best burgers – A nationwide list from food writers spotlights standout burgers—everything from a mesquite-grilled Phoenix classic to a messy, French-onion-soup-inspired Cincinnati splurge—inviting readers to plan their next detour for Memorial Day weekend.
When Memorial Day weekend rolls around, the appetite doesn’t just want food—it wants a ritual. In this roundup. food writers across the country point readers toward burger stops they say are worth the detour. with cravings ranging from ultra-classic griddled patties to creative builds that arrive messy. hot. and meant to be eaten anyway.
The list spans small, local favorites and long-running institutions. In Phoenix. The Original Hamburger Works serves a mesquite-grilled burger up to a full 1-pound patty and backs it with an all-access pass to a giant condiment bar. In Louisville. a grass-fed burger cooked in beef tallow comes from a food truck that’s only open three days a week—an unlikely setup that still draws crowds. And in Providence. Rhode Island. a small space with just three tables leans into comfort with a “Dream Burger” built on double smashed patties and a roll that doesn’t fall apart.
Several of the entries lean into the kind of burger experience that turns into part of a day out: beer and pub energy at a nearly century-old Newark tavern; diner-style griddles and daily-changing smashburgers in Des Moines; or the kind of half-pound stack that forces you to plan for napkins.
Below are the standout burgers and the places tied to them, from Arizona to Wisconsin.
The Original Hamburger Works | Phoenix, Arizona
2801 N. 15th Ave. Phoenix • 602-263-8693 • greatburgeraz.com
The Original Hamburger Works was named the runner-up in The Arizona Republic’s 2024 Burger Bracket and the winner in 2026. The restaurant is known for juicy. mesquite-grilled burgers that can run up to a full 1-pound patty. served on classic sesame seed buns. Each order also includes an all-access pass to the giant condiment bar. and readers are urged not to miss the onion rings.
Grill-A-Burger | Palm Desert, California
73-091 Country Club Dr. • 760-346-8170 • grill-a-burger.com
Grill-A-Burger is said to offer more than 30 unique burgers. Among them is the “Gagapalooza. ” built with frizzled imported Italian prosciutto. buttery Provolone cheese. and homemade pesto mayo on a sourdough bun. Other suggested builds include options topped with avocados, mushrooms, bleu cheese, and fire-roasted green chiles. The restaurant also offers three named choices—“The Tuscany. ” “The Buddha. ” and “The Devil’s Revenge”—that caught Guy Fieri’s attention when he visited. Beyond burgers, the menu includes chicken sandwiches, turkey burgers, salmon, salad, and other items.
Alpine Steakhouse | Sarasota, Florida
4520 S. Tamiami Trail • 941-921-3798 • alpinesteak.com
Family-run Alpine Steakhouse and its meat market have been a Sarasota treasure since 1975. The restaurant serves Guy Fieri-approved turducken on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” with a “Triple D Nation” episode expected soon. While steaks draw attention. the “Alpine’s Signature Steakhouse Burger” is a local favorite: a massive half-pound patty stacked with house-made jowl bacon. a crispy onion ring. Swiss cheese. lettuce. tomato. and mayo. The piece also highlights sides including twice-baked potato, truffle fries, and German potato salad.
Inferno Room | Indianapolis. Indiana
Fountain Square neighborhood • theinfernoroom.com
Inferno Room is described as a tiki bar lined wall-to-wall with Melanesian décor. serving a menu curated by a Cuban-born chef. The Cuban Frita is highlighted as a standout: it features a beef-chorizo patty. American cheese. red onion. tangy house sauce. and fried shoestring potatoes as the defining feature. The burger is credited with the ability to remind diners that elite burgers can come from places they might not expect.
Lachele’s Fine Foods | Des Moines, Iowa
1312 Ingersoll Ave. or 111 E. Sixth Ave. • 515-330-6876 • lachelesfinefoods.com
Lachele’s Fine Foods opened in 2021. with Cory Wendell aiming to create a diner-style spot that would win fans through its burgers. The long, slender space includes stools at the counter, a flat-top griddle, and pink and mint green walls. The Ingersoll Avenue location offers seven variations featuring ingredients such as barbecue sauce or Jake’s. minced onion. pickle. Boetje’s stone ground mustard. Duke’s mayo. and American cheese. A Highland Park location offers an extended diner menu and burgers, with a special burger that changes daily. The restaurant also offers veggie patties, vegan preparation, and gluten-free options, plus a tip to order tater tots.
Jay’s Burgers | Louisville, Kentucky
1242 E. Oak St. • eatjaysburgers.com
In Louisville. the best burger described in the roundup arrives in a paper bag from a food truck in a nondescript location. open only three days a week. The truck is associated with celebrity chef Edward Lee. who wrote on Instagram that. “My favorite burger in town comes from a food truck.” The chalkboard menu focuses on a burger/fry combo. Jay Shreve is credited with working with local farms. supplying grass-fed patties and using beef tallow to cook shoestring French fries. Diners eat at nearby red picnic tables or take the combo to their vehicles. with the warning that it’s hard to go far without grease dotting the paper bag.
