Best Burgers in Memphis
Memphis burgers range from Dyer's century-old fried patties on Beale Street to dive-bar classics on South Main and a Michelin-recognized onion burger in East Memphis.
Where to Eat
How to eat burgers in Memphis
Memphis is a barbecue city, but its burger history runs just as deep. One of its most famous burger counters has been frying patties for more than a century, its dive bars have their own cult burgers, and a barbecue chain is one of the city's favorite places to get a cheeseburger. Newer chef-driven restaurants have added their own takes, including an Oklahoma-style onion burger that has earned national attention.
A few areas are worth knowing. Downtown, around Beale Street, is where many visitors start. The South Main Arts District, just south, has galleries, historic bars and the National Civil Rights Museum. East Memphis is more residential, with some of the city's best restaurants tucked into shopping centers, and Summer Avenue and Jackson Avenue are local corridors with old-school spots. Every spot below appears on the cards above, and you can browse more cities in our restaurant directory.
Best burgers in Memphis by style
Historic classics
Dyer's Burgers on Beale Street smashes its patties thin with a mallet and deep-fries them in grease the restaurant traces back to 1912. Food & Wine put it on its 2025 list of the country's top burger spots. Tops Bar-B-Q dates to 1952 and has locations all over the Mid-South, and many locals go for its cheeseburgers as much as its barbecue. Huey's is another Memphis institution, and its downtown location is an easy walk from Beale Street. For more in this style, see our best classic burgers page.
Bar and tavern burgers
Some of the city's most loved burgers come from bars. Earnestine & Hazel's on South Main serves the simple Soul Burger with its signature Soul Sauce. The Green Beetle has been pouring since 1939 and serves the Beetle Burger and a bacon jam burger. The Slider Inn, in a former auto garage downtown, is home of the Big Deuce, a two-patty slider with bacon and two cheeses. On Jackson Avenue, Alex's Tavern is an old-school bar known for its Greek Burger.
Chef-driven burgers
Hog & Hominy in East Memphis earned a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Michelin Guide, and its John T. Burger is an Oklahoma-style smashed onion burger with American cheese, pickled lettuce and mustard. If you love that style, our Oklahoma fried onion burger guide explains how it works, and our best smash burgers page has more picks.
Local burger traditions
The deep-fried burger at Dyer's is the closest thing Memphis has to a signature style. Instead of cooking on a dry griddle, the thin patties are fried in seasoned grease, which gives them a rich, crisp finish. The other local habit is mixing barbecue and burgers, as Tops does with barbecue sauce and its Fireman burger.
For a statewide look at burgers, including Nashville and beyond, read our guide to the best burgers in Tennessee. If you want to understand how thin, pressed patties differ from thick ones, see smash burger vs. regular burger.
Tips for visiting
- Group stops by area. Dyer's and Huey's are both downtown near Beale Street, while Earnestine & Hazel's, The Slider Inn and The Green Beetle are all in the South Main Arts District.
- Expect bar settings. Several spots on this list are taverns with late-night crowds, so check age policies if you are bringing kids.
- Check hours before you go. Some bars open only in the afternoon or evening, and schedules can change.
- Add a little barbecue. Barbecue sauce, pickles and jalapeños on a cheeseburger is a very Memphis way to order.
- 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 classic burger joints, cheap burgers in Memphis.
FAQ
What is the best burger in Memphis?
For history, start with Dyer's on Beale Street. For a bar burger, locals love Earnestine & Hazel's Soul Burger and Alex's Tavern's Greek Burger. For a chef-driven burger, try the John T. Burger at Hog & Hominy.
Where can I find a cheap burger in Memphis?
Tops Bar-B-Q, Huey's, The Slider Inn and Dyer's are all casual and budget-friendly, and Tops has locations all over the city.
What is a Dyer's burger?
It is a thin beef patty smashed with a wooden mallet and deep-fried in grease that Dyer's says dates back to 1912. The Double Double is the classic order.
Where should I get a burger near Beale Street?
Dyer's is right on Beale Street, and Huey's Downtown is a short walk away. The Slider Inn, The Green Beetle and Earnestine & Hazel's are a few blocks south on South Main.