--- title: These Are the Best Burgers in America description: The burger, America's quintessential comfort food, can now be enjoyed in an impossibly endless number of ways. There are round-the-clock burgers at 24-hour-roadside joints and... canonical: https://time.com/3994458/best-burgers-america/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-12T17:59:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:42:26.323Z og:title: These Are the Best Burgers in America og:description: The burger, America's quintessential comfort food, can now be enjoyed in an impossibly endless number of ways. 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It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters. by [Lawrence Marcus, Ratha Tep / Food & Wine](https://time.com/author/food-wine-2/) ## Lawrence Marcus, Ratha Tep / Food & Wine Aug 12, 2015 5:59 PM UTC by [Lawrence Marcus, Ratha Tep / Food & Wine](https://time.com/author/food-wine-2/) ## Lawrence Marcus, Ratha Tep / Food & Wine Aug 12, 2015 5:59 PM UTC The burger, America’s quintessential comfort food, can now be enjoyed in an impossibly endless number of ways. There are round-the-clock burgers at 24-hour-roadside joints and ephemeral late-night burgers sold out in mere minutes; burgers grilled in hundred-year-old cast-iron broilers and burgers steamed in state-of-the-art ovens; burgers crafted from [Kobe beef](http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/best-of-beef) imported from Japan and burgers made with Black Angus beef from just down the road; burgers innocuously topped with melted American cheese and burgers piled high with crumbly, statement-making Roquefort cheese. It’s clearly a great time to love the [burger](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/10-favorite-burger-recipes). ### In-N-Out Burger (California)  Jess Lander **Signature Burger:** Cheeseburger. Even superstar chef [Thomas Keller](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/thomas-keller) is a fan of the [West Coast chain](http://in-n-out.com), —and with good reason. The cooked-to-order burgers are made from Harris Ranch beef and served with hand-cut fries. For a messier, more indulgent experience, order your burger “Animal Style” for extra sauce and chopped grilled onions. ### Minetta Tavern (New York City)  Sylvia Paret **Signature Burger:** Black Label Burger (topped with with caramelized onions). [Minetta Tavern](http://minettatavernny.com)‘s [excellent burgers](http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/minetta-burger-cocktails-2010) use a beef blend—dry-aged rib eye, skirt steak, brisket and short rib—from famed purveyor Pat La Frieda, and buns from Balthazar Bakery. ### Holeman & Finch (Atlanta, GA)  Jeff Moore Star chef [Linton Hopkins](http://www.foodandwine.com/best%5Fnew%5Fchefs/linton-hopkins) announces “burger time” at —10 p.m.—with the ringing of two bull horns; that’s when two dozen grass-fed beef burgers are up for grabs and consistently [sold out](http://holeman-finch.com) within minutes. The burgers are also available on the Sunday [brunch](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/brunch) menu. ### Ray’s Hell Burger (Arlington, VA)  Robyn Lee **Signature Burger:** Basic Beef Burger (served in a brioche bun). There’s no sign, yet dedicated fans, —a certain president included,— come [here](http://www.rayshellburger.com/) for the freshly ground burgers with and complimentary toppings like grilled onions and [mushrooms](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/mushrooms) sautéed in sherry and Cognac. ### Craigie on Main (Boston, MA)  Craigie on Main Star chef [Tony Maws](http://www.foodandwine.com/best%5Fnew%5Fchefs/tony-maws) adds bone marrow and dehydrated miso to [his Bar Burger](http://craigieonmain.com), and cooks it in a low heat CVap oven, followed by a quick char on the plancha. ### Zuni Café (San Francisco, CA)  Bill Holmes **Signature Burger:** House-ground hamburger (served in a grilled rosemary focaccia). Instead of traditional [cucumber pickles](http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/dill-pickles), [legendary chef-owner](http://zunicafe.com) Judy Rodgers accents her burgers with thin-cut zucchini strips pickled in apple cider vinegar, mustard seeds and turmeric. ### Louis’ Lunch (New Haven, CT)  Michael Franzman **Signature Burger:** The Original Burger (prepared with a combination of chuck and sirloin beef). Many restaurants claim to be the birthplace of the [hamburger](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/10-favorite-burger-recipes). [Louis’ Lunch](http://louislunch.com), in New Haven, Connecticut, since 1900, is a leading contender. The meaty hand-shaped patties are grilled on antique cast-iron broilers over an open flame. ### Dyer’s Burgers (Memphis, TN)  Tracy O'Connor **Signature Burger:** Dyer’s Cheeseburger. The legendary patties [here](http://dyersonbeale.com) are pounded thin before they’re cooked in a [cast-iron skillet](http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/cast-iron-pans) filled with grease for a deliciously crisp exterior. ### Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink (Miami, FL)  Michael's Genuine Food & Drink **Signature Burger:** Black Angus Burger (served in a brioche bun). An [optional topping](http://michaelsgenuine.com) for star chef [Michael Schwartz](http://www.foodandwine.com/chefs/michael-schwartz)‘s Harris Ranch Black Angus beef burger: house-smoked bacon. ### Perini Ranch Steakhouse (Buffalo Gap, TX)  Perini Ranch Steakhouse **Signature Burger:** Ranch Burger (topped with mushrooms, onions, green chiles and choice of cheddar or provolone cheese). Self-taught cowboy cook Tom Perini masters the art of open-flame cooking using mesquite coals at his [hay barn turned steakhouse](http://periniranch.com), smack in the middle of the state. [_Read the full list here._](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-burgers-in-the-us/14?xid=PS%5Ftime)_This_ [_article_](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-burgers-in-the-us?xid=PS%5Ftime) _originally appeared on_ [_Food & Wine_](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-pizza-places-in-the-us/11?xid=PS%5Ftime)_._ _More from Food & Wine:_ * [Best Fried Chicken in the U.S.](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-fried-chicken-in-the-us?xid=PS%5Ftime) * [Best Southern Food in the U.S.](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-southern-food-in-the-us?xid=PS%5Ftime) * [Best Sandwich Shops](http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-sandwich-shops?xid=PS%5Ftime) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3994458/best-burgers-america/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3994458/best-burgers-america/"},"headline":"These Are the Best Burgers in America","datePublished":"2015-08-12T17:59:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:42:26.323Z","description":"The burger, America's quintessential comfort food, can now be enjoyed in an impossibly endless number of ways. 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