Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar

Hamburger restaurant · Charleston

Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar

Hamburger restaurant · Charleston

3

137 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

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Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null
Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar by null

Highlights

Creative burgers, craft drafts, classic cocktails & Southern small plates  

Featured in Eater
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137 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401 Get directions

bigguncharleston.com
@biggunburger

$10–20 · Menu

Information

Static Map

137 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401 Get directions

+1 843 789 3821
bigguncharleston.com
@biggunburger
𝕏
@biggunburger

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 11, 2025

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@eater

Charleston’s Best Burgers | Eater Carolinas

"Dive bar/punk rock venue Big Gun specializes in burgers and excels at the classic with American cheese, onion, pickles, and special sauce. It’s an easy stop to squeeze in on the way to or from the bars on King Street. Though if you want to stay put at Big Gun, check out the extensive collection of craft beers and whiskeys. Best for: A killer soundtrack to go with a quick burger" - Erin Perkins

https://carolinas.eater.com/maps/best-burgers-charleston-cheeseburger
View Postcard for Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar
@eater

Hide in the 11 Best Dive Bars in Charleston | Eater Carolinas

"As the name implies, Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar serves really great burgers, but it’s also a dive bar by way of cheap beers, ample shots, and pop-up punk shows. There’s also craft beers if you’re into that." - Erin Perkins

https://carolinas.eater.com/maps/best-dive-bars-charleston
View Postcard for Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar
@eater

The Best Burgers in Charleston

"Dive bar/punk rock venue Big Gun specializes in burgers and excels at the classic with American cheese, onion, pickles, and special sauce. It’s an easy stop to squeeze in on the way to, or from, the bars on King Street. Though, if you want to stay put at Big Gun, check out the extensive collection of craft beers and whiskeys." - Erin Perkins

https://carolinas.eater.com/maps/best-burger-charleston-1
View Postcard for Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar

Sasan Maj

Google
A great burger with fries — perfect size and packed with flavor. It was the only time I’ve had a burger with a truly fresh tomato! The bread was grilled and fresh too. I ordered the ‘BUNGALOW’ and it was a fantastic experience. On top of that, the atmosphere and music were on point — you really have to experience it for yourself

Kh “Kitcat” Bow

Google
As burger connoisseurs, this was our first stop for our anniversary weekend in Charleston. We will get burgers here again on our next visit! Perfectly cooked burgers, delicious fries, and fantastic bartending and have to add the cold refreshing beer. Note that ordering at the bar is the way here. Big Gun is kind of a small place with a tavern atmosphere and a pool table in back. We loved it!

Arpita Roddanavar

Google
Was alone and hungry on a Monday night. Perfect place to sit down and chill with friends. Great music and simple but just the best Classic burger and fries. The bartender was also super nice. Had a wonderful time! Andddd, don't forget the beer

Sheila Hallman

Google
Burgers were ALL REAL 😋 Very small got a seat at the bar. Got burgers and fries. Wish I would have said no seasoning, were still good though. Dive atmosphere. Recommend

Emily Carter

Google
Best cheeseburger I’ve ever had and I’ve had many as it is my favorite food. This place even looks like it cooks up amazing burgers. Come here. Don’t miss out.

Gavin Murray

Google
Fantastic service. Staying at Hotel Bennett, ordered online, food was ready in 25 minutes. Walked across Marion Square (less than 5 min walk) and was welcomed in. We had our 14 year old chihuahua with us and the barman said we were more than welcome to come in with him. Super friendly and tasty food! Great alternative if you’re looking for an alternative quick meal. Plus, walking back we got a lovely view of the church and hotel….see pic

Darlene Hunter

Google
Always love visiting Big Guns before C of C games. You just can't beat their Happy Hour prices!! The burgers and fries are great! Pictured here are their $3 pork taco and wow! Nice amount of pork along with their special sauce, slaw. Just can't beat it! Only reason I gave 4 stars was because of the atmosphere. Everyone is friendly but, when it's busy, it's hard to find a seat. Very limited amount of table space but, it's not always busy. Definitely take the time to stop by while you're visiting the area.

Maggie Davis

Google
The bartender on Saturday at lunch time was absolutely amazing! Ordering is super easy. The food is insanely delicious and they have wide variety of beers/drinks. I would say during the day time it was very family friendly. A great place to get good food and just chill.
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Richard R.

