The burger, despite its purportedly German influence, is more American than apple pie. Here in Phoenix — land of cattle and cowboys back in the day — burgers are an essential part of the Arizonan diet, and the following burger joints deliciously prove the point, turning out stacked cheeseburgers, caramelized smash burgers, patty melts, and more to fit every appetite and mood. Some are simple and classic, others are elaborate and messy, but all are intensely satisfying in the way that only juicy beef between buns can be. New additions to the burger map include Main Burgers, Capital Patty, and Lucky’s Burgers and Shakes. Burger spots leaving the map: Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse, Persepshen, and Hamburguesas y Cervesas.

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sunday

Price range: $$

Capital Farms has long been supplying some of the highest-quality beef in the state. Now it has a burger shop to show it off: Capital Patty is open just for lunch and offers a straight-from-the-source approach that makes the trip to Wickenburg worth it. Set in a red-and-white midcentury building with checkerboard diner graphics, the space also houses a full butcher counter stocked with steaks, ground beef, and any other cuts. The burger menu is simple but thoughtful, anchored by smash patties served on soft Noble Bread buns toasted in beef tallow from their own farm. Its menu is built around the beef, as it should be. The lineup includes a classic cheeseburger with homemade pickles and Capital sauce (a tangy, spicy Kewpie-based spread with a little heat), the OK Burger with crispy onion smash, and a pastrami-loaded burger that stacks the beef. There’s also a green chile chopped cheese, a New York–via–Arizona mashup made with an 8-ounce patty, melty cheese, green chiles, lettuce, tomato, onion, pepperoncini, and green chile aioli on a hoagie. Clean execution, direct sourcing, and outskirts-of-town charm make this one of Arizona’s most compelling burger stops.

Worth the drive: It’s a trek to Wickenburg, but the burger might just top them all.

Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Price range: $

Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, this funky burger shop (with a second location recently opened in Tempe) calls itself “burger paradise,” and it’s not an idle praise. Eight different quarter-pound char-grilled burgers, all served on brioche buns, are on offer, and while four of them are reasonably straightforward, the other four are decidedly quirky. Get a designated driver for the booze burger (beer-battered patties, smothered in a green chile-bacon-vodka cream sauce, then topped with whiskey-pickled chiles), but don’t miss the signature Burger Brulee, topped with bacon, havarti, onion, a fried egg, pickled onions, and a schmear of Thousand Island dressing. The pièce de résistance is the sugar the kitchen torches onto the bun. Check Instagram for even wilder daily specials.

Hot tip: Go for the Booze Burger — beer-battered double patty with green chile bacon vodka cream sauce and whiskey-pickled jalapeños.

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Price range: $

Admittedly, Lucky’s is bare-bones — but for a true-to-form burger shack tucked in a somewhat neglected strip mall, that’s part of the charm. The black-and-white checkered floor, chrome chairs, and faded Chicago beef signs scattered across the walls all mark it as a classic, no-frills burger stop. The charbroiled burgers come stacked one, two, or three patties high, with toppings like jalapeños and green chile. Pair it with crinkle fries, a corn dog, chili cheese fries, or one of 15 shake and malt flavors — including coconut, pineapple, and brownie. It’s probably not the best burger in town, but it doesn’t need to be, especially when chased with a $3.19 fresh-squeezed lemonade that makes Phoenix summers just a little more bearable.

Best for: A dirt-cheap, nostalgia-soaked burger-and-shake combo that punches above its paper-wrapped weight.

Hours: Open daily from 11 a.m., with extended hours until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Price range: $$$

There’s more than one burger at Fire at Will these days, but the original still reigns supreme — a classic burger made with certified Angus beef ground to specifications: 50 percent chuck, 25 percent brisket, 25 percent short rib. The result is an ultra-flavorful, juicy patty that really doesn’t need much adornment. Owner Dom Ruggiero puts it on a brioche bun baked by Noble and smeared with what he calls “fancy sauce” (a mixture of ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire, and the like), and mantles it with melting American cheese before piling on caramelized onions and pickles. It’s named the Hush Burger because Ruggiero’s customers at Hush Public House (his original restaurant, also in Scottsdale) begged him to put a burger on the menu. He offered it in limited numbers on Wednesday nights, but these days, the Hush Burger lives only at Fire at Will, where it’s permanently — and prominently — placed on the menu.

Hot Tip: The Hush burger walks the line between posh and gloriously drippy.

Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday)

Price range: $

With its black-and-white checkerboard floor, jukebox, and old school jams, Happy’s is a diner-like blast from the past, turning out crisp-edged, cheesy smash burgers in two sizes (quarter pound and half pound), both made with Angus beef, smashed on the griddle with onion strings until they’re embedded in the meat. Served on a steamed bun with shredded lettuce and dill pickle on the side, they’re wonderful — especially with a side of ultra-crunchy tater tots. The menu also features seven classic half-pound burgers, an all-day breakfast burger, and frosty shakes of every description.

Must order: The Breakfast burger, served all day with a beef patty, fried egg, American cheese, and hash browns for under $10.

Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Price range: $$

Technically, Otro is a Mexican restaurant, but that doesn’t stop chef and owner Doug Robson from putting three seriously good grass-fed burgers on his menu. He offers a traditional cheeseburger for the purists, but the standouts are the Pica Rica — layered with roasted green chiles, caramelized onions, and melty cheddar on a bun smeared with aji aioli — and the Pork Belly, a burger topped with fatty strips of pork belly, coated in a tangy citrus glaze, then topped with pickled onions and a spicy relish that cuts through the richness of the pork.

Best for: A green chile burger with brunch vibes and a side of chilaquiles.

Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Price range: $

Breakfast may be the raison d’être at Matt’s, but the Big Butter Burger is a darned good reason to come for lunch. Niman Ranch beef patties are grilled in butter, topped with American cheese (or Point Reyes blue for an extra $1.25) and served with a thick slice of beefsteak tomato and fresh lettuce. Customers who crave something more ornate opt for the Hickory Burger, topped with griddled Canadian bacon, shredded Wisconsin cheddar, diced onion, and their own barbecue sauce. Both are supremely good in their own right, but the hickory sauce often gives the burger an edge.

Hot tip: Burgers are lunch-only after 11 a.m., but they are reason enough to trade pancakes for patties.

Hours: Open from 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, with dinner service only on Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Price range: $$$

Chef and owner Bernie Kantak is probably most famous for the legendary Stetson chopped salad on the menu at Citizen Public House, the first restaurant he and partner Andrew Fritz opened in Old Town Scottsdale over a decade ago. But Kantak comes from a family of butchers, and many of his meat dishes at both restaurants are legendary as well, including the Commander Hamburger at the Gladly. A charred but juicy patty, fashioned from a blend of certified Angus beef and brisket, sits on a Noble Bread bun that’s been given a swipe of “special sauce.” The fixings are pretty straightforward: lettuce, tomato, onion, and sweet pickle, which supports the argument that simplicity is the height of sophistication. Another option is going to Citizen for the French Onion Burger, an Angus beef patty, served on a Fudd bun with horseradish aioli and Gruyere. It’s a meaty take on French onion soup (with hints of the French dip), served with a side of French onion jus.

Hot tip: Skip the chopped salad for once and go for the Commander Burger, dripping in their signature umami-packed sauce.

Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Price range: $

This friendly neighborhood dive bar has been around since the late ’50s, and its claim to fame is the wine burger, which sounds a lot fancier than it actually is. The person at the flattop grill splashes a little red wine over the burger as it’s cooking. That’s it. People argue about whether the wine is even discernible in the burger. What they don’t argue about is the goodness of the burger itself, which is juicy, deceptively simple, and almost universally beloved. Order it with a generous slice of melted cheese, preferably American.

Best for: Dive bar charm with cheap beer and griddled burgers topped with a splash of red wine.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed Monday)

Price range: $

It’s drive-thru only at this mom-and-pop burger shop, where the beef is ground in-house, the fries are hand-cut, and the milkshakes are hand-spun. There are just five burgers on the line-up, most topped with two or three straightforward ingredients as well as the usual lettuce, tomato, and onion fixings. The Stand’s basic burger is called the Standard, and it certainly sets one for excellence. The only oddball (and it isn’t that odd) is the Big Kahuna, topped with thick-cut bacon, grilled and nicely charred pineapple slices, and a thin, spicy honey lava sauce that adds heat and balance. Don’t miss the shakes (the chocolate-chile is fantastic) to wash it all down.

Hot tip: Pair your single or double with a salted dulce de leche shake and eat it curbside like it’s 1962.

Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Price range: $

Established in 1977, this comfortable burger joint is famous for its smoky, char-broiled burgers and condiment bar, where customers add their own fixings. Over the years, the menu has broadened to include grilled chicken or fish sandwiches, a hot dog, a vegetarian garden burger, and fish and chips (should anyone need options during Lent), but really, the burger’s the thing to come for. A full bar and big-screen televisions give the place a slight sports bar vibe.

Best for: A wood-paneled time warp and flame-broiled burgers on cafeteria trays with a side of nostalgia.

Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (midnight Friday and Saturday)

Price range: $$

At this wildly popular downtown brewery and beer garden, customers can build their own grass-fed beef burgers, but doing so means they miss out on some of the most wildly creative burger combos in town. Admittedly, the PB&J burger is nothing new, but it’s done especially well here, thanks to seriously spicy jalapeño jelly and homemade peanut butter sauce that doesn’t stick to the roof of your mouth. Combined with thick-cut bacon and white cheddar, this burger elevates a vaguely childish flavor combination. More creativity can be found in its monthly specials, however, and don’t forget the duck-fat fries.

Best for: Grass-fed burgers and local beers on a year round patio.

Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 9 p.m.

Price range: $

In the morning, Stoop Kid is a bagel joint (and a good one), but come noon, the menu expands to include a handful of messy, dripping smashburgers — gorgeously seared brisket patties tucked into brioche buns and layered with things like Tillamook cheddar, caramelized onions, pickle chips, and candied jalapeños. Each burger delivers big on flavor, with enough spice and tang to cut through the richness. Seasoned curly fries with fry sauce make an excellent accompaniment. Grab a seat at the Churchill’s communal courtyard or take it to go and eat in the sunshine.

Must order: The Burner burger — spicy mayonnaise, panela cheese, candied jalapeños, grilled onions, and a sesame potato bun hug.

Hours: Open from 11 a.m. daily except Tuesday. Closes at 10 p.m. most nights, and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Price range: $$

James Piazza originally sold his smash burgers from a food truck, moving in early 2024 to a tidy downtown space that subtly evokes the burger joints of yore. Juicy smash burgers, whose crispy edges extend well beyond the buns, are made from locally raised K4 Ranch beef, then topped with melting American cheese, pickles, and raw or griddled onions, depending on the order (Double or Classic Double). The waffle fries are first-rate, as is a simple dessert of Strauss’s organic soft serve.

Best for: A thumping burger bar vibe and burgers stacked high with pastrami and personality.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 9 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed Monday)

Price range: $$

What would a diner be without a burger? Welcome goes all in, offering five of them. One is a vegetarian model made with black beans; the other four begin with six-ounce Niman Ranch beef patties set on Noble brioche buns. Choose among a somewhat traditional Welcome Burger (a cheeseburger with ketchup, mustard, onion, bread and butter pickles, and garlic aioli) or get wild with a PBB, topped with mild cheddar, peanut butter, applewood-smoked bacon, bread and butter pickles, and garlic aioli.

Hot tip: It may not be a novelty anymore, but the peanut butter bacon burger still very much delivers.

Hours: Daily, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (until 9 p.m. Sunday)

Price range: $

Located steps away from the Arizona State University campus, the Chuckbox has been feeding starving college students, professors, and Tempe families for more than 50 years. Customers line up for a crack at campfire-style burgers, cooked over mesquite charcoal and served unembellished on a sesame bun. An amply stocked condiment bar provides all manner of garnishes. Wine and beer are also available — as well as the option to get a free taxi ride home should you overdo it.

Hot tip: Bring cash, expect mesquite smoke, and order the Tijuana Torpedo.

Hours: Open from 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, with extended hours until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Price range: $$

Tacos Chiwas and Espiritu owners Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin continue their investment in downtown Mesa with Main Burgers, a colorful burger bar housed in a former Subway that held down the corner for more than 30 years. The menu is concise but thoughtful: three burgers, a hot dog, and a salad. The Chiwas burger channels its taco counterpart with layers of meaty richness from ham, roasted green chile, and caramelized onions. The Sonora brings heat with chiltepin and a costra de queso studded with bacon. Thick, semi-smashed patties anchor it all; crispy fries and briny pickle chips bring it home. In short, Main Burgers is family-friendly without being too tame — it has a steady crowd and music that still bumps.

Must order: Chiwas Burger: beef patty, queso asadero, roasted green chile, caramelized onions, ham, house sauce, and lettuce on brioche.  – more at eater.com