Somebody had to do it. Somebody had to fall on the sword of figuring out which burgers qualify as New York City‘s best, which ones travelers should go out of their way for, if not plan an entire trip around. If that latter idea sounds beyond the pale, know that I actually encountered and in fact shared a table with such a person at 4 Charles Prime Rib whilst scouting for this very list. Burgers are serious business to many, and New York City delivers. My colleagues and I set out to find the best of them.
For us, there are two categories of burgers these days: those with a classic, thick patty, and those that have been smashed on the griddle. Both scratch entirely different itches, and both are well represented here. But before we begin, let’s acknowledge one thing: the point of a burger, in large part, is that it will be good no matter what. Beef, cheese, bread. It’s reliable. It can be eaten in a steakhouse, a diner, or out of a bag on the street. But it’s also true that some take the form to another level, and those are the burgers we are interested in here. Below, the best burgers NYC has to offer.
Read our complete New York City travel guide here, which includes:
This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Patrick Dolande/Gotham Burger Social Club
Gotham Burger Social Club
What started for Mike Puma as a hobby of reviewing burgers around the city and making them himself at dozens of popups throughout the city with hours-long waits has beautifully blossomed into a brick-and-mortar one-stop-shop. Gotham Burger Social Club (GBSC) has a small-town-diner feel that blends seamlessly into the hustle and bustle of NYC, exemplified by its always-busy atmosphere. It’s a good sign whenever you see a chef running the show in the front-of-house, and that’s exactly where you’ll find Mike Puma. There he is, ensuring that every burger (beef or Impossible) with grilled onions, American cheese, and housemade pickles is smashed to perfection, and that each order of “frickles” (fried pickles) comes with tasty homemade sauces. Don’t miss out on their vanilla or chocolate egg creams to maximize that nostalgic feel, and make sure to drink yours while sitting at the counter looking out on an iconic New York City corner, pretending you’re in a rom-com. —Emily Adler, associate social media manager