Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
America's Best Burgers
  • Subscribe
  • World's Best
  • A-List
  • Trip Ideas
  • News
  • Hotels + Resorts
  • Cruises
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Trip Ideas
    • Spring Vacations
    • Summer Vacations
    • Fall Vacations
    • Winter Vacations
    • National Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Destination Weddings
    • Honeymoon Destinations
    • Beach Vacations
    • City Vacations
    • Country Vacations
    • Family Vacations
  • Destinations
  • Travel Tips and Intel
    • Best Travel Apps
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Gadgets
    • Luggage + Packing Tips
    • Offbeat News
    • Points + Miles
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Agents
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
  • World's Best Awards 2018
  • A-List 2018
  • Hotels and Resorts
    • All Inclusive Resorts
    • Beach Hotels
    • Boutique Hotels
    • Pet-Friendly Hotels
    • Mountain + Ski Resorts
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Spa Resorts
    • Vacation Rentals
    • Hotel Openings
    • Hotel Reviews
  • Book a Trip
  • T+L Travel Guide App
  • Gift Guides
  • Holiday Travel
    • 4th of July Travel
    • Labor Day Weekend
    • Thanksgiving Travel
    • Christmas Travel
  • Travel Video
  • Food + Drink
    • Restaurants
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Wine + Vineyards
    • Beer + Breweries
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Food Fairs
    • Celebrity Chefs
  • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Shoes
    • Shopping
    • Travel Accessories
    • Travel Bags
  • Weekend Getaways
    • Getaways from Chicago
    • Getaways from Dallas
    • Getaways from Houston
    • Getaways from Los Angeles
    • Getaways from NYC
    • Getaways from San Francisco
    • Getaways from Seattle
  • Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • All Inclusive Cruises
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • Family Friendly Cruises
    • River Cruises
  • Top Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Casinos
    • Colleges + Universities
    • Festivals
    • Landmarks + Monuments
    • Museums + Galleries
    • Parks + Gardens
    • Theater + Dance
    • Zoos + Aquariums
  • Check-In
  1. T+L
  2. Food and Drink
  3. America's Best Burgers

America's Best Burgers

Some are in greasy spoons, others in luxe hotels—and some aren't even listed on the menu. But these burgers are all worth the trip.

More
Katrina Brown Hunt
July 30, 2014

When Matt McKinney took a 39-day road trip in 2012, he experienced one version of the American dream, just before he reached the Pacific Ocean: a flawless burger.

“It was a really big, juicy patty and a perfectly moist bun,” says the Dallas-based credit analyst, who had stopped at gastropub Father’s Office, in Santa Monica, CA, on the recommendation of a friend. It was so satisfying that, McKinney says, “it was my only meal that whole day.”

Served with caramelized onions, cheese, applewood bacon, and arugula, the Office Burger typifies what has become, in recent years, the “destination burger.” Steakhouses, gastropubs, and hotels around the U.S. are serving well-crafted burgers topped with anything from house-made pickles to mushrooms sautéed in Cognac, and rendered from grass-fed or Wagyu beef (which refers to various breeds of Japanese cows, including the fat-marbled Kobe).

But you don’t always need a pedigreed cow to create a fantastic hamburger. When we searched for the best around the U.S, we found some with enticingly 21st-century sensibilities—locally sourced ingredients, or globally inspired toppings such as roasted poblanos or Sriracha sauce—as well as classics that have wooed meat lovers for 40 or even 100 years.

“To me, a great burger doesn’t have to be made of the finest ingredients—it simply has to be memorable,” says Jared Strichek, a digital marketing analyst from Charlotte, NC, who recently enjoyed such a burger in Charleston, SC, nestled between two grilled cheese sandwiches. “A burger is the quintessential American food,” he says, “because, with just a little ingenuity, it can be anything you want it to be.”

As a result, defining the best burgers can spur heated debate. Check out Travel + Leisure’s highly subjective and high-calorie picks—and vouch for your favorite burger joints in the comments section.

1 of 20 Father's Office

Office Burger, Father’s Office, Santa Monica, CA

Chef San Yoon has said that when he created his legendary gourmet burger in 2000, he was inspired less by classic hamburgers and more by the flavors of French onion soup. The result—with aged beef, caramelized onions, applewood bacon, Gruyère, Maytag blue, and arugula—remains one of the definitive high-end burgers. First-timers take note: requesting ketchup is verboten, as it distracts from the beef’s flavor (and they don’t keep it around anyway). Wash it down with one of the gastropub’s craft beers, or, for dessert, a chocolate-almond OMG cookie from Helms Bakery.

