Grind Burger Kitchen | Louisville, Kentucky
Among many restaurants nationwide, Liz and Jesse Huot have translated a food truck into a brick-and-mortar establishment that is still rabid and far less likely to have a flat tire. If you like to play a chef here, you can take your route daily to adorn one-third-pound patties, grass-fed and ground-in-house, but you may want to trust them and try the B&B. It has thick gooey Brie slabs enveloping crisp bacon, with bright, spicy habanero jam cutting through what would otherwise be excessive richness. — ML
HiHo Cheeseburger | Santa Monica, California
This unassuming burger spot on the beach in LA, just this summer, has big backers, so it is no surprise that their 100% grass-fed wagyu patties are among the city’s best bites. They have a thin, griddled patty and a presentation next to the taste of the beloved chain in-n-out. Not to be missed: their hand-cut fried shakes, and thick. — Jeff Miller