Food and Recipes Dish Burgers The South’s Most Beloved Burger Joints Meals are served with a side of nostalgia at these classic spots. By Tara Massouleh McCay Tara Massouleh McCay Tara Massouleh McCay is the Senior Travel and Culture Editor for Southern Living. A writer and editor with nearly 10 years of experience in producing lifestyle content for local, regional, and national publications, she joined the Southern Living team in 2021. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 26, 2024 Close Photo: Robbie Caponetto Meal planning is a helpful tool for feeding your family when you’re working with limited time, but some days call for ditching the schedule and simply listening to your heart. When that inner craving calls for a good old-fashioned burger, chances are you already have a place in mind. We love our Southern fast-food chains like Whataburger and Cook Out, but when we need a quick fix, neither hold a candle to our favorite local spots. These are the places that have been around since our parents and grandparents were kids. Maybe it’s a 1950s-style drive-in or a classic diner where the booths are cherry red and the floors don a familiar black-and-white checker. They’re the places where we’ve made memories near and dear to our hearts. The menus are often short and sweet, but one thing you can always count on at a legendary burger joint is a consistently great meal. Here we celebrated 20 of the South’s most beloved burger restaurants. Did your favorite make the list? Let us know! How We Picked This List These restaurants were picked by the editors of Southern Living who report, research, and visit restaurants across the South Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill Courtesy of Gilbert's 17th Street Grill Fort Lauderdale, Florida South Floridians swear by this family-owned restaurant where a commonly shared value is to “treat your family like family.” Though the diner style spot serves everything from wings to salads to fish, their burgers are what really stand out. You’ve probably never had a burger on an English muffin, but a regular bun pales in comparison to the toasted and garlic butter slathered English muffins that the Havarti Burger is sandwiched between. gilberts17thstgrill.com; 1821 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316; 954-768-8990 Butch Cassidy’s Café Courtesy of Butch Cassidy's Cafe Mobile, Alabama There’s only one thing to order at this homegrown restaurant in downtown Mobile, Alabama, and it’s the famous Butch Burger. The 7-ounce almost-plate-sized sandwich comes topped with bacon, cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, and exactly four pickles. The combo is a winning recipe that has kept this neighborhood favorite happily busy since 1993. butchcassidys.com; 60 N Florida St., Mobile, AL 36607; 251-450-0690 Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili Robbie Caponetto Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas A frosted mug of root beer, a paper-lined basket of crispy French fries, and a burger obscured by spicy red-brown chili poured on top—this is the meal of champions at Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili. The Oklahoma institution (with locations in Arkansas and Texas) has been feeding hungry diners and delighting their palates since 1975. Things at Ron’s haven’t changed much since its early days, but at this long-standing gem, that consistency doesn’t feel stale; instead, it’s timeless. ronsburgersandchili.com for locations Phillips Drive-In Courtesy of Phillips Drive-IN Laurel, Mississippi Home Town HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier are big fans of this Laurel, Mississippi drive-in that’s been doing things the same way for more than 50 years. Pull up to the drive-thru or park and order at the walk-up window. Either way, you’ll be leaving with your stomach and your wallet full. You can still score a single burger with all your favorite toppings, plus an order of fries for just over $5. For $3 more you can add a milkshake and complete your taste of nostalgia. facebook.com/pdi1948; 330 S. Magnolia St., Laurel, MS; 601-426-2265 David’s Burgers Courtesy of David's Burgers Central Arkansas This small fleet of burger restaurants in Central Arkansas hasn’t been around for quite as long as some of the other spots on this list, but its roots go back to the 1960s. David Bubbus Jr. opened David’s Burgers in 2010 as a way to honor his father David Bubbus Sr.’s long career in the butchering and restaurant industries. Each burger at David’s is made with U.S. Choice Chuck that’s displayed in a glass butcher’s case, hand-cut, and ground into burgers daily. davidsburgers.com for locations Ed’s Drive-In Courtesy of Ed's Drive-In Jackson, Alabama Classic drive-ins are hard to come by these days, but this business has been a stalwart in the tiny town of Jackson, Alabama since the summer of ’64. Now owned by a young couple, Julia and Justin Brooks, who fell in love with the place after