15 of Florida's best burgers: From restaurants and food trucks to a bait shop and a boat
Warning: This story will make you hungry. We recommend reading it in the parking lot of your favorite burger joint.
May is National Hamburger Day, but do we really need a date on the calendar to tell us when to bite into a juicy patty of beef enveloped in a warm bun?
Absolutely not!
As far as the dining experts in the USA TODAY Florida Network, every month is Burger Month, and we've done extensive research (it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it) to find some of the best burgers in the Sunshine State.
So whether you're drawn to a thick cooked-to-temp steakhouse burger or a crisp-charred smash burger, whether you prefer pickled jalapenos and bacon jam or want the basic pickle, lettuce and tomato, we've got you covered.
From fine-dining restaurants to a food truck, from a bait shop to a boat, these are the places where we found the best burgers in Florida. Presented in alphabetical order, with cities from across the Sunshine State, here are 15 of our favorites.
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Annie's Bait & Tackle
4334 127th St. W., Cortez; 941-794-3580; anniesbaitandtackle.com
Hugging the Intracoastal Waterway across from Anna Maria Island in the fishing village of Cortez, this Old Florida gem has history as a bait shop dating back to the 1950s. It still provides boaters and fishermen with fuel and supplies while also serving food at a couple inside tables, the cozy beer and wine bar and, my favorite spot, on the covered waterfront patio.
Annie's is probably most famous in the Sarasota-Bradenton area for its fried grouper sandwiches (which I adore) but it also offers an equally impressive burger and fries pairing for about $13. The burger features a half-pound of expertly seasoned fresh ground beef that you'll want to order "all the way" with crisp iceberg lettuce, juicy tomato and white onions with a smear of mayo. — Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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BurgerRobs
3486 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville, burgerrobshq.com
BurgerRobs was Plan B for Shelby and Rob Buffaloe after they lost their hospitality industry marketing jobs during the pandemic. They started their smashburger food truck in January 2021 with little more than a tent and 36-inch griddle. By January 2022, the truck drew crowds and often sold out of burgers. The couple also had begun renovations on a brick-and-mortar space. The buzz hasn't died. They welcomed 2023 by expanding their dining room.
You can't go wrong with the classic cheeseburger, but if you're feeling adventurous, try the Spuds Burger with American cheese and seasoned potato sticks, or the Mexican Streetcorn Burger with grilled corn, cotija cheese, cowboy sauce, pickled jalapenos and chopped cilantro. Can't make it to Titusville? The BurgerRobs food truck still makes regular stops across the Space Coast. — Suzy Fleming Leonard, FLORIDA TODAY
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Brass Ring Pub
200 U.S. Hwy 1, North Palm Beach, 561-848-4748, BrassRingPubFl.com
Follow the smoky aroma of beef patties on the grill to this family-owned neighborhood favorite and you’ll be rewarded by half-pound burgers that are as simple as they are delicious. The secret ingredient? It’s not seasoning or sauce, but quality beef that’s cooked over lava rocks on a char-rock grill.
I prefer my burgers on the not-overly-fancy side. I order the Brass Ring cheeseburger cooked to a pink and juicy medium and topped with American cheese, tomato, pickles and a little mayo. You can customize that burger with bacon or mushrooms for 95 cents. But I think the smokiness of the patty stands on its own. On the side: I love the crispy crinkle-cut fries and a cold draft beer, which is served old-school, in a frosted mug. — Liz Balmaseda, The Palm Beach Post
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Carolina Jax
2548 Oak St., Jacksonville, (904) 240-1980, carolinajax.com
Launched as Cackylacky's food truck in 2016, Carolina Jax — which opened as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Riverside four years later — has earned national recognition along with multiple awards for its made-to-order, certified Angus beef smash burgers. Those burgers include the Mountain Man, made with roasted poblano mayo, cheese sauce, chili, grilled onion and jalapeno on toasted brioche bun; the Tar Heel. made with roasted poblano mayo, gold sauce, sharp cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, pulled pork, onion ring; and the Charleston, made with baby arugula, pimento cheese, bourbon bacon jam, fried egg and sriracha curry ketchup. But our favorite is the Riverside, topped with goat cheese, bacon, Key lime-datil aioli, orange marmalade, baby spinach and a drizzle of datil sauce.
