View Michael Mina's San Francisco in a larger map

[Photography: courtesy of Michael Mina]

Chef Michael Mina's Bay Area-based start-up website, Cook Taste Eat, delivers approachable, inspiring culinary instructional videos (co-hosted with singer Michelle Branch, and featuring a bevy of his top chef friends) into the inboxes of home cooks everywhere. Anyone living near one of the celebrity chef's many restaurants (four in San Francisco, at our last count) can taste Cook Taste Eat's featured weekly menu firsthand before attempting to recreate the recipes at home.

Although he has restaurants all over the country, he's chosen the Bay Area as a home base to grow his website and to keep close to some of the burgers he loves best. And he knows beef—carnivores should check out his new on-demand guide to cooking the perfect steak. "I love the burgers at RN74 and Bourbon Steak, they're absolutely amazing!" he says. "But to remain unbiased, here are my five favorites from other restaurants."

4505 Meats' cheeseburger. (AHT review) [Photograph: David Kover]

1. Ryan Farr is a butcher's butcher and has been serving great burgers at 4505 Meats at the Ferry Terminal Plaza Farmers' Market for quite some time now. Some might find the burger smaller than the others, but it packs on the flavor, topping a custom grind with classic melted Gruyère, and everything comes together.
1 Sausalito, San Francisco Ferry Building, San Francisco CA 94111 (map); 415-255-3094; 4505meats.com/farmersmarket

2. David Bazirgan really knows how to engineer the grind on the meat that goes into what is the Fifth Floor burger. It's a great mix of short rib, chuck, and amply marbled skirt steak. The caramelized onion with Comte cheese combination makes Baz's burger memorable.
12 4th Street, San Francisco CA 94103 (map); 415-348-1555; fifthfloorrestaurant.com

Spruce burger. (AHT review) [Photograph: courtesy of Spruce]

3. Spruce is a fave of many a burger lover in town and I can see why. The bun doesn't get in the way, they offer tons of choices for customization, and they do their own aioli.
3640 Sacramento Street, San Francisco CA 94118(map); 415-931-5100; sprucesf.com

NOPA's burger. (AHT review) [Photograph: David Kover]

4. NOPA's burger is flame-licked live-fire flavor. Since it's such a chubby patty, it's fine without cheese! The glazed brioche bun is just right, too. I love the atmosphere quite a bit.
560 Divisadero Street, San Francisco CA 94117(map); 415-864-8643; nopasf.com

In-N-Out Double-Double. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

5. It's no accident how successful In-N-Out Burger is, because they are wonderfully consistent. We always go double double. I know about the secret menu, and the kids and I love the animal fries.
333 Jefferson Street San Francisco, CA 94133‎ (map); 800-786-1000; in-n-out.com

View Hugh Acheson's Athens in a larger map.

[Photograph: Bravo]

Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Hugh Acheson has made a name for himself as a true American chef. He went straight for the heart—and gullet—of our country's food scene: the South. The Top Chef judge has won two James Beard awards, one for his cookbook A New Turn in the South, and one for Best Chef Southeast, and he is the chef/partner of the Athens, Georgia, restaurants Five and Ten and The National, as well as the Atlanta restaurant Empire State South. Of his beloved little college town of Athens, he says:

In the corporate world we have the Five Guys, the regular other chains, and even a newly minted Steak 'n' Shake which is more popular than church right now. My pleading calls to Danny Meyer for a Shake Shack have yet to be returned...evidently we are not Dubai or Covent Garden. That said, we rock some local burgers, and here are four that top my list for various reasons. There are surely many great burgers that I have not listed, like The Grill, Clocked, and even my own the National, which makes a mean turkey burger.

Read on for some of Hugh's hometown favorites.

Farm 255 is a smart little restaurant helmed by ex-5&10 employee Whitney Otawka. They put out a pretty stunning grassfed burger with Asher Blue cheese from Sweetgrass Dairy in south Georgia. As the name implies, this burger is all about the local sources, so you can have a nice meal thinking about a greener future. Greener futures cost more though, so be prepared for a burger with a price in the low teens.
255 West Washington Street, Athens GA 30601 (map); 706-549-4660; farm255.com

ADD Drug is a classic food counter in a drug store. They do simple burgers with crinkle-cut fries. The burger is small but tasty, with American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, bread & butter pickles, and chopped raw onion, with ketchup and mustard on the side in squeeze bottles. With a soda over crushed ice, it will set you back about $6. Granted you don't get a Playland™ or a toy, but it's an experience that should never ever go away. You also eat at a place where you know the owners name and he doesn't dress in a clown's outfit. Too many lunch counters have bit the dust and this one is a keeper.
1695 South Lumpkin Street, Athens GA 30606 (map); 706-548-2239; yelp.com/biz/add-drug-store-athens

White Tiger's Happy Top Cheeseburger is a winner right down the street from my house. White Tiger is a totally punk rock little venue in a ramshackle old general store. Think picnic tables, bottled sodas, potato chips and huge burger done well, flat-top sear style. Pretty classic presence with griddle onions and field greens and good old American cheese. Makes my family happy, and we can bring a bottle of wine to boot.
217 Hiawassee Avenue, Athens GA 30601 (map); 706-353-6847; whitetigergourmet.com

[Photograph: Todd Brock]

No wine allowed is allowed at The Varsity, but there have been essays on how to order. This venerable Atlanta institution is an icon in Athens as well and the burgers are pretty tasty for a simple, small burger. I don't think they'll be garnering sustainability awards, but I still love a "Glorified Cheese Steak all the way" with a side of onion rings. The onion rings are things of greasy beauty, large guilty pleasures that my doctor would oppose but my belly likes a lot. The burger ordered as a "Glorified Cheese Steak all the way" is a simple cheeseburger with lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, ketchup, mustard, and pickle. Nothing wrong with that.
1000 West Broad Street, Athens, GA 30606 (map); 706-548-6325; thevarsity.com

View Jason McLeod's San Diego Burgers in a larger map.

