The best burgers in Melbourne in 2024: check out these spots now

Order the: Good Good Burger
Price range for a burger: $14.50 to $24

You know when a burger joint consistently gets glowing reviews, something clearly fantastic is going on. Alright, where do we begin? First of all, the hand-pressed smash patties here are beyond perfection. Seasoned perfectly and with a juicy-sweet, crispy skirt, each meaty bite is eyes-rolling-to-the-back-of-your-skull levels of good.

The pickles and sauces are all made in-house, and the size of each burg is generous – not too huge it's an unapproachable monolith but not too small you'll walk away hungry. The potato rolls for the chicken burgers are delicious (Gimlet also uses a potato bun so you know it's an elite choice) and the perfect vehicles to transport all that that burger-y, saucy flavour into your mouth. 

In other words, this place simply does a 'good good burger' and you'd be a silly sausage not to drive out and try one. Start with the classic option, but on subsequent visits try the garlicky beef deluxe burger, the chicken and cheese and the double bacon burger. 

X-Factor: This place has a super cute retro feel and the name is a nod to the '90s cult hit film Good Burger. Don't take away – eat in and soak up the nostalgic vibes!

Order the: Hot Bird
Price range for a burger: $13.50 to $19.50

300 Grams opened its Northcote doors to much fanfare in 2019. Since then, they've launched more stores in Coburg, Richmond and Prahran to meet demand for its beloved burgers. The secret to its moreish quality is its smash patties, which get pressed onto the grill until they develop a delicious and crispy finish.

The 300 Gs burger, which comes with all the classic fixings plus the shop's secret sauce, is a foolproof option. But if you can handle the heat, the super spicy Hot Bird fried chicken burger is also well worth a try.

What do we love about this joint? The curly lettuce adding extra crunch and texture. The fact the beef is 100% hormone-free. The enticing selection of so many different burgs to cater to all tastes. The generous size. And let's be real: pretty much everything else. Seriously, this is one of Melbourne's best.

X-Factor: IYKYK, beef burgers aren't 300 Grams' only claim to fame. The team make a delightfully nostalgic fish fillet burger (inspired by a certain fast-food chain), and they even have an Essendon store called Scaleable devoted entirely to seafood. 

Order the: Rizin's Classic Burger (Triple)
Price range for a burger: $9.80 to $16.40

Not only are the burgers at this Dandenong gem super affordable, they're insanely delicious. All ingredients are 100% halal and you can tell these grill masters really care about what they're dishing up.

Yes, you might have to wait a bit on busy nights, but it's worth it for one of their freshly made burgers. Cloud-soft, fluffy buns. Not greasy. Filled with juicy, quality meat and salad. Just perfect. 

The fried chicken burgers are addictively tasty here, standing well up to the standard of the beef options, and there's even a crispy 'shroom burger to satisfy your plant-based pals. 

X-Factor: Just watch this video and you'll want to drive there straight away. Oh, and it's open 12 hours a day almost everyday, ready to fix you up whenever a burger craving strikes.

Order: Filthy
Price range for a burger: $14.50 to $24

There are people who love burgers and then there are people who love tear-your-tongue-out spicy chilli cheeseburgers. The B.East caters to both. This rowdy and disarmingly casual joint's burgers come with premium Mayura Station wagyu beef cooked medium (unless otherwise specified), marking it a worthy addition to this list alone.

But if you love the hot factor on top of your burger fun, you're in luck. B'East does a mean one. No surprises there as it even hosts an annual chilli eating competition. Try the Filthy burger with Wagyu beef, Jack cheddar, pickles, lettuce, tomato, jalapeño miso aioli and ketchup – and super hot B.East chilli paste. It'll knock your socks off. 

Honourable mentions go to the Holy Cheezus (comes with bacon, ranch and a mac 'n' cheese croquette wedged inside), the Japanese-inspired katsu fillet burger and the fancy-as-heck Ron Swanson. 

X-Factor: The B.East's burgers may be grand but so is the energy here. Pop in on the right night and you'll come across some stellar live music to accompany your burger. Oh, and the cocktails slap. What a vibe.

Order the: Hot Chicken Burger 
Price range for a burger: $25

There's only three burgers at this Brunswick East haven for fried chicken and they're all a steep $25. So it's not like this spot gets a gold star for diversity of selection or affordability. And yet. If you're someone who prefers chicken to beef between your burger buns, Bird is one of the best spots in town (if not, the best.)

We love the Hot Chicken Burger: a spice meal of fried thigh tossed in smoked hot sauce with cheese, pickled onion, cabbage and jalapeno mayo in a sesame milk bun. The simple Chicken Sanga is also mouthwateringly good, courtesy of a juicy breast with a generous amount of napoli sauce, parmesan and pickles.  

