Cheesy delights
With just three main components – a beef patty, a bun, and a melty cheese slice – cheeseburgers are pretty simple. Whether that's exactly how you like it, or you prefer your patties with different varieties of cheese and fancier brioche or potato buns, there's a perfect cheeseburger out there for everyone. Here we've hunted down America’s finest burger joints, from fancy bistros to historic mom-and-pop spots, to find the cheesiest, most flavorful creations in every US state.
Colorado: El Chilango, Park Burger, Denver
This joint has become a Mile High City staple, with four locations across town. And while you can't go far wrong with any burger on the menu, the long-standing El Chilango gets the most love from customers. A generous patty is layered up with Cheddar, kicking jalapeños, salad, and house-made guacamole. Fans say it's cooked to perfection and best paired with the truffle-Parmesan fries.
Florida: Burger Station Burger, The Burger Station, Hernando
Visitors to The Burger Station, a quirky, retro restaurant in a restored gas station, swear by its burgers. The joint never uses frozen beef and cooks each meal to order, so it always tastes hot and fresh. The menu is limited, but the Burger Station Burger with cheese, tomato, and lettuce is a no-brainer. Get a milkshake and crinkle-cut fries then enjoy your meal on the patio overlooking the lake.
Florida: double cheeseburger, North South Grill, Pembroke Pines
Yelp reviewers voted North South Grill as having Florida’s best cheeseburger in 2023, and if you’re in the mood for a wonderfully juicy and crispy-edged smashburger, this is the place to go. This hidden gem is tucked away in a shopping center but, inside, the vibe is warm and friendly, and fans rave about the sizzling burgers, which are smashed to perfection and available with plenty of colorful toppings. To really taste that beef, you can’t beat the hefty half-pound double cheeseburger, which comes with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and the signature North Sauce.
Georgia: The Tower Of Power, The Companion, Atlanta
This bacon cheeseburger from The Companion, a cool and cozy bar that gets rave reviews, has everyone talking. Called The Tower Of Power, it features two patties, lettuce, tomato, onion, tangy mayonnaise, American cheese, and bacon. People say it’s the best burger for miles.
Illinois: Bad Burger, Little Bad Wolf, Chicago
A rich and cheesy double-patty burger, the Bad Burger from trendy Little Bad Wolf is always a winner. It features two slices of American cheese, house-made pickles, and red onion mayo, though customers swear there must be a secret ingredient that makes it taste so good. You should also check out the tacos, mac ‘n’ cheese, and cocktails.
Illinois: double cheeseburger, Au Cheval, Chicago
Frequently topping lists of America’s greatest burgers, Au Cheval’s famed double cheeseburger has had a cult following for over a decade – and it’s still the talk of the town in Chicago. This upscale burger is utterly packed with flavor, from the intense, savory taste of the prime beef patty to the perfectly soft brioche bun and house-made Dijonnaise sauce. Many diners take it up a notch by adding thick-cut bacon and a runny egg, but it’s just as tasty without. Au Cheval also has a location in New York City, as well as a string of diners called Small Cheval.
Iowa: The Dominie, DutchFix, Pella
The Dominie burger at DutchFix, an ice cream shack that serves Dutch street food, is a masterpiece of a sandwich. A must-try for fans of Gouda (a hard Dutch cheese), it features two beef patties, bacon, melted Gouda curds, spiced beef, house-made pickles, and a toasted bun.
Kansas: Bourbon Apple Brie Burger, Dempsey's Burger Pub, Wichita
Dempseys Burger Pub serves up inventive gourmet burgers in an Irish pub setting. There are lots of delicious options to choose from, including chicken, salmon, and veggie patties, but customers particularly love the Bourbon Apple Brie Burger. A house-made wagyu beef patty is topped with bourbon-candied apples, brie cheese, local microgreens, bacon, and garlic aioli. The duck fat fries make a tasty accompaniment.
Minnesota: Parlour burger, Parlour Bar, Minneapolis
Stylish and buzzy cocktail bar Parlour only has one burger on the menu, but it's a good one. The patty in their famous Parlour burger is made from a blend of ground chuck, ribeye, and brisket. Instead of one thick slab of beef, you get two thin patties, which give the burger a deep, caramelized flavor and crisp edge. It's topped off with pickles and a hefty dose of American cheese.
Missouri: Ugly Cheeseburger, Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes, Springfield
For a sandwich called Ugly, this cheeseburger looks pretty appealing to us. It features two 4oz patties, sharp white Cheddar, butter lettuce, pickles, onion, and a house-made condiment called 'baaahd sauce.' It’s one of Black Sheep’s bestsellers, alongside its truffle and Parmesan fries. There are four locations in Springfield.
Nebraska: The Original, Cheeseburgers, Omaha
At this late-night burger joint, The Original, featuring a beef patty, American cheese, mustard, pickle, and onion in a toasted brioche bun, is the favorite. It’s cheesy, inexpensive, and always served quickly and piping hot. The place has a cool vibe with good music and welcoming waitstaff. There are several locations in Omaha for you to get your burger fix.
