Wings may reign supreme on the Atlanta food scene, but we’re just as passionate about our burgers. This meaty staple has come a long way from its Varsity drive-through days, running the gamut from gas station cult classics to chef-driven creations made with Georgia-grown beef.
Whether you’re craving a late-night smashburger or a Sunday-only special that draws devoted lines, our city’s patty purveyors are flipping some of the South’s finest burgers—here’s where to find them.
Smiley’s Burger Club
This tiny Decatur shack (just 500 square feet) evolved from a Kelly’s Market pop-up into a no-frills burger destination that refuses to complicate things. Order your Certified Angus Beef smashburger as a single, double, or triple, then let the crispy-edged patties, melty American cheese, house-made pickles, and tangy Smiley’s sauce work their magic on a toasted Engelman’s potato roll. For an extra dose of happiness, order a side of smiley-face tots. 310 E. Howard Ave., Decatur, smileysburgerclub.com
Chops Lobster Bar
At this Buckhead fine-dining institution known for USDA Prime steaks and cold-water lobster, the Cheddar Club Burger is the sleeper hit. A proprietary blend of chuck, brisket, and short rib gets broiled—not griddled—then served on a toasted Buckhead Bread Company bun with lettuce, tomato, pickled red onion, and Duke’s mayo. It’s steakhouse beef quality in burger form. While it’s not listed on the dinner menu (you’ll find it at lunch), diners in the know can request it during evening hours. 70 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, chopslobsterbar.com
Fred’s Meat & Bread
Tucked inside Krog Street Market, this Michelin Bib Gourmand winner from chef Todd Ginsberg proves that sandwiches deserve serious recognition. The Burger Stack—a double-stacked masterpiece of juicy beef and melted cheese—has been called Atlanta’s best, tasting like a grilled cheese with meat folded inside. Bread-and-butter pickles cut through the richness while a sesame bun does its best to contain the glorious mess. 99 Krog St. NE, Atlanta, fredsmeatandbread.com
The Chastain
Ever wondered what a smashburger made by a Michelin-recommended restaurant might taste like? This farm-to-table favorite on the edge of Chastain Park has you covered. Chef-owner Christopher Grossman makes a thin, crisp double stack built on Georgia-grown beef patties, topped with American cheese, lettuce, house-made pickles, and caramelized onion aioli on a buttery bun. It’s juicy, savory, and served with a side of hand-cut fries for good measure. 4320 Powers Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, thechastainatl.com
Grindhouse Killer Burgers
This Atlanta institution has been slinging thick, juicy burgers since 2009, growing from a Sweet Auburn Curb Market stall into a beloved local chain with locations across Brookhaven, Decatur, Grant Park, and beyond. A freshly ground blend of chuck and brisket lays a tasty foundation for creations like the pepper jack and hatch green chili-topped Apache burger or the fried green tomato-crowned Dixie Style stack, as well as a build-your-own option. Multiple locations, grindhouseburgers.com
Holeman and Finch/H&F Burger
What began as an industry insider secret has become a local burger legend. Chef Linton Hopkins’ double-stacked masterpiece features griddled chuck and brisket beef patties with American cheese, shaved red onion, and house-made bread-and-butter pickles on a butter-toasted bun. Now available all day at H&F Burger locations in Ponce City Market, the Battery, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, this burger is as much a part of Atlanta’s fabric as rush hour traffic. 1201 Peachtree St. NE, Building 400; Main Level, Ste. 160, Atlanta, holeman-finch.com
The Vortex
Cross the threshold of a giant laughing skull to indulge in one (or several) of Atlanta’s best-known burgers. Since 1992, this 21-and-over institution has been slinging half-pound sirloin patties, now at two iconic Atlanta locations in Midtown and Little Five Points. The Vortex built its reputation on over-the-top signatures like the Fat Elvis with peanut butter and fried plantains, the Blue ‘Shroom stacked with blue cheese and bacon, and the fiery Hell’s Fury loaded with habanero relish and atomic death sauce. Multiple locations, thevortexbar.com
Deer & Dove
Wild game takes center stage at this Michelin-recognized Decatur gem from James Beard Award-winning chef Terry Koval, but don’t overlook the burger. The thick, dry-aged beef patty gets dressed with truffle cheese, bordelaise sauce, thyme mayo, caramelized onions, and mushrooms, holding its own on a menu celebrated for venison and duck. A side of duck fat potatoes makes the decision to order it even easier. 155 Sycamore St., Decatur, deerdove.com/deerdove