X-Factor: Bird is currently numero uno on our round-up of Melbourne's best fried chicken, thanks to their buttermilk-soaked, brined, coated and golden-fried approach. 

Order: Cheeseburger
Price range for a burger: $10 to $15

If the groovy vibes at Leonard's aren't enough to pull you in, the burgers will be. There's a smoky Portobello mushroom burg, a fried chicken and bacon burg, a simple cheesy burg and a double. So all up, four burgers, but four that pack a saucy punch.

If you want to taste the classic iteration, opt for the cheeseburger that comes with nothing but a beef brisket and short rib patty, American cheese, special burger sauce, pickles and green oak lettuce. Is it revolutionary? Of course not. But sometimes, a simple cheeseburger is all you want. 

This one's a little greasy but in the best possible way, and comes with a crisp, fluffy bun and an excellent meat to cheese to bread ratio. Top marks.

X-Factor: Leonard's is decked out like a 70s-inspired log cabin and bar – quite a special and unique ambience for enjoying your burger feast. In a large group? Upgrade your meal with Cherry Bomb cocktails (or a round of pilsners, if that's your jam), really good fried chicken and pizzas. Everything here's pretty much golden.

Order: Classic Burger or Veggie Burger
Price range for a burger: $14.50 to $24

Richmond locals are blessed with 1090, a fastidious burger purveyor that sticks to a ten per cent fat and 90 per cent meat golden ratio for all its burgers – hence the biz name. Owner Son Nguyen took the business to a brick-and-mortar store on Swan Street in 2015 after operating it from a trailer around Northcote.

But history shmistory, let's talk about the burgers. Why are these so good? Well, there's a few reasons. Aside from that ratio method, there's also the quality of the meat. 1090 only uses grass-fed black Angus sourced from Mt Beauty, which is aged and minced on site daily. Another reason is the exceptional nine-ingredient secret seasoning 1090 uses to increase the umami hit from its patties. 

But if you can't eat meat, don't overlook the Veggie Burger! On a delightful milk bun, it comes with a super tasty veggie patty, cheese, mayonnaise, ketchup, beetroot, pineapple, pickles, lettuce, tomato and red onion. One of the better veggie burgers in town, for sure.

X-Factor: The crispy fried onion rings and old-school milkshakes here are the perfect way to round out your meal.

Order: Cheese and Bacon Burger
Price range for a burger: $10 to $18

There's "this was a good burger" and there's "this was one of the best burgers I've ever had." A lot of folks I've spoken to about Brüger tend to lean toward the latter expression and yep, it's true – this Art Deco-inspired eatery and bar is slinging some exceptionally tasty two-handers.  

So what should you order? Well, there's about 10 wonderful (and different) burgers to choose from, but our vote goes to the cheese and bacon. It comes with a wagyu beef patty, sauteed leek, American cheddar, house sauce, ketchup, pickles and bacon and it's pure comfort in a bun. 

If you'd like to branch out into bolder burger territory, try the avocado and jalapeno-spiked Mexican, the Kewpie mayo-slathered Chilli Katsu or the Indian-inspired Pakora. Yum.

X-Factor: Mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, cheeseburger spring rolls, root beer and Dr. Pepper whisk you out of the western suburbs of Melbourne and drop you right into the heart of a small-town American diner. We love it.

Order the: Double Cheeseburger
Price range for a burger: $17 to $21

Beatbox Kitchen's Brunswick brick and mortar may have closed in 2021, but its legacy lives on through Juanita Peaches. Though fried chicken is the focus here, its cheeseburger has developed its own loyal following. It's not as simple as the name suggests: the base is a coffee-rubbed, grass-fed brisket patty topped with confit shallots and pickles.

For a bit of extra decadence, it's made with not one but two slices of cheese (one melted onto the patty and another curled up onto the top bun). Go for the double cheeseburger, though, if you want extra meaty cheesy goodness. It's the perfect size. 

X-Factor: Owner Raph Rashid is the brain behind some of Melbourne's best eateries, including All Day Donuts and Taco Truck. He also lays claim to kicking off the city's food truck craze, so you can bet his burgers are gonna be good. 

Order the: Cheeseburger
Price range for a burger: $12 to $19.80

If you're after a late-night feed, look no further than Butcher's. The American-inspired diner specialises in all things meaty, from steak and eggs to pork tongue skewers to blood sausages. But the real standout is its burgers, available from noon until midnight, five days a week.

