10 Of The Best Burgers In NYC, From Cheapest To Most Expensive
Whether it's served with crispy fries or onion rings and topped with just cheese or all the toppings, burgers are undeniably a delicious American comfort food.
With so many options around the city it can be hard to decipher the good from the bad, or know if it’s worth the price tag (at some pricier restaurants). However, if you’re craving a tasty hamburger we’ve made the search easier by breaking down some of the city’s best burger joints…or you can check out this NYC Burger Week that’s bringing together deals from 11 delicious NYC burger joints. We’ve also ranked them by price, ranging from as cheap as $6 to as expensive as $120! It’s all about the toppings and the aged meat…but personally, we’ll stick to the comfort and cost of the first half of this list most days.
1. Shake Shack – ShackBurger, $6.69, Multiple Locations
It may be a chain, but for about $7 it’s a staple burger for any New Yorker. A cheesy patty in a potato roll with some shack sauce…yum! You can even Get a DIY ShackBurger kit delivered right to your apartment, try making your own, or splurge on double patties for $9.09.
Where: Multiple Locations
When: Find out here
2. Harlem Shake – Hot Mess, $9, Harlem
The Hot Mess from Harlem Shake is changing the game of smash burgers. This patty has the crispiest edges ever that pair flawlessly with its toppings of pickled cherry pepper and bacon relish, American cheese, and smoky chipotle mayo. It’s leaps above fast food chains while still being totally affordable.
Where: 100 W 124th St.
When: Sunday-Thursday 11a.m. – 10:45p.m., Friday-Saturday 11a.m. – 1:45a.m.
3. Black Tap Singles & Doubles – The Greg Norman, $12, SoHo
Known for their “CrazyShakes,” don’t overlook the burger selection at this New York joint. The Greg Norman is the 3x people’s choice award winner at NYC’s “Burger Bash,” and it’s made with wagyu beef, blue cheese, house buttermilk-dill, and arugula. And, as true to the restaurant’s name, you can order it as a single or a double for an extra $3.
Where: 529 Broome St.
When: Wednesday-Thursday 4p.m. – 10p.m., Friday-Saturday 12p.m. – 10p.m., Sunday 12p.m. – 9p.m.
4. J.G. Melon – Cheeseburger, $13.50, UES
J.G. Melon serves one of NYC’s quintessential hamburgers. Simple and classic, it’s got American cheese, pickles, and raw onions. And even though it’s not fancy, it’s so popular that even Bobby Flay once said it was his favorite burger!
Where: 1291 3rd Ave.
When: Monday-Saturday 11:30a.m. – 3a.m., Sunday 11:30a.m. – 1a.m.
5. Whitmans – Juicy Lucy, $15, Multiple Locations
The Whitman’s Juicy Lucy burger is stuffed with delicious pimento cheese that oozes out when you bite into it (you may not want to cut this one in half if you’re not ready to deal with a cheesy mess on your plate). The juicy burger comes topped with caramelized onions, bibb lettuce, tomatoes, spicy pickles, and special sauce, all on sesame bun.
Where: East Village – 406 E. 9th St. / Hudson Yards – 331 10th Ave.
When: Monday-Tuesday 5p.m. – 9p.m., Wednesday-Thursday 5p.m. – 10p.m., Friday 2p.m. – 10p.m., Saturday 12p.m. – 10p.m., Sunday 12:00p.m. – 9p.m. / Monday 5p.m. – 9p.m., Tuesday 12p.m. – 9p.m., Wednesday-Saturday 12p.m. – 10p.m., Sunday 12p.m. – 9p.m.
6. Peter Luger – Luger-Burger, $19.95, Williamsburg
As a steakhouse it’s only fitting that they’d also have an amazing burger. The half pound Luger-Burger is made out of the same beef as their dry-aged steak, and we suggest adding cheese to kick up its tastiness even more. The steakhouse is even offering delivery service for the first time in its 133-year history!
Where: 178 Broadway
When: Monday-Friday 12p.m. – 8:30p.m., Saturday 12:30p.m. – 8:30p.m., Sunday 1p.m. – 9:30p.m.
7. P.J. Clarke’s – The Cadillac, $23, Multiple Locations
This is one of the city’s most famous cheeseburgers. Nat King Cole dubbed it “the Cadillac of burgers” in the 50’s. It’s thick and juicy and topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and double smoked country bacon.
Where: Midtown – 915 3rd Ave. / Lincoln Square – 44 W 63rd St. / On the Hudson 250 Vesey St.
When: Monday-Sunday 11:30a.m. – 10p.m. (all locations)
8. Emily – Emmy Burger, $31, Multiple Locations
LaFrieda dry-aged beef, EMMY sauce, caramelized onion, American cheese, & pickles on a pretzel bun – with curly fries… yeah, it’s as good as it sounds.
Where: West Village – 35 Downing St. / Clinton Hill – 919 Fulton St.
When: Sunday-Thursday 12p.m. – 10p.m., Friday-Saturday 12p.m. – 11p.m. / Monday-Thursday 5p.m. – 9p.m., Friday 5p.m. – 9:30p.m., Saturday 12p.m. – 3:30p.m. and 5p.m. – 9:30p.m., Sunday 12p.m. – 3:30p.m. and 5p.m. – 9p.m.
9. Minetta Tavern – Black Label Burger, $38, West Village
This is one of the most hyped burgers in the city. It consistently makes all the “best burger” lists, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s made with prime dry-aged beef cuts, topped with caramelized onions, and served on a fluffy brioche bun.
Where: 113 MacDougal St.
When: Monday-Wednesday 5p.m. – 12a.m., Thursday-Friday 12p.m. – 3:30p.m. and 5p.m. – 12a.m., Saturday-Sunday 11a.m. – 3:30p.m. and 5p.m. – 12a.m.
10. DB Bistro Moderne – Royale Double Truffle Burger, $120, Midtown (Temporarily Closed)
You can barely fit this burger in your mouth, and you can barely fit the price in your budget! The ground sirloin prime rib burger is stuffed with foie gras, short ribs, veggies, and black truffle. So much black truffle goes into this burger that you can only order it in the winter, so hopefully by the time winter comes back around the restaurant will reopen.
Where: 55 West 44th St.
When: Temporarily Closed
Hungry for more? Check out 10 Of The Best Steakhouses In New York City
Also published on Medium.