Ten Essential Miami Burgers to Try During National Burger Month

A good burger is America's quintessential comfort food, and there's no better time to get your fill of juicy meat than in May — National Burger Month.

Local chefs nail the artistry of the ideal proportion of elements, from the bun to the fixings to the meat patty, and dress it all up with their own spin to create the most noteworthy combinations.

Whether you want to splash out on a foie gras special or keep things classic with cheese, below are ten really great burgers you should try for National Burger Month — and beyond.

Ariete

3540 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove
305-640-5862
arietemiami.com

Chef Michael Beltran masters the art of hamburger-making while paying homage to his Cuban heritage with this double patty topped with American cheese and bread-and-butter pickles, then dressed with a secret sauce. Served with local greens, harissa, and ciabatta on the side, the Chug burger sells for $17 at dinnertime but just $10 during happy hour, 4 to 7 p.m. daily.

Bird & Bone

4041 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
786-605-4043
hyatt.com

"I thought of Florida when I made it, and I think of Florida when I eat it," chef Richard Hales says of his Gussied Up burger at Bird & Bone. His creation combines stacked and smothered triple brisket and short-rib beef patties, butter-poached lobster, fried green tomato slices, house-made pepper bacon, key lime mustard sauce, and a vibrant orange marmalade, all on a Zak the Baker brioche bun. Instead of using traditional cheese, Hales accents his burgers with fondue made with raclette cheese from a Central Florida farm. The burger costs $35 and is served for dinner only.

Blue Collar

6730 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
305-756-0366
bluecollarmiami.com

Danny Serfer has a cult following among local burger lovers. His simple dry-aged New York strip patty is topped with melted cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato, and onion on a classic Portuguese muffin ($17). Flavor and juiciness are the key factors.

Boulud Sud

255 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Miami
305-421-8800
bouludsud.com

At his downtown Miami restaurant, chef Daniel Boulud offers a mouthwatering gourmet Frenchie burger for lunch. A juicy beef-blend patty is topped with pork belly, a fistful of crisp arugula, fresh tomato compote, and a cornichon. Served from noon to 3:30 p.m., it costs $23 with fries.

Diplomat Prime

555 S. Ocean Dr., Hollywood
954-602-8331
diplomatprime.com

An eight-ounce patty is topped with Hudson Valley foie gras, Havarti cheese, pickled red onions, and a sweet-tangy secret sauce ($30) at this polished steakhouse inside the Diplomat Beach Resort.

Kush

2003 N. Miami Ave., Miami
305-576-4500
kushwynwood.com

This burger-and-craft-beer joint by the team behind Lokal and the Spillover has gained a reputation for serving some of the best burgers in town. It's a convivial, happy place with friendly service and a roster of unique choices. Kush's frita packs a real taste of Miami: Kobe-style beef is dressed with guava jelly, melted Gruyère, potato sticks, crisp bacon, and Lokal sauce ($15). The burger is pressed on a flat-top grill.

Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina

4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
305-674-4636
fontainebleau.com

It's difficult to choose only one burger out of the eight cooked-to-order options at Michael Mina's burger joint inside the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. But go for the Blue burger, with a dry-aged patty, arugula, Point Reyes blue cheese, truffle aioli, crispy prosciutto, and caramelized onion, served on a brioche bun ($24). For extra indulgence, order a side of waffle fries or onion rings.

Sakaya Kitchen

3401 N. Miami Ave., Miami
305-576-8096
sakayakitchen.com

Sakaya's Burger Bash Smash's onion-and-short-rib blend is topped with Korean burger sauce with gochugaru and kimchee spices and served on a soft bun ($9). Make it a combo with curly steak fries and a drink for $14.

Silverlake Bistro

1211 71st St., Miami Beach
786-803-8113
instagram/com/@silverlakebistromiami

This cozy bistro in Normandy Isles serves a burger nestled between slices of French brioche bun. The well-seasoned organic patty, made with a blend of brisket, chuck, and sirloin, is enhanced with the flavors of cheddar, homemade steak sauce, porcini mayo, and thick-cut applewood bacon, accompanied by a generous portion of string fries. It will cost you $17 at dinnertime or $12 during happy hour, 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

USBS Pop-Up at Boxelder

2817 NW Second Ave., Miami
facebook.com/usbsmiami

This no-frills burger has become wildly popular since the married chef team of Mike Mayta and Keily Vasquez began serving it in their United States Burger Service (USBS) pop-up in Wynwood last year. Fresh off the grill, the single "ground" and the "two-day" double patty are priced at $6 and $8. The chefs' blend of two kinds of melted cheese is spiked with a pinch of salt and mustard seed and served in a cross between a Parker House roll and potato bread. For $3.50 more, you also get a portion of thick-cut fries.