Whether you like your burgers smashed to crispy perfection, smothered in cheese or topped with bacon, there are so many delicious options to choose from across Britain and Ireland. We've ranked the best burger places in every region of the UK – each of England's nine official regions, plus Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – and Ireland, from new kids on the block to no-frills food trucks and timeless old-school spots serving classic burgers cooked with love.
Read on for our ultimate list of Britain and Ireland's greatest burger spots, counting down to the best of all – has your local made the cut?
We've based our ranking on the reviews, awards and accolades of each restaurant, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
Smash N' Slide isn’t one of London’s big hitters in the burger stakes, but this small suburban food truck has been quietly making some of the city’s most sensational burgers since 2020. The takeaway-only joint, located on an industrial estate in Northolt, started out as a lockdown project run by husband-and-wife team Zubair and Shanaz Rahim. These days fast food lovers flock to West London to get a taste of simple but perfectly executed smash burgers like the Cheesy Smash, made with 28-day dry-aged beef, red onions, double American cheese, pickles and house-made burger sauce.
Starting out in 2012 as a street food vendor, The Meat Shack quickly gained a loyal local following for its delightfully messy burgers, made using the best quality grass-fed beef. These days the place operates from a bustling restaurant in Birmingham's vibrant Chinese Quarter, but those famous burgers are still as rich and juicy as ever. A firm favourite is the Buffalo Blue, featuring a perfectly crispy, caramelised smash patty, topped with homemade Buffalo sauce, blue cheese and a candied bacon crumb.
Danny Hawke set up his eponymous burger spot after winning barbecue festival Grillstock back in 2017. Since then, Danny's Burgers has scooped plenty more awards (including best burger at the 2022 National Burger Awards) and now runs from Fierce & Noble brewery in the Bristol suburb of St Werburghs. The signature order here is the Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger, where fresh onions are smashed onto the patty as the meat is pressed into the grill for melty, crispy perfection.
Those who remember iconic roadside restaurant chains like Happy Eater and Little Chef will feel a wave of nostalgia at this retro-cool spot. Opened in early 2023, Brightside Roadside Dining was ‘inspired by childhood road trips of days gone by’ and has already won high praise for its crowd-pleasing food. It even got to the finals of the 2024 National Burger Awards, where it won praise for its Dirty Brisket Burger, featuring two smashed burger patties, beef brisket, smoked streaky bacon, American cheese, crispy onions and gravy mayo. There is also a branch in Cornwall, with more on the way.
This Glasgow institution is loved for its cool vibe, fantastic cocktails and creative menu, featuring some of the city’s finest (and biggest) burgers. The patties here are a thick and juicy affair and the signature order is The Big Lebowski (pictured), a simple but irresistible stack of two beef burgers, American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles and house burger sauce. There are also six fantastic chicken burgers and five plant-based options to choose from: try the Hail Seitan, made with crispy-fried seitan, sriracha sauce, chilli jam and pickles.
Fast food lovers flock to this small independent gem, tucked away in scenic Sligo. Winning the title of Ireland's best burger at the National Burger Awards in 2021, Flipside is loved for its friendly atmosphere and the huge array of creative burgers on offer. The beef patties are all made using 100% Irish grass-fed Angus beef from local butcher William Clarkes, while all the delicious sauces are made in-house, including honey butter hot sauce and creamy Caesar mayo. The must-order here is The Rebel – a chunky beef patty topped with smoked Irish cheese, Ballymaloe relish, honey-glazed bacon and sticky brown onions.
Another National Burger Awards finalist, That Burger Place takes the art of smashing burgers to dizzy new heights – these juicy patties are practically smashed to oblivion, with unbelievably crunchy, caramelised edges. The go-to order here is the California Dreaming (pictured), an In-N-Out–style delight made with a double beef patty, American cheese, diced white onion, shredded lettuce, crispy bacon ‘rain’, bacon mayo and secret recipe burger sauce.
Home of the Trashy Tray (pictured) – a decadent sharing platter for two, containing everything from poutine to spicy wings – Chuck and Blade is widely considered to be Kent’s top burger spot, with branches in Canterbury, Rochester, Ramsgate and Maidstone. Recommended dishes here include the In And Out – a tribute to a certain Californian burger chain – and the Halloumi Honey Monster, a rich and sticky veggie option consisting of crispy grilled halloumi, homemade pickles, beef tomatoes and lettuce, all drizzled in hot honey.
