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A cardboard plate holds a double patty burger covered in melted American cheese and topped with pickles on a plain, toasted bun.
A Company Burger double.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

New Orleans’s Best Old-School Burgers

A cross-section of the best beefy burgers the city’s grills have to offer

by Beth D'Addono and Clair Lorell Updated
View as Map
A Company Burger double.
| Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA
by Beth D'Addono and Clair Lorell Updated

What defines a kick-ass burger? For starters, it’s balance in a bun, just the right combo of toppings, sauce, and juicy meat, all working in harmony to deliver a perfect version of one of America’s most iconic dishes. The good news is, that when it comes to burgers, New Orleans has a lot to offer. From steakhouse blended burgers to chef-driven hamburger joints to a plethora of iconic greasy spoons and neighborhood spots, this town serves up a mean patty. Old-school burgers lead this charge, a cross-section of some of the best beefy burgers that the city’s grills have to offer.

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Lee's Hamburgers

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The original Lee’s dates back to 1901, when it operated next to the Roosevelt in the CBD. This franchised version of the classic burger joint still offers the great onion-filled burgers the icon has been known for for over 100 years.

1507 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005
(504) 837-8990
(504) 837-8990
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

The Camellia Grill

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A truly classic, no-frills diner burger, Camellia Grill’s highly salted six-ounce patty topped with plenty of crisp, cold iceberg lettuce and mayo can hit the spot. Priced at $9 for a basic beef burger, add-ons include lettuce, tomato, mayo, and bacon, or make it a double for another three bucks.

626 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 309-2679
(504) 309-2679
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Also featured in:

Ted's Frostop Diner

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S. Claiborne’s iconic old-school greasy spoon opened in 1955, and today still retains its kitschy landmark status. The menu features a slew of classic diner options, but the burger served with crinkle-cut fries and a root beer are a sure bet for lunch.

3100 Calhoun St, New Orleans, LA 70125
(504) 861-3615
(504) 861-3615
Ted’s Frostop

Also featured in:

Bud's Broiler

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Bud’s is back in New Orleans, joining Morning Call on Canal Boulevard in reestablishing its rightful place near City Park. Affordable and simple yet ahead of its time, this longtime New Orleans-area burger chain was an early adopter of the smash burger style — crispier, thin patties made from a combo of brisket and chuck, this one topped with shredded cheese.

5115 Canal Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 488-2837
(504) 488-2837

Also featured in:

Beachcorner Bar & Grill

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Love this no-frills neighborhood bar, perfect for watching the game with good grub and beer. The list of toppings is impressive at Beachcorner, from homemade barbecue sauce to blue cheese and mushrooms — there’s even a burger of the month, 10 options in all. The restaurant serves late and there’s a bunch of other good belly-busting eats too.

4905 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 488-7357
(504) 488-7357
Beachcorner Bar & Grill

Also featured in:

Bub's NOLA

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Bub’s is a pop-up-turned-restaurant that’s delighted in Mid City the last two years. Aaron Amadio, Tristan Moreau, Peter Prevot, Josh Richard, and Ron Richard started their smash burger pop-up in June 2020, quickly gaining a loyal fanbase for their expertly crisped patties and savory house sauce. Cheese fries, sides, and a chicken sandwich are a few of the other offerings.

4413 Banks St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 581-8054
(504) 581-8054
Five smash burgers are stacked on top of one another Bub’s NOLA

Juniors on Harrison

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Truth be told, Juniors can be hit or miss — except for the burger. With a striking interior and family-friendly atmosphere, it’s certainly one of Lakeview’s current favorites, and it tends to do classics best, like the red beans and rice plate on Mondays and the cobb salad. The burger falls into this category, served smashed on a soft sesame bun with a sweet onion jam and spicy mayo, American cheese, and pickles. It’s a winner.

789 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 766-6902
(504) 766-6902

Also featured in:

The Company Burger

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Adam Biderman’s homage to the simple burger — thin patty, American cheese, fresh ground meat, no lettuce, no tomato — blew the burger scene in New Orleans wide open when Company Burger opened in 2011. Since then it’s won local and national raves and awards from all directions and is in residence on busy Freret Street Uptown. The menu has a few other sandwich options well worth a try, like that tasty fried chicken sandwich.

4600 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 267-0320
(504) 267-0320
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Also featured in:

The High Hat Cafe

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Louisiana cuisine may be the heartbeat of the High Hat Cafe, but the burgers here are famous — particularly the house special, topped with the cafe’s famed pimiento cheese, melted. All four varieties are cooked on a flat top grill, crisp and juicy but sizzling, or build your own. The fries are delicious.

