The Best Burgers in Detroit (in No Particular Order)

Photos by Cover photo by Bill Bowen

Fear not, burger enthusiasts. The Detroit food scene has plenty more to offer than just pizza and Coneys.

Whether it’s a hole-in-the-wall bar, a trendy tavern or a good old-fashioned restaurant, no matter where you are in metro Detroit, chances are you aren’t far from a great burger.

In no particular order, here are the best burgers in Detroit and metro Detroit:

Miller’s Bar, Dearborn

Take it from Food & Wine, the popular, no-frills burgers from Miller’s Bar are among the best in the U.S.

Vinsetta Garage, Berkley

Vinsetta’s namesake burger has two patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion with Detroit’s famous McClure’s pickles, maple bacon and special burger sauce. If beef isn’t your thing, they also have lamb, duck, turkey or vegan patties.

Mercury Burger Bar, Corktown

Mercury burgers are the kind you don’t want to put down once you’ve got them in hand. Popular choices include the Topor, the Southwest and the Eastern Market burger. Don’t forget to add an order of garlic fries.

One Eyed Betty’s, Ferndale

As past champions of the Detroit Burger Brawl, the burgers at One Eyed Betty’s are truly award winning. The Betty Burger is topped with sharp cheddar, aioli and mixed greens. Choose from more than 47 beers on tap for a cold brew to complete the meal.

24Grille, Downtown

Grab the burger bucket for lunch or dinner at 24Grille. This ground prime burger features white American cheese, bacon, mixed greens, tomato, onion, gorgonzola cream and 24 sauce.

The Burger Loft, Plymouth

Tucked inside the beautiful Inn at St. John’s, The Burger Loft is a trendy take on the classic burger joint. During warmer months, this is a great place to stop after working up an appetite on the golf course. The quarter-pound signature brisket blend is best served with house-cut fries.

HopCat Detroit, Midtown

Enjoy these half-pound burger patties, charbroiled and served on a toasted brioche buns. Keep it Classic, or kick up the heat with the Cowboy burger –topped with spicy fried jalapeño peppers, pepper jack cheese, apple cider barbecue sauce and hickory smoked bacon. Wash it down with a beer from HopCat’s 130 craft beer taps.

HopCat, photo by @the.dining.dentist

Green Dot Stables, Corktown

A twist on the traditional, Green Dot’s sliders are so good, you just might want to try them all. The cheeseburger keeps things classic with just pickles and onions, so ask for the mystery meat if you’re up for something new.

Firebird Tavern, Greektown

The diner burger at Firebird Tavern is a house specialty that’s served with fries. Two patties are smashed together and topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and special sauce. Add bacon to kick things up a notch. They also offer a veg-friendly black bean and soy burger.

Firebird-Tavern-Burger

Red Coat Tavern, Royal Oak

Redcoat Tavern is as famous for its thick, juicy burgers as it is for its atmosphere — tightly-packed tables and vinyl seats in low-light give Red Coat a classic, mysterious ambiance and a real sense of history.

Brome Modern Eatery, Downtown

New to the downtown dining scene is Brome Modern Eatery near Huntington Place. Their 100% organic beef patties come from grass-fed cows that lead comfortable lives. Eat your burger in its classic fashion, or put a patty on one of their signature salads if you want a healthier option. They also have a Dearborn location.

Brome-Modern-Eatery-Food

Basement Burger Bar, Downtown

Create your perfect burger at Basement Burger Bar before you head to Comerica Park or Ford Field for a game, or go all out with their Basement Junk Burger (loaded with everything from mozzarella sticks to fried pickles). Just don’t blame us when you fall into a food coma during the game.

Nemo’s Bar, Detroit

This popular burger spot is right next to old Tiger Stadium, and offers shuttles to Tigers and Red Wings games. Nemo’s large, juicy burger is cooked to order on a sesame seed bun, with special mustard sauce if you need that extra kick to get you through the game.

Town Tavern, Royal Oak

The popular and upscale Town Tavern is known as much for its burgers as it is for its fancier dishes. You can’t go wrong with the premium steakhouse Tavern “Blue Ribbon” Cheeseburger. You might also consider upgrading your French fries for the famous lobster mac & cheese — surf and turf?

Browndog Barlor, Northville

Downtown Northville’s Browndog Barlor puts a unique twist on classic bar food to bring you something truly hand-crafted. These use fresh, local ingredients in their seasonal burger and their classic Bdog Burger.

Browndog Barlor, @a.bite.of.life

Hunter House Hamburgers, Birmingham

Hunter House Hamburgers, established in 1952, is Detroit’s most recognizable place for sliders — steamy buns and onions pressed into meat on a grill that may as well be original to the diner. The smell of a bag-full of Hunter House sliders will make any red-blooded Detroiter jealous.

Hunter House Hamburgers, @thedetroitdiet

Greene’s Hamburgers, Farmington

The alternative to Hunter House, Greene’s Hamburgers has sliders that pass the test — the see-through paper bag test, that is. Order as many sliders as you can handle in one sitting, then watch the bag soak up to translucent with slider magic.

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