[Photograph: Courtesy of Jason McLeod]

Jason McLeod is San Diego's only Michelin-star chef, having earned a pair of stars in Chicago. He's helmed kitchens and opened restaurants everywhere from Whistler to Costa Rica, but has settled down in San Diego, and was recently tapped to be the new Executive Chef for all of the Consortium Holdings restaurants, including Neighborhood, Underbelly, Craft & Commerce, and Polite Provisions/Soda & Swine, a dual-concept spot slated to open in December.

He loves a classic burger and says a great bun is essential (and often woefully overlooked). At home, he's all about the Dutch Crunch buns at O'Brien's bakery, and when it comes to toppings, he plucks a few items from the fast food column (Thousand Island dressing and American cheese), but also loves homemade pickled veggies, like thin slices of zucchini, fennel, and carrot on top of his patty.

In-N-Out's Double-Double (Animal Style) is his go-to burger because it's cheap, quick, and tasty, but he also praised several other options. Here, Jason describes his top five burgers in San Diego:

Animal Style burger at In-N-Out. [Photograph: Todd Brock]

I'm a huge In-N-Out Double-Double fan, Animal Style of course. I could eat those all the time. I just love the simplicity of it all. I even love the french fries, which i know a lot of people don't. I love it when people visit because I get to take them there, especially my family, because we don't have In-N-Out in Canada.
Multiple locations in San Diego in-n-out.com

Burger at Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant. [Photograph: Erin Jackson]

I like Bankers Hill because their burger is simple and pretty classic. They also serve pickled onions with it, and I love those. I love homemade pickles and I think that the onion brings a great pickle flavor. It's nice and a bit different than just serving regular pickles. A lot of burgers are really rich, so I like the contrast and bite the onion gives it.
2202 4th Ave., San Diego CA 92101 (map); 619-231-0222; bankershillsd.com

I love the burgers at Beaumont's. Their Beaumont Burger has puréed sundried tomatoes folded into the beef—it's got an almost tart, tomatoey bite to it. It's served with feta cheese and balsamic onions, and I'm a big fan of feta cheese. That burger is really great. They sell millions of them; it's their number one seller, by far. It's just a good value.
5662 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla, CA 92037 (map); 858-459-0474; beaumontseatery.com

Burger from Quality Social; AHT review [Photograph: Erin Jackson]

I love a fried egg on a burger. The first time I ever had an egg on a burger was back in 1999 in Coffs Harbour, Australia and I'm a huge fan. Quality Social adds some beautiful house cured bacon, fried onions, and Gruyère cheese. Hard to beat this combo.
789 6th Ave., San Diego CA 92101 (map); 619-501-7675; qualitysocial.com

Turkey burger from Burger Lounge; AHT review [Photograph: Erin Jackson]

Burger Lounge does a good turkey burger. I'm not a huge fan of their beef burgers, but I was really impressed by their turkey burger. Anything with Thousand Island on it is good; it really helps. I like the cheese they put on it, too.
6 locations in San Diego, full list at burgerlounge.com

About the author: Erin Jackson is a food writer and photographer who is obsessed with discovering the best eats in San Diego. You can find all of her discoveries on her food blog EJeats.com. On Twitter, she's @ErinJax

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View George Motz's Brooklyn in a larger map.

[Photograph: Kristoffer Brearton]

AHT pal and burger expert George Motz, the creator of the documentary film Hamburger America as well as a book of the same name, has earned his stripes. He's the host of Travel Channel's Burger Land (the two-episode pilot is on the air now) and director of the NYC and Chicago Food Film Festivals. We consider his word pretty much gospel. After all, he eats at least three burgers a week.

But when we asked the Park Slope resident to name his top five hamburgers in the borough, he got a little cagey. "Make sure you say these are just my current favorites, and in no specific order!" he insisted. "I'm not a critic." He loves the direction the Brooklyn burgerscape has taken recently, saying that even five years ago things were looking pretty grim, but today, restaurants devoted to burgers, and burgers alone, are changing the scene.

In his own words, here are George's current top five favorite burgers in Brooklyn, in no specific order.

Lot 2's grass-fed cheeseburger. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Lot 2 in Park Slope does a kick-ass burger. I'm not sure what they're doing over there—they only have one burger on the menu, but it's phenomenal. It's a cheddar cheeseburger with a pretty thick, grass-fed patty cooked on a skillet. It's so juicy, it literally squirts all over you. It's really hard to cook grass fed. To make it taste great, you need more fat, and you need someone who knows how to cook it. I give them major props for taking grass fed beef and making it taste like a standard, corn-finished burger.
687 6th Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11215 (map); 718-499-5623; lot2restaurant.com

The signature hamburger at 67 Burger has crispy bits of bacon, blue cheese, and onions. My wife, who is a former longtime vegetarian, calls it the "porno burger." I took her to get that burger, and she said, "This is too good, I can't finish it." Who thinks like that? She won't ever have another, because she's afraid of ruining that moment.
67 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11217 (map); 718-797-7150; 67burger.com

Bark burger. [Photograph: Caroline Russock]

