The origins of the humble hamburger might be hotly contested, but there's no denying few things are as American as this classic meal, served everywhere from restaurants to street food stalls and hole-in-the-wall joints. Whether plain on white bread, or with melted cheese in a pillowy bun, the classic burger is simply unbeatable, even when creative and inventive options abound. Here, we find out the best classic hamburger in every state and Washington DC.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
This hole-in-the-wall joint in Athens dates back to the 1960s, and the burger recipe hasn't changed since then. When they taste this good, why would it? There are no fancy creations or toppings at Dub's; just great tasting hamburgers and cheeseburgers, with fries or onion rings on the side. Go for the simple hamburger, served 'all the way' with mustard, ketchup, pickles, onion, and slaw.
There's a fair chance that when you search for the best burger in Alaska, it's Tommy's Burger Stop in Anchorage that comes up – and with good reason. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Tommy's has a menu featuring a whole roster of smashing burgers. Order The Burger Stop and you'll get the joint's signature Cajun-seasoned patty with mayo, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, onions, and pickles on a toasted bun.
Blink and you might miss the low-key Lucky's Burgers & Shakes and its classic burgers. Highly rated by customers, the charbroiled hamburgers are available in three sizes, from a quarter pounder to a massive 12-ounce patty. All burgers come with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onions, and a choice of sauces – you can't go more basic (or more delicious) than that.
There's loads of tasty burgers on offer at this popular basement bar and restaurant, but sometimes simple is best. Hugo's do a great take on the traditional hamburger, featuring a third-pound patty of 100% Angus beef cooked to your preference and served with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mayo, and mustard.
Although it's a chain with countless locations, the California-based outlet and its uncomplicated burgers have been just the ticket since 1948. The secret lies in the simplicity – no bells and whistles, just a thin American beef patty with freshly sliced or grilled onions, tomato, lettuce, and In-and-Out's signature sauce, squeezed in between soft, spongy toasted buns. Simple, understated, and totally perfect.
A must-visit destination for burger lovers, this place is lauded as Denver's best burger dive, period. Customers praise the burgers that are made with high-quality beef and cooked to perfection as well as the casual and friendly atmosphere. Top order for purists is the classic Cricket Burger – a half-pound patty with lettuce, tomato, and pickles.
True burger purists will appreciate Louis' Lunch and its Original Burger. Recognized as the birthplace of the humble hamburger by the Library of Congress, this simple, family-operated joint has been serving the same freshly ground and hand-rolled patties between two slices of toasted white bread to hungry customers since 1895. Garnishes like cheese, grilled onion, and tomato are available, but don't even dream of asking for ketchup. As the sign says, 'you don't mess with perfection'.
With a handful of locations in the country (and one in Cairo, Egypt), Good Stuff Eatery is a popular spot for those after a delicious burger experience. Located near the National Mall, this restaurant offers a variety of gourmet burgers made with fresh, high-quality beef. The burger menu is extensive, but for a solid classic that won't disappoint stick to the hand-crafted Farmhouse Burger. The natural farm-raised beef patties are topped with tomatoes, thinly sliced onions, lettuce, and pickles, in a Pennsylvania Dutch bun that customers love.
Not totally classic, FTC (pictured right and short for the restaurant's name Farmer & the Cow) does include extras like bacon and house sauce, but it comes highly recommended by diners. Gourmet toppings aside, the patties are handmade in-house from a blend of chuck, brisket, and filet that keeps them juicy. The rustic joint is also known for its craft beer and cocktails, and many customers praise the friendly service too.
Opened in 1987 by Glen McMillan and his two sons, Jon and Ken, Mac's Drive-Thru remains a much-loved spot thanks to its friendly service and consistently delicious burgers. The menu is simple: choose from a hamburger or cheeseburger (or a double of either) and then pick your toppings. Don't forget the French fries.
Self-described as 'plain and simple as an old truck', this rustic burger from the Green Truck Pub in Savannah couldn't get much more classic. Lettuce, tomato, onion, and house-made pickles are stacked on top of a grass-fed beef patty. You can add cheese of your liking, and the ketchup and fries are made from scratch too. People love the tasty burgers, friendly atmosphere, and fuss-free service.
For a simple hamburger with a Hawaiian touch that customers love, look no further than Haleiwa's Kua Aina Sandwich Shop. Going strong since 1975, it serves a variety of burgers with an island touch, including pineapple, mahi mahi, and avocado. Stick to a basic hamburger, though, and you'll get a perfect patty, cooked medium, served with the simple accompaniments of lettuce and tomato – perfection.
