Las Vegas has a longtime obsession with taking things to new levels. Hamburgers are no exception.
In 2009, French fine-dining chef Hubert Keller ushered in the era of gourmet burgers by celebrity chefs, opening Burger Bar in Mandalay Place and topping its signature burger with foie gras and shaved truffles. (That space is now run by actor Mark Wahlberg’s family, and the burgers are a bit more populist, with a Hollywood touch.)
Customer tastes have evolved significantly over the past two decades. Thin griddled smashburgers have replaced fat, freshly ground steakburgers as the patty of the moment. There’s still a love for exotic toppings, but they’re more multi-cultural and approachable than the lobster, 100-year-old balsamic vinegar and bell pepper confit of the old days.
While you can find all styles of burgers, in every price range, both on and off The Strip, when the Neon Feast restaurant guide surveyed local chefs, restaurant owners, food critics and influencers, for their favorite spots for ground beef on a bun, none were on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Here’s a quick rundown:
1228 Main (1228 Main Street):
The first Downtown Las Vegas venture from the Wolfgang Puck team, offers a double smashburger consisting of two wagyu patties topped with melty American cheese, dijonnaise, kosher dill slices and red onion, on a seeded brioche bun that seems designed to get just the right amount of messy by the time you’re done with it.
Ada’s Food and Wine (Tivoli Village, 401 S. Rampart Blvd.):
Superstar local chef James Trees’ most experimental and free form restaurant offers a fantastic smashburger – one of the few consistent offerings on a constantly evolving menu. Mick’s Royale with Cheese, named after a John Travolta line in Pulp Fiction, has earned the praises of local chefs and influencers alike. (Check out their Happy Hour offerings at HappyVegasHour.com)
Bar Code Burgers (1590 E. Flamingo Road):
The brainchild of a nightlife veteran, Bar Code is a sports bar with gaming on the east side of the valley. But the games and the video poker are eclipsed by a menu packed with big, sloppy burgers piled high with outrageous collections of toppings, accompanied tots, wings or fries.
Echo & Rig (Tivoli Village, 440 Rampart Boulevard; The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2270 Village Walk Drive):
Chef Sam Marvin’s two locations, in opposite corners of the valley, are part butcher, part steakhouse. So it should be no surprise that their his in-house grind of chuck, shirt rib and brisket, topped with bibb lettuce, heirloom tomato, red onion, aioli and (optional) cheddar cheese, is a knockout. (For their Happy Hour offerings in Tivoli and Henderson, check out HappyHourVegas.com.)
Fat Choy (Eureka Casino, 595 E. Sahara Avenue):
This tiny casino coffee shop, which combines the signature Asian street food of Chef Sheridan Su with classic diner dishes, has been featured buy UNLV graduate Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. But he somehow missed the signature Fat Choy burger: a 1/3-pound Angus Patty topped with aged cheddar, grilled tomato, bacon, a fried egg, onion jam, secret sauce, and six-hour braised shredded short ribs.
Fukuburger (West Side, 3429 S. Jones Blvd.; Chinatown, 7365 S. Buffalo Dr.):
This Vegas-born concept, which started as a food truck and evolved into a pair of brick and mortars, infuses a classic American fast-food staple with multi-cultural Asian influences. Toppings include wasabi mayo, shitake mushrooms, teriyaki sauce and grilled kimchi – just to name a few.
Hard Hat Lounge/Stay Tuned Burgers (1675 S. Industrial Road):
Located within the 60-year-old, blue-collar, down-and-dirty Hard Hat Lounge, you’ll find Stay Tuned Burgers, the creators of one of the valley’s most beloved smashburgers. The menu is incredibly compact: grilled cheese; Tater Tots; and your choice of one or two beef patties, with crispy caramelized edges and adorned with house-made pickles, special sauce, onions and American cheese. (Read about their Happy Hour offerings at HappyHourVegas.com.)
Honey Salt (1031 S. Rampart Blvd.):
Honey Salt’s chef/owner Kim Canteenwalla served as sous chef for celebrity chef Kerry Simon when he defeated Cat Cora on Iron Chef’s “Battle Hamburger.” So it’s not surprising that his own burger — which comes with Vermont cheddar, caramelized onion and spicy tomato jam – is a favorite of Las Vegas foodies. (Read about their Happy Hour offerings at HappyHourVegas.com.)
Nicco’s Prime Cuts & Fresh Fish (Durango Resort and Spa, 6915 S. Durango Dr.):
This elegant steakhouse offers the priciest burger on this list. But hardcore foodies swear by the amazing burger, made with a blend of wagyu beef from three different purveyors and smashed thin and crispy on the grill. Options include crispy bacon and a perfectly-cooked runny egg. (Check out their Happy Hour offerings at HappyHourVegas.com)
Smoke & Fire (3315 E. Russell Road):
One of Las Vegas’ top barbecue spots is also beloved for its collection of sliders and burgers. The latter consists of a well-formed, 1/2 -pound Angus Beef patty, drizzled with gravy on the griddle, then topped with your choice of classic fixins’, or messier fare like pulled pork & mustard barbecue sauce, pepperoni pizza, blueberry jam, or (come breakfast time) bacon, sausage, egg and cheese.
With Love, Always (6441 N. Durango Drive):
The newest entry on this list comes from the same team that brought us the popular Sorry, Not Sorry ice cream chain. They offer no-nonsense double Angus smashburgers on potato rolls with American cheese, diced onions, pickles and your choice of ketchup & mustard or signature Love Sauce. Make sure to save room for a dipped soft-erve cone for dessert.