The restaurant also serves top-notch hot dogs, innovative sandwiches, onion rings and loaded fries, like the Ol' Dirt Road, made with cheese sauce, chili, Cajun ranch, applewood smoked bacon and jalapeno. — Tom Szaroleta, The Florida Times-Union
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Château 13
535 13th St. W., Bradenton; 941-226-0110; chateau-13.com
Bradenton's most acclaimed restaurant, Château 13 placed 40th on Yelp's second annual list of the Top 100 Florida Restaurants, published in late March, up one spot from last year. Located just south of the Riverwalk and the crowds of Old Main Street, Château 13 brings upscale cuisine inspired by Western Europe to The Friendly City in a hip, romantic setting that includes a main dining area, wine and beer bar, and sidewalk seating.
In addition to serving excellent entrees such as mussels and frites, and deftly prepared duck, pork, steak and fresh catches, Château serves a positively decadent burger sharing a named with a French King and cognac. The Louis XIII features a juicy disc of beef covered with truffled mushrooms, shallot jam, a generous slice of gruyère, and for extra fabulousness, foie gras. Priced at $29, it comes with the restaurant's standout French fries and asparagus. Consider pairing the burger with the Château's yummy champagne cocktail or perhaps a local craft beer from nearby Motorworks Brewing. — Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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DJ's Cast Iron Burgers
1542 West University Ave., Gainesville; 352-258-7280; toasttab.com/djscastironburgers
This popular food truck can typically be found in the vacant lot across from UF's Library West, although its best to check Facebook before making the drive over. The burger patties are extremely thin (DJ'S recommends ordering a double) and, as its name suggests, are cooked on cast iron planks, which makes for a great outer crust and a juicy inside.
Among DJ's most popular items is the Oklahoma Onion Burger, which includes a double patty, charred onions, DJ's sauce and bread and butter pickles. Don't let the truck's location stop you from visiting. Customers can park for free for up to 45 minutes. — Alan Festo, The Gainesville Sun
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Ford's Garage
multiple locations in Florida; fordsgarageusa.com
Originated in Fort Myers about a decade ago, Ford's Garage is now headquartered in Tampa and with locations throughout Florida (and the United States). The restaurant boasts an all-star roster of burgers to go with its dazzling build-out that pays homage to Henry Ford and his game-changing Model T automobile.
There are a dozen "Burgers of Fame" featuring a "hand-pattied, never frozen half pound of Black Angus beef" that always hits the spot, with my current fave being the Estate Burger ($16.99). It's smoked gouda, sweet red onion marmalade, arugula, tomato, fried onion straws and "white truffle" bacon aioli on the brioche bun branded with the restaurant's name. Yeah, all that sweet and savory marmalade and aioli tends to get a bit messy. But, trust me, it's worth it. — Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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Gulf Coast Burger Co.
10031 Hutchison Blvd., Panama City Beach; 850-775-1312; gcburgerco.com
Specializing in burgers, this restaurant allows customers to build their own but also offers five signature burgers, each named after a state:
The Florida Burger − A brioche bun burger with American cheese, bacon, egg, avocado, spring mix and orange slice topper.
The Alabama Burger − A brioche bun burger with pimento cheese, coleslaw, fried green tomato, a special white sauce and chicken wing topper.
The Mississippi Burger − A wheat bun burger with fried steak, pickles, tomato, sautéed onions, brown gravy and pork skin topper.
The Louisiana Burger − A brioche bun burger with pepper jack cheese, andouille sausage, remoulade, peppers and a mini corn dog topper.
The Texas Burger − A jalapeno Texas toast burger with gouda cheese, tobacco onions, chili, fried jalapenos, BBQ sauce and a pork skin topper. −Nathan Cobb, Panama City News Herald
Just Beachy Burgers
Keewaydin Island; 239-595-0592; justbeachyburgers.com
What’s better than a food truck? A BURGER BOAT! This was a local South Naples boaters' secret until Food Network made it famous. Three cheeseburger varieties are on the daily menu, but its Island burger is my top pick: stacked high and served hot-to-the-touch off the grill.
Even though everything tastes better at the beach, I’d eat this one anywhere. Check Facebook for the boat's operating hours and days, always contingent on the weather. — Diana Biederman, Naples Daily News
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Lehne Burger
1232 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral; 239-347-7115; Facebook and Instagram; also in Coconut Point at 23111 Fashion Drive, Unit 111, Estero; 239-299-5731
With so many options, this Cape Coral burger joint makes me feel like a kid in a candy store with its Design Your Own Burger. First you choose a single, double or triple Angus beef burger and how you want it cooked — from rare to dead. Then comes the bun selections (or on a mixed salad) and 10 types of cheese, then extra cheese, greens, sauces and 19 toppings — from hashbrowns to sauerkraut. Grabbing one of each seems easier than choosing just a few.