sharing many dates there, Ed’s is largely the same as it always was. The biggest seller is still the hand-pressed hamburger. Close behind it is their famous steak sandwich, a country-fried hamburger steak patty topped with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. edsdrive-in.com; 3018 College Avenue, Jackson, AL 36545; 251-246-3054 The Varsity Sean Pavone/Getty Images Atlanta, Georgia Like McDonald’s signature double arches, the symbol for this Atlanta institution is unmistakable. As visitors travel along Interstate 75, a familiar giant red V signifies that they’ve made it to the city—and that it might be time to stop for a burger. Owned and operated by the Gordy family since 1928, The Varsity earned the title of the World’s Largest Drive-In in 1950, but now serves most of its guests inside its retro dining room with seating for 650. If you go, study up on the restaurant lingo before ordering. When you get to the front of the line, be ready to recite, “Steak, Strings, and F.O.” That’s a hamburger with ketchup, mustard, and pickles, an order of fries, and a frosted orange shake for the uninitiated. thevarsity.com; 61 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308; 404-881-1706 Burger Boy Diner Courtesy of Burger Boy Diner Louisville, Kentucky Hungry University of Louisville students know they can count on Burger Boy when late-night cravings strike. The Old Louisville restaurant serves its menu of classic breakfast fare and burgers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At just $14, the Burger Boy Combo (two quarter-pound Angus beef patties on a three-piece toasted bun with special sauce and cheese, plus seasoned fries and a drink) is a surefire way to fill your belly and your spirit. burgerboydiner.com; 1450 S. Brook St., Louisville, KY 40208; 502-635-7410 Port of Call Courtesy of Port of Call New Orleans, Louisiana Great versions of the Big Easy’s signature sandwiches, po’boys and muffulettas, can be found across the town, but if you’re hunting the city’s best burger, there’s only one place to go: Port of Call. The restaurant opened in 1963 in the heart of the French Quarter and is credited with the creation of the “New Orleans-style” burger. The mouthful is made with a half-pound of charbroiled, freshly ground beef, a pile of grated and unmelted cheddar, and a sesame seed bun. Toppings come served on the side, and there’s nary a French fry in sight. Instead, you’ll find a baked potato, which harkens to this restaurant’s origin as a steakhouse. portofcallnola.com; 838 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116; 504-523-0120 Beacon Drive-In Courtesy of Beacon Drive-In Spartanburg, South Carolina You’ll find a great Southern landmark—and even better food—in the Beacon Drive-In. First opened in 1946, this beloved spot hosts an average of 1 million guests per year and claims to be the largest single seller of iced tea in the U.S., going through 3,000 pounds of sugar per week. Order the Chili Cheese A-Plenty, which includes a chili cheeseburger buried beneath a mound of sweet onion rings and French fries. If you can stomach a sweet other than your giant cup of tea, a slice of apple or pecan pie should do the trick. A slice is ¼ of the pie. Did we mention this place is not for the faint of heart? beacondrivein.com; 255 John B. White, Sr. Blvd., Spartanburg, SC 29306; 864-585-9387 Borroum’s Drug Store & Soda Fountain Courtesy of Borroum's Drug Store & Soda Fountain Corinth, Mississippi The oldest business in Corinth, the oldest drugstore in Mississippi, and the oldest drugstore in the country still operated by the same family (it’s on its seventh generation of Borroums) also has one heck of a burger tradition. The Slugburger, a Mississippi staple that developed during the Great Depression that involves flattening ground pork, soy flour, and spices into a patty and deep frying it. It may not be beef, but it’s a beloved burger all the same. borroums.com; 604 E Waldron St, Corinth, MS 38834; 662-286-3361 Dyer’s Burgers Courtesy of Kendall Robertson Memphis, Tennessee The tradition behind the burgers griddled up at Dyer’s Burgers is unlike any you’ll ever hear. Elmer “Doc” Dyer opened a café in 1912, where these burgers were first sold. As legend has it, the secret to his recipe was straining and recycling his cooking grease. More than 100 years later, the burgers are still cooked in that very same grease that’s ladled into custom-made cast iron skillets that each hold up to 75 burgers at a time. Visit Beale Street for the music, and stay for the burgers. dyersonbeale.com; 205 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103; 901-527-3937 Champ Burger Courtesy of Champ Burger Houston, Texas The owners and the clientele at Champ Burger are generational. Michael Saladino opened Champ’s in 1963 and passed away in 2017 at the age of 77. Today his son Chris continues his legacy by operating the humble Houston burger house in the same way he always did. Burgers at Champ’s are 1/3 