Bark is right around the corner from me. They used to do a pork fat burger, but they've changed it so it's now an all-beef, grass fed burger. The owner, Josh Sharkey, purchases a whole cow, so they can control the content of the burger. It's one of the only real sustainable burgers in New York City; the sourcing is so direct, it almost seems unreal. It's straight beef, and it's great. I do the Bark cheeseburger with cheddar, but if I could get it with American cheese, I'd be a really happy man.
474 Bergen Street, Brooklyn NY 11217 (map); 718-789-1939; barkhotdogs.com

A great new place is Two 8 Two. They get their meat from Paisano's, right down the street. They make a great green chile cheeseburger. They do it the right way: They get fresh Hatch green chiles from New Mexico. Not a lot of people are doing this; most places cheap out and use Anaheims mixed with garlic to make a sauce. A true green chile cheeseburger is just Hatch chiles that have been roasted, then stewed in water. It's one of the most perfect hamburger toppings. These guys understand that, and they don't have it on the menu every day, only when it's in season. Their standard cheeseburger is off the hook too. I get it with grilled onions.
282 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11201 (map); 718-596-2282; two8twoburger.com

Blue Collar cheeseburger. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Blue Collar is a new place that opened up a few months ago. They keep it very simple with their smashed burgers—fresh-ground beef pressed on a griddle—on toasted potato buns. It feels like a West Coast burger stand burger, smashed thin and cooked fast, with a great griddle crunch. (They have a double, but I think it's too big. I'd rather get two singles than one double.) It's the closest thing to a true American hamburger. The beauty is that you can walk out the door in five minutes with hot food to go. I went with my kids and we scarfed our food down in ten minutes. That's one of the classic things about that hamburger experience: immediate satisfaction. (Another note: They have great fries.)
160 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn NY 11211 (map); 347-725-3837; yelp.com/biz/blue-collar-brooklyn

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View Michael Solomonov's Philadelphia in a larger map.

Michael Solomonov [Photograph: Michael Persico]

James Beard award-winning Michael Solomonov (chef-owner of Zahav, Federal Donuts, and Percy Street Barbecue) was born in Israel, and he spends his days bringing the flavors of his childhood to the City of Brotherly Love—his Harissa and Za'atar-spiced fried chicken is pretty magical. But when it comes to burgers, Mike likes them simple: easy on the sauce, and topped with good tomatoes. "I do like cheeseburgers, and I've had people grind bacon into burgers, which is awesome but seems impure," he says. He's thrown his hat into the ring with a 100 percent brisket burger grilled over charcoal at Percy Street Barbecue, and he's playing around with a burger recipe for a new kosher Jewish restaurant he'll be opening on the Mainline. Don't expect any bacon or cheese on that burger, but knowing Mike, he'll find a way to make it innovative—and delicious.

When Mike's not testing our kosher hamburger recipes, he has no problem scarfing down a good bacon cheeseburger in his hometown. Here are five of his favorite burgers in Philadelphia.

Royal Tavern's Angus burger [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

1. Royal Tavern is a bar in South Philly where they do a great burger with smoked gouda, fried long hots, and bacon. It's really juicy, sort of Italian-style. I definitely chill out here: the menu is more substantial, and they have a great beer list.
937 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147 (map); 215-389-6694; royaltavern.com

500° classic burger [Photograph: Nicholas Chen]

2. 500° does phenomenal burgers, and serves them late-night as well. They're thin patties ... actually, sort of mid-range, not like the super-thin West Coast burgers. They're seasoned really well. I just get a plain cheeseburger here.
1504 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 (map); 215-568-5000; 500degrees.com

3. I love the double burger at Morgan's Pier. It's two patties seared with cheese, and a little pickle relish, which is nice. The patties are delicious, and considerably thinner. I don't know what his grind is, but the balance of the meat is pretty sensational. The restaurant is outdoors and really beautiful. The fish tacos are amazing too.
221 North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19123 (map); 215-279-7134; morganspier.com

SmokeShack burger [Photograph: Niki Achitoff-Gray]

4. Shake Shack just got to Philly. It's a good lunch break spot. They keep it real and unadulterated, approachable and not too expensive. I get the SmokeShack burger with bacon. I usually go light on the sauce; I'm not lovin' mayonnaise, I feel like it takes away from the fat and beef.
2000 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103‎ (map); 215-809-1742; shakeshack.com/location/philadelphia

Five Guys burger [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

5. There's a couple of Five Guys locations, but I like the one in the city. I get a little cheeseburger with bacon, tomato, and fresh jalapeno peppers, and I get the fries with no ketchup. I eat it standing up, which is the best way.
1527 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 (map); 215-972-1375; fiveguys.com

View Adam Sobel's Washington, DC in a larger map.

Bourbon Steak's burger [Photograph: Brian Oh]

[Photograph: courtesy of Adam Sobel]

As executive chef of Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak in Georgetown, Adam Sobel is responsible for no less than five burgers on the menu. Interestingly, only one of those involves beef, but boy, is it a beef burger (think brisket, short rib, and chuck, blended and cooked over a wood fire, then brushed with red wine butter). It's the burger that Forbes Travel Guide called one of the country's best. Adam likes the importance the city's chefs place on the American standard: "Everyone in D.C. strives to have a great burger," he says. Read on for his five favorite burgers in the capital.

