George Motz is one of the world’s leading burger personalities, and now his signature burger George Motz Oklahoma Smash has found a permanent home in New York’s iconic SoHo district. The menu at Hamburger America is simple in classic diner style, short and sweet with various local burger specialities added from time to time. The venue is filled with the smell of fried onions, and we are mesmerized by both the regular signature burger and The Classic Smash Burger. They both have a lovely crust and are incredibly tender. The potato bun is perfectly toasted with a lovely golden brown and a crispy interior. The Fried Onion Burger is absolutely magical; and we could see how they gently turned the onions on the griddle, resulting in a well-charred flavour with perfect balance. Absolutely phenomenal.

Rekas Burgers opened their first restaurant in southern Malmö back in 2019 and quickly became a local favourite. We’re used to people telling us their home favourite is one of the best in the country, but in this case it it’s actually true and they’ve had a special place in our burger hearts from our very first bite. Now they have several locations in Skåne, with several grand expansion plans in the pipeline. It’s clear that Rekas Burgers have stepped up their burger game in recent years, and the beef patties now have a magical crust that few restaurants can match. The patties are crispy and heavily seasoned, and the combination of a lovely maillard effect, salt and pepper gives the beef a real burst of flavour. The meat came from their own butcher’s shop, which is located next door, where they also have dry-aging refrigerators that showcase the high quality. Rekas Burgers serve one of Sweden’s best burgers.

The Food Truck Store is a burger chain with a handful of restaurants in Argentina, as well as units in both the US and Spain. The main focus here is smash burgers taking direct inspiration from other restaurants and creators, and we ordered tributes to George Motz, 7th Street Burger and even Burger King, who are all amazing. The meat flavour is a real highlight in all of our burgers, excellently seasoned with a crispy crust and lots of flavour. We are very impressed with how delicious their burger are, and their love for the originals is very obvious with different buns to really find the correct flavour and texture. We also want to highlight their Dulce de Leche milkshake, as well as the impressive merch and burger ingredient shop inside the restaurant. The Food Truck Store serve the best burgers we’ve had in Argentina, and we look forward to visiting their other locations as well during future travels.

Bread Meats Bread, a UK burger sensation with seven locations in Scotland’s Edinburgh and Glasgow, offers a diverse menu featuring regular and specialty burgers, as well as vegetarian and vegan alternatives, sandwiches, poutine, and delectable sides. Notable choices include the Double Royale With Cheese, featuring dry-aged beef patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard, and the Luther Burger with candied bacon, hot honey mayo, and onions served between doughnuts. The classic cheeseburger is impressive with a perfectly toasted bun, melted cheese, and rich dry-aged beef, and their Luther Burger, with unique doughnut buns, offers an adventurous flavour profile. Bread Meats Bread undeniably stands out as a top burger destination in the UK, and is a firm favourite in Scotland.

Franky’s started serving burgers back in 2014, and at the time we called them Stockholm’s best burger secret. Now they have two restaurants in Sweden’s capital, and their high standards have improved several times over. Their classic bacon and barbecue Texas burger has long been our favourite, but it’s their two new additions – the classic cheeseburger Franky’s Favourite for and their Umami Special with truffle and gochujang – that really stand out. Their burgers are real gems, with carefully baked buns that are soft and have been nicely toasted on the inside for a lovely crispness. The dry-aged Swedish meat has a crisp crust and is very juicy inside, and the rich seasoning really elevated the hearty beef flavour. Franky’s have been on a long journey, and it’s been a successful one. And after more than ten years in Stockholm, they’re now the best burger restaurant in Sweden.

Gotham Burger Social Club started back in 2013 as a burger review outlet, and has since grown to a pop-up burger joint and now a brick and mortar restaurant on New York’s Lower East Side, plus a location at Threes Brewing in Brooklyn. Here they serve just one kind of burger with optional extra toppings. All their burgers are done using the Oklahoma Smash technique, where the onions are fried into the meat patty. Everything looked incredibly inviting, with a heavenly crust and a tender, deeply flavorful beefiness. The onion flavour is also distinct without being too intrusive. The pickles and jalapeños in their “fully loaded” burger adds some super interesting textures, and everything is excellently balanced and the tasty sauce complements everything nicely. Gotham Burger Social Club have made their super simple burgers into something unique, smashing some of the best smash burgers we’ve had in New York.

Dreamburger is a neon-lit food truck in Nashville. With only two burgers on the menu, we made it easy on ourselves and ordered one of each – and we weren’t disappointed with either of them. The small burgers are a real feast for the eye. The meat’s crust isn’t just impressive, but the patties are also very tender and juicy despite being thin. The melted cheese adds a creaminess that complements the everything perfectly, and we’re totally blown away by how well their crispy dill pickles complement the burger’s flavour and texture. Their California Dreamin’ is an amazing burger, with super fresh vegetables and mustard fried patties that add another dimension to the flavour profile without being overpowering. If you’re visiting Nashville, this is an experience you really shouldn’t miss.

4 Charles Prime Rib, an intimate New York City basement steakhouse with a speakeasy ambiance, is known for its memorable dining experience and is operated by the owners of Au Cheval. While reservations are typically made a month in advance, a next-day takeout option allow for a convenient meal pickup. The substantial Double Wagyu Cheeseburger (with an additional charge for bacon) is pricey but on par with Au Cheval, quality wise. The burger features expertly cooked and seasoned patties with an intense beefiness, complemented by savoury and smoky bacon with a buttery texture. The cheese, dijonnaise, and pickles contribute with unique textures and harmonious flavours. 4 Charles Prime Rib’s burger may be expensive, but their exceptional flavours make them perfect for anyone seeking a celebratory meal. Just make sure your wallet is thick and your reservation is secured in advance.

Briochef, recognized as Madrid’s best burger joint on multiple occasions, lived up to its reputation as we dined at their location near the Palacio Real de Madrid. With around ten burger options on the menu, we sampled the Oasis, Picanto, and Brooklyn, experiencing burgers with both thick and thinly smashed beef patties. They offer the choice of one thick or two smashed patties, and the burgers are impressively saucy and feature a fluffy brioche bun that handles the beef juices impeccably. The dry-aged Rubia Gallega beef patties, aged for 60 days, are tender with a perfect pink centre and a generous crust. The sauce in the Brooklyn burger strikes a remarkable balance between sweetness and spice, while the wafer-thin, crispy bacon adds a lot of flavour. Briochef unquestionably serve some of the best burgers in the Spanish capital, thanks to their outstanding meat and exceptional buns.

Located in northeastern London in the Leytonstone area, Leytonstone Tavern recently gained recognition in England’s burger scene. Unassuming from the outside, the venue reveals its warm and inviting ambiance indoors. Their menu boasts a handful of beef burger options, including the Double Cheese + Onion Smash with dry-aged beef, cheese, chopped onions, pickles, and mustard jam, and the Bone Daddy, their award-nominated burger featuring dry-aged beef, braised brisket, Guinness gravy, blue cheese, fried onions, roasted bone marrow, pickles, lettuce, and confit mayo. We are delighted by the beautiful presentation of the burgers, with every element gleaming. The buns are soft, well-toasted, and generously seeded, while the patties, with a perfect balance of crustiness and juiciness, showcase the rich, dry-aged flavours. The thoughtful seasoning and harmonious flavours in both burgers stand out, with the cheeseburger displaying a well-balanced profile. Although the roasted bone marrow in the Bone Daddy is more of a stunt addition, the messy, decadent burgers has left us with a lasting impression. Leytonstone Tavern are definitely worth a detour outside central London for everyone in search of delicious, world-class burgers.

Harlem Shake, established in 2013 in New York, quickly gained a reputation for serving some of the city’s finest milkshakes and smash burgers. In 2021, they also expanded to Brooklyn, and their menu offers burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, and milkshakes. Out of their burgers, the Harlem Classic and Hot Mess are real standouts. The patties have a deep crust and are super beefy. The Harlem Classic delivered classic flavours with a well-balanced special sauce and crisp pickles, while the Hot Mess featured an addictive bacon relish with savoury, sweet, and spicy notes, enhanced by chipotle mayo’s smokiness. The Jerk Fries packed some heat, and the creamy, red velvet cake-flavoured Harlem Shake is a refreshing complement. Harlem Shake is the best smash burger restaurant we’ve eaten at in New York, making them a must-visit.

Lagom, helmed by Swedish descendant Elliot Cunningham, has been a beloved burger joint for Burgerdudes since 2017, and we’ve had them as guests at Stockholm Burger Fest. They’ve consistently earnt recognition as one of the UK’s finest, and the fire-focused concept has made a triumphant return to Hackney Church Brew Co. in north-east London. Their amazing Smash Burger features dry-aged beef, American cheese, vinegar slaw, and a dill and mustard mayo. Even though the burger seemed somewhat small in size, the exceptional flavours exceed expectations, with expertly balanced composition. The beef, notably fatty and imbued with rich dry-aged notes, is exceptionally juicy and delectable. A stunning crust provided a satisfying crunch, harmonizing beautifully with the creamy cheese and tangy coleslaw alongside Scandinavian mayo. The simple, well-toasted bun played its part seamlessly. While Lagom’s burger might have ventured beyond ”lagom” (meaning just right in Swedish), its return to London contributes to the city’s vibrant burger scene, showcasing excellence in one of the world’s premier burger cities.

Bleecker Burger, with a handful of stylishly decorated restaurants in central London, is known for its minimalist design, letting the quality of the meat shine. Their menu features a handful of different burgers, sides, and milkshakes, all designed to highlight the meat’s excellence. Having impressed since their introduction in 2015 and making appearances at Stockholm Burger Fest in 2018 and 2019. Bleecker Burger is considered a must-visit in London, and their double bacon burger with house fries is a favourite menu choice, with phenomenal dry-aged beef, a soft sesame bun, and crunchy, salty bacon enhancing the flavours. The simplicity of their burgers, focusing on meat, bread, cheese, onions, and sauce, is key to their success. Bleecker Burger serve some of the best burgers in England, and we’ve made a habit of immediately heading over to them every time we arrive in London

Red Hook in Brooklyn, New York, is a trendy neighborhood featuring a blend of modern housing and industrial spaces, resulting in a burgeoning restaurant and bar scene. One notable establishment is Red Hook Tavern, an offshoot of the acclaimed BBQ spot, Hometown Bar-B-Que, drawing inspiration from classic American corner bistros. Their burger has a thick dry-aged beef patty, cheese, onions, and a sesame bun served with pickles and potato wedges. And we’ve fallen in love with the juicy patty cooked to a perfect medium rare, and its creamy cheese, well-toasted bun, crispy onions, and well-executed sides. Red Hook Tavern offers a superb American bistro burger in a charming atmosphere with friendly service, making it a must-visit in Brooklyn.

Nowon, New York City’s first Korean-American gastropub, opened its doors in 2019, with locations in the East Village and Bushwick, Brooklyn. Emphasizing their unique influences in both decor and menu offerings, the restaurant is buzzing with a bustling atmosphere and loud music. During our latest visit they’d improved immensly, and we especially love their Legendary with two beef patties, cheese, roasted kimchi, pickles, onions, and kimchi sauce, and the Dry-Aged Steak Burger with the same ingredients but featuring a thick dry-aged 8 oz beef patty. We also love their Nowon Fried Chicken with gochujang. Both burgers are super tasty, and the well-toasted, fluffy buns carried a subtle savoury sesame flavour. While the burgers are a bit messy in composition, the fusion of Korean flavours enhance the overall experience without being overwhelming. A hint of heat works well in the background, without overpowering the taste. Nowon’s fusion burgers impress on all fronts, offering a superb venue, atmosphere, and cuisine that has made us revisit them every time we’ve returned to New York.

Soul Coffee Beer now have two restaurants in Valencia; one in Paiporta and a new unit in the city centre. Here they serve absolutely amazing burgers with super funky dry-aged beef, umami packed toppings and some of the best crispy bacon you can get your hands on. Their Notorious burger is smoky and full of flavour, and their Hey Ryan with its punchy sauce will blow you away. The burgers are impressive with their saucy goodness, delivering an explosion of flavours, exceptionally juicy and tender meat, a perfect crust, and a medium-rare centre. The fluffy bun plays a supportive role, and we are just amazed with how much they’ve stepped up since our last visit. Soul Coffee Beer left us full, satisfied and covered in sauce, winning a place in our heart and making them one of our favourite burger places in Spain. A must-visit, but booking a table in advance is recommended.

AMBOY Quality Meats and Delicious Burgers, a recently established eatery in Los Angeles’s Chinatown that was founded by burger expert Alvin Cailan – known for hosting The Burger Show on First We Feast’s YouTube channel. They offer three burger varieties; Classic, Slim Thicc, and DH, featuring dry-aged beef. We tried their Amboy Burger in both the Classic and DH versions, with ”new school American cheese,” caramelized onions, pickles, and burger sauce in a sesame bun. Both burgers impressed us with their soft, sesame-seed-covered buns and flavourful patties, and the DH variety is a real show-stopper with its exceptional beefiness and texture. AMBOY QMDB has exceeded our expectations and secured its place as our new favourite burger spot in Los Angeles.

Pastis, a French bistro located in New York’s trendy Meatpacking District, is a popular dining spot for both celebrities and locals. We ordered their Cheeseburger à la Américaine, with two beef patties, cheese, red onions, pickles, and a special sauce, accompanied by french fries. Despite the bustling restaurant, our meal arrived promptly and was impressive with its rich beefiness, expertly cooked patties, melted cheese, and a subtly nutty sesame bun. The secret sauce complemented the pickles and thinly sliced red onion, creating a harmonious blend of flavours and textures. The well-prepared french fries added to the overall satisfaction, making Pastis’ burger a nearly flawless experience and a must-visit. The ever-popular restaurant requires that you secure a reservation well in advance to avoid disappointment though.

Grindhouse Brasserito is a famous steakhouse in the Pinheiros district of São Paulo, where everything is cooked over an open fire in true asado spirit. Their Hamburguesa de Costilla with added bacon and pickles blew us away during our latest trip to Brazil. They grill their thick patties to a perfect medium rare, while skilfully basting the beef with salmuera – an Argentinian salt brine. We were bowled over after our first bite, as the patty’s soft texture and high fat content made it truly mouthwatering. The bacon adds some excellent saltiness, and the pickles also work wonders, breaking through the fattiness with their sharp acidity. The hard grilled bun created a nice contrast to the soft patty and held everything together excellently. This is a unique burger experience, where everything from the location to the cooking method feels different – and the result is a world-class burger that’s a mandatory addition to your São Paulo itinerary.

Burger & Beyond, a London-based burger establishment, has held a special place in our hearts since we first encountered them at Camden Market back in 2016. We have followed their journey through street food pop-ups and food festivals (including several years at Stockholm Burger Fest), as they have expanded to multiple restaurants in central London and even a delivery service in Manchester. Here they offer a diverse burger menu, along with delectable sides and shakes. We recently tried every single burger on their menu, and fell madly in love with two standouts: the Bacon Butter Burger and the Bougie Burger, both featuring dry-aged beef, double cheese, and exquisite toppings. The sesame-sprinkled brioche bun and high-quality beef impresses us every time, and the thick, perfectly cooked patties combine a great crust with a pink centre for maximum beefiness. The exceptional ingredients, including pancetta bacon, brown butter mayo, and marrownaise, elevate the burgers to the next level. Burger & Beyond offers an almost unparalleled burger experience in England, and we have yet to pass by one of their restaurants without going in for a cheeky burger or two.

