Best Burgers in Boston
Boston's best burgers include a Fenway favorite, a fried-oyster burger in the North End and a Harvard Square institution across the river in Cambridge.
Where to Eat
How to eat burgers in Boston
Boston doesn't have one signature burger style, and that's what makes it fun to eat through. You can order a burger topped with fried oysters at a tiny seafood bar, grab a simple griddled cheeseburger before a Red Sox game, or cross the river to Cambridge for a Harvard Square institution and a lacy-edged smash burger. Some of the city's most talked-about burgers come from wine bars, dive bars and brunch spots rather than burger joints.
A few neighborhoods are worth knowing. The North End and the West End, near TD Garden, sit close together on the north side of downtown. Fenway has game-day burgers steps from the ballpark. The South End and South Boston (Southie) have strong neighborhood restaurants, and East Boston is a short ride across the harbor. In Cambridge, Harvard Square and Central Square, both along Massachusetts Avenue, are home to several of the region's favorites. Every spot below appears on the cards above, and you can browse more in our restaurant directory.
Best burgers in Boston by style
Classic and game-day burgers
Tasty Burger in Fenway is the easy pick before or after a game, with a thinner, griddled patty, cheese and house sauces. Downtown, JM Curley serves the Curley Burger with caramelized onions, cheddar, pickles and Russian dressing on a sesame bun. Near TD Garden, A&B Kitchen & Bar has a Big Mac-style Royale with Cheese, plus a thicker burger and a loaded barbecue option. Find more spots like these on our best classic burgers page.
Smash burgers
Roxy's Grilled Cheese & Burgers in Central Square makes thin, lacy-edged smash burgers from grass-fed beef. In East Boston, The Quiet Few is a dive bar that marinates its two smashed patties in spices and whiskey and serves them with waffle fries. Gray's Hall, a wine bar in South Boston, turns out a crisp-edged single patty with American cheese, griddled onions and special sauce. For more around the country, see our best smash burgers page.
Chef-driven and gourmet
Neptune Oyster in the North End is best known for seafood, but its burger, topped with fried oysters, a garlic-mayo relish and Vermont cheddar, is one of the most famous in the city. Alden & Harlow in Harvard Square serves a charred, beefy burger on a Parker House roll with a cheddar crisp, and it often sells out. In the South End, Black Lamb offers a cheeseburger and a lamb burger with whipped feta at brunch. Browse more picks on our best gourmet burgers page.
Big menus and old favorites
Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square has a huge menu of burgers named after famous people, including the Jayson Tatum with Swiss, arugula and garlic aioli. It's a good stop if your group can't agree on toppings.
Local burger traditions
Boston's burger culture leans on its seafood and bar culture rather than one regional style. The fried-oyster burger at Neptune Oyster is the clearest local twist, pairing a beef patty with one of New England's signature foods. Parker House rolls, the soft dinner rolls tied to Boston's Omni Parker House hotel, show up as a bun at Alden & Harlow.
The other tradition is the Cambridge burger crawl. Mr. Bartley's, Alden & Harlow and Roxy's are all along or just off Massachusetts Avenue, so you can sample a classic, a chef-driven burger and a smash burger without going far. If you're new to the styles, our guide to American burger styles explains the difference.
Tips for visiting
- Neptune Oyster is tiny and takes walk-ins only, so expect a wait at peak times.
- Tasty Burger gets busy on Red Sox game days. Go early if you're heading to Fenway Park.
- Alden & Harlow's burger can sell out, so go earlier in the evening if it's the main reason for your visit.
- Use the T to hop between Cambridge and downtown. Harvard Square and Central Square are both on the Red Line.
- Check hours before you go. Black Lamb's burgers are on the brunch menu, and bar kitchens can change by season.
- Know a Boston spot we missed? Suggest a spot.
Browse by style
Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best classic burger joints, gourmet burgers, cheap burgers in Boston.
FAQ
What is the best burger in Boston?
Neptune Oyster's fried-oyster burger is the most famous, and Alden & Harlow in Cambridge is a close rival for a chef-driven burger. For a classic, try JM Curley or Tasty Burger.
Where can I find a cheap burger in Boston?
Tasty Burger in Fenway and Roxy's Grilled Cheese & Burgers in Central Square are casual counter-style spots. The Quiet Few in East Boston is a laid-back dive bar with a smash burger and waffle fries.
Where can I get a burger near Fenway Park?
Tasty Burger is the go-to in Fenway. JM Curley downtown and A&B Kitchen & Bar near TD Garden are good options if you're heading to other parts of the city.
What is the best burger in Cambridge?
Alden & Harlow in Harvard Square is the destination burger. Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage is the old-school favorite, and Roxy's in Central Square is the pick for a smash burger.