There are cravings that only a juicy burger can satisfy, and some consider it the ultimate comfort food. Whether you want to double down with a bacon-and-beef combo slathered in sauce, or go lighter with a veggie patty topped with, well, more veggies, you’ve got options. Here are 16 of our favorite places to indulge
Updated on Oct. 14, 2025
Sloppy Mama’s Barbeque
Not in the mood for ribs or pulled pork? The 100% prime brisket burgers at Joe and Mandy Neuman’s ’cue joint on Langston Boulevard are just as hearty. We’re talking 4-ounce patties (single or double) topped with American cheese, grilled onions, special sauce (featuring the eatery’s signature Happy Sprinkles BBQ rub) and pickles on a toasted potato roll. Make it a meal by adding a soft drink and a side such as house-made hot sweet pickles, coleslaw or baked beans. On Wednesdays, get a single cheeseburger with fries for $10 when you dine in. 5731 Langston Blvd., Arlington
Café Colline and Bar Colline
One bite of chef Brendan L’Etoile’s double-patty bistro burger—a special blend of double ground chuck, brisket and short rib—and you’ll be hooked. Topped with Boston lettuce, American cheese, house-made tarragon pickles and club sauce (spoiler: the secret ingredient is kimchi), it’s a glorious mess on an Uptown Bakers potato bun that comes with the requisite frites on the side. Find it on the menu at Café Colline in the Lee Heights Shops and at sister restaurant Bar Colline in National Landing. 4536 Cherry Hill Road; 269 19th Court, Arlington
Big Buns Damn Good Burgers
Feeling fancy? The “designer” creations at this local chainlet include the Hot & Hefe (Angus beef with pepper jack cheese, avocado, grilled habanero and serrano pico de gallo) and the Peppercorn Steakhouse (Angus beef with gruyère, onion straws, sautéed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato and tellicherry mayo). Feeling extra naughty? They’ve got shakes, too—with the option of making them boozy. 4401 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston); 4251 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington); 1336 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
Jon’s Joint
Two burger-loving buddies opened this Buckingham storefront one year ago and people lined up. Our dining critic fell for the OKC—an homage to the Oklahoma City specialty that finds a double smashie on a toasted potato bun with onions and melted American cheese. Also noteworthy: the Juicy Lucy stuffed with cheddar and topped with grilled onions. Round out the decadence with house-made ice cream or a Kit Kat milkshake. 250 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Buckingham)
Cowboy Cafe
Stop by this neighborhood bar on Langston Boulevard and order yourself a LoJo with blue cheese, grilled onions and hot sauce, or the carb-free Naked Burger, a plain patty—hold the bun—served with a side salad. Turkey and veggie burgers are alt options, and sweet potato fries are an addictive side. 4792 Langston Blvd., Arlington
B Side
When the restaurant concept comes by way of a master butcher, you can expect a righteous burger. No surprise—the smashburger is one of the most popular menu items at this Mosaic District haunt by chef/butcher Nathan Anda. Served with beef fat fries, it piles two beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, red onion, island sauce and house pickles on a challah bun. Extra famished? Gild the lily by adding a third patty. During weekday happy hours, get three sliders for $15 or six for $25. 8298 Glass Alley, Merrifield (Mosaic)
Lyon Hall
The brasserie menu at this Clarendon hot spot includes Alsatian favs like hanger steak tartare and pots of mussels, but the namesake burger will surely tantalize those taste buds. It’s made with house-ground beef and topped with lettuce, tomato confit, red onion, pickles and your choice of cheeses, including Roquefort. Add bacon or a fried egg for extra protein and pizzazz. 3100 N. Washington Blvd, Arlington, (Clarendon)
Ballston Local
The beefy lineup at this beloved pub in the heart of Ballston includes the Bluemont, with caramelized onions, gorgonzola, arugula, bacon and L-sauce (ketchup, mayo, Dijon mustard and pickle juice). Each burger order comes with waffle or skinny fries, chips or a Caesar salad. Sub an Impossible patty and/or a gluten-free bun for a modest upcharge. Weekday happy hours from 3-6 p.m. include a burger-and-a-beer deal for $14. 900 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)
