The Classics
1. The Horse Inn cheeseburger is one of the best, evah. A blend of short rib, brisket, chuck and dry-aged beef is served up on an Alfred & Sam’s bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese and special sauce.
The Horse Inn / 540 E. Fulton St., Lancaster, PA / horseinnlancaster.com / 717-392-5528
2. American Bar & Grill serves up a Lancaster fave with your choice of toppings and a burger night on Fridays when you can score one for six bucks.
American Bar & Grill / 1081 N. Plum St., Lancaster, PA / 717-394-8021
One of York’s best burgers at Roosevelt Tavern
3. Roosevelt Tavern serves up a nine-once, dry-aged burger from SkyBlu Farms on its pub menu that has fans flocking for one of the best burgers in town.
Roosevelt Tavern / 50 N. Penn St., York, PA / roosevelttavern.com / 717-854-7725
4. It’s like Shake Shack only closer. Fresh, hormone- and antibiotic-free patties sizzled on the grill and sandwiched on a Martin’s Potato Roll with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon if you like and Yum Sauce.
Burger Yum / 402 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, PA / burgeryum.com / 717-727-7127
5. With the closest thing to an In & Out burger on the East Coast, this spot is cited by Lancastrians as a hidden gem right on the edge of the city.
Route 66 Restaurant / 45 W. Liberty St., Lancaster, PA / thisisroute66.com / 717-394-0010
6. A mad burger scientist named Lou cooks up home-grown, locally sourced creations at The Harrisburger, and The Louburger is the one that started it all. Simply a half-pound, fresh-ground patty with a special blend of spices, an artisan brioche bun, American cheese and mayo. Simply satisfying.
Harrisburger / Broad Street Market, 1233 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, PA / theharrisburger.com / 717-836-0154
Unapologetic Indulgence
7. The Mac Daddy boasts a six-ounce burger patty, bacon, Cooper cheese, mac ‘n’ cheese and tomato jam on Texas toast; it’s the ultimate indulgence.
Shakedown BBQ / 668 Firehouse Road, Grantville, PA / shakedownbbq.com / 717-469-4167
8. Go for the Black Label burger topped with your choice of ketchup, mustard, mayo, onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato, relish, pickled jalapeños, A1, horseradish, coleslaw, cheese, chili, banana peppers, sauerkraut and, of course, bacon.
Official BBQ & Burgers / 6295 Lyters Lane, Harrisburg, PA / officialbbq.net / 717-564-2152
9. The Center Street burger is an eight-ounce grilled burger on a brioche roll stacked with fries, coleslaw, bacon, egg, roasted red peppers, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion.
Center Street Grille / 4 Center St., Enola, PA / centerstreetgrille.com / 717-732-6900
10. All of White Rose’s burgers are ground fresh locally by J.L. Miller Meats, and Yorkers particularly love The Chesapeake smothered in hot crab dip and cheddar. You can even order a Boss Burger at 2 ½ pounds. Go on a Sunday for half-price burgers.
White Rose Bar & Grill / 48 N. Beaver St., York, PA / whiterosebarandgrill.com / 717-848-5369
The Gourmets
11. Holy Hound brings a world of flavor in gourmet versions made with local ingredients, like the Ko Olina made with teriyaki beef, charred pineapple, avocado and wasabi peas on brioche and the Seoul Food with kimchi, peanuts, cilantro and aioli. Try the beef, bison and venison sliders too.
Holy Hound Taproom / 57 W. Market St., York, PA / holyhoundtaproom.com / 717-855-2410
12. Jethro’s open face, served with Bearnaise or Port wine rosemary sauce, has a cult following and it’s on special Monday nights.
Jethro’s Restaurant & Bar / 659 First St., Lancaster, PA / jethrosrestaurantandbar.com / 717-299-1700
13. The Truffle Shuffle will make your mouth dance with a combo of signature red onion jam and truffle aioli on a local, fresh-ground patty.
Harrisburger / Broad Street Market, 1233 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, PA / theharrisburger.com / 717-836-0154
14. The H-N-T Burger features fig and onion jam with smoked Gouda and applewood bacon on a brioche bun.
Hunger N Thirst / 920 Landis Ave., Lancaster, PA / hungernthirst.com / 717-208-3808
15. Get Belvedere Kobe sliders on bao buns for a buck apiece at the bar on Mondays.
The Belvedere Inn / 402 N. Queen St., Lancaster, PA / belvederelancaster.com / 717-394-2422
16. Stockyard Inn, Lancaster’s original steakhouse, makes a mean burger made with ground filet, served on their bar menu.
Stockyard Inn / 1147 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA / stockyardinn.com / 717-394-7975
17. If you like decadence, try the grilled duck and bacon burger topped with balsamic onion marmalade and maple mayonnaise.
Center Street Grille / 4 Center St., Enola, PA / centerstreetgrille.com / 717-732-6900
Hangover Cures
The Hangover Burger, part of Iron Hill’s daily specials during May’s Burger Month, features fried egg, bacon, sharp cheddar, Sriracha aioli and crispy onion strings.
