I have personal experience with this because I LOVE burgers. However, I HATE chain burgers like Wendy's and McDonald's, so you won't find any of those recommendations here. This is not a guide to an upscale, expensive foodies trip for burgers by the most prominent named chefs. Nope, this is your everyday guide to locally sourced burgers made by locals and loved by their customers.
This blog starts off with a personal favorite of mine, Fido's Coffee Shop. Yes, believe it or not, a coffee shop has to be the best burger in town – in my humble opinion 😉
After that, we sample the other must-visit locations in Nashville. Not only do we serve the best hot chicken and BBQ in the south, but we also serve up some award-winning burgers made by locals with locally sourced ingredients. Sorry vegans, this is an all-beef affair.
This is your no-nonsense, free, fast guide to the best burgers in Nashville. If you're planning a trip to Nashville or just here for a few hours, these are the places you need to visit.
Writing this made me hungry; I'm off to get a Nashville burger!
Best Nashville Burgers
Fido's Coffee Shop
Here's a strange thing: Not only do I go to Fido's Coffee Shop for the best coffee in Nashville, but I also recommend Fido's as the best Burger in town. They consistently rank in the Nashville Scene's “Best Overall Burger” awards.
Bob Bernstein, the owner of Fido's, says, “people are surprised that we have any food here at all. We've been doing a lot of food forever. A full breakfast, lunch, and dinner”.
Fido's is located in the trendy Hillsboro Village. It's a popular hangout for Vanderbilt and Belmont Students.
My wife and I have been going here for over 10 years now. It's the first place we take our friends visiting from out of town. It's also our favorite place for a date night. The bar-style seating next to the window is ideal for people-watching.
I always order the Local Burger. It comes with either beef or lamb, is local and grass-fed, is juicy, well-cooked, flavored with herbs, and has a good char. It also comes with Tennessee white cheddar, caramelized fennel (which you can taste!), red onion, pickle, lettuce, and bun.
Parking around the back is free for two hours.
Address: 1812 21st Avenue S, Nashville
Hugh Baby's
Hugh Baby's was started by Pat Martin, a local Nashvillian and the founder of Martin's BBQ in Nashville and one of the best pit masters in the country.
They have three locations in Nashville and follow the 1960s-themed fast food restaurant.
The meat is sourced locally and delivered three times a week, so it's always fresh, never frozen. The pulled pork sandwich is cooked for up to 20 hours daily in hickory smoke in the store, and the beef patties are handmade. The fries are also hand-cut and fried every day.
You need to also try the handcrafted milkshakes; they're incredible. They have three options, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
A hot local favorite is a double cheeseburger. It has bacon, onions, cheese, and homemade sauce.
A secret to their success is the insistence on freshness. The potatoes are cut and fried in the store, and even the fruit that goes into the milkshakes is cut and pureed.
Check out their locations here.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack was started in New York and, due to its popularity, has popped up all over, including Green Hills in Nashville.
By far, the most popular menu item is the SmokeShack. It's a cheeseburger with Applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry pepper, and ShackSauce.
Here are some menu options you should try:
- The original burger that made them famous is still on the menu. It has high-quality beef, tomatoes, and lettuce. It also has a potato bun.
- The SmokeShack. The meat is smoked and comes with jelly, pepper jam, and a potato bun.
- The CrackleBurger. They partnered with Peg Leg Porker, a local BBQ restaurant, for this one. It has beef, cheese, and pork rinds.
- A Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich.
- The Tiramisu Shake.
- Local Nashville Custard.
They have three locations in Nashville: Green Hills, Fifth & Broadway, and the Airport. Learn more here.
M.L. Rose
M.L. Rose is located in Capital View, near the Gulch, and has two other locations.
On Saturdays and Sundays, they have to buy one get one drink. They also have specialty burgers that they only serve on Saturdays and Sundays.
They have the incredible “Nash Vegas” burger, a sweet potato bun, crisp onions, BBQ sauce, and cheddar cheese.
Another popular menu item is the Southern Bell Burger. It includes crispy fried onions, bacon, and sweet potato fries.
Every month they try and shake it up and do something different by providing a “Burger of the Month.” In addition, they recently partnered with Belle Meade Bourbon, a Nashville whiskey distillery. As a result, they created the Southern Belle burger, a bacon and cheese burger with BBQ sauce made from Belle Meade Bourbon whiskey.
They also recently did a French Egg sandwich. So you never know what might be on offer!
They are also an excellent place to enjoy the Nashville craft beer scene. Every day between 3-6pm, you'll get $1 off beers.
Gabby's Burgers & Fries
Gabby's Burgers is one of the best burger joints in town. The beef is locally sourced, and they are locally owned. The burgers and fries are cut by hand.
It was started by Nashville local Doug Havron. Doug is a family man, and they close at 2:30pm so they can be together. They can be found off Chestnut Street, only a 10-minute drive from downtown Nashville.
Dave is proud of the fact that the beef is sourced locally. He personally knows the farmers who provide him the meat.
Crowd favorites are the Swiss Bacon Burger. It has a double patty, ketchup, mayonnaise, tomato and bacon, and grass-fed beef.
Next would be the BBQ Burger. Grass-fed beef, BBQ sauce, cheese, bacon, onions, and pickles.
The best sweet potato fries in the city of Nashville are found at Gabby's too.
As a local favorite, they consider their customers family. You'll feel at home here, so stop by. Learn more here.
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