Best Burgers in Fort Lauderdale: 10 Battle-Tested Spots Worth Every Bite

1. Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill

Southern Living’s Most Legendary Burger Joint in Florida

If you ask serious burger people in South Florida where to go in Fort Lauderdale, Gilbert’s is almost always the first name out of their mouths. Southern Living didn’t call it the most legendary burger joint in the South for nothing — this family-owned spot on Cordova Road has been grilling fresh, never-frozen Angus beef since before most current food bloggers were born.

The Havarti Burger is the signature: a half-pound patty with havarti cheese and bacon on a toasted, garlic-buttered English muffin. Every burger is cooked to order and weighs in at half a pound before it ever hits the grill. However, what makes Gilbert’s truly special is the consistency — they’ve been doing this the same way for decades, and the regulars wouldn’t have it any other way.

Could Gilbert’s bring that Cordova magic to the competitive grill at the Boca Burger Battle? We think they could.

2. Le Tub Saloon

GQ’s Best Burger in America — Oprah Agreed

Hollywood, FL is just a few miles south of Fort Lauderdale, and Le Tub Saloon is absolutely worth the trip. GQ Magazine named it the best burger in America in 2006 — and then Oprah Winfrey agreed. That kind of double endorsement doesn’t happen by accident, and nearly two decades later, the legend has only grown.

The setup is quintessential Florida: a waterfront former gas station with mismatched outdoor furniture, a cash-and-carry vibe, and often a long line. The burger itself is called “The Original” — 13 ounces of chargrilled beef on a Kaiser roll with onion, tomato, and lettuce. It’s the same recipe since 1975. Additionally, watching the sun go down over the Intracoastal while eating one of these is one of South Florida’s great food experiences.

3. BRGR Stop

Fort Lauderdale’s Most Creative Craft Burger Shop

BRGR Stop on Sunrise Boulevard is where the creative burger builders of Fort Lauderdale congregate. This isn’t a classic burger joint — it’s a craft operation that treats the burger like a culinary canvas. Ghost pepper pineapple jam on one build. A brie and caramelized shallot French-inspired creation on another. Every visit feels like a new discovery.

Because they focus on quality ingredients and inventive combinations, each burger here has a distinct identity. Moreover, BRGR Stop operates two locations in South Florida (also in Coconut Creek), which means the model is clearly working. For Fort Lauderdale burger lovers who want something beyond the classic, this is the spot.

4. Temple Street Eatery

The Katsu Burger That Breaks All the Rules

Temple Street Eatery on North Federal Highway does Asian-fusion food at a high level — and their approach to burgers is no exception. The Katsu Bao Burger features a Japanese panko-crusted burger patty topped with Asian slaw, a pineapple slice, tonkatsu sauce, and Kewpie mayo. It sounds unconventional because it is. However, that’s exactly what makes it memorable.

Temple Street proves that the best burgers don’t always follow the same formula. Furthermore, the flavors are balanced in a way that makes you wonder why more places aren’t doing this. If you’re the kind of person who thinks they’ve had every type of burger Fort Lauderdale has to offer, Temple Street will prove you wrong.

5. Tarpon River Brewing

Half-Pound Burgers + 16 House-Brewed Taps

Craft brewery burgers can be hit or miss, but Tarpon River Brewing takes their kitchen as seriously as their taps. The Tarpon River Burger is a half-pound char-grilled patty with white American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and house aioli on a toasted brioche bun. It’s a proper burger — not an afterthought — built to complement the 16 rotating house brews on tap every day.

Therefore, for the Boca Burger Battle fans who love pairing great food with craft beer, Tarpon River is a natural fit on this list. The downtown Fort Lauderdale location also makes it an easy stop before or after exploring the city.

6. American Social Bar & Kitchen

Las Olas’ Best Burger, Proven in Competition

Las Olas Boulevard is Fort Lauderdale’s most iconic stretch of restaurants and bars, and American Social holds down the burger crown on that strip. The Social Smash — two juicy quarter-pound patties, melted cheddar, sweet caramelized onions on a pretzel bun with house-made sauce — won a Fort Lauderdale burger challenge, so it’s not just our opinion.

American Social is also a high-energy, all-day spot with pour-it-yourself beer taps and a strong brunch game on weekends. Additionally, Monday burger specials make it one of the better midweek options on this list. The location, the vibe, and the burger all add up to a Las Olas essential.

7. Jack’s Old Fashion Hamburger House

A South Florida Institution Since 1972

Some restaurants earn their reputation over decades. Jack’s Old Fashion Hamburger House has been doing exactly that since 1972. This retro burger shack on North Federal Highway doesn’t need a social media following or a PR campaign — it just needs to keep making the same juicy, fresh-ground burgers it has been making for over 50 years, and the regulars keep showing up.

Jack’s is the kind of place that every Fort Lauderdale local has a memory attached to. Furthermore, in a food scene that sometimes prizes novelty over substance, Jack’s is a reliable reminder that a great burger doesn’t need to reinvent itself. It just needs to be great.

8. La Birra Bar

Argentine Craft Burgers Come to Fort Lauderdale

La Birra Bar brings an Argentine burger tradition to Oakland Park — and it’s different in the best possible way. Their 4-oz Black Angus Argentinian beef patties are built for flavor, not just size, and the combination of imported cheeses and soft, freshly made buns creates a distinctly South American take on the burger.

La Birra Bar started in Argentina and has expanded internationally because the approach translates perfectly: quality ingredients, precise technique, and a respect for the burger as a craft item. Because the patties are sized for flavor intensity rather than volume, you can try multiple builds in one visit without the usual regret.

9. Steak 954

The Most Indulgent Burger in Fort Lauderdale

Steak 954 at the W Fort Lauderdale is a luxury steakhouse on the ocean — and therefore their burger should be understood in that context. This is not an everyday burger. The bacon cheeseburger here features premium dry-aged beef, white cheddar, crisp bacon, and a signature Churchill sauce, served oceanfront in one of Fort Lauderdale’s most striking dining rooms.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach. Brunch on Saturday and Sunday makes Steak 954 accessible for a special occasion meal that starts with a view and ends with a burger you won’t stop thinking about. If you’re celebrating something, this is the one.

10. Billy’s Curbside Grill

Fort Lauderdale’s Best-Kept Burger Secret

Billy’s Curbside Grill is Fort Lauderdale’s best-kept burger secret — a food truck pop-up operating out of Invasive Species Brewing that builds thick, intensely flavored patties in a no-frills craft beer environment. The kind of burger experience that gets quietly passed around by locals who’d rather not see a line form.

Because it’s a pop-up with limited hours, you have to be intentional about catching Billy’s. However, those who have made the pilgrimage on a Wednesday or Saturday evening tend to become regulars. This is a spot worth tracking on Instagram before the secret gets fully out.

Bonus: Charm City Burger Company

Deerfield Beach | Confirmed Boca Burger Battle Competitor BBB Alumni

Just north of Fort Lauderdale in Deerfield Beach, Charm City Burger Company has already made their case at the competitive grill — they’ve competed at the Boca Burger Battle and brought their chef-driven approach to one of South Florida’s toughest burger competitions. Daily-ground fresh meat and the signature Cowboy Burger with thick-cut pepper bacon are what they’re known for.

Read more about Charm City Burger Company’s story here.