With two locations in the state, craft beer and burger joint Holy Cow serves up some delicious gourmet creations, such as the Holy Rueben – with pastrami, Havarti cheese, and sauerkraut. But they also do a great classic hamburger, too. Made with a third-pound grass-fed local Wagyu beef patty, it's served with all the expected toppings, plus Holy Cow sauce, on a toasted brioche bun.
These days there aren't that many places around that allow customers to build their own burgers and customize their orders as they wish, which is precisely why Chicago's Butcher and the Burger is so popular. For purists, there's the faultless house-blend prime beef burger with simple salt and pepper seasoning (although options include adventurous flavors like coconut curry and grandma's onion soup). We like to keep it simple with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and onion.
Serving a genuine blue-collar hamburger, Workingman's Friend comes pretty close to perfection with its 'smash burger' – a type of burger popular throughout the Midwest that, true to its name, is smashed on the griddled and cooked to order. At more than 100 years old, there are no frills at this legendary dive bar – the patty is served in a soft, white bun with some cheese if you fancy, and a slice of bread in between to help the burger keep its shape.
With a dozen locations throughout central Iowa, this much-loved local fast food chain serves up tasty burgers that are consistently a cut above. As well as the classic hamburger (choose from 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 lb), B-Bops do all the usual favorites, including cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers, and chicken sandwiches.
Although not entirely classic, we had to make an exception for the Haystack from Wichita's The Anchor, which is often lauded among the best burgers in the state. Piled high on a Texas toast is a perfectly cooked beef patty, French fries, and lashing of queso. It might not be traditional in its flavors or execution, but it does capture the essence of a classic hamburger: big, juicy, and incredibly satisfying.
For a classic, juicy hamburger, look no further than Covington's Bard's Burgers & Chili. Barely more than a hole-in-the-wall, it dishes out perfectly cooked, Ohio-raised Wagyu beef patties that customers love. Not interested in all the bells and whistles? For total simplicity, order The Purist – just a plain hamburger. Or you can customize it with toppings like bacon, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and various cheeses.
A purveyor of all things delicious, like charcuterie and sausages, plus bagels, Cochon Butcher also has a mouth-watering sandwich and burger menu. Its Butcher Burger is an unbeatable classic that customers love. An all-beef patty is served with American cheese melted over, then lettuce, tomato, dill pickles, onion, and mayo, and mustard complement the juicy, beefy flavors on a sesame bun.
Describing itself as a cocktail bar, soda fountain, and burger joint, Portland's Black Cow has a small but perfectly formed menu of burgers, which includes a no-frills hamburger. It might be simple, but it's perfectly executed, featuring a beef smash patty paired with crisp iceberg lettuce, pickles, house mustard, onion, and mayo on a house bun.
Customers love the Angus beef burgers at this casual Towson joint. The no-frills hamburger definitely offers value for money, with a juicy six-ounce patty squeezed between a glossy brioche bun. There are extra toppings to choose from, if you like – think onion rings, lettuce, cheese, and bacon. Nothing beats the flavor of the charbroiled patty that customers love, though.
An institution in West Springfield, White Hut is a firm favorite that hasn't changed since 1939, even though it came under new ownership in 2020. The curiously named Hamburg is an effective combo of perfectly seasoned beef patty with a soft, white bun, however, most like to add a pile of freshly fried onions on top. For an even more indulgent meal, get yours as a Cheeseburg, smothered in melted white cheese.
This no-frills joint hasn’t changed at all since it opened in 1941. The single-patty Ground Round is served with or without cheese, stacked with pickles and onion on a simple soft bun. The much-loved burgers are then wrapped in squares of waxed paper and patrons sitting at the bar still order on the honor system, simply telling the bartender what they had before they pay and go, just like in the old days.
Two Minneapolis establishments try to lay claim to the state's signature hamburger, but it's the Matt's Bar version, the Jucy Lucy (without the i), that stays true to its roots with a single type of cheese stuffed inside the meat patty. It's greasy and messy once you bite into it, and the molten American cheese oozes out, but that's precisely what makes it so special.
A favorite that emerged during the Great Depression is the slugburger – a beef or pork patty supplemented with potato flour that's then fried. It was a way for restaurant and diner owners to make their scant meat supplies stretch further, but the crispy texture – giving way to soft, juicy meat – remains popular in America today. There's nowhere better to try this creative invention than at Latham's Hamburger Inn, where slugburgers are the specialty and customers are full of praise.
Over 75 years later, this 24-hour diner still sells the same authentic hamburgers as it once did for just five cents each. The price has gone up since then, but the quality has remained consistent. A single or a double meat patty is layered with some griddled onions (and cheese, if you like) inside a classic hamburger bun – perfection.
An award-winning burger joint featured on Man v. Food, The Burger Dive in Billings definitely knows how to flip a burger. Although creative options abound on the menu, purists will be pleased to see the humble hamburger, too. And it's executed to absolute perfection, with a simple, classic combination of a beef patty with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo. The customers can't get enough of the fantastic burgers.
Not strictly a classic hamburger (depending on where you sit on that particular debate) – this cheese-topped creation is a classic in this much-loved Omaha joint, so it would be a shame to leave off this list. Late-night burger joint Cheeseburgers serves its Original burger with mustard, pickle, and onion, in a toasted brioche bun. It's cheesy, inexpensive, and, according to customers, always served quick and full of flavor. Thankfully, there are several Cheeseburgers locations in Omaha to satisfy your burger craving.
Las Vegas may have all the glitz, but you'll find the tastiest burgers in Reno – more specifically, at Beefy's. The clue is in the name, as this joint serves up the juiciest beef burgers in lots of different guises, including monster burgers like the Jacob's Ladder, packed with four patties. For a classic though, choose the Plain Jane – a perfectly cooked single hamburger with no cheese.
Although the joint has changed names over the years – the current namesake is late employee Ralph Gilbert who worked there for over 50 years – Gilley’s started in 1912 as a portable lunch counter that was towed by a horse. The diner set up shop in a bricks-and-mortar location in 1974 and still serves juicy burgers and other diner classics. Get the hamburger with pickles and ketchup for a taste of the classics, or upgrade to the double cheeseburger, with generous layers of cheese between two patties.
Since 1946, White Manna has dealt in classic New Jersey sliders (full-sized hamburgers, not the mini version). Onions are pressed into these griddle-fried patties as they sizzle away and the whole thing (plus cheese, if you wish) is held together by a pillowy potato bun. Highly rated by food aficionados like Anthony Bourdain and regularly featured in 'best burger' lists, White Manna is also a customer favorite thanks to its fuss-free burgers that are big on flavor.
What started out as a food truck is now not only Albuquerque's, but the whole state's best burger joint, Rustic On The Green. And the Rustic burger is the must-order here. Customers praise how delicious and fresh this burger always is, with a freshly ground, smoky beef patty topped with caramelized onions, American cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. Served in a soft bun, it has all the classic flavors of a truly good burger.
Said to be what McDonald's was before it became McDonald's, All-American Drive-In forgoes perfect frozen patties and special secret sauces to serve the simplest possible iteration of a hamburger. The original 1963 recipe patty is served in a sesame seed bun with just pickles, onions, and ketchup for company, and its retro silver foil wrapper only adds to the nostalgia that the customers appreciate.
Brook's Sandwich House, which opened in 1973, specializes in burgers and chili, so it's only natural they often combine the two. And although it might not be a strictly simple patty and bun combo, there's a reason why customers love the addition of chili so much. Go for something a bit more low-key and you'll have a perfectly juicy hamburger on your hands that's full of flavor, hugged by a soft, white bun.
A much-loved burger joint in North Dakota (with outlets in Fargo, Bismarck, and more), Sickies Garage knows how to put together a burger that customers love. With a menu to choose from, keep things simple with the basic Carport, a 'simply delicious hamburger', according to Sickies. If you wish to level up, go for the Garage with lettuce, tomato, and American cheese (pictured).
Kewpee Hamburgers, with its iconic 'Hamburg, pickle on top, makes your heart go flippity-flop' slogan, promises a satisfying meal. Founded in 1918 with its first stand in Flint, Michigan, the chain is now exclusive to Lima, Ohio, where it opened its first three locations in 1928. Despite being a fast food chain, the patties are freshly ground in-house, giving them a homemade taste the customers love.
The story of Tucker’s Onion Burgers is linked to the history of its namesake burger, which was created by chefs to help cafés stay in business during the Great Depression. The idea was simple – add onions to the ground meat to cut down costs – but what the chefs created is a flavorful burger that's still loved today. Tucker's is one of the best places to try this slice of history, and its single onion burger comes with a choice of toppings like shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mayo, or mustard.
