23 Must-Try Metro Detroit Burger Spots

It’s easy to see why a good burger is so loved. A juicy, ground beef patty sandwiched on a fresh, fluffy bun acts like a blank canvas for the culinarily adventurous. No matter how you top it — be it with American cheese, kimchi, or jalapeno poppers — the potential flavor combinations is limitless.

Here in metro Detroit, there’s a burger for every appetite and budget, from old-school burgers dressed in grilled onions to gourmet sliders and new American renditions of classic cheeseburgers. Freshly updated for 2017, below find 23 essential spots worthy of your burger bucket list.

Checker Bar’s burgers are all made with 1/3 pound pattys from Wigley’s fresh ground beef or turkey if you’re looking for something lean. The Checker Burger stays simple with fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion on top. Every burger comes with a side of tortilla ships or, for a little extra, shoestring fries.

Roast is known for a more high-end menu but during Happy Hour it’s all about the Roast burger. Somewhere between elite breakfast sandwich and burger, the rare patty is dressed up with egg, cheese, and bacon on an English muffin.

While many of the dishes at this downtown destination bar are small plates, one may find themselves unwilling to share Standby’s cheeseburger. Made with classic melty American cheese on a sesame bun the flavors are taken to the next level with the addition of black pepper aioli and pickled red onions. Each plate comes with a pile of crispy, thick-cut steak fries.

This off-the-beaten-path Eastern Market bar doesn’t give their burgers fancy names. Rather, they’re listed by weight — anywhere from 3- to 32-ounces. Patties made from a fresh Saad ground beef are mixed with house seasoning and cooked to juicy perfection on a flat top grill. Top them with anything from blue cheese to pepperoni to habanero peppers.

Whether its a dry-aged steak or a patty, Grey Ghost’s kitchen has a way with beef. It’s definitely a step up from your typical burger stand meal but the preparation is classic with two griddle patties layered with melty slices of American cheese, chopped lettuce, and special sauce with mayonnaise and onions. Putting an egg on it takes the whole experience to another level.