A group of uninformed people did not create this Best Burger in Miami List. Still, Burger Beast (aka, me), dedicated to creating an ultimate Miami Burger Guide for true burger fans, did.
The first Burger Beast‘s Best Burgers List happened in December 2013. I later created one to celebrate National Burger Month in May 2017 and another a year later for the Miami Herald in May 2018. Since 2019, the list has been updated multiple times every year.
How do I select which burgers make the “Best Burgers in Miami” list? I spend the entire year scouring the 305 and beyond, looking for the top burgers in Miami. The original list was fluid, so I added and removed burgers as I saw fit throughout the year. A significant update happens every May during National Burger Month and another at the end of each calendar year.
Don’t forget to check out the Best Burgers in Broward list.
Burger Beast Best Burgers Methodology
It’s important to note that all burgers on this list are fresh beef; no frozen patties are allowed. I then compiled a list based on what I’ve eaten and cut out burgers.
The list shrinks to 30. The hardest part is cutting twenty burgers. From there, it’s a matter of deciding which burger I prefer to eat when comparing.
To be 100% clear, I have eaten every burger on this list and taken every picture. If you’re looking for burger list shenanigans, go elsewhere.
Where to Find the TOP Miami Burger Joints
The burgers are listed alphabetically; if not, we both know you’d only try the Top Three.
Are You Hungry Grill
Neighborhood: West Kendall
The Must-Try Burger: “Wagyu Beer Cheese Burger” – 7oz Wagyu beef patty topped with jalapeño beer cheese, IPA BBQ sauce, garlic cilantro sauce and potato stix on a pretzel bun
Burger Beast’s Take: I ate Are You Hungry Grill’s Wagyu Beer Cheese Burger and still could not wrap my brain around enjoying a burger on a pretzel bun. I still can’t, but I do know it’s phenomenal.
Are You Hungry Grill started as a burger pop-up, then transitioned to a food truck, and now a restaurant. You can still find them around town doing pop-ups, but I’m all about the air-conditioned eating!
Address: 12486 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL
Pro Tip: Try their 10oz Smoked Cheeseburger, available only on Tuesdays.
Babe’s Meat and Counter
Neighborhood: Palmetto Bay
The Must-Try Burger: “Babe’s Burger” – Fresh ground prime-wagyu beef blend burger with American cheese, sriracha mayo, and house-made pickles on potato bun
Burger Beast’s Take: After a long run at the Pinecrest Farmer’s Market, where they sold under the Babe Froman Fine Sausages name, Babe’s Meat & Counter opened its butcher shop in Palmetto Bay. They expanded their selection of meats, and a tasty burger found its way onto the permanent food/sandwich menu.
I’ve been known to eat one in my car before leaving the parking lot with another for consumption later in the day. It’s the only sensible thing to do when the smell drives you up the wall.
If you’re an old-school Miami food truck fan, it has some of gastroPod‘s Mo Betta Burger DNA.
Address: 9216 SW 156th Street, Palmetto Bay, FL
Pro Tip: Don’t be a fool and add bacon
Blue Collar
Neighborhood: MiMo
The Must-Try Burger: “Dry Aged Cheeseburger” – Half pound NY-strip-brisket blend beef patty with American cheese on a Portuguese Muffin
Burger Beast’s Take: The original version of Blue Collar‘s Dry Aged Cheese Burger had a standard but tasty brioche bun. Chef Danny Serfer would later change the bread to its now burger-iconic Portuguese Muffin.
It’s probably one of the first things you notice when looking at it. It is also important to note that this is the only burger on every incarnation of my Best Burger list since the first one in 2013, which tells you it’s a must.
Address: 6730 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL
Pro Tip: Remove all the filler (lettuce, tomato, onion) and stuff a couple of their fresh-cut fries in this beauty.
La Birra Bar
Neighborhood: Fort Lauderdale, North Miami Beach, Weston, Wynwood, Doral (Coming Soon)
The Must-Try Burger: “Smash Golden Chimichurri Burger” – Two smashed house-ground beef patties topped with American cheese, diced red onions and mayo-churri sauce on custom house-made bun
Burger Beast’s Take: La Birra Bar is a two time Burger Bash winning burger joint based out of Argentina. What sets apart La Birra Bar from most burger restaurants is they grind their own beef and bake their custom savory sweet buns in-house. Once you do that, you’re already starting on the right foot. Then add to that, the amount of options which means, there is a burger that suits every taste.
Address: 14831 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach, FL
Pro Tip: There’s a great selection of hot dogs too.
