The 15 Best Burger Joints In Nashville, 2023 Edition

Nashville may be known for its barbecue, but there are also some epic burger joints in Tennessee's capital city. From classic all-American dive bar burgers to modern twists on a beloved favorite, you'll find burger restaurants across the city serving up the juiciest, tastiest, most delicious burgers around.

Whether your burger patty of choice is made from prime grass-fed beef, Wagyu, chicken, turkey, or beans, you're sure to find a hotspot in Nashville to tempt your taste buds and satiate your craving. With so many burger joints to choose from across the city, the only problem you'll have is deciding which one to try!

It's a dilemma indeed, but don't worry — we've rounded up 15 of our favorite burger bars in Nashville for 2023, in no particular order. There's something here to suit all tastes and budgets, from burger joints in East Nashville to Germantown's finest offerings. Want a side of fries with that?

There are loads of reasons to recommend the Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden in East Nashville. First up, the huge beer garden with its plethora of picnic tables. Come after dark and enjoy the pretty overhead string lights that add a magical atmosphere. Next up, the soda shop! You can have a root beer float with your burger; happy days.

Keep it classic with the Pharmacy Burger with yellow cheddar, iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and mustard, or try something different like the Stroganoff Burger with mushroom stroganoff bechamel, sour cream, caramelized onions, and Swiss cheese. If you're here for brunch, the Farm Burger is the perfect choice with country ham, Gifford's smoked bacon, maple mustard, and an over-easy egg.

With burgers running around $12 to $15 and a wide range of toppings to choose from, starting from around $0.50, like vegan mayo, pico de gallo, or pickle, you can enjoy as healthy or hearty a burger as you like. As well as beef, you can get turkey, chicken, black bean, or Impossible patties. 

One reviewer on Tripadvisor said, "A friend of mine recommended this restaurant if I wanted a really good burger — best burger I've ever had." We're in agreement.

With a choice of three locations across the city and a vast burger menu, it's easy to see why "Nashville Lifestyles" named M.L. Rose Craft Beer & Burgers one of their top 10 spots for burgers in the city. After all, has there ever been a better combo than juicy burgers and crisp, cold craft beer?

The burgers here are a step up from the usual offerings, with imaginative combos loaded with flavor. Try the Southern Belle, served on a sweet potato bun with crispy tobacco onions, pimento cheese, Duke's mayo, and Belle Meade Bourbon barbecue sauce. Or spice it up with the Sgt. Pepper Burger with habanero jack, serrano-bleu cheese, grilled jalapeño, chipotle ranch, onion, and tomato. One reviewer on Yelp recommended the Belgian burger, while a Tripadvisor reviewer said, "The burgers were fantastic. Some of the best in recent memory."

Burgers here come with a side of waffle fries or house chips, and for a couple of bucks extra, you can upgrade to sweet potato waffle fries, a side salad, or jalapeño slaw. Don't fancy beef? Sub an Impossible patty or opt for the Bakersfield Burger with a housemade turkey patty.

Wash everything down with a rotating choice of dozens of craft beers on tap, plus a wide range of bottles and cans. The cocktail menu has some interesting offerings, too, like the Housemade Mango Ranch Water with reposado tequila, Liquid Death Mango sparkling water, fresh lime, orange, and agave.

Head for Burger Up in Nashville's 12 South district for an extensive burger menu — and come Sunday to Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for Happy Hour. Opened in 2010, Burger Up ensures it sources its meat from sustainable, ethical sources. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, but you can use the Yelp Waitlist to see how busy it is and grab your place in line. 

There are plenty of patty choices here, from the usual offerings like beef, turkey, fried chicken, and bean burgers to bison. Toppings are imaginative, too: think truffle aioli and pimento cheese. A side of Burger Up's legendary sweet potato fries or tasty truffle fries is practically mandatory, and we're feeling the love for the fried mac and cheese bites too.

Reviewers mention the hot, fresh fries, soft buns, and excellent burgers. One Tripadvisor reviewer praised the burgers, saying, "The burger was delightfully delicious," and another reviewer commented on how tasty the sweet potato fries were.

