Le Cordon Bleu alum and former fancy-restaurant cook (Studio in Laguna Beach) quit nine years later to open a burger place... Inside a gas station. It’s grown since, but Peter's Gour made Burgers is just as tasty now as it was then, with a fan favorite that’s basically the triple threat: 6oz Angus beef patty topped with avocado, bacon and cheese, AKA the ABC Burger.
Colorado: Back Door Grill, Steamboat Springs
The Back Door Grill is unique from the first moment you walk in. Every inch of wall and ceiling is plastered with dollar bills, stapled up for show. Nobody—not even the owners—remembers how it began, but anyone’s welcome to stick a signed bill on a wall now; they even provide the pen and stapler. While you can’t miss the papered decor, we dare say you’ll stick around for the burgers, which are fresh-smashed and grilled to a perfect medium.
Connecticut: Organika Kitchen, Southport
As the name implies, Organika Kitchen serves delicious and organic fare in a chilled environment. Every single item on their menu is plant-based and contains no refined sugars or refined oils. It isn’t exactly the most obvious way to construct an excellent burger, but they’ve managed it with their Kalifornia Burger, which features quinoa, sweet potato, and black bean patty with spicy chipotle and guacamole.
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Delaware: Farmer & the Cow, Wilmington
“You can’t get much more classic than a burger, fries, and a milkshake,” said Farmer & the Cow co-founder Mike Day to Delaware Today this year. Day and co-founder Matt Collins didn’t cut any corners, however. The chefs freshly grind and form the patty, a well-rehearsed mixture of brisket, chuck and filet, in-house. The appropriately rustic establishment, dressed with chic, exposed brick, sets the stage for elevated food.
Florida: Burger Rob's, Titusville
When Burger Rob's first began as a food truck, crowds would routinely line up with over 100 people waiting for its signature smash burgers. Lines have not stopped forming now that they have a permanent home in Titusville, and you will see why as soon as you taste a burger. The smash burgers are classic doubles with any of your preferred toppings like cheese, bacon, and chili, and a couple more creative specialty burgers are available. The Hawaii 5-Ohh, which tops a burger with pepper Jack cheese, griddled pineapple, scallions, red bell peppers, and sriracha mayo, is a popular selection.
Florida: Brooks Burgers, Naples
The name “Brooks Burgers” suggests a family atmosphere for a reason. Todd Brooks created the chain back in 2010, and it now has three Naples branches that have kept that friendly feel. However, part of what has enabled the burger joint to generate a fan following comes from its well-cooked food. For instance, Brooks Burgers is known for stacking its juicy patties between two glazed donuts, or one signature burger has cheese, bacon, and a fried egg all within The Todd’s Way burger.
Georgia: Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Atlanta
At number 1 on Yelp’s 2023 Top 100 Burger Spots in America: Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q. Fox Bros (of the brothers Jonathon and Justin, you see) were Fort Worth boys whose passion for Texas-style Q transferred down to the lucky residents of the Peach State. Since opening their doors in 2007, Fox Bros has been serving up smiles in the form of barbecued goods, and among those offerings is an incredible burger, featuring chopped Angus brisket, bacon and cheese.
Hawaii: Shay’s Smashburgers, Aiea
Back in 2023, when Shay's Smashburgers won the title of best food truck in Hawaii, the owner said he was "committed to giving it my all and serving the tastiest and quality burgers in Oahu." Judging by the crowds at the truck and the packed and precise menu, it looks like he's succeeded. Customers should be able to find decent parking close to the truck, and the grill smashes the patties onto to get that nice char.
Idaho: Boise Fry Company, Boise
Boise Fry Company is essentially an inverse burger shop; they elevate French fries to a culinary high art, while still managing to make you feel like the burger that accompanied your order still got the royal treatment. They offer up local, grass-fed, natural bison and black bean vegan options, all formed to the restaurant's secret recipe and all tasty.
Indiana: Flamme Burger, Keystone
Flamme Burger won IndyStar's 2024 Best Burger Battle overwhelmingly, blowing out the runner-up by nearly 7,000 votes. That is a clear sign of the passion for the spot and owner Henri Najem. Najem experimented with 52 blends of patty before perfecting his combo of brisket, ground chuck, and short rib and actually created a patented grill for cooking it on! Big, messy, and tasty, is what it’s all about.
Conclusion
Great burgers rarely come from big chains anymore. Whether it’s a chef cooking out of a gas station, a place serving burgers on glazed donuts, or a food truck with a line down the block, these local joints prove that doing things by hand makes all the difference. If you're passing through any of these states, skip the fast-food drive-thru and check one out.
FAQ
What makes these burger places worth visiting?
They don't use frozen, mass-produced ingredients. Most of these places grind their own custom meat blends, run out of unusual spots like gas stations, or serve things you won't find anywhere else, like donut buns or house-made veggie patties.
Are there any vegetarian or vegan options listed?
Yes. Organika Kitchen in Connecticut is completely plant-based and makes a patty out of sweet potato, quinoa, and black beans. Boise Fry Company in Idaho also makes a solid black bean vegan burger.
What’s the deal with smash burgers?
Instead of a thick patty, the cook presses a beef ball flat onto a screaming hot grill with a spatula. It cooks fast and forms crispy, charred edges that trap the juice. It's simple, quick, and usually way more flavorful than a regular thick burger.
Cheese Danish
