If one were to conduct a poll asking a populace to vote for their city’s one conclusive best burger, NYC residents would likely come up with the closest race out of any of them. That’s because the Big Apple is so vast in its geography and its tastes, so inventive on the form, and so welcoming of smash burgers and traditional patties alike that the myriad potential responses could make a bar graph of results look like the city skyline. Also, people would name their respective bodegas. And since there is no “best burger NYC” straight-up, we’ve looked to our editors to gather some of their favorite burgers from across the city. These picks fire on all cylinders: we’ve got the quick-and-dirty casual smashes, and the thick and bloody steakhouse numbers from the best restaurants in the city.
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
7th Street Burger
I consider myself a burger connoisseur so whenever I have a craving, I don’t want just any burger—but I also don’t want to wait in a line wrapped around the block for the “best” in the city. So when 7th Street Burger opened a mere block away from my favorite dive in the Upper East Side—one of several locations in the city—I was intrigued. Could this be my new go-to? The replacement for pizzas ordered to the bar? The place I stop by on my walk home from a friend’s birthday party at midnight? The answer to all of the above is a resounding yes. Their menu is simple—either a plain smash burger or one with cheese. Single or double. Beef or impossible meat. One size of fries. Few toppings, great balance of flavor. Every time that greasy unbranded brown paper bag is in my hands, I know I’m in for a treat. —Taylor Eisenhauer, editorial operations manager
Emily
Emily
The burger at Emily, with its secret sauce and caramelized onion, is hands down the best in New York City in my book. It’s the kind of burger my friend Fernanda described as “filthy”—so decadent, so indulgent, that describing it in all of its thick, juicy, greasy glory feels NSFW. The cheese oozes out the sides of the pretzel bun, the juices drip down your wrist, the beef is dry-aged Pat LeFrieda. It also costs nearly $31. For a burger! It’s delightfully vulgar. This is the burger for hedonists (particularly those who have time to take a nap right after). People say they love the pizza here, but I can’t imagine focusing on anything but this burger. —Megan Spurrell, associate director, articles
Red Hook Tavern
Red Hook Tavern is not very near to a subway. Most will have to trek 20 minutes or so from a Brooklyn F or G to get here. But, boy, is the burger (which is famous city-wide despite the remote location) worth it. Just about everyone in this warm and humble eating and drinking house will order the burger—you can see into the kitchen from the bar, where a burger gets built on plate after plate in a row. And it’s a worthy burger, even at $30, for a few reasons. If you listen to your waiter, you’ll have it medium rare and therefore juicy as can be. The burger will drip all over your fries, which are included. There’s a lot of American cheese melted on top, and a demure pile of raw onion. The patty is crusted in pepper. It’s just good. And don’t get me started on how nicely it pairs with their Vesper martini. —Charlie Hobbs, associate editor
JG Melon
I’m sometimes skeptical of “The One Thing” to order at a given restaurant, but in the case of JG Melon, it holds up. Every time I’ve been to the (cash only) Upper East Side institution, I’ve ordered the cheeseburger, and I’ve not been disappointed. You can get it without cheese, or with bacon; either iteration comes with LTO and pickles. It’s no-frills, but in the age of the ever-present smashburger, the size is a nice return to burgers of yore. Is it annoying that the pillowy cottage fries are not included? Yes, but order a side anyway. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor