We Americans eat 50 billion burgers a year, three burgers a week for every single person in the country. To celebrate this mainstay and to give a nod to National Burger Day on May 28, we recommend scarfing down one or all of our picks for Orlando’s best burgers.
The Artisan’s Burger
Where: Artisan’s Table, 22 East Pine St., Orlando
This scrumptious sandwich is made with ground short rib and brisket and then topped with bacon marmalade, tomato, house made dill pickle relish, yellow mustard and your choice of cheddar, gorgonzola, pepper jack or gruyere cheese.
The Artisan’s Burger
The “55” Burger
Where: The Rusty Spoon, 55 West Church St., Orland0
Chef Kathleen Blake stuffs a ½ pound of grass-fed beef with bacon and gruyere, then smothers it with sauteed onions and dresses it with house-made aioli and pickles.
The “55” Burger
The Medium Rare Burger
Where: Orlando Meats, 728 Virginia Dr., Orlando
If you don’t like your burger medium-rare then we don’t know what to tell you, other than you should seriously reconsider your stance. This award-winning grass-fed burger comes topped with bacon XO sauce, garlic aioli and provolone on a French roll.
The Medium Rare Burger
Super Cheeseburger
Where: Kappy’s, 501 North Orlando Ave., Maitland
This diner, converted from a bygone gas station, has been run by the same family for over 38 years. Their Super Cheeseburger (a.k.a. Fresh from Florida Burger) is made with local, grass-fed beef and is served with your choice of fixins’ on a melt-in-your-mouth bun.
Super Cheeseburger
The Southerner
Where: The Whiskey, 7563 Sand Lake Rd.
Pimento cheese, bourbon bacon, whiskey onions and fried green tomatoes top this two-fisted contender.
The Southerner. Photo by AaronVan.
The Pimento Cheese Burger
Where: Highball & Harvest (The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando)
Made with double short-rib patties, this delectable offering is topped with bacon, pimento cheese and spicy, house-made pickles.
The Pimento Cheese Burger
1921 Burger
Where: 1921 Mount Dora, 142 East 4th Ave., Mount Dora
Chef Josh Oakley (pictured) nestles a chuck, brisket and short rib patty on a brioche bun dressed with Nueske’s bacon, Swiss cheese, bread-and-butter pickles and garlic aioli.
Veggie Burger
Where: Hillstone (215 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park; hillstone.com)
While the beef burger at Hillstone is outstanding, vegetarians love the House-Made Veggie Burger packed with greens and covered in a sweet soy glaze and melted jack cheese.
Hillstone’s Veggie Burger
Impossible Burger
Where: The Hangry Bison, 480 Orlando Ave., Winter Park
You can build your own bison, short rib or even salmon burger at this burger-centric spot in Winter Park Village, but the plant-based Impossible Burger will fool even hard core carnivores. Top with a range of fresh veggies or even a naughty slice of bacon.
Impossible Burger
