When it comes to burgers, Louisiana has an embarrassment of riches. Many of their best burger joints have decades-long histories, serving up fantastic food at affordable prices for the whole family. The list below features many of these long-time main-stays, but also includes a few newer additions that have carved out a niche for themselves in the burger world. Don’t read unless you’re ready to go out and get a burger for yourself—you’ll be hungry.
The Judice Inn in Lafayette, Louisiana, has been in business since 1947. Their hamburgers, double burgers, cheese burgers, and double cheeseburgers have made them a Lafayette staple. All of their burgers are served with their Original Judice Sauce, lettuce, mustard mayonnaise, and onion slice. The Judice Inn doesn’t do anything too fancy—they don’t have to. They make good burgers for a good price, consistently. What more could you ask for?
The Company Burger has two locations, one in uptown New Orleans and one in downtown. According to their website, they’ve won more awards since opening in 2011 than any other burger joint, nationally and locally. A few of their most recent awards from 2016 include “Best Burger in New Orleans,” awarded by Gambit, New Orleans’ Essential Burger, awarded by Eater, and “Best Burger in America,” as awarded in 2015 by The Munchies: People’s Choice Food Awards. Their daily menus might differ slightly between the two locations, but you can always count on the Company Burger (two thin patties, B&B pickles, red onions, American cheese), company fries, and milkshakes.
Cotten’s Famous Hamburgers have been voted the best burgers in Lake Charles, Louisiana, over 11 times. The menu includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers, egg burgers, all in the regular and old fashioned variety, as well as many other options. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or you’re a regular, you can’t go wrong with the Bacon Cheeseburger Special: a bacon cheeseburger, small side, and medium drink for less than six bucks.
Griff’s Hamburgers is a long-running hamburger bar located in Ruston, Louisiana. Since 1960, Griff’s Burger Bars have spread across the country, staying true to the founder’s vision to “sell quality food at an affordable price.” The burger menu includes the giant cheeseburger, the double giant cheeseburger, the triple giant cheeseburger, barbecue bacon cheeseburger, hot melt burger, and everything without cheese. The food isn’t gourmet, but for a fast, casual option with a long history of tasty food, Griff’s is a fine choice.
Grub Burger Bar is an innovative burger joint that has taken the south by storm with locations in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Feel free to order a regular old burger, like the Front Porch (lettuce, tomato, mayo and mustard), or go a little crazy, like with the Mac ‘N’ Cheeseburger (mac ‘n’ cheese, cheese sauce and bacon). You’re My Boy Blue (crumbled blue cheese, balsamic caramelized onions, tomato and arugula) is another favorite. Homespun and spiked shakes are available, too.
Mugshots Grill and Bar may be familiar to Alabamans and Mississippians, but the Covington location in Louisiana is the only location in the state. The mission of Mugshots is “Havin’ a good time.” Seventeen unique burgers, in addition to a few classics, make up the bulk of the menu, including The Mugshot—described as a monster with “three seasoned patties piled high with six strips of bacon, cheddar and Swiss cheese, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, and onion served with beer battered fries, an onion ring, and a hand-battered pickle. Finish this baby in 12 minutes of less and it’s on the house—otherwise, this guy will put you back twenty-two big ones.
The Cate Street Seafood Station is known primarily for seafood, but their burgers and sandwiches are nothing to sneeze at. Their Hangover Burger, half-pound hand-made chuck patty topped with pepper jack cheese with an over-medium egg, bacon, and avocado on a pretzel bun, is the stuff of drunken dreams. The Cate Street Burger, half-pound of hand-made chuck patty topped with mozzarella cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and baby spinach is a fine choice as well.
Grady V’s American Bistro offers incredible burgers, steaks, and seafood. While the restaurant is on a golf course, it is open to the public. Try the Triple Threat Burger—their house specialty, with three half-pound angus burgers, bacon, cheddar cheese, roasted jalapenos, lettuce, tomato, and caramelized onion, served with a full pound of fries or chips. Cheese lovers, bask in the glory of the “Legend-Dairy” Burger, stuffed with cheese, topped with cheese, and sandwiched between two grilled cheeses.
Lee’s Hamburgers in Metairie, is a family owned business open almost every day at 10:30 a.m. They have nine different burgers, ranging from the original, with mayo, mustard, pickles, and grilled onions, all the way up to the OWOO, a burger served with onion rings, cheese, wowoo sauce, and grilled-in onions. Feeling extra hungry? Try the Double Up burger, served with two patties, mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickle, lettuce, tomato, grilled-in onion, and cheese. The Skinny Burger menu offers slightly healthier options. Root beer floats, shakes, brownies, sundaes, cups of chili, and fries round out the menu with even more deliciousness.