Our guide to 32 local burgers in Birmingham that you’ll love

Reviewed by: Grace Howard

Reading time: 12 minutes

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ChezFonfon 20230823 142328 Our guide to 32 local burgers in Birmingham that you'll love
Hamburger Fonfon (Bham Now)

What’s more classic than a hamburger?

From affordable burgers that taste homemade to upscale burgers with a modern twist, we rounded up 33 of our favorites around The Magic City. Read on for a burger tour of Birmingham, in no particular order.

This guide was originally created in December 2021 and was last updated in May 2025.

1. Back Forty Beer Company

national cheeseburger day
If you haven’t tried the Back Forty Cheeseburger, you are missing out. (Beth Cunningham / Bham Now)

Back Forty Beer Company has one of the best cheeseburgers in the city. It’s two patties, American cheese, aioli, pickles and onions. 

Don’t eat meat? No problem. Back Forty also has an Impossible burger on the menu. It consists of a 6oz Impossible burger, Violife cheddar cheese, “Zero Egg” aioli, house dill pickles and onions. 

2. Mudtown Eat & Drink

Mudtown recently tied for first place for Vestavia Hills’ best burger award. If that doesn’t convince you to try it, I don’t know what will. Their classic cheeseburger consists of cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and mayo. 

If you want to switch things up, try it with the pimento cheese or add bacon for an additional $2.

3. Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint 

If you’re craving a late-night bite in Birmingham, look no further than Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint. Jack Brown’s is known for its wide assortment of burgers, located in the bustling Lakeview Entertainment District.

4. Soho Social

If you’re in the Homewood area, you have to check out Soho Social. They have some unique burger selections, including:

  • Garlic Bacon burger with jalapeno bacon
  • Turkey burger with goat cheese and pepper jelly
  • Soho Burger with bacon (my personal favorite)

Plus, they even serve vegetarian and vegan options like the black bean burger.

5. Chez FonFon

The Hamburger FonFon is a Birminghamian favorite. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. This burger is piled high with comté, grilled red onion, pickles and Pommes Frites. 

6. Carlile’s BBQ

Carlile’s may be known for its amazing barbecue, but they also serve a killer burger. In fact, Carlile’s participated in the annual Birmingham Burger Fest in 2018 and 2019. 

Their burger was so incredible, they totally wooed the judges and were awarded the trophy for the best burger in 2018.

7. The Standard

Going to The Pizitz is always exciting with the hustle and bustle of locals grabbing food. I suggest making your visit worthwhile with a stop at The Standard. 

The cheeseburger is always a good choice, but if you want to kick up the party in your mouth a notch, then consider the Doublestack. It comes with white cheese, special sauce, french fries, coleslaw and pickles on a potato roll.

You also have the choice to go meatless with The Standard’s veggie burger.

8. MELT

Bite into two patties of Angus beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions and matilda sauce on texas toast topped off with a pickle. The Cheeseburger at MELT is piled high with delicious flavors and what isn’t good when it’s stacked between two pieces of texas toast?

9. Hero Doughnuts & Buns

Hero Doughnuts and Buns is serving more than incredible doughnuts—if you haven’t tried their burgers, you’re missing out. I recommend trying the Classic Burger and the Dad Burger.

10. The Purple Onion Burger

Night owls, this ones for you. Open 24 hours, Purple Onion on Green Springs is the king of cheap eats. Founded over 30 years ago, all of their burgers are under $9. With a vast menu of late-night favorites, you can’t beat it.

11. Pop’s Neighborhood Grill

cheeseburger
Cheeseburger of my dreams. (Pop’s Neighborhood Grill)

Rise and shine, Bham. Your dollar can go a long way at Pop’s, there’s nothing on their menu over $15! Try the Pop’s Just Good Burger, complete with Pop’s famous sauce, if you like something classic or mix it up with the Groovy Bacon Mushroom Burger.

12. Baha Burger 

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Who would have thought you could get a gourmet burger without the gourmet price tag?  Snag a full-size Bacon Swiss burger with caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, swiss cheese, mayo and of course, bacon for only $8.90. Not that hungry? They have ‘baby’ sizes for burgers too!

13. The Craft Burger

Get a classic burger at The Craft Burger with two patties, American cheese, red onion, pickle and craft sauce. It’s a dose of deliciousness in every bite.

