The Best Burgers in North Dakota (2026)

The best burgers in North Dakota are in Fargo and Bismarck, and the one name everybody knows is JL Beers. Its small, cheese-heavy burgers have won Bismarck's reader polls year after year and keep showing up on national best-in-state lists. In Fargo, also watch the yearly Downtown Fargo Burger Royale, where restaurants like 84 Italian Steakhouse and The Drawing Room have won with creative specials.

Below is our roundup, grouped by city. Each spot appeared in 2025-2026 coverage from local media, national food sites or diner-rating roundups. Hours change, so check before you go.

North Dakota's burger scene in brief

North Dakota's burger culture is built on bars, taprooms and diners, plus a lively competition scene in its two biggest cities. Here's what to look for:

• Bar burgers with lots of cheese: JL Beers made its name with compact cheeseburgers and a big beer list. Our best cheese for burgers guide explains which cheeses melt best.
• Burger competitions: downtown Fargo and downtown Bismarck both run burger contests where local kitchens enter one-off creations. The winning burgers are often limited-time specials, so go during the event.
• Fries that matter: several of the state's top burger spots get as much praise for their fries as their burgers.

Fargo

• JL Beers: founded in downtown Fargo and now has locations in Fargo, West Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Moorhead, Minnesota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Tasting Table picked its cheeseburger as North Dakota's best burger in 2025, and Foodie.com named it the state's best burger joint in 2026. If you only try one burger in the state, make it this one.
• 84 Italian Steakhouse: the steakhouse at the Radisson Blu won the 2025 Downtown Fargo Burger Royale with its Peach Be With You burger, a grilled patty with smoked peaches, jalapeños, a bourbon glaze, pepper jack, arugula and basil crème fraîche.
• The Drawing Room: a speakeasy-style cocktail bar below Mezzaluna downtown. It won the 2026 Burger Royale with a Taleggio Dip Burger topped with sherry-onion jam, crispy prosciutto and Taleggio cream sauce.
• Pounds: one of the top-rated burger restaurants in the Fargo area in a 2025 ranking of diner reviews.
• 46 North Pints & Provisions: the highest-rated spot on that same 2025 Fargo burger ranking.

Fargo sits on the Minnesota line. For more burgers to the east, see our Minnesota burger guide and our Minneapolis burger guide.

Bismarck

• JL Beers Bismarck: the downtown Bismarck location has won or placed in the Bismarck Tribune Readers' Choice best hamburger category almost every year since it opened in 2012. In 2024 it also won the first Downtown Bismarck Burger Slam.
• Scotty's Drive In: a Bismarck drive-in that ranked among the city's highest-rated burger spots in a 2025 roundup of diner reviews. It's the pick for a classic, no-fuss burger.

How to judge a burger contest entry

Burger competitions are a big part of North Dakota's burger scene, and many of them let the public vote. If you're tasting your way through one, score each burger on the same few points:

• The patty: is it well seasoned, with a good crust and juicy center?
• Balance: creative toppings like smoked fruit or cheese sauces should support the beef, not bury it.
• The bun: it should hold up to sauces without getting soggy. Our best buns for burgers guide explains what to look for.
• Eatability: a great burger can be eaten with your hands without falling apart.

How to eat your way through North Dakota

1. Time your Fargo visit for the Burger Royale. The downtown contest runs in early summer, and many entries are only available during the event.
2. Make JL Beers your baseline. Since it has locations across the state, it's an easy way to compare one style city to city.
3. Order the fries. At JL Beers especially, fries are part of the draw.
4. Budget drive time. Fargo to Bismarck is roughly three hours on I-94, with few big towns in between.
5. Check winter hours. Cold snaps and storms can change hours, especially at drive-ins.

Make a North Dakota bar burger at home

To make a JL Beers-style bar burger, form smaller, thinner patties and cook them on a very hot griddle or cast-iron pan. Then pile on the cheese and cover the pan briefly so it melts. Our classic cheeseburger recipe is a good base, and our crispy oven fries complete the plate. To try a Burger Royale-style creation, add a sweet-spicy topping like smoked fruit and jalapeños. Cook ground beef to 160°F for USDA-recommended doneness; see our burger temperature guide.

Know a North Dakota burger we're missing? Suggest a spot, or browse more guides on our best burgers hub.

FAQ

What is the best burger in North Dakota?

JL Beers is the most-recognized pick. Tasting Table named it North Dakota's best burger in 2025, Foodie.com named it the state's best burger joint in 2026, and its Bismarck location keeps winning local reader polls.

What is the Downtown Fargo Burger Royale?

It's a yearly competition where downtown Fargo restaurants each enter one burger. 84 Italian Steakhouse won in 2025 and The Drawing Room won in 2026.

Where should I eat a burger in Bismarck?

Start with JL Beers downtown, a perennial Readers' Choice winner, then try Scotty's Drive In for a classic drive-in burger.

Does JL Beers have locations outside North Dakota?

Yes. Along with its North Dakota locations, it has spots in Moorhead, Minnesota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.