4500 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 754-1336
(504) 754-1336

Also featured in:

La Petite Grocery

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Justin Devillier's signature LPG burger is a hot commodity when it comes to New Orleans burgers. Topped with onion marmalade and gruyere, the burger is then set off with mustard, mayo, arugula, and housemade pickles. It preceded the burger boom and was one of the first truly local elevated burgers, hence the $22 price tag.

4238 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 891-3377
(504) 891-3377
Denny Culbert/La Petite Grocery

Also featured in:

Toups Meatery

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Isaac Toups is known for his amazing charcuterie, cracklins, and basically all things pork at his Mid City Toup’s Meatery go-to. His lunch and brunch burger is all about the beef — the chef uses wagyu beef and tops it with pickled squash, cheddar, bacon, and herbed aioli on a sesame seed bun—worth every bit of that hard-earned $16.

845 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 252-4999
(504) 252-4999
Toups Meatery’s burger
Toups Meatery/Official Photo

Also featured in:

Burger Nerds

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This delicious Smashburger pop-up can currently be found inside Courtyard Brewery, a no-brainer companion to the beloved brewery’s lineup of brews (it could previously be found at Holy Ground Irish Pub. It’s perhaps best known for the queso burger, which is gloriously gooey, but we love the classic, a smashed patty topped with grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, American cheese, and Nerd sauce. Make it a double or try an Impossible patty.

1160 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Also featured in:

Clover Grill

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So they make their burgers under a grease-splattered hub cap and yes, they are good. The staff is a hoot, and it’s a great place for a snack after a night in the bars. Sit at the counter for the best view of the shenanigans and order breakfast anytime at this old-school divey diner.

900 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 598-1010
(504) 598-1010
Clover Grill

Also featured in:

The Green Room Kukhnya

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This killer St. Bernard Avenue spot that serves food late may be known for its menu of blinis, pierogis, and Eastern European specialties like borscht, golubtsy, and beef stroganoff, but it’s also home to some of the best burgers in town. A basic burger starts at $8.50, a good deal, but the Black and Bleu burger with brown sugar bacon jam is also a favorite, as are the pub burger and Patty Melt, served on a choice of an egg and onion bun or Kaiser bun. There’s even a beet burger for a non-meat option, and it’s not to be overlooked.

1300 St Bernard Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 766-1613
(504) 766-1613

Also featured in:

Port of Call

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There are other things besides burgers on the menu at this French Quarter institution, but come on, really? Port of Call draws throngs who line up for mammoth burgers topped with unmelted shredded cheddar, loaded baked potatoes, and a big, pinkish, extra-boozy cocktail called the monsoon. The decor is cheesy nautical but no matter, Port of Call has been holding down the burger fort in New Orleans for more than 50 years.

838 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 523-0120
(504) 523-0120
Port of Call

Also featured in:

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Who Dat Coffee Cafe

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This sidewalk breakfast and lunch cafe on a Marigny corner stays busy and with good reason. Head over to Who Dat Coffee and order Da Who Dat burger, a juicy, half-pound patty cooked to order — love the jalapeno cheddar bun — and dressed, with fries, salad, or potato salad on the side.

2401 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 872-0360
(504) 872-0360
Da Who Dat Burger
Who Dat Coffee Cafe

Also featured in:

Marie's Bar and Kitchen

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Thank goodness Chad Barlow took over Marie’s Kitchen, which had sat empty since the pandemic. Barlow’s slap burgers blend a quarter-pound of 80/20 ground beef with three secret ingredients, (ok, one is butter), way juicy despite being cooked to medium well. Barlow dresses them with his secret sauce modeled after In-N-Out Burger’s, crispy Vlasic dills, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and yellow American cheese, all on a toasted brioche bun. Starting at $10, there’s a single Slap, a double, and the quad — four patties fully dressed. 

2483 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 267-5869
(504) 267-5869

Also featured in:

Breakaway's Restaurant & Bar

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There is so much to love about chef Paul Artigues’ menu at Breakaway’s R&B, from the crisp wedge salad to the fluffy crawfish fritters and the etouffee. But the Reme double burger is divine, two quarter pounders on a Brioche bun with grilled onions, American cheese, and tangy remoulade Sauce. Great news — it comes with herb and garlic-powered persillade fries.

2529 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 571-5179
(504) 571-5179

Also featured in:

Junction Bar & Grill

Copy Link

Railroad-themed Junction serves plenty of grass-fed burgers named for rail lines. For example, the New York & Atlantic is a classic steakhouse burger with garlic and black pepper butter, pepper jack cheese, and fried onion strips. But all those specialty burgers start with the classic “boxcar burger,” a six-ounce patty of grass-fed, hormone-free ground beef from St. Amant, Louisiana, cooked medium and served on a brioche roll from Dong Phuong bakery. Lettuce, tomato, and onion come on the side. There are plenty of tasty toppings to dress it up, though it’s hardly necessary, and 40 beers on tap, which are very necessary.

