There’s something about the burger that’s just craveworthy and classically American. Though there are many iterations, you can’t go wrong with a well-done (medium-rare) burger. Here are the must-try burgers in Northern Virginia.

What Makes a Great Burger?

There’s an art to putting together a delicious burger. It starts with a perfectly cooked sizable high-quality beef patty of course. But you definitely need a roll large and hefty enough to contain all the ingredients en route to your salivating mouth, ideally topped with gratuitous amounts of sesame seeds. And not that you need more meat, but I wouldn’t turn down extra pork belly or foie gras on top.

Finally you want interesting toppings, sides, sauces, and shakes to round out your experience and give you that feeling of trying something new even though your burger-experience makes you feel like a kid again.

And a pickle. Gotta have that side pickle.

Most Well-Known Burgers in Northern Virginia

Five Guys
Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Dulles, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Gainesville, Leesburg, Lorton, Manassas, Mclean, Reston, Springfield, Stafford, Sterling, Woodbridge

Any discussion of Northern Virginia burgers has to acknowledge the most popular chain to come out of this area - Five Guys. The first Five Guys restaurant opened in 1986 in Arlington and is still headquartered in Lorton. Five Guys is known for its simplicity and the inability for those with peanut allergies to step into the store (which is filled with complimentary roasted in-shell peanuts. Hamburgers come with 15 different possible toppings. Five Guys also allows 10 free toppings in their milkshakes including bacon.

Most Burger Varieties

MELT Gourmet Cheeseburgers
Leesburg

You gotta love the creativity they have at Melt. Alongside your traditional beef patties, Melt offers patties made from lamb, turkey, ahi tuna, black beans, salmon, and bison. There are also at least 14 milkshake varieties including thin mints, fresh banana, and a Stout Beer milkshake for those of age. But let’s get to the themed burgers. My favorite is the Philly Cheesesteak burger - topped with thinly sliced ribeye, provolone, balsamic glazed red onions, peppers, and dijon aioli. Is your mouth watering or is it just me?

Best Named Burgers in Northern Virginia

Gee Burger
Falls Church

As a devotee to Bob’s Burgers, I am a sucker for cleverly named burgers. So can I resist but give a shout-out to a burger named after Kenny G? Nope! The Kenny Gee burger has two patties, just like his song “Two of a Kind” or his bestselling album Duotones. Also shoutout to the Gee Washington Carver burger that has, you guessed it, peanut butter. Also bacon.

Best Affordable Burgers in Northern Virginia

The Burger Shack
Alexandria, Ashburn, Chantilly

You don’t need me to tell you that food prices are going insane. Clearly, a place that’s got “shack” in the name can’t be that expensive. All the specialty burgers at The ‘Shack will set you back no more than $11! But you get lots of variety for that price. The number of bun choices is already incredible: brioche, pretzel, gluten-free, and cheddar & jalapeno buns or Texas Toast?!?! Unusual toppings include sauerkraut, cole slaw, and fresh pineapple. Get a side of mac and cheese bites or loaded tots. Then wash it all down with Columbian coffee or Orange Creamsicle milkshakes.

The Freshest Burgers in Northern Virginia

Market Burger
Purcellville

Market Burger gets their beef and grains from local Purcellville vendors, so the burgers aren’t necessarily fancy, but you’re getting the freshest ingredients around.

Social Burger
Vienna

Social burgers are simple and local. The beef is from Charlottesville and the produce is from down the road. The community is so local at Social Burger that even the employees live within 5 miles. My favorite part of this burger joint is the dipping sauces - what a great idea! In addition to their signature sauce, there’s red Thai curry mayo, cherry cola BBQ, and chimichurri. While you’re into dipping, add some Cap’n Cruch cereal or birthday cake mix to your banana pudding milkshake. Delish!

Capital Burger
Reston

Capital Burger promises prime beef from small, family-owned farms. The signature Capital Burger boasts a french onion twist - caramelized onions, gruyere and shallot aioli. Choose from smoked gouda cheese fries with roasted poblanos or parmesan truffle fries with fried parsley. Wash your meal down with spiked milkshakes - like Stoli vanilla with candied pineapple or Irish Whiskey, Kahlua, Bailey’s, and Kona dust.

Luxe Burgers in Northern Virginia

Magnolia’s on the Mill
Purcellville

Listen to the description of the Ovoka Wagyu Smash Burger - porcini pork belly, white cheddar, caramelized onions, dijonnaise, spicy ketchup, house made dill pickles, truffle parmesan fries with malt vinegar aioli. Get the car keys - let’s go to Loudon.

Charred Food
Herndon

All burgers are 6oz of dry aged Angus beef topped with luxe ingredients like slab bacon, shaved parmesan, or pickled ramps. This is clearly a foodie destination. Where else can you get tomato jam in addition to ketchup? But even the Truffle Hunter Burger with sliced steak and truffle mayo will only set you back $12.50.

Best Vegetarian Burgers

Burger 7
Alexandria, Arlington, Dunn Loring, Tyson’s,

Many places on this list cater to the vegetarian crowd with mushroom, black bean, or Impossible. I love my hamburger meat but the halloumi cheese burger offered at Burger 7 is enticing enough that I might skip the beef. Topped with avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, and onion jam, the deep fried halloumi makes a beautiful burger. Wash it down with a nutella shake.

Weirdest Toppings in Northern Virginia

Burger District
Arlington

Build your own burgers with such unique toppings as Virginia ham, sour cream, cucumbers, or peanut butter. End your meal with a fried Oreo. Diet starts tomorrow!

Holy Cow
Alexandria

If your idea of a great burger is extra beef (yum!) you have to try the Champ - an Angus Beef Patty topped with sliced Brisket, fried pickles and a bourbon glaze all on a toasted brioche bun. It’s like being in Texas where your meat comes with a side of meat.

Big Buns
Arlington, Herndon, Reston, Vienna

If you like your burger to put up a fight in your mouth, try the Horseradish Bourbon Burger - with muenster, smoked bacon, bourbon mushrooms and a healthy dose of horseeradish cream sauce or the Hot and Jefe with grilled habanero AND serrano peppers and sriracha aioli. Burns so good. Gotta try the Unicorn Shake (with sour patch twists and marshamllows in a keepsake inflatable unicorn) or the Redonculous Reese’s Shakes - epic milkshakes.

Conclusion - Best Burgers in Northern Virginia

Clearly if you’re craving burgers in Northern Virginia, you won’t go hungry. The only problem is choosing which ones!