14. Whiskey Foxtrot Burger Dive

Whiskey Foxtrot - new 2021 Birmingham restaurants
Give us a bite of that burger. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Whiskey Foxtrot is serving some killer burgers with Wagyu beef patties, a menu full of tasty options and a new specialty burger of the week every week.

15. Dawson’s Burgers Wings & Fries

Grab a burger that won’t break the bank at Dawson’s Burgers Wings & Fries. All their burgers are under $10, and with prices this cheap you might as well buy two.

16. Paramount

Paramount has great burgers in an awesome setting. Try the Southern for a burger with pimento cheese, bacon and fried pickles. You can also try the You’re my Boy, Blue with caramelized onions, blue cheese and arugula.

17. Otey’s Tavern

Head to Otey’s Tavern for a mouth-watering burger and a fun pub atmosphere sure to bring you back time and time again.

18. Black Market Bar & Grill

At this Birmingham original since 2009, we highly recommend the burgers. And yes—they are one of a kind—like the Disgraceland burger (peanut butter and jelly) and the Godzilla Burger (a pound of meat and 2X bacon and cheese!).

19. Real & Rosemary

This burger is classic but oh-so good, and you can tell they use the freshest ingredients. Made up of ground beef, tomato, romaine, onion, pickle and house sauce, this simple creation is simply yummy.

20. Gus’s Hot Dogs

Guss Hot Dogs 1 Our guide to 32 local burgers in Birmingham that you'll love
L.A. preparing a hot dog for customers. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

The name of this shop might say hot dogs, but their burgers are just as incredible. Head downtown and give them a try.

21. Yo Mama’s

Another spot for a cheap hamburger combo. The BBQ burger here is less than $13 and tastes incredible.

22. Saw’s Juke Joint

saws bbq tailgate
Try the burger at this bbq spot. (Matthew Niblett / Bham Now)

Saw’s Juke Joint serves more than amazing BBQ. Mix it up and try their Saw Burger.

23. Marty’s GM

This is the perfect spot for a late-night burger. Satisfy your cravings and come try one of their delicious creations.

24. East West’s Burger

burger Our guide to 32 local burgers in Birmingham that you'll love
The burger from East West is out of this world good. (Lauren Perry / Bham Now)

Head to East West for a Kobe beef burger topped with Muenster cheese, onion jam and shiitake mushrooms, all sandwiched between a delicious brioche bun.

25. Helen

Check out Helen’s double cheeseburger with two beef patties, hand pressed before hitting the wood fire grill. This mouth-watering burger is topped with American cheese, lettuce, pickle, onion, Dukes mayo and yellow mustard all on a Martin’s potato bun.

26. Porch

Porch in Mountain Brook has rotating burgers of the week and they truly are one of a kind. I can confirm their burgers are absolutely delicious.

27. Hamburger Heaven

Hamburger Heaven has four locations serving the Birmingham area. All their ingredients are fresh and prepared daily, including the beef. Burgers are hand-made each day and make for the perfect meal.

28. Joyland

Joyland
Joyland, a new restaurant in Avondale by Chef Sean Brock and legendary Birmingham restauranteur Nick Pihakis. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

This casual restaurant serves smash burgers, other comfort foods and quick bites like curly fries. Perfect for all burger lovers!

29. Sammy’s Sandwiches

Sammy’s Sandwiches is a popular hole-in-the-wall in the wall restaurant offering a selection of different things to try. You won’t want to miss out on trying one of their flavorful burgers.

30. Carrigan’s Public House

Screen Shot 2023 06 09 at 9.57.00 AM edited Our guide to 32 local burgers in Birmingham that you'll love
Carrigan’s Public House (Bham Now)

Loaded with bacon-onion marmalade, cheddar cheese and black pepper aioli, The Double Burger at Carrigan’s will make your tastebuds do a little dance.

31. Slide Cafe

Birmingham
SLIDE Cafe at 5 Points South (Pat Byington/Bham Now)

From the classic burger to the PB&J burger with house blackberry habanero jam, Slide offers a variety of yummy burgers to choose from. Make sure to check them out in Five Points South.

32. A-Train Station

A-Train
A-Train Station owners Careese Agee and Anthony Harris (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Their Bacon Cheeseburger paired with loaded fries makes for a totally tasty meal. Go down to the shop or check their Facebook page to see where their food truck will be on select days.

What are your fave spots in Bham for a burger? If we missed it, let us know by tagging us @bhamnow.

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Makenzi Fultz
Makenzi Fultz
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