This Ultimate Burger Bucket List In Delaware Will Make Your Mouth Water
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Kim Magaraci
Author
I’ve been on a quest to find the best burger in Delaware, and it’s been my favorite mission all year. To me, there is nothing better than a greasy burger piled high with onion strings, caramelized onions, crispy bacon, pickles, and a spicy BBQ sauce… I digress. Luckily, with so many gastropub-style places popping up lately, there is no shortage of great burger joints in Delaware! It almost seems like you can’t walk down the street in Trolley Square without catching a whiff of a bar grilling up their signature cheeseburger – and trust me, I’m not complaining about that! So, if you’re also looking for the best burger in Delaware, let me guide you along a little. Start out with our Burger Bucket List and hit all of the most creative and the best burgers in Delaware.
1. Best Brunch Burger, Drip Café
144 Lantana Dr, Hockessin, DE 19707, USA
60 N College Ave, Newark, DE 19711, USA
When you walk past Drip Cafe, you'll probably just assume it's a coffee house, where you can grab a good breakfast sandwich or a great latte. Of course, you can do both of those things here. But you can also order the best Brunch Burger in Delaware when they're featuring it. Its menu is seasonal so check the Drip Café website as well as the Drip Café Facebook page to check when the brunch burger is back on the menu at either location.
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2. Most Requested, The Backyard
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211 Broadkill Rd, Milton, DE 19968, USA
Nearly every single time I write a "Best of Delaware" restaurant list, I include the Backyard. The place is amazing -- in a great location, with the coolest dining set up in the state, and some amazing food. If I don't include it on a list for whatever reason, I can bet that someone in the comments will ask "What about the Backyard?" So, this place gets the "Most Requested" honor on our Best Burger in Delaware list. Check out the Backyard website and the Backyard Facebook page for more.
Take a look at this video of the Backyard Milton by @TwinfinMedia:
Take a look at this video of the Backyard Milton by @TwinfinMedia:
3. Most Creative, Restaurant 55
2461 S State St, Dover, DE 19901, USA
Only Restaurant 55 in Dover was even considered for the Most Creative Burger in Delaware award. Walk in on any given night and check out their daily specials, and try to disagree with me here. My favorite from a while back was their unbelievable "Philadelphia Experiment" - topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce & tomato served on Fried Jalapeño Bacon Mac n Cheese Buns. Mac and Cheese Buns! OMG! However, if this isn't available, you can't go wrong with any of the other burgers on the menu. Restaurant 55 has some of the best burgers in DE. Check out the Restaurant 55 website for more information.
4. Best Greasy, Bad-for-You Burger, 2 Fat Guys
701 Ace Memorial Dr, Hockessin, DE 19707, USA
Aptly named "2 Fat Guys" is our pick for the greasiest, worst-for-you, hate-yourself-after burger in Delaware that's so worth it! Top it with onion rings, top it with cheese, top it with bacon - whatever you top it with, you'll be so happy chowing down on a burger from this joint. Check out the 2 Fat Guys website for more information.
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5. Fanciest Burger Joint, Redfire Grill
Redfire Grill & Steakhouse, 400 Lantana Dr, Hockessin, DE 19707, USA
RedFire Grill & Steakhouse is a trendy steakhouse that serves killer burgers. When their own website boasts "dry-aged beef seared to perfection in our 1200-degree chophouse broiler," you might wonder what this is doing on a burger-joint list. Just look up - do you see that photo? That's the REDfire Burger. Order it and enjoy aged cheddar, maple pepper bacon, and housemade 1000 island dressing on a brioche roll. Stay Classy, Delaware. Visit the RedFire Grill & Steakhouse website for more information.
6. Least Fancy Burger Joint, Charcoal Pit
2600 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
Or, I mean, you can go to the Charcoal Pit. Trust me when I say I'm not knocking it - sometimes you just want a greasy burger and a huge black and white milkshake to dip your fries into, and there's nowhere better in the entire state than the legendary Charcoal Pit for exactly that. Just don't expect fancy napkins. Visit the Charcoal Pit website to learn more about some of the best burgers in Delaware.
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7. Best Veggie Burger, Tonic Seafood & Steak
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111 W 11th St, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA
Tonic Seafood & Steak, 111 W 11th St, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA
I'm a meat eater. A full-fledged carnivore. The letter opener on my desk is an old promo item I saved from a farm I worked with once, and above their logo it states "THE WEST WASN'T WON ON SALAD." However, not everyone enjoys red meat, or meat at all - and lucky for them, places like Tonic Bar & Grill exist. They take the whole "veggie burger" thing up a notch, with a chick pea cake sandwich or the Tonic Burger with a Beyond Beef Patty, topped with your choice of cheese, sautéed or fried onions, roasted red peppers, and tomato jam. It has to be the best vegetarian burger in Delaware. I'll admit it - sometimes, it's just as good as their bacon-y, barbecue Texas Burger. Take a look at the Tonic Seafood & Steak website for more information.