18. Iron Hill’s Burger Month features a different specialty every day in May—like Fire on the Mountain on May 27, which is topped with chili con carne, fried habanero rings, chipotle aioli and pepper jack. Or try The Drunk Monk with exotic mushrooms, brie, Abbey dubbel-braised onions, arugula and truffle mayo, coming May 31. Check the website for all the burgers to plan your visit and try your fave.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant / 781 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA / ironhillbrewery.com / Lancaster / 717-291-9800
19. Get to market and get in line for The Cure. With only 10 made each Saturday, this breakfast sausage with a fresh ground patty is topped with Taylor ham, fries, fried egg and Sriracha to cure what ails ya from the Friday night before.
Harrisburger / Broad Street Market, 1233 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, PA / theharrisburger.com / 717-836-0154
Some Like It Hot
20. This local bison burger topped with jalapeño, cheddar, guacamole and frizzled onions is a Lititz fave.
Bull’s Head Public House / 14 E. Main St., Lititz, PA / bullsheadpublichouse.com / 717-626-2115
21. Smoked jalapeños, bacon and cream cheese make The Popper burger live up to its namesake.
Fat Pigs / 415 N. Prince St., Lancaster, PA / fatpigslancaster.com / 717-509-6090
22. 551 West Burger Burger topped with peanut butter (yep, you read that right), jalapeños, bacon and cheddar cheese on your choice of a half pound of beef, chicken breast or black bean patty.
551 West / 551 W. King St., Lancaster, PA / 551west.com / 717-208-3658
23. DipCo burger night on Tuesdays offers an array of cheap eats, and we like the Southwest style topped with their famous chili. It’s worth the mess; just don’t wear white.
Lancaster Dispensing Company / 35 N. Market St., Lancaster, PA / dispensingco.com / 717-299-4602
BBQ Meets Burger
24. Lancaster loves the build-your-own burger at Annie Bailey’s; start with a prime steak or turkey burger, and add toppings like brisket, pork BBQ, bacon, cheeses, chipotle mayo and more.
Annie Bailey’s / 28-30 E. King St., Lancaster, PA / anniebaileys.com / 717-393-4000
25. The Smokey is topped with pulled pork, baked beans and smoked Gouda for the ultimate barbecue burger.
Fat Pigs / 415 N. Prince St., Lancaster, PA / fatpigslancaster.com / 717-509-6090
26. The Taphouse burger is topped with pepper jack, BBQ, onion, applewood smoked bacon and homemade pickles.
Federal Taphouse / 234 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, PA / federaltaphousehbg.com / 717-525-8077 / 201 N. Queen St., Lancaster, PA / federaltaphouselanc.com / 717-490-6932
Alt Burgers
27. A heart-healthy yet flavorful salmon burger banh mi comes with pickled vegetables, cucumber, cilantro and Sriracha mayonnaise on a sesame seed bun.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant / 781 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA / ironhillbrewery.com / Lancaster / 717-291-9800
28. The Zeus burger is fit for a Greek god or goddess with its lamb and beef blend topped with cucumber, red onion, feta aioli and green herb sauce on a brioche bun.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant / 781 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA / ironhillbrewery.com / Lancaster / 717-291-9800
29. The Fire Jumper features a homemade black bean burger with jalapeños, pepper jack, crispy fried onion straws and chipotle lime mayo at Appalachian Brewing Company’s regional locations.
Appalachian Brewing Company / Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Lititz and Gettysburg / abcbrew.com
30. Organic grass-fed bison, topped with bacon jam, aged cheddar and crispy onion. Hey, lean meat means go for the gusto on the toppings.
Federal Taphouse / 234 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, PA / federaltaphousehbg.com / 717-525-8077 / 201 Queen St., Lancaster, PA / federaltaphouselanc.com / 717-490-6932
31. The California Turkey burger comes with Swiss cheese, avocado, baby spinach, tomatoes and creamy avocado spread.
Fresh Farms Café / 621 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster, PA / freshfarmslancaster.com / 717-517-8850
32. Get your Middle East fix with the falafel burger topped with house pickles, roasted red peppers and tzatziki.
The Pressroom Restaurant + Bar / 26-28 W. King St., Lancaster, PA / pressroomrestaurant.com / 717-399-5400
33. Go Southwestern with the black bean burger topped with roasted corn salsa, Cotija cheese, avocado, Bibb lettuce and three-pepper aioli.
Federal Taphouse / 234 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, PA / federaltaphousehbg.com / 717-525-8077 / 201 Queen St., Lancaster, PA / federaltaphouselanc.com / 717-490-6932
34. Go wild with the Forest Floor at Holy Hound: ground venison encrusted in porcini mushrooms, topped with more mushrooms, Swiss and aioli on a brioche bun.
Holy Hound Taproom / 57 W. Market St., York, PA / holyhoundtaproom.com / 717-855-2410
35. Two words: bacon burger. Rooster Street Butcher blends bacon and pork in a famous burger topped with American cheese, jalapeños, yellow mustard, shaved lettuce and an optional fried egg.
Rooster Street Butcher / 11 S. Cedar St., Lititz, PA / roosterst.com / 717-625-0405
