June is officially here, which means that the official start of summer is fast upon us. As everyone knows, with summer comes burger season and vacation season. What better way to combine the two than to turn your vacation into a burgercation.*
In preparation for your food-focused travels, we’ve pulled together a list of 17 of the best burgers in America. From Florida to California and virtually everywhere in between, these restaurants offer some of the best combinations of ingredients you’ll find shoved between two buns. If you can’t travel, there’s nothing stopping you from taking any of these ideas and trying them out on your home grill. Please send photos.
*Maybe not a thing. Should be a thing.
Related: 10 Best Dive Bars In America
The Indulgence Burger — Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
This burger is about 90% cheese, but the thing that really sets it apart is the bacon-stuffed onion ring on top. Is there any way we can get a plain order of those? Does Dogfish ship? Please and thank you.
Land & Sea Burger — Chesapeake & Maine, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
What’s that on top of the angus beef patty? That would be butter-poached lobster, lettuce, tomato and “Beernaise” sauce. All served on a toasted brioche bun. It’s a surf and turf sandwich, essentially. Luxe.
The Big D. Burger — Embers Ski Lodge, Nashville, Tennessee
No, no. This isn’t any ordinary burger stuck between donut buns. That would be a cheeseburger with bacon between a maple bacon cronut. You can’t make this stuff up. But you sure can eat it. Fine, fine, make your diabetes jokes, but wow that looks good.
El Capitan Burger — The Stand, Los Angeles, California
This burger is topped with braised short rib, pickled pepper, onions, fresh guacamole and chimichurri. How could you not want to try such an interesting combination of ingredients? What kind of non-chimichurri-loving monster are you?
Truffle Rossini Burger — Le Petit Paris, Los Angeles, California
If you’re a burger elitist, this one is for you: it’s topped with foie gras and truffle. Just don’t blame us when you start suffering from gout because of it.
The O.M.G. — Boneyard Bistro, Sherman Oaks, California
Dumb name, but the burger sounds amazing. Beer-battered onion rings, chipotle aioli, BBQ sauce, housemade bacon and cheddar cheese. And some tomatoes, onion, pickles, because veggies are important, too. If you can fit this thing in your mouth for a bite, you are probably a boa constrictor.
Boys Club Burger — Ox & Son, Santa Monica, California
What is that pretty green sauce spilling down from between the buns? Hard to tell — it could be the leek hollandaise, it could be the truffle aioli, it could be the yolk from the sunny egg. Or it could just be a combination of all of that. Also included, in case you haven’t had enough: Nueske’s bacon, raclette cheese, and pork sausage. The best part about the Boys Club burger is that it’s a secret menu item. #Exclusive
Meyer Lansky Burger — Siegel’s 1941 at El Cortez Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Mobster wannabes and general fans of movies like Goodfellas and Casino, this one’s for you. The burger is topped with pastrami, Swiss cheese, housemade coleslaw, pickles and Russian dressing, sandwiched between two ciabatta patties. Why get a Reuben when you can get so much more?
Wagyu Brisket Burger — Vince Young Steakhouse, Austin, Texas
What’s so special about Wagyu beef? Its intense marbling is what. But you have to taste it to truly understand — and one relatively-affordable way to taste it would be with this burger, which features a freshly-ground Wagyu brisket patty topped with housemade pickles and cheddar cheese. Simple, easy, delicious.
Wagyu Burger — Andiron Steak & Sea, Las Vegas, Nevada
Another take on Wagyu can be found at Vegas’ Andiron Steak & Sea. This one’s got more umami flavors, featuring aged white cheddar, tomatoes, and caramelized onions. If this doesn’t sound good, we probably can’t be friends.
Border Burger — Blatt Beer & Table, Dallas, Texas and Omaha, Nebraska
Another interesting burger to make your taste buds dance (until tears stream down your face, possibly), this one’s got an Angus beef patty topped with chipotle crema, fire-roasted chile con queso, and crispy poblano pepper rajas. To chill the burn: lettuce, red onion, tomato, and that brioche bun.
English Burger — The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen, Houston, Texas
There are two incredible options at The Queen Vic. For the Anglophiles, the English burger features housemade pickles, English cheddar, spicy mustard and sweet red onions on an English muffin. Alternately, try the…
Indian Kebab Burger – The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen, Houston, Texas
This is a huge twist on the expected, with a patty made of spiced ground lamb and topped with bleu cheese, tomato, shredded cabbage, tomato chutney and Bibb lettuce. Oh, and that bun? It’s naan. Let’s all play cricket after? Test match?
TSF Grilled Chuck Burger — The Second Floor by Scott Gottlich, Dallas, Texas
This isn’t your standard bacon cheeseburger. The Grilled Chuck Burger features house-ground chuck, applewood bacon, caramelized onion, Tillamook cheddar, and Uppity Thousand Island, all on a challah bun.
Deep Salsera Burger — Salsera, Dallas, Texas
“Where are the mushroom burgers on this list?” Right here, thanks for asking. This one’s got an Angus patty topped with Salsera aioli, sautéed mushrooms, provolone and fried onion strings. Deeply delicious.
The Swine Burger — Swine Southern Table & Bar, Coral Gables, Florida
This burger’s assembly of ingredients is fairly predictable, but that doesn’t mean it’s not delicious. Topped with thick-cut house-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, and a housemade dill pickle, it’s got one special thing going for it: the Swine special sauce…whatever the hell that is. Still, even if this is only a glorified double-double, it looks damn good!
New Mexican-Style Green Chile Cheeseburger — DW Bistro, Las Vegas, Nevada
If you haven’t had a green chile cheeseburger, you haven’t lived. Do yourself a favor, put down your phone, get in your car, and drive yourself to this burger. It’s topped with Jack cheese, jalapeño bacon, lettuce and heirloom tomato. You’ll be weeping tears of joy. Mingled with a little bit of pain. But mostly joy.
