Juicy beef patties and toppings piled high. You might need two hands to hold some of these burgers, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Here are NoVA’s best burgers. Plus, don’t miss the five best burgers from high-end restaurants and the five best sides of fries.
Melt Gourmet Cheeseburgers
Paris Burger
Every beef burger here is made from hand-trimmed, aged Angus that’s ground in-house daily. We like it best with a French accent, which translates to a layer of Brie, Dijon mustard, balsamic-glazed onions, and spinach. Char-grilled with roasted garlic, the combo is our second-favorite kind of French kiss. 525 E. Market St., Ste. J, Leesburg
Hangry Burger
Fussy Farsi
This jovial burger shack with ultra-modern style has plenty of meat on the menu, but even beef lovers should give this Indian-spiced split-pea-and-rice patty a chance. Housemade saffron-yogurt sauce adds color and a welcome coolness to the strata of eggplant, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a griddled whole-wheat bun. Still, you can’t go wrong with the classic double cheeseburger. 6699 Frontier Dr., Ste. G, Springfield
Char’d
Double Original Char’d
What’s better than the crisp-edged grassfed patty of a Char’d smash burger? How about two? This fully halal vendor in Tysons Galleria originated as a food truck, and longtime fans are lining up for the satisfying simplicity of the American-cheese-blanketed stacks with housemade sauce. 2001 International Dr., McLean
Social Burger
Matthew
For more than a decade, founder Denise Lee has been feeding the Vienna community with deceptively simple burgers enhanced with flavors the customer chooses. This cheeseburger can be served beneath anything from cheddar to ghost pepper jack with sauces like red Thai curry and smoky chipotle mayo. 350 Maple Ave. W., Vienna
Basic Burger
Mushroom Swiss
The name of this small, local chain is a bit of an understatement. While it’s possible to order a plain burger with veggies and Basic Sauce, the greatest rewards come in the form of this one-third-pound patty blanketed in Swiss and flavored with a smear of A1 aioli. The sauce is ideal for amplifying the umami of the sautéed mushrooms on top. 1101 S. Joyce St., Arlington; 1495 Cornerside Blvd., Ste. 118, Vienna
Holy Cow
The Hot Mess
You can make any burger a double at this Del Ray destination. But if you order this mouthwatering monstrosity, chances are you’ll already be tapping out without a second level. That’s because the Angus beef is crowned with gooey mac and cheese, smoky Gouda, bacon, and crispy onions. It’s finished with sriracha aioli for a smack of heat. 2312 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Bebop Korean-Mexican Grill
Gogi Burger
This patty splits the difference between two of our favorite things: a greasy burger and deeply marinated Korean barbecue beef. Stick with the classic or get the red-tinted spicy version for some real heat. Either way, it’s served on a griddled bun with shredded lettuce, onion, and mayo. Multiple area locations
Dyfre’s Burger
Cowboy Burger
There’s a visible difference between this burger and everything else on this list. The fluffy charcoal bun may seem like a gimmick, but it’s one you can taste, with a hint of broiled flavor that goes perfectly with this 8-ounce patty that’s coated in smoked cheddar, then bestowed with breaded onion rings, bacon, and a fried egg. 7420 Fullerton Rd., Ste. 105-A, Springfield
B Side
B Side Smashburger
The Red Apron butcher shop in Mosaic District, the home of one of our longtime favorite burgers, is no more. Fortunately, its sister restaurant, just next door, is still serving it with a different name. The pair of high-quality beef patties is shrouded with American cheese and flavored with “Island Sauce,” pickles, and onions. The fries, crisped in tallow, are as beefy as the burger. 8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax
Burger Billy’s Joint
The Cherrydale Brisket Burger
Everyone could use a friend with a name like Burger Billy. It’s actually former Four Seasons chef Keshaun Winston’s joint, but whatever you call him, you’ll want to tear into this colossus of flavor that combines a smashed patty on a brioche bun with brisket, smoked Gouda, rosemary candied bacon, grilled onions, and honey-bourbon barbecue sauce. 3800C Langston Blvd., Arlington
District Biscuit Company
Biscuit Burger