3021 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 272-0205
(504) 272-0205

Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine

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Yes, Sneaky Pickle is known for its vegetable-forward cuisine. But it’s also known for its carnivore options, and the Raines wagyu beef burger is the bomb: locally raised beef topped with cheddar, lettuce, pickled onion, and aioli. There’s a smoked tempeh Reuben too, so everybody’s happy.

3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 218-5651
(504) 218-5651

Also featured in:

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Lee's Hamburgers

1507 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005

The original Lee’s dates back to 1901, when it operated next to the Roosevelt in the CBD. This franchised version of the classic burger joint still offers the great onion-filled burgers the icon has been known for for over 100 years.

1507 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005
(504) 837-8990
(504) 837-8990
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

The Camellia Grill

626 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

A truly classic, no-frills diner burger, Camellia Grill’s highly salted six-ounce patty topped with plenty of crisp, cold iceberg lettuce and mayo can hit the spot. Priced at $9 for a basic beef burger, add-ons include lettuce, tomato, mayo, and bacon, or make it a double for another three bucks.

626 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 309-2679
(504) 309-2679
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Ted's Frostop Diner

3100 Calhoun St, New Orleans, LA 70125

S. Claiborne’s iconic old-school greasy spoon opened in 1955, and today still retains its kitschy landmark status. The menu features a slew of classic diner options, but the burger served with crinkle-cut fries and a root beer are a sure bet for lunch.

3100 Calhoun St, New Orleans, LA 70125
(504) 861-3615
(504) 861-3615
Ted’s Frostop

Bud's Broiler

5115 Canal Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124

Bud’s is back in New Orleans, joining Morning Call on Canal Boulevard in reestablishing its rightful place near City Park. Affordable and simple yet ahead of its time, this longtime New Orleans-area burger chain was an early adopter of the smash burger style — crispier, thin patties made from a combo of brisket and chuck, this one topped with shredded cheese.

5115 Canal Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 488-2837
(504) 488-2837

Beachcorner Bar & Grill

4905 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Love this no-frills neighborhood bar, perfect for watching the game with good grub and beer. The list of toppings is impressive at Beachcorner, from homemade barbecue sauce to blue cheese and mushrooms — there’s even a burger of the month, 10 options in all. The restaurant serves late and there’s a bunch of other good belly-busting eats too.

4905 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 488-7357
(504) 488-7357
Beachcorner Bar & Grill

Bub's NOLA

4413 Banks St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Bub’s is a pop-up-turned-restaurant that’s delighted in Mid City the last two years. Aaron Amadio, Tristan Moreau, Peter Prevot, Josh Richard, and Ron Richard started their smash burger pop-up in June 2020, quickly gaining a loyal fanbase for their expertly crisped patties and savory house sauce. Cheese fries, sides, and a chicken sandwich are a few of the other offerings.

4413 Banks St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 581-8054
(504) 581-8054
Five smash burgers are stacked on top of one another Bub’s NOLA

Juniors on Harrison

789 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124

Truth be told, Juniors can be hit or miss — except for the burger. With a striking interior and family-friendly atmosphere, it’s certainly one of Lakeview’s current favorites, and it tends to do classics best, like the red beans and rice plate on Mondays and the cobb salad. The burger falls into this category, served smashed on a soft sesame bun with a sweet onion jam and spicy mayo, American cheese, and pickles. It’s a winner.

789 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 766-6902
(504) 766-6902

The Company Burger

4600 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Adam Biderman’s homage to the simple burger — thin patty, American cheese, fresh ground meat, no lettuce, no tomato — blew the burger scene in New Orleans wide open when Company Burger opened in 2011. Since then it’s won local and national raves and awards from all directions and is in residence on busy Freret Street Uptown. The menu has a few other sandwich options well worth a try, like that tasty fried chicken sandwich.

4600 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 267-0320
(504) 267-0320
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

The High Hat Cafe

4500 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Louisiana cuisine may be the heartbeat of the High Hat Cafe, but the burgers here are famous — particularly the house special, topped with the cafe’s famed pimiento cheese, melted. All four varieties are cooked on a flat top grill, crisp and juicy but sizzling, or build your own. The fries are delicious.

4500 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 754-1336
(504) 754-1336

La Petite Grocery

4238 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Justin Devillier's signature LPG burger is a hot commodity when it comes to New Orleans burgers. Topped with onion marmalade and gruyere, the burger is then set off with mustard, mayo, arugula, and housemade pickles. It preceded the burger boom and was one of the first truly local elevated burgers, hence the $22 price tag.

