The best burgers in Miami you need to try

Now here’s a burger joint where we could eat all day every day until we literally exploded. We have Matthew Kuscher—the mind behind Kush, Lokal, Vicky’s House and others—to thank for that. From the classic with cheese to the Johnny Utah topped with hot pastrami, it’s hard to choose just one but that doesn’t mean we won’t. Currently, the craving is real for Kush’s frita burger, a sweet-and-savory handheld topped with guava jelly, melted cheese, potato sticks, crispy bacon and LoKal sauce, served on a challah bun and pressed on a flat top grill. It’s our favorite Cuban slider and a classic cheeseburger all rolled into one. 

The tropical influences run deep at this Downtown bar, where the drinks are frozen, the decor is lush and the staff frequently sports a sartorially fitting floral print. The drinks are great but the longshot burger is even better. It’s a straight-forward cheeseburger made with only good stuff—Florida grass-fed beef, “a lot islands” dressing, pickles, flattop onions and good ol’ American cheese. It’s served with fries, but you’ll want to get a Paloma slushie to go with it, too. Trust us.

At Wynwood’s Le Chick, they’d have you believe that the main event is the rotisserie chicken. And it is good. But the real star of the show is a sneaky little burger called the Royale with Cheese: two juicy smash-patties buried in cheddar cheese sit between a fluffy house-baked bun. It sort of reminds us of an In-N-Out burger and it’s absolutely inhalable.

This pop-up burger restaurant with the postal theme now has a permanent spot at the Citadel and we couldn’t be happier. United States Burger Service (USBS for short) delivers with top-quality ingredients, unique combinations and names you can’t help but giggle at. You can’t go wrong with the classic burger—the juicy patties sit between house-made potato buns—but the rotating specials with different kinds of cheeses and fresh sauces are really something else.

Skip the brick-and-mortar and get yourself a burger from an award-winning chef delivered right to your doorstep. Michael Schwartz’s Genuine Burger launched during lockdown and it’s one of the few pandemic pivots we hope sticks around. The chef’s delivery-only concept packs big, drippy burgers in mysterious ways so they arrive upright, perfect and picture-ready. The classic is a—wait for it—genuine hit with two juicy patties, two strips of bacon and a slathering of Mop n’ Sauce, which if the name didn’t tip you off, is what you’ll want to use to dip your fries and onion rings.

An essential Coconut Grove restaurant, Ariete does some really nice, thoughtful American plates but is by no means too good for the burger. Its Chug Burger comes stacked with two patties, American cheese, B&B pickles and the special Ariete sauce. This burger avoids the dreaded ingredient overload many classy burgers fall victim to—but you still have the option to add bacon to it. Do it. You’ve been good this week.

Carrot Express has been synonymous with healthy eating since its first location opened in South Beach nearly 25 years ago. And now we have the local chain to thank for making burgers part of a balanced diet. The OMG! Turkey burger is our go-to when the craving strikes—a juicy, all-natural patty topped with arugula, avocado, mustard aioli, tomato and red onion between a toasted multigrain bun. It’s satisfying, wholesome and only a little naughty.

Blue Collar is like Pavlov's bell. Just hearing its name makes our mouths water. It’s tough to pick from the menu but no one will ever shame you for going with the dry-aged cheeseburger, which is made with prime NY strip. Trust us, you can taste the difference. A Portuguese muffin subs in for the classic bun and it does a great job.

One of the few good things to happen over the last several months is that the Pinch Burger—previously a brunch and lunch dish exclusively—is available every day for every meal that the restaurant serves. The namesake classic is an eight-ounce custom beef blend patty that’s nestled between a brioche bun. Add swiss cheese, caramelized onions, aioli, fries and—poof—you’ll have yourself the perfect burger. Another development worth noting? You can now get your Pinch Burger delivered to enjoy at home.

You know what it is. It’s Shake Shack, baby—one of the most popular burger chains in the world. These little smash burgers are addictive and you won’t find them everywhere. Luckily, we have some in South Florida. And you’ll find one of the most popular ones right on Lincoln Road. 

Le Tub is a slice of old salty South Florida. A derelict toilet bowl sits in the front yard. Inside the wooden waterfront dive, you really don’t even need a menu. Order the obvious and prepare for a softball of a burger to be dropped in front of you. The patties are thick (13-ounces of meat!), charbroiled and served simply with lettuce, tomato and onion.

Folks love the burgers over at Pincho Factory. With a handful of South Florida locations, Pincho has become known for some pretty crazy specialty burgers but the staple Pincho burger, topped with crispy potato sticks, is probably the best thing on the menu. Adventurous eaters, go for the Pipo’s Choice Burger, the winner of 2019’s SOBEWFF Burger Bash. It’s got an Angus beef patty topped with fried plantain bits, smoked gouda cheese, applewood smoked bacon, grilled onions, papitas and guava ketchup served between a buttery toasted brioche bun. It ain’t light!

A favorite locals spot, Jr’s has racked up awards and won burger competitions with their serious burgers. These are burgers with a capital B, piled high with round patties and no shortage of toppings. A good introduction is the Big Daddy, a simple-enough creation that comes in a heaping half-pound portion if you’re really hungry.

It’s won many awards and also won over many a carnivore with its complex flavors and clean ingredients. You can chow down on an entire veggie burger and fries from Love Life without ever feeling weighed down. The reason? A healthy superfood patty, homemade guacamole topping, plant-based cheddar cheese and decadent cilantro aioli, which you’ll want extra of for the side of baked herb potatoes.

Because burgers and pizza are like peanut butter and jelly