South Dakota: DBL Cheeseburger, Circle E Drive-In, Murdo
This rustic roadside eatery, with grass-fed burgers and hand-spun shakes, was named by Yelp as serving South Dakota’s best-rated cheeseburger in 2023. Circle E Drive-In keeps its menu simple – offering plain, cheese, or bacon burgers with either single or double beef patties – but regulars say the quality of every element is outstanding and the portions are very generous. To really taste the quality of the beef, we say grab a DBL Cheeseburger and order it ‘deluxe’ (with tomato, onion, and lettuce), though the signature Big Al (which comes topped with jalapeño cream cheese) is also great.
Texas: BBQ Burger, Tookie’s Burgers, Kemah
A huge state needs a huge burger as its favorite – and the BBQ Burger at old-school joint Tookie’s fits the bill. It features a beef patty, barbecue sauce, pickles, Cheddar, and a giant onion ring. The patty is marinated in barbecue sauce and onions to give it extra flavor.
Texas: burger-chan, burger-chan, Houston
Fans say the real draw of this gourmet mom-and-pop spot in the Houston Galleria – aside from the fantastic quality of the beef – is that the burgers are totally customizable, so you can choose from various types of bun, three cheeses, and an endless list of toppings and sauces. However, the simple burger-chan cheeseburger is hard to beat. It features two 2oz patties, Cheddar, sautéed onions, lettuce, tomato, and house-made Thousand Island, all on a squishy brioche bun. Burger-chan was the top-ranking burger joint in Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants List 2024, so you know it’s something special.
Texas: cheeseburger, Mr Juicy, San Antonio
This cheap and very cheerful joint is known for delivering three perfect things: thick milkshakes, perfectly crispy fries, and the juiciest burgers in San Antonio. Mr Juicy came 15th on Yelp’s 2024 list of the best cheeseburger joints in the USA, and fans can’t get enough of the old-school fast food served here. Reviewers praise the minimalist, no-fuss approach of the place, where the signature grass-fed cheeseburger is thick, succulent and smothered in American cheese. It comes with tomato and lettuce, but you can customize with extras like Hatch green chiles or sautéed onions.
Wisconsin: Juicy Lucy, 11:11 Burgers & Beignets, Fond Du Lac
An unconventional cheeseburger, the Juicy Lucy looks like a regular hamburger from the outside, but when you bite into the patty, a mix of molten Cheddar and American cheese comes oozing out. Plus, at local joint 11:11, orders are totally customizable, so you can add jalapeños, extra cheese (American, Cheddar, pepper Jack, and provolone), maple bacon, and salad, or swap your regular bun for a pretzel one.
With just three main components – a beef patty, a bun, and a melty cheese slice – cheeseburgers are pretty simple. Whether that's exactly how you like it, or you prefer your patties with different varieties of cheese and fancier brioche or potato buns, there's a perfect cheeseburger out there for everyone. Here we've hunted down America’s finest burger joints, from fancy bistros to historic mom-and-pop spots, to find the cheesiest, most flavorful creations in every US state.
Colorado: El Chilango, Park Burger, Denver
This joint has become a Mile High City staple, with four locations across town. And while you can't go far wrong with any burger on the menu, the long-standing El Chilango gets the most love from customers. A generous patty is layered up with Cheddar, kicking jalapeños, salad, and house-made guacamole. Fans say it's cooked to perfection and best paired with the truffle-Parmesan fries.
Florida: Burger Station Burger, The Burger Station, Hernando
Visitors to The Burger Station, a quirky, retro restaurant in a restored gas station, swear by its burgers. The joint never uses frozen beef and cooks each meal to order, so it always tastes hot and fresh. The menu is limited, but the Burger Station Burger with cheese, tomato, and lettuce is a no-brainer. Get a milkshake and crinkle-cut fries then enjoy your meal on the patio overlooking the lake.
Florida: double cheeseburger, North South Grill, Pembroke Pines
Yelp reviewers voted North South Grill as having Florida’s best cheeseburger in 2023, and if you’re in the mood for a wonderfully juicy and crispy-edged smashburger, this is the place to go. This hidden gem is tucked away in a shopping center but, inside, the vibe is warm and friendly, and fans rave about the sizzling burgers, which are smashed to perfection and available with plenty of colorful toppings. To really taste that beef, you can’t beat the hefty half-pound double cheeseburger, which comes with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and the signature North Sauce.
Georgia: The Tower Of Power, The Companion, Atlanta
This bacon cheeseburger from The Companion, a cool and cozy bar that gets rave reviews, has everyone talking. Called The Tower Of Power, it features two patties, lettuce, tomato, onion, tangy mayonnaise, American cheese, and bacon. People say it’s the best burger for miles.
Illinois: Bad Burger, Little Bad Wolf, Chicago
A rich and cheesy double-patty burger, the Bad Burger from trendy Little Bad Wolf is always a winner. It features two slices of American cheese, house-made pickles, and red onion mayo, though customers swear there must be a secret ingredient that makes it taste so good. You should also check out the tacos, mac ‘n’ cheese, and cocktails.
