The Best Burgers in Boston
Best Fast-Food Style: Tasty Burger
Our favorite way to experience Tasty Burger is still the way we first fell in love with it: at 1 a.m., in need of a fast — and delicious — way to soak up those few-too-many brews. We’ve tried? ’em all here, from the brutally rich deep-fried “Blue Collar” burger to the spicy, cheese-slathered jalapeño variety. But when we’re looking for a bite of classic Americana, we go for the “Big Tasty”: chopped pickles and onions, lettuce, tomato, special sauce, and a griddled, just-thick-enough patty. It’s a late-night savior that also satisfies at the table — or on the fly from the takeout window — any time of day.
$4.95, 1301 Boylston St., Boston, 617-425-4444, tastyburger.com.
Best Classic: The Gallows
When we’ve had one too many fancy-pants burgers, there’s nothing we crave more than the simple pleasure of meat and produce packed onto a toasted bun. And that’s exactly what we get with the Gallows’ “Our Way,” an expertly seasoned, flavor-packed patty topped with lettuce, pickles, American cheese, and grilled onions — nary a cream sauce or deep-fried pork product in sight.
$10, 1395 Washington St., Boston, 617-425-0200, thegallowsboston.com.
Best Patty Melt: Park
Essentially a Reuben, grilled cheese, and hamburger packed onto one glorious rye-bread vessel, the retro patty melt is woefully? underrepresented in this town. Thankfully, Harvard Square newcomer Park has come to the rescue, offering a version that boasts crisp bread on the outside and terrifically oozy Cholula-spiked sautéed onions, Russian dressing, and American cheese inside. Order it at the spacious bar with a tall beer, and you’ll thank us later.
$9, 59 JFK St., Cambridge, 617-491-9851, parkcambridge.com.
Best Gourmet: Craigie on Main
Chef? Tony Maws’s legendary creation is a rare species, indeed: a perfectly medium-rare, umami bomb of a patty punched up with bone marrow, suet, miso powder, subtly sweet mace ketchup, and nutty, fonduelike cheese, then nestled on a buttery, griddled house-made bun. Only 18 of these precious sammies make it out of the kitchen each night, so be sure to get your order in before 6:30 (or head over for brunch) for the chance to try one for yourself.
$18, 853 Main St., Cambridge, 617-497-5511, craigieonmain.com.