4238 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 891-3377
(504) 891-3377
Denny Culbert/La Petite Grocery

Toups Meatery

845 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Isaac Toups is known for his amazing charcuterie, cracklins, and basically all things pork at his Mid City Toup’s Meatery go-to. His lunch and brunch burger is all about the beef — the chef uses wagyu beef and tops it with pickled squash, cheddar, bacon, and herbed aioli on a sesame seed bun—worth every bit of that hard-earned $16.

845 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 252-4999
(504) 252-4999
Toups Meatery’s burger
Toups Meatery/Official Photo

Burger Nerds

1160 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130

This delicious Smashburger pop-up can currently be found inside Courtyard Brewery, a no-brainer companion to the beloved brewery’s lineup of brews (it could previously be found at Holy Ground Irish Pub. It’s perhaps best known for the queso burger, which is gloriously gooey, but we love the classic, a smashed patty topped with grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, American cheese, and Nerd sauce. Make it a double or try an Impossible patty.

1160 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Clover Grill

900 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130

So they make their burgers under a grease-splattered hub cap and yes, they are good. The staff is a hoot, and it’s a great place for a snack after a night in the bars. Sit at the counter for the best view of the shenanigans and order breakfast anytime at this old-school divey diner.

900 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 598-1010
(504) 598-1010
Clover Grill

The Green Room Kukhnya

1300 St Bernard Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116

This killer St. Bernard Avenue spot that serves food late may be known for its menu of blinis, pierogis, and Eastern European specialties like borscht, golubtsy, and beef stroganoff, but it’s also home to some of the best burgers in town. A basic burger starts at $8.50, a good deal, but the Black and Bleu burger with brown sugar bacon jam is also a favorite, as are the pub burger and Patty Melt, served on a choice of an egg and onion bun or Kaiser bun. There’s even a beet burger for a non-meat option, and it’s not to be overlooked.

1300 St Bernard Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 766-1613
(504) 766-1613

Port of Call

838 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116

There are other things besides burgers on the menu at this French Quarter institution, but come on, really? Port of Call draws throngs who line up for mammoth burgers topped with unmelted shredded cheddar, loaded baked potatoes, and a big, pinkish, extra-boozy cocktail called the monsoon. The decor is cheesy nautical but no matter, Port of Call has been holding down the burger fort in New Orleans for more than 50 years.

838 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 523-0120
(504) 523-0120
Port of Call

Related Maps

Who Dat Coffee Cafe

2401 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117

This sidewalk breakfast and lunch cafe on a Marigny corner stays busy and with good reason. Head over to Who Dat Coffee and order Da Who Dat burger, a juicy, half-pound patty cooked to order — love the jalapeno cheddar bun — and dressed, with fries, salad, or potato salad on the side.

2401 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 872-0360
(504) 872-0360
Da Who Dat Burger
Who Dat Coffee Cafe

Marie's Bar and Kitchen

2483 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117

Thank goodness Chad Barlow took over Marie’s Kitchen, which had sat empty since the pandemic. Barlow’s slap burgers blend a quarter-pound of 80/20 ground beef with three secret ingredients, (ok, one is butter), way juicy despite being cooked to medium well. Barlow dresses them with his secret sauce modeled after In-N-Out Burger’s, crispy Vlasic dills, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and yellow American cheese, all on a toasted brioche bun. Starting at $10, there’s a single Slap, a double, and the quad — four patties fully dressed. 

2483 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 267-5869
(504) 267-5869

Breakaway's Restaurant & Bar

2529 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117

There is so much to love about chef Paul Artigues’ menu at Breakaway’s R&B, from the crisp wedge salad to the fluffy crawfish fritters and the etouffee. But the Reme double burger is divine, two quarter pounders on a Brioche bun with grilled onions, American cheese, and tangy remoulade Sauce. Great news — it comes with herb and garlic-powered persillade fries.

2529 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 571-5179
(504) 571-5179

Junction Bar & Grill

3021 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

Railroad-themed Junction serves plenty of grass-fed burgers named for rail lines. For example, the New York & Atlantic is a classic steakhouse burger with garlic and black pepper butter, pepper jack cheese, and fried onion strips. But all those specialty burgers start with the classic “boxcar burger,” a six-ounce patty of grass-fed, hormone-free ground beef from St. Amant, Louisiana, cooked medium and served on a brioche roll from Dong Phuong bakery. Lettuce, tomato, and onion come on the side. There are plenty of tasty toppings to dress it up, though it’s hardly necessary, and 40 beers on tap, which are very necessary.

3021 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 272-0205
(504) 272-0205

Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine

3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117

Yes, Sneaky Pickle is known for its vegetable-forward cuisine. But it’s also known for its carnivore options, and the Raines wagyu beef burger is the bomb: locally raised beef topped with cheddar, lettuce, pickled onion, and aioli. There’s a smoked tempeh Reuben too, so everybody’s happy.

3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 218-5651
(504) 218-5651

Related Maps