Funky Chicken Food Truck just keep getting better and better. We’ve named them Sweden’s Best Burger for the last four years, and they have been firm favourites of ours since they won first prize at the inaugural Stockholm Burger Fest 2016. Located in Nacka Strand and mainly serving burgers during lunch hours, they’ve become the burger destination of choice in Scandinavia. They rotate between their roster of 10 or so burgers weekly, so keeping up with their socials is a must in order to time your visit just right. Their signature patties are packed with juicy beefiness and an almost alarming amount of black pepper, which is balanced just right to give them a crust that truly is to die for. It’s a style we’ve dubbed ”Stockholm Smash”, and it’s taken the rest of the country by storm. The airy brioche bun somehow manages to handle all of their wild ingredients, and we have never left them hungry or dissatisfied. Truly a testament to Sweden’s amazing smash burger scene

Au Cheval serve Chicago’s best burger, but their Manhattan location is no slouch either, serving up some of the best burgers New York has to offer. We just love their classic Double Cheeseburger with American cheddar, pickles, onions, and dijonnaise. We usually skip the ”au cheval” style egg, and instead opt for some pricey but delectable bacon. The experience delivers an exceptionally beefy flavour, complemented by the creamy cheddar, well-balanced dijonnaise, and crisp pickles. The patties are bursting with intense flavour, tender texture and impeccable seasoning. And the thick bacon provides a delightful buttery saltiness that elevates the burger to new heights. Book a table and come prepared for a hefty bill and loud music, and you won’t be left disappointed. And if you’re in Chicago, don’t miss their more accessible Small Cheval locations across the windy city.

Holy Burger has been our favourite burger restaurant in Brazil since our first visit a few years ago, and during our latest trip to São Paulo they’d improved even more. The cool venue offers a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of an old New York jazz club, and their Pony Line burger with dry-aged beef and sugar cane molasses with bacon is a real show-stopper! The sugar cane molasses gives the fantastic dry-aged beef flavours an extra push, and the fantastically fluffy bun holds together surprisingly well. The beef is cooked medium according to their recommendations, and all of this contributes to a harmonious flavour experience that we wish would last forever. Holy Burger truly belong among the absolute elite of the burger world. Next time you’re in São Paulo, don’t miss this almost religious burger experience, as they’re even better now than they were last time.

Yes, the best burger restaurant in the U.S. can be found in a pizza parlour. Pizza Loves Emily have locations in both West Village and Brooklyn in New York, and has been our firm favourite ever since we first tried them back in 2017. We’re always hungry for The Emmy Double Stack Burger, with two dry-aged beef patties, cheese, caramelised onions, pickles and Emmy sauce in a pretzel bun. Every bite fills us with awe, and the bespoke Emmy sauce steals the show every time. It’s richness and discrete spiciness works flawlessly with the other ingredients, creating a perfect harmony of textures and flavours. The pretzel bun defies expectations by being surprisingly soft, and its saltiness complements the burger well to allow the beef’s deep and juicy flavours shine properly. Time after time, Pizza Loves Emily still retains its title as one of the best burgers in the world, offering an unmissable dining experience (alongside their excellent pizza).

Hundred Burgers in Spain are still the world champions! The innovators from Valencia and now Madrid continue to blow us away by their attention to detail and continue to push the envelope for Spain’s burger scene. This artisanal burger chain is run by two burger lovers who have dedicated themselves to travel the world in search of the best burger in the world (similar to us here at Burgerdudes).

Hundred Burgers’ super stylish flagship restaurant in central Valencia is the perfect location to try these amazing hamburgers, and their signature burgers with 60 days dry-aged Rubia Gallega beef are amazing, each with their own captivating ingredients. We are especially enamoured with the gochujang sauce in their Loser and the super crispy bacon in their decadent Singular burger. The insane Paul Finch burger has up to 120 days dry-aged beef, and isn’t for those faint of heart. As always, it’s recommended for return visitors or to share after sampling their regular menu. The burgers are really filling as well, with a savoury demi brioche milk bun hybrid, which pairs perfectly with the intense beefiness from the thick patties that melt in your mouth. It’s obvious that Hundred Burgers are hyper-focused on craftsmanship and are constantly evolving. We are incredibly impressed by their accurate flavours and innovation, and we can confidently say that Hundred Burgers serve the best burgers in the world.