The Best Burgers in Washington, D.C.

Billy Goat Tavern is a renowned Chicago landmark best known for its breakfast and burgers. But you don't have to fly to the City of the Big Shoulders to experience one of its great burgers. You can get one right on New Jersey Avenue NW in the city.

As the name suggests, BGR serves a variety of burgers—prime beef, veggie, Cuban, Greek, and Burger of the Month, among many others.  Go traditional all the way with a great shake or Coke or root beer float at this award-winning Washington burger joint. 

This family-owned business on Capitol Hill serves handcrafted burgers, hand-cut fries, handspun shakes and farm-fresh salads. You get the idea. All the burgers are made from farm-raised beef and free-range turkey.

This Washington restaurant group owns 13 spots throughout the region. Each has a unique setting and menu featuring American favorites such as burgers, ribs, seafood, and salads. Clyde's in Georgetown is the original, and its exposed brick walls and upscale bar and grill atmosphere is a prime space in which to enjoy one of the best burgers in the area.

Old Ebbitt Grill dates back to 1856 and is the oldest saloon in Washington. This swanky Washington landmark is just blocks from the White House. The menu features upscale American cuisine that includes a wide variety of dishes, from burgers to several pasta choices and elegantly prepared seafood.

TKO Burger, on Rhode Island Row, features old-fashioned burgers made of certified Angus beef. Its menu is almost entirely burgers (though not all are made of beef), and it features the Original TKO Burger, the Mac 'n' Cheese Burger, Southern Fried Green Tomato Burger, and the Jerk Burger, along with non-beef "burgers" like the  Maryland Soft Shell Crab Burger, the Turkey Burger, and the Fried Chicken Burger.

RFD is an American restaurant with cuisine a la biere, or beer-inspired recipes, and more than 300 bottled brews and 30 beers on tap. It's owned by the Brickskeller outfit, and the menu includes a variety of sandwiches, salads, and of course, and burgers to write home about.

This red-hot burger chain that hails from New York City has seven locations in the Washington area, so no matter where you are, you're close to Shake Shack. The menu features Shake Shack classics that include its famous burgers, fries, and frozen custard. Burgers are made of 100 percent all-natural Angus beef.