1. Palena's cheeseburger is delicious. What they're doing is really outstanding: amazing freshly ground beef, great buns that they make in-house. I like it because it's kind of unassuming. They do lots of great pasta and fish, so their burger is a really pleasant surprise. It's one of the best in D.C.
3529 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20008 (map); 202-537-9250; palenarestaurant.com

Good Stuff Eatery [Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

2. Spike Mendelssohn's Good Stuff Eatery does five different burgers or so. I usually switch it up when I go. At one point, he was doing a blue cheese and caramelized onion burger, but I don't know if he still is because he likes to shake things up. The Big Stuff Bacon Meltdown kills it: it's a double bacon cheeseburger. I'm a big fan of what he's doing there.
303 Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast, Washington, DC 20003 (map); 202-543-8222; goodstuffeatery.com

3. The lamb burger at Central is really good. It's served with tomato confit and crispy Parmesan. Michel Richard is known for fine dining, but Central is kind of his bistro.
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20004 (map); 202-626-0015; centralmichelrichard.com

Double Shack Burger [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

4. I know it's kinda common, but I really like Shake Shack. It's open late and within walking distance. When I need an In-N-Out-like fix, I can hit them up for a double cheeseburger and a chocolate cement.
Various locations; shakeshack.com

5. Lou's City Bar is across the street from my house, and they do a killer, basic, NYC bar-type burger. It's a really good patty grilled over charcoal, with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. It's a no-brainer for sporting events: go over to Lou's, watch the game, perfect. They've got a great selection of beers on tap that they change up monthly. I like to drink local, so sometimes I'll do a DC Brau or something from Virginia.
1400 Irving Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20010 (map); 202-518-5687; louscitybar.com

View Bryce Gilmore's Austin in a larger map.

[Photograph: courtesy of Bryce Gilmore]

Bryce Gilmore might as well be the mascot of Austin's DIY food scene. The native Texan, who grew up working in his father's restaurant, gained an early education in Southwestern cooking. His skills took him from Europe to San Francisco to Aspen and back to Austin, drawn home by the local food movement and the purchase of a 1980 Fleetwood Mallard trailer on eBay. After months spent tricking out the trailer for commercial use, he opened Odd Duck Farm to Trailer, a food truck that, like the name sounds, sources ingredients from the day's farmer's market findings. Odd Duck quickly became known as one of the best in a city celebrated for its food trailers.

His first brick and mortar space, Barley Swine, which also highlights ingredients sourced from local farms, earned a place last year in GQ's Top Ten Restaurants. Bryce, who has already been named a James Beard Nominee and Food & Wine Best New Chef, is spreading the gospel of organic, ethical—and delicious—food. The young chef was kind enough to share five delicious burgers that he deems worthy of his city's standards.

1. When I go out to eat, I want to know where my food is coming from. Contigo Austin uses responsibly-raised Texas beef and makes their buns in-house. Their burger and fries is everything I want in a classic burger.
2027 Anchor Lane, Austin TX 78723 (map); 512-614-2260; contigotexas.com/austin

2. The Green Chili burger at Jack Allen's Kitchen has got the perfect kick, thanks to green chilies, dill pickles, and jalapeno mayo. Plus this is my dad's place, so I know it's quality.
7720 Texas 71, Austin, TX 78735 (map); 512-852-8558; jackallenskitchen.com

3. Hopdoddy Burger Bar grinds their meat in-house so it's extra fresh, and they use Never Never cows, which have never been given steroids or hormones. The Magic Shroom Burger is topped with creamy Texas goat cheese, a classic with a Texas twist.
Various locations; hopdoddy.com

4. Olivia's got one of the best brunches in town, and Chef Holmes' burger with blue cheese, bacon, a fried egg, and aioli is always hard to pass up. He's got the same local and sustainable mentality that I do, so I know every ingredient on the plate is fresh and from nearby farms.
2043 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704 (map); 512-804-2700; olivia-austin.com

5. There's a trend forming...like all these other burger spots, Wholly Cow is conscious of where their meat comes from. Not only is it important to support local farmers and purveyors, but it just tastes better when the meat is from a local, grass-fed cow.
3010 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704 (map); 512-394-8156; whollycowburgers.com

View Linton Hopkins' Atlanta in a larger map.

[Photograph: Courtesy of Linton Hopkins]

This year, Atlanta super-chef Linton Hopkins tied with Hugh Acheson for the title of James Beard Best Chef: Southeast. He was happy to share the glory: Linton is gracious in the way Georgians are, and he's appreciative of good food. He won the award for his fine-dining restaurant, Eugene, but it's his gastropub Holeman & Finch—and its limited-edition burger, served only after 10 p.m. each night (and during Sunday brunch)—that's captivated reviewers and satiated Southerners. He's passionate about food, about Atlanta, and about burgers: He's said a good cheeseburger is one of his ideal meals. Read on for Linton's top five burgers in Georgia's capital.

Bocado burger; AHT review [Photograph: Carey Jones]

1. At Bocado, Todd Ginsberg has made what I consider one of the burger ideals: two griddled patties, American cheese, pickles, mustard, and ketchup on a toasted bun. He and I were both inspired by the classic American diner double cheeseburger. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, this cheeseburger is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy.
887 Howell Mill Road #2, Atlanta GA 30318 (map); 404-815-1399; bocadoatlanta.com

Miller Union burger. [Photograph: Todd Brock]

2. Steven Satterfield believes more than any chef I know that food should have a sense of place and season, and that it should be from scratch. His "daily grind" cheeseburger at Miller Union is just that. Grass-fed local beef ground daily, with Alabama cheddar, and in summer, a perfect slice of tomato.
999 Brady Avenue Northwest, Atlanta GA 30318 (map); 678-733-8550; millerunion.com

Farm Burger's beef cheek burger. [Photograph: Daniel Zemans]

