Tamara B
In Washington, D.C., you can often find restaurants proclaiming that they have the best burgers in the District. This comes as no surprise, as it is considered one of the favorite foods in our country, not just limited to enjoying at cookouts for long holiday weekends.
If you are looking for the best burgers in Washington, D.C., know that you’ve come to the right place. Washington, D.C. restaurants have classic burgers to offer, and some even have burgers that are unique to the District – think mambo sauce as a topping!
Check out our list below and keep reading to discover why Washington, D.C. may just be your next travel destination for enjoying the best burgers!
Duke’s Grocery
1513 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-733-5623
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With several locations around Washington, D.C., Duke’s Grocery is well loved in the Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, and Foggy Bottom areas in Washington, D.C. Having recently been featured in our article on outdoor dining, Duke’s Grocery is a casual dining restaurant that hits it out of the park in every area. The team and ambiance at Duke’s Grocery is unpretentious and approachable, and their food is spectacular. Of course, no visit to Duke’s Grocery is complete without ordering the Proper Burger! Do yourself a favor and order the Mac and Cheese as your side. The burger at Duke’s Grocery is so well known, they have received recognition for having the best burger in D.C. by multiple media outlets. Duke’s Grocery is also known for their weekday Happy Hour until 7pm, so make sure to check them out!
GhostBurger
1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-827-5237
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Ghostburger is located in the Mt. Vernon Square area of Washintgon, D.C. A relaxed and laid back eatery featuring delicious eats in an environment graced with unique murals, it is no wonder GhostBurger is a favorite spot of Washingtonians. The speciality at GhostBurger? You’ve guessed it! Burgers! We highly recommend ordering A Real Philly Cheesesteak – you won’t regret it! They also have a little something for the vegetarians in the form of their Shroomsteak burger. GhostBurger has received a lot of love for their burgers from patrons and media outlets alike, including receiving nods from The Washington Post and The Washingtonian.
Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-791-0168
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With locations around Washington, D.C. including in Capitol Hill, Georgetown, and Arlington, Virginia, it is a well loved restaurant for burgers! Good Stuff Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant that serves up classics – burgers, shakes, and french fries! Good Stuff Eatery not only has an impact on Washington, D.C., with the delicious food offered, but with their commitment to giving back to the community. Their initiatives focus on food sustainability and accessibility as well as other humanitarian projects. You’ve got to try their Spike’s Sunnyside Burger with a Hand Spun Shake! Good Stuff Eatery is a restaurant under a family-owned and operated business that has locations both nationally and internationally. The name most associated with Good Stuff Eatery is celebrity Chef Spike Mendelsohn. Chef Spike is the talent behind many Washington, D.C. area restaurants – several have appeared in our prior articles. He is quite the force to be reckoned with.
Melange DC
449 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-289-5471
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Melange DC is located in the Mount Vernon Triangle area of Washington, D.C. They are a casual dining restaurant that has a name in French, meaning “mixing” – this indicates the values of Melange DC of the incorporation of many flavors from different cultures into each dish. Chef Elias Taddessee was born in Ethiopia and trained in France, and his creations at Melange DC are a beautiful blend of techniques, representing multiple cultures. Order the Double Decker burger with a side of Sweet Potato Fries to make your meal complete! Melange DC has gotten plenty of positive attention for the incorporation of chicken sandwiches as well as vegetarian items on their menu, as well. Be sure to save room for dessert! We love their Coffee Cardamom Ice Cream.
The Big Board
421 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-543-3630
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The Big Board is located in the H Street Corridor of Washington, D.C. Described as a high concept pub, it is a family and friend owned restaurant, opened by brothers Mark, Eric, and Doyle, and a long time friend, Dave. Many of the recipes, and variations, for the burgers at The Big Board were inspired by the Brother’s father. One of the brothers was trained as a sous-chef in France, and we love the Le Burg-Aire Au Poivre menu option as a nod to Chef Mark’s experiences. Grab this burger with a side of Fried Pickles and Catfish Bites! The Big Board offers more than just delicious food. They have events such as trivia throughout the week. Make sure you keep an eye on their social media accounts for ongoing updates about events.