This no-frills pit stop on an industrial estate in Mile End has attracted a cult following for its LA-style smashburgers, and recently won the prestigious 'Burger Chef of the Year' title at the 2024 National Burger Awards. These perfectly caramelised, pancake-flat patties are loaded with everything from homemade brisket or pastrami to a straightforward slice of melty American cheese. It’s often pretty busy, with limited seating, but the juicy burgers, friendly service and affordable prices make Bun & Sum so worth a visit.
A hidden gem in Belfast’s trendy Trademarket, Baps is another burger spot specialising in California-style smashed burgers, but it’s the deep-fried chicken burgers that really draw in the crowds. The spot’s signature Nashville Hot Chicken (pictured) is a riot of flavour, with fans praising the shatteringly crisp, perfectly spiced chicken, creamy ranch sauce and pillowy-soft buns. Diners also rave about the Buffalo wings and loaded Parmesan fries.
This wildly popular burger joint runs from The Ten Bells pub on Norwich’s buzzy St. Benedict Street, so you can pair your burger with a top-notch cocktail or a tasty craft beer. At Fupburger the food is unapologetically OTT and delightfully messy, especially the one pictured – which features a smashed beef patty, double American cheese, deep-fried chicken breast, sriracha glaze and two rashers of streaky pancetta. The chicken wings (or, as a meat-free alternative, the ‘Cauli Not Wings’) are also a must-order, available with four mouth-watering toppings.
Winner of Newcastle’s Battle of the Burger competition six times in a row, it’s safe to say that Lola Jeans (which has a second location in Tynemouth, on the coast) knows how to make an excellent burger. This buzzy bar and restaurant may look elegant, but its mouth-watering burgers are anything but – and we mean that in the best way possible. The beef is minced in-house using a custom blend of premium cuts and the resulting patties come piled high with everything from Crispy Bacon Frazzles and Monster Munch crisps to smoked salt beef and pickles.
Ansh is a collaboration between chef Aled Hill and fourth generation farmer/butcher Shaun Jones, so the quality of the sustainable beef used is of the highest quality. Here the go-to order is the striking Barti Ddu (pictured), which consists of a Llygadenwyn black beef patty, smoked streaky bacon, smoked Welsh Cheddar and a seaweed rum sauce, crammed inside a black charcoal bun.
This fantastic burger van can be found at various pubs and markets around Suffolk, depending on the day. As you’ll guess from the name, the company specialises in burgers made from the juiciest Wagyu beef. To really taste the quality of the meat, keep it classic with the Bacon & Cheese, simply served with honey mustard mayo, lettuce, onion, tomato and sliced gherkins. But look out for the fully loaded specials too, especially the Truffle Pig, which features a beef patty topped with glazed pork belly, pork crackling, Parmesan and truffle mayo.
Former fast food blogger Tom Warwick spent years touring Britain's top burger joints before finally setting up his own burger van in 2021. His amazingly juicy smashed patties were an instant hit, and the company was named a finalist in the 2024 National Burger Awards. For Tom, it’s all about quality ingredients: he uses a specific blend of grass-fed heritage beef that’s dry-aged for 28 days, makes all of his own sauces and the buns are baked fresh every morning. You’ll find his van at locations throughout the East Midlands.
The burgers at this much-loved Galway spot are indeed very good looking. Founded in 2017 by best friends Rory McCormack and Cathal O’Connor, the joint has since gone from market stall to bricks-and-mortar restaurant and has a following for its array of tasty burgers, from classic beef to buttermilk fried chicken and a fantastic veggie tandoori spinach and onion bhaji burger. It gained notoriety after being named Burger of the Year at the Irish Takeaway Awards 2023, and recently opened a second location at Dublin airport.
This buzzy fine-dining restaurant, in the city’s upmarket St James's neighbourhood, specialises in creative, sustainable cooking, making delicious use of often discarded ingredients, like cod’s head and whey. But those in the know order the exceptional burger, made using ex-dairy cow beef for a supremely rich and intense flavour. It’s finished with crispy bacon, smoked burger sauce, pickled shallots and melted cheese, and served inside a pillowy brioche bun from lauded London bakery Paul Rhodes. This isn't the cheapest burger in the capital, but it might be the most exquisite.
From classic beef to fried chicken, crispy halloumi and vegan patties, this laid-back Durham restaurant has it all. If you like to keep it simple, we recommend the Uncle Sam, a classic smashed beef patty with house-made pickles, white onion, lettuce, American cheese, mustard and ketchup. Or for something seriously over-the-top, try the Gravy Train Roux, which comes with a rich beef bacon gravy, American cheese, matchstick potatoes and roast garlic mayo. Tango also has a lovely terrace overlooking the river, making it a great spot for an al fresco feast when the weather is nice.
