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The arid deserts of the American Southwest are dominated by roadside dives and classic diners, slinging great burgers to weary road trippers. The region is also home to Vegas, endless cattle ranches, and Route 66 — each offering plenty of source material for a burger-loving chef to draw inspiration from. And of course, this is green chili country, so you’re going to get lots of chances to spice up your meal.
The point is: The Southwest has some damn fine burgers. No reason to waste time waxing philosophic, let’s dive right in.
TEXAS: Butcher Boys, Nacogdoches
Let’s face it, it’s pretty easy to find a good burger in Texas. Whataburger and a long list of breweries, BBQ joints, and diners aside, we have to go with a small, out-of-the-way butcher shop for our Texan pick.
Butcher Boys makes a burger that hits every element with perfection. The meat is wonderfully seasoned (with a proprietary blend) and cooked to juicy perfection. The toppings are all spot on, with nicely sliced red onion and tomato next to in-house made bacon. Add in a few jalapenos and you’ve got a near perfect burger.
If you’re road tripping through east Texas, make sure to schedule a stop in Nacogdoches for a Butcher Boys classic.
OKLAHOMA: Nic’s Grill, Oklahoma City
Nic’s Grill in OKC is a lot of people’s favorite burger in the world — just ask burger aficionado Colin Farrell. It’s not hard to see why. The taste of this burger is just so…. right. The meat is fresh, local, and wonderfully grilled, giving it a nice crispness on the outside while maintaining the juiciness you want inside.
Then there are the grilled onions swimming in melted American cheese that tops this glorious mess. The buttery toasted bun can barely hold it all together and that’s 100 percent okay. The sharp, tangy pickle, shredded iceberg, and tomato help add a fresh crunch and cut through the heft of the fat from the cheese, butter, and meat.
This is the best messy burger in the country if you ask us. Also, don’t sleep on the fresh cut and lightly fried curly fries with plenty of ketchup.
COLORADO: Bud’s Cafe & Bar, Sedalia
It should come as no surprise to anyone that a state that has legal, recreational cannabis also has amazing burgers at every turn. Bud’s Cafe — which is assuredly a dive bar — has a great, simple burger and we love it.
Ordering is easy at Bud’s, you’re asked “cheese or no cheese” and “single or double.” That’s all you need to worry about. You’re then served a spectacular burger patty that’s expertly grilled, topped with a slice of crisp white onion, tangy cucumber chips, a slightly funky burger sauce, a sublime buttery toasted bun, and jalapenos on the side (in case you want to spice it up a bit).
If you’re heading south from Denver, make this your lunch stop … every time.
UTAH: Lucky 13 Bar & Grill, Salt Lake City
Lucky 13 has a lot going for it in the burger department. They bake their own rolls in-house. They also smoke their own bacon, grind their own meats, and focus on local products as much as possible. This attention to detail makes for an amazing burger.
There’s a reason these burgers are almost always voted the best in Utah. The perfectly pink hand-pressed patty shines brightest when it’s served with ingredients this well looked after. Seriously, you need Lucky 13’s in-house smoked bacon in your life and on your burger. The rest is just cherries on the proverbial burger sundae.
NEW MEXICO: Hall of Flame Burgers, Ruidoso
The small town of Ruidoso is a great place to stop for a burger when you’re exploring the wonders of New Mexico. Hall of Flame is an unassuming burger joint with a killer menu of comforting burgers and great fries.
What shines brightest about these burgers is the straightforwardness of the sandwich. The meat is spot on and cooked to a juicy medium. The lettuce, tomato, and onion are always fresh and crisp. The pickles add a nice bite. And, it being New Mexico, there are plenty of green chilis to add spice to that burger.
Definitely try their “green chili burger” with plenty of melty cheese. It’s one of those burgers that once you eat it, you’ll be craving another for lunch the next day … and the next.
ARIZONA: The Stand: Burger & Tacos, Phoenix & Scottsdale
The Stand is a super simple walk-up burger bar with an easy to parse menu that slings some of the best burgers you’ll eat in Arizona. This place is awesome and cheap. A cheeseburger is only $5.99 and tastes like it could easily cost $15 if it was in a famous chef’s restaurant.
Everything is on point there. The meat is cooked to moist perfection with a nice, umami crispiness seared on. The lettuce is green and every so slightly wilted. The tomatoes and onions are always the perfect thinness. The burger sauce is tangy and also serves as a great fry dipping sauce.
Overall, this is just a great burger every single time. It’s satisfying and comforting without being overly messy due to its well-balanced construction.
NEVADA: Holsteins Shakes and Buns, Las Vegas
We have to go with Vegas when we’re talking great burgers in Nevada. Don’t get us wrong, there are great burgers in Reno and Lake Tahoe too. It’s just that you can’t beat Vegas’s burger braggadocio.
Nowhere is that bigger or better than Holsteins Shake and Buns (inside the uber-hip Cosmopolitan) where the burgers are big, beautiful, and straight delicious. If you’re going “what happens in Vegas”-level big, get the Al Pastor burger. That’s a beef patty topped with succulent Al Pastor pork and then smothered in habanero cream and topped with grilled pineapple and good chuck on avocado. It’s decadent and delectable.
They also have a “Billionaire” burger with Kobe beef (they likely really mean wagyu) that’s topped with seared foie gras and truffle mayo. It tastes as decadent as it sounds.
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