With two locations in the state, it's hard to beat Hwy 101 Burger for simple, tasty, and perfectly cooked burgers. Customers love the old-school joint and often praise the reasonable prices. Choose The Original 100 for a basic, yet deliciously juicy, single-patty burger, or up it to four patties and order the 404. The burgers feature American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion, and come with hand-cut fries.
A much-loved casual neighborhood joint with an amazing burger menu, there's something to satisfy every taste at M2O. It all starts with classic hamburgers and cheeseburgers, though – the thin, all-beef patty is crispy around the edges and still juicy on the inside, and is served on its own or with a slice of melted American cheese in a soft bun.
Founded in 1932 by Polish immigrant Stanley Kryla, Stanley’s Famous Hamburgers aimed to serve all-meat burgers that were affordable during the Great Depression. The recipe hasn't changed much since the early days – the burgers are still made from top-quality ground beef and topped with grilled onions and pickles. The price – $2.99 – has remained consistently low as well, so it's little surprise Stanley's is a local favorite.
With casual dive-bar vibes and excellent service, Big Gun Burger's consistently impresses its customers. Diners come here for the highly recommended Classic – a buttery, soft bun with a thick, juicy beef patty, American cheese, onion, pickles, and the special Big Gun sauce.
According to customers, The Classic from the small-town burger joint Black Hills Burger & Bun Co. is perfect. In a simple but effective burger, it combines a freshly ground six-ounce beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, and house-made pickles, on a fresh-baked bun. There's cheese to add, if you like, from American to Cheddar, and you can swap the classic ground beef patty for buffalo. Just save some room for the highly rated sides too.
Dyer’s has been serving its classic burgers since 1912 and the joint's success lies in the 'secret' cooking process that hinges on the frying grease that's never been changed. The grease is occasionally topped up to keep the supply going, but at least a few drops in the mix have been in there for over a century. The business takes the grease so seriously that armed police escorts took charge of it when the restaurant changed locations. The single is usually served with cheese, but you could opt-out to taste the patty just on its own.
An old-school joint, Tookie's and its burgers are much-loved by the customers. A veteran on the menu that's remained largely unchanged since 1975, Tookie's Burger has nothing more but a house-made beef patty dressed with mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion – perfect for when you're searching for simplicity.
A favorite among customers, the hamburger at Lucky 13 in Salt Lake City is praised for how juicy and full of flavor it is. Like a true classic, it's served with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Consistently voted among Utah's best burger places, period, Lucky 13 is famous for using fresh, local ingredients, and smoking its bacon in-house.
The must-order at Vermont's Worthy Burger is its namesake, which features a six-ounce beef patty, Cheddar, secret sauce, lettuce, and red onion. It gets only good reviews from diners, and comes served with a side of fries. There are two Worthy Burger outlets: one in South Royalton and one in Woodstock.
Look no further than Beauvine Burger Concept in Richmond when you're after a burger that celebrates the classic flavors. The much-loved Beauvine features American cheese, pickles, red onion, tomato, lettuce, and the special Beau sauce, all hugged by a brioche bun. If you're looking for an upgrade beyond the classics, you can swap the traditional beef patty for turkey, soya, or plant protein.
Taking it one step further with the addition of peppered, brown sugar bacon, it might be more than just a beef patty in a bun, but it would be a shame not to include Von's Seattle Classic, as it's consistently praised for how thick and juicy the meat is. The burger patty is made of prime marbled beef and toppings include lettuce, red onion, tomato, Cheddar, and Jim's Drive-In sauce.
With tons of tasty options on the menu, you might be tempted by some of Oscar's more elaborate creations, but stick to the classics and you'll be rewarded with a burger that everyone loves. The simple yet effective combination of Angus chuck patty topped with tomato, lettuce, red onion, and dill pickle slices is juicy and full of flavor. What's more, it's finished with the ultimate trio of condiments – mayo, mustard, and ketchup.
With a relaxed atmosphere and friendly service, Sobelman's Pub & Grill is a firm Milwaukee favorite for burgers and sandwiches. Although the joint's menu is quite extensive, the basic hamburger is just as good as any more creative creation. The juicy, traditional hamburger is deliciously crispy on the outside, and is served in a crusty white roll. There are options to add cheese or double up on the patties, too.
A small Texas burger restaurant with a handful of restaurants in a few states, Liberty Burger is well worth a visit for its flagship offering, The Liberty Burger. The traditional burger is served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, and you can add cheese and bacon to upgrade. In true Wyoming style, customers also suggest swapping the beef patty for a bison. Diners praise the burger for being juicy with tons of flavor, without being too heavy or greasy.
Now discover America's fast food joints where the recipes never change