Best Buns Bakery & Burgers
Want to build your own bliss? Start with an Angus beef patty or two, and choose toppings such as hickory barbecue sauce, bacon, mushrooms and cheese. Pair it with fries, pasta salad or a fruit cup, and cap it all off with a fresh-baked cookie or cupcake. Part of the Great American Restaurants Group, this DMV eatery has locations in Shirlington and Tysons. 4010 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington); 8051 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Burger Billy’s Joint
The self-described “Home of the Cherrydale Brisket Burger” (yup, it’s in Cherrydale) serves smashburgers made with grass-fed, locally sourced Angus beef from Front Royal’s Cottonwood Ranch. The signature sandwich is a 4-ounce patty topped with brisket, grilled onions, smoked gouda and candied rosemary bacon, all drizzled in a honey-bourbon barbecue sauce. Place an order online or onsite at a kiosk, then make your way to a locker, enter the code on your receipt and get your grub. 3800 Langston Blvd., Arlington (Cherrydale)
Bubbie’s Plant Burgers
You needn’t be a carnivore to enjoy a good burger. This kiosk at National Landing’s Water Park serves only plant-based eats, including an avocado pepper jack burger made with a 5-oz. Redefine patty. Alternately, design your own with toppers ranging from vegan bacon to grilled pineapple. Tack on an order of fries, pistachio-pesto macaroni salad or watermelon gazpacho. 1721 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Basic Burger
Don’t let the name fool you. This burger joint with takeouts in Westpost and Tysons serves more than a mere patty on a bun. In addition to its namesake basic burger (100% Angus beef with lettuce, tomato and onion on brioche), the choices include a big double cheeseburger, BBQ bacon cheeseburger and several other riffs on the classic, including veggie, turkey and plant-based renditions. Pair your pick with a side of beer-battered fried pickles or sweet potato fries. 1101 S. Joyce St., Arlington (Westpost)
Burger District
This Courthouse emporium serves the all-American handheld in many forms, including smashburgers, Angus beef patties, sliders, turkey burgers and vegan Beyond Burgers. The District Shrooms Burger is piled with smoky Virginia ham, grilled mushrooms and Swiss, while a messy and delicious chili cheeseburger is slathered in house-made chili and cheese sauce. Appetizers such as pork tips or spicy cauliflower can also be ordered as burger garnishes.. 2024 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Courthouse)
Ghostburger
This D.C.-born concept that began in a Shaw ghost kitchen (hence the name) has an outpost at Rosslyn’s Upside on Moore food hall. Design your own masterpiece or go for the namesake Ghostburger with American cheese, pickles, onions and jalapeno-infused spooky sauce. Or try the Charlie, topped with pimento cheese, fried pickles, red onions, micro broccoli greens and jalapeño mayo. Swap the beef for falafel or turkey if you prefer. 1700 N. Moore St., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Elevation Burger
This locally grown fast-food chain (the first one opened in Falls Church in 2005) serves organic, grass-fed beef and fries cooked in olive oil. Build your own burger with one or two beef, Impossible, vegan or veggie patties. Or choose from a lineup of gourmet creations, such as a double guacamole burger with Swiss cheese and ranch dressing. Eating low-carb? Ask for the Paleo Burger, which is wrapped in lettuce in lieu of a bun. Multiple locations in Arlington and Falls Church
Five Guys
Five Guys has been keeping it simple ever since the first storefront opened in 1986 on Columbia Pike. Now a national chain, its menu centers on hamburgers, cheeseburgers and bacon cheeseburgers served with boardwalk-style fries. Go for a single (a Little, as they call it) or a double patty, and add embellishments like grilled onions or shrooms and jalapeños. Multiple locations in Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church