Leeds-based Bundobust has a cult following for its delicious and affordable vegetarian Indian street food, and for burger lovers there’s one dish that simply has to be ordered: the Vada Pav. Bundobust’s twist on Mumbai’s favourite street food is a riot of flavour and texture. A ball of spicy mashed potato is coated in gram flour and deep fried until perfectly crisp, then served in a brioche bun with red and green chutney and as much fried green chilli as you can handle. The small chain also has branches in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham.
This legendary burger spot is credited with bringing street food to Londonderry back in 2013. In the beginning, founder Kevin Pyke sold his sensational burgers from a shipping container on the River Foyle, soon adding a converted double-decker bus (known as ‘Decky’) and eventually a restaurant in 2019. Nowadays, it’s still the city’s go-to place for a perfectly executed Wagyu cheeseburger, but look out for specials like the halloumi burger, topped with crunchy slaw and a zingy salsa verde.
With locations all over the UK, it’s fair to say Fat Hippo’s brand of quirky flavours and huge variety has taken the country by storm. But it all started in Newcastle upon Tyne, where the chain has two branches. Diners love it here because there’s something for everyone, from classic burgers to gluten-free options and experimental toppings such as chunky peanut butter with bacon jam. Vegans are also very well catered for, with dishes like the Kula Faker (pictured), made with crispy Southern fried ‘chkn’, gooey vegan cheese, salt and chilli pepper seasoning, spicy pickles and pink onions.
Smashed has quickly become a North Wales staple, bringing perfectly made smash burgers to locals since father-and-son duo Mat and Ethan Burton opened the joint in early 2023. And while you can't go far wrong with any burger on the menu, the Burgasm (pictured) gets the most love. This hearty beast of a burger contains a crispy smashed beef patty piled with rare steak, caramelised onions and a punchy peppercorn sauce. Punters say it's cooked to perfection and best paired with the loaded tater tots.
A relative newcomer to Cornwall’s thriving food scene, Herd Burger made a massive impression when it launched in early 2023, quickly becoming one of Newquay’s must-visit spots. According to its founders, the burgers are intended to be ‘big on flavour and simplicity’, and its signature Herd Burger – basically a perfectly prepared cheeseburger – made it to the finals of the 2024 National Burger Awards. Fans also rave about the cheese fries, milkshakes and soft serve ice cream, available in creative flavours like Birthday Cake and Roasted White Chocolate.
Named Burger Restaurant of the Year at the 2023 Scottish Restaurant Awards, this lockdown sensation stands out from the crowd by smothering its burgers with a signature ‘Butta’ baste for maximum flavour. Favourites include the Truffle Beef (pictured), which sees a juicy Scottish Wagyu beef patty covered in smoked Cheddar, crispy fried onions and house-made truffle mayo. Butta Burger also has a seriously impressive roster of plant-based burgers, including the fantastic Korean Vegan – a meat-free patty topped with kimchi and homemade Scotch bonnet sauce.
Taj Tandoori might sound like a classic Indian restaurant, but it actually serves some of Cambridge's most talked-about burgers. Alongside curry house favourites like butter chicken and lamb rogan josh, you’ll find the signature Pulled Chicken Tikka Burger, consisting of juicy tikka-spiced chicken, grilled paneer, crispy onion bhajis and a chilli mayo, served inside a ghee-toasted brioche bun. The Shamee Burger (pictured) swaps the chicken for a spiced lamb patty and is also incredible. Be sure to order a portion of masala chips on the side.
This unassuming little burger van in Wells punches well above its weight, sizzling up some of the South West’s most delicious smash burgers, topped with unique flavours and sauces. Locals praise classic burgers like the umami-rich Royale With Extra Cheese – a double cheeseburger elevated to mouth-watering new heights with the addition of Lea & Perrins mayo, bone marrow confit onions and melty ogleshield cheese. The plant-based Mi-So Hungry Burger, made with a juicy Redefine Meat patty, is also exceptional.
You might want to skip breakfast (and lunch) before tackling the mighty creations at Cafe 21 in Maesteg. Up until 2020 this unassuming spot was a simple coffee shop, but over lockdown the owners decided to pivot into the world of smash burgers – with wildly popular results. Non-beef items like the gargantuan Korean Fried Chicken Burger (pictured) are also a huge draw, as are the fries loaded with toppings like 'nduja meatballs. Be sure to order a side of house-made gravy for dipping and dunking.
