Best in Hood
Menu
CitiesGuidesSubmit your businessReviews processAboutContact

5 Best Burger Restaurants in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Thorne Savarin
By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Everyone in New York has an opinion about where the best burger is, and most of them are wrong about at least one pick. Among these burger restaurants in New York, review counts run from under 2,000 up to 6,680, and one entry on this list turns out not to be a burger restaurant at all.

Short answer: Au Cheval leads with a 4.7 rating across 6,680 reviews, the highest review volume by far and the spot most reviewers call genuinely elite. smashy burger posts the best rating at 4.9 (3,652 reviews) for a fast, no-frills smash burger, and Black Tap and Burger Village round out the true burger options. One name here, 1803 NYC, is actually a Cajun-Creole restaurant, not a burger spot, and we've flagged that directly below.
Jump to a business

New York's top burger spots, side by side

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Au Cheval 4.7 ★ 6,680 Overall / the cult classic cheeseburger View ›
2 smashy burger | new york 4.9 ★ 3,652 Fast, affordable smash burgers View ›
3 Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer - SoHo 4.4 ★ 5,218 Burgers plus the over-the-top milkshakes View ›
4 1803 NYC 4.5 ★ 2,102 New Orleans-style dining, not a dedicated burger spot View ›
5 Burger Village 4.6 ★ 1,695 Organic and dietary-friendly burgers View ›
5 Best Burger Restaurants in New York (2026)

The lineup, reviewed

Au Cheval logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Au Cheval

4.76,680 Google reviews

Au Cheval is a Tribeca all-day diner and bar tucked down Cortlandt Alley, best known for the griddled cheeseburger that put its original Chicago location on every food list a decade ago. The New York outpost keeps the same format: bone marrow, salads, and steaks share the menu with the signature burger, alongside a serious cocktail and wine list. It's become one of the most talked-about burger stops in Manhattan, with a near 6,700-review track record to match.

What people praise

  • Reviewers consistently call it one of the best burgers in the city, even from people who eat a lot of burgers
  • Praised for a lively, high-energy atmosphere that still allows conversation
  • The mac and cheese and desserts get called out almost as often as the burger itself
  • High marks for service even on busy nights

Worth knowing

  • Expect a wait or a need for reservations on weekends
  • Some reviewers describe it as high quality rather than the single best burger they've had, so keep expectations realistic
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume6,680 · 98th
Confidencevery high
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown83% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest review volume on this list by a wide margin, and the rating holds up at nearly 6,700 reviews. This is the safe first call if you want New York's most talked-about burger night.

Website+1646-350-2429 Directions

33 Cortlandt Alley, New York, NY 10013

smashy burger | new york logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days

smashy burger | new york

4.93,652 Google reviews

Smashy is a stand-and-eat smash burger counter near Union Square, part of a small chain built around a deliberately short menu: a Simple or a Double, nothing else to overthink. Orders are cooked fresh in view of the counter and turned around quickly, with a house sauce and a classic ketchup-and-mustard option. It's built for a quick, affordable bite rather than a sit-down meal.

What people praise

  • Reviewers repeatedly call it one of the best affordable burgers in the city
  • Praised for genuinely fast service, several mention no wait even at busy times
  • The smash-style patty and melted cheese get singled out for quality at the price point
  • Customizable for dietary restrictions, according to reviewers

Worth knowing

  • No seating, it's a standing counter only
  • A few reviewers note the ventilation leaves you smelling like the kitchen afterward
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume3,652 · 88th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown90% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The best rating on this list at 4.9 across more than 3,600 reviews, and the price point makes it an easy repeat stop rather than a special occasion.

Website+1475-341-6075 Directions

42 Union Sq E, New York, NY 10003

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer - SoHo logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer - SoHo

4.45,218 Google reviews

Black Tap's SoHo location is the original of a now-multi-city chain built around craft burgers and its famous CrazyShake milkshakes. The menu covers burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, and a full bar, with both indoor dining and takeout or delivery through their own ordering system. It's a bigger, more tourist-facing operation than the other spots here, reflected in its nearly 5,200 reviews.

What people praise

  • The CrazyShake milkshakes come up in almost every glowing review
  • Reviewers repeatedly call the cheeseburger among the best they've had
  • Staff and servers get named and praised individually across multiple reviews

Worth knowing

  • Rating sits lower than the others here at 4.4, and a meaningful share of reviews mention slow or disorganized service around reservations
  • Can get busy and loud, so call ahead if you want a table at peak times
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.4 / 5
Review volume5,218 · 93th
Confidencevery high
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown66% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A fun, milkshake-forward pick with real crowd appeal, though the lower rating and some genuine service complaints put it behind the two burger specialists ranked above it.

Website+1646-960-6500 Directions

529 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

1803 NYC logo
#4🕑 Open 7 days

1803 NYC

4.52,102 Google reviews

1803 NYC is a Tribeca restaurant and bar built around Cajun-Creole cooking and New Orleans culture, from Chef Rafael Haid, with jambalaya, gumbo, and beignets alongside live music most nights and a speakeasy bar called Bon Courage. It's a full dinner-and-cocktails destination rather than a burger joint. We're including it here because it ranks well and shows up in local searches for New York dining generally, but its menu and reviews center on Louisiana-style cooking, not burgers.

