What makes a great burger? Everyone has a different opinion — a fat patty or a smashed one, cooked medium-well or burnt to a crisp, with potato buns or brioche, with cheese or without.
For me, it’s about everything working together in harmony: a little grease dripping down the wrist, sauce on my face, stragglers of shredded lettuce dangling from the bun, and the perfect grind of beef with just a hint of char. Here are some favorite local burgers worth checking out.
Best Americana
Machado Burger
Walk-up windows are a dying breed in the age of drive-thrus, but this 60-year-old neighborhood burger-and-milkshake spot is better than ever. Inside tables are scarce, but it’s just as fun to sit on the curb to eat their messy grilled beef burgers with shredded iceberg lettuce while admiring hot rods at their Sunday rallies. Just don’t get any ketchup on the cars. 406 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa and 9240 Old Redwood Hwy., Windsor. 707-546-6835, machadoburgers.com
Best Classic
Superburger
You’ll smell the sweet smoke of flame-kissed Angus burgers as you walk to the door. Keep it simple with the old-school Cheese Superburger, chocolate shake