There’s no indoor seating at this East Nashville haunt — it’s a literal shack that’s simply doling out some of the best burgers in town. It all starts with a takeout window order of their one-third-pound Bear Creek patty on a grilled roll from Charpier’s Bakery. From there, throw in side of the perfectly thick hand-cut fries and enjoy your feast on the outdoor patio.

Yes, Bryan Lee Weaver brought great queso, fancy-ass crunchwraps, and some solid breakfast tacos to his East Nashville hang — but tucked into the heavily Tex-Mex menu is a stellar green chili cheeseburger. The $7 Bear Creek Farms patty comes served on a potato roll with chopped hatch chilies, American cheese, Gifford’s bacon, and ranch. For an extra $5, you can make your burger a double.

As one of East Nashville’s oldest dive bars, Dino’s has been helping patrons sop up their boozy antics with a classic burger since the 1970s — and that includes the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Robert Plant. The beloved single-patty topped with cheese isn’t the fanciest burger iteration you’ll find around town, but when most locations are charging upwards of $15 for their handhelds, Dino’s $8 patty feels like a steal.

This Virginia import (with locations in both Edgehill and Germantown) has a strong Wagyu burger game with quirky toppings you’ll be hard-pressed to find around the city. Popular options include the Frankie Brady, crowned with mac and cheese and barbecue potato chips, as well as the Cobra Kai with cream cheese, pickled jalapenos, and jalapeno jelly.

Joyland is celebrity chef Sean Brock’s colorful nod to the fast-food joints of yesteryear. His fast-casual East Nashville spot doles out single or double four-ounce patties using a customized beef blend from Bear Creek Farm, a sustainable cattle and heritage hog farm located in Williamson County, Tennessee. You can also change it up with a crispy crustburger with onions and cheese on a gluten-free bun.

Emmy Squared might be known for its square Detroit-style pizza, but the round “Le Big Matt” put Nashville’s burger game on notice. The half-pound double-stacked Bear Creek Farms patty — which you can find at all four locations around Nashville — is splayed on a chewy pretzel bun with American cheese, greens, pickles, and a tangy sambal sauce.

Pat Martin’s rapidly expanding, meaty brainchild serves up burgers and barbecue in a fast-casual setting. Though technically a fast-food restaurant, Hugh Baby’s puts an emphasis on quality by grinding patties in-house every day and serving up the same slow-smoked barbecue that makes Martin’s other Nashville restaurant (Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint) a crowd favorite. Their Charlotte Avenue location also boasts a playground that helps keep the kiddos entertained while the grown-ups savor their meal.

Matt Bolus’ $22 404 Burger is available at both 404 Kitchen and Gertie’s Bar. It’s a double patty smashburger topped with confit onions, bacon, provolone cheese, arugula, dijonaise, and bourbon truffle mushrooms. The bun, dubbed the ‘Nashville Potato Muffin,’ is an English muffin and potato bun hybrid. 

The Bad Luck Burger Club is arguably one of Nashville’s best burgers at the moment. With a huge fan base, the roving food truck can be found at farmers’ markets, coffee shops, and breweries around the city slinging its double-patty smashburgers with American cheese, caramelized onions, and Bad Luck’s signature lucky sauce on a potato bun. There are no fries or ketchup here, but you can score a bag of kettle chips to go with your burger. Watch the truck’s website for updated truck stops and dates.

Gabby’s isn’t fancy, but this Wedgewood-Houston hang holds its own when it comes to burgers. The Seamus burger — named after Gabby’s little brother — is the perfect introductory dish, boasting a single five-ounce grass-fed beef burger with your choice of cheese. If your appetite allows, make it a double with the eponymous Gabby burger, a side of fries, and a homespun milkshake.

Those who want to remember the Nashville of yesteryear, look to Brown’s Diner, which has been serving up hungry locals since 1927. The trolley-turned-restaurant came under new ownership in 2020 but has continued to plate up one of Nashville’s favorite cheeseburgers using American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a Charpier’s bakery bun. In a time when everything in Nashville feels new and glossy, there’s certainly something to be said for tried and true.

This Berry Hill burger joint is owned by brothers Jeremiah and Cole James and it’s a great neighborhood hang for live music, drinks, and yes, burgers. What began as a food truck in 2015 is now a fixed location for favorites like the Jumpback Jack burger topped with candied bacon, caramelized onions, jalapenos, pepperjack, and cumin aioli.