WARNING: This Article May Make Your Mouth Water
Written By: Raphael Madrid Best Burgers in OC
If a friend of yours asks you to recommend an amazing burger spot nearby, would you have any trouble giving them the perfect suggestion? Would finding the perfect burger in Orange County be that hard? Or is it easy? Not only are there so many restaurants out there, but there’s also a variety of burger styles to choose from—old-fashioned, over-the-top, out of this world, obscenely different. The way I see it, there isn’t only one perfect burger; there’s plenty!
1 | Star of the Show Best Burgers in OC
Rock & Brews Restaurant
Must Order: Gastropub Burger
Rock & Brews in Tustin is the grand hall of rock ‘n’ roll restaurants that commemorate the legends. Their Gastropub Burger will rock your taste buds harder than sitting in the front row at a show. The star is their freshly ground chuck patties, hand-formed and grilled to perfection, stacked with bacon, melted swiss, caramelized onions, greens, tomato, garlic aioli and a sunny and runny egg. For a healthier touch (or any vegetarians reading), you can always switch out the meat for the Beyond Meat patty.
Native Knowledge: The outdoor patio—equipped with corn hole, couches, and heat lamps—is perfect for families and large group gatherings.
Rock & Brews
1222 Irvine Blvd
Tustin, CA 92780
657.254.3040
2 | Super-Size Me Best Burgers in OC
Must Order: Biggie Mac
Just steps away from the Irvine Spectrum, you’ll find the second location of food truck-turned-casual cantina, Burnt Crumbs. The sandwich specialists, who are known for their spaghetti grilled cheese, look to elevate your palate with something you might already be familiar with—they call it the Biggie Mac. Their gourmet take on the Golden Arches classic includes two angus beef patties, onions, pickles, lettuce, American cheese and thousand Island dressing.
Native Knowledge: While their Pacific City in Huntington Beach location is still going strong, you will only find these burger options in Irvine.
Burnt Crumbs
8549 Irvine Center Dr
Irvine, CA 92618
949.502.5998
3 | Just an Icon Living Best Burgers in OC
Must Order: Hickory Burger
Perhaps the most famous, iconic location of any diner on the west coast, Ruby’s on the Huntington Beach Pier is definitely a must-visit for locals and tourists alike. It’s like a Southern California rite of passage. When you go (and I do mean when), grab a booth and order the Hickory Burger, which is lined up with thick-cut bacon, melted cheddar, lettuce, tomato, Ruby Sauce, onion rings and zesty BBQ sauce.
Ruby’s Diner (multiple locations)
One Main St
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
714.969.7829
4 | The CEO of Sandwiches Best Burgers in OC
Must Order: Build Your Own!
At Burger Boss, you make every decision when it comes to their conscious cuisine. With four locations throughout Orange County, you have plenty of opportunities to create your own masterpiece. Their beef is natural and grass-fed, and there are plenty of options—a vegan black bean patty, gluten-free buns, seven different cheeses and just about an endless amount of combinations.
Burger Boss
Cypress | Newport Beach | Tustin | Mission Viejo
5 | Hoppy Hours Best Burgers in Orange County
Must Order: Magic Shroom Burger
Hailing from the big state of Texas, Hopdoddy brings that same bold attitude to its menu. With happy hour every Monday through Friday at their locations in Newport Beach and Tustin, this burger bar has a whole lot to offer. Their “$5 Happy Hour” includes the El Diablo— properly named because it’s filled with pepper jack cheese, habanero and serrano peppers, caramelized onions, salsa roja, chipotle aioli, lettuce and tomato.
Hopdoddy Newport Beach
401 Newport Center Dr, Ste 311
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.640.2337
Hopdoddy Tustin
3030 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92782
714.505.2337
6 | Yippee-Ki-Yay! Best Burgers in Orange County
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern
Must Order: Cowboy Burger
If you’re looking for a bit of southern hospitality and charm, look no further than J-FATs! This homey eatery is home to the Cowboy Burger—headlined by a Mishima Wagyu beef patty, a hefty onion ring, pecanwood-smoked bacon, BBQ sauce, lettuce and cheddar cheese. Jimmy’s is sure to hit the spot when you want some good old-fashioned comfort food.
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern
3325 E Imperial Hwy
Brea, CA 92823
714.733.1310
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern
25001 Dana Point Harbor Dr
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.388.8900
7 | Spicy Sunsets Best Burgers in Orange County
Must Order: Shishito Burger
Tanner’s at Paséa Hotel has a stylish, seaside rooftop restaurant and bar, which is perfect for casual meetings and first dates. With a great selection of bar bites and artisanal cocktails, this surf-inspired saloon’s Shishito Burger is packed with serrano aioli, shishito peppers, white cheddar and charred cabbage, all served on a brioche bun; it will help kick your evening up a notch and turn away that chilly ocean breeze.
Native Knowledge: The vibrant sunsets at Tanner’s can’t be beat!
Tanner’s at Paséa Hotel
21080 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
714.698.6130
8 | Savory & Social Best Burgers in Orange County
Must Order: Drive Thru Burger
SOCIAL is equal parts elegant, casual and modern. This bar and kitchen boasts a crafted experience with great options for every palate. Some places have multiple burger options, but this spot only needs one: The Drive Thru Burger. Akaushi beef patty, bone marrow butter, bacon jam, garlic aioli, American cheese, housemade pickles, red onion and an optional egg is all combined to make a burger that’s savory and delectable as it sounds!
SOCIAL
21214 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
714.374.7715
SOCIAL Costa Mesa
512 W 19th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949.642.2425
9 | Beach Shack Bargain
Must Order: Ribeye Steak Sandwich
You could call this beach shack burger joint the In-N-Out of Orange County. TK’s classic charbroiled burgers with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, onions, a secret sauce and special seasoning are every bit as special as the ones between the two palms, but just with a bit fewer locations.
TK Burgers
Huntington Beach | Newport Beach | Costa Mesa | Mission Viejo | Santa Ana
10 | Tasty in Truffle
Must Order: Truffle Burger
Umami Burger is one of those unique burger spots that know how to turn a burger into something special by turning it upside down and inside out. One of their most popular, the Truffle Burger, is the perfect example: truffle mayo, truffle cheese, truffle glaze—it’s a triple threat of taste.
Native Knowledge: Ask your server for the occasional off-menu items they might have available.
Umami Burger
Anaheim | Costa Mesa | Irvine
11 | Hey There, Sailor!
A&O Kitchen+Bar at Balboa Bay Resort
Must Order: A&O Burger
The Balboa Bay Resort’s A&O Kitchen+Bar is a waterfront lounge that brags local brews and seafood specialties. While the nautical influences carry through, the A&O Burger—an American Wagyu patty, white cheddar, caramelized onions, lettuce, pickles and ketchup on a brioche bun—puts up a noble fight against all the seafood on the menu.
A&O Kitchen+Bar At Balboa Bay Resort
1221 West Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.645.5000
12 | From Truck to Tavern
Most Order: The Cut Burger
From their humble beginnings as a food truck to their wildly modern and rustic kitchen and bar, The Cut brings flavor all throughout Orange County. The self-titled The Cut burger is one of their carefully crafted fan favorites. It features an 8-ounce, 60-day dry-aged prime angus ribeye patty, loaded with two-year aged white cheddar and an optional bone marrow addition really makes this one of the more savory burgers around town.
The Cut
3831 Alton Pkwy, Ste C
Irvine, CA 92606
949.333.3434