Absurdly Good Burger Spots in Louisville, KY
Many people assume that Louisville is strictly barbeque country. In reality, Derby City is a burger city and even supposedly is the birthplace of the cheeseburger. Making a lunch or dinner trip to Louisville is truly like showing up for race day for your taste buds. Take a look at the eight best burger restaurants in Louisville, KY.
1. 80/20 at Kaelin’s
1801 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY
(502) 200-8020
Kaelin’s is a must-try spot when searching for amazing burgers and cocktails instead of “dive” spots. It should be noted that Kaelin’s also has incredible fried chicken! We started the meal with a shared plate of crispy Brussels from the appetizer menu. After that amazing introduction into the flavors of Kaelin’s, it was time to dig into a perfectly cooked cheeseburger. Our group even sampled some of the restaurant’s homemade ice cream before taking off feeling very full and satisfied.
2. Bunz Burgerz
712 Brent Street, Louisville, KY
(502) 632-1132
Bunz Burgerz is all about great handmade burgers with zero fluff. We were so impressed by the size of our burgers once our order was up! My Baxter Avenue featuring red onions, bacon, cheese, Bunz sauce (Cajun mayo), and a fried egg was incredible. Be warned that you’ll have to order your fries separately because they aren’t included with burger meals. Our table opted to split a basket of sweet potato fries with honey.
3. Grind Burger Kitchen
829 East Market Street, Louisville, KY
(502) 213-0277
A jewel of Louisville’s East Market District, Grind Burger Kitchen stands out among the rest because it only serves house-ground, hand-trimmed, and grass-fed burgers. Guests are also offered a world-class drink menu featuring curated craft beers and dozens of bourbons. Of course, many people stop at Grind Burger Kitchen because they’ve seen it featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” The BBQ burger made with brie cheese, bacon, and smoked habanero jam was unreal. Better yet, the prices were surprisingly reasonable considering the clout of this upscale burger joint.
4. Jaggers
6464 New Dutchmans Parkway, Louisville, KY
(502) 242-9311
Jaggers is one of those places that feeds your soul in just the right way when you’re craving a classic cheeseburger with a milkshake. Our visit showed us that a cookies-and-cream milkshake, cheeseburger, and hot tots create a perfect combination. While the tots get all the hype at Jaggers, the restaurant also serves up memorable shoestring fries. The firm, oversized buns used with Jaggers burgers are worth noting because they are so satisfying compared to the softer, flimsier buns that are common at other burger joints.
5. Kern’s Korner
2600 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY
(502) 456-9726
While Kern’s Korner definitely gives off a hole-in-the-wall vibe, this restaurant is a gem that’s worth the trip. The classic cheeseburger fully dressed with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and mayo was perfect. It was also a pleasure to try the legendary chili at Kern’s Korner. The vegetable soup on the menu looked perfect for a return on a rainy day. While the food here is amazing, the really fun part about dining in is that horse races are always running on the television.
6. Mussel and Burger Bar
9200 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY
(502) 384-4834
Mussel and Burger Bar grinds its 100% Certified Angus Beef® patties daily. While the burger menu features 15 different options, it was the Argentinian, featuring thick provolone cheese, caramelized onions, chorizo Argentino, chimichurri sauce, house mixed greens, and oven-roasted tomatoes that stole the show during our recent visit. Ordering house fries tossed in truffle salt and oil definitely elevated the experience of this incredible burger.
7. Oskar’s Slider Bar
3799 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, KY
(502) 395-9010
Oskar’s is a Scandinavian burger restaurant where you can look at everything you thought you knew about the classic American burger with fresh eyes! In addition to serving up classic American burger sliders, this international catch also serves up smoked halloumi sliders, venison sausage sliders, smoked pork belly sliders, and fiskefrikadeller (cod and salmon cake) sliders. Our table loved the pink Swedish beet salad, fries, and summer snap pea salad served with Greek yogurt dressing as sides.
8. Six Forks Burger
1039 Ash Street, Louisville, KY
(502) 565-9750
A visit to Six Forks Burger felt mandatory after hearing so many people refer to it as the best place for burgers in Louisville. Does this joint live up to the hype? Six Forks more than met every expectation for thick, juicy burgers. Ordering a DIY burger is a great choice if the goal is to taste some of the amazing “fixings” on the menu. Banana pickles, jalapenos, and chocolate whiskey sauce are just some of the gems available. While the burgers draw the crowds, the sides at Six Forks Burger keep visitors loyal. We were in love with the twisted corn, Thai chili potato salad, and hot honey carrots and green beans. The big secret about this place is that it’s also the best spot to grab an alcoholic slushy in Louisville.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Louisville page, here!
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