Your Guide to the Metro Detroit Burger Scene

Indulge in the best cheeseburgers and burgers metro Detroit has to offer at these local spots.
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The Mex at Brome Modern Eatery is a cheesy indulgence that features corn salsa, pickled jalapeno, avocado, and chipotle mayo. Photograph courtesy of Brome Modern Eatery

From creative menu items in Corktown to Cuban-inspired eats downtown and delicious eats out in the suburbs, the metro Detroit burger scene is anything but boring. Here鈥檚 a look at some of the city鈥檚 most mouthwatering creations between two buns.

Brome Modern Eatery

Brome is a restaurant that focuses on minimizing its negative impact on the planet while making fresh, healthy food. Brome pledges to only use 100% organic beef that has been grown responsibly. The restaurant also has a large selection of vegetarian and vegan options, including the much-lauded Impossible burger, a plant-based patty made with a molecule called 鈥渉eme,鈥 which gives the patty an authentic, meaty flavor. ; 313-996-5050;听.

Bronx Bar

Good beer, greasy burgers and a dive bar vibe is what you鈥檒l find at this local joint. Get The Burger topped with your choice of American, Swiss, white cheddar, provolone, pepper jack or blue cheese. Turkey and black bean burgers are available, too. ; 313-832-8464;听.

Royale with Cheese

This restaurant, named after that famous conversation between Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta鈥檚 characters in Pulp Fiction, is serving up some creative burger creations in Midtown. The menu goes far beyond the ordinary with options like the Mia Wallace, a burger featuring Mesquite BBQ chips, fire-roasted poblanos and corn, house-smoked candied turkey bacon, honey-ancho BBQ aioli, and American-Swiss.听Royale with Cheese,; 313-315-3014; .

Hunter House Hamburgers

This spot originally opened back in 1952 and is best known for their sliders. The original cheeseburger slider comes topped with caramelized onions and American cheese. Choose from a single, double or triple patty and don鈥檛 forget the strawberry shake and fries to complete your order. ; 248-646-7121; .

Basement Burger -junk burger-
Basement Burger鈥檚 Junk Burger is big on flavor with caramelized onions, fried pickles, garlic mayo, and more making it into the mix. Photograph courtesy of Basement Burger

Basement Burger Bar

This family-owned spot has become known in the area for its twists on classic burgers like the Philly Burger, Tropical Burger, and the Italian Stallion. For those with even bigger appetites, Basement has featured burgers like the Junk Burger, a beef burger with chipotle mayo, garlic mayo, smoke BBQ ketchup, bacon, caramelized onions, mozzarella sticks, fried pickles, crispy onion straws, and cheddar cheese sauce.听, 313-818-3708; , 248-957-8179; and , 734-927-0100;听.

Ford鈥檚 Garage

This neighborhood burger and beer spot is located right across the street from The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and is offering cheeseburger options named after some of the most impactful people and organizations in the community. Choose from the The Jiffy Burger, inspired by legendary broadcaster, Ernie Harwell, and piled with American cheese, smoked bacon, romaine lettuce and peanut butter on a brioche bun. Options inspired by Billy Downs and Fair Lane, too. and ; 313-752-3673;听.

The Food Exchange

No Detroit burger guide would be complete without mentioning the home of the famous Big Baby Burger, a whopping 10-ounce patty topped with corned beef, Swiss and American cheeses, lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, mayo, ketchup, and mustard on an onion roll. The menu touts other classic burger variations, as well, with the enormous, juicy 10-ounce patties being the focus. ; 313-579-5616; .

Luxe Bar & Grill

The Bleu Cheese Burger is a unique eat piled high with bleu cheese, chopped lettuce, haystack onions, pickles and luxe sauce. You can also get the mushroom burger, which features a roasted mushroom mix with gruyere cheese, the meatless BVB (Best Veggie Burger) and many others. ; 248-792-6051 and ; 313-924-5459;听.

