The Top 10 Best Chain Steakhouse Burgers
It's always tempting to stick to steaks at a steakhouse, but venturing into other areas of the menu can be equally delicious and rewarding. Because steakhouses focus on providing good cuts of beef, this attention to detail often carries over into the burger section. Filling and satisfying, a juicy burger can really hit the spot when you're craving that succulent, beefy flavor. Compared to steaks, burgers also tend to be a little easier on the wallet, which makes them even more enticing.
Even though burgers are relatively simple, there are a lot of elements to consider that affect their overall flavor. Is the patty chargrilled over an open flame, or is sizzled on a griddle? Is the burger meat ground in-house? What kind of meats are used in the beef blend? The type of bun (and whether it's toasted or untoasted), along with the type of cheeses, spreads, and toppings used are also important components that make a big impact on a burger's greatness.
Whether you're looking for a burger made with ground beef that's aged to perfection, extra thick bacon, or a special beef blend with the perfect amount of flavor and fat, we have some excellent choices lined up for you. Rest assured: If you're on the prowl to track down a hearty burger at a chain steakhouse, we've got you covered.
1. Outback Steakhouse: Bloomin' Burger
Outback Steakhouse is one of the most well-known steakhouse chains and the company is especially famous for its Bloomin' Onion. This deliciously crispy onion dish was created in 1988, and the restaurant now sells more than 8 million every year. Its popularity probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone who's ever tasted it before. The dish consists of fried onion petals — ones that are well-seasoned and crunchy on the outside, yet soft and slightly sweet on the inside. The bloom sauce that it comes with is creamy and zesty, adding a pop of flavor to each bite. In a stroke of genius, Outback Steakhouse offers a burger that merges its Bloomin' Onion into a slice of handheld heaven.
The Bloomin' Burger features fried Bloomin' Onion petals, American cheese, house-made pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion, and Outback's spicy signature bloom sauce. The fried onions on this cheeseburger give it a delicious texture that's almost reminiscent of a Western-style burger — recipes that often come with onion rings and barbecue sauce.
But while Western-style burgers tend to suffer from an overpowering sweetness, due to the barbecue sauce, the Bloomin' Burger doesn't endure the same fate. The bloom sauce has a savory bite to it that boosts the beefiness of this burger, rather than drowning it out. Combined with a creamy, melted slice of American cheese, this burger hits all the right notes, making it one of the best chain steakhouse burgers you can buy.
2. Texas Roadhouse: Smokehouse Burger
Texas Roadhouse is a popular steakhouse chain with a great menu. Some of the restaurant's highlights include hand-cut steaks, tender barbecue ribs, and country-fried chicken. Texas Roadhouse also has several sandwiches and burgers to pick from, and one of the best burgers on the menu is the Smokehouse Burger.
Texas Roadhouse's Smokehouse Burger comes with sauteed mushrooms, onions, barbecue sauce, American and jack cheeses, lettuce, and tomato. This cheeseburger comes on a large, fluffy bun and is served with steak fries and a pickle. The mushrooms add some meatiness to the burger, while the barbecue sauce introduces some tangy smokiness. The barbecue sauce on this burger is mindfully applied, adding just enough flavor without overwhelming the burger. That said, you can always ask for the barbecue sauce on the side and then apply the amount that you prefer. We love how flavorful and unique this burger is. The combination of mushrooms and barbecue sauce isn't something you see on many burgers, but it's a truly delicious convergence that works extremely well. If you're a fan of mushrooms and the smoky flavor of barbecue sauce, then this burger is bound to knock it out of the park.
3. LongHorn Steakhouse: LH Burger
When you're in the mood for a delicious yet reasonably-priced meal, LongHorn Steakhouse is a reliable choice. Tempting as it is to order a steak from LongHorn's smartly-curated menu, the truth is you'd be missing out on some other tasty hidden gems. Clocking in at half of a pound, LongHorn's LH Burger is one of the best steakhouse burgers in the game.
