Best Burgers in San Francisco (2025)

A late-night ritual for locals, Nopa’s wood-grilled, grass‑fed burger comes with house pickles and perfect fries. Frequently cited by Eater SF; Esquire also spotlighted its from‑scratch approach. Grab a bar seat for the full experience.

Since 1979, this Market Street landmark serves a legendary burger on rosemary focaccia with housemade pickles. Featured in The New York Times and Eater SF; included on the San Francisco Chronicle’s 2025 best burgers list.

The Marina’s cult‑favorite Americana burger channels a souped‑up Double‑Double with crisp onions and house sauce. Endorsed by Eater SF and praised by local food writers; chefs often cite it among the city’s best.

A bar‑only classic: a proprietary beef blend on a house English muffin with thrice‑cooked fries. Highlighted by Eater SF and The Infatuation; it’s the refined burger that keeps regulars returning to Presidio Heights.

From pop‑up to permanent, Smish Smash nails lacy‑edged patties and beef‑tallow fries downtown. The San Francisco Chronicle called it the city’s best smashburger; SFGATE covered its Saluhall debut. Lines are common, and it can sell out.

A 1962 drive‑in still flipping juicy Angus patties, garlic fries, and shakes until late. Celebrated by the San Francisco Chronicle and The Infatuation; part of the city’s living diner culture without the frills.

Since 1955, Red’s serves burgers on crusty sourdough with mustard, onions, and pickles—no lettuce, no tomato—plus cold beers and Bay Bridge views. Regularly included by Eater SF; the official site confirms hours and game‑day energy.

The Marlowe Burger—beef with a touch of lamb, cheddar, caramelized onions, bacon, and horseradish aioli—has become a SoMa rite of passage. Praised by local chefs in the San Francisco Standard and noted by Time Out.

This Mission cocktail bar’s patty melt—a dry‑aged beef patty on beef‑fat‑toasted pain de mie—wins raves. The San Francisco Chronicle calls it a gift from the gods; national outlets have praised the melt’s precision.

Wonderful smashburgers and hot dogs await at Lovely’s - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation

Smashburger enthusiasts no longer have to cross the Bay Bridge to get their hands on the ones from Lovely’s. The beloved Oakland restaurant has landed in Cole Valley, sharing space with the Woods outpost. The family-friendly spot is a jolt of energy to the neighborhood, thanks to the crowds that spill out onto the back patio and sidewalk nightly for a chance at the lacy-edged patties. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Pause Unmute The menu is simple: three variations of juicy beef hot dogs, fries, and a few smashburgers (available as doubles or with Impossible patties). The burgers are some of the best you can get in the city, smashed or not. Zero in on the Drive-Thru, an extra decadent knockout with schmaltz onions, a patty blanketed in american cheese, and a squishy sesame seed roll we’d upholster an armchair with. You’ll probably have to wait for a seat—but beer and wine by Woods are on hand while you hover and enviously glare at a nearby couple scarfing down Chicago dogs. Food Rundown The Drive-Thru Our go-to. The smashed patty has a caramelized skirt and a coating of just-melted-enough american cheese. It’s all tied together by a creamy special sauce that drips over everything. There’s nothing better. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth The OG As classic as it gets. This one doesn’t come with house sauce like the Drive-Thru—so for the ketchup and mustard purists out there, hone in on this one. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Chicago Dawg Topped with the requisite pickle spear and celery salt, this is a very fine frankfurter. If you’re serious about beef, it even works as an appetizer before your burger. photo credit: Julia Chen Fries You can go cheese or chili cheese fries here, but we like to keep it simple. The regular ones are thick-cut, well-salted, and excellent. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth - Julia Chen

Native Burger - Review - Richmond - San Francisco - The Infatuation

Native Burger in the Richmond excels in the art of the Big Ass Burger (BAB for short). The BABs here are stacked high with thick, perfectly juicy patties that are constantly sizzling away on the flat top grill. The menu has predetermined options in the toppings department, like The Northern with grilled mushrooms and swiss or The Classic with fresh red onions and pickles. But the consistent showstopper is The Native, which comes crowned with a pile of sweet candied bacon. Ordering that and a bowl of their twice-fried fries is a foolproof way to zhuzh up an otherwise boring weeknight. photo credit: Brit Finnegan - Julia Chen

The Butcher Shop By Niku Steakhouse - Review - Design District - San Francisco - The Infatuation

Stepping into The Butcher Shop by Niku Steakhouse in the Design District might just give you whiplash. The staff is constantly yelling as if they're an In-N-Out at dinner time on a Saturday night to get more patties on the grill, and they’ll impatiently ask you how many of these smashburgers you want—even when they’re empty. At the end of this experience, you’ll get a $25 burger that is served in a to-go box and doesn’t even come with fries. But the chaotic experience (and the hefty price tag) are worth it because this juicy monstrosity is absolutely dripping at the edges—enough so to make us immediately forget about any gripes that we had with this place. There’s no indoor (or restaurant-specific outdoor) seating, so make sure to eat this on one of the public benches fast—otherwise it’ll get soggy. But that’s a risk we’re always willing to take. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Pause Unmute - Ricky Rodriguez