The Best Burgers in Virginia: Richmond Burger Guide (2026)

The best burgers in Virginia are easiest to find in Richmond, where tiny Northside counters smash some of the state's most praised burgers. Start with Smashed RVA and Slay Burgers in Northside, then try Eazzy Burger in Scott's Addition for a barbecue team's take. For a sit-down burger bar, head to the Fan or the Museum District.

This roundup is built from the spots in our Richmond burger guide, grouped by style and neighborhood. Check hours before you go, since several of the best spots are small counters.

How Richmond does burgers

Richmond doesn't have a single regional burger style, but it has a strong smash burger scene. Some of the city's top-rated burgers come from small, focused operations that started as pop-ups or family counters. Busier burger bars fill the Fan and the Museum District, and Scott's Addition, the city's brewery and cidery district, has one of the newer standouts.

Northside smash burger counters

• Smashed RVA: a former pop-up favorite that settled into a shop on Brook Road. The beef comes from Seven Hills, a Virginia meat company, smashed thin and crisp. The Mac Smash, with American cheese and house Mac sauce, is the order most people come for. Yelp-based rankings put it at the top of the city's burger list in 2025, and there's a vegan smash too.
• Slay Burgers: a small, family-run counter on Brookland Park Boulevard. Patties are smashed to order for lacy, crispy edges, and the namesake Slay Burger comes as a single or a double. It's mostly to-go, with a few benches out front.

New to the style? Read smash burger vs. regular burger, or browse our best smash burgers picks.

Scott's Addition: Eazzy Burger

Eazzy Burger comes from the team behind ZZQ, the Texas-style barbecue spot, and it brings the same care to beef. Patties are a blend of brisket, chuck and short rib, griddled hard for a good crust. The Chile Relleno Burger, with a griddled poblano and Oaxaca cheese, is the standout, and you can ask for any burger animal style. Breweries and cideries are close by, so it fits neatly into an afternoon of drinks.

Burger bars in the Fan and Museum District

• Beauvine Burger Concept: took over the former Bellytimber Tavern space on West Main Street in the Fan. Specialty burgers sit alongside a build-your-own menu, with turkey, veggie and gluten-free bun options. The Turkey Bellytimber Burger gets plenty of praise, and milkshakes are part of the appeal.
• Boulevard Burger & Brew: a casual burger and craft beer spot on Arthur Ashe Boulevard, a short walk from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Expect Black Angus burgers, a black bean burger, sliders and boozy milkshakes. It reopened in early 2025 after a car crashed into the building.
• Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint: a Grove Avenue beer bar known for wagyu patties. The Elvis, with peanut butter, bacon, mayo and American cheese, is the famous one. Curious about the beef? Read are wagyu burgers worth it.

Downtown and Church Hill

• Secret Sandwich Society: despite the name, burgers are a big draw at this East Grace Street spot in a former clothing store. Expect loaded toppings, and order the Society Fries with pimiento cheese.
• Liberty Public House: a neighborhood restaurant and bar on North 25th Street in Church Hill, known for comfort food, brunch and burgers. It's the pick for a sit-down meal east of downtown.

For more in this style, see our best gourmet burgers page.

How to plan a Richmond burger crawl

1. Start in Northside. Smashed RVA and Slay Burgers are close to each other, and both are small, so go early or expect a wait.
2. Spend an afternoon in Scott's Addition. Eazzy Burger pairs with a brewery or cidery stop.
3. Visit the museum, then eat. Boulevard Burger & Brew is a short walk from the VMFA.
4. Do the Fan at night. Beauvine is a lively burger bar on West Main Street.
5. Finish in Church Hill. Liberty Public House is close to the historic streets, with Shockoe Bottom just downhill.

What to order

• Smashed RVA: the Mac Smash, as a double.
• Slay Burgers: the Slay Burger.
• Eazzy Burger: the Chile Relleno Burger.
• Beauvine: the Turkey Bellytimber Burger and a milkshake.
• Jack Brown's: the Elvis, if you're brave.
• Secret Sandwich Society: a burger with Society Fries.

Make a Richmond-style smash burger at home

Loosely roll the beef into balls, press them hard onto a very hot pan, and don't move them until the edges turn lacy and brown. Our ultimate smash burger recipe walks you through it. For a lighter option like the Turkey Bellytimber, try our juicy turkey burger. Cook ground beef to 160°F and ground turkey to 165°F for USDA-recommended doneness.

Know a great burger in Norfolk, Charlottesville or northern Virginia? Suggest a spot.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Virginia?

In Richmond, Smashed RVA and Slay Burgers lead for smash burgers, and Eazzy Burger is a strong pick in Scott's Addition.

Where can I get a smash burger in Richmond?

Northside has the top two: Smashed RVA on Brook Road and Slay Burgers on Brookland Park Boulevard.

What is the Elvis burger at Jack Brown's?

It's a wagyu patty topped with peanut butter, applewood-smoked bacon, mayo and American cheese.

Where can I get a burger near the VMFA?

Boulevard Burger & Brew is on Arthur Ashe Boulevard, a short walk from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Does Richmond have vegan burgers?

Yes. Smashed RVA has a vegan smash burger, and Boulevard Burger & Brew serves a black bean burger.