Yelp
Just flew in from Phoenix and my wife and I wanted place to grab burger and fries and a beverage before calling it quits after long day getting to SC from AZ. Burger fries ,onion rings really hit the spot, would recommend it as great spot to grab a bite and hear some 70's tunes
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Franklin F.

Yelp
I ordered the classic burger and it was pretty good. My wife ordered the Thin White Duke burger and she thought it was very good. I felt like the fries were a little too salty. The onion rings were very good. *This is a very small restaurant. Seat yourself and order from the bar.
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Max Y.

Yelp
This is our second stop while visiting Charleston after having a delicious brunch at Poogans Porch. If you're looking just to have a seat and have an extra cocktail for a great price, definitely hit up the big gun Burger shop. I felt super bad that there was only one server, so please do not expect to have table service when there's one person making the drinks getting the food and just trying to make everybody happy . They were quite a few people at the bar and enjoying themselves having cocktails and hamburgers, but this is definitely a place where the food is not going to be fancy but it's probably going to be good. I saw many of the patrons having delicious, huge hamburgers and did they have a variety of different kinds you can even order hotdogs and french fries . The space is very cute small eclectic and you'll definitely see a different bathroom if you make a visit there.
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Jen X.

Yelp
The ambiance here was nice and it was probably the best part. Very dive bar like and I'm a fan. The burgers were alright. Not as good as other pub burgers. Not too much drink variety. Mainly would go for the vibes.
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Kaitlynn J.

Yelp
The bartender was an awesome dude to talk to! The food was great to much on while having a drink. Their Craft Beer selection was great for what felt like a small dive bar!
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Amber T.

Yelp
What a wonderful find on a Tuesday night in Charleston. It's a bar, make no mistake. It seemed one lady was running the kitchen and delivering food alone- but she knows what she's doing! It was also very dark inside and tough to get good food pictures. Best- fried brussel sprouts made everyone very happy. Second best- the veggie burger (vegan) was topped with crispy kale and avocado and I'm not sure what else (too dark to see it) was one of the tastiest veg burgers I've ever had. Third best- the turkey burger topped with sprouts made the meat eaters excited. Fourth- great fries, fresh Fifth- a vegan taco that was just fresh and tasty and quite a surprise Sixth- the towering inferno burger had the habanero slaw that just overwhelmed the entire burger. It had pulled pork on it, but that seemed nonexistent under the fiery slaw. If you're a burger crew with a vegan or vegetarian in your midst- go here!
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Katherine C.

Yelp
My friends often say this is the best burger in Charleston- I wouldn't go that far but they never disappoint. We always start with the pimento cheese app- looks like it was made at someone's house, a small dish of cheese, pickles and wheat thins and some pretzels out of a bag. Needless to say it's not impressive but for some reason I love it. I usually get the inferno burger- as a fan of all things spicy this name scared me but it honestly wasn't that spicy. As for the ambiance, it's grungey and lived in but it's not dirty... it's a dive bar so you know what you're getting but it's not gross if that makes sense. The service is usually pretty good, I will say I prefer the female bartenders I have had as opposed to one male but none of the bartenders have been horrible or unwelcoming.
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Allison B.

Yelp
Pretty much as described by other yelpers... what you would traditionally call a dive bar, but the bartender was super friendly and welcoming! We enjoyed a delicious (albeit messy) vegan burger and fries and a cold beer! A quick and tasty meal and we appreciated the vegan options!
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Atiya G.

Yelp
This was a very unexpected but very pleasant surprise. After walking around for at least an hour (and passing Big Gun once) trying to find a place to eat we decided to keep it simple and get burgers and fries. Headed back to Big Gun and ordered the classic burger with fries, brussel sprouts and a root beer. The brussel sprouts had ample seasoning on them, were cooked perfectly, a very generous portion and very good. The burger was quite tasty but what made it even better was the bun. It was perfectly toasted and soft. The one hiccup was the fries. Whew...they were as hard as the wood table. It seems like they they were dropped in the fryer numerous times before being served. It's unfortunate because they had great flavor and would have been perfect if they weren't overly fried. The bartender was attentive and kind and the service was good. The icing on the cake is the 80s/90s hip hop they were playing in the bar. Fantastic playlist! Oh and one more thing, the bathrooms were clean and well maintained. That's something you can't say about similar establishments. Glad we stopped here and have all decided we'll be back before we go if our planned dining plans don't work out. One more thing, we made it during happy hour which was a real treat. The prices are amazing especially for the good food being served.
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Kielynn H.