3. Chefs Terry Koval and Dan Latham helm two locations of Farm Burger (one in Atlanta, one in Decatur) with the same great burgers—even though I think I enjoy their farmers' market booth even more. It's a 100 percent grass-fed beef burger with your choice of toppings, and the toppings are excellent. My favorite variation has a sunny side up farm egg with crispy red onion, cured lardo made in-house (Dan used to run the charcuterie program for Mario Batali), Vermont white cheddar, and arugula. That is good food.
3365 Piedmont Road, Atlanta GA 30305 (map); 404-816-0603; farmburger.net

Wood-grilled burger from JCT Kitchen. [Photograph: Todd Brock]

4. Run by Ford Fry and his chef Brian Horn, JCT Kitchen is where I go if I'm craving the wood-grilled burger. Ground in-house on a grilled pain de mie bun with white cheddar, the hickory in this eight-ounce burger provides the perfect smokiness and char.
1198 Howell Mill Road #18, Atlanta GA 30318 (map); 404-355-2252; jctkitchen.com

[Photograph: Todd Brock]

5. I go to Yeah! Burger with my two kids, who love it. They offer beef, bison and turkey burgers, and it is here that I have become a turkey burger fanatic. Topped with avocado and sliced jalapeños, it is both juicy and spicy. They have awesome onion rings and buttermilk sauce and a killer beer selection. During soccer season, a game is always on.
1168 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta GA 30318 (map); 404-496-4393; yeahburger.com

View Kenny Bowers' Dallas in a larger map.

[Photograph: courtesy of Kenny Bowers]

Boston native Kenny Bowers has been a fixture of the Dallas food scene for so long—going on 20 years—he's practically a true Texan. Since getting his start at Daddy Jack's and moving on to cook in and open restaurants, he's created his own empire. Kenny's Wood Fired Grill, Kenny's Italian Kitchen, and Kenny's Burger Joint all feel warm and familiar, and serve deliciously straightforward, comforting food designed to delight even the most discerning Cowboys fan. The chef's Frisco burger joint, opened to please fans of the handmade, wood-grilled burgers that appeared on his other menus, has received rave reviews, and shows no signs of slowing. Kenny is in Dallas to stay, and after taking his top five tour, you might be convinced to stick around, too.

Cheeseburger from Kenny's Burger Joint. [Photograph: Ewan Macdonald]

1. They have Kobe Beef Sliders on the Bar Bites menu at Silver Fox Steakhouse. They are simple and to the point with just lettuce, tomato, pickle, cheddar, and spicy mustard, but these little babies are to die for.
1303 Legacy Drive, Frisco, TX 75034 (map); 214618-5220; silverfoxcafe.com

2. The Smoky Jack Burger at Square Burger will rock your world. I couldn't stop thinking about this beaut and its freshly-smoked jack cheese and applewood-smoked bacon. Of course, everything is better with bacon.
115 North Kentucky Street, McKinney, TX 75069 (map); 972-542-0185; yelp.com

In-N-Out Double-Double. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

3. In-N-Out's Double-Double Animal Style Burger is the go-to burger when you're wasted late-night. If you order two double-double's with fries, they will give you a free hat—what could be better!?
Various locations; 800-786-1000; in-n-out.com

4. I love Houston's Bacon Cheeseburger because they use fresh-ground chuck that they grind in-house daily. They also make their sesame seed buns in-house.
5318 Belt Line Road, Dallas, TX 75240 (map); 972-960-1752; hillstone.com

5. To my earlier point, everything is better with bacon, especially when that bacon is paired with Cajun spices, melted blue cheese, and crispy fried onion rings. Jasper's pairs their Black N Bleu burger with a side of bistro sauce, which is the perfect addition.
7161 Bishop Road, Plano, TX 75024 (map); 469-229-9111; kentrathbun.com/jaspers/plano

View Anthony Myint's San Francisco in a larger map.

This March, Anthony Myint helped open the hotly anticipated Mission Bowling Club in its namesake San Francisco neighborhood. One of the reasons it was so buzzed-about: the restaurant featured the reappearance of the Mission Burger, the burger that made Burger Lab correspondent Kenji Lopez-Alt feel like a burger virgin, the one he called "the future of the Modernist cuisine movement," and the burger that was no longer available in its former location (Myint co-founded the now-closed Mission Burger with Mission Chinese Food chef Danny Bowien). Myint is known for many things—as a pioneer in the charitable restaurant business, a cookbook author, and an influential chef—but his burger might just be his crowning achievement. He's a little shy about its $14 price tag (only $10 at happy hour!), so when we asked for his top five burgers in the city, he named a range.

Anthony Myint's Mission Burger. [Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

For Anthony Myint's favorite San Francisco burgers between $3 and $13, read on.

1. Broken Record serves hands-down my favorite burger in the city. The chef, James Moisey, has a fine-dining background and makes really satisfying food in the back of a very out-of-the-way, cool dive bar with a wall of different whiskeys. The burger is so good it's not really fair, which is code for: they grind bacon (or bacon fat) into it. One of the former co-chefs is a super-talented baker and she worked with a local bakery to get buns made to her specifications. They are the perfect mix of softness and structure.
1166 Geneva Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112(map); 415-963-1713; brokenrecordsanfrancisco.com

NOPA's burger. (AHT review) [Photograph: David Kover]

2. NOPA's burger, which is $13 with fries, is a reliable, high-end burger. It's like saying a BMW is a good car. Note: I have been meaning to try the burger at Marlowe, which I suspect could contend for this niche.
560 Divisadero Street, San Francisco CA 94117(map); 415-864-8643; nopasf.com