The Avenue
5540 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015
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The Avenue is located in the Chevy Chase, Maryland area of Washington, D.C. They offer upscale pub eats in a family-friendly restaurant. The ambiance of The Avenue is warm and inviting. You only have to spend a few minutes inside The Avenue to be filled with the laughter of patrons. At The Avenue, you never have to choose between Burgers and Wings – start with the Buffalo Wings for your starter and then move on to The Avenue Burger! The Avenue is a restaurant that offers what many Washingtonians and visitors alike enjoy – live music! Held on Wednesdays, it is a must! The Avenue also offers catering services as well as private events.
Fedwich
1517 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
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Fedwich is a pop up collaboration that is housed inside Kramerbooks in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C. Fedwich is a casual dining restaurant that offers outdoor dining or dining in their spacious covered patio as well. The Fedburger is what we are here for! This burger has two smashed beef patties with all of the fixings! You can even sub the beef patties with the impossible burger. All of the sandwiches at Fedwich come with a side of fries, and we encourage you to order the coleslaw as a side. Thanks to their spectacular location inside Kramerbooks, you can enjoy a meal and then browse through the plethora of books. If you are dining alone, Kramerbooks makes it easy to choose a book to purchase before your meal as the perfect dining companion.
Pogiboy
1100 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
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Located in the downtown area of Washington, D.C., Pogiboy is making waves within the foodie community in a big way. Pogiboy is a fast casual Filipino American restaurant. In fact, the name Pogiboy translates to “Handsome Boy” in Tagalog as a nod to their Filipino chefs. If you are ready to take photographs of a serious burger that is made for Instagram, grab the Pogi Burger with the Double Patty or the To “Chino” Burger. Both burgers come with their secret sauce, and what we would give to know the secret! The Crabby Mac and Cheese is also unbelievable. Pogiboy offers a preorder option for pickup, which is perfectly suited to the busy downtown area. They also have some seating available for outdoor dining, which is dog friendly.
Unconventional Diner
1207 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-847-0122
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Located in the Mount Vernon Square area of Washington, D.C., Unconventional Diner is a go-to for many Washingtonians. A casual dining restaurant reminiscent of, you guessed it, a diner, Unconventional Diner serves up delicious food in a retro, yet modern, style atmosphere. Considered to serve modern comfort food, their Double Cheeseburger is the very definition of delicious. Go ahead and add bacon to that order and you’ll enjoy quite the feast. Make sure to save room for dessert! Their Carrot Cake and Mocha Sundae are items to try. This Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant has received plenty of Buzz within the community. Their Chef, Danny Deshaies, even won the Rammy for best Chef of the Year in 2020.
ABC Pony
2 I St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-913-8155
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Located in Navy Yard, ABC Pony is a restaurant that is full of good vibes, great music, and fantastic burgers! Proclaiming that their restaurant concept is inspired by the late 80’s and early 90’s pop culture, ABC Pony’s playlist reflects just that. With a marriage of Italian and Asian cuisines, the restaurant is spearheaded by the Hilton Brothers, Folklor, and Eric Bruner-Yang. When visiting ABC Pony, try the EBY Burger. Donned with thick-cut bacon, smoked aioli, and jalapenos, you won’t regret having this burger with a flavorful kick! ABC Pony also offers takeout and delivery. Make sure you are also grabbing some of their cocktails and desserts to go. Their Gochujang Margarita is one not to miss, and grab a few of their cannoli while you are at it!
The Imperial
2001 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-299-0334
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Located in the Adams Morgan area of Washington, D.C., you might not guess The Imperial has outstanding burgers. As a chic, modern, and absolutely beautiful restaurant, The Imperial speaks to the classy restaurant vibe you told all of your friends are housed in Washington, D.C. Their menu is diverse, and diners enjoy a variety of vegetable, meat and seafood based dishes. If you are looking to enjoy a burger in an upscale restaurant, the Double Decker is the perfect choice for you. This is our choice, primarily for the gruyere cheese that it is served with. The Imperial also has a rooftop that you can take advantage of in the warmer months and on beautiful nights. In addition, they have a weekday happy hour that is a must try!
