With summer in full swing, it's prime time for juicy burgers and grilled hot dogs (we'll get to the latter next month for National Hot Dog Month). For this list, I focused on stand-alone spots — places where the burger is the soul of the business, although local chains like BurgerFi and Pincho are always solid.
You hear lots of restaurants claiming to serve the "best burger in Miami," but most don't live up to the hype. This list? It does. It features eleven killer burgers, some with regional roots, a couple served on pretzel buns, and four spots known for some of the best fresh-cut fries in town: Blue Collar, Chug's, Off Site, and USBS.
Why is this the best burger list in Miami? Because I'm the Burger Beast — and you're not. Below, in alphabetical order, dig into the 11 best burgers in Miami.
Are You Hungry Grill
12486 SW Eighth St., Miami305-200-5168
areyouhungrygrill.com Are You Hungry Grill began as a pop-up, then evolved into a food truck, and now operates a full-fledged restaurant, though they still do pop-ups around town. Their must-try item is the "Wagyu Beer Cheese Burger": a seven-ounce Wagyu patty loaded with jalapeño beer cheese, crispy potato sticks, IPA barbecue sauce, and garlic cilantro sauce on a pretzel bun. I still can't get behind pretzel buns, but this burger is phenomenal. On Tuesdays, they also serve a limited run of ten-ounce smoked cheeseburgers — (only 24 are made, so get there early).
Babe's Meat & Counter
9216 SW 156th St., Miami786-429-1315
babefroman.com Babe's Meat & Counter, a mom-and-pop butcher and sandwich shop that began over a decade ago at the Pinecrest Farmer's Market, now serves up one of the best burgers in South Florida. Their signature "Babe's Burger" features a fresh, USDA Prime Wagyu beef blend ground in-house, American cheese, house-made pickles, and sriracha mayo on a Martin's potato roll. It's the kind of burger you eat in the parking lot because waiting is not an option.
Blue Collar
6730 Biscayne Blvd., Miami305-756-0366
bluecollarmiami.com Blue Collar's dry-aged cheeseburger isn't just a burger; it's a benchmark. The half-pound New York strip and brisket blend patty, cooked to your liking, comes topped with American cheese and served on a Portuguese muffin that soaks up every juicy bite. Originally served on brioche, chef Danny Serfer's switch to the now-iconic muffin took it to the next level. It's regularly found on every best burger list in Miami.
Chug's Diner
3444 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove786-353-2940
chugsdiner.com
Chug's Diner nails it with its "Frita Patty Melt," a perfectly executed mashup of two regional burger styles. It features a frita patty stacked on rye bread with Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, crunchy papitas, and Thousand Island dressing. This isn't just a sandwich; it's a game changer. Whatever you do, please don't skip it.
Cuento Sandwiches
4237 NW 107th Ave., Doral305-400-8374 Cuento Sandwiches' "Jerk Smash Burger" is a must for serious smash burger fans. Available as a double or triple, it's stacked with American cheese, jerk shallot compote, and campeador sauce on a sesame seed bun. I put this up against any of the flavor-of-the-month favorites in South Florida. It's so good that I ate two back-to-back without regret.
The "Txuleta Basque Burger" from Edan Bistro is one of the best burgers in Miami
Photo by Thankful Monster
Edan Bistro
650 NE 125th St., North Miami305-517-6801
edanbistro.com Edan Bistro's "Txuleta Basque Burger" is a standout made with dry-aged rib eye from their acclaimed Txuleta steak. It's layered with roasted red bell pepper sauce, tangy Ibarra peppers, and smoky Idiazabal cheese, all on a toasted bun. The result is a rich, flavorful take on classic Basque flavors with a modern twist on the burger. If you're in North Miami and craving something different, this one's worth the detour.
Emmy Squared
230 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables786-607-3669
emmysquaredpizza.com Everyone talks about the award-winning "Le Big Matt" at Emmy Squared, but the "Chopped Cheese" stole my burger-loving heart. A nod to New York City street food, it's made with chopped grass-fed Black Angus beef with American cheese, red onion, bell peppers, ketchup, and pickles on a toasted pretzel bun. Yes, another regional style and another pretzel bun, but it's too damn good to leave off the list. I even made a "Chopped Cheese & Chill" Spotify playlist in its honor.
Kiddo Burger
18833 Biscayne Blvd., Miami305-749-6743
kiddomiami.com Kiddo Burger, launched by Argentine YouTuber Burger Kid, recently opened in Aventura, bringing a throwback to old-school Midwest-style burgers — no smash patties here, just thin, griddled beef ground in-house. The cheeseburger, with American cheese, ketchup, mayo, and onion, nailed that nostalgic '80s Wendy's vibe I grew up on. The "Melvin" adds bacon, crispy onions, and Kiddo sauce, which is solid, but it didn't hit me the way the classic did. There's even a patty melt-ish hamburger called the "Glitch," where they flip the buns upside down.
Off Site
8250 NE Second Ave., Miami786-360-4237
offsite.miami Off Site recently upgraded its burger game with a new half-pound patty — now two ounces bigger — and a fresh bun to match. The classic burger features an eight-ounce blend of chuck, brisket, and sirloin with cheese, onion, pickles, and lettuce (if you're into that). There's also a three-grain veggie patty option for the self-punishing. As for me, I'll take mine sans lettuce, the way a proper burger should be.
USBS at the Citadel
8300 NE Second Ave., Miami305-537-6624
usbsmiami.com United States Burger Service (USBS) started as a pop-up by married chefs Mike Mayta and Keily Vasquez before finding a permanent home inside the Citadel Miami. Known for their expert smash technique, USBS delivers that perfect "meat candy" crust that burger fans dream of. The must-try is the "2-Day Double + Cheese Stamp:" two house-ground patties, house-made cheese sauce, and special sauce on a house-baked potato bun. It's the kind of burger that earns Postmaster General Mayta his crown.
ViceVersa at Elser Hotel
398 NE Fifth St., Miamiviceversamia.com Chef Justin Flit, the mastermind behind the legendary Proof, is back with a burger that's every bit as unforgettable. "Chef Justin's Burger" features double patties on a house-made potato bun with cheddar cheese, white cheddar aioli, and an onion emulsion spread, accompanied by pickles on the side. The name may be simple, but the flavor is anything but. It sounds great — and somehow, it tastes even better.