pound and made from fresh prime ground chuck. Get yours topped with bacon, cheese, chili, or a combination of all three. champburger.net; 304 Sampson Street, Houston, TX 77003; 713-227-7737 Brown’s Diner Courtey of Brown's Diner Nashville, Tennessee For a Nashville dining experience that’s as authentic as they come, seek out Brown’s Diner. More dive than restaurant, with wood-paneled walls, neon beer signs, and a wraparound bar, Brown’s has been rocking and rolling in the Music City since it started in mule-drawn trolley car back in 1927. The burgers are legendary, the beer is always cold, and if you’re lucky enough to dine on a live music night, the atmosphere can’t be beat. thebrownsdiner.com; 2102 Blair Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212; 615-269-5509 Laha’s Red Castle Courtesy of Laha's Red Castle Hodgenville, Kentucky Four generations of Lahas have carried on the tradition of excellent smashburgers at Laha’s Red Castle. With only eight counter seats, plus some a few more outside, you may find it hard to get into this teeny tiny burger joint during the lunch rush. But it’s more than worth any wait. Portions of ground meat are sprinkled with chopped onions then griddled on the flat-top until they develop a crispy skirt. A single hamburger will only set you back $2.50; $2.75 if you want cheese. Pro tip: Get your burger dipped, which means one of the buns takes a quick dunk in thin chili sauce. facebook.com/LahasRedCastle; 21 Lincoln Square, Hodgenville, KY 42748; 270-358-9201 Judice Inn Courtesy of Judice Inn Lafayette, Louisiana When this Lafayette institution celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022, folks came out in droves to pay their respects to a true classic—and grab a loaded cheeseburger and draft beer for just $2 total. The special pricing was for one day only, but the crowds are nearly just as large on normal days too. Brothers Alcide and Marc Judice built the place brick by brick in 1947, and today Marc’s youngest son Gerald has taken over the reins. In true Acadiana style, the secret to these one-of-a-kind burgers is a special sauce that adds a kick and is specifically suited to South Louisianan’s tastes. judiceinn.com; 3134 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503; 337-984-5614 Latham’s Hamburger Inn Courtesy of Latham's Hamburger Inn New Albany, Mississippi The homemade pie flavors change daily at this Magnolia State favorite, but the legendary dough burgers (beef mixed with flour, also known as a slugburger) haven’t wavered since the spot opened in 1928. Even through a move in 1974, Latham’s has retained its old-school feel using the same wood and cast-iron barstools and counter, original cash register, and a 1960s drink cooler where guests can help themselves to a glass bottle Coke. facebook.com/lathamshamburgerinn; 106 Main St W New Albany, MS 38652; 662-539-7023 Texas Tavern Courtesy of Texas Tavern Roanoke, Virginia Don’t ask for ketchup in this 24-7 Roanake Diner unless you’re ready for a little jarring. At Texas Tavern, the only acceptable toppings for your burger are mustard, onions, pickles—and if you order the special Cheesy Western burger, cheese and an egg. Ketchup is known as Sissy Sauce. Now run by the great grandson of the original 1930 owner, Texas Tavern has remained close to its roots. That’s why the secret chili recipe hasn’t changed a bit, and the prices have remained low as can be. A hamburger will only set you back $2.25, while a cup of chili (the only acceptable side) costs just $2.55. texastavern-inc.com; 114 W Church Ave., Roanoke, VA 24011; 540-342-4825 Jim’s Drive-In Courtesy of Jim's Drive-In Lewisburg, West Virginia There are five different ways to order fried pickles at this classic drive-in just off Route 60. if that tells you anything about how seriously they take their comfort food. Open since 1951, this is the kind of place where folks from all walks of life come to get their fill. On the menu, you’ll find everything from pizza to homemade barbecue to a incredible fried green tomato sandwich, but you can’t leave without trying the Big Jim Ranch Burger, which comes topped with ham, purple onion, lettuce, tomato, sweet pickle, and mayo. facebook.com/jimsdrivein; 479 Washington Street, West Lewisburg, WV 24901; 304-645-2590 Melvins’ Hamburgers and Hotdogs Courtesy of Melvins' Elizabethtown, North Carolina When the three Melvin brothers opened Melvins’ in 1938, it was little more than a pool room with a grill in the back. Over time, their simple menu of hamburgers and hotdogs had outshined the billiards, and the tables were removed to make room for more booths. Operating in the same building more than 85 years later, you can still get a Carolina-style hamburger or cheeseburger (served all the way with mustard, onions, chili, and slaw) for just around $3. Melvins’; 133 W Broad St Elizabethtown, NC 28337; 910-862-2763 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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