The 17 Best Burgers in Boston Right Now

Traditional smash burgers, chef-crafted patties with unique toppings, and everything in between.

In the sandwich department, Boston may be more famous for Fenway Franks, roast beef sandwiches, and lobster rolls. But with classic flame-broiled patties and unique creations piled high with toppings featured on menus around town, there are plenty of quality places to grab a top-notch burger in and around Boston. To fill you in on where to grab your favorite comfort food (vegetarian options included), we’ve taken the liberty of rounding up the city’s absolute best burger joints—and from quality cheeseburgers at the city’s top restaurants to fast food staples, there’s something for everyone.

Miznon

Seaport
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This Tel Aviv-born street food spot has locations across the globe—and its latest US outpost opened in Boston earlier this year. Alongside the menu of pitas, whole roasted cauliflower, and other Mediterranean favorites, Miznon offers a pita version of a cheeseburger that’s a fan favorite. The Folded Cheese Burger is a pita filled with grass-fed beef that was crisped on the grill, cheddar, garlic aioli, sour cream, tomato, and pickles. While not a traditional burger like others on this list, it’s a must-try.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

PlantPub

Kendall Square
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Chef Mary Dumont’s 100% plant-based restaurant is reimagining pub food sans animal products—and PlantPub is proving that’s a delicious reality with three different burgers on the menu. First, choose from an Impossible patty or the shop’s house-blend veggie burger, then pick toppings that range from classics you’d expect to find at a backyard barbecue to kimchi aioli, guacamole, and spicy sesame slaw. Beyond the burgers, you’ll find other fast food staples like sweet potato and regular fries, and guests even have the option to order the fries fully loaded with housemade cashew paprika queso and vegan chili.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Alden & Harlow

Harvard Square
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This list would not be complete without Alden & Harlow’s (not so) Secret Burger. After years of accolades, it's finally made it on the official menu. The eight-ounce Creekstone brisket burger, doused with Thousand Island-esque sauce, lettuce, and tomato, and plopped on a housemade roll, is brought to you by chef Michael Scelfo, who is known for whipping up bold dishes laced with the freshest ingredients in town.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Available for Reservations

Aquitaine

South End
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This award-winning Parisian-inspired bistro brought to you by owner and executive Chef Seth Woods might seem anything but casual, but Aquitaine’s Truffle Burger does not disappoint. A gob of dry-aged beef arrives decked out with sharp cheddar, sweet onions, and truffle sauce atop a toasted potato bun, complemented by a heap of golden pommes frites.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Available for Reservations

The Blue Ox

Lynn
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The Blue Ox, brought to you by chef Anthony Caturano (also owner of Prezza), offers the beefy no brainer Sin Burger, which was also formerly crowned Boston Magazine’s “Battle of the Burger” winner. Layered with Applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, truffle aioli, and Swiss cheese, it’s clear that this hamburger lives up to the monumental hype.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Available for Reservations

224 Boston

Savin Hill
$$$$

Specializing in comfort food, 224 Boston in Dorchester is a neighborhood charmer complete with garden seating. You have everything from a Steak Sandwich to Chicken Milanese but the real showstopper is the 224 Burger featuring caramelized onion aioli, yellow cheddar, and crispy bacon on a sesame bun with hand-cut fries. The Veggie Burger isn’t half bad either, decked out with lettuce, tomato, spicy but sweet togarashi aioli, and pickles sandwiched between a sesame bun.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Available for Reservations

Boston Burger Company

Multiple locations
$$$$

If completely over the top is what you want, that’s exactly what you’ll get at Boston Burger Company. With options like the WTF Burger, featuring layers of pulled pork, mac ‘n cheese, crispy onion rings, pickles, and tangy BBQ sauce, or the famous Mac Attack, loaded with a homemade four-cheese mac ‘n cheese and bacon, it’s impossible to go wrong (or leave hungry) here. And if there’s room, add a signature Freak Frappe to your meal for one of the most extravagant milkshakes in Boston.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

The Butcher Shop

South End
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A sophisticated tribute to old-world European boucheries, the Butcher Shop is brought to you by famed local restaurateur Barbara Lynch of B&G Oysters, Drink, Sportello, and more. It’s worth noting that the menu might cost you a pretty penny, but sinking your teeth into the TBS burger, spread with a special aioli sauce, is simply priceless.

