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The 10 Tastiest Burgers in San Francisco

A photo of Red logo
by Annie Lin
Updated October 21, 2021
There’s no denying a good burger ranks high on the list of crave-worthy foods, and San Francisco restaurants know that. Chefs are pulling out all the stops for the best burgers in town, getting inventive with renditions on the OG burger buns from corn fritters, to challah, and even English muffins, with juicy patties of beef to pair. The attention to detail is immaculate, with every element of the burger adding to its character — particularly a focus on high-quality, local meat. Find the likes of whiskey onions, seasonal sauces, and thrice-cooked fries — these burgers are taking it to the next level.
A photo of Spruce restaurant
4.8
4.8 (5343)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Presidio Heights
About the restaurant

At one MICHELIN-star modern Californian restaurant Spruce, where three-course micro-seasonal meals are the norm, the Spruce burger on the lunch menu doesn’t fall far from the tree. A beef patty of brisket, short rib, and sirloin is seared and topped with pickled zucchini and red onion, tomato, and lettuce, all between an English muffin. A generous serving of thrice-cooked fries rounds it out. What gives Spruce’s burger an edge is the attention to detail, skillful cooking, and organic ingredients that all come together to place it on Eater’s list of the top burgers in SF.


Top review
SylviaB
Dined 2 days ago
A wonderful experience from the moment we walked through the door to enjoying a fabulous meal in beautiful surroundings! Food was exemplary and served with loving care by sensitive and accomplished wait staff. Highly recommend Spruce ❤️❤️❤️
A photo of Zuni Cafe restaurant
4.6
4.6 (7806)
$31 to $50
Modern European
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
About the restaurant

Zuni Cafe’s burger is so famous that both The New York Times and Martha Stewart have recipes of it, with the Times calling the burger “legendary.” The grass-fed beef is salted and ground in small batches with 18 percent fat, then the patty is flipped exactly three times over the grill. The rosemary focaccia bun is smeared with aioli and topped with pickled red onion rings and turmeric zucchini slices — every element is made in-house. Add one or all four of the additional toppings — cheddar cheese, bleu cheese, grilled onions, or portobello mushrooms — to make it your own. But you really can’t go wrong with the original at this San Francisco staple.


Top review
Jonvip
Dined 5 days ago
Wonderful pre-symphony dinner at a San Francisco classic.
A photo of Nopa - San Francisco restaurant
4.6
4.6 (3504)
$31 to $50
Californian
North Panhandle / USF
About the restaurant

Named after the neighborhood it’s in, legendary American restaurant Nopa specializes in wood-fired dishes and seasonal “urban rustic” food, including its signature burger. The wood-grilled cheeseburger is served with a ground Five Dot Ranch beef shoulder patty, pickled onions, and your choice of Gruyère, cheddar, or bleu cheese on a brioche bun that is buttered and charred. Optional, but encouraged, add-ons include house-cured bacon, and avocado. Hand-punched potato fries are served with a seasonal sauce. This burger is a fan-favorite you’ll constantly see floating around tables all night long.


Top review
Donvip
Dined 5 days ago
Uniquely spectacular dinner in Nopa during Halloween 2024! Festive and fun but with world class food and service! Thank you Nopa!
A photo of Violet’s restaurant
4.5
4.5 (502)
$31 to $50
American
Richmond District
About the restaurant

At American gastropub Violet’s from the team behind Fiorella, owners Boris Nemchenok, Brandon Gillis, and chef Dante Cecchini are bringing the popular Tuesday night burger at Fiorella to Violet’s. The Tavern burger is constructed with Northern Californian Flannery beef that has been hailed by LA and SF chefs alike, thick-cut bacon, American cheese, chipotle aioli, lettuce, onion, and pickles, and accompanied by shoestring fries. A vegetarian option swaps out the patty for an Impossible Burger with all the same toppings.


Top review
Gerivip
Dined on Oct 20, 2024
We tried Violet’s for the first time and were pleased with the food. We started with deviled eggs which were yummy. The 2 salads we ordered were good. We did order the salt and pepper chicken wings but they never came. By the time we realized that order never came, we were halfway through our entrees so decided not to say anything. (Would have loved to have tried the chicken wings though.) 🥲 Although they changed the steak from a ribeye (which had rave reviews from patrons), a few of us ordered the ny sirloin cap and it was excellent. A few of us ordered the cioppino and my friends loved it. My husband ordered the fried chicken Mac and cheese and it was disappointing that he could not get all dark meat (got 1 leg, 1 thigh and breast meat). Mac and cheese that accompanied the fried chicken was not very creamy. All in all, very good restaurant. Very lively place and food is very good. 👍🏻
A photo of The Vault Garden restaurant
4.2
4.2 (672)
$31 to $50
Californian
Financial District / Embarcadero
About the restaurant

This year-round sprawling outdoor dining restaurant from Hi Neighbor Hospitality Group — the team behind Trestle — serves up refined Cal-American cuisine with a sophistication that makes its burger all the more remarkable with its double patty stacked and oozing with Fiscalini cheddar and secret sauce, plus shredded lettuce to top it off. Fries are served with pickles on the side. The burger is available from brunch to dinner, and for prix fixe lunch paired with a heirloom tomato salad or tomato soup.