Yelp
Delicious burgers! I got the bungalow burger and my husband got the classic with Carolina bbq.
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Max A.

Yelp
One of the worst experiences I have ever had. The bartender was awful. He was more concerned about complaining about the people he works with than paying customers. His voice, well, you know, that whiny voice from like an adolescent....... Just got under my skin. To say I was totally ignored would be an understatement. I had to ask for silverware, I had to ask for ketchup, twice. I had to ask for a drink refill. Absolutely no "How was your meal?" Also, after I paid, no thank you or acknowledgment. The burger was not all that great, mediocre at best. The fries, well this is a first -- hot, soggy on the outside and ice cold in the middle. Skip this place, there are way better choices in the area.
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Amanda M.

Yelp
Bungalow burger was Delicious!! The Bun was so good & the entire composition just Worked!! The pork tacos were tasty, but a little too spicy for me (I'm a baby!). They have local beers which both our IPAs were delicious and great recommendations by the bartender. There is a pool table and a photo booth-FUn! This place is definitely divey (in the best kind of way), cozy, and great for people watching . Would definitely recommend!
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Sarah W.

Yelp
When I say this spot exceeded expectations, I'd be putting it lightly. I've heard a lot of reviews on Big Gun having one of the best burgers and I must say...THEY ARE RIGHT! For starters, the overall atmosphere is so much cooler and gives such a low key but comfortable vibe. The inside is small but it was very clean and cozy! I loved that the music wasn't too loud and everyone inside (customers and staff) so friendly. I ordered the Thin White Duke (no mayo but add the Big Gun sauce on the side) and added tomato and lettuce. The burger itself was presented beautifully. All of the toppings were perfectly done - lettuce and tomato was crunch while the mushrooms and onions sautéed excellently. The bun also was not gross or soggy and very good quality. The burger and bacon (thick cut - YUM!) were DELICIOUS. Did I mention everything came out hot and fresh?! The fries were also so good. All and all, IM GOING BACK as soon as I can. Great food, excellent service, and wonderful vibes - love it. My friends ordered a Classic Burger & Bungalow and both loved their food as well.
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Travis C.

Yelp
Such a great bar. Smaller place but very friendly staff and really good food. We got the classic burgers. Local flavor and great atmosphere.

Roseann S.

Yelp
You could feel a college frat vibe w juicy burgers and salty fries!!!!! We stumbled in this super chill hole in the wall after we left Ritual's rooftop bar. It was late, we (party of 6) were hungry and this place delivered.
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Ellie C.

Yelp
You may think this is a "dive bar" when you first walk in but I can assure you that the burgers here are the absolute best! In fact, the burgers were so good, I never had a chance to take a picture of it. We sat at the bar and service was great. Our burgers were so great, we came back a second time. Definitely will be back when in town!
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Wendy B.

Yelp
Just WOW! Low key relaxed vibe, the bartender was fantastic. The food exceeded my expectations. They claim the best burger, I agree. The pimento cheese appetizer GET IT! Just such a surprise!! Clean, friendly, great food! Go!
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George P.

Yelp
This is a fun, divey and tasty burger joint. The burgers and pork tacos were solid and will leave you satisfied. Limited menu of great burgers, a chicken sandwich and some bar food - more than I expect from a bar. Beer selection was cool with a mix of local brews, cool imports, mass market favorites and some excellent root beer. A dive bar with some limited non-bar seating. Good for families with older kids. Service is order at the bar and the food comes out to you directly. Everyone we interacted with was prompt and friendly. Prices were just fine for downtown Charleston. If you are hungry and thirsty after spending a day in Charleston, this is a fun spot.
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Alicia C.

Yelp
One of the absolute flat out best burgers I have had! And the fact that it is a tiny pub that serves a few different items for lunch is almost 200 years old blowsmy mind
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Shayla V.

