20 of the Best Burgers in St. Louis

Midwestern Meat & Drink
900 Spruce St.
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 696-2573

You don't even need to bite into the Midwestern's double cheeseburger to know how good it is. That fact hits you over the head the second this glorious, messy beast is placed in front of you — a realization informed not by what's between the pillow-soft egg bun, but what sits alongside it. Made from aged brisket, the meat is coarsely ground and loosely formed into a crumbly, impossibly juicy burger that's more like a composite of beef than a tightly bound patty. As a result, charred bits of seasoned, well-marbled beef crumble off the bun, acting like bite-sized meat crunchies. These tiny nuggets are so gilded with fat, they glisten as the light hits. Seeing them is all you need to know that this is no ordinary burger.

Photo by Mabel Suen.

Five Star Burgers
Locations in Clayton and Creve Coeur

With a name like Five Star Burgers, you know the burger offerings have to be good. The menu at Five Star Burgers includes everything from "Dad's Green Chile Cheeseburger" to a "Magic Mushroom" burger, but you can count on them all being made with all-natural beef, free of hormones and antibiotics. There's also a veggie burger, lamb burger, bison burger and turkey burger, as well as "the Potsticker" -- a burger made with grilled duroc pork, Vietnamese-style slaw and roasted peanut hoisin sauce.

Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Annie Gunn's
16806 Chesterfield Airport Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63005
(636) 532-7684

Annie Gunn's has been a treasured St. Louis spot for years, providing sophisticated dishes with top ingredients. The restaurant's half-pound hamburgers are made with Annie Gunn's special blend of USDA Prime striploin, ribeye, angus tenderloin and brisket, and you can top them with extras including bacon, mushrooms or cheese. Narrowing down your options doesn't stop there, either: the cheese alone comes in varieties from Wisconsin as well as Denmark, Italy and Hungary. Seriously.

Photo by Lou Rook.

Dressel's Public House
419 N. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 361-1060

This cozy Central West End spot is one you can count on when your evening calls for a chill place with great food. A number of our staffers swear by the Dressel's Burger, which is made with Ridgeley Farms Missouri beef, aged cheddar and onion jam, all on a brioche bun. Dig in and enjoy.

Photo by Mary Mangan.

Mike Duffy's Pub and Grill
6662 Clayton Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63117
(314) 644-3700

Mike Duffy's says it has had St. Louis' best burgers since the first location opened in downtown Kirkwood in 1986. From "Duffy's Classic Cheeseburger" to the "Cajun Burger" to the "Sunrise Burger" and more, you have plenty of options here. You can even substitute the American Heartland grain-fed beef typically used on the restaurant's burgers for bison or charbroiled chicken breast if you want to switch things up.

Photo by Mark Borella.

Shake Shack
60 N. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 627-5518

Yeah, we know Shake Shack is a chain. And, yeah, it's seriously hyped -- but we waited so long for a location, it would just be wrong not to try it. St. Louis native-turned-New Yorker Danny Meyer heads the Shake Shack juggernaut, which is known for its burgers as well as its frozen custard. Hey, you can take the restaurateur out of St. Louis, but you can't take the St. Louis out of the restaurateur.

Photo courtesy of Flickr / Nancy Hoang.

Mac's Local Eats
1821 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118

Mac's Local Eats puts the "farm-to-table" concept in a more casual setting, serving excellent smash burgers in addition other sandwiches and great French fries. Formerly located in Dogtown, you can now find Mac's burgers inside Bluewood Brewing on Cherokee Street.

Photo by Mabel Suen.

Brasserie by Niche
4580 Laclede Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 454-0600

You might not think of a classy French spot as the place to go for a burger, but you should think again. The "Brasserie Burger," which includes dijonnaise, American cheese, onion, dill pickle, onions and pommes frites, is a burger not to be missed. If you want to get extra fancy, you can add foie gras for $10.

Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Carl's Drive-In
9033 Manchester Rd.
Brentwood, MO 63144
(314) 961-9652

Carl's Drive-In has a long history -- the spot originally saw stints as a gas station and then a hot dog stand, and was rebuilt in the 1950s after it was destroyed by a tornado. It officially became Carl's Drive In when Carl Meyer and his wife, Pat, bought the building in 1959. It switched hands to Mike Franklin in 2015, but the classic menu lives on -- which includes tasty burgers and the diner's famous root beer.

Photo via RFT archives.