Available for Reservations

Cusser’s

Multiple locations
$$$$

Ordering a roast beef from Cusser’s is totally acceptable—it’s in the name afterall. But since we’re talking burgers here, this one isn’t worth skipping out on. The classic Burger & Fries order comes with a patty that’s layered with a slice of cheddar, bread and butter pickles, lettuce, and the restaurant’s famous Comeback sauce, and surrounded by a side of perfectly crisp fries.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

jm Curley

Downtown Crossing
$$$$

This no-nonsense pub is an essential stop-off if you’re spending the day exploring the city. The Curley Burger, a brisket, chuck, and short-rib blend stacked with cheese, grilled onions, housemade pickles, and Russian dressing, will be calling your name after a long day on your feet. There’s also the Veggie Burger made from quinoa and black beans topped with cheddar, tomato, lettuce, caramelized onion, and jamama sauce—a mix of sour cream and chive.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Available for Reservations

Lower Mills Tavern

Lower Mills
$$$$

Lower Mills Tavern offers everything but the kitchen sink and then some. But don’t let the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich distract you—if you’re reading this, you’re looking for the best burgers in town, and the LMT Burger is the move. Not convinced? The freshly ground patty comes topped with melty cheese, bacon, housemade signature sauce, lettuce, tomato, and onion, all sandwiched between a buttery seeded brioche bun. For a step away from the classic, order the Black Bean Burger served on a soft potato roll with melted vegan cheddar, romaine, tomato, and chipotle ranch sauce.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Metropolis

South End
$$$$

This may be a burger list, but we have to admit that the shoestring fries at Metropolis almost steal the show—emphasis on “almost,” because they also whip up a divine burger. For more than 25 years, the quaint South End restaurant has been a neighborhood delight, serving casual plates with a fine dining twist. Now back to The Burger, dry-aged beef gets the Applewood-smoked bacon, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and housemade special sauce treatment, leaving you with a truly standout sandwich.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Available for Reservations

This famous hangout tucked away in Harvard Square has been around since 1960, offering a changing menu with items named after personalities like Joe Bartley (the founder), Tony Soprano, Megan Thee Stallion, and more. However, you can never go wrong with their Triple “D”—a double cheeseburger topped with barbecue sauce, grilled onions, and bacon crafted by none other than Food Network legend, Guy Fieri.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

The Paramount

Multiple locations
$$$$

This cozy, long-standing restaurant might be known as one of the best breakfast places around Boston, but it's the dinner menu that deserves all the glory—especially the burger options. Take your pick from the Paramount Burger, a fist-sized hunk of beef topped with Applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, and finished with crispy onion rings. There’s also the Housemade Black Beans & Quinoa Burger or Turkey Burger, both served on a sweet brioche roll.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Shake Shack

Multiple locations
$$$$

What started as a hot dog cart in New York has turned into one of the most beloved modern fast food chains on the East Coast, serving up their famous ShakeBurger, a 100% Angus beef blend cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce. There are multiple locations across Massachusetts but if you’re looking for nearby city spots, you can find a Shake Shack on Newbury Street, Downtown Crossing, Seaport, Assembly Row, and Harvard Square.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Tasty Burger

Multiple locations
$$$$

If you’re a local, you’re likely all too familiar with rolling up to Tasty Burger after a long night out, pining for a hearty late-night snack. But what might give you a newfound appreciation for this modern fast food chain is that Tasty Burger is on a mission to serve the most fresh, flavorful, flat patty burger “made from the finest American beef.” Take the standard Big Tasty—it’s a must for a first timer and always up to par for the regular, smothered in their signature Tasty sauce. And while we’re talking mainly beef burgers here, the Chicky Chicky Parm Parm is a pretty popular pick worth trying.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Wahlburgers

Multiple locations
$$$$

The Wahlburg family’s first restaurant in Hingham now has locations across the country and even worldwide. Brought to you by chef Paul Wahlberg, the menu serves up favorites like The Our Burger layered with “government cheese,” lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and Paul’s signature Wahl Sauce. The BBQ Bacon features white cheddar, bacon, fresh jalapeños, BBQ sauce, and avocado spread and the Impossible Burger has a plant-based patty with smoked cheddar, lettuce, caramelized onions, housemade chili spiced tomatoes and Paul’s signature Wahl Sauce (and it just so happens to be Marky Mark’s burger of choice).

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Jillian Hammell is a contributor for Thrillist. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.