There’s arguably no food that’s more simple yet simultaneously so complex than the good ‘ole hamburger. A soft squishy bun and ground beef patty are all you need to start, but they’re infinitely customizable. Whether you like them tavern style thick or smashed thin and crispy, the addition of cheese adds an affordable layer of luxury. LTPO (lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions), while often optional, can add a pleasing cooling crunch that cuts through the richness of it all. Throw in some French fries and you’ve got the perfect meal.

As it turns out, Oakland’s burger scene contains multitudes. From old school diners to buzzing restaurants with talented chefs who make everything in house, there’s a burger for every occasion. We invite you to follow the burger trail below. Every spot on this list has been vetted and curated by yours truly, Omar Mamoon, a seasoned food writer and burger enthusiast. We hope that eating through the Burger Trail will provide fun and deliciousness, and more importantly, show you all the beauty that Oakland has to offer.

Listed in alphabetical order with Omar’s personal call outs on his top picks.

  1. Acre Bar + Kitchen
  2. Almond and Oak – Best Burger
  3. The Alley – Best Tavern Burger
  4. Beeryland
  5. Burdell
  6. Eli’s Mile High Club
  7. Hyphy Burger
  8. Lana’s
  9. Lovely’s – Best Smashburger
  10. Malibu’s Burgers – Best Vegan Option
  11. The Monk’s Kettle
  12. OH G Burger
  13. Park Burger – Best French Fries
  14. Sequoia Diner
Acre Bar + Kitchen


Opened by the longstanding restaurateur Pete Sittnick, who also has Epic Steak and Waterbar in San Francisco, Acre Bar + Kitchen in Rockridge does a massive thick 8oz burger during dinner, and there are only 12 per night. Chef Dirk Tolsma grinds brisket daily for the burgers and even bakes his own brioche, which are crusty and crackly on the outside while soft and spongy on the inside. A side of shoestring french fries is a must.

Address: 5655 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
 


Almond and Oak – Best Burger


After eating dozens of burgers across The Town, the version at the wood-fired New American restaurant Almond and Oak on Grand Ave. was our favorite. Why? Because chef Rico Rivera cares—he makes everything in house, including the soft and fluffy yet simultaneously sturdy pan de mie buns. In between these a thick puck of good ground chuck slowly grilled over, you guessed it, almond and oak wood, infusing a smokey layer into the meat. The patty is topped with melted aged white cheddar, and served with lettuce, pickles, and onions on the side (leave them there—less is more here). The twice cooked fries are crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and tossed in fresh herbs and garlic oil. It doesn’t get better than this.

Address: 3311 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610
 


The Alley – Best Tavern Burger


To truly appreciate the burger at The Alley, the dim-lit and divey almost-100-year-old piano bar on Grande Ave, be sure to visit when someone is jamming on the keys—the vibe is unlike any other and will make the thick giant juicy tavern-style burger taste even better. This one is a big boy, with the beef patty clocking in at half-a-pound. The Alley has got charm and soul and is an Oaktown—we love it so much.

Address: 3325 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

The Alley Burger in Oakland California
Burger at The Alley


Beeryland


The 5150 burger at Uptown’s Telegraph Beer Garden, aka Beeryland, is almost cheating: the 6oz burger patty is cut with ground up bacon, which lends a smoky layer and additional fat. How’s that not going to be delicious? But we’re here for it, especially on a beautiful day in the patio with the sun shining down against the giant GATS mural on the wall.

Address: 2318 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612
 


Burdell


There’s a reason that Burdell, the soul food restaurant from Chef Geoff Davis in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood, has garnered every accolade imaginable, from Food & Wine to Esquire Magazine: it’s downright delicious and at times even genius. Case in point: a cheeseburger po’boy. It’s only available during brunch and at the bar during weeknights and features fatty brisket patty that’s ground in house and stuffed in a Vietnamese baguette from Bui Phuong Bakery slathered with an ultra-umami sauce. Get an order of hashbrowns on the side and pair with something bubbly like Lambrusco or champagne.