Polite Society
1923 Park Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 325-2553

Polite Society has a delicious burger that tastes like meat -- except, you know, it's not. Polite Society is one of the nation's restaurants to have the "Impossible Burger," a meatless burger that is made to be so much like meat that it even bleeds. This plant-based burger is the creation of Impossible Foods, which works to create better ways of making beloved foods.

Photo courtesy of Polite Society.

Stacked Burger Bar
7637 Ivory Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63111
(314) 544-4900

Some of the best, most creative burgers in the city are being served out of this always-bustling spot in the city's Patch neighborhood. Want your patty smothered in brisket or topped with goat cheese and onion jam? They've got you covered, as well as offering a solid menu of appetizers, salads and starters. Don't like their burger options? You can always build your own.

Photo by Ian Froeb.

Layla
4317 Manchester Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 553-9252

In addition to excellent cocktails and delicious shawarma, this neighborhood spot in the Grove also boasts great gourmet burgers. The beef, as well as Layla's pork, bread, drafts, ice cream and seasonal produce, is sourced locally. There are also turkey, bison and vegetarian options.

Photo courtesy of Layla.

Baileys Range
920 Olive St.
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 241-8121

Burgers and shakes (some boozy, some not) are the name of the game at Baileys Range, located on a corner in downtown St. Louis. This two-story restaurant comes with a fun vibe and a generous list of creative burgers -- some of which are made with chicken, bison or vegetarian varieties rather than beef (though Baileys Range has those, too).

Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Seamus McDaniel's
1208 Tamm Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63139
(314) 645-6337

Anyone who has ever played hooky to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in St. Louis is bound to have found themselves along Tamm Avenue, the base of St. Louis' St. Patrick's Day festivities and home to Seamus McDaniel's. But Dogtown residents know that this Irish pub isn't just a bar to be visited once a year -- Seamus McDaniel's also has an impressively large menu of everything from pasta to a gyro to, yes, burgers. The burgers aren't fancy here; just simple and tasty -- and when combined with a cold beer and a seat on the patio, you'll understand why Seamus McDaniels is a Dogtown standard.

Photo courtesy of Instagram / cheryl66stl.

O'Connell's Pub
4652 Shaw Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 773-6600

O'Connell's Pub has been a St. Louis institution since the Gaslight Square days -- and while it hasn't changed much over the years, we prefer it that way. O'Connell's is known for its hamburgers, which are simple but undeniably tasty. Order one, and you'll understand why they've been a favorite over the years.

RFT photo.

Frida's
622 N. and South Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 727-6500

Yes, Frida's is a vegetarian restaurant. And yes, burgers are on the menu. Unlike many restaurants, Frida's doesn't just have one vegetarian burger to satisfy meatless eaters -- there's a variety to choose from, including the "Signature Frida Burger," "California Mushroom-Swiss Burger," "Black Bean Cheddar Burger" and more. Even the most dedicated carnivore may find a veggie burger they love at Frida's.

Photo courtesy of Yelp / Jean K.

The Country Club
288 Lamp and Lantern Village
Chesterfield, MO 63017
(636) 256-7201

Yes, we know a name like "The Country Club Bar and Grill" is so stereotypical of a place in Town & Country. But rather than roll your eyes, you should add it to your restaurant bucket list -- because this place actually has character, and an awesome burger to boot. The must-try is the "Juicy Lucy," which consists of pickle chips, sauteed onions and two ground chuck patties stuffed with American cheese. Other burger options on the menu include the "Southwest Burger," "One Eyed Burger" and more.

Photo courtesy of Yelp / TY Y.

Chuck-A-Burger
9025 St Charles Rock Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63114
(314) 427-9524

The name in itself should tell you that burgers are front and center at this north county restaurant. This drive-in has been serving hungry customers craving its famous burgers and old-school atmosphere since 1957. Top it all off with a milkshake, and you'll leave more than happy.

Photo courtesy of Yelp / Kitty W.

Elmwood
704 Sutton Blvd.
Maplewood, MO 63143
(314) 261-4708

Dishes are designed for sharing, but the latter half of the menu moves from the realm of small plates to more traditionally sized entrees. Gnochetti sardi is a glorious eggplant pasta; both the gnochetti and eggplant are cooked perfectly al dente, then infused with charred tomatoes and molten mozzarella. The beef burger, meanwhile, is glazed with Korean barbecue and covered in bacon, crispy shallots and gooey American cheese, like a cross between a haute Big Mac and bulgolgi. Both may be big enough to share, but you will still have a difficult time offering up your portion.

Photo by Mabel Suen.