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Smashburger from Wesburger

17 Places for Stand Out Burgers in San Francisco

All the best burgers across the city’s seven hills

by Lauren Saria and Eater Staff Updated Jul 24, 2023, 11:50am PDT

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by Lauren Saria and Eater Staff Updated Jul 24, 2023, 11:50am PDT

Wes Rowe

San Francisco may be best known for its gorgeous seasonal produce and plethora of plant-based dining options, but this is still a city with an affinity for a great burger. Because as much as we might love a plate of peak-season summer tomatoes or impossibly sweet Brentwood corn, sometimes the day calls for a hefty stack of double beef patties or a lacy-edged smash burger with a side of crispy tater tots. There are legendary burgers to be found at Michelin Guide-listed restaurants and iconic drive-ins with throwback pricing that will make you do a double-take. Whatever genre of burger you crave, let this map guide you to the finest specimens in town.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Causwells

Causwells’s award-winning burger is a true phenomenon in the Marina. The sizable patty has been likened to a souped-up In-N-Out Double-Double, with its char-grilled patties and perfectly melted cheese. The house sauce and crispy onions are a particularly nice finish to this very messy endeavor.

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA

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Causwells

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Sam's

Of all the burgers on the list, Sam’s is likely to be held closest to San Franciscans’ hearts. Sam’s first opened its doors in 1966 and has been serving comfort food — until the wee morning hours — ever since. This no-frills burger stars a chuck blend with cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a sesame bun. These days they’re flipping patties right off Columbus Avenue until midnight seven days a week.

618 Broadway, San Francisco, CA

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A burger on a white paper plate.

Also featured in:

12 Juicy Burgers Out for Delivery in San Francisco

Gott’s Roadside

Gott’s Roadside specializes in your typical all-American-style burgers — but with a little more heft. The 1/3-pound patties are made from a proprietary blend of Niman Ranch beef, and the extra-soft egg buns are sourced from Panorama Bakery. As for the secret sauce...it's a secret. But if you want something to shake-up your burger routine, the restaurant also offers variations topped with kimchi, onion rings, and more.

1 Ferry Building Ste 6, San Francisco, CA

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Gott’s

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Pearl’s Deluxe Burger

Pearl’s is a family-run diner, named after the owner’s grandmother, that’s been around for nearly 20 years. The burgers stack up grass-fed beef, turkey, and bison, and the “deluxe” is a serious half pound, while the “mini deluxe” is a more moderate quarter pound. The Bula burger is the crowd favorite, topped with Swiss, bacon, pineapple, and teriyaki.

708 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Also featured in:

The 10 Best Milkshakes in San Francisco

Spruce

Spruce may be on the fancier side, but its burger is accessible to all at lunch or at the bar. The patty is made with a blend of brisket, short rib, and sirloin, and served on a housemade English muffin. Spruce’s fancy restaurant touches can be found throughout, like in the turmeric-pickled zucchini, the pickled red onion, the beefsteak tomato, and thrice-cooked fries that come on the side.

3640 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA

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The Spruce burger

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Red's Java House

There is no singular moment that can take the place of enjoying a sunny, windy lunch at Red’s, where time has stood still since 1955. There, the burgers (and hot dogs) are served on crusty sourdough rolls, topped with mustard, mayonnaise, pickles, and onions (no ketchup), and best enjoyed with a frosty beer. It’s particularly hopping before and after Giants games, when team spirit is at an all-time high.

Pier 30, San Francisco, CA 94105

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A burger with fries, onion rings, and a beer.

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Garaje

Garaje's Drive-In Burger is a nostalgic, juicy classic. Served with a single or double patty, for those with particularly large appetites, this one's gone from off the radar, in terms of burger acclaim, to full-on hype.

Open in Google Maps

475 3rd St, San Francisco, CA

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Marlowe

After an extended pandemic closure, a change of ownership, and a remodel, this SoMa favorite is back — burger and all. Chef Jennifer Puccio created a meaty masterpiece using a six-ounce ground beef and lamb mix, chargrilled and topped with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, horseradish aioli, bacon, and shredded lettuce, all on an Acme bun. The lamb adds a subtle earthiness, while the horseradish brings it all alive.