We’re accustomed to fried chicken or sausage gravy on a biscuit, but a burger is a novelty everyone needs to try, at least when it’s done as right as it is at this former farmers market vendor. A custom-blended Allen Brothers patty sits between layers of an airy square biscuit that absorbs every tantalizing drop of juice, along with housemade hollandaise sauce and pickles. 3401 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Charred
Bourbon Brie Cheese
Top-flight ingredients make the combinations at this casual storefront sing. In the case of this sophisticated specimen, the 7-ounce, dry-aged patty is covered in sweet stout-onion marmalade that interacts delightfully with the funk of the triple-cream brie beneath it. It would be a shame not to add on a basket of truffle cheese fries. 13047 Worldgate Dr., Herndon
All About Burger
Bacon Cheese Burger
This local fast-food concept doesn’t go overboard with complex flavor combinations. Instead, the freshly ground, never-frozen beef stands out in uncomplicated presentations, atop buns that are baked daily. The best way to enjoy it? Blanketed in American cheese and crunchy bacon, the way the universe intended. 3325 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Burger District
Au Poivre Burger
Craving steak au poivre? Believe us when we say this burger may be even more satisfying, especially with a side of garlic cheddar cheese curds. Much like the bistro classic, this patty is coated in cracked black pepper and served with a boozy creamy sauce — in this case, one made with whiskey. Caramelized onions and roasted garlic further elevate this half pound of Angus goodness. 2024 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Market Burger
The Market Burger
The No. 1 burger on this farm-to-table menu is anything but boring. The locally raised beef patty is complemented with herb mayo, cheddar cheese, and a Fairbrook Farm egg, as well as fresh vegetables. But don’t stop there. We’ll return for the mixed fries, a blend of hand-cut and sweet potato spears, and special shakes like almond–apple pie flavor. 145 W. Main St., Purcellville
The Burger Shack
Pineapple Teriyaki
Whether you build a burger or get a preconceived specialty patty made of Angus beef, this small chain is all about choice. Texas toast and pretzel buns are among the bread options, so we say choose that first, then get it with teriyaki sauce, pineapple, bacon, and Swiss for something a little different. It’s even better with a basket of tots. Multiple area locations
Big Buns
Hot & Hefe
This NoVA-based chain has grown from the single Ballston location opened in 2007 to eight stores around our region. The meaty Angus burgers may be most appealing to meat eaters, but there are also veggie and Impossible options. Whatever the patty, we like it Hot & Hefe, a love letter to South of the Border spice with pepper jack, grilled chile pico de gallo, sriracha aioli, plus some avocado to calm your flaming tongue. Multiple locations
Weenie Beenie
Jumbo Cheeseburger
This iconic roadside stand has been serving locals and travelers since 1954. You may know it best for its half-smokes and all-day breakfast, but that griddle is put to equally memorable use for a burger that will have you tasting all 70-plus years of history. Get a cheese-enrobed double with bacon and housemade onion rings for an intense taste of local lore. 2680 S. Shirlington Rd., Arlington
Bun Papa
Bun Papa Classic
“Classic” is indeed the operative word when it comes to this burger. Lightly sweet, pillowy brioche buns are the centerpiece of every burger here. It almost doesn’t matter what goes on it, but when it’s two grill-seared patties, melted cheddar, and housemade dill pickles, all the better. Mayo, ketchup, and fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion complete the package. 1512 Belle View Blvd.; 3648 King St., Alexandria
Roots 657
Roots 657 Cheeseburger
Maryland-raised Roseda Farm beef is the centerpiece of this double burger. Two quarter-pound patties are piled with high-quality cheddar, a sunny-side-up egg, and bacon. Pickles and fresh vegetables help to cut the likable fattiness of this breakfast-like construction atop a toasted potato bun. 42301 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg
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Feature image of Roots 657 by Rey Lopez
This story originally ran in our April Issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