Lucky Buns
2000 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-506-1713
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Lucky Buns has locations in Adams Morgan, and Union Market within Washington, D.C. Lucky Buns is a casual eatery with fun vibes, including live music. They have a number of burgers to choose from, and their sides are always super tempting! We suggest ordering their namesake burger, the Lucky Bun. It has double patties, gouda, their lucky sauce, pickles, arugula, and grilled red onion. We love that Lucky Buns also has a variety of sauces to order alongside their creations, including the most well known sauce in D.C., mumbo sauce! We suggest ordering their Curry Chips as a side. Lucky Buns will be opening soon in Baltimore, and we are so excited for residents of Baltimore to have their delicious burgers close to home!
Garden District
1801 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-695-2626
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Located in Logan Circle, Garden District is the place to go if you are looking for delicious food and cold beer on tap. Garden District is a casual dining restaurant that offers a number of smoked and grilled sandwiches plus barbeque fare. Though they have Cubano sandwiches as well as vegetarian options, the Standard Burger is the way to go at Garden District. We love their Mac and Cheese and their Carolina Coleslaw to pair with the juicy burger. Garden District also offers dining on their large outdoor patio that is first come, first serve. Would you rather get your delicious eats to go? Don’t forget to grab a growler of their craft beer to take along with you!
Quarry House Tavern
8401 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-844-5504
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Quarry House Tavern is located in the Silver Spring, Maryland area of Washington, D.C. Quarry House Tavern is a casual restaurant that has unique features including church pews for seating and a vintage jukebox. We love their comfort style fare, like their starters of Beer Battered Onion Rings and Buffalo Cauliflower with Ranch Dressing. While we love their Fossil Farm Bison Burger, Quarry House Tavern also offers a Build Your Own burger option that you will love. Quarry House Tavern has recently reopened this Summer, but we encourage you to keep an eye on their website for updates on events including live music.
Tune Inn
331 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-543-2725
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Located in the heart of Capital Hill, Tune Inn has been a longstanding and loved restaurant for many Washingtonians. Tune Inn is a casual bar and restaurant decorated with unique features, including being adorned with taxidermy pieces. Whichever burger you choose, make sure you are ordering the Mozzarella Sticks with it, as well as their Fried Okra with ranch dressing. Their Jalapeno Cheddar Burger hits the spot every time. Not only are their portion sizes generous, but all of their burgers come with a side salad or fries. The building that Tune Inn is in has housed many businesses, including a candy kitchen and a speakeasy! Tune Inn also says they currently hold the second oldest liquor license in Washington, D.C. They have also received nods from media outlets including Esquire, being named as one of the 100 best bars in America. If you are looking to dine in a restaurant with history, this might be the place for you!
Mintwood Place
1813 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-234-6732
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Mintwood Place is located in the Adams Morgan area of Washington, D.C. The decor is reminiscent of a modern farmhouse, and their wood-burning oven adds to the warmth of the entire restaurant. While their menu is extensive, you will love their Mintwood Burger with Applewood Smoked Bacon. In addition to offering some of the best burgers in Washington, D.C., Mintwood Place is often full of diners on the weekend enjoying brunch. They also have happy hour 6 nights a week, from Tuesday until Sunday! They are also unique in the fact that they offer a take away happy hour package.
Sandi Buns
926 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-462-7232
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Sandi Buns operates out of Service Bar in the U Street area of Washington, D.C. Sandi Buns is a ghost kitchen that has already grabbed the attention of many burger lovers. While their menu changes often, we love that they seem to keep their Impossible Burger creations as a part of ordering options. Sandi Burgers is highly engaged with their diners, and even feature burger creations from their guests on the menu.