8. Best Burger-and-Fries Combo, Chelsea Tavern
821 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA
Looking for "burgers near me" in Wilmington? Chelsea Tavern's hand-cut trio fries are served on the side of their burgers, usually with their chili horseradish ravioli. When you combine that with the fact that their burgers are delicious, fresh, creative, and on brioche (soggy buns no more!), it's easy to see why the combination made our Best Burger in Delaware list. Visit the Chelsea Tavern for more.
Chelsea's Tavern even has a burger challenge! Take a look at this Chelsea Challenge video by @Josh-The-Goat:
Chelsea's Tavern even has a burger challenge! Take a look at this Chelsea Challenge video by @Josh-The-Goat:
9. The Surprise, Piccolina Toscana
Piccolina Toscana, 1412 N Dupont St, Wilmington, DE 19806, USA
Editor's Note: It looks like the burger at Piccolina Toscana is no longer an option. However, you can view the restaurant's menu on the website for other delicious options.
I'll admit that hearing about amazing burgers at Piccolina Toscana took me by surprise. After all, it's an Italian tapas restaurant which is a little unconventional to begin with. Guests rave about their "PLT" burger, topped with mozzarella, butter lettuce, oven-dried tomatoes and crisp pancetta. It sounds and looks absolutely delicious.
I'll admit that hearing about amazing burgers at Piccolina Toscana took me by surprise. After all, it's an Italian tapas restaurant which is a little unconventional to begin with. Guests rave about their "PLT" burger, topped with mozzarella, butter lettuce, oven-dried tomatoes and crisp pancetta. It sounds and looks absolutely delicious.
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10. Best "Western" Burger, Firebirds
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 1225 Churchmans Rd, Newark, DE 19713, USA
The Durango Burger takes the typical Western/Texas Burger up to a new level. The beef is chile spiced and it's topped with pepper jack cheese, pickles, loads of fried onions, dressed with delicious roasted garlic ranch dressing, and of course, served on a brioche bun. It. Is. Perfect.
11. Best Burger Night, Ulysses American Gastropub
Ulysses American Gastropub, 1716 Marsh Rd, Wilmington, DE 19810, USA
Head to Ulysses American Gastropub on a Wednesday night for the best Burger Night in Delaware. Each burger is half price and they break out a menu of specialty burgers just for that night. If you're lucky, you might end up getting to try their incredible, mouthwatering duck fat Angus specialty burger. Don't pass that up! Check out the Ulysses American Gastropub website for more information.
12. Best "Classic" Cheeseburger, 8th and Union Kitchen - CLOSED
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Editor's Note: 8th and Union is permanently closed.
Sometimes, you just want a cheeseburger. Nothing fancy, no mac and cheese buns, not piled high with anything in particular. In those moments, head to your local gastropub or burger bar, order it simple, and chow down. The aged cheddar burger, topped with Caramelized Onion and their signature aioli, at 8th and Union has never disappointed me. Now, lots of places have great "simple" burgers, but 8th and Union gets this top spot because of their hand cut fries and specialty dipping sauces that take a traditional burger meal and kick it up just enough to make it really memorable. Drop in on a Monday and enjoy half-priced burgers all day, or try them for lunch on Thursday, when their half-priced burger specials run until 3 p.m.
Sometimes, you just want a cheeseburger. Nothing fancy, no mac and cheese buns, not piled high with anything in particular. In those moments, head to your local gastropub or burger bar, order it simple, and chow down. The aged cheddar burger, topped with Caramelized Onion and their signature aioli, at 8th and Union has never disappointed me. Now, lots of places have great "simple" burgers, but 8th and Union gets this top spot because of their hand cut fries and specialty dipping sauces that take a traditional burger meal and kick it up just enough to make it really memorable. Drop in on a Monday and enjoy half-priced burgers all day, or try them for lunch on Thursday, when their half-priced burger specials run until 3 p.m.
I know, I know – there’s a lot of New Castle County on this list because that’s where the big Gastropub trend has really caught on. So, which of these best burgers in Delaware will you add to your foodie bucket list? I think you should try them all!
If you’re not looking to head north, you can check out our list of small towns with amazing restaurants in Delaware, which features delicious restaurants from many of the smaller towns in Slower Lower.
Want to make your burgers at home? Check out the selection of kitchen tools from Bed, Bath and Beyond that will help you make your own burgers.
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More to Explore
Best Burgers In Delaware
Are there any restaurants with burger challenges in Delaware?
Yes, there certainly are burger challenges at some restaurants in Delaware!
- Chelsea’s Kitchen (mentioned above) has the Chelsea Challenge. For $49.99 you’ll get six 8-ounce patties on fresh-baked brioche with six slices of cheese (your choice), 12 strips of applewood-smoked bacon, 16 ounces of Trio fries, one house-made pickle, and one thin mint. Finish it all, and it will be free. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck paying $49.99!
- Jeff’s Bar & Grille offers the Jeff’s Big Ass Burger Challenge featuring three cheeseburgers stacked between two bacon-grilled cheese sandwiches and topped with a half pound of onion petals, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and ketchup. You’ll be given 30 minutes to complete this challenge. Are you up for it?