500 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94107

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Marlowe

Also featured in:

4505 Burgers & BBQ

“Burger” is right there in the name so it only makes sense that this Divisadero Street stalwart, a meaty destination known for barbecue and ample outdoor seating, knows how to do them right. The burger here means a hefty quarter-pounder topped with iceberg lettuce, onions, gruyere cheese, and secret sauce. The bun, meanwhile, gets a boost from sesame seeds and scallions.

705 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

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Also featured in:

Nopa

There is perhaps no better late-night burger in San Francisco than the one at Nopa — the restaurant usually serves 29,000 a year, which is certainly proof of its popularity. This one is smokey and wood-grilled, topped with pickled onions, little gem lettuce, and cheddar cheese if you so choose.

560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA

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Nopa

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Zuni Café

Yes, the chicken is famous but don’t overlook the burger at this Market Street icon that’s been open for more than four decades. The recipe starts with grass-fed beef that’s well-salted and then grilled over coals before being draped in your choice of cheddar or bleu cheese (or none if that’s your preference) and layered with house-made pickles and aioli. Instead of a traditional bun, Zuni uses house-made rosemary focaccia. Shoestring potatoes (read: fries) on the side seal the deal.

1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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Also featured in:

Cole Valley Tavern

Cole Valley Tavern’s smash burger might cause fans of extra-thin patties to complain, but don’t let that deter you from giving it a shot. The blend of ground brisket and chuck still tastes absolutely delicious, especially when topped with caramelized onions, crisp lettuce, and zesty kimchi Thousand Island on a sweet potato bun.

900 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117

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Also featured in:

ABV

ABV chef Collin Hilton created a burger masterpiece: a 1/3-pound, grass-fed beef patty with white cheddar cheese, raw red onion, shredded lettuce pickles, and a tangy special sauce, all on a Japanese sweet potato bun — and originally dubbed it the “fuckin’ burger with spicy-ass chips,” though these days it’s just called the ABV burger. Thinly sliced jalapeño chips are served on the side, for a total of $15. Bonus: The kitchen doesn’t close until midnight.

3174 16th St, San Francisco, CA

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Also featured in:

WesBurger 'n' More

Originally from Texas, Wes Rowe broke loose on the burger scene in 2013, running a wildly popular pop-up for a few years before moving into a prime spot on Mission at 18th. Then he threw out half of the menu and started mastering the art of the smash burger: thin, crispy patties on a pillowy potato bun. The single is a 3-ounce patty, inspired by the McDonald’s quarter pounder with cheese, and only costs $8.25. The double adds on shaved red onions and special sauce for $11.25.

2240 Mission St, San Francisco, CA

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Smashburger from Wesburger

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True Laurel

Without getting into an existential argument about whether a burger is a sandwich and a patty melt a burger, we’ll just acknowledge that a patty melt is not the same thing as a burger. Nevertheless, True Laurel’s patty melt is a thing of beauty and well worth seeking out. A dry-aged beef patty is grilled to crispy-edged perfection before being layered with cheese, caramelized onions, and pickles, and sandwiched between two thin slices of toasted pain de mie. But here’s the kicker: that fluffy pain de mie gets griddled in beef fat, elevating this melt to decadent heights.

753 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Patty melt at True Laurel

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Hi-Way Burger & Fry

The residents of Noe Valley must have their burgers, and Hi-Way is usually hopping on the weekends. The cute corner burger shop flips a good grass-fed patty on the flat top, along with griddled hot dogs, sweet potato fries, and Straus chocolate milkshakes. A North Beach outpost debuted in spring 2022 bringing the classic menu to the other side of town.

