Philadelphia is famous for cheesesteaks, but its burger scene is just as fun to eat through. The city's strength is the neighborhood bar burger: a simple cheeseburger on a soft roll, served in a corner tavern with a beer. On top of that, you'll find smash burgers on house-baked buns in Center City, Big Mac-style doubles, and chef-driven burgers at some of the city's most respected restaurants.

A few neighborhoods are worth knowing. South Philly, including Bella Vista and East Passyunk, is packed with bars that take their burgers seriously. Fishtown, Kensington and Northern Liberties, just north of Old City, mix old taverns with newer all-day restaurants. Center City and Rittenhouse have the polished burgers, and Brewerytown, near Fairmount Park, has one of the city's best-known burger counters. Every spot below appears on the cards above, and you can browse more in our restaurant directory.

Best burgers in Philadelphia by style

Classic bar burgers

Fountain Porter in South Philly is the city's favorite no-frills cheeseburger: a well-seasoned patty with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles on a potato roll. Standard Tap in Northern Liberties is a long-running pub that serves a classic cheeseburger with fries. Royal Tavern in Bella Vista loads its Royal Burger with smoked gouda, chili mayo, caramelized onions, bacon and a pickled long hot. Find more spots like these on our best classic burgers page.

Smash burgers

Huda in Center City smashes brisket-blend patties and serves them on milk buns baked in-house. Two Robbers in Fishtown makes a twice-smashed patty with American cheese, a Thousand Island-style sauce and sour pickles on a potato bun. Middle Child Clubhouse, also in Fishtown, tops its smash burger with American cheese, sour pickles, white onions and cherry pepper mayo. In Kensington, Jaffa Bar serves a green chile burger with American cheese and shabazi mayo. For more, see our best smash burgers page and our explainer on smash burgers vs. regular burgers.

Big Mac-style doubles

Butcher Bar near Rittenhouse makes a "Royale with cheese" with two patties, shaved pickles, onions and special sauce on a butter-toasted roll. a.kitchen in Rittenhouse takes a more refined approach, with two patties, Cooper Sharp cheese, Dijonnaise and cornichon relish, served with rosemary wedge fries.

Chef-driven and gourmet

Alice in Bella Vista cooks a thick, dry-aged patty over charcoal and tops it with cheddar, aioli, house barbecue sauce and caramelized onions. High Street, a restaurant and bakery at Ninth and Chestnut, is known for its bread, and its buns turn up on burgers elsewhere in the city. SpOt Gourmet Burgers in Brewerytown grinds its beef fresh and serves it on house-made rolls. See our full list of the best gourmet burgers in Philadelphia, and read about dry-aged beef burgers if you're curious what the fuss is about.

Local burger traditions

Philly's burgers borrow from its sandwich culture. Cooper Sharp, a sharp American cheese that's a favorite on local cheesesteaks, shows up on burgers too, including at a.kitchen. Long hots, the long, thin peppers that are a South Philly staple, are another local touch, and Royal Tavern pickles them for its burger. Soft potato rolls, the same kind used for many local sandwiches, are a common bun choice at bars like Fountain Porter and Two Robbers.

The other tradition is the bar itself. Many of the city's favorite burgers come from corner taverns where the burger is one of the main reasons to visit. For a statewide view, read the best burgers in Pennsylvania.

Tips for visiting

Fountain Porter, Huda and Two Robbers don't take reservations, so go early or expect to wait.
Pair stops by neighborhood. Two Robbers and Middle Child Clubhouse are both in Fishtown, while Royal Tavern and Alice are both in Bella Vista.
Check hours before you go. Some restaurants on this list keep limited lunch hours or close one or two days a week.
Want to make a Philly-style burger at home? Try our ultimate smash burger with a sharp American cheese.
Know a spot we missed? Suggest a spot.

Browse by style

Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best smash burgers, gourmet burgers, cheap burgers in Philadelphia.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Philadelphia?

It depends on what you want. For a classic bar burger, start with Fountain Porter or Royal Tavern. For a smash burger, try Huda or Two Robbers. For something chef-driven, go to Alice or a.kitchen.

Where can I find a cheap burger in Philadelphia?

Fountain Porter is the city's go-to for an inexpensive, no-frills cheeseburger. Neighborhood bars like Standard Tap are also good bets for a casual burger and a beer.

Where is the best smash burger in Philadelphia?

Huda in Center City and Two Robbers and Middle Child Clubhouse in Fishtown are three of the most popular. Jaffa Bar in Kensington adds green chiles for a spicier take.

Where can I get a burger near Rittenhouse Square?

Butcher Bar, a.kitchen and Huda are all a short walk from the square, and each takes a different approach, from a Big Mac-style double to a smash burger on a house-baked bun.