The 20 Best Burger Spots in the U.S., According to Yelp Reviews

Just about everyone loves a burger, but what makes a truly great burger is subjective. Some people prefer a classic griddled thin patty, others settle for nothing less than a gourmet burger on brioche. We take the stand that no one’s wrong in this fight — an Animal-style Double-Double at In-N-Out can be just as satisfying as a chef-driven creation, depending on your mood.

So we decided to look to Yelp to figure out what customers themselves think are the best burger joints in the U.S. Money consulted with Yelp's data team to pinpoint the 20 highest-rated restaurants identified as burger-focused. Interestingly, major chains failed to make the cut, no doubt owing to the fact that Yelpers tend to gravitate (and obsess over) their local mom-and-pop joints.

To spread the love, we limited the list to a maximum of two restaurants per state, and we required at least 100 Yelp reviews for a venue to qualify. One other twist: With well-executed vegetarian and vegan cuisine on the rise across the country, non-meat options actually made inroads on the list. "One of the biggest trends we’ve seen on Yelp is the rise of the Impossible Burger and plant-based burger alternatives," Yelp’s trend expert Tara Lewis says. "The Impossible Burger was nearly nonexistent on Yelp before 2016, but spiked in 2018 and is on track to be one of the biggest food searches of 2019."

But, of course, there are plenty of meaty options to be had — and there's a decent chance one of these affordable restaurants isn't far from you. Did your favorite make the cut? Let the debate begin.

(Note: Yelp’s best-of algorithm is based on several factors, including but not limited to overall star rating. It also takes into account the total volume of reviews.)

1. Burgerama, Valley Village, California

Rating: 5/5 stars
Cost: $$

Nestled in the San Fernando Valley of greater Los Angeles, Burgerama specializes in gourmet burgers that run the gamut from the carnivorous (the Country Boy, topped with bacon, jack cheese, onion rings, and bourbon sauce) to vegetarian-friendly (the Veggie Lover, with portobello, provolone, coleslaw, sautéed garlic, and avocado).

2. Chicks N Cows, Los Angeles, California

Rating: 5/5 stars
Cost: N/A ($9 for a Double Smash’d Burger)

A street vendor with its own patio setup, Chicks N Cows gets straight to the point with its name. It delivers an equal mix of chicken goodness and smash-style burgers that arrive with thin, crispy patties. (Note: Chicks N Cows is temporarily closed but reopening November 15.)

3. Jewboy Burgers, Austin, Texas

Rating: 5/5 stars
Cost: $$

Austin knows its meat, and this food truck is no exception, slinging joyously cheese-laden beef patties, including burgers topped with chile con queso, jalapenos, or hatch green chile. You can also get a black-and-white cookie for the road.

4. Munchiez, Carrollton, Texas

Rating: 5/5 stars
Cost: N/A ($8 for the signature burger)

Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Munchiez serves an intriguing Korean-American spin on burgers, including a kimchi aioli-slathered house burger, plus other Asian twists like a crispy shrimp burger.

5. Tasty and Delicious, Nashville, Tennessee

Rating: 5/5 stars
Cost: $

Nashville’s incredibly reasonable Tasty and Delicious straddles the line between Middle Eastern food including gyros and its beloved, cheese-stuffed burgers.

6. Clutch Burger, Coral Gables, Florida

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $$

Miami’s ritzy Coral Gables neighborhood has its own premium burger shop in Clutch, which offers Wagyu beef-based creations in addition to vegan options with the popular, plant-based Impossible Burger patty.

7. Inclined Burgers and Brews, Incline Village, Nevada

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: N/A ($6.95 for the standard Inclined Burger)

Lake Tahoe is already an ideal vacation destination, but Inclined provides an extra dose of savory goodness with hefty, grilled-onion topped burgers and garlic fries.

8. Black Hills Burger and Bun Co, Custer, South Dakota

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $$

Up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, this burger joint is prized for its freshly ground patties used in creative concoctions, like the delightfully named Hot Granny, loaded with bacon, cream cheese, fresh jalapeno, and sweet-spicy jalapeno sauce.

9. Lip Smackers, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Rating: 5/5 stars
Cost: $

Reviewers rave about this red-checkered-cloth restaurant charmingly attached to a gas station, which dishes out wildly indulgent items like a burger topped with homemade onion dip and potato chips.

10. Gilbert's 17th Street Grill, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $$

In Miami’s neighboring cousin city Fort Lauderdale, Gilbert’s is known for cooking up well-executed comfort food in an unpretentious diner-like setting — especially its burgers that come in any number of combinations, including one version topped with brie cheese and fried onion straws.

11. Stacked STL, St. Louis, Missouri

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $$

The Midwest knows its meat and carbs, and Stacked delivers locally adored burgers in a historic area of St. Louis, from indulgent ground chuck topped with BBQ brisket to the Herbivore black bean-based burger.

12. 4 Charles Prime Rib, New York, New York

Rating: 5/5 stars
Cost: $$$

4 Charles Prime Rib is a slight outlier on this list: The cozy Manhattan steakhouse draws a high-dollar crowd who appreciate its simply described "American Cheeseburger," which will set you back $22.95, but is expertly cooked every time, according to fans.

13. Adler’s, Davenport, Florida

Rating: 5/5 stars
Cost: $

Adler’s in Central Florida does one thing extremely well. Its handmade burgers and hand-cut fries have made the brightly designed brick-and-mortar restaurant, which started as a food truck, a worthwhile destination.

14. Laura’s Burgers and More, Avondale, Arizona

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $

Known for its long lines of fiendish burger seekers, Laura’s in Arizona slings items ranging from a signature chorizo burger with a fried egg to a Thousand Island burger, plus Frito pies and chili cheese fries.

15. Steve’s Burgers, Garfield, New Jersey

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $

The pint-sized, three-table Steve’s in New Jersey is for burger die-hards who don't mind going out of their way to grab its towering burgers, patty melts, and onion rings.

16. Seven Brothers, Laie, Hawaii

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $

You might ask, Hawaii…for a burger? But this spot on the island of Oahu has led locals to dismiss bigger chain options and instead embrace its delicately architected burgers, including the tropically tinged Paniolo (or cowboy) burger, which gets an addition of fresh grilled pineapple. (Seven Brothers also has another location in Hawaii and one in Utah.)

17. Nic’s Grill, Oklahoma City, OK

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $$

As much a burger joint as a sports bar, Nic’s keeps its food simple, with fresh-ground, hand-packed patties griddled before your eyes (just make sure to add curly fries).

18. Hops Burger Bar, Greensboro, North Carolina

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $$

Greensboro’s Hops serves certified Angus burgers alongside craft brews, a combination that almost never fails. With a cast of rotating featured burgers, one highlight among customers is the North Carolinian, a true Deep South specialty burger topped with a fried egg, bacon, fried green tomato, and pimento cheese.

19. Mac’s Local Eats, St. Louis, Missouri

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $$

Mac’s in St. Louis is committed to sourcing seasonal produce and meat from small local farms, which they transform into customizable smash-style burgers.

20. Moku Roots, Lahaina, Hawaii

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cost: $$

Hawaii gets another spot on the list with this zero-waste, vegetarian- and vegan-specific restaurant in Maui’s Lahaina. Emphasizing local and seasonal ingredients, the menu spans from a sushi-style cucumber avocado roll to a taro burger.