Advertisement
2 of 20 Arthur Mullen

Torta de Hamburguesa, Topolobampo, Chicago

While some non-burger restaurants may be accused of trying too hard when they offer a genre-crossing hamburger, Mexican-cuisine maestro Rick Bayless clearly knows how to play to his strengths. Topolobampo’s acclaimed burger, available only at lunchtime, is a house-ground rib eye and short-rib patty on an artisan bun, topped with chorizo, melted cheddar, and roasted poblanos. For dessert, go for the Oaxacan Chocolate Sundae.

3 of 20 Jessica Fey

3D Valley Farm Burger, Holy Grale, Louisville, KY

Occupying a former Unitarian church, this craft-beer bar puts a pub-cuisine twist on its local-beef burger: a fresh pretzel bun. It’s topped with bacon, caramelized onions, cheddar, arugula, and “fritje sauce”—a Dutch-style sauce made with mayo, whole grain mustard, and lemon zest. While fritje sauce is meant for dipping your double-fried potatoes, you can also request roasted beet ketchup, horseradish sauce, curry ketchup, or beer cheese. Save room for the chocolate pots de crème, topped with kettle corn and orange zest.

Advertisement
4 of 20 courtesy of Holeman & Finch Public House

Double Cheeseburger, Holeman & Finch Public House, Atlanta

Burgers aren’t on the dinner menu of Holeman & Finch, which offers upgraded southern classics such as fried catfish, oyster po’ boys, and braised rabbit. But show up around 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and you can order one of the day’s 24 double cheeseburgers, which come out at 10 p.m., announced by a bullhorn. Why only 24? The proprietors wanted to focus on quality over quantity. They make patties with a blend of grass-fed chuck and brisket, served on house-made buns with homemade ketchup, mustard, and pickles. If you don’t want to risk being Burger Customer No. 25, come on Sunday, when the burgers are available for brunch.

Advertisement
5 of 20 MGM Resorts International

Surf, Turf & Air Wagyu Kobe Burger, Tender, Las Vegas

The great burgers of Sin City—such as those at BLT Burger in the Mirage, or Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay—deftly walk the line between hangover comfort food and showstopping extravagance. But the Luxor’s steakhouse shows no such restraint: its $30 Surf, Turf & Air starts with American Kobe beef on a potato brioche bun, then takes it up a notch with a crab-tail medallion and crispy duck bacon. Not-so-mundane toppings include watercress, seaweed artichoke slaw, and truffle caviar aioli.

Advertisement
6 of 20 Timmons Pettigrew

South Carolina Burger, Sesame Burgers & Beer, Charleston, SC

At this sustainable-minded burger joint—where even the to-go containers are biodegradable—the Angus beef is pasture-raised and hormone-free (Sesame also gets raves for its vegetarian-friendly black bean burgers). Toppings range from Brie and sliced apples to roasted beets. Southern-spirited burgers include the South Carolina, with house-made pimento cheese, and the Elvis-conjuring Memphis, with peanut butter, bananas, and bacon. Try them with a side of blue-cheese-dressed sweet potato fries, broiled with prosciutto crisps, scallions, and a red-wine reduction.

Advertisement
7 of 20 © Douglas Merriam

Green Chile Cheeseburger, Santa Fe Bite, Santa Fe

Topped with local green chiles, this definitive southwestern burger was reportedly first created at Santa Fe’s Bobcat Bite. This new incarnation, from the same owners, is found inside Garrett’s Desert Inn, on Old Santa Fe Trail. Come hungry: the patties are 10 ounces of house-ground sirloin and chuck, topped with chiles and white American cheese on a house-made, ciabatta-like bun. And unlike some restaurants, Santa Fe Bite lets you order your burger rare, if you like.

Advertisement
8 of 20 Courtesy of Twin Cities Restaurant Blog

Juicy Nookie, Casper & Runyon’s Nook, St. Paul, MN

The Juicy Lucy is Minnesota’s great contribution to burger culture: a cheeseburger with the cheese cooked inside the patty. In Minneapolis, the 5-8 Club and Matt’s Bar have long been the main sources. In St. Paul, we’re partial to this burger joint, thanks to its hamburger buns from the bakery next door and extra-gooey patties. Its selection of stuffed burgers also includes the chorizo-lovers’ Spanish Fly, with a 50/50 blend of beef and spiced pork, and filled with queso.

