What’s Your Favorite Burger in NYC?

I’m not a huge red meat eater, but my heart belly definitely holds a soft spot for a good cheeseburger. There’s something about the combination of a savory patty, melted cheese, soft bread, and tangy ketchup/pickles that delivers true umami flavor.

Now in New York City, there’s no lack of establishments serving up good-tasting cheeseburgers. But the question begs asking: who serves your very favorite?

In honor of National Cheeseburger Day (yes, this is a real thing; are any of us surprised at this point?), here are three noteworthy spots I submit as contenders for best burger in NYC.

Emily
35 Downing Street, New York, NY; or 919 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NYThis is a serious burger that includes a dry-aged beef patty, caramelized onions, savory sauce, Cornichon pickles (which I’ve discovered is a thing with a bunch of the burgers on this list) and a flavorful cheddar — all served on a pretzel bun. Some good foodie friends of ours put us on, and if you’re looking for a super special, gourmet burger, this will definitely fit the bill. Bonus that if your dining companions are into pizza, they’ve got a good handle on that too.

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Au Cheval
33 Cortlandt Alley, New York, NYAu Cheval NYC opened earlier this year to lots of fanfare, as a spin-off from the very popular outpost in Chicago. I’d long heard that Au Cheval in Chicago has one of the very best burgers, so I was very excited to try it out without booking a flight to the Windy City. This burger is very tasty, and is served with a special sauce and minced pickles, so you get a little of that tangy flavor with every bite. It can be ordered with extras like the thickest bacon you’ve ever seen and a runny fried egg. We skipped the add-ons and opted for the straight-forward single (which is actually two patties). From what I’ve read around the interwebs, that leads to a better tasting/less messy experience anyway.

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Korzo
667 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NYThis is definitely the most unique cheeseburger I’ve had in NYC. Korzo is an eastern-European restaurant that takes grass-fed beef, a bunch of delicious toppings like cheese, bacon, and pickles, wraps it all in dough, and then drops that bad boy in a deep fryer. They also serve the burgers with their famous homemade beet ketchup. Jordan often requests to make a trek out to Brooklyn on his birthdays to get one of these beauts.

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Honorable Harlem Mentions
Now while I’ve traveled around the city to try the burgers above, I have to say that there are a lot of amazing burgers served in my ‘hood, Harlem. And I have to rep. So if you find yourself in these parts, here are some of my faves to try:

Maison Harlem
341 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY
A French bistro that serves their burgers with a la carte topping options, like caramelized onions, mushrooms, and different cheeses. And the fries that come with the burger are some of my favorites.

Harlem Public
3612 Broadway, New York, NY
They’ve got this peanut butter and bacon burger that might sound crazy, but I guarantee you it’s delicious. Try it, before you knock it.

BLVD Bistro
2149 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York, NY
This spot is really known for serving up delicious soul food, but their burger comes served on a really yummy brioche bun and with

So tell me — where’s your favorite burger in NYC?