What people praise

  • Reviewers consistently praise the live music and overall atmosphere
  • The jambalaya, cornmeal-crusted sea bass, and cocktails get specific, repeated praise
  • Staff and bartenders are named and complimented across multiple reviews

Worth knowing

  • This is a Cajun-Creole restaurant, not a burger specialist. Confirm the current menu before visiting if a burger is what you're after
  • One reviewer notes the food, while good, didn't quite deliver the authentic New Orleans flavor they expected
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.5 / 5
Review volume2,102 · 83th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown68% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: We rank it where its Google numbers place it, but be clear on what you're booking: 1803 is a New Orleans-style dinner and live music spot, not a burger restaurant. Visit it for the jambalaya and the band, not the burger.

Website+1212-267-3000 Directions

82 Reade St, New York, NY 10007

Burger Village logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days

Burger Village

4.61,695 Google reviews

Burger Village is a small chain built around organic, all-natural burgers, including vegan and gluten-free options, with a Tribeca location among several across the New York area. Beyond standard beef, the menu extends to bison, elk, and lamb burgers, plus salads and a loyalty program for regulars. It's positioned as the health-and-variety option among New York's burger spots rather than a classic diner.

What people praise

  • Reviewers praise the variety, especially the lamb and elk options for non-beef eaters
  • The vegan and gluten-free options get specifically called out as well-executed, not an afterthought
  • Staff are repeatedly described as friendly and accommodating

Worth knowing

  • At least one detailed review describes a bad experience with pre-made, cold-tasting food, worth weighing against the many positive reviews
  • Phone orders for pickup are recommended over walk-in, per one reviewer who faced a long wait
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume1,695 · 78th
Confidencevery high
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown79% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for anyone who wants a burger built from organic ingredients or needs a vegan, gluten-free, or non-beef option. Ranks last here on review volume, but the rating itself is solid.

Website+1646-476-7570 Directions

120 Church St, New York, NY 10007

6

Your business here

Get listed on this page, in front of local customers already searching for you.

Claim this spot ›

Watch: 5 Best Burger Restaurants in New York (2026)

How we ranked these

Rating is the live Google average. Review volume measures how many customers actually rated each place, and confidence weighs the rating against that volume, so a 4.9 built on 3,600 reviews scores differently than a 4.9 built on 30. Recency checks how recently people are still reviewing, and completeness checks for a working site, phone number, and listed hours. No restaurant can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a burger cost in New York (2026)?

Prices vary a lot by format, a standing-counter smash burger costs a fraction of a sit-down bar meal with cocktails. The ranges below come directly from price-per-person figures reported in customer Google reviews for these specific restaurants, not a general estimate.

JobTypical price
Smashy (quick counter burger)$1-$10 per person
Black Tap or Burger Village (casual sit-down)$20-$40 per person
Au Cheval (bar and restaurant with cocktails)$40-$70 per person
1803 NYC (full dinner, not a burger, for comparison)$30-$80 per person

Price-per-person figures reported directly by customers in Google reviews for these restaurants, compiled July 2026.

Where to find them across Manhattan

All five cluster in and around Lower Manhattan: Au Cheval and Burger Village both sit in Tribeca, Black Tap is in SoHo, 1803 NYC is on Reade Street near City Hall, and smashy is up by Union Square. If you’re searching for a burger restaurant near me anywhere downtown, you’re within walking distance of at least three of these.

What to know before you go

  • Do they take reservations, or is it walk-in and standing-room only?
  • What’s the actual price per person once you add sides and a drink?
  • Is there a signature burger, or does the menu change seasonally?
  • Do they offer a non-beef option if someone in your group doesn’t eat red meat?
  • How long is the wait likely to be at peak times, and can you check in online?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these restaurants?

We pulled the restaurants that show up for burger searches in New York, then ranked by real Google rating, review volume, and recency. We also checked each site and review set for what they actually serve.

How often is this updated?

We refresh this list periodically and last verified these numbers in July 2026.

Is 1803 NYC actually a burger restaurant?

No. It’s a Cajun-Creole restaurant and bar known for jambalaya, gumbo, and live music. It shows up in local search results for New York dining broadly, so we’ve included it here but flagged clearly that it isn’t a burger specialist.

Which of these is best for a quick, cheap burger?

smashy. Its whole menu is a Simple or a Double, cooked fast at a standing counter, and reviewers consistently report the lowest price per person on this list.

The bottom line

For the single most talked-about burger in New York, start with Au Cheval, the review volume alone makes it the safe default. If you just want a great, affordable burger without the wait, smashy’s 4.9 rating makes it the better bet on a weeknight. Skip 1803 NYC if a burger is specifically what you’re after, it’s a different, excellent meal entirely.

Own one of these businesses, or want to be here?

Claim your spot on this page: Basic listing $50 or Premium $100 for the top spot, held a full year. Both include a permanent link to your site.

Get listed See pricing