Duke’s Grocery Proper Burger (credit Duke’s Grocery Twitter)

Last Updated August 26, 2023

Fresh off my chicken sandwich post, I thought it would be even better to create another mostly crowd-sourced post of best burgers, and even better, generated from my content rather than someone else-further validated by a Twitter poll thread in January 2022. This directory tells you where to order, cost of burgers, and what’s on them. At the bottom of the post, I’ve done some more organizing by neighborhood, cost, etc.

Best Value ($14 or under including fries): DC9, Ghostburger (4 oz Ghostburger only), The Big Board (6 oz. LTO only), Good Stuff Eatery, Tune Inn, Swizzler

Gold Tier: The Best in Town

• Duke’s Grocery (Dupont, Navy Yard, Foggy Bottom); Duke’s Counter (Woodley Park)
  • $16 (+$6 fries ($4 in WP, n/a in Dupont) Proper Burger
    • two ¼ lb. Creekstone Farms angus beef patties, gouda, pickles, charred red onion, sweet chili sauce, arugula, garlic aioli on brioche
  • 34%-one of best in DC (43% of who’ve eaten). 79% have eaten 
• Lucky Buns (Adams Morgan, Union Market, The Wharf)
  • $16-17 (+$7-8 fries – serving for 2) 4-5 options
    • all with 2 Creekstone Farms beef patties, gouda cheese and Gordy’s Pickles
    • Lucky Bun: lucky sauce, grilled red onion, arugula
    • OG Bun: shaved lettuce, raw red onion, Chinese yellow mustard, garlic mayo
    • Other options seasonal or based on location
    • $12 single Lucky Bun option in Union Market
  • 27%-one of best in DC (44% of who’ve eaten). 62% have eaten
• Hill East Burger (Cap Hill)
  • $12 (single patty)/ $15 (double patty), $10/13 for build your own(+$6 fries)
    • recommended to get double (3 oz) patties
    • Smoked patties
    • The Puebla: poblano relish, beefonaise, smoked cheddar, arugula, mustard
    • The Lancaster: bacon, smoked cheddar, arugula, tomato relish, pickled onion
    • The ‘OK’: griddle onions, ‘trademark’ sauce, American cheese, pickles
  • 15%-one of best in DC (45% of who’ve eaten). 32% have eaten
• Garden District (14th/Logan)
  • $15-16 (includes hand-cut fries, can pay $3 more for fried pickles/hush puppies/onion rings) The Standard Burger
    • classic burger, topped w/ cheese, pickles, onions, tomatoes & burger sauce
  • 8%-one of best in DC (42% of who’ve eaten). 20% have eaten
    •  

Silver Tier

• Swizzler (Navy Yard)
  • $8.50-$8.95 (+$4.25 fries; $14.50-14.95 meals with fries/drink)
    • all 100% grass-fed double-patty smashburgers
    • The Washingtonian: cheddar cheese, arugula, shallots, dill pickles, stack sauce)
    • Several other options
  • 17%-one of best in DC (39% of those who’ve eaten). 43% have eaten
• Le Diplomate (14^th Street)
  • $24 (includes fries) Burger Americain
    • Cheeseburger w/ mayo
  • 20% say one of best in DC (36% of those who’ve eaten). 57% have eaten.
• The Salt Line (Navy Yard)
  • $19 (includes fries or greens) New England Smash burger
    • 2 ground chuck patties, American cheese, LT, pickle, mayo on sesame bun
  • 10%-one of best in DC (31% of those who’ve eaten). 31% have eaten
• Bourbon Steak (Georgetown):
  • Available at lunch and on bar/lounge menu.
  • $24 (+$14 trio of duckfat fries) Prime Steak Burger
    • Aged white cheddar, red wine shallot compote, little gem slaw
  • 4%-one of best in DC (37% of those who’ve eaten). 14% have eaten
• DC9 (Shaw)
  •  $12 or $14 (including garlic fries) 8 oz burgers made with all natural beef
    • Plain Jane ($12): lettuce/tomato
    • South By: pepper jack, avocado, pickled jalapeno, garlic cilantro mayo
    • Slawter: coleslaw, Applewood smoked bacon, BBQ sauce
    • other rotating/seasonal versions
  • 5%-one of best in DC (31% of those who’ve eaten). 14% have eaten. 