3853 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

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Burger and fries at Hi-Way

Also featured in:

Beep's Burgers

Dating back to 1962, Beep’s is a space-age throwback. Pull up to the drive-in for the Angus-beef quarter-pound patty, with secret sauce (a mix of mayo, ketchup, paprika, and cayenne), leafy lettuce, and melted cheddar on a soft Semifreddi’s bun. Juicy, messy, hand-shaped Niman Ranch beef for only $8. The old-school burger joint is also great for crispy onion rings and Twinkie milkshakes.

1051 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112

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Also featured in:

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Causwells

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA

Causwells’s award-winning burger is a true phenomenon in the Marina. The sizable patty has been likened to a souped-up In-N-Out Double-Double, with its char-grilled patties and perfectly melted cheese. The house sauce and crispy onions are a particularly nice finish to this very messy endeavor.

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Causwells

Sam's

618 Broadway, San Francisco, CA

Of all the burgers on the list, Sam’s is likely to be held closest to San Franciscans’ hearts. Sam’s first opened its doors in 1966 and has been serving comfort food — until the wee morning hours — ever since. This no-frills burger stars a chuck blend with cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a sesame bun. These days they’re flipping patties right off Columbus Avenue until midnight seven days a week.

618 Broadway, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

A burger on a white paper plate.

Gott’s Roadside

1 Ferry Building Ste 6, San Francisco, CA

Gott’s Roadside specializes in your typical all-American-style burgers — but with a little more heft. The 1/3-pound patties are made from a proprietary blend of Niman Ranch beef, and the extra-soft egg buns are sourced from Panorama Bakery. As for the secret sauce...it's a secret. But if you want something to shake-up your burger routine, the restaurant also offers variations topped with kimchi, onion rings, and more.

1 Ferry Building Ste 6, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Gott’s

Pearl’s Deluxe Burger

708 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Pearl’s is a family-run diner, named after the owner’s grandmother, that’s been around for nearly 20 years. The burgers stack up grass-fed beef, turkey, and bison, and the “deluxe” is a serious half pound, while the “mini deluxe” is a more moderate quarter pound. The Bula burger is the crowd favorite, topped with Swiss, bacon, pineapple, and teriyaki.

708 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Visit Website

Spruce

3640 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA

Spruce may be on the fancier side, but its burger is accessible to all at lunch or at the bar. The patty is made with a blend of brisket, short rib, and sirloin, and served on a housemade English muffin. Spruce’s fancy restaurant touches can be found throughout, like in the turmeric-pickled zucchini, the pickled red onion, the beefsteak tomato, and thrice-cooked fries that come on the side.

3640 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

The Spruce burger

Red's Java House

Pier 30, San Francisco, CA 94105

There is no singular moment that can take the place of enjoying a sunny, windy lunch at Red’s, where time has stood still since 1955. There, the burgers (and hot dogs) are served on crusty sourdough rolls, topped with mustard, mayonnaise, pickles, and onions (no ketchup), and best enjoyed with a frosty beer. It’s particularly hopping before and after Giants games, when team spirit is at an all-time high.

Pier 30, San Francisco, CA 94105

Visit Website

A burger with fries, onion rings, and a beer.

Garaje

475 3rd St, San Francisco, CA

Garaje's Drive-In Burger is a nostalgic, juicy classic. Served with a single or double patty, for those with particularly large appetites, this one's gone from off the radar, in terms of burger acclaim, to full-on hype.

Open in Google Maps

475 3rd St, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Marlowe

500 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94107

After an extended pandemic closure, a change of ownership, and a remodel, this SoMa favorite is back — burger and all. Chef Jennifer Puccio created a meaty masterpiece using a six-ounce ground beef and lamb mix, chargrilled and topped with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, horseradish aioli, bacon, and shredded lettuce, all on an Acme bun. The lamb adds a subtle earthiness, while the horseradish brings it all alive.

500 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit Website

Marlowe

4505 Burgers & BBQ

705 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

“Burger” is right there in the name so it only makes sense that this Divisadero Street stalwart, a meaty destination known for barbecue and ample outdoor seating, knows how to do them right. The burger here means a hefty quarter-pounder topped with iceberg lettuce, onions, gruyere cheese, and secret sauce. The bun, meanwhile, gets a boost from sesame seeds and scallions.

