Best Burgers in OKC

[soonerguru]

Ha, good point... For me the best burger is a theta, but I've been searching for a good one ever since Irma's closed. Their sauce was great, best theta sauce I've ever had (and their burgers are the best I've had in OKC, but Lipsmackers (RIP) was second). Ones I've had that don't do it - Patty Wagon, S&B, Burger Punk, Johnnie's. It either has BBQ sauce on it, or the "hickory/theta" sauce is too BBQ-y, tomato-y, not enough smoky taste, whatever, they just don't measure up to Irma's. Found out RePublic has one while poking around, need to try it, theirs is a porter-hickory sauce.

Interesting article about the origin of theta sauce, knew some of it, but not the info before Split-T - https://www.oklahoman.com/story/ente...d/60532743007/

Also, forgot about Red Rooster - their burger is pretty good, need to build my own next time, better than Burger Punk's down the street.

Split T had my favorite theta sauce. Johnnie's is very good but a bit too salty. The old-school Charcoal Oven had a good, slightly sweeter theta sauce. Not a fan of the new incarnation.

[Martin]

i might have made one or two of these in my lifetime...

slice the onions as thin as possible, preferably with a tool such as a mandoline. take a portion of ground beef (80% lean, patted into a ball), salt one side, and place the seasoned side on a griddle. season the other side and place a portion of onions on top. with a weighted press or large spatula, press the onions into the meat until you have a patty around 1/2" thick. leave the first side to brown on the griddle, around 3 minutes. the burger will release more easily when sufficiently browned. flip the burger and top with cheese, if desired. allow the second side to cook for around another 2-3 minutes. the onion will fry in the beef fat from the first side and will caramelize fairly quickly since they are sliced paper-thin. as the onions cook, the juices will steam through the half-cooked patty so that the meat will not dry out.

this is the way.

[barrettd]

i might have made one or two of these in my lifetime...

slice the onions as thin as possible, preferably with a tool such as a mandoline. take a portion of ground beef (80% lean, patted into a ball), salt one side, and place the seasoned side on a griddle. season the other side and place a portion of onions on top. with a weighted press or large spatula, press the onions into the meat until you have a patty around 1/2" thick. leave the first side to brown on the griddle, around 3 minutes. the burger will release more easily when sufficiently browned. flip the burger and top with cheese, if desired. allow the second side to cook for around another 2-3 minutes. the onion will fry in the beef fat from the first side and will caramelize fairly quickly since they are sliced paper-thin. as the onions cook, the juices will steam through the half-cooked patty so that the meat will not dry out.

this is the way.

This guy smashes.

[gqandy405]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned New State Burgers. I have a quite a few friends who’s opinion I value and they love the place. The balance between bun veggies and cheese is perfection. I love it too, but my opinion may not qualify since I only eat veggie burgers ��. I will tell you also they have amazing fries and a fried banana pepper recipe that uses a kfc like batter that’s unreal! And to top it off they make the best old fashioned in town with some allocated bourbons you can’t find in most places!

[TheTravellers]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned New State Burgers. I have a quite a few friends who’s opinion I value and they love the place. The balance between bun veggies and cheese is perfection. I love it too, but my opinion may not qualify since I only eat veggie burgers ��. I will tell you also they have amazing fries and a fried banana pepper recipe that uses a kfc like batter that’s unreal! And to top it off they make the best old fashioned in town with some allocated bourbons you can’t find in most places!

We ate there and it was pretty good, we thought the fries were decent, we don't remember seeing the fried banana peppers, and their menu doesn't have them listed, so I guess they don't do them anymore.

[gqandy405]

We ate there and it was pretty good, we thought the fries were decent, we don't remember seeing the fried banana peppers, and their menu doesn't have them listed, so I guess they don't do them anymore.

Just had them last week. May be on their bar menu!

[TheTravellers]

Just had them last week. May be on their bar menu!

Their online menu only has one page of food, no bar menu, so that may be the case. We'll have to ask next time we're there, we want to try their burgers again, thx.