Starting at twelve buckaroos for an old-school hamburger, the eats here are budget-friendly but don't skimp on quality. As the name suggests, all the patties are prepared in-house by the team's dedicated butcher, and cuts rotate day to day depending on availability.

The cheeseburger is perhaps not as sauce-slathered or loaded with the accoutrements as some other burgers on this list, but the simplicity of its construction really allows the slightly caramelised flavour of the meat to shine. A great pick for true carnivores. 

X-Factor: Just like those old American-style diners, Butcher's serves filter coffee all day. If you're into breakfast for dinner, we recommend pairing it with the aged cheddar and housemade bacon burger – and add a fried egg. Oh yeah, baby.

Order the: Hamburger with the Lot
Price range for a burger: $9.75 to $25 

Danny's is another old faithful amongst Melbourne's saturated burger scene. The Fitzroy North institution opened in 1945 and has managed to keep its prices incredibly low since then.

A standard beef burger with lettuce and diced onion starts at $9.75, and a vegetarian burger (which swaps the burger patty for egg, cheese and an assortment of veg) is just $10.60. When the whole meal costs around a tenner, it's tempting to tack on a few extras, too, which range from bacon to beetroot to jalapeños. 

Will this burger be the most mind-blowing you've ever had in your life? Probably not, unless it's 11pm and you're absolutely tanked (circumstances during which, everything salty and fatty is mind-blowing.) But if you're a fan of no-nonsense burgers that do the trick – the homestyle kind you're likely to whip up in your own kitchen – then Danny's is the GOAT.

X-Factor: If one burger isn't enough to fill you up, go for a heaping side of hot chips. Even the small size is surprisingly large and always seasoned to perfection.

Order the: Hawaiian Five-O
Price range for a burger: $11 to $20

Long before we jumped on the burger trend train, we had the humble corner shop grilling the good old Aussie burger with ubiquitous add-ons of egg, beetroot and pineapple, not giving a stuff what the rest of the world thought of us.

This home-grown burger style has become a niche and is all the more reason to seek out the guilty pleasure of a crusty white roll encasing a super-caramelised patty topped with canned pineapple and beetroot, tomato, shredded iceberg lettuce, chopped white onion and bottled tomato sauce.  Set aside your pretension and support the guys who've been doing it since 1939. Fun fact: even Ed Sheeran took the time to pay these legends a visit!

The classic Andrew's burger order is The Lot, of course, but we really love the Hawaiian Five-O. It comes with pineapple, double cheese, fresh tomato, onions, beetroot, lettuce and tomato sauce. Word of warning: this is the kind of burger that warrants plenty of napkins (and not a white shirt).

X-Factor: Nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia!

Order the: Rowdy Cheeseburger
Price range for a burger: $16 to $45

Easey's is one of Melbourne's most notable venues. Where else can you dine from a train car perched five storeys above the ground? It goes without saying that the view rocks, but their burgers are just as big of a draw. James Hurlston (aka Jimmy's Burgers) has designed the menu, which includes a range of super-stacked American-style burgs like the Oklahoma fried onion cheeseburger and the Louisiana fried chicken sandwich. One of them even won a national award a few years ago. 

Okay, so they're messy, big and sauced to the hilt, but how do they taste? Honestly, it depends on what you look for in a burger. If you love a smashed patty – a bit thinner and crispier than other types of patties – and you're a fan of traditional American burger flavour profiles (American cheese, pickles, onions, barbecue sauce, etcetera) then Easey's is the place to go. Bonus points, there's also a solid rollcall of diner-style bevvies, desserts and sides that, alone, are worth the trip upstairs. 

X-Factor: If you don't mind splashing out, go for the undeniably Aussie burger called the Metropolitan Mayhem. It's packed with two potato cakes, two dim sims and all the standard burger fixings for $45 a pop. It's the ultimate burger lover's bucket list experience.

Order the: Huxtaburger
Price range for a burger: $11.95 to 18.95

No list of best burgs in Melbourne would be complete without a mention of dear old Huxtaburger. Their now permanently closed CBD location was dank, dark and greasy (just the way we like our fast food joints), but its original HQ in Collingwood is still a delightfully characterful journey into burger town.

In a slightly brighter space, you'll get to taste the legendary take-no-prisoners American-style burgers that see meat, cheese and condiments as king, and all other accoutrements as crazy gourmet tat. 

Here, you've simply got Pilsner or tinnies of Carlton, fifteen no-nonsense burgers and sliders, crinkle cut fries and a list of other dirty (read: delicious) sides. This Northside-dwelling writer may be biased, but Huxtaburger truly does hit the spot everytime. 

X-Factor: The super-soft sugary and buttery buns here make the perfect sandwich for a simple burger to rule them all.