In-N-Out Double-Double. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

3. Not really a surprise here, but for $3, In-N-Out's Double Double is unbeatable. Bonus points because I love watching the staff work. An unassuming chubby teenage girl is cranking out burgers and showing off her moves while a skinny dude who's never even had a beer is twirling fry baskets like he's on the rifle squad. It's basically food service utopia, where everyone's cheerful and well-paid with full dental coverage. It would be my #2 burger in a heartbeat based on value, except the fries are piss poor and they don't offer mayo, so I have to walk around with condiments in my pocket.
333 Jefferson Street San Francisco, CA 94133‎ (map); 800-786-1000; in-n-out.com

Fuddruckers burger. (AHT review) [Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

4. I grew up eating at Fuddruckers. It's a nice mid-range burger that you can get in different weights, like 1/3-pound, 1/2-pound, 2/3-pound, etc. It's fresh-ground, handled delicately enough that it's pretty tender, and cooked to temperature, with a decent bun. I am appalled that so many bars and restaurants are selling $10 burgers that are not even close. What really gets me is the fixin's bar, which in my greedy worldview means salad bar. They have shredded iceberg lettuce, pico de gallo, and ranch dressing available upon request. The reason it's only #4 is that it's not available in the city, just the suburbs.
Various locations; fuddruckers.com

5. Crown Burgers is super old-school and the kitchen is just a German lady standing next to a griddle-island. The quality of the "burger" is not remarkable, but the sheer audacity of the sandwich deserves a mention. "Burger" is in quotes here, because the Dagwood is a ground beef patty with cheese, a "slice" of ham, bacon, a fried egg, and an entire hot link, split lengthwise. "Slice" of ham is in quotes because it is not a deli slice, but bordering on one of those ham steaks—definitely thicker than Canadian bacon. It's not for purists or snobs, or really, anyone leading an active lifestyle.
4000 Third St., San Francisco CA 94124(map); yelp.com/biz/crown-burgers-san-francisco

View Tony Maws' Boston in a larger map.

The burger at Craigie on Main. [Photograph: Jessica Leibowitz]

[Photograph: courtesy of Tony Maws]

Tony Maws takes burgers personally. The burger he makes at Craigie on Main is exactly the burger he wanted to make, which is the only way to do it in a city like Boston, where everyone has an opinion. You'd be hard-pressed to find a Bostonian with something negative to say after tasting Craigie's big, grass-fed patty, ground up with bone marrow and charred on a plancha (see how it's made in our behind-the-scenes video). The burgers Tony loves in his home city are the ones that strike a nostalgic chord in the chef's heart and palate, burgers that taste of his childhood and a time long-past—burgers so nostalgic, in fact, that one of them is sadly just a memory.

Here are Tony's top five burgers in Boston.

1. Neptune Oyster Bar is a tiny oyster place where you'd never expect to find an awesome burger, but they have one. They put a fried oyster on it! I haven't eaten a burger this fast in a long time.
63 Salem Street, Boston MA 02113 (map); 617-742-3474; neptuneoyster.com

2. Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage is an institution. It's kitschy, it's loud, you're sitting close to everyone—they've been doing it for years. It's all about what goes on the burger, since there are something like 50 different kinds. They also serve great, greasy fries.
1246 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA 02138 (map); 617-354-6559; mrbartley.com

3. Russell House Tavern's is a nostalgic burger for me as it's served on an English muffin. That's how I used to have them as a kid, and how I still make them at home. All those nooks and crannies hold so much juice. It's a sort of sentimental burger, but it's no-frills, just seasoned and cooked solidly.
14 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge MA 02138 (map); 617-500-3055; russellhousecambridge.com

4. The Tasty is the burger that will always be missed. It doesn't exist anymore, but it has to be on this list. It used to be in Harvard Square in Cambridge, but the building has since been torn down. It was a total greasy spoon, with old school guys wearing paper hats. It was just the best greasy burger, period. Especially late-night, after 1 a.m., when it was filled with a combination of partiers and cops. There was usually someone dancing on a table. It was very different from the Craigie's burger in that it's a flat patty style, and we don't have nearly enough grease to recreate it.

5. Highland Kitchen serves a really good, honest burger that's 180 degrees from the burger I make—nothing fancy-pants. The setting is awesome, like a neighborhood bar. They serve straightforward cocktails, nothing highfalutin. My wife and I go on Monday nights, when my restaurant is closed, which is their Fried Chicken Night. One of us gets the chicken, and the other gets the burger.
150 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA 02143 (map); 617-625-1131; highlandkitchen.com

Previous Burger City Guides

• Tom Douglas's Favorite Burgers in Seattle
• Donald Link's Favorite Burgers in New Orleans
• Michael Schwartz's Favorite Burgers in Miami
• Eddie Lakin's Favorite Burgers in Chicago
• Duff Goldman's Favorite Burgers in Baltimore
• David Myers's Favorite Burgers in Los Angeles

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View David Myers's LA in a larger map.

[Photograph: courtesy of David Myers]

David Myers knows a thing or two about burgers. After cutting his teeth working at a three Michelin-starred restaurant in France, then under Daniel Boulud, he set out to bring his own creation to Los Angeles. It took years of training and a rumored 11 tries to get Comme Ça's version just right, by treating it like a steak, but David says it's really his mom that taught him how to make what The New York Times has deemed a perfect burger (and we agree). With two restaurants in Los Angeles, one in Vegas, one in Costa Mesa, two in Tokyo, and a third coming to Los Angeles in December, he's got his hands full. Since his time is limited, he only makes room for his favorites when he's in town. Here are his top five burgers in Los Angeles.