I pick a couple of toppings (often a fried egg and turkey bacon), then another (hello pulled pork!) and yet another (grilled pineapple perhaps?), only stopping when it becomes overly embarrassing. — Robyn George, The News-Press
Related: Our 12 favorite burgers for National Burger Month, from Cape Coral to Naples
Mac's Drive-Thru
129 NW 10th Ave., Gainesville; 352-378-9842, macs-drive-thru.com
A Gainesville staple since 1987, Mac’s serves up a relatively simple menu with made-to-order burgers and other handhelds, including a hot ham and cheese, chicken and fish. The fast food-style burger, however, is the star.
It’s not uncommon to see lines at Mac’s extending out onto the street, disrupting traffic in both directions. Place your order through their signature orange speakers. The burgers are small, so I suggest a double cheeseburger topped Mac’s Way, which comes with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. — Alan Festo, The Gainesville Sun
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Shakespeare’s Craft Beer and Gastro Pub
3550 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941-364-5938; shakespearesenglishpub.com
Tucked away in a strip mall less than five miles from world-famous Siesta Beach and featuring a delightfully charming English pub setting that reflects the Essex roots of owners Marilyn and Dick Neal, Shakespeare’s has been one of my favorite beer and burger destinations for nearly 19 years. All the burgers are made with eight ounces of pure ground Black Angus beef, and on every single one of my visits cooked perfectly: the medium I ordered this month arriving with a touch of pink, juicy interior encased in a deftly seasoned black char.
Now, Shakespeare’s offers about a dozen specialty burgers, and they’re all served on the toasted rosemary Kaiser buns that are among the best burger vessels I have ever encountered. But the most famous burger probably in all of Sarasota-Manatee, and the one I think about far too often, is still Marilyn’s creation topped by two buttery brie cheese slabs and a bed of sweet balsamic caramelized onions that I could eat by the bowlful ($15.75). — Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Related The best restaurants for burgers in Sarasota, Bradenton from $29 gourmet delights to $7 deals
South Fork Kitchen & Bar
900 S.E. Indian St., Stuart, 772-247-7382, southforkkitchenandbar.com
When you walk into South Fork Kitchen & Bar in Stuart, chances are you'll see several diners tackling the towering “BAMF Burger” ($18). Two juicy patties have two slices of American cheese oozing down them. The burger is topped with a thick layer of bacon-onion jam and a slathering of chipotle aioli. Hand-cut fries come on the side. — Laurie K. Blandford, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
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Vertigo Burgers & Fries
1395 E. Lafayette St. Tallahassee; 850-878-2020; vertigoburgersandfries.com
David and Elizabeth Gwynn, the owners of Tallahassee's Grove Market Cafe, have the chops to create a creative burger lineup at Vertigo Burgers in the Capital City. Along with beef patties, the menu features lamb, chorizo, turkey, shrimp and vegan black bean burgers. The Vertigo Burger features a beef burger, fried egg, applewood bacon, griddled jalapeños, sharp cheddar and vertigo sauce. Options include vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free or gluten-free choices. The menu also features salad, chicken, sides and shakes. Sides include hand-battered onion rings and sweet potato fries. Inside/outside tables. — Rochelle Koff, Tallahassee Table / Tallahassee Democrat
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Yellow Pony Pub and Garden
8510 NW 17th Lane, Ocala; (352) 414-7865; yellowponyocala.com
Ryker Brown is director of culinary, food and beverage at The Equestrian Hotel, which is part of the massive World Equestrian Center in Ocala. Brown, who has 26 years in the food service industry, said the chefs and crew at the Yellow Pony, located inside the hotel, take “pride and care” in building their half-pound burgers.
The patties are made from a blend of Angus, chuck and brisket beef and short ribs and are served on a brioche bun from Douce France Bakery. Chef de Cuisine Jenny Polo said the restaurant serves about 2,400 burgers weekly. Among the favorites is the Cowboy burger, topped with cheese, fried onions and bourbon BBQ sauce. — Andy Fillmore, Ocala Star-Banner
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida's 15 best burgers at restaurants, food trucks and fun places