Advertisement
9 of 20 Paul Wagtauicz

Sebastian’s Steakhouse Burger, Brindle Room, NYC

In a city where the most acclaimed burgers—such as the Black Label at Minetta Tavern, or the DB Burger at DB Bistro Moderne—hover around $30, it’s refreshing to find a worthy competitor for $12. At the East Village’s Brindle Room, this dry-aged burger, featuring deckle (a fatty cut of rib eye) and cooked in a cast-iron skillet, comes with caramelized onions, cheese, and pickles, as well as a side of fries. The only catch: you can get it only at lunch.

Advertisement
10 of 20 Courtesy of Hank's Hamburgers

The Big Okie, Hank’s Hamburgers, Tulsa, OK

How do you get to be a “Big Okie?” Perhaps by putting yourself on a steady diet of these legendary burgers, served in this landmark Tulsa restaurant. The beef alone tips the scales at a full pound, thanks to its total of four patties, four slices of cheese, and onions grilled right into the meat, before the addition of lettuce, tomato, and pickles. While you can order fries, it would be a shame to miss the Tater Tots or fried okra on the side. Assuming you’re stuffed afterward, order your dessert to go; Hank’s other signature item is the chocolate-covered peanut butter balls.

Advertisement
11 of 20 mar'sel at Terranea Resort

Downlow Burger, Mar’sel, Palos Verdes, CA

The gourmet burger has become the essential little black dress of hotel menus. Terranea Resort’s Mar’sel restaurant initially made this burger to satisfy a guest’s request and afterward left it as an off-menu item (hence, you asked for it “on the down low”). But it was so beloved that it finally went public. Expect house-ground Wagyu beef, aged white cheddar, house-made pickles, caramelized onions, and other veggies from the resort’s own garden. The bonus: views, over the resort’s bluffs, of the Pacific.

Advertisement
12 of 20 Cheryl Shifflet

L.A. Burger, Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, Mobile, AL

Callaghan’s makes its L.A. Burger (which stands for Lower Alabama, don’t you know) only at lunchtime. And it only makes a limited number, so to be sure you get one, show up early (like 11 a.m., when it opens). The L.A. Burger sets itself apart with its patty—made with a combo of beef and Conecuh sausage—and its tangy toppings of pepper jack cheese, spicy mustard, and coleslaw.

Advertisement
13 of 20 Robyn Lee

Ray’s Hell Burger, Ray’s to the Third, Arlington, VA

Ray’s may be a dive, but its 10-ounce, freshly ground beef burger goes for fancy toppings: white truffle oil (on the Fat Joe); roasted bone marrow (on the Dog Catcher); or mushrooms sautéed in sherry and Cognac (such as the Soul Burger No. 1 and the B.I.G. Poppa). Across the street from its previous location, Ray’s has a rep for attracting big-name Beltway types, including burger-loving President Obama, who in 2010 treated then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev to a Hell Burger.

Advertisement
14 of 20 Courtesy of Lankford Grocery

Old Fashion Burger, Lankford Grocery, Houston

This Texas legend, originally a Depression-era fruit stand, has been making burgers since the 1970s, and today its mission statement declares: “We have nothing small, nothing healthy, and nothing fast.” The Old Fashion comes with a full slate of mayo, mustard, pickle, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Even so, Lankford is not content to be just a time capsule of old-school burgers: its variations include the Firehouse (habanero sauce, cayenne butter, and jalapeños) and the Wasabi (with Wasabi sauce, pineapple, red onion, and Swiss).

Advertisement
15 of 20 Courtesy of Port of Call

Mushroom Burger, Port of Call, New Orleans

Port of Call is laid-back yet still fabulous, just like its hometown. Fans have been queuing up for this French Quarter steakhouse burger since the early 1960s. You get only four choices for the half-pound sandwich: with or without cheese, and with or without mushrooms. In lieu of fries, your accompaniment is a big baked potato—which you can also top with mushrooms. Wash it down with the signature cocktail, the rum-based Neptune’s Monsoon, served in a hefty, who-cares-if-I-look-like-a-tourist glass.

