Portland is a cheeseburger town with a lot of variety. Some of its best burgers come from neighborhood taverns, others from food carts, and a few from restaurants that are better known for something else entirely. You can grab a smash burger at a bar in North Portland, a double from a food cart in Nob Hill, or a small steam burger at a wine bar on East Burnside.

The city is easy to explore by neighborhood. Downtown and Nob Hill, on the west side of the Willamette River, have some of the busiest burger stops. Across the river, the inner east side, including Kerns and the East Burnside corridor, has a dense mix of restaurants and bars. Northeast Portland neighborhoods like Hollywood and Concordia, along with North Portland, round out the map. Every spot below is also on the cards above, and you can browse more in our restaurant directory.

Best burgers in Portland by style

Smash burgers

Tulip Shop Tavern in North Portland is a neighborhood bar known for smash burgers and craft cocktails, and Willamette Week readers voted it Portland's best burger in 2025. Pleasure Burger opened downtown in 2024 and pairs its crispy, juicy burgers with waffle fries. Bless Your Heart Burgers in Northeast Portland uses Northwest beef for its smash burgers and has a Carolina-style option on the menu. For more on the style, read smash burger vs. regular burger, and see our best smash burgers page for picks around the country.

Food cart burgers

Food carts are a big part of Portland's food culture, and Farmer and the Beast is one of the city's best-known burger carts. It sits in the Nob Hill food cart pod and serves beef, tuna and vegan burgers with hand-cut fries and milkshakes. It's a casual, order-at-the-window kind of meal.

Restaurant and chef-driven burgers

Canard on East Burnside is chef Gabriel Rucker's restaurant, and its small steam burger with pickles, onions, mustard and American cheese has a devoted following. Güero in Kerns is best known for its tortas, but its hamburguesa is worth ordering too, with a smash patty, ham and avocado. Our best gourmet burgers page has more burgers in this vein.

Local chains and creative burgers

Killer Burger was born in Portland in 2010 and is known for combining burgers, bacon, pickles and peanut butter. It has several locations around the city, including one in the Hollywood neighborhood, and it also serves food at Providence Park and the Moda Center during events. If the peanut butter burger sounds strange, it's a local favorite worth trying at least once. See our guide to the best burger toppings for more ideas.

Local burger traditions

Portland's burger scene reflects the city's broader food culture. Food carts have long been a way for cooks to start small, and burger carts like Farmer and the Beast fit right into that tradition. Neighborhood taverns are the other pillar, and a good bar burger with fries and a local beer is a classic Portland meal.

Local sourcing also comes up a lot. Several spots highlight Northwest beef or local bakery buns, and many menus include vegan or vegetarian options alongside the beef burgers. Restaurants also come and go here, as they do in any food city. For example, Expatriate, a Concordia cocktail bar with a well-loved burger, closed in February 2026, so it's always smart to check before you go.

Tips for visiting

Pair stops by area. Canard and Güero are both on the inner east side, while Pleasure Burger and Farmer and the Beast are on the west side of the river.
Dress for the weather if you're eating at a food cart. Some cart pods have covered seating, but not all of them do.
Check hours before you go, especially for food carts and bar kitchens, which can change their schedules.
Ask about vegan and gluten-free options. Many Portland burger spots offer them.
Craving one at home? Try our ultimate smash burger or classic backyard cheeseburger.
Know a Portland spot we missed? Suggest a spot.

Browse by style

Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best smash burgers, classic burger joints, cheap burgers in Portland.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Portland?

Willamette Week readers picked Tulip Shop Tavern as the city's best burger in 2025. For something different, try Canard's steam burger or a double from Farmer and the Beast.

Where can I find a cheap burger in Portland?

Food carts and casual counters are your best bet. Farmer and the Beast, Pleasure Burger and Killer Burger are all good choices for a quick, casual meal.

Where can I get a vegan burger in Portland?

Farmer and the Beast serves a vegan burger alongside its beef and tuna options, and many other Portland spots offer plant-based patties. Ask when you order.

What is the Killer Burger peanut butter burger?

Killer Burger is known for burgers that combine bacon, pickles and peanut butter. It's a Portland original and a fun one to try if you're visiting.