A naturally portable food item that’s affordable by design, the humble hamburger emerged as big seller for D.C. restaurants during the pandemic. D.C. has long had a high-low love affair with ground beef patties from fancy hotels and steakhouses — Bourbon Steak’s lounge burger checks both boxes — to powerhouse chains with Mid-Atlantic roots (Shake Shack, Five Guys) to ghost kitchens or food trucks done good (Ghostburger, Swizzler). Sadly, Mt. Vernon Triangle lost its beloved burger bar Mélange this year. Georgetowners can look forward to the late summer arrival of La Bonne Vache, a burger-driven brasserie from Stephen Starr protege Rob Aikens.
Most restaurants on this updated map are hyper-focused on the quality of beef they use and which cuts they blend into patties. Gourmet condiments and interesting accents abound. This list is all about animal protein, but veggie burger fans should plan a trip to D.C.’s meat-free hitmakers Plnt Burger and Bubbie’s.
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