New York's Best Burgers

The char-grilled burger at April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman's West Village gastropub is topped with Roquefort--don't bother asking for a substitute cheese; that's not an option--and served on a brioche bun that holds up through the last bite, even though the meat, which comes courtesy of Pat LaFrieda, is ultra-juicy. It's accompanied by shoestring fries, and it will change your life.

The grilled sirloin burger at this neighborhood staple is perhaps the best-kept secret in the East Village. It comes on a brioche bun, piled high with the works: special sauce, bacon, pickled tomatoes and cheddar, and is accompanied by a heaping pile of French fries.

There's a lot to love about this Meatpacking District spot--not the least of which is that it's open 'til 4am, serves boozy milkshakes and provides a much-needed respite from the typical MePa scene. But the burgers--made with Pat LaFrieda meat and prepared old-school-style on a flat-top grill--are the main attraction. Stick to traditional with the Classic, or step it up with the Fat Cat, which is served on an English muffin with caramelized onions, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles. Order a side of disco fries for good measure.

The bacon cheeseburger at the Little Owl comes with Gus's pickles, lettuce, onions and spiced fries. It's truly a thing of beauty, but it's only served during brunch and lunch, so be sure to come early.

There's a reason why almost every list of New York's best burgers includes the one served at the Burger Joint, a seemingly out of place greasy spoon hidden inside the Parker Meridien hotel. It's simple, savory and--if you can believe it--well worth the trip to midtown. The menu is cheap and minimalist: hamburgers, cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. The burgers come topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, sliced pickles and condiments galore. Don't forget to add a side a fries.

If you're willing to brave the long wait for a table, you can have one of the tastiest burgers on the planet at this unassuming hamburger hot spot. It's eight ounces of heavenly grilled beef slathered in cheese, bacon and raw onions, and served on a paper plate (all the better to absorb the grease). Dirt cheap beer rounds out the equation.

The burgers at this Brooklyn joint are available in two sizes, standard and mini, but regardless of which one you choose, you're in a for treat. Juicy and buttery, the burger, blended at Piccinini Brothers, comes on a thick grilled brioche bun, dressed in a secret sauce and topped with Boston bibb lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and homemade pickles. Add your choice of cheese, caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, bacon or avocado. While you're at it, sample the restaurant's other specialty, rich DuMac & Cheese. Oh, and also, a heart attack.