Is there anything more American than beef and cheese piled onto a bun? If there is, it still isn’t as appealing as a cheeseburger. When you’re tired of scooping up Five Guys (after all, the headquarters are based in Alexandria), here is the list for you. Whether you’re looking for takeout on game day, or plan on dressing up for a nice dinner out, these are the six best cheeseburgers for any occasion.
Gourmet Cheeseburger at Charred
Tired of plain orange slices of American? These Herndon grill masters have your back. Here, the wood-grilled, dry-aged patty can be ordered enrobed with Vermont chèvre; creamy gorgonzola; pepper jack; or even funky, buttery triple-cream brie. 13047 Worldgate Dr., Herndon
The “W” Double-Smoked Cheeseburger at Clarity
For diners seeking more smoke than mere grilling can imprint on their beef patty, this construction features smoked 7 Hills Food beef with melty fontina cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and red-wine sauce on a bacon-toasted potato bun. Think elevated barbecue. 442 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
OooMami Smash Burger at Field & Main
Last year’s winner of NoVA Wars: Burger Edition may live in an upscale restaurant, but its pleasures are anything but delicate. Flattened wagyu beef patties from Paris’ Ovoka Farm are amplified in fatty ecstasy with the additions of white American cheese and bacon jam, all stacked on a Martin’s potato roll with a slick of Duke’s mayonnaise. 8369 W. Main St., Marshall
Bistro Smash Burger at Parc de Ville
Why get a burger when the steak frites is a consistent score? When you meet this double-patty creation, you’ll taste the advantages of an unpretentious blanket of American cheese, paired with ketchup-based club sauce, lettuce, and herbaceous pickles. It’s a fast-food-style burger with high-quality ingredients. 8196 Glass Alley, Ste. 110, Fairfax
Red Apron Original at Red Apron
On the same small stretch of Mosaic District as Parc de Ville, you’ll find a drastically different but equally enticing specimen of cheesy, beefy beauty. Served on a buttered challah bun, the butchers here serve two patties with American, house pickles, fresh veggies, and “Island sauce” with the crispy beef-fat fries we think are the best in NoVA. 8298 Glass Alley, Ste. 110, Fairfax
Roots 657 Cheeseburger at Roots 657
Like your burger beefy? We mean really beefy. Get triple the quarter-pound Roseda Farm patties at this gourmet store and café, or settle for “just” two. Cheddar cheese is a nice upgrade from American (which is also available), and a fried egg breaks into something like its own sauce on a toasted potato bun. 42301 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg
Feature image of OooMami Smash Burger courtesy Field & Main
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