As long as I can remember, I have been on an ongoing journey to try all the best cheeseburgers I can. To this point I’ve had dozens and dozens of them—in more than a dozen states and several countries. I’ve had burgers from some of the best food cities in the US (including New York, Chicago, and LA), and I’ve even had burger sushi. The most valuable thing I’ve learned in my burger connoisseur-ing is that you don’t have to travel across the country (or world) to get a delicious cheeseburger when you can get many of them right here in greater Cincinnati.
I love cheeseburgers and I order them whenever I can because it’s my favorite food and it’s a dish this city does so well (not literally, because if I have the choice, I’m ordering it medium). I love no-frills burgers from the diviest of bars (even when they’re served with popcorn), burgers topped with cheese I have to ask my husband how to pronounce, and those dressed with fancy mayonnaise people like to call “aioli.” I like my burgers pretty traditional, with the occasional flare. As long as there’s beef and cheese sandwiched between some kind of bread-like carb, I’ll eat it. And chances are I’ll like it. (Bonus points if there are excellent condiments involved.)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Cincinnati is a great burger city. But while I like most I’ve had, these burgers* stand above the rest.
Zip Burger $
Zip’s Cafe Mt. Lookout
Mt. Lookout’s tiny burger tavern on the square has been serving one of my favorite no-frills burgers since 1926 (almost 100 years!), so obviously they’re doing everything right. It’s the first local burger I remember having and absolutely loving (I won’t date myself, but I will say it was when I was in high school) and I continue to love it to this day. Add cheese fries for an up-charge (and get the ranch!).
Garlic Three Cheese Burger $$
BRU Burger Fountain District
This Indianapolis-based burger restaurant opened its doors in Cincinnati in December 2015, and serves one of my favorite burgers: a beef patty cooked medium with Swiss, American, and mozzarella cheeses, plus roasted garlic and truffle aioli. It is cheesy, garlicky, condimenty goodness, served with fresh cut fries for an additional charge. (Don’t skip on the fries; they’re fantastic.) Get the house-made ketchup and honey mustard.
Classic Double Cheeseburger $$
Delwood Mt. Lookout
This delectable cheeseburger is piled high and yummy complete with two four-ounce patties, American cheese, pickles, and special sauce on a toasted potato bun. Bonus? It’s served with waffle fries and Aji Amarillo Aioli, a delicious Peruvian condiment with a kick.
Hokkaido Smash Burger $$$
Cafe Mochiko East Walnut Hills
Wagyu beef burger topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, and served with fries. Y’all. The bun. The beef. The caramelized onions. The combination of it all. So juicy and excellent that the self-proclaimed Condiment Queen didn’t even need any assortment dips or sauces to accompany the meal.
Cheeseburger $
Gold Star multiple locations
Gold Star’s “fast food” cheeseburger from a chili restaurant is far from fast food quality and the best thing on the menu (worth noting I also love their chili). This 100% pure ground beef burger is dressed with lettuce, tomato, pickles, Heavenly sauce, and American cheese. Served with crinkle fries, so be sure to get a side of Heavenly Sauce for those.
Smash Burger $$
Ivory House Westwood
This award-winning steakhouse’s wagyu beef (or Impossible) smash burger is available on the bar menu for happy hour every day they’re open from 4:30–6p. It is served with American cheese, greens, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo, Ivory House secret sauce, and a side of fingerling potatoes or simple greens salad.
Bacon Jam and Beer Cheese Burger $$
Craft Burger Bros. food truck parked at Streetside Brewery
This 2019 Fretboard Burger Throwdown Award Winner is a 6-ounce Wassler’s custom beef patty topped with bacon jam, beer cheese, and Grippo’s spiced onion straws on a potato bun.
Cheeseburger $
Quatman Café Norwood, Mason
The first time I had Quatman’s—way back in 2009—I wasn’t impressed. It was when I made a return visit a couple of years later that I thought, “Holy … what was I thinking?!” Quatman’s was founded in 1966 and has been serving up deliciously standard burgers for more than 50 years. (There’s a reason for that.) Comes with chips; get fries for a small up-charge. Each Monday and Thursday They have a cheeseburger special, where you get a burger, fries, and choice of drink for just $10.
Commander N Beef Smash Burger Friday $$$
Avril-Bleh Meat Market Court Street Plaza
Chef Kayla Robison, two-time Food Network winner, throws down some excellent smash burgers at Friday summer pop-ups at Avril-Bleh on Court Street downtown.
Double Cheeseburger $
The Root Beer Stand Sharonville
The Root Beer Stand is open seasonally every year, from March until October. The Quarter Pounder is one of the more basic burgers on the list, and RBS has even recently starting serving their burgers with fries. You can instead add a bag of popcorn or Grippo’s to your meal if you prefer.
The Hi-Melt $$
The Hi-Mark East End
Like a Patty Melt, but elevated, the Hi-Melt is a 1/3-pound Avril Bleh smash burger with provolone, American, caramelized onions, and fry sauce on grilled Allez Bakery sourdough or rye. Get the fries and fry sauce on the side.
Streetcar Burger $$
BrewRiver Sandwich Shop Element Eatery, Madisonville
BrewRiver Creole Kitchen, a longtime favorite restaurant of ours, now has a spot at Madisonville’s Element Eatery, and serves up the Streetcar Burger, a patty topped with American cheese, shredded iceberg, red onion, house-made pickles, and house-made kimchi tartar sauce. Available in single or double.
Arnold’s Burger $$
Arnold’s Bar and Grill Central Business District
Serving up a custom beef blend from Avril Bleh and buns from Sixteen Bricks, the Arnold’s Burger features American cheese, pickles, sautéed onions, and Arnold’s burger sauce. (Plus that ranch.)
$ – Under $10
$$ – $10–$15
$$$ – $15–$20
$$$$ – $20+
Note: This cost is for the burger itself. An additional cost for a side or fries can often apply.
*This list only includes cheeseburgers that I have personally had from local restaurants (or small regional chains)