Yelp
A bunch of us took our toddlers to the Christmas parade and then we walked over to see the tree lighting. We were all pretty spent and hungry and I immediately grabbed phone to see what was in walking distance to us with some quick food eats. Then this place popped up and I remember running across a few people posting about it on Low Country Eat Out! Everyone agreed and we walked over immediately! Only thing I was nervous was it was a bar and I wasn't sure if kids could be inside, but when we walked in there was already two other kids inside. Anyways we all ordered. I don't know why I only took a picture of mine... I ordered the Thin White Duke which was served with Mushrooms, bacon, swiss, caramelized onion, and a horseradish mayo and OMG it was incredible! The flavors were superb and the burger was just cooked and seasoned to perfection. I am boogie when it comes to fries and there's weren't only hand-cut, but they were seasoned, and just the right amount!! My husband ordered the Towering Inferno which was a Beef burger & pulled pork, bbq sauce, queso fresco, and topped with a habanero slaw, it was fire! In a good way!!! I stole bite lol! Another friend ordered the same burger as me but she opted for the Brussels and wow, those were delicious too!! You do have to order at the bar and they have a big jug of water off to the side, if you need water. By the looks of the outside many probably walk right on bye, don't!!! Go on in and get yourself a legit delicious burger!!!! Or try a hot dog, pimento Cheese or taco! I'm sure they know what they are doing either way!! I would've definitely ordered off their extensive beer or whiskey list too had I not been pregnant, lol! Their happy hour specials seemed legit too! Go!!
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Patrick E.

Yelp
The burger was amazing! We have been back two times now! Always go for the egg, it's messy, but that's too bad, the taste more than makes up for it!
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Robert T.

Yelp
Great little bar with tasty grub and friendly people on Calhoun Street. Wonderful bar plates to nibble on. Pool table out back. Street parking.

Lesley H.

Yelp
Listen...If you find yourself in Charleston, you HAVE to visit Big Gun. My friend and I were wandering, being tourists and found ourselves desperately searching for a good burger. Fortunately for us, we were just down the street from Big Gun. Once a late 1800s tavern, this burger joint has modernized without losing its vintage charm. Since it was a late lunch, it was fairly quiet, which is nice if you're hoping to have a conversation. The bartender was incredibly helpful and attentive, going so far as to give us his favorite spots in town. The burgers were phenomenal (I highly recommend the bungalow burger), the potato salad was amazing, and of course the beer was ice cold and the perfect addition to my meal!

Paul K.

Yelp
Stopped in while on a work trip for dinner and had a fantastic meal. Fast service and the food was top notch. Had the Jive Turkey, beer battered onion rings, and a bottle of cream soda. Burger was juicy and the onion rings were tasty!! Highly recommend and would definitely revisit if I ever find myself back in Charleston.

david h.

Yelp
Delicious burgers are not just for the students. While the surroundings could be classified as a "hole in the wall" The chairs were comfortable the table clean. We will be back.
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Marie A.

Yelp
I loved my burger and beer here. The bartender was super friendly too. And the fries were great. It's a burger place. If you want a burger this place is great -- smash burger style perfection. It's got sort of a contrived edgy decor but it's not really a dive. It's friendly and delicious.
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David B.

Yelp
The menu is limited to burgers: went because there were posts about the veggie burger. With so many good options of quality veggie patties, it's befuddling that a better veggie burger isn't served. If you want a good veggie burger, look elsewhere.
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Illboy S.

Yelp
Definitely in my top 3 for burger spots in the Holy City. Just a good ass burger! Awesome ambiance and great staff. Cold beer and cool spot. Hard to argue that...
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Debi S.

Yelp
Great little dive bar in Charleston! We had a delicious hot dog with yummy fries. This place is perfect for drinks and food especially when you are all flooded out from the restaurant scene. Bartender was super nice too! Glad we were able to come here on our last night.
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Josh G.

Yelp
Sign said "best burger in Charleston" and I'd have to agree. Food was fantastic and served quickly, Not too expensive, well worth it. Keith at the bar was awesome, great conversation, guy was good at his job, super nice. 100% recommend this place.

Diana R.

Yelp
This place is a hidden GEM! The bartender was quick and very friendly and the burgers (I had the classic and hubby had the Bungalow) were perfection! The buns were light and fresh and the meat patties were almost delicate--SO DELICIOUS . I wish I had found this place early in my vacation.

Patrick J.

Yelp
We stopped in Big Gun Bar and Burgers just for a quick bite to eat or last night in Charleston and so glad we did. After visiting a few of the more fancy and famous restaurants in Charleston on our trip it was fun to go to a place that was more chill and local. We had onion rings and just the classic burger and it was good bar food. I feel like everything was reasonably priced and they had some great deals for happy hour and $4 shots on sundays. They had a pool table in the back room and good rock music playing. Clearly is a hangout for servers in the area stopping in after getting off their shifts. It was a cool vibe if you're looking for a quick stop and a drink.
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Madison S.