Top review
Susan
Dined 7 days ago
Not enough salads on the menu for women or vegetarians! Cold!
A photo of E&O Kitchen and Bar restaurant
4.2
4.2 (2776)
$30 and under
Asian
Downtown / Union Square
About the restaurant

Chef Sharon Nahm imbues her Asian roots into her cooking at E&O Kitchen and Bar with two exceptional burgers. The most well-known option is the famous fritter burger with Indonesian corn fritters as buns, filled with char siu bacon, white cheddar, kimchi, and sriracha aioli. There’s also an E&O cheeseburger that’s served on scallion buns with white cheddar, kimchi, and sriracha aioli. Togarashi fries come with, or substitute in healthier root vegetable chips.


Top review
ChristineJvip
Dined on Jul 13, 2023
Love eating at E&O every time we’re in the city. Food, service and atmosphere are all great.
A photo of Dirty Habit restaurant
4.3
4.3 (834)
$30 and under
Unspecified
Downtown / Union Square
About the restaurant

An intimate rooftop hideout on the fifth floor of the chic Hotel Zelos, Dirty Habit is a cocktail bar with an inventive menu to match. The burger here is spirit-inspired with the key ingredient of whiskey onions made by grilling yellow onions baked in butter, bourbon, and brown sugar. There’s also aged gouda atop a beef patty sandwiched between brioche buns. The rest of the menu sees chef Thomas Weibull draw from his own European and Asian heritage in salted egg potato chips with curry leaves, a sturgeon caviar bao bun, and venison yakitori with juniper and fermented blueberry tare.


Top review
Lisa
Dined on Oct 20, 2024
Understaffed and took over 30 mins to get a drink. I would still go again. Hoping they hire because but for the service it was amazing.
A photo of Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF restaurant
4.8
4.8 (7327)
$31 to $50
French
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
About the restaurant

This longtime Hayes Valley French bar and brasserie, from the team behind Bellota, is named after the herbal spirit of the same name and invokes a lively, charming atmosphere day to night. The romantic dining room sets the scene for the Niman Ranch cheeseburger with a beef patty, house pickles, dijonnaise, and Gruyère and provolone cheeses, served with shoestring fries. It’s available for brunch, lunch, and dinner; wash it down with a house cocktail or beer.


Top review
Nadja
Dined 6 days ago
We were, unfortunately, rushed for time and they graciously supported our need to make the theater time. The space is beautiful and romantic. Unbelievably delicious sole meunière! The sole was tender and cooked perfectly with a lightly crisped exterior. Nice wine list. My husband’s steak frites was very good. Highly recommend Absinthe!
A photo of One Market Restaurant restaurant
4.7
4.7 (4344)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Financial District / Embarcadero
About the restaurant

Along the city’s eastern shoreline sits One Market, a farm-to-table restaurant specializing in grilled seafood, New York steaks, spit-roasted prime rib, 12-hour smoked beef brisket, and of course, the house-ground Allen Brothers chuck and brisket burger that’s only served at lunch Tuesdays through Friday. It’s worth finding the time to go for the patty that comes with pimento cheese, bread and butter pickles, lettuce, and tomato between a challah bun. As a bonus, on Saturdays One Market’s farmer’s market shop Mark ‘n Mike’s serves up a Rolling Oaks ranch beef cheeseburger with American cheese, griddled onions, lettuce, tomato, and Russian dressing on a challah bun, with the option to add pastrami.


Top review
Sue
Dined on Oct 19, 2024
Great atmosphere for talking with dinner mates. Good variety on menu.
A photo of Osso Steakhouse restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2442)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Nob Hill
About the restaurant

The sleek steakhouse in Nob Hill’s Gramercy Towers has been known for its dry-aged steaks and Art Deco design for more than 20 years. Here, the “Osso Good” burger uses Kobe beef for its patty, with familiar toppings of lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese, and ketchup. The burger and its 21-day aged Angus steaks have taken Osso to Thrillist’s list of best steakhouses in San Francisco.


Top review
Pamelavip
Dined 1 day ago
We didn’t feel the waiter was very attentive. At least not very sincere. And didn’t help with our questions on the wine. A bit dismissive.
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