Advertisement
16 of 20 Dylan Long

The “Zizou” French Onion Cheeseburger, Dick’s Kitchen, Portland, OR

Locavores in Portland love Dick’s burgers so much that a third location is reportedly in the offing (right now, you’ll find branches on SE Belmont and NW 21st Ave.). The Classic Burger features grass-fed beef (from Oregon’s Carman Ranch) on a sourdough potato (or gluten-free) bun. But we say, live a little and order one of the specialty burgers: the lamb; the “Dork” (half-duck, half pork); or the Zizou, a Francophile burger named for French soccer star Zinedine Zidane. It has the same patty as the Classic, but ups the ante with thinly sliced onions smashed into the patty and topped with melted Swiss cheese. Get it with a side of air-baked Not Fries.

Advertisement
17 of 20 Courtesy of Charlie's Hamburgers

Charlie Special, Charlie’s Hamburgers, Folsom, PA

About 10 minutes from the Philadelphia airport, this little burger shack serves petite, almost slider-size burgers that pack a punch. The Charlie Special is topped with cheese, tomatoes, pickles, and “fried onions”—finely diced onions that have not been deep fried, but melted down right on the grill. (The corresponding Bunny Special keeps the diced onions raw.) Just don’t push your arrival too close to the 9 p.m. closing time: this is the kind of place that closes for the day when it runs out of the fresh beef. There are no fries, so trade salty for sweet with an order of Charlie’s black-and-white shake.

Advertisement
18 of 20 Wholly Cow Burgers

Heavenly Double Cheeseburger, Wholly Cow Burgers, Austin, TX

When it comes to burgers, there is a certain cachet in starting out in a convenience store—just as this Austin burger-maker did, in a farmers’-market-centered mini-mart on South Lamar. Now with a downtown location, too, Wholly Cow offers its signature double burger with all-organic, grass-fed beef, served on a sweet, King’s Hawaiian Roll. It also does a Paleo burger, with the beef patty sandwiched between two portobello caps and served sans mayo or ketchup.

Advertisement
19 of 20 Mike Franz

The Original Burger, Louis’ Lunch, New Haven, CT

For many burger connoisseurs, Louis’ Lunch is the mother ship. Around 1900, a guy walked into this lunch counter and asked for a quick meal to go—so the cook took some meat scraps, patted them into a nice flat piece, and stuck it between toast. Today’s burgers, overseen by Louis’s grandson, look pretty much the same. The patty is a combination of five cuts of meat, grilled over an open flame on antique cast-iron broilers, while the toast is prepped in a contraption your great-grandmother might recognize. Don’t even think about asking for mustard or mayo: the only approved toppings are tomato, onion, and cheese.

Advertisement
20 of 20 burgerdiaries.wordpress.com

Harry’s Bistro Burger, Abbey Burger Bistro, Baltimore

This combo bistro-and-sports-bar in Federal Hill embraces the build-your-own-burger model, but its signature burger offers a compelling, preset medley: an Angus patty, applewood bacon, a sunny-side-up egg, and cheddar—all piled on a contrarian-style English muffin. Another fabulous variation is the Baltimore Burger, topped with homemade crab dip, bacon, and cheddar cheese.

You May Like

Read More

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Receive exclusive travel deals, insider tips, inspiration, breaking news updates, and more.
Sign up

Subscribe & Save

Subscribe today for just $1 an issue!
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Receive exclusive travel deals, insider tips, inspiration, breaking news updates, and more.
Sign up
Travel + Leisure
TRAVEL
  • Travel Guides
  • Hotels + Resorts
  • Travel News
  • Travel Tips
  • Travel Videos
  • Flight Deals
TRAVEL + LEISURE
  • T+L Travel Guide App
  • World's Best Awards
  • Best Travel Agents
  • Romantic Travel
  • Cruises
  • Weekend Getaways
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Tech
  • Attractions
  • Check-In
CONTACT
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Give a Gift
  • Reprints
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Sitemap
  • Ad Choices
COMPANY
  • Careers
  • Meredith Corporate Site
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your California Privacy Rights
© 2018 Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group. All rights reserved. TravelandLeisure.com is part of the Travel & Leisure Group. Travel + Leisure is a trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. | EU Data Subject Requests
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.