The Quest for Lawrence's Best Burger

As a burger lover, I know there are a lot of good burgers in Lawrence. And everyone has their favorites. If you ask the question "Where's the best burger in Lawrence, Kansas?" on a Facebook community page or on the Lawrence subreddit, you're going to get a lot of different opinions. So as far as I'm concerned, the best way to find out for myself is to start trying them all. 

Luckily, Unmistakably Lawrence launched the Burger Battle, a free passport that earns you points you can exchange for sweepstakes entries when you visit various restaurants around town. The pass will be running for the next several months before voting commences in late January, at which time all the pass participants can vote for their top 3 favorites.

I love a challenge, so I've spent approximately the last month visiting restaurants and trying burgers and veggie burgers to start the process of finding my favorites. Read on below to hear about some of the locations I've visited and the burgers I've eaten so far. I hope it inspires you to try a new dining spot and support Lawrence restaurants this fall. Happy tasting!

The Classics

Burgers by Biggs

As someone who lives on the east side of town and prefers walking to driving, there are only a few things that could make me drive west on a whim: visiting my parents, and visiting Burgers by Biggs. I seriously can't get over how good this place is. It doesn't pretend to be anything other than it is, which is a seriously solid burger joint. My go-to order is either the Black & Bleu Burger or the Jay Hog Burger, but I'm a seasoned professional at this point. For your first time, I highly recommend the classic Bigg's Cheeseburger. Throw in a side of their fried pickles (I'm comfortable stating that they're some of the best in town) and maybe even a milkshake if you're feeling fancy. 

The Eldridge

The Eldridge's new chef knows his way around a lot of dishes, but we can't overlook the modest Classic Cheeseburger. It comes with 6 ounces of well-seasoned angus ground steak, topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, cheddar cheese (which I left off this time so I could share with a friend), and the softest and fluffiest brioche bun. If you haven't stopped by The Eldridge for a meal before, I highly recommend it. The servers was very kind and attentive and enthusiastically recommended the Truffle-style seasoned fries as my included side. Which was a good call, because I can't stop thinking about them. 

Fun Flavors

The Burger Stand

The Burger Stand is one of Lawrence's most cherished institutions, and it's easy to see why. They have a great year-round menu. But what really impresses me is that at most restaurants, I eventually settle on a go-to order and never stray far from it when I visit. At The Burger Stand, they are consistently putting out interesting new specials at the beginning of every month and I just have to try something new.* For the most up-to-date information, keep an eye out for their monthly specials announcement on social media, or, even better, drop in and see what looks good. If you're not sure where to start on the year-round menu, I really like the Smoke Burger with applewood smoked bacon, gouda cheese & chipotle-cocoa ketchup. 

*disclaimer: I will not stop ordering the truffle fries as my side. Not now, not ever.

Bird Dog Bar at the Oread

Always down for a trip to the hill, my stop at Bird Dog Bar inside The Oread Hotel was fancy and flavorful. I went with the Oread Burger, a masterpiece with a foundation of 8 oz of certified angus beef topped with champagne-poached pears, brie cheese, and fresh baby spinach. Yes, you read that right - champagne-poached pears. Who would have thought? While you're at The Oread, be sure to visit The Nest rooftop bar for a panoramic view of Lawrence, the Kaw Valley, and to see how the construction of the new football stadium. Rock Chalk!

Sports Bars

Dempsey's

Dempsey's is a tried-and-true Lawrence classic, serving up tasty and creative burgers, fun drinks, and an overall good time. I have spent many an afternoon, evening, and late night at Dempsey's, so I can attest. You can always count on them to have the football game on, even if you're more of the non-American football persuasion. On KU gamedays, you can't go wrong with one of my personal favorites: The Phog, complete with house mac & cheese, bacon, and shallot marmalade on a brioche bun. If you're not super hungry, Dempsey's has amazing sliders. If you're feeling like you need a vegetable (like I am), the Burger Salad with mixed greens, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, bleu cheese crumbles, burger patty, and house red wine vinaigrette is to die for.

Johnny's Tavern

Lawrence has plenty of great sports bars, but Johnny's Tavern has expanded to several more locations for a reason: it has a great menu of standard American pub-fare with creative flavors and twists on classic dishes mixed in. Oh, and approximately one million TVs with the game on. Johnny's West has strong ties to KU, hosting Hawk Talk with Coach Lance Leipold on game days. They also serve up a damn good burger. I went with the Smoked Gouda Burger because I am a gouda enthusiast, but you can't go wrong here. For dessert, buy a bottle of Wilson Sauce to take home with you.

Veggie's Delight

Big Mill

I have to confess that having grown up in the 90s in an almost-exclusively vegetarian household (with the occasional turkey or chicken dinner), it's taken a long time to undo my prejudice about veggie burgers. Until I started eating red meat in my twenties, burgers basically didn't exist for me as a concept, because the veggie burgers I tried in 1997 were...not great. I was also a child, which might have something to do with it. But it's time to face facts: Veggie Burger Technology has come a long way since I was a kid.

My first veggie burger stop took me to Big Mill, where I indulged in the Mushroom Quinoa Burger, a masterpiece topped with brick cheese, chipotle onion jam, avocado, and chimichurri aioli. It was the most satisfying kind of crispy, it was flavorful, it was a 10/10. For a side, I recommend the sweet potato fries which are topped with queso fresco and a lime honey drizzle. 

Mr. Brews Taphouse

While it's no secret that Mr. Brews Taphouse makes a great burger and has a LOT of interesting beers on tap, I have to give them their accolades for making the effort to be more inclusive with their menu. Every creative burger on the menu has the option to swap the patty with a black bean patty or an Impossible Burger patty. Remember what I said about Veggie Burger Technology? The Impossible Burger IS Veggie Burger Technology. It's tasty, and you don't feel like you're "missing out" at all if that's a concern for you. Plus, Mr. Brew's also lets you swap the bun for a Gluten Free bun in case you've got a gluten sensitivity. I recommend the California Burger, topped with pepper jack cheese, guacamole, and roasted red pepper sauce. Oh, and check out their Burger Bowls, a greens-based, deconstructed take on a burger.

Meat Lovers

Stanley James Smokehouse

Stanley James Smokehouse is probably my go-to spot when it comes to grabbing a burger in East Lawrence on my way home from work. They're fast and they know their way around a grill. But make no mistake - the Big Daddy Burger is not for the faint of heart. This quarter-pound beast comes topped with cheese, a mountain of brisket and burnt ends, onion rings, and their signature sauce. I've never dared to order the Big Daddy Burger's big brother, the Big Daddy J Burger, which starts with a half-pound of burger before all the other stuff, but I know there's someone out there who'll have their keys in the ignition before I finish typing this sentence. 

The Mad Greek

The Mad Greek's signature Hercules Burger lives up to its name. It has strong flavors and plenty of protein. Plus, it comes with a side of delicious, crispy fries. Topped with gyros meat, melted kaseri cheese, and sprinkled with feta & tzatziki sauce, I briefly felt very American and very Greek at the same time. Dual citizenship never tasted so good. 

Whew, that was a lot of burgers. No regrets, though. If you're wondering what my favorite is, you'll just have to wait until voting commences in January. I still have a lot more locations to try on the pass, which you can scroll through below. Thanks for joining me on this journey, and be sure to sign up for the free Burger Battle pass!