Burgermeister
Neighborhood: Brickell, Miami Beach
The Must-Try Burger: “The Meltdown” – 8oz burger topped with caramelized onions, Swiss Gruyère cheese melt, and crème fraîche
Burger Beast’s Take: Burgermeister is where you go when you’re in the mood for a thick and juicy burger cooked at your fave temp. My first run-in with them was during the pandemic — delivery only, just meat and cheese, no frills… and it absolutely hit. That was the moment I knew these guys weren’t playing around.
They have nearly ten pre-built burgers on the menu, or you can get wild and build your own. I’m pacing myself, though… gotta make it through their hits and rotating specials first.
Burgermeister‘s spots are in Brickell and Miami Beach, but can someone bring one to the ‘burbs already? We’re starving out here.
Address: 1111 SW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL
Pro Tip: Choose wisely cause there’s something for everyone on the menu
Cuento Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Doral
The Must-Try Burger: “Jerk Smash Burger” – Double smash patties with with campeador sauce, American cheese, and jerk shallot compote on a sesame seed bun
Burger Beast’s Take: Here is a burger that is only fit for a true smash burger fan. I put this up against any of the flavor-of-the-month favorites in South Florida.
The Jerk Smash Burger is available as a double or triple and comes with creole fries. It’s so good that I ate two of them back-to-back.
Address: 4237 NW 107th Ave, Doral, FL
Pro Tip: Make it a triple!
Off Site
Neighborhood: Little River
The Must-Try Burger: “Dry-Aged Burger” – Half-pound dry-aged brisket-chuck blend patty, American cheese, sauce, onions and pickles on a sesame seed bun
Burger Beast’s Take: I love that Off Site elevates iconic comfort food dishes like burgers, hot dogs, and chicken wings to the next level. Everything at this comfort food spot has been well thought out.
These folks are putting in work, and the burger is no different. Do you know how hard it is to make something taste incredible when it looks like an everyday burger? It takes great talent; owners Adam Darnell and Steve Santana are magicians.
Address: 8250 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL
Pro Tip: The twice cooked Chipperbec french fries pair perfectly with the burger.
Shorty’s BBQ
Neighborhood: Kendall, Westchester, Davie
The Must-Try Burger: “Big Shorty’s Cheeseburger” – Char-grilled 10oz short rib-brisket-chuck blend patty, and American cheese on a toasted brioche bun
Burger Beast’s Take: A few folks insisted I eat the Shorty’s BBQ cheeseburger, aka the Big Shorty’s. It has been years since I had pulled to Shorty’s BBQ when I arrived for lunch.
Their Big Shorty’s Burger is a char-grilled burger masterpiece. I added cheese, and that’s it! It doesn’t need anything else, but I wouldn’t hold it against you if you dipped it in their warm, vinegary BBQ sauce.
Address: 11575 SW 40th Street, Miami, FL
Pro Tip: Get an order of their giant onion rings, throw one on your burger, drizzle some BBQ sauce and you’ve got a Western Burger.
Smoke and Dough
Neighborhood: West Kendall
The Must-Try Burger: “Smoked Brisket Burger” – half-pound house-ground smoked brisket patty, smoked brisket, smoked gouda cheese, burger sauce, house-made pickles on beef tallow toasted potato bun
Burger Beast’s Take: Burger Fridays were not on the original Smoke and Dough menu. While I suggest starting with their smoked cheeseburger, the move is to go the brisket burger route.
Yes, all of Smoke and Dough‘s burgers are all smoked and then given a sear. All of the the beef patties are ground in-house with house-made pickles and house-smoked gouda cheese except the Reuben Burger which has Swiss. This burger is $24, but it’s also next-level, folks!
Address: 4013 SW 152nd Avenue, Miami, FL
Pro Tip: If you’re a pastrami fan, you should consider eating the smoked Pastrami Burger instead.
USBS
Neighborhood: Little River
The Must-Try Burger: “2-Day Double + Cheese Stamp” – house-ground double patties, house-made cheese sauce, and special sauce on a house-made potato bun
Burger Beast’s Take: The USBS pop-up made a few appearances at various events around town. It was found at Boxelder Craft Beer Market on weekends until they sold out. Luckily for us burger fans, USBS eventually found a permanent home at the Citadel Food Hall.
Over the years, the menu has expanded to include a chicken sandwich, but the one burger to eat is the 2-Day Double + Cheese Stamp. Please take a looksy at the meat candy exterior that Postmaster General Mayta achieves with his smash; he is a burger king.
Address: 8300 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL
Pro Tip: The Carrier Pigeon, aka, the chicken sandwich is worthy of your attention and don’t forget the fries (third best in town)!
Want more off-the-beaten-path food finds in Miami? Follow me on Instagram and sign up for the Burger Beast Newsletter for weekly comfort food discoveries!