Bronze Tier

• The Capital Burger (Shaw)
  • $18-20 (including sea salt french fries, mixed baby greens salad, kale sald; other sides available for up $3-4 upcharge) Pat LaFrieda Beef
    • Several varieties
  • 10%-one of best in DC (28% of those who’ve eaten). 34% have eaten
• Red Apron Butchery (Capitol Hill/The Roost)
  • $17 (including beef fat fries)
    • 2 smash patties, American cheese, island sauce, red onion, house pickles, shrettuce 
    • Other options seasonal
  • 8%-one of best in DC (26% of those who’ve eaten). 31% have (92% are fans)
• Tune Inn (Capitol Hill)
  • $14-17 (including fries, lots $1-4 upcharge sides) for single burgers; $17-20 for double
    • about 7 or 8 varieties
  • 6%-one of best in DC (22% of those who’ve eaten). 27% have eaten
• Slash Run (Petworth)
  • Prices may not be up-to-date
  • $15-16 (+$2 (small) +$5 (large) waffle or fresh cut fries)) (1/2 priced Mondays w/ purchase of drink) 6 oz Creekstone Farms beef patty on lyons bakery brioche bun unless stated, upcharges for vegan or gluten free)
    • Classic ($11): LTO
    • Slash Supreme: cheddar, bacon, LTO on pretzel bun
    • Morning Glory: applewood smoked bacon, sunny side-up egg, jalapeno cream cheese, maple syrup aioli
    • South of the Burger: avo, pico de gallo, jalapenos, pepperjack, tortilla chips
    • Rockaway Beef: American cheese, cherry peppers, slash sauce, bacon
    • Barstool Rodeo: bbq sauce, fried onion rings, cheddar, fine ground coffee
    • Otto’s Shrunken Head: Korean bbq, pork rinds, avo, pineapple relish
    • I’ll Have What She’s Having: sunny side up egg, shaved-fried Brussel sprouts, siracha aioli on pretzen bun
    • Le Petit Mort: arugula, red wine sautéed mushrooms, blue cheese crumbles, aioli
  • 5%-one of best in DC (22% of those who’ve eaten). 24% have eaten
• The Commodore D.C.(Dupont)
  • $18 (including fries or salad, +$1 or $2 upcharge for mac n cheese, slaw, collard greens, B&B pickles, sprouts, succotash, dirty rice or tots) 2 smash patties on brioche bun
    • Squirrel Kicker: smoked gouda, onion jam, bourbon mayo, arugula
    • Shlogan Burger: white american bacon bits, B&B pickles
    • $10 (including fries on Mondays)
  • 3%-one of best in DC (20% of those who’ve eaten). 15% have eaten

Next Tier

• Ghostburger (Shaw)
  • $14.50-15.50 for 8 oz burgers. $10-11 for 4 oz burgers. (+$4.50 crinkle cut fries, +$7.50 for ghost rings)  – all on a potato bun
    • Ghostburger – American Cheese, Red Onion, Dill Pickles, Spooky Sauce
    • Other rotating burgers
    • $8/$12.50 for plain
  • 9%-one of best in DC (19% of those who’ve eaten). 48% have
• Beuchert’s Saloon (Capitol Hill)
  • $18 (includes mixed baby green salad or sub $2 fries, possibly to-go only, $12 side on menu) The Original Beuchert’s Burger
    • almost half pound pre-cook weight, roseda farms beef, dredged in “trill spice”. Cheese, bacon, or egg extra
  • 2%-one of best in DC (18% of those who’ve eaten). 12% have eaten
• Boundary Stone (Bloomingdale)
  • $13.50 (+$5 fries, $4-7 other options) Stone Burger
    • Seven Hills Farm patty, bacon jam, bleu cheese, grilled onions, pickled beet
    • $11.50 option to build your own
  • 4%-one of best in DC (16% of those who’ve eaten). 27% have eaten (89% are fans)
• Brookland’s Finest (Brookland)
  • $17 (includes (w/ fries or chips) Colonel Burger
    • Angus beef, pickled onions, Tilamook cheddar, applewood smoked bacon on brioche
  • 4%-one of best in DC (24% of those who’ve eaten). 17% have
• Unconventional Diner (Shaw)
  • $16 (including fries) Double Cheeseburger
    • LT, caramelized onions, pickles, American Cheese
  • 6%-one of best in DC (16% of those who’ve eaten). 38% have
• Good Stuff Eatery (Capitol Hill, Georgetown)
  • $10.50 – $11.95 (mostly) (+$4.25/$5.50 handcut fries, $4.55/$5.80 Village fries w/ thyme, rosemary, and sea salt) Natural farm raised beef mostly on a potato bun
    • Prez Burger ($11.95):  (may be most popular) Applewood bacon, onion marmalade, Roquefort cheese, horseradish mayo
    • Several other varieties
    • basic burger w/o cheese $9.50
    • $16.95 lunch M-F w/ cheese burger, fries, and soda
  • 13%-one of best in DC (19% of those who’ve eaten). 68% have eaten (85% fans)
• The Big Board (H Street)
  • Mostly $12 (6 oz), $14 (8 oz) (+$5.50 fries, $7.50 onion fries or  sweet potato fries) comes with LTO and pickles
    • for LTO only; $9.75 (6 oz), $11.75 (8 oz) 
    • Port D’Amsterdam: sautéed mushrooms, port reduction, aged swiss
    • Ciao Bella: sliced prosciutto, aged mozz, roasted red pepper, sweet red pepper aioli
    • Le Burg-Aire au Poivre: seared w/ cracked black pepper, topped with Wisconsin blue cheese, cognac cream sauce
    • The Big Apple: Applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, tomato, pickles
    • Memphis Blues 2.0: Monterrey jack cheese, house bbq sauce, crispy steak cut onion rings
    • The Great Chicago Fire: chipotle-dusted burger, fire-roasted chili/mango salsa, pepper jack cheese, chipotle aioli. Side of spicy mango-habanero sauce
    • Quebec City: crispy hand-cut French fries, brown gravy, melted cheese curds
  • 6%-one of best in DC (23% of those who’ve eaten). 26% have

Rising Stars (Burgers-Wise)

These spots were all highly rated by the people who’ve eaten there but less than 1/8 of you have eaten their burgers, so it didn’t seem like large enough sample size to move up in the tiers. Will revisit them in 2024

• Lutece (Georgetown)
  • Brunch only
  • $21 (includes fries) Dry Aged Cheeseburger
    • caramelized onions, dijon, miso, Vermont aged cheddar
  • Only 7% have eaten burger. 41% of those say one of best in DC. 
• Primrose  (Brookland)
  • $23 (includes fries) Primrose SMASH Burger
    • onion jam, gruyere, mayo
  • Only 11% have eaten burger. 37% of those say one of best in DC
• Bar Spero (near Union Stationish)
  • $20 The Burger (no fries available)
    • special sauce, smoked cheddar, misozuke pickles
  • Only 6% have eaten burger. 37% of those say one of best in DC

Others Worth Checking Out

• Convivial (Shaw)
  • $19 (including fries) Cheeseburger Le Classique
    • double patty, cheddar cheese LTO, pickle, special sauce, fries
    • Can get a single version (fries $4 extra) for $9 during HH M-Th 5-6p
  • 2%-one of best in DC (14% of those who’ve eaten). 15% have eaten
• Chef Geoff’s (AU Park, West End)
  • $18 (including fries, sweet potato fries, or greens) CG Burger
    • bacon, cheddar, LTO, chipotle aioli
  • 3%-one of best in DC (11% of those who’ve eaten). 30% have eaten

Others Mentioned Multiple Times: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, Bluejacket, Desperado’s, Moreland’s Tavern, Red Derby, eatBRGZ, Five Guys, The Sovereign, Emmy Squared

ORGANIZED BY NEIGHBORHOOD

• Mt Vernon Triangle: The Capital Burger
• Georgetown: Bourbon Steak, The Sovereign, Lutece, Good Stuff Eatery
• Foggy Bottom/West End; Duke’s Grocery, Chef Geoff’s
• Dupont: Duke’s Grocery, The Commodore
• Woodley Park/Cleveland Park: Duke’s Counter
• Adams Morgan/Mt Pleasant: Lucky Buns,
• Union Market Area: Lucky Buns,
• Columbia Heights/Petworth: Slash Run, Red Derby
• Navy Yard; The Salt Line, Emmy Squared, Swizzler, Bluejacket
• 14th/U/Logan Circle: Garden District, Le Diplomate, DC9, Emmy Squared, Pearl Dive, Desperado’s,
• Capitol Hill: Hill East Burger, Beuchert’s, Red Apron, Tune Inn, Good Stuff Eatery, eatBRGZ
• Brookland: Primrose, Brookland’s Finest
• Shaw: Ghostburger, Unconventional Diner, Convivial
• Downtown: Pogiboy
• H Street: The Big Board
• 16th St Heights: Moreland’s Tavern