Music City is home to a lot of great burgers.
From gourmet offerings on fine china to dive bar burgers slung on paper plates, we’ve got it all—and everyone has their favorite. Choosing favorites is a deeply personal decision, so check out our list of 12 meaty melts below and decide which burger gives you the most bang for your buck.
L.A. JACKSON
Take in views of the Gulch while sipping craft cocktails and munching on a burger at the Thompson Nashville’s swanky rooftop bar. The namesake double-stacked burger is topped with American cheese, shire onions, tomatoes, pickles, and aioli plus a side of fries. Sub a Beyond burger for $2 to make it vegetarian-friendly. (lajacksonbar.com)
JOYLAND
An imaginative concept from award-winning Chef Sean Brock, Joyland was inspired by original fast-food restaurants of yesteryear. Burger options include the JoyBurger Deluxe, made with Bear Creek beef with Joy sauce, pickles, onions, and American cheese on a potato roll; the CrustBurger topped with onion, American cheese, and a side of Fancy Sauce; and more. Gluten-free buns and fries are also available on request. (eatjoyland.com)
JACK BROWN’S
A burger and craft beer joint. What more could you want? A large variety of burger options range from the plain—a Wagyu patty, served simple—to the extreme—the Elvis, topped with peanut butter, mayo, applewood smoked bacon, and an American/cheddar cheese blend. Burger specials also vary daily. (jackbrownsjoint.com)
EMMY SQUARED
While Emmy Squared may be known for their delicious pan pizza, don’t pass up their Le Big Matt burger, made with double-stack Bear Creek Farms grass-fed beef patties, American cheese, Sammy sauce, greens, and pickles on a pretzel bun. (emmysquaredpizza.com)
BURGER UP
Level up your burger game at Burger Up. Grub on the Woodstock burger made with Benton’s bacon, Tennessee Sweetwater white cheddar cheese, and Jack Daniel's maple ketchup; or keep it simple with the Classic, topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, yellow cheddar cheese, and yellow mustard. (burger-up.com)
Justin Chesney
BURGER REPUBLIC
The word ‘burger’ is in the name for a reason. Fan faves include The Tennessee, made with Jack Daniel’s honey glaze, American cheese, smoked ketchup, maple-basted Benton’s bacon, and Memphis dusted crispy onions. Or, BYOB (build- your-own burger) and choose your meat, bread, and add-ons. (burgerrepublic.com)
This chic diner offers classic American comfort food with a global spin, plus cocktails. The Mockingburger is crafted as a double cheeseburger, topped with American cheese, charred onion, and Fancy Sauce, plus a side of fries. (mockingbirdnashville.com)
TENNESSEE BREW WORKS
Come for the beers and stay for the burgers. The industrial taproom with oak barrel tables, a patio, and live music, brews on-site and offers a menu complete with a Five Beer Burger. Made with Creekstone Farms beef and topped with white cheddar, Southern Wit comeback sauce, plus Basil Ryeman ketchup, Imperial Porter onions, and pickles, this burger pairs well with any of the beers on tap. Substitute an Impossible veggie patty, or, if you prefer, add bacon or a fried egg on top. (tnbrew.com)
M.L. ROSE
With several locations around town, this neighborhood pub serves craft beer from Nashville and beyond, plus a plethora of burger options. Choose the Southern Belle, made with pimento cheese, bacon, Belle Meade Bourbon BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, Duke’s mayo, and crispy tobacco onions on a sweet potato bun. (A portion of the proceeds from this burger benefit the Martha O’Bryan Center, so you can pig out for a cause.) (mlrose.com)
JWB GRILL
Cheeseburger in paradise.... errr we mean Nashville. The 1855 Black Angus beef patty is topped with aged cheddar, bacon, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and smoked chili aioli. The handheld is a burger lovers' paradise. (margaritavilleresorts.com)
HOPDODDY BURGER BAR
Make it spicy with the El Diablo burger. The handheld is made with pepper Jack cheese, habaneros and Serranos, caramelized onions, salsa Roja, chipotle aioli, lettuce, and tomato. Wash it down with a chocolate shake (and make it boozy if you're over twenty-one!). (hopdoddy.com)
THE PHARMACY
Burgers, burgers, and more burgers. No matter which option you choose, you won't leave hungry. Go for the classic Pharmacy Burger topped with yellow cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and yellow mustard, or try the Black Bean Burger, crafted with a house made vegetarian black bean patty and topped with First Sauce and cheese. (thepharmacyburger.com)