1. Sauce on Hampton has a Buffalo Burger that's insane. It's grass-fed buffalo meat that's very clean-tasting, done really simply, with bacon, tomato, lettuce, mustard and ketchup. It's a thick patty, cooked on a cast iron griddle, which lends a smoky note and a nice char to it. I love the texture and the flavor; I feel so good after I eat it. When I went to Japan, I was craving meat and came here straight from the airport.
259 Hampton Drive, Venice CA 90291 (map); 310-399-5400 ; sauceonhampton.com

The burger at Father's Office (AHT review) [Photograph: Nick Solares]

2. Father's Office is a fun place to hang with friends, have some beer and of course, a burger. They have a very focused approach on their burger and I respect that they know what they want, and they don't allow any changes to the burger.
3229 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90034 (map); 310-736-2224; fathersoffice.com

Apple Pan's Steakburger (AHT review) [Photograph: Nick Solares]

3. Apple Pan has the original great burger in LA and has been around since 1947. The space has a classic vibe and the people behind the counter have been working there forever. You feel like you get a bit of history when you eat there. I do the hickory burger or the steak burger—I like my burgers thick and juicy, because I love steak so much.
10801 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90064 (map); 310-475-3585; applepan.com

Umami Burger (AHT review) [Photograph: Damon Gambuto]

4. I like the modern take on, and exploration of burgers at Umami Burger. I think it's a fun, well-done concept. I'll get the SoCal Burger with lettuce, slow-roasted tomato, the house spread, house-made American cheese and caramelized onions; the Hatch Burger with four types of green chilies and house cheese; or the Umami Burger with shiitake mushroom, caramelized onions, roasted tomato, parmesan crisp and umami ketchup.
Various locations; favorite location on 1040 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach CA 90254 (map); 310-214-8626; umamiburger.com

In-N-Out Double (AHT review) [Photograph: Nick Solares]

5. I always order a Double Animal-Style from In-N-Out, which is not even thick enough. It's definitely my go-to burger and is so consistent. It's fantastic when I need a fast food fix.
Various locations; favorite location on 7009 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood CA 90028 (map); 800-786-1000; in-n-out.com

Previous Burger City Guides

• Tom Douglas's Favorite Burgers in Seattle
• Donald Link's Favorite Burgers in New Orleans
• Michael Schwartz's Favorite Burgers in Miami
• Eddie Lakin's Favorite Burgers in Chicago
• Duff Goldman's Favorite Burgers in Baltimore

Love hamburgers? Then you'll Like AHT on Facebook! And go follow us on Twitter while you're at it!

View Duff Goldman's Baltimore in a larger map

[Photograph courtesy of Duff Goldman]

Duff Goldman is Baltimore's most badass baker. He's trained with chef Cindy Wolf, wields blowtorches and power tools to decorate his Charm City Cakes creations, and plays bass in a rock band. A new Los Angeles outpost of his bakery and his most recent Food Network show Sugar High have him traveling all over the country, but Duff will always have a place in Charm City, hon.

It was tough to leave crabcakes off the list, but after checking out Duff's top five burgers in Baltimore, it's clear that the game done changed.

1. The Dizz is right across the street from Charm City Cakes. The Black and Blue Burger is a generous, juicy, hand-formed burger topped with bacon and zippy blue cheese which melts into every bite. If you want to experience true Charm City hospitality, come say hi to Elaine and her gang at The Dizz.
300 West 30th Street, Baltimore MD 21211 (map); 443-869-5864; thedizzbaltimore.com

2. Salt Tavern's ridiculously decadent Foie Gras & Wagyu Beef slider, served with truffle aioli and red onion marmalade, is technically on their starters menu, but there's really no need to go any further. Order with their duck fat french fries and you'll be reduced to eye rolling, speechless nods of food nirvana.
2127 E Pratt St #1, Baltimore MD 21211 (map); 410-276-5480; salttavern.com

3. Kooper's Chowhound Burger Wagon serves a behemoth burger called the Charlie Brown. It has a pound of meat on it, and you can totally customize it. Pick from local Angus beef, turkey, lamb, bison, Kobe beef, or veggie. Top with your choice of cheese and pick from serious toppings like arugula coleslaw, cilantro mint chutney, or applewood bacon. Did I mention it's ONE POUND of meat? I had one once and had to take a break about midway, but I powered through.
See website for address; kooperschowhound.com

4. Hamilton Tavern's Crosstown Burger is a hefty beauty, made with local Roseda Farms beef and topped with shredded iceberg lettuce, onion, and horseradish cheddar. You have your choice of adding bacon and/or a fried egg. Go for both. The high-quality beef, biting cheese and sweet, brown sugar-crusted bacon all swirled together in an egg yolk-y bite is life changing. Comes with homemade chips. If you ask for ketchup, you're doing it wrong.
5517 Harford Road, Baltimore MD 21214 (map); 410-426-1930; hamiltontavern.com

5. The menu at Alewife states that "This burger takes a bit longer than an average burger to prepare. Your patience is appreciated and shall be rewarded." Believe them. The Smoke Burger is eleven ounces of a blend of local beef brisket, skirt, and filet. Smoked gouda and Gruyère. Chipotle aioli. Twice-smoked applewood bacon. Duck fat fries. Wear stretchy pants and get comfortable. The last bite will make you sad it's over.
21 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore MD 21201 (map); 410-545-5112; alewifebaltimore.com

View Eddie Lakin's Chicago in a larger map

[Photographs: Daniel Zemans, unless otherwise noted]

Eddie Lakin and his restaurant's burger mural. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Eddie Lakin is an old-school hamburger evangelist with a modern sensibility. He's chosen to close Edzo's, his popular burger joint in downtown Evanston, each day at 4 p.m. in order to spend more time with his children. Eddie commandeers the cash register himself, taking orders for the truffle fries, Nutella milkshakes, and two kinds of patties that Edzo's serves: half-pound char burgers cooked on a grill and quarter-pound smashed burgers cooked on a griddle, both made from chuck ground daily in-house.

