Eat With Troy

Guide · Madison, WI

The Best Burgers in Madison Right Now

Four Madison area burgers I keep going back to, and what each one is actually best at.

I did not expect Madison to have this many legit burger spots. But after going down the rabbit hole, and eating way too many burgers, there are a few places I keep coming back to.

Not because they are trendy. Not because they are expensive. Because they just flat out deliver. Here are my current favorites.

  1. Oakcrest Tavern

    Oakcrest Tavern· 5371 Old Middleton Rd, Madison

    Lowkey chaos in the best way. Small, always busy, and zero effort put into impressing you. It is just a bar that happens to serve one of the best burgers in the area. If we are talking straight up cheeseburger, this is your winner: perfect size, a ridiculous bun, and everything fits together. Only knock is the patty could use a little more seasoning and the price feels a dollar high for the size. Expect a wait at peak times, and know they also run one of the best fish frys in Madison.

  2. Village Green

    Village Green· 7508 Hubbard Ave, Middleton

    Best bang for your buck burger right now. A double cheeseburger for around $12, big portion, and cheese melted exactly how you want it. Like Oakcrest it could use a little more seasoning, but you are getting a lot of burger for the price. More of a sit down and eat spot than a quick in and out, and an easy place to bring someone who does not want anything fancy.

  3. Licari's Bar & Grill

    Licari's Bar & Grill· 1405 Emil St, Madison

    Feels like a normal bar until the food comes out. I went with the Pull Tab Burger, which is absurd in the best way: jalapeno poppers on the burger, cream cheese and aioli and beef all hitting at once. Big, messy, borderline unmanageable, and somehow it all works. This is a lean forward, grab extra napkins burger. Go here when you want something different than a standard cheeseburger.

  4. Player's Sports Bar

    Player's Sports Bar· 2013 Winnebago St, Madison

    Classic sports bar setup with games on and nothing complicated, but the food is better than you would expect. I got the Going Bananas burger: banana peppers, pepper jack, and a patty cooked almost perfectly. A little kick, a lot of flavor, and you just enjoy it. Strong option for watching a game and actually eating well, and they are known locally for being consistent.

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