New York City Burgers

287 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010 (map)

There needs to be at least one New York bar burger here: Those atom-age oversize mutants are too beloved to ignore. But J.G. Mellon's is a gray lump, and Donovan's comes on a bun that turns to mush on the second bite. Molly's is massive, and made with fresh sirloin that measures up to its smaller cousins. The room is the best, too.

90 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014 (map)

Joey Campanaro's masterpiece is the city's best by virtue of two things: a big, very juicy custom La Frieda burger, and a house-made bun, puffy but substantive enough to absorb the juices that hemorrhage out of it. Add American cheese and thick bacon and you're in meatopia.

144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 (map)

There's no reason this should be as great as it is. It's not a special meat blend. It's cooked on a gas grill. It's not even seasoned before going on! But somehow this juicy, luscious monster, which can be had day or night, never fails to inspire.

470 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011 (map)

Of all the high-end chefs who have essayed the burger, Laurent Tourondel is the one who has really gotten it. These burgers are overloaded with condiments, but the meat is crusty yet juicy, and the seeded bun exactly what it needs.

2-01 Borden Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101 (map)

The Motz Burger, created by Harry Hawk and George Motz, is every bit as good as the Shack Burger, plus it's ground on the spot. The crust isn't as regular, but otherwise it's positively dreamy. And there's no line. One seasonal caveat: It's closed during winter.

314 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014 (map)

April Bloomfield's burger isn't as juicy as its rivals, but it more than makes up for it with a resounding depth of beefy flavor and a bun grilled on both sides. Avoid the Roquefort, though.

120 Essex St, New York, NY 10002 (map)

Kenny Shopsin poo-poos La Frieda mania, and he has the right to do so: He gets ground meat from his butcher and makes the best sliders in America. The onions are crusty and caramelized, and the burger melts in your mouth.

Madison Square Park, New York, NY 10010 (map)

What's left to say about this four-ounce winner? It's so widely celebrated that it's become an icon. It's so classically orthodox, with its crusty surface and potato bun, that it ought to be in the National Institute of Standards.