Even though thinner smash burgers with crispy edges are all the rage, there's still something undeniably satisfying about biting into a classic burger patty that's thick and juicy. One thing's for sure: When you want a bulkier burger, LongHorn's LH Burger definitely fits the bill. Grilled to order and topped with crispy bacon and your choice of cheese, along with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, this big burger delivers a major flavor. It's also drizzled with the restaurant's signature burger sauce, which complements its toppings.
LongHorn will cook your burger anywhere from rare all the way up to well-done, providing the full range of temperatures a diner could desire. This gives LongHorn some extra appeal since some restaurants are more rigid and only cook burgers to a higher level of doneness. If you like a juicy color in your grilled burgers, LongHorn is a wise choice.
4. Wolfgang's Steakhouse: Classic Burger
Wolfgang's Steakhouse only uses USDA Prime Black Angus beef. The beef is dry-aged on-site, which makes its Classic Burger even more flavorful. This burger is served with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and potato chips.
Believe it or not, another thing that we appreciate about this burger is the lack of cheese. As much as we love a good cheeseburger, sometimes it's nice to purely focus on the flavor of the beef itself, totally uninterrupted. Cheese tends to add a creamy level of saltiness that can overpower the taste of the beef — which is something you don't want to happen at a place like Wolfgang's Steakhouse.
Because the beef is so well-chosen and exquisitely aged, the decision to not smother it with cheese is a great way to let the true flavor of its natural complexity shine. The outside of the burger is simply and beautifully seasoned, and the inside of the burger is tender and juicy. If you're craving a burger that's simple, elegant, and outrageously flavorful, it's hard to beat the Classic Burger at Wolfgang's Steakhouse.
5. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: The Prime Burger
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse has a surprisingly eclectic menu, which makes it pretty easy to stray away from the steaks. At Fleming's, you can enjoy everything from seared scallops with ginger salsa verde to miso-glazed Chilean sea bass to thick pork chops brushed with mustard and seasonal lobster tails. Fleming's The Prime Burger is another all-star on the restaurant's menu. Made with the restaurant's signature beef blend, this burger is served with Wisconsin cheddar cheese and peppered bacon. It's served with a side of French fries and ketchup.
This burger is so delicious that you won't find yourself having any regrets about passing over the steak for a change. Considering how high-quality this burger is, it also happens to be a pretty good deal. In fact, when people ask for recommendations for the best burger in the Bay Area, one popular answer tends to be Fleming's.
6. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse: JR Double Burger
Sometimes, a single burger patty just won't do the trick. When hunger strikes and you're craving some grilled beef, a double cheeseburger is just what the doctor ordered. There's something deliciously magical that happens when a second burger patty enters the mix. When you bite through one patty and then sink your teeth into another, it's a double-tap of chargrilled tastiness. Double patties also give you an excuse to add two slices of cheese, creating the velvety, buttery burger of your dreams.
There's a lot to love about the JR Double Burger served at Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse. This burger comes with two four-ounce beef patties, bacon, Cajun remoulade, red onion, lettuce, and American cheese. Served with a mini basket of crispy fries, this double cheeseburger offers just about everything you could possibly want out of a burger meal.
The bacon is cooked until it's nice and crispy, which adds a touch of smokiness to the burger that amplifies its flavor. The vegetables are fresh and crisp, and the spread of remoulade gives the bun the just right amount of tangy creaminess to keep everything together. Even though this burger is quite large, it's expertly constructed and tends to stay intact, bite after bite. When you're feeling famished, this double cheeseburger comes to the rescue.
7. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse: Ruth's Prime Burger
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is a restaurant that's made a good name for itself over the years, thanks to its delectable offerings. What started as a single restaurant in 1965 has grown to become one of the most familiar steakhouse chains in the country, with locations across the globe. If you want to experience the beauty of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse's burger, be sure to show up during lunch hours, since that's the only time it's technically officially offered on the menu.
