It’s no secret that Texas loves, and prides itself on, its beef, so it follows that Dallas, one of the state’s best culinary cities, would take its burgers seriously. Whether you’re craving a loaded handheld dripping with goodness from a casual joint, or dreaming of white gloves, bowties, and a silver dome whisked from your plate revealing a pristine burger built to perfection, Dallas will deliver. Here are six of the Metroplex’s best burgers.
Lakewood Landing
Offering a cozy, neighborhood dive-bar vibe with its dim lighting and vintage jukebox, Lakewood Landing is many a Dallasite’s go-to burger spot. The juicy Landing burger is the real deal—no frills, no airs, just a slice of melted cheese over a ground-beef burger that is served in a plastic basket lined with red-and-white checkered paper. 5818 Live Oak St. #4334, Dallas
Crown Block
Taking an elevator ride up to The Ball, the glittering sphere atop Reunion Tower that is a signature of the city’s sweeping skyline, is a fun precursor to a meal at Crown Block. The restaurant showcases a fine menu of American comfort eats, including a burger worth splurging on. The Rosewood Ranches Wagyu burger packs Taleggio cheese, red onions, marmalade, and truffle aioli into a brioche bun, and is presented with triple cooked fries. Aside from offering a killer burger, the chophouse offers breathtaking panoramic views of Downtown from its wraparound windows. 300 Reunion Blvd. E., Dallas, crownblockdallas.com
Fogo de Chao 
The first-ever American location of this famed Brazilian steakhouse opened in Dallas, and it remains a favorite among locals. However, many may not know that there’s more to the Fogo experience than churrasco and a sprawling salad station. Sit at the bar and order the picanha burger with a side of crispy polenta from the all-day happy hour menu. The brioche bun holds house-ground picanha—also called sirloin cap or rump cap—smoked provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, and chimichurri aioli. Multiple locations, fogodechao.com
Keller’s Drive-In
It’s impossible to make a list of the best burger joints in Dallas without including this 75-year-old institution. With three locations around the city, Keller’s employs old-school carhops who greet customers windowside, scribbling their orders on little pads. For all the kitsch and nostalgia, the quality of Keller’s food doesn’t take a hit. Regulars have been coming for decades, and for good reason. Keller’s slings cold, creamy milkshakes, salty fries, and simple burgers served on poppy-seed buns. Multiple locations.
Rodeo Goat
With nine locations in the Metroplex, Rodeo Goat is among the most convenient options when a monster burger craving hits. The atmosphere is lively, the beer selection is impressive, and the menu lists 13 speciality burgers. Tickle your taste buds with something like the sweet and spicy Sugar Burger, built with candied bacon, grilled peaches, caramelized onions, arugula, and jalapeño jam; or the fiery Hot Bastard with lettuce, tomato, onion, habanero cheddar, and marinated fresco peppers. For non-beef eating guests, Rodeo Goat gives the option to swap out its house-ground patties for turkey, chicken, or vegan alternatives. Multiple locations, rodeogoat.com
Flamant
The team behind Rye and Apothecary in Dallas added a Plano Boardwalk restaurant to its collection: Flamant is a pan-European spot that serves crazy cocktails, including one garnished with an octopus. The patty on the wood-fired Wagyu burger is a house-ground combination of chuck, cheek, and ribeye. Topped with brûléed fontina, Spanish tomatoes, garlic whip, and chives, this might be the best burger in Plano. 5880 State Hwy 121 Ste. 103b, Plano, flamant.bar/
Ocean Prime
At this elegant seafood restaurant across from the Rosewood Crescent Hotel, the Sakura Wagyu Cheeseburger is teeming with Camembert, red onion jam, and Dijon aioli. Go early on a Tuesday to enjoy a “tiny tini” ($5 cocktail) in the lounge before dinner. Or go on Wednesday Wine Night for half-off wine bottles. 2101 Cedar Springs Rd. #150, Dallas, ocean-prime.com/locations-menus/dallas/
Billy Can Can
Go for the Billy Burger at this swanky saloon, made with Texas beef, cheddar, bacon, caramelized onions, IPA mustard, pickled jalapeños, and hand-cut fries. It’s one of the best items on the menu. Sometimes when the weather is nice, Billy’s chef de cuisine Oscar Bonilla drags the grill out to the sidewalk and makes smash burgers that are just as tasty. 2386 Victory Park ln., Dallas, billycancan.com/
Hunky’s
A Dallas staple since 1984, the Cedar Springs locations of this beloved hamburger joint expanded to Bishop Arts in 2005. Both outposts remain as popular as ever. Stools around the counter, daily specials on the wall, and burgers served in paper-lined baskets lend the place old-timey charm. To stick with the classic vibes, try the Texas Cheeseburger on Texas toast. It comes with American cheese and fries or tots on the side. Multiple locations, hunkys.com/
Adair’s Saloon
This dive bar and music venue with the neon signs, red-felt pool table, and graffiti all over the walls serves one of Dallas’s most famous cheeseburgers. Thick, juicy, and straightforward, it has a giant jalapeño on top, with a tooth pick holding the whole thing together. Check out the live music schedule, so you can listen to some country and wash that spicy burger down with a cold beer. 2624 Commerce St., Dallas, adairssaloon.com/
Twisted Root
A go-to spot for burger enthusiasts, Twisted Root features whimsical art on the walls, including bright yellow molds shaped like hunting trophies and painted portraits of modern celebrities in old military garb. The burgers are huge and the names are playful: The Kevin Bacon, for example, contains plenty of blue cheese and, naturally, a stack of honey-cured bacon. Multiple locations, twistedrootburgerco.com/
Charley’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers
This order-at-the-window spot in Fort Worth offers picnic table seating for nice-weather days, as well as indoor seating on a black-and-white checkerboard floor. Go for a Bar-B-Que Burger made with ground chuck and topped with Swiss, grilled onions, bacon, pickles, and barbecue sauce. Don’t miss the giant crispy onion rings on the side. 4616 Granbury Rd., Fort Worth, charleys-old-fashioned-hamburgers.com-dining.com/
Ye Ole Butcher Shop
An iconic Plano staple since 1974, this restaurant and butcher shop with the hunting trophies on the wall is famous among meat-lovers all over the Metroplex. Choose among butcher’s burgers, buffalo burgers, turkey burgers, and even veggie burgers. If you like elk burgers, pop in on a Wednesday. 811 East 15th St., Plano, yeolebutchershop.com/
El Reyno Elotes y Taquería
This taqueria in Hurst makes the biggest burger in the Metroplex. Weighing in at five pounds, La Reyna is closer to the size of a large pizza than a standard burger. It’s loaded up with a giant beef patty, carne pastor, plenty of beans and cheese, and all the fixings. On the side, you’ll get a heaping pile of fries and a couple of whole jalapeños. 705 Melbourne Rd., Hurst
Burger Time Machine
Burger Time Machine truly does serve as a time machine back to the simpler days of simpler burgers. If you’re craving a burger with a slice of cheese and a pile of shredded lettuce, this is your spot. It’s an unapologetic dive with kitsch plastered all over the walls, but people swarm from Denton and beyond for the classic comfort-food fare. Complex specialty burgers are also on offer, like the Texan Frito Pie: a half-pound patty smothered in chili, Fritos, and shredded Colby Jack. 301 W. University Dr., Denton, burgertimemachine.com/
The post 15 Essential Burger Spots in Dallas–Fort Worth for Serious Burger Lovers first appeared on DiningOut Global.