Address: 4640 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Burger Po Boy at Burdell
Cheeseburger po’boy at Burdell


Eli’s Mile High Club


Fight those blues with the blues at Eli’s Mile High Club, where very Monday night there’s live music. Pair that with a burger and a beer and watch your cares quickly disappear. The angus beef burger patty here comes with a thick layer of melted white American cheese topped with a bright orange super savory mayo packed with paprika.

Address: 3629 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, CA 94609

Burger at Elis Mile High Club in Oakland California
Burger at Eli's Mile High Club


Hyphy Burger


Located in West Oakland, the Hyphy Burger, which comes with two crispy smashed patties, two slices of melty American cheese, grilled onions and and a tangy special sauce nestled in between a warm soft potato bun will set you back a whopping $7.99. Make it a combo, which adds french fries and a drink, and that’ll be $12.99. Hyphy Burger is for the people, by the people.

Address: 898 W Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94607
 


Lana’s


The Oklahoma onion burger was invented in part to add weight and bulk to burgers during the Depression (onions are more affordable). At Lana’s, they mustard fry their beef and add what seems like an onion’s worth of thinly sliced yellow onions before it’s all smashed into a thin crispy lacy oblivion. Bonus points for the hot fries, which are dusted with a spice mix inspired by Hot Cheetos.

Address: 517 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Lana’s (@lanasoakland)


Lovely’s – Best Smashburger


We love Lovely’s for many reasons, but mainly because its chef Mikey Yoon knows how to smash a burger. Each beef patty is a little over 3oz and is pressed until crispy on the outside, but still has juiciness in the center. The 100% grass fed beef comes care of Oakland-based supplier Cream Co meats, who partners with ranches who practice sustainable and regenerative farming. We like to get The Drive Thru for the shredded lettuce crunch (make it a double) and grab a beer a Two Pitchers next door while you wait.

Address: 2344 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94612
 


Malibu’s Burgers – Best Vegan Option


It’s impossible to tell that the burgers at Malibu’s use impossible meat for their patties—they’re 100% vegan and 1000% delicious. Bonus points for crinkle cut French fries dusted with Old Bay seasoning. Props to chef Darren Preston for making something so delicious for everyone.

Address: 326 23rd St, Unit D, Oakland, CA 94612
 


The Monk’s Kettle


Earlier in April, beloved Mission District gastropub, The Monk's Kettle, relocated across the bridge to Rockridge, and it’s firing on all cylinders. Their burger features a 6oz blend of chuck and brisket so that there’s a nice juicy chew to it. It’s topped with a mix of gruyere and American cheese, house made aioli, and an onion jam cooked down in Death and Taxes black lager, which you should probably with a pint of. San Francisco’s loss is Oakland’s gain.

Address: 5484 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Monk's Kettle (@monkskettle)


OH G Burger


The smash burgers at Oh G Burger, a collaboration between Ohgane Korean BBQ and the team behind the Korean fried chicken restaurant Chimmelier, are different in the details: Sure there’s the soft squishy potato bun and American cheese—but the beef blend? A meaty mix of short rib, chuck, and brisket. And the caramelized onions? They’re spiked with the ultra-umami Maggi seasoning.

Address: 3905 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Oh G Burger (@ohgburger)


Park Burger – Best French Fries


Park Burger is a small and intimate neighborhood spot that sources grass-fed beef for their very excellent burgers. Don’t miss out on the crispy French fries, which are made from Kennebec potatoes and are hand-cut daily—they are best in class.

Address: 4218 Park Blvd, Oakland, CA 94602
 


Sequoia Diner


Chef Andrew Vennari of Sequoia Diner in the Laurel District does an incredible version of the burger’s close cousin, the patty melt. He toasts up house made rye on the flat top with butter until crispy, slathers with Russian dressing, then stuffs with a griddled patty made from beef ground in house that’s topped with melted swiss and plenty of grilled onions. It’s a juicy glorious delicious mess. In lieu of a salad, substitute his very excellent hashbrowns and take a nap afterwards.

Address: 3719 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619
 

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