This West Midlands staple has won a ton of accolades since bursting onto the UK street food scene in 2016 – most recently making it to the finals of the 2024 National Burger Awards. The food is well worth the hype. Libertine Burger started out with founder Charles Harris selling burgers from a modified Renault Master and the brand now has three popular branches across the region. For a taste of fast food perfection, order the #099, a simple cheeseburger taken to the next level with bone marrow onions and smoked garlic mayo.
Offering just two classic burger options – a hamburger or cheeseburger, available with a single or double patty – Bunsen keeps it refreshingly simple, choosing to focus its attention on making sure every element of those burgers is of the highest quality. That means using Black Aberdeen Angus beef minced on-site every morning, house-made soft Amish dinner rolls and a special recipe burger sauce. The results are pretty much faultless, and the spot was recently ranked second best burger in Europe by global travel site Big 7 Travel. Bunsen has eight locations in Dublin, one in Cork and two in Belfast.
Tucked away in the picturesque town of Holmfirth, known for its stunning countryside and vibrant arts scene, Lou & Joe's uses top-quality aged local beef to make its mouth-watering beef patties, mincing and pressing each burger in-house. If you like your burgers spicy, try the Scotty 2 Hotty, a smashed beef patty piled with jalapeños, mozzarella, house-made hot sauce, guacamole and nacho crumbs. The meat-free G.O.A.T. is also amazing – a beetroot and black bean patty with sweet potato, caramelised goats’ cheese, fresh pomegranate, onion relish and sriracha mayo.
One of the region’s most lauded fast food joints, Burger Shop may be a laid-back spot, but the burgers are seriously gourmet, making delicious use of the tastiest local and seasonal ingredients. All of the burgers on the menu are veritable flavour bombs, but the Kimchi Beef really is something special: a umami-rich combination of two grass-fed beef patties, double Cheddar, kimchi ketchup, gochujang mayo and house-made kimchi. Best enjoyed with a side of Westcombe cheese curds.
The founders of Rumpus take provenance to the next level, using beef from their own regenerative cattle farm in Slaithwaite, where the original branch is located. The company also has a mobile food truck and recently opened a second restaurant in Saltaire, near Bradford. To really appreciate that amazing quality beef, we say keep it simple with the Fear of the Beast Burger, a fat beef patty with smoked Cheddar, caramelised onions and crispy streaky bacon.
A finalist in the 2024 National Burger Awards, Black Bear is a mecca for those who like their burgers piled with creative but thoughtful toppings. Co-founder Stewart Down grew up on a beef farm in Devon, so the team is committed to using the best grass-fed, dry-aged British beef around. One of the joint’s standout creations is the Miso-Bacon Burger (pictured), a juicy beef patty topped with cheese, miso mayo, smoked bacon and onions in a soft sesame bun. Sides like the rarebit crumpet and brisket spring roll are also fantastic. There are five Black Bear branches across the city.
Located just off Liverpool’s bustling Hope Street, Free State Kitchen serves some of the best burgers in town, as well as US-style wings, clam chowder, cocktails and beer. During the warmer months, diners flock to this low-key diner to eat and drink in its beautiful garden, decorated with colourful picnic benches and fairy lights. The simple burgers are exceptional, but look out for creative specials like the Chicken Satay Burger (pictured), which features juicy fried chicken coated in a satay sauce with Asian-style slaw, pickled red onions and crispy chilli mayo.
Started by two local brothers during lockdown, this much-loved burger joint has made a huge impact in Newcastle, opening four locations in the last three years in Jesmond, Gosforth, Ouseburn and, just outside the city, the coastal village of Tynemouth. Fans rave about the BBQ Boss (pictured), a double smashed beef patty with honey barbecue sauce, Cheddar, crispy onions and bacon. The loaded fries and Newcastle Brown Ale–battered onion rings are also both a must-order.
This family-run joint has been serving up thick and juicy burgers since 1992 and remains an enduring favourite in coastal Burntisland. A finalist in the 2023 Scottish Restaurant Awards, you won’t find anything trendy or groundbreaking at this old-school spot, just hearty and delicious burgers made with love. A top choice is the gigantic Chicken Parma (pictured), which features a breadcrumbed chicken breast topped with prosciutto, mozzarella, Parmesan, pesto mayo and a rich tomato sauce.