Yelp
Actually loved the food here. It's a awesome little dive bar with a good happy hour menu from 4-6 on the weekdays! I had the veggie burger. I was also very happy to see some vegan options! Staff was friendly.

Gerard M.

Yelp
The food was absolutely delicious!! "So dang good. Like so so dang good!" The vibes were great. Super fun music. Service was incredible. Would recommend!!

Lauren C.

Yelp
great burbers i love this place and the man in charge he's super sweet great burbers great burbers great burbers great burbers great burbers

Greg Z.

Yelp
Great burger and beer joint. Service was on point, looking forward to return trip. Price point was reasonable for Charleston.

Virginia W.

Yelp
We stopped in late at night after our flight landed. The burgers were great, the onion rings were the best we've had in a long time, the ciders were cold, and the staff were fantastic. We loved this place so much we had to go back on our last day.
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Vanessa S.

Yelp
Fun, welcoming atmosphere. Went here twice for drinks. Awesome service from the bartenders.
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Michael V.

Yelp
Cool downtown dive with a pool table and bar. Limited menu selection with smash burgers and chicken. But phenomenal.
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Chris E.

Yelp
Very cool little spot for a drink and food. Seating is limited in this quaint spot built around 1830. It may be small in seating size but big on the burger flavor! The bar tenders (who are also the servers) have been very friendly and helpful. The food was very good both times we visited, less some cold fries on one visit. We'll chalk that up to the rush on orders when we ordered. The "hot" coleslaw is HOT and delicious. These are not smash burgers. Just hand-pattied, flat-top grilled, juicy burgers. If want a hole-in-the-wall restaurant serving hot burgers, sandwiches and the like, make this a stop while you're in downtown Charleston.

Rachel H.

Yelp
Probably one of the top three burgers I've ever had. The food was fresh and the service was fast. Definitely a low key vibe with I love. The staff was great and had the tv on hockey for playoffs. Will 100% come back again!
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Ed T.

Yelp
Good, hot food in a place that looks like a dive but is clean and well ordered. I was very impressed.

T D.

Yelp
Best burgers in Charleston!! The service is always on point and the atmosphere is cool as well!
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Opal D.

Yelp
Dive bar with great burgers. A great stop for food away from the regular tourist haunts downtown.
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RM P.

Yelp
Great spot for a beer and burger. Always a great bartender, and food is always outstanding. Cool vibe, cool t shirts to grab. Highly recommend.
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Elise D.

Yelp
I can't believe it's taken me this long to check this place out. After some day drinking, my friend and I were looking for a no frills meal and stopped in to Big Gun Burger Shop. The inside is relatively small, but there is bar seating and a few tables. They have great happy hour and daily specials listed on their chalk board that I will have to come back and try. We were there on a Sunday, so they had $5 Bloody Marys and mimosas. We both got a Bloody Mary and the "Thin White Duke" burger. The Bloody Mary was not my favorite. When I went up to the bar I noticed that she added bitters into it, which gave it a strange orange flavor that I didn't care for. The burger definitely made up for the drink. The Thin White Duke has mushrooms, bacon, swiss, caramelized onions, and horseradish mayo. First of all, the bacon on here was super thick and perfectly crispy, it was freaking amazing. Secondly, they covered the burger in the horseradish mayo and as a girl who likes things saucy, I appreciated that. The flavors worked together so well and the burger was so juicy. I can't wait to come back and try their happy hour specials!

Abby L.

Yelp
AMAZING burger spot! Service at the bar was quick and we could not get over how good the burgers were. They were cooked perfectly and the fries were crispy. Definitely go check this place out!
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Marc J.

Yelp
A little dark, some might say seedy...I call it character. What ever you call it, make sure you call it great. The burgers are the bomb, big enough for a meal but not overwhelming, with a variety of flavor profiles for everyone. Beef, turkey, vegan. If I had not been so engaged in my meal, I might have remembered to take a picture of the menu. I guess it's best to stop in and read it yourself. Dare you to walk out with an empty belly .

Teri T.

Yelp
The food was awesome. Was only looking for something to hold us over to dinner. Pork tacos and Brussels Sprouts were fantastic.