Illinois: double cheeseburger, Au Cheval, Chicago
Frequently topping lists of America’s greatest burgers, Au Cheval’s famed double cheeseburger has had a cult following for over a decade – and it’s still the talk of the town in Chicago. This upscale burger is utterly packed with flavor, from the intense, savory taste of the prime beef patty to the perfectly soft brioche bun and house-made Dijonnaise sauce. Many diners take it up a notch by adding thick-cut bacon and a runny egg, but it’s just as tasty without. Au Cheval also has a location in New York City, as well as a string of diners called Small Cheval.
Iowa: The Dominie, DutchFix, Pella
The Dominie burger at DutchFix, an ice cream shack that serves Dutch street food, is a masterpiece of a sandwich. A must-try for fans of Gouda (a hard Dutch cheese), it features two beef patties, bacon, melted Gouda curds, spiced beef, house-made pickles, and a toasted bun.
Kansas: Bourbon Apple Brie Burger, Dempsey's Burger Pub, Wichita
Dempseys Burger Pub serves up inventive gourmet burgers in an Irish pub setting. There are lots of delicious options to choose from, including chicken, salmon, and veggie patties, but customers particularly love the Bourbon Apple Brie Burger. A house-made wagyu beef patty is topped with bourbon-candied apples, brie cheese, local microgreens, bacon, and garlic aioli. The duck fat fries make a tasty accompaniment.
Minnesota: Parlour burger, Parlour Bar, Minneapolis
Stylish and buzzy cocktail bar Parlour only has one burger on the menu, but it's a good one. The patty in their famous Parlour burger is made from a blend of ground chuck, ribeye, and brisket. Instead of one thick slab of beef, you get two thin patties, which give the burger a deep, caramelized flavor and crisp edge. It's topped off with pickles and a hefty dose of American cheese.
Missouri: Ugly Cheeseburger, Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes, Springfield
For a sandwich called Ugly, this cheeseburger looks pretty appealing to us. It features two 4oz patties, sharp white Cheddar, butter lettuce, pickles, onion, and a house-made condiment called 'baaahd sauce.' It’s one of Black Sheep’s bestsellers, alongside its truffle and Parmesan fries. There are four locations in Springfield.
Nebraska: The Original, Cheeseburgers, Omaha
At this late-night burger joint, The Original, featuring a beef patty, American cheese, mustard, pickle, and onion in a toasted brioche bun, is the favorite. It’s cheesy, inexpensive, and always served quickly and piping hot. The place has a cool vibe with good music and welcoming waitstaff. There are several locations in Omaha for you to get your burger fix.
South Dakota: DBL Cheeseburger, Circle E Drive-In, Murdo
This rustic roadside eatery, with grass-fed burgers and hand-spun shakes, was named by Yelp as serving South Dakota’s best-rated cheeseburger in 2023. Circle E Drive-In keeps its menu simple – offering plain, cheese, or bacon burgers with either single or double beef patties – but regulars say the quality of every element is outstanding and the portions are very generous. To really taste the quality of the beef, we say grab a DBL Cheeseburger and order it ‘deluxe’ (with tomato, onion, and lettuce), though the signature Big Al (which comes topped with jalapeño cream cheese) is also great.
Texas: BBQ Burger, Tookie’s Burgers, Kemah
A huge state needs a huge burger as its favorite – and the BBQ Burger at old-school joint Tookie’s fits the bill. It features a beef patty, barbecue sauce, pickles, Cheddar, and a giant onion ring. The patty is marinated in barbecue sauce and onions to give it extra flavor.
Texas: burger-chan, burger-chan, Houston
Fans say the real draw of this gourmet mom-and-pop spot in the Houston Galleria – aside from the fantastic quality of the beef – is that the burgers are totally customizable, so you can choose from various types of bun, three cheeses, and an endless list of toppings and sauces. However, the simple burger-chan cheeseburger is hard to beat. It features two 2oz patties, Cheddar, sautéed onions, lettuce, tomato, and house-made Thousand Island, all on a squishy brioche bun. Burger-chan was the top-ranking burger joint in Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants List 2024, so you know it’s something special.
Texas: cheeseburger, Mr Juicy, San Antonio
This cheap and very cheerful joint is known for delivering three perfect things: thick milkshakes, perfectly crispy fries, and the juiciest burgers in San Antonio. Mr Juicy came 15th on Yelp’s 2024 list of the best cheeseburger joints in the USA, and fans can’t get enough of the old-school fast food served here. Reviewers praise the minimalist, no-fuss approach of the place, where the signature grass-fed cheeseburger is thick, succulent and smothered in American cheese. It comes with tomato and lettuce, but you can customize with extras like Hatch green chiles or sautéed onions.
Wisconsin: Juicy Lucy, 11:11 Burgers & Beignets, Fond Du Lac
An unconventional cheeseburger, the Juicy Lucy looks like a regular hamburger from the outside, but when you bite into the patty, a mix of molten Cheddar and American cheese comes oozing out. Plus, at local joint 11:11, orders are totally customizable, so you can add jalapeños, extra cheese (American, Cheddar, pepper Jack, and provolone), maple bacon, and salad, or swap your regular bun for a pretzel one.
