The humble hamburger's origins might be hotly contested, but there's no denying this fast food item's connection with America, where it's served everywhere from old-school diners to hole-in-the-wall joints. Whether you like yours plain, with a slice of pickle, or smothered with American cheese, the classic burger is simply unbeatable, even when creative and inventive options abound. Here, we've rounded up the best classic hamburgers in every state and Washington DC, counting down to the tastiest of them all.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover our ranking of America's greatest classic burgers – how many have you tried?

We've based our ranking on the enduring popularity of each burger in its place of origin and beyond, and on the opinions of our well-traveled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.​​