Little Ghost | Detroit, Michigan
22305 Woodward Ave. • 248-677-3023 • eatlittleghost.com
Little Ghost is presented as an outpost from the owners of Detroit’s Grey Ghost. where one of the city’s best restaurant burgers has been served for a decade. The Ghost Burger is the featured sandwich: a third of a pound of beef is smashed and topped with a cream sauce bejeweled in relish. crisp shredded iceberg lettuce. and melted American cheese that cascades over the edge. It’s served best at medium temperature and described as juicy, a little messy, and full of flavor. The Double Ghost adds a second patty, with each patty at a quarter-pound of beef. There’s also a smaller cheeseburger for kids and a quinoa burger for those who prefer a vegetarian option.
Krug’s Tavern | Newark, New Jersey
118 Wilson Ave. • 973-465-9795 • krugstavernnj.com
The roundup calls Krug’s Tavern’s burger the most famous burger in New Jersey. describing it as simple. massive. and delicious. A three-quarter pound beef patty is charred on the outside on Krug’s flat-top griddle, producing a roasty bark. The meat is described as unseasoned. with a plain burger or cheeseburger said to provide enough flavor due to the patty’s fatty goodness. Optional additions include a bacon bleu or pizza burger. The story also emphasizes the pub atmosphere, including cold beer and a pub menu.
Woosmash | Verona. New Jersey
1437 Vine St. Over-the-Rhine • 513-218-2864
Woosmash is described as Korean-born culinary wizard Woosung Cho’s approach to cheeseburgers with Asian twists. The menu includes standard smash burgers plus Korean barbecue-flavored ribeye burgers topped with garlic mayo and kimchi relish. The onions are caramelized with miso. When Woosmash first opened. the writers say they were the only ones who knew about it. then attention spread after a post on the @northjerseyeats Instagram. The roundup also mentions gochujang-glazed chicken sandwiches when the burger mood isn’t the priority and a spicy “Woo-Ha Smash” with Firestorm sauce. along with “thoughtful flavors” and “unbeatable prices.”.
Sacred Beast Diner | Cincinnati. Ohio
1437 Vine St. Over-the-Rhine; 513-218-2864 • sacredbeastdiner.com
Sacred Beast’s “Dirty French” burger is highlighted with the complaint that it can arrive stabbed with a steak knife. The meal is described as a mashup of a burger and French onion soup: two thin beef patties topped with gooey Gruyere. sweet caramelized onions. and Mornay sauce. served in a pool of au poivre sauce. The roundup notes the price is $20.95 and says it’s best eaten with a fork and knife. with the steak knife serving a purpose.
Son of Thurman | Columbus, Ohio and Galena, Ohio
5 N. Sandusky St., Delaware, Ohio • 740-417-9614
31 W. Columbus St. Galena. Ohio • 740-936-8025
sonofthurman.com
Thurman Cafe is described as legendary in Columbus and beyond for its Thurmanator. a 1.5-pound. two-patty burger with 11 toppings. The roundup adds that Thurman Cafe is closed while repairing damage from an April 12 fire. It directs readers to suburban Son of Thurman offshoots that offer much the same menu and neighborhood-bar atmosphere. The includes 22 burgers, including a “Blazin’ Burger” cooked in Tabasco sauce and topped with pepper jack cheese and jalapeno peppers.
There, There | Providence, Rhode Island
471 West Fountain St. • theretherepvd.com
(Also at Track 15. One Union Station in Providence.)
There. There is described as a small. unassuming space with just three tables inside and a rail to sit at on the outside porch facing the street. The “Dream Burger” is highlighted: double patties smashed style. crisp shredded lettuce. and a sauce on a soft. heavily seeded roll. To complete the meal, the roundup urges pairing it with coffee milk and steak fries. The menu has fewer than a dozen items.
Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage | Cambridge, Massachusetts
1246 Massachusetts Ave. • 617-354-6559 • mrbartley.com
Since 1960, Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage has been described as the “legend” of Harvard Square and a go-to for burger enthusiasts and tourists. The no-frills, dorm-like spot is decorated with chalkboards, posters, bumper stickers, and signs. It’s credited with receiving accolades from The Boston Globe. The New York Times. The Wall Street Journal. and being visited by celebrity clients including Adam Sandler. Johnny Cash. Matt Damon. Bob Dylan. Jacqueline Onassis. and Al Pacino. The menu includes 16 hamburger creations, or diners can build their own. The simplest hamburger is “Joe Bartley,” an American cheeseburger for $16. For a more adventurous option. the “Halouminati” is priced at $22 and includes fried Haloumi cheese. Applewood smoked bacon. tomato and red onion. and a drizzle of house hot honey.
Saint Bibiana | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1327 E. Brady St. • 414-988-4629 • saintbibiana.com
The roundup describes the writer’s first love at first bite in 2023. with the restaurant’s stellar smashburger listed at $14 served with fries. It’s described as stacked high with two lacey-edged. smashed beef patties that are charred around the edges while staying juicy inside. American cheese oozes down the sides, topped with grilled onions, pickle slices, and a tangy special sauce. The burger is described as so juicy it practically disintegrates the bun as it’s being eaten. and the writer says it’s worth the extra napkins.
A few thousand miles of road-trip logic runs through the list even when the burgers themselves vary wildly. Whether it’s a massive patty paired with a condiment bar in Phoenix. a half-hour-side show in Sarasota. or a $20.95 “burger soup” in Cincinnati. the throughline is the same: these are burgers presented as events. not just meals—some famous for tradition. others for daily creativity. and many for the small. deliberate choices that make hands messy and memories stick.
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