Atlanta's Best Burgers
Tasty Twists on the Culinary Classic
By Donna Neale
Ho-hum hamburgers? Not in this town! Burger joints around here
feature everything from mouthwatering classics to gourmet stacks so extreme you need a team to finish them. The best part? You can enjoy them in a variety of atmospheres that take fun and food to a whole new level. Add some flavor to your winter months by taking a tour of some of the best hamburger houses Atlanta has to offer.FLIP Burger Boutique
The bright décor and ambient music set a sophisticated tone at FLIP Burger Boutique, a restaurant designed to turn your ‘burger joint’ expectations upside down. You’ll find burgers seasoned with intriguing condiments like pomegranate ketchup, red wine jam, and bourbon peach BBQ sauce. For a twist, try the Bison, layered with caramelized onions, bacon, a fried egg, and FLIP sauce, or the Shrimp, featuring a blackened shrimp patty, tempura fried lemon, and cajunaise. Vegetarians will love the Fauxlafel, a chickpea patty with arugula, cucumber, pickled beets, red onion, and tzatziki yogurt spread. Another FLIP specialty: decadent milkshakes topped with liquid nitrogen that are so rich…well, they’ll make you flip! flipburgerboutique.com
The Vortex
If you’re looking for a heaping helping of irreverent attitude served up with your burger, The Vortex is the place. The funky décor, cheeky menu and insane ingredient combinations all cater to the adventurous eater aged 21 and older. Their legendary line of Coronary Bypass burgers is not for the faint of heart—literally. Two griddled patty melts hold together the Triple Bypass, with 32 ounces of sirloin beef, 18 slices of American cheese, three fried eggs, 18 strips of bacon, grilled onions, diner relish and mayo. Other signature offerings include the Rebel Outlaw, with barbecued pulled pork and teriyaki outlaw sauce, and the Fat Elvis, slathered with, yes, peanut butter. Grab a cold one or a creative cocktail from the bar for some extra pizzazz. thevortexatl.com
Barleygarden Kitchen and Craft Beer
Which came first, the burger or the brew? In the case of Barleygarden Kitchen and Craft Beer, it was the 60-plus tasty taps from Hop City Craft Beer and Wine that drew the spotlight, until the kitchen’s inventive burgers became the perfect pairing. Try the Original Big Braut, made from two four-ounce pork bratwursts shaped like burgers, and request it piled high with caramelized onion and melty Swiss cheese. For vegetarians, there’s the Garden Veggie patty, a special blend of beets, beans, and brown rice, jazzed up with roasted mushrooms and Gruyere cheese. The open-air rooftop bar, pet-friendly patio, and convenient to-go window ensure that every appetite can find a pleasing atmosphere. barleygardenkitchen.com
Stockyard Burgers and Bones
Quirky monikers and distinctive sauces add plenty of personality to the gourmet offerings from Stockyard Burgers and Bones. Traditional Southern comfort food is taken to a luscious level in their Dirty South burger, with fresh Angus beef piled with perfect portions of smoked gouda mac and cheese, bacon, and apple butter BBQ sauce. The Kitchen Sink goes a step further by adding chili and a bourbon and smoked tomato aioli. The Del Mar burger is an Asian-style option, featuring sushi-grade tuna topped with soy glaze, sesame seeds, pickled carrots and radishes, and a zing of wasabi mayo. Wash it all down with a drink from their selection of over 40 whiskeys and bourbons in the bar. stockyardburger.com
Farm Burger
Founded by a rancher and a restauranteur, Farm Burger set out to reinvent the burger experience, proving that true “farm-to-table” food doesn’t have to be costly, cumbersome, or boring. Culling seasonal ingredients from their own farm as well as other local growers, Farm Burger is all about bringing you the freshest tastes possible in a rustic-but-modern setting. Build your own from a harvest of free and premium toppings, or choose a seasonal signature burger from the blackboard. Chicken, pork, and veggie burgers are also featured. Round out your meal with an order of pimento cheese fries and sweet potato hush puppies with apple butter for the full Southern experience. farmburger.com
More ‘Way Worth It’ Burgers
Largely credited with kicking off Atlanta’s burger craze, Holeman and Finch Public House’s menu offers only one burger: a deceptively simple cheesy double stack that is so good it’s a limited edition. Only 24 of them are made each day, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. holeman-finch.com
A thick slice of crisp pastrami and some bread-and-butter pickles add a twist of Jewish flair to The General Muir’s take on the bacon burger at this popular Atlanta deli. thegeneralmuir.com
The gloriously messy Ghetto Burger from Ann’s Snack Bar was once named the best burger in America by The Wall Street Journal and is still an Atlanta institution 30 years after its creation. places.singleplatform.com
Cypress Street Pint and Plate is unmistakably ‘pub’ in its atmosphere and menu, and undeniably famous for serving a half-pound cheeseburger between two glazed doughnuts. cypressbar.com
The Meatstick from The One Eared Stag includes two patties made from the addictive combination of ground beef and ground bacon. You’ll have to ask for this Atlanta legend by name; it doesn’t always appear on the menu. oneearedstagatl.com
In addition to their regular family-friendly menu, YEAH! Burger boasts delights for gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and paleo palates. yeahburger.com
The magnificent melt of Bocado’s Burger Stack cheeseburger is so popular in Atlanta that it earned its own spinoff location. bocadoatlanta.com
Lucky’s Burger and Brew serves up an award-winning Georgia Dawg Pounder (topped with a fried pimento cheese ball and spicy red pepper jelly), while their pet-friendly patio makes dining a full family experience. luckysburgerandbrew.com
Locals and visitors alike lose their minds over Grindhouse Killer Burgers and their eight wild “style” combinations, each one more intriguing than the last. grindhouseburger.com
Located in the basement of the beautifully restored Victor H. Kriegshaber House, Wrecking Bar Brewpub pairs an extensive craft beer menu with their unique spin on the classic American burger. wreckingbarbrewpub.com .