The Bleecker concept is that less is more – there are just four types of burger served here, and each one is a triumph of flavour and texture. You can choose from a simple cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, burger topped with creamy blue cheese or opt for the Symplicity, a 10-day fermented, deep-fried vegetable patty that’s said to be one of the best plant-based burgers around. Starting out as a humble food truck, Bleeker now has four branches across London and recently scooped the top prize at the 2024 National Burger Awards.
Hereford-based burger joint The Beefy Boys took home the Burger of the Year and Burger Chef of the Year awards at the 2023 National Burger Awards, so you know there’s something special being sizzled up here. Customers can’t get enough of the Dirty Boy Double Smash (pictured), a gloriously messy tangle of two smashed beef patties, crispy bacon, beef dripping onions, ‘dirty’ mayo and double American cheese. All of the burgers are available as vegetarian options, too – just ask to swap the beef for a bean burger, macaroni cheese patty or truffled field mushroom.
Founded in 2013, when the burger revolution was just kicking off here, Burger Brothers has stayed almost the same for over a decade. Tucked away in Brighton’s North Road, the welcoming, lime green joint is small and unassuming, but it’s the place to go for fat, fully loaded beef patties, served in the restaurant’s signature semi-sweet challah buns. Try the Our Favourite Burger, which comes topped with a gooey tangle of goats’ cheese, roasted peppers, honey mustard, caramelised onions and creamy Cajun sauce.
If you’re after a burger made with truly sensational beef, Dublin’s Featherblade Steakhouse is the place to go. Eschewing the trend for gourmet burgers that (in the words of the owners) ‘taste like a posh McDonald’s’, the restaurant crafts its signature burger using smoked brisket, aged strip and chuck steak from a local butcher. But fans say the crowning glory is the chunky house-made smoked bacon that sits atop the juicy patty. The whole caboodle is served in a glossy brioche bun with pickled onions, aged Cheddar and black garlic mayo. It’s no surprise that many consider this to be Dublin’s best burger.
This much-loved Nottingham restaurant started out making meat rubs and spices to sell at food markets. As a result, these tasty seasonings feature heavily on the menu, giving a delicious kick to pretty much everything – signature burgers and loaded fries included. At Bohns, there’s a burger for everyone, from classics like The Oklahoma (two beef patties smashed with sliced onions and American mustard) to more ostentatious creations such as The Peanut Butter Jelly, which comes loaded with peanut butter, blue cheese, red onions and chilli jam. There are plenty of veggie and vegan options, too.
A much-deserved finalist in the 2024 National Burger Awards, Burgervore is a food truck based in Monks Risborough that has gone from strength to strength since launching in 2021. It can be found at pubs, breweries and markets throughout the region, and is known for its exceptionally juicy, dry-aged beef patties which come perfectly paired with house-made sauces. The bestseller by far is the Basic Instinct, a smashed beef patty with Swiss cheese, American cheese, ‘vore’ burger sauce, streaky bacon, lettuce, onion, beef tomato and sliced gherkins.
For some of the finest burgers in the East Midlands head to Crafty, a pop-up restaurant that’s run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from St Martin's Coffee Shop. Located right in the heart of the city’s indie shopping hub, Crafty sources the majority of its ingredients from local producers and nearby Leicester Market – and the quality speaks for itself. Fans rave about the Crafty Poet (pictured), a flavour-packed beef patty piled with smoked streaky bacon, salted crispy onions, American cheese, aioli and barbecue sauce. All burgers also come with skin-on fries.
You might not expect to find one of Manchester’s greatest burgers cooked inside a shipping container in a Sale car park, but diners flock to Yard Burgers for its amazing fast food favourites. The joint has got a lot of attention for its experimental creations like the Wafflin On (pictured), which features a beef patty squeezed between two fried Belgian waffles and scattered with baconaise, Frazzles, maple syrup and candied bacon. But we say keep it simple with the Dirty Manc, Yard’s version of a Big Mac.
A permanent pop-up housed within Peckham’s Montpelier pub, Whole Beast serves the best burger of the last decade – that’s according to the judges at the National Burger Awards and its legions of fans. Famed for its nose-to-tail approach, Whole Beast won the 2024 Champion of Champions contest, which saw 30 previous finalists competing for the ultimate title. The pop-up triumphed thanks to its sensational Aged Cheeseburger, featuring an aged beef patty, American cheese, bread and butter pickles, smoked bone marrow and house-made burger sauce, all piled inside a squishy milk bun.