Best Burgers in Louisville
Louisville pairs bourbon-friendly burger bars with local classics and smash burger taverns, from NuLu and the Highlands to Shelby Park and Old Louisville.
Where to Eat
How to eat burgers in Louisville
Louisville is a bourbon town, and many of its best burgers come with a good whiskey list close at hand. The city has a mix of long-running local favorites, creative burger bars and newer smash burger spots, and locals are happy to argue about which one is best.
A few areas are worth knowing. NuLu, just east of downtown, is a walkable strip of restaurants and shops along East Market Street. Bardstown Road runs through the Highlands and is lined with bars. Frankfort Avenue is another dining corridor to the east, Shelby Park is a fast-changing neighborhood southeast of downtown, and Old Louisville is home to historic mansions near the University of Louisville. Every spot below appears on the cards above, and you can browse more cities in our restaurant directory.
Best burgers in Louisville by style
Smash burgers
Toasty's Tavern in Shelby Park is the smash burger locals mention most, with sharp American cheese, griddled onions and Toasty's sauce. In the South End, Week-end Burgers on National Turnpike has a strong following. For more on the style, read smash burger vs. regular burger or browse our best smash burgers picks.
Local classics
Ollie's Trolley serves its seasoned Ollie Burger from a take-out stand built into an old trolley car on South 3rd Street. Bambi Bar on Bardstown Road is a no-frills neighborhood bar with burgers that rank among the area's highest rated. If you like this style, our best classic burgers page has more.
Gourmet and creative burgers
Grind Burger Kitchen in NuLu is one of the best-known burger restaurants in town, with grass-fed beef and more than 50 bourbons. Holy Grale, a beer bar in a former church on Bardstown Road, serves a burger made with local beef on a pretzel bun. 80/20 @ Kaelin's is known for its loaded Ribeye Burger, and Red Hog, a craft butcher on Frankfort Avenue, serves a dry-aged cheeseburger. Downtown, Mussel & Burger Bar has lamb, chorizo and crab burgers alongside beef. Read about the appeal of aged beef in our guide to dry-aged beef burgers, or browse our best gourmet burgers page.
Wild game
Game on Lexington Road serves burgers and sliders made with elk, venison, wild boar and other wild game, which makes it one of the most unusual burger stops in the region.
Local burger traditions
Louisville's burger scene is shaped by its love of local ingredients and its bar culture. Local beef from 3D Valley Farm shows up on the burger at Holy Grale, and pimento cheese, a Southern staple, tops the Southern Burger at Grind. Many of the best burgers are found in bars and taverns, from Bambi Bar to Toasty's, rather than in dedicated burger chains.
Bourbon is never far away either. Several of the spots on this list pair burgers with a serious whiskey selection, which makes a burger stop an easy way to taste a little local bourbon too.
Tips for visiting
- Bring cash for Ollie's Trolley, which is take-out only.
- Group stops by area. Grind and Mussel & Burger Bar are close to downtown, while Holy Grale and Bambi Bar are both on Bardstown Road.
- Plan around Derby season. Restaurants across the city get much busier in late April and early May.
- Check hours before you go. Several spots on this list keep limited or changing schedules.
- Cooking at home? Our burger temperature and doneness guide covers the USDA-recommended 160°F for ground beef.
Browse by style
Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best gourmet burgers, cheap burgers in Louisville.
FAQ
What is the best burger in Louisville?
For a smash burger, Toasty's Tavern is the local favorite. For a classic sit-down burger, Grind Burger Kitchen in NuLu is one of the best-known names, and Holy Grale and 80/20 @ Kaelin's are strong alternatives.
Where can I find a cheap burger in Louisville?
Ollie's Trolley, Bambi Bar, Toasty's Tavern and Week-end Burgers are all casual, no-frills spots.
Where can I try an unusual burger in Louisville?
Game on Lexington Road serves wild game burgers such as elk and venison, and Mussel & Burger Bar offers lamb and chorizo burgers.
Where should I eat a burger near downtown?
Mussel & Burger Bar is on South 7th Street downtown, and Grind Burger Kitchen is a short walk east in NuLu.