705 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Visit Website

Nopa

560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA

There is perhaps no better late-night burger in San Francisco than the one at Nopa — the restaurant usually serves 29,000 a year, which is certainly proof of its popularity. This one is smokey and wood-grilled, topped with pickled onions, little gem lettuce, and cheddar cheese if you so choose.

560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Nopa

Zuni Café

1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Yes, the chicken is famous but don’t overlook the burger at this Market Street icon that’s been open for more than four decades. The recipe starts with grass-fed beef that’s well-salted and then grilled over coals before being draped in your choice of cheddar or bleu cheese (or none if that’s your preference) and layered with house-made pickles and aioli. Instead of a traditional bun, Zuni uses house-made rosemary focaccia. Shoestring potatoes (read: fries) on the side seal the deal.

1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Cole Valley Tavern

900 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Cole Valley Tavern’s smash burger might cause fans of extra-thin patties to complain, but don’t let that deter you from giving it a shot. The blend of ground brisket and chuck still tastes absolutely delicious, especially when topped with caramelized onions, crisp lettuce, and zesty kimchi Thousand Island on a sweet potato bun.

900 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Visit Website

ABV

3174 16th St, San Francisco, CA

ABV chef Collin Hilton created a burger masterpiece: a 1/3-pound, grass-fed beef patty with white cheddar cheese, raw red onion, shredded lettuce pickles, and a tangy special sauce, all on a Japanese sweet potato bun — and originally dubbed it the “fuckin’ burger with spicy-ass chips,” though these days it’s just called the ABV burger. Thinly sliced jalapeño chips are served on the side, for a total of $15. Bonus: The kitchen doesn’t close until midnight.

3174 16th St, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

WesBurger 'n' More

2240 Mission St, San Francisco, CA

Originally from Texas, Wes Rowe broke loose on the burger scene in 2013, running a wildly popular pop-up for a few years before moving into a prime spot on Mission at 18th. Then he threw out half of the menu and started mastering the art of the smash burger: thin, crispy patties on a pillowy potato bun. The single is a 3-ounce patty, inspired by the McDonald’s quarter pounder with cheese, and only costs $8.25. The double adds on shaved red onions and special sauce for $11.25.

2240 Mission St, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Smashburger from Wesburger

True Laurel

753 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Without getting into an existential argument about whether a burger is a sandwich and a patty melt a burger, we’ll just acknowledge that a patty melt is not the same thing as a burger. Nevertheless, True Laurel’s patty melt is a thing of beauty and well worth seeking out. A dry-aged beef patty is grilled to crispy-edged perfection before being layered with cheese, caramelized onions, and pickles, and sandwiched between two thin slices of toasted pain de mie. But here’s the kicker: that fluffy pain de mie gets griddled in beef fat, elevating this melt to decadent heights.

753 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Patty melt at True Laurel

Related Maps

Hi-Way Burger & Fry

3853 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

The residents of Noe Valley must have their burgers, and Hi-Way is usually hopping on the weekends. The cute corner burger shop flips a good grass-fed patty on the flat top, along with griddled hot dogs, sweet potato fries, and Straus chocolate milkshakes. A North Beach outpost debuted in spring 2022 bringing the classic menu to the other side of town.

3853 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

Burger and fries at Hi-Way

Beep's Burgers

1051 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112

Dating back to 1962, Beep’s is a space-age throwback. Pull up to the drive-in for the Angus-beef quarter-pound patty, with secret sauce (a mix of mayo, ketchup, paprika, and cayenne), leafy lettuce, and melted cheddar on a soft Semifreddi’s bun. Juicy, messy, hand-shaped Niman Ranch beef for only $8. The old-school burger joint is also great for crispy onion rings and Twinkie milkshakes.

1051 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112

Visit Website

Related Maps