Frita Batidos PCSteveJulin
Frita Baditos opts for fries inside its burger, making for an unexpected bite. Photograph courtesy of Steve Julin

Frita Batidos

Ann Arbor-based Frita Batidos opened up its first location in Detroit in 2019. The spot serves up burgers inspired by the Frita, a Cuban sandwich that is made from a chorizo patty. The burgers are topped with shoestring fries and a fried egg on top of a soft egg bun. Along with traditional Fritas, you can create your own burger with options like a chicken, black bean, beef, or fish patty, with the ability to add other toppings like thick-cut bacon or cilantro-lime salsa. Frita Batidos, ; 313-725-4100;听.

Mercury Burger and Bar

With a malt shop-esque atmosphere that harkens back to Detroit鈥檚 past, this Corktown spot is turning out some of the city鈥檚 best burgers. Menu items range from familiar burgers like The Classic to the original like Southwest Detroit. The signature burger features a chorizo slider atop a beef patty,听candied jalape帽o relish, muenster cheese,听avocado, and salsa on the side. ; 313-964-5000;听.

Zo鈥檚 Good Burger

Zo鈥檚 Good Burger is all about living the good life, which obviously includes eating one of the restaurant鈥檚 famed, huge burger creations. Pick from one of seven house burgers, like the signature The Good Burger, a burger topped with mozzarella sticks, American cheese, onion rings, and an in-house sauce all on a pretzel bun. You can also build your own custom creation with Zo鈥檚 Good Burger鈥檚 long list of toppings and accouterments.听; 313-771-0022;听.

Redcoat Tavern

The Original Redcoat Special Hamburger is a half-pound of proprietary ground blend beef with tomato, shredded lettuce and special sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun. Turn it into a cheeseburger by adding your choice of sharp American, smoky ghost pepper, Swiss, cheddar, Amish blue, Smoked Gouda, Monterey Jack, or Provolone. More toppings available by request. Redcoat was the winner of Burgers (classic) in the Best of Detroit voting in 2022.听; 248-549-0300听and ; 248-865-0500;听.

Grey Ghost Burger PC Sarah Fennel
Grey Ghost keeps its approach to burgers simple and delicious with this dish. Photograph courtesy of Sarah Fennel

Grey Ghost

This hip eatery is serving up elegant plates of food, placing particular emphasis on its butchery. There is only one lone burger on this menu, and it is no surprise that the end product matches the rest of the restaurant鈥檚 ethos: simple, luxurious, and delicious. The menu option for the burger features one singular request to 鈥減ut an egg on it.鈥 We highly recommend you oblige.听; 313-262-6534;听.

Green Dot Stables

Sliders are the name of the game at this year鈥檚 top vote-getter in the Burgers (specialty) category in our 2022 Best of Detroit feature. Choose from delicious options including the Cuban, Philly cheesesteak, coney dog and mystery meat, among others. Their cheeseburger sliders are a beef patty with Velveeta cheese, grilled onion, and pickles. ; 313-962-5588; .

Checker Bar

This legendary burger bar in the heart of downtown Detroit is still keeping things fresh and original. The burger lineup is stacked to the max with interesting flavors and inspirations. Classics like the Checker Burger or the Double Bacon Cheese Burger never fail to satisfy. Also, crazier combinations like听the Slim Jim or the Chin Tiki, which features grilled pineapple and Polynesian sauce, are adventurous tastes worth trying. ; 313-961-9249; .

The Morrie

Get your cheeseburger with a side of live music for 鈥渁 uniquely American Experience.鈥 As far as cheeseburgers go, the Morrie Burger is a must-try at both locations. Add听waffle fries in Royal Oak and be sure to try theNashville Hot Chicken Sandwich in Birmingham. ; 248-216-1112 and ; 248-940-3260;听.

Vinsetta Garage

Once upon a time, Vinsetta Garage was a place that offered 鈥渢he deepest kind of care to car owners.鈥 Today, it offers the same level of care to foodies in metro Detroit. They offer a wide variety of over-the-top burgers that feature patties made of a beef blend of brisket, short-rib and chuck. The Vinsetta Burger is a must on National Cheeseburger Day with two slices of American Cheese or, if you鈥檙e feeling adventurous, give the听Shop Towel a try. Vegan patties are available on any burger by request. ; 248-548-7711;听.

This post has been updated for 2024.听