Che Butter Jonez
Born from a food truck dream in 2018, this husband-and-wife operation has become a Brookhaven sensation specializing in smashburgers and other grilled handhelds. The “Who Wants Beef Son” is the star, featuring two crispy-edged beef patties that deliver serious crunch and char, leading some to name it Atlanta’s best smashburger. Owners Malik Rhasaan and Detric Fox-Quinlan call it “refined ratchet,” but locals simply call it essential. 1602 Lavista Rd. NE, Atlanta, chebutterjonez.com
Highland Tap
Hiding beneath Virginia-Highland since 1989, this subterranean steakhouse has been slinging wood-fired steak burgers in a speakeasy-style cellar for over three decades. The Original Steak Burger—a half-pound patty ground and shaped in-house—gets kissed by hickory smoke and blanketed with melty cheese. For a Southern twist, the Varsity Burger adds pimento cheese and pickled red onion. Pair it with one of their fan-favorite martinis, and you’ve got a classic Atlanta night out. 1026 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta
Evergreen Butcher & Baker
Emma and Sean Schacke’s Kirkwood whole-animal butcher shop and bakery has achieved near-mythical status for its Sunday-only cheeseburger. Available at exactly 1 p.m., the double-stacked burger features fresh-ground beef from their butcher case, American cheese, house-made pickles, aioli, and caramelized onions on a sesame seed bun baked in-house. Lines stretch down the block, burgers can sell out within an hour, and yes, there’s even been a resale scandal. It’s that good. 2011 Hosea L. Williams Dr. NE, Atlanta, evergreenbutcherandbaker.com
Little’s Food Store
This is where you come for a classic burger with a side of Atlanta nostalgia. Tucked inside a Cabbagetown grocery that’s been operating since 1929, this hybrid convenience store and lunch counter serves two-ounce Little’s Sliders and simple quarter-pound burgers like the Cabbagetown Classic, topped with grilled onions and gooey American cheese. It’s old-school Atlanta charm at its finest—so good that some of the city’s top chefs call it their go-to when they need a fix. 198 Carroll St. SE, Atlanta, littlesfoodstore.com
LOL Burger Bar
This Black-owned Westside spot from founder Cassidy Jones transforms premium five-ounce Angus beef patties into text-coded creations that encourage diners to “Live Out Loud.” Her over-the-top creations range from the OMG—topped with gouda, savory pineapple, applewood bacon, and tangy LOL sauce—to the NSFW, loaded with mac and cheese, baked beans, and bacon. Burgers here are built with intention, so modifications aren’t allowed, but you can always create your own signature stack. 2080 Defoors Ferry Rd. Ste. 130, Atlanta, lolburgerbar.com
NFA Burger
What started as a Dunwoody gas station pop-up has become a must-visit smashburger destination. Billy Kramer set out to create the perfect burger, and it’s exactly that obsessive attention to ingredient quality and execution that keeps locals coming back. His signature Billy’s Classic, aka “the perfect burger”, features a duo of smashed beef patties with American cheese, mustard, pickles, and house-made “sassy sauce” on a Martin’s potato bun. No ketchup required. Multiple locations, nfaburger.com
Burger Crush
Think drive-thru burger, but better. This Smyrna stand-out from Jack’s New Yorker Deli owner Jack Huffey specializes in quick service smashburgers built on an Angus brisket blend that’s griddled to crispy-edged perfection. The classic Crush keeps it simple with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and house-made Crush sauce, while the Whistle Stop goes full Southern with fried green tomatoes, bacon, and pimento cheese. Just be sure to ask for extra napkins. 871 Concord Rd. SE, Smyrna, burgercrush.com
Mister Burger
You might drive right past this vintage-style takeout window while navigating Buckhead’s skyscrapers, and that’s exactly what makes it such a gem. Newly opened in 2025, this late-night spot focuses on perfecting one thing: smashburgers served on sesame seed brioche buns with grilled onions, pickles, cheese, and house sauce. The crispy yet juicy patties are exactly what you might crave after a night out, which is good news given that Mister Burger stays open until 3:30 a.m. on weekends. 308 Pharr Rd. NE, Ste. A, Atlanta, mister-burger.com
