Atlanta has a rich hamburger culture that spans nearly a century of history, from The Varsity’s 1928 founding as the world’s largest drive-in to contemporary smash burger specialists who have earned national best burger recognition. The city’s burger scene encompasses iconic local chains, critically acclaimed independent spots tucked inside gas stations, and neighborhood burger bars with devoted followings. Food and Wine, Thrillist, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution have all recognized Atlanta burger restaurants in their national best-burger coverage, indicating that the city’s burger scene competes at a national level. The smash burger format, in which thin patties are pressed on a flat-top griddle for maximum crust development, has become particularly popular in Atlanta and produced some of the city’s most lauded burger concepts.
When choosing a hamburger restaurant in Atlanta, the quality of the beef blend is the most important consideration. The best Atlanta burger restaurants use fresh-ground beef with an appropriate fat percentage (20% fat is ideal for flavor and juiciness) and form patties by hand or press rather than using pre-formed frozen patties. The bun should complement rather than overwhelm the patty, with many of Atlanta’s best burger spots using Martin’s potato rolls or locally baked brioche buns that hold together under the weight of the toppings. American cheese, when used, should be properly melted into the patty rather than applied cold. A burger that drips during the first bite, indicating proper fat content and cooking temperature, is a reliable quality indicator.
Top Hamburger Restaurant Companies in Atlanta
1. NFA Burger
Address: 5465 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Inside the Chevron, Dunwoody, GA 30338
Phone: (404) 666-2874
Website: https://www.nfaburger.com
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 11 AM-3 PM, Thursday-Saturday 11 AM-7:30 PM, Sunday-Monday closed
Awards & Recognition: Best Burger in Georgia (Food and Wine, Food Insider), Top 47 Burgers in America (Thrillist), Atlanta’s Best Burger (AJC)
Services:
- Smash-style cheeseburgers
- Classic double cheeseburger on Martin’s potato roll
- Simple burger preparations focused on quality
- Counter service inside Chevron gas station
- Lunch and early dinner service
About: NFA Burger is one of Atlanta’s most celebrated burger operations, earning Best Burger in Georgia recognition from Food and Wine and Food Insider, placement in Thrillist’s Top 47 Burgers in America, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Atlanta’s Best Burger designation. Despite these accolades, NFA Burger operates from inside a Chevron gas station in Dunwoody, embodying the principle that exceptional food does not require an elaborate setting. The signature order is a double cheeseburger on a Martin’s potato roll with mustard and pickles, a deceptively simple preparation executed with premium fresh-ground beef. The restaurant started as a social media account called Billy’s Burgers before developing into one of Atlanta’s most decorated independent burger operations.
2. Grindhouse Killer Burgers
Address: 1842 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 (Midtown main location)
Phone: (470) 516-6140
Website: https://www.grindhouseburgers.com
Founded: 2009
Hours: Monday, Wednesday-Sunday 11:30 AM-10 PM, Tuesday closed
Services:
- Hand-packed beef patties with creative toppings
- Specialty and classic burgers
- Thick milkshakes
- Housemade chili
- Craft beer program
- Multiple Atlanta locations including Grant Park, Brookhaven, Decatur, and two airport locations
About: Grindhouse Killer Burgers was founded in 2009 by Alex Brounstein, an Emory graduate who left a real estate law career to pursue his vision of an Atlanta burger institution. The concept launched inside the Sweet Auburn Curb Market and has expanded to multiple locations across the metro area, including two locations at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport that make Grindhouse accessible to travelers. The menu features hand-packed patties with a rotating roster of specialty burgers alongside milkshakes and housemade chili, and the Grindhouse name reflects the irreverent, high-quality casual approach that has made it an Atlanta staple for over fifteen years.
3. The Varsity
Address: 61 North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 881-1706
Website: https://www.thevarsity.com
Founded: 1928
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 AM-8 PM, Friday-Saturday 11 AM-9 PM
Services:
- Classic chili burgers and hamburgers
- Varsity-style hot dogs
- Onion rings and signature sides
- Frozen desserts and shakes
- Drive-in and dine-in service
- Capacity for 800 indoor diners
About: The Varsity is one of Atlanta’s most enduring institutions and one of the most historically significant fast food operations in American history, founded in 1928 by Frank Gordy near Georgia Tech campus. The restaurant occupies two full city blocks and can accommodate 800 diners inside, making it one of the largest restaurants in the country by capacity. The Varsity’s chili dog and chili burger have been Atlanta staples for nearly a century, and the unique ordering system with counter servers calling out orders in traditional Varsity shorthand is part of the irreplaceable experience. Multiple suburban locations extend The Varsity brand, but the original North Avenue drive-in remains the authentic Atlanta institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the smash burger and why has it become so popular in Atlanta?
A: The smash burger is a preparation in which a loose ball of ground beef is placed on a very hot flat-top griddle and immediately pressed (smashed) with a spatula into a thin patty, maximizing the surface area in contact with the hot metal and creating an extensive Maillard reaction crust that develops intense savory flavor. The thin patty cooks very quickly, typically 2-3 minutes per side, producing a crispy-edged, juicy interior burger that is distinctly different from a thicker restaurant patty. Atlanta’s NFA Burger helped popularize the format locally, and the smash burger’s exceptional flavor-to-simplicity ratio has made it the dominant burger trend in Atlanta’s independent burger scene.
Q: What does a quality burger meal cost in Atlanta?
A: At NFA Burger, the signature double cheeseburger is typically $12-$15 and single patties are $8-$12, with the small menu keeping costs low and quality high. At Grindhouse Killer Burgers, specialty burgers run $12-$18 and milkshakes are $7-$10. At The Varsity, classic burgers and hot dogs are $5-$10, reflecting the institution’s fast food pricing model that has remained accessible across its nearly century-long history. Farm Burger and other quality casual burger concepts generally price patties at $12-$16 with premium toppings adding $1-$3 each.
Q: What are the essential Atlanta burger experiences for visitors?
A: The Varsity on North Avenue is a mandatory Atlanta cultural experience regardless of burger preferences, offering a piece of the city’s food history dating to 1928. NFA Burger’s celebrated double cheeseburger in Dunwoody is worth the drive for anyone serious about burgers and represents the peak of Atlanta’s contemporary smash burger scene. Grindhouse Killer Burgers offers the best combination of creative specialty burgers and a social atmosphere for groups. These three restaurants collectively span nearly a century of Atlanta burger culture and offer genuinely different experiences.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s hamburger restaurant scene offers exceptional depth, from NFA Burger’s nationally decorated simplicity inside a Dunwoody gas station to Grindhouse Killer Burgers’ fifteen-year multi-location legacy and The Varsity’s nearly century-old role as Atlanta’s most iconic restaurant in any category. Each represents a distinct and genuine dimension of Atlanta’s burger culture. Contact any of them directly for hours, large group accommodations, and catering availability.