BBQ or burger? Burger or BBQ? You no longer have to choose; you can get both at Martin's! The brisket burger here is a slow-cooked beef patty topped with American cheese, slow-smoked beef brisket, and Sweet Dixie BBQ sauce. Did somebody say yum?

One Yelp reviewer praised the burgers here, saying they have a "marvelously caramelized exterior with crispy edge while maintaining a juicy inside." Another reviewer mentioned the relaxed vibe, saying, "Is this place fancy? No. Is it delicious? Absolutely! You won't get fancy table service, though they bring you your food."

In the summer months, the beer garden at Martin's is the place to soak up the sun with beer and a burger. With heaters and a cover, you can even enjoy your burger here in the winter. Order at the counter, find your seat, and wait hungrily for your food to arrive. 

Don't fancy a burger? Martin's also serves a range of sandwiches, BBQ trays, smoked wings, and sides.

What could be better than a burger prepared in a butcher shop? Come to Bare Bones Butcher in Nashville, and you'll find a no-frills traditional American burger. Simple, delicious, amazing!

Made with responsibly raised beef, this is a must for any burger aficionado. With two patties, house-made pickles, yellow mustard, Duke's mayo, and American cheese, there's nothing fancy here. The menu changes daily, but the burger is always in rotation and offers excellent value for money at around $12.

Alongside burgers, you'll find options like the bologna sandwich, pastrami melt, and Barbacoa Torta, chili braised short rib with carrot escabeche and salsa verde mayo. There's also a weekly-changing menu of special sandwiches and a rotating selection of crisp, cold draft beer.

Yelp reviews mention the fried potatoes and cheeseburger, with one reviewer calling the beef-fat fried potatoes "crispy and salty perfection." Another reviewer commented, "The cheeseburger is hands down the best burger I've ever had."

Another great spot for that burgers-or-BBQ dilemma that happens so often on a trip to Nashville, Hugh-Baby's offers up the same slow-smoked BBQ as sister restaurant Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint. 

Yup, this is pretty much a fast-food restaurant, but the difference here is the emphasis on quality, with patties ground fresh in-house every day. The restaurant also smokes all its own meat for its BBQ sandwiches.

Hugh-Baby's is open seven days a week for your burger cravings. Come on Fridays as it's the only day of the week to get the Slugburger with a deep-fried ground pork and soy grit patty, pickles, onions, and yellow mustard. Or give in to your burger-and-BBQ cravings with the BBQ burger: a cheeseburger topped with slow-smoked pulled pork, grilled onions, and BBQ sauce.

One of the best things about Hugh-Baby's? The prices. For such high-quality, delicious burgers, you'd expect to pay more, but prices are affordable. One Tripadvisor reviewer waxed lyrical about the BBQ burger, saying, "The BBQ burger is magnificent, with one of their glorious beef patties ground in-house daily, topped with the same smoked pulled pork you'll find at Martin's plus grilled onions, cheese, and barbecue sauce. Wow! It is every bit as good as it sounds!"

If you're looking for a burger that's fresh and delicious and does good for the community, Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Hillsboro Village is a must. This burger joint focuses on the very freshest ingredients, grinding its own meat daily and making sauces and gluten-free buns from scratch. 

Order a Good Cause Burger with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, jalapeños, caffeinated BBQ sauce, Doddy Mayo, lettuce, and tomato, and a percentage of proceeds funds grants for local Nashville musicians. There are plenty of other options on the menu too, from chicken burgers to Beyond burgers and mushroom burgers.

The Specialty burgers menu has some interesting choices, like the Ahi Tuna burger with fresh ground sushi-grade tuna, nori chips, teriyaki, cucumber wasabi, mayo, and pickled ginger. Veggie options include the El Bandito Veggie with a black bean and corn patty topped with goat cheese, pesto, arugula, and avocado. The fries here are something else too. Choose from nine options including sweet potato, parmesan truffle, BBQ ranch, and hot honey and sage.

Reviewers on Yelp praise the gluten-free buns, with one reviewer commenting, "I have a wheat allergy and am used to GF buns that are flavorless and fall apart, but this one was the best I've ever had. It held together and was delicious. So much so, I went to ask the cook where they get them, and was told that they bake them fresh each morning."