The Best Burgers of New York

New York City is arguably the best place in the world to indulge in the ever-popular hamburger. Restaurants here offer a world of creative choices: beef, turkey, tuna, bison, lamb, and veggie burgers on brioche, gluten-free and sprout buns with sauces and toppings including truffle ketchup, sweet chili relish, and guava barbecue.

BLACK TAP

Black Tap's Texan burger. Photo: Courtesy of Black Tap.

Black Tap’s three locations in New York City offer burgers with international flavors and ingredients, like pork chorizo, falafel, steak au poivre, pizza, and Wagyu beef. For dessert, if you’re feeling adventurous, try Black Tap’s Crazy Shakes—towering milkshakes topped with sweets like chocolate-covered pretzels, lollipops, and cotton candy.

Black Tap Burger Salad.

BURGER JOINT

Tucked away behind a curtain off the lobby of Le Parker Meridien Hotel in Midtown, Burger Joint has been one of New York City’s bestkept secrets for more than 15 years. Wine and beer are also on the menu at this tiny, casual spot, which is cash-only. You’ll also find a Burger Joint in Brooklyn’s Industry City.

BURGER & LOBSTER

If you like the idea of savoring beef and seafood in the same bite, this enormous restaurant decorated with lobster traps and tanks is the place for you. At Burger & Lobster’s two Man hattan locations, you can order beef burgers heaped with pieces of fresh lobster meat, and if your craving is especially carnivorous, you can also tuck into burgers topped with barbecued pork.

Burger & Lobster.

A.G. KITCHEN

The Latin-influenced fare served at A.G. Kitchen includes ten different types of burgers. Meat and potato lovers can tuck into the potato skins burger, a ribeye patty topped with peppery potato skins, cheddar cheese, bacon, and crema. The gaucho burger features a ribeye patty crowned with crispy onions and guava barbecue sauce.

A.G. Kitchen, Skins Burger

BARE BURGER

Bare Burger offers locations throughout New York City and a menu that’s loaded with deliciously organic and all-natural options. You can choose beef, turkey, bison, or meatless patties, sprout, gluten-free, and brioche buns, and sauces ranging from seven-spice Thai ketchup to buttermilk ranch. Milkshakes include the vegan Velvis, made with coconut ice cream, banana, peanut butter, chocolate sauce, and hemp milk.

SHAKE SHACK

Shake Shack has expanded globally, but it all started here in New York City where there are now almost 20 locations, including one at JFK International Airport. You’ll sometimes find long lines, but plenty says it’s worth the wait for the incredibly tasty burgers made with all-natural freshly ground 100-percent Angus beef. With outdoor seating in the park, the Madison Square Park Shake Shack is a great spot to enjoy burgers in the sun.

CORNER BISTRO

At this classic West Village bar, open since 1961, patrons praise the juicy eight-ounce burgers that can be ordered plain or topped with cheese, bacon, and/or chili. It’s a casual pub environment—burgers are served on paper plates with onion, lettuce, and tomato. Corner Bistro is also known for its cheap beer.

FIVE NAPKIN BURGER

With four locations in New York City, Five Napkin Burger features an extensive menu that includes a barbecue bacon ranch burger, lamb, ahi tuna, veggie burgers, and a burger salad. The Five Napkin Burger is ten ounces of all-natural beef with imported Gruyère, caramelized onions, and rosemary-garlic aioli.

JAX B-B-Q

At JAX B-B-Q, burgers are hand-pressed and made with a custom blend of grassfed Angus beef. The B-B-Q slab bacon burger also features hand-cut slab bacon, Vermont cheddar, and house barbecue sauce. Turkey, lamb, and vegetarian burgers are on the menu too, and you can top it all off with house-infused truffle ketchup.

KINGS OF KOBE

This tiny burger place in Hell’s Kitchen serves all-natural American Wagyu burgers and hot dogs, with an inventive selection of toppings. The Better Than Caesar burger is topped with burrata cheese, baby arugula, stone fruit relish, and balsamic glaze. The Queen Rules burger is loaded with prosciutto, pepper jack cheese, bibb lettuce, sweet chili relish, and jalapeno aioli.

Burger & Lobster

Don’t wander hungry around the city that never sleeps. Grab a tasty burger and really take a bite out of the Big Apple.

WOW air offers cheap flights to New York City from around Europe every day of the week, all year round.