opened in 2004, it was known mostly for its celebrity owners—Jay-Z and Mario Batali, to name two. Now April Bloomfield is famous in her own right for her excellent gastropub menu, which includes an excellent burger made with brisket, rump and chuck, topped with Roquefort cheese.

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Los Angeles: Father’s Office

Signature Burger: The Office Burger (dry-aged beef patty topped with Gruyère cheese, Maytag blue cheese, arugula and applewood-bacon compote).

Sang Yoon’s noodle bar Lukshon might be getting a ton of buzz, but the provocative chef first made his name with his dry-aged beef burgers. Among the finest in the country, they justify the strict no-ketchup policy. The 36 craft beers on tap change seasonally.

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New York City: Little Owl

Photo courtesy of The Little Owl

Signature Burger: Bacon Cheeseburger.

Chef Joey Campanaro gets his beef from famed Manhattan purveyor Pat LaFrieda and serves each burger on a house-baked bun, with just a hint of molasses. Pickles from legendary purveyor Guss’ Pickles are served on the side.

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Meriden, CT: Ted’s

Signature Burger: Steamed Cheeseburger (prepared with Vermont cheddar).

Ted’s has been serving its steamed burgers—a regional specialty—since 1959.

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Dearborn, MI: Miller’s Bar

Signature Burger: World Famous Ground Round Burger (ground round beef topped with Velveeta, mustard, ketchup, dill pickle chips and onions).

The popular no-frills burgers here have been served since the late 1940s.

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Boston, MA: Craigie on Main

Photo courtesy of Craigie on Main

Signature Burger: Beefburger.

Star chef Tony Maws adds bone marrow and dehydrated miso to his Bar Burger, and cooks it in a low heat CVap oven, followed by a quick char on the plancha.

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Healdsburg, CA: Healdsburg Bar & Grill

Signature Burger: HBG Burger (fresh-ground Meyer Natural Angus beef patty topped with Alexander Valley Gourmet pickles, served in a toasted Costeaux Bakery sourdough bun; roasted garlic mayonnaise on the side).

For his terrific burger, star chef Douglas Keane uses a 70-30 lean-to-fat ground beef ratio.

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Hackensack, NJ: White Manna

Photo © fgeel

Signature Burger: Cheeseburger (topped with onions, served in a soft bun).

This old-school diner has built its reputation on heavenly sliders piled high with thin-cut onions. It’s been using the same butcher for the past 50 years.

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New York City: Peter Luger

Photo courtesy of Peter Luger

Signature Burger: Luger Burger (served with raw onions and house-made steak sauce, served in a sesame bun).

The broiled “Luger Burger”—prepared with a porterhouse and prime chuck blend—at this legendary steakhouse is served only during lunch until 3:45 p.m.

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Decatur, GA: Farm Burger

Signature Burger: Farm Burger (topped with Vermont aged smoked white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and a special house sauce).

This farm-to-table burger spot grinds its grass-fed, dry-aged and locally sourced meat daily. The “build it” option includes unexpected toppings like cured lardo, oxtail marmalade and roasted bone marrow.

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The Best Burgers in the U.S.

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Memphis: Hog & Hominy

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San Francisco: Mission Bowling Club

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Los Angeles: A-Frame

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New Orleans: The Company Burger

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New York City: Brindle Room

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New York City: Shake Shack

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Ohio: B-Spot Burgers

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New York City: Minetta Tavern

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Atlanta, GA: Holeman & Finch

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California: In-N-Out Burger

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Miami, FL: Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink

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San Francisco: Zuni Café

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Buffalo Gap, TX: Perini Ranch Steakhouse

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Boston, MA: Green Street Grill

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Napa: Gott’s Roadside

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New Haven, CT: Louis’ Lunch

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Memphis, TN: Dyer’s Burgers

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New York City: The Spotted Pig

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Los Angeles: Father’s Office

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New York City: Little Owl

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Meriden, CT: Ted’s

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Dearborn, MI: Miller’s Bar

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Boston, MA: Craigie on Main

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Healdsburg, CA: Healdsburg Bar & Grill

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Hackensack, NJ: White Manna

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New York City: Peter Luger

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