The Ruth's Prime Burger comes with prime ground beef, your choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion along with hand-cut fries. This burger is thick and tender on the inside, with a nice and flavorful char on the outside. The Prime Burger's beef has a deep, rich flavor that comes through with every bite. Because the beef is so flavorful and high-quality, this is the kind of burger that doesn't need to be hosed down with condiments. Instead, we'd recommend just eating it with the cheese and vegetable toppings, just as it comes.
Dipping fries in a little thimble of ketchup adds enough flavor into the mix to keep things interesting without needing to dress up the burger itself with sauces. Not ordering a steak at Ruth's Chris might feel like a serious sacrifice at first, but you'll become a believer the moment you sink your teeth into this burger.
8. Morton's The Steakhouse: Prime Burger
With nearly 70 locations, Morton's The Steakhouse is another highly-respected steakhouse chain with excellent food. The restaurant's menu is inventive and delicious with interesting twists on classic dishes. Look no further than Morton's Texas Chicken Fried Lobster with cheesy grits, fresh truffle hot sauce, and Mike's Hot Honey to witness the deliciously creative culinary convergences that this restaurant is capable of. When it comes to burgers, Morton's keeps it more classic, but still delivers massive flavors by executing each component with tasteful precision.
On the main menu is Morton's Prime "Ravenous Style" Burger, which comes with American cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, special sauce, and fries. The beef patty is thick and well-seasoned, and the cheese is layered over the burger so that it melts down all sides of the patty to blanket the beef in its cheesy sheen. The caramelized onions are soft and almost jam-like with a slight sweetness that helps balance out the richness of the cheese and the fattiness of the beef. The pickles add a touch of acidic sourness, with little crinkles that add some subtle texture. All in all, this is a fantastically delicious cheeseburger. Once you taste it, it might be hard to go back to ordering steaks here.
9. The Capital Grille: The Capital Grille Cheeseburger
The Capital Grille is another shining example of a chain steakhouse that manages to offer delicious food at all of its locations. The restaurant's lunch menu includes The Capital Grille Cheeseburger. This succulent monster of a burger is so shockingly thick that it seems almost intimidating. The ground beef is made with a mix of short rib, chuck, and brisket. Then it's formed into a nearly sphere-like patty that helps the center stay tender and juicy. At the same time, the outside is seasoned and grilled enough to add some crusty texture that provides some nice contrast. The cheese is thick and generously drapes over the sides, gloriously pooling onto the edges of the bottom bun.
This burger also comes with truffle fries, which add some crunchy saltiness to the meal. Important note: even though this burger is on the lunch menu, the restaurant has stated to guests that it may be requested for dinner if they contact the restaurant beforehand. If dinner rolls around and you want to take this burger for a spin, give The Capital Grille a ring and see if they can hook you up.
10. Peter Luger Steakhouse: Luger-Burger
In many ways, bacon cheeseburgers are one of the best things you can eat off the grill. The combination of sweet and smoky bacon with cheesy beef is wildly satisfying and delicious. Usually, the strips of bacon featured on cheeseburgers are the same size that you have for breakfast, with a thin and crispy consistency. At Peter Luger Steakhouse, the Luger-Burger raises the stakes by pairing some of the thickest slabs of bacon we've ever seen on its burger.
The Luger-Burger is half of a pound and comes with the option to add cheese and bacon. Trust us — you want to add both the cheese and the bacon. The restaurant ages its beef in-house and also butchers whole cows. The massive slabs of bacon on this burger are expertly griddled to crispy and chewy perfection — a signal that the restaurant honors pork just as much as its beef.
While most bacon cheeseburgers treat the bacon almost like an afterthought, here at Peter Luger's, its enormous presence lets it luxuriously bathe in the spotlight. Simple yet perfectly executed, a bite of this burger is bound to bring out the beast in you. There are moments in life when you bite down on something so delicious that the world around you seems to fade away, and you're totally mesmerized and held captive by your tastebuds. The Luger-Burger sparks that kind of moment. At the end of the day, isn't that the best we can hope for in a meal?