In 2007, Wall Street Journal declared that Atlanta was the number one city in the United States for the best hamburgers. Four years later, more and more burger joints have used this award as a springboard to open up shop in Georgia's capital. Atlanta natives know some of these places by heart and could navigate to them in their sleep, but there are some that are still flying under the radar without the praise they deserve. So next time you are traveling through Atlanta, or just looking for a place to eat lunch locally, skip the fast food industry's excuse for a hamburger and check out one of these places.
Best Vintage Burger - The Varsity
Practically a historical landmark, there is not a single Atlanta native who is oblivious to The Varsity. Established in 1928, The Varsity has been serving hamburgers to the heart of downtown for almost a century. Their options are simple, like man originally intended. The Varsity does not try to dazzle with fancy additives, but rather implores tradition with options of a hamburger, cheeseburger or chili-cheeseburger. Order your choice with a Frozen Orange to drink and become part of the legacy that is The Varsity.
61 North Ave NW, Atlanta
Best Gourmet Burger - Flip Burger Boutique
The brain child of our favorite molecular gastronomist from Bravo's Top Chef and winner of Top Chef Masters, Richard Blais, Flip Burger Boutique boasts the slogan "fine dining between two buns." They offer nine varieties of traditional beef burgers ranging from country fried steak with pimento cheese to imported Japanese Kobe with foie gras that are sure to please everyone. All of their beef is 100% grass fed as well. As if that is not enough, Richard has concocted ten varieties of "flip burgers" that feature patties made of everything from ossobuco to chorizo. Each burger is a creative gourmet masterpiece that makes the mouth dance with joy. But be warned, Flip Burger Boutique is one of the most popular dining establishments in Atlanta at present. Do not be alarmed or discouraged to find a wait as long as two hours. Stick it out - it's worth the wait.
1587 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta
Best Sliders - Ted's Montana Grill
Arguably serving up some of the greatest sliders in existence, Ted's Montana Grill definitely wins the best slider vote for Atlanta. You have not truly lived until you have tasted one of their Bar-None Sliders. Four mini burgers that come in beef or bison, they are topped with good old American cheese. It sounds like nothing fancy, but when you put a crispy onion ring on top and sandwich the patty in a homemade yeast roll, you have a piece of heaven in your hand.
1874 Peachtree Road Northwest, Atlanta
Best Bison Burger - Ted's Montana Grill
Ted's is so delicious that it shows up on our list twice. Perhaps a winner by default, as they are one of the few restaurants that specialize in the bison burger, Ted's Montana Grill still deserves some recognition for what they do. With sixteen bison burgers on the menu, they are going to be hard to top.
1874 Peachtree Road Northwest, Atlanta
Best All Around Burger - The Ghetto Burger at Ann's Snack Bar
Ann has become more or less a legend in Atlanta. Known for her strict rules and out of this world homemade chili, patrons are not surprised to hear Miss Ann yelling at customers to settle down or leave. She likes things her way or the highway, and with the way her burgers taste, Ann's way is just fine! Her signature burger, the Ghetto Burger, features two colossal patties topped with cheddar cheese, bacon and chili that tastes like a miracle. The same article that named Atlanta the burger capital of the nation also raised this burger as the best hamburger in the country. Anyone who has sampled it is sure to agree.
1615 Memorial Drive Southeast, Atlanta
Sources:
Sokolov, Raymond. "The Best Burger." The Wall Street Journal. N.p., 10 Mar. 2007.
Jamie Pack - Jamie Pack (nee: Poag) received her Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. While there, ...
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