These joints take the hamburger to a new level.
New York Burger
New York City; 2 units
Starting price: $6.75 for regular; $2.75 for mini
What's Cooking
Niman Ranch natural beef burgers with choice of fresh toppings. “We go out of our way to serve top quality in a quick-serve environment,” says co-owner Madeline Poley.
What's on Top
Free homemade dipping sauces include maple-Dijon, chili pepper ketchup and chipotle honey.
What you'll see there
Fresh-baked brioche buns enclose the burgers. Five signatures debuted as mini-burgers to “fit the tapas trend,” Poley notes.
The Counter
Culver City, California; 8 units
Starting price: $7.95 for no frills
What's Cooking
Customization is the name of the game; patrons build their own (B.Y.O.B) all-natural burgers in one of two sizes from a base of beef, turkey, veggie or chicken.
What's on Top
Free toppings range from grilled pineapple to roasted corn and black bean salsa and peanut sauce.
What you'll see there
Mix-and-match choices allow for 312,120 variations on the burger theme.
Burger Lounge
San Diego, California; 2 units
Starting price: $6.95 for all burgers
What's Cooking
Grass-fed beef sits between whole wheatwhite buns baked everyday from a recipe developed in house.
What's on Top
Housemade 1000 Island dressing is the signature condiment, but customers can opt for ketchup.
What you'll see there
“We worked to make Burger Lounge a hip hangout, a place where you actually want to linger,” says co-owner Mike Gilligan. Wine and beer are available.
Flippin’ Burgers
Newton, Massachusetts; 1 unit
Starting price: $4.95
What's Cooking
Hand-formed Nebraska Angus beef patties come with a side of fries and house dressing—a mayo-based sauce. Burgers take 12 to 15 minutes to cook after ordering.
What's on Top
Caramelized roasted garlic, roasted red peppers, hummus, guacamole and a fried egg join the usual lineup of cheese, bacon and onions as topping choices.
What you'll see there
The walls are covered with one owner’s art and music fills the space.
Oneburger
Coral Gables, Florida; 1 unit
Starting price: $4.95
What's Cooking
Over 30 burgers, from Kobe Beef to Frita Cubana. “We took classic recipes and applied them to ‘the art of the burger,’” says founder Daniel Guiteras.
What's on Top
Topping combos include creamy goat cheese, crispy onion and roasted red peppers and brie cheese, black forest ham and caramelized green apple.
What you'll see there
Yuca fries join sweet potato and regular fries as a side. A vending machine dispenses “gashapon”—funky Japanese toys—for kids and grownups.
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