When we asked Eddie to share his top five burgers in the city, he selected a sample that represents the ultimate classics as well as some surprising new-school hits. For a multi-napkin extravaganza, check out Eddie Lakin's favorite burgers in Chi-town:

Top Notch's cheeseburger (SE Chicago review) [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

1. Top Notch Beefburgers is an old school diner in Beverly with Naugahyde vinyl booths, waitresses that call you "hon," fresh-cut potatoes fried in beef fat, and thin, griddled burgers made from beef ground on site.
2116 West 95th Street, Chicago IL 60643 (map); 773-445-7218; Yelp

2. Charlie Beinlich's is a slightly old-man-esque bar in Northbrook with a great Wisconsin supper-club feel. They have maybe 5 to 7 items on their menu, but everyone orders their burger, which features really fresh, finely ground meat cooked consistently to the degree of doneness that you ask for.
290 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook IL 60062 (map); 847-291-0420; charliebeinlichs.com

The Sir Loin at Bad Apple (SE Chicago review)

3. The Bad Apple in Lincoln Square features beef from the famous New York butcher Pat LaFrieda, and you can really taste it. Their burgers have an amazingly deep, beefy flavor as a result of the custom LaFrieda blend they use. Pair that with high quality toppings, house-made ketchup, and a great beer list, and you get a really great neighborhood hang-out.
4300 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago IL 60618 (map); 773-360-8406; badapplebar.com

The Mickey from Schoop's (SE Chicago review)

4. Schoop's serves the thin, smashed-on-the-griddle style burger, but taken to the extreme. They smash it so thin that it massively hangs over the bun with its super-crispy, lacy edges of well-browned beef.
Various locations; schoophamburgers.com

BopNGrill's Kimchi burger (SE Chicago review)

5. Like Edzo's, BopNGrill is an unassuming little hot-dog-stand looking place, but the owner is a culinary school grad who really knows what he's doing. The food is a great mash-up of Korean flavors with American classics. The burger with a fried egg and kimchi is great.
Various locations; Facebook.com/pages/bopNgrill

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View Michael Schwartz's Miami in a larger map

[Photograph courtesy of Michael Schwartz]

When James Beard award-winning chef Michael Schwartz opened Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in Miami in 2007, he brought traditional American comfort food to a city often associated with Cuban and Caribbean cuisine. The Philadelphia native is blooming in Florida, asserting his influence over the local, seasonal ingredients often passed over by other Sunshine State chefs and using them to create inspiring, accessible food. His Raleigh burger is a reinvented classic: served on a wood board, the tender meat is encased in a buttered and toasted brioche bun, garnished simply with butter lettuce and a generous slice of ripe, juicy tomato. But despite his all-American approach, Michael appreciates the melting pot of cuisine that lends Miami its signature heat.

Here are Michael's top five Miami burgers:

The Shack Burger. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

1. Two words: Danny Meyer. I'm going with Shake Shack's Shack Burger almost every time. You can't beat the quality for the price, and because it's burgers Mr. Meyer's way, it's always a sure thing. I wanna be THAT guy! Just watch out for those Concretes!
1660 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach FL 33139 (map); 305-434-7787; shakeshack.com

2. The Frita Burger at El Mago de las Fritas is the Cuban-style burger you need to eat. Accept no imitations. They grind chorizo right into the patty, and it's piled high with "papitas" and a fried egg to bring it all together inside the best Cuban bread bun you'll find. And if smoky rendered sausage, fried potato sticks, and a fried egg isn't enough, you can also go "caballero" or cowboy-style and get it with cheese.
5828 Southwest 8th Street, Miami FL 33144 (map); 305-266-8486; elmagodelasfritas.com

3. Whisk Gourmet is a get-your-hands-dirty burger. It's big and juicy, and really tasty! They were just recognized at this year's South Beach Wine and Food Festival Burger Bash as the judge's choice for best burger. I'm so proud of our hometown brother-sister owners Kristin and Brendan Connor. Those guys work hard to put out a product they believe in, and they deserve it! If only more folks followed their lead down here.
7382 Southwest 56th Avenue, South Miami FL (map); 786-268-8350; whiskgourmet.com

4. The Federal is a collaboration between three young partners who experimented for a while—with much success—at a pop-up concept, turning out great Vietnamese food in downtown Miami. They are as serious about putting out great food as they are about moving the needle, doing new things and having a little fun while they're at it. Now they've opened up The Federal in an unassuming strip mall and are doing a great Lamb burger, which is topped with a duck egg. As far as I'm concerned, that makes anything better!
5132 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami FL 33137 (map); 305-758-9559; thefederalmiami.com

5. The McBelly at Pubbelly: the word alone conjures some pretty graphic images. This little sandwich isn't one to be underestimated because it's contained in the modest, yet no less delicious Martin's potato roll. It is a little decadent and maybe even too greasy at times, but because chef Mendin makes sure there are plenty of pickles and kick from the kimchi to cut it all, you may even venture for seconds. I order a Hitachino Red Rice Ale with mine!
1418 20th Street, Miami Beach FL 33139 (map); 305-532-7555; pubbelly.com

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