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 $8 for a basic beef burger, add-ons include lettuce, tomato, mayo, and bacon, or make it a double for another three bucks.

Zea’s, a Louisiana-based and locally owned chain, does a bang-up job with its burgers with certified half-pound Angus, juicy and tender meat topped with bacon and a choice of jack, bleu or cheddar on a toasted brioche bun with BBQ sauce on the side. It comes with one side: Choose the roasted corn grits. With lots of locations through Louisiana, it’s easy to find one nearby.

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.

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.

Born out of the pandemic, Bub’s is a pop-up-turned-restaurant that opened in Mid City last year. 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.

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, every bite so worth the $20 price tag.

Mid City’s Brown Butter restaurant has three burgers on its menu, but the back-to-basics Brown Butter burger is divine, thanks to a blend of short rib and brisket in the patty. It comes on a brioche bun and gets topped with pimento cheese. Classic fries and garlic aioli come on the side — or sub out for outstanding truffle fries or Brussels, worth an extra $3. Brown Butter is well worth a visit for much of its extensive menu.

Isaac Toups is known for his amazing charcuterie, cracklin’s, 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.

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 best view of the shenanigans and order breakfast anytime at this old school divey diner.

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.

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. Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, with a full bar and super bloody Marys.

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.

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.