[shartel_ave]

^^^^ New State is a great burger but my favorite is Tuckers with double meat, double cheese, ketchup and mayo and no lettuce or tomato

Haven't had burger punk which is weird since it is 4 blocks from my casa

[TheTravellers]

^^^^ New State is a great burger but my favorite is Tuckers with double meat, double cheese, ketchup and mayo and no lettuce or tomato

Haven't had burger punk which is weird since it is 4 blocks from my casa

You live close to us, we're in Venice. Burger Punk is all right, nothing special IMO. They couldn't figure out my whiskey flight order (gave me the basic one instead of the one I ordered), and gave my wife "spiked" tea (w/vodka) instead of "unsweet" tea, so the service wasn't great and the food was just OK.

[shartel_ave]

You live close to us, we're in Venice. Burger Punk is all right, nothing special IMO. They couldn't figure out my whiskey flight order (gave me the basic one instead of the one I ordered), and gave my wife "spiked" tea (w/vodka) instead of "unsweet" tea, so the service wasn't great and the food was just OK.

I live in paseo/central park, Venice is way over by sheppard mall between may and villa right? I'm between shartel and dewey

good to know about burger punk, I will still try them one of these days maybe after a trip to the bodega

[TheTravellers]

I live in paseo/central park, Venice is way over by sheppard mall between may and villa right? I'm between shartel and dewey

good to know about burger punk, I will still try them one of these days maybe after a trip to the bodega

Venice is 30th-36th, May-Villa. "Close" to me is able to get somewhere in less than 5 minutes, and the Paseo fits the bill. That bodega has a very nice beer selection, and we thought the cakes would be good since the description and ingredients looked interesting, but they just don't have enough taste. When you go to Burger Punk, make sure they hear your order clearly and repeat it back to you, and your visit will be good.

[shartel_ave]

Venice is 30th-36th, May-Villa. "Close" to me is able to get somewhere in less than 5 minutes, and the Paseo fits the bill. That bodega has a very nice beer selection, and we thought the cakes would be good since the description and ingredients looked interesting, but they just don't have enough taste. When you go to Burger Punk, make sure they hear your order clearly and repeat it back to you, and your visit will be good.

the cakes are not good at all haha, my wife bought one and we threw it away. I guess when I think of close it is walking distance and as far as driving you are correct that is a quick drive.

[shartel_ave]

youtube george motz he is literally a burger historian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0AH7h9zZ_4

[Dr Beard Face]

youtube george motz he is literally a burger historian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0AH7h9zZ_4

George is a legend! I wish I knew people could be burger historians for a career, my life would be SO different!

My favorite burger with flair was the Nutty Rooster at the Garage, with a bison patty, but that's gone now. - Siracha slaw, peanut butter, and jalapenos, SO GOOD! I also miss Lip Smackers so much- that was in a gas station that has since been torn down. They were amazing!

Nic's original is my favorite basic burger, Tuckers is close behind for a fast service spot. S&B is a good reliable burger if you like fun toppings.

[Roger S]

I've not been there in a few years and I think it's changed hands since the last time I was there but what used to be called Stockyards Cafe, think it's called Heather's Cafe now...... Made a burger that blew Nic's and everyone else out of the water, and I was a big fan of Nic's when Justin was still cooking there. Haven't been much since the kid took over and with Covid it wasn't a place I wanted to smash myself in to but I ate there so often that Justin didn't even ask me what I wanted unless it was fried chicken day..... Then he would ask if I was having a burger or chicken.

But the burger at Stockyards Cafe had the most amazing crust on both sides of the burger that I think I've ever had and was as juicy as could be.

[Urbanized]

I’m not saying it should necessarily be in the “best burger in OKC” coversation, but as long as we are talking about really good ones the burger at Earl’s Rib Palace of all places is really underrated. In the best burger category my personal favorite of late is the one at Arbolada.

[PaddyShack]

I’m not saying it should necessarily be in the “best burger in OKC” coversation, but as long as we are talking about really good ones the burger at Earl’s Rib Palace of all places is really underrated. In the best burger category my personal favorite of late is the one at Arbolada.

I second this for the burger at Earl's, I end up ordering their burger 90% to 95% of the time I visit Earl's.

[onthestrip]

i might have made one or two of these in my lifetime...

slice the onions as thin as possible, preferably with a tool such as a mandoline. take a portion of ground beef (80% lean, patted into a ball), salt one side, and place the seasoned side on a griddle. season the other side and place a portion of onions on top. with a weighted press or large spatula, press the onions into the meat until you have a patty around 1/2" thick. leave the first side to brown on the griddle, around 3 minutes. the burger will release more easily when sufficiently browned. flip the burger and top with cheese, if desired. allow the second side to cook for around another 2-3 minutes. the onion will fry in the beef fat from the first side and will caramelize fairly quickly since they are sliced paper-thin. as the onions cook, the juices will steam through the half-cooked patty so that the meat will not dry out.

this is the way.

This is how its done.

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned New State Burgers. I have a quite a few friends who’s opinion I value and they love the place. The balance between bun veggies and cheese is perfection. I love it too, but my opinion may not qualify since I only eat veggie burgers ��. I will tell you also they have amazing fries and a fried banana pepper recipe that uses a kfc like batter that’s unreal! And to top it off they make the best old fashioned in town with some allocated bourbons you can’t find in most places!

Any burger list, especially with that many listed, that doesnt include New State is a joke.

Any list by Greg Horton (which that one is) features the places where he's friendly with the operators and they give him free food and drink as long as he keeps pumping sunshine about them.

That must not be the case at Bar Arbolada and Nic's, because by consensus they are near the very best in town (and justifiably so) but not on his list.


I would trust the opinion of most posters here over any local food writer; at least people here are honest and not corrupted with undisclosed freebies. Dave Cathey is every bit as bad.

I've heard the same and its why you have a few good burgers left off this list.

[Pete]

^

Also, 405 Magazine does plenty of 'advertorial' content, where the subjects of an article pay them to be featured. Same with their "Best Of" 'voting'.

Why anyone gives them any attention is beyond me.

[Libbymin]

People seem to love The Garage for some reason but I've always felt theirs were a little overrated. I'm a fan of Patty Wagon personally.

[TheTravellers]

People seem to love The Garage for some reason but I've always felt theirs were a little overrated. I'm a fan of Patty Wagon personally.

Ditto, nothing I've ever had from The Garage has been anywhere close to any of the better burger places in the city. Patty Wagon is good, but their buns are sweeter than usual, and I've just had all their variations and specials that I'm interested in (we live a block away), so we're a bit burned out on them.

[shartel_ave]

People seem to love The Garage for some reason but I've always felt theirs were a little overrated. I'm a fan of Patty Wagon personally.

I think the Garage and S&B's are super solid burgers

[MagzOK]

My OKC metro - 5, in no particular order: Cow Calf-Hay in south Edmond, Patty Wagon, MOB Grill, Tucker's, and Richey's Grill. I will admit I have more of a traditional burger taste rather than loading them up with eggs, rubbing patties in coffee grinds, throwing on a half pound of bacon, or loading with Mac and cheese. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those!

The Fixx in Edmond was my favorite before it fell to Covid.

New State to me was good, but not award winning. I did enjoy their bar and the atmosphere. I'm certainly interested now in trying the Arbolata burger mentioned here.

If you're ever in Dallas, my favorite burger ever is at Burger House. Went there multiple times a week in college.

I love this post. I love hamburgers.

[sooner88]

Arbolada, New State and Tucker's are our go-to's depending on what we're craving as all 3 are different enough. I've been to the original Nic's several times, and while it's good, it is not a place I am ever rushing back to. Abraham's original location on Western was my favorite onion burger in the city, but never was the same after he relocated to downtown and then across from the Wedge on Western.

[shartel_ave]

Has anyone been to Bunny's Onion burger on meridian and 50th? I drive by it often. Looks like a hole in the wall but maybe it's really good?

Not a burger but when I moved to OKC in 2011 my wifes mother got us a steak sandwich from Chuck House. I had never heard of a steak sandwich and it was amazing. Been a while since I had one.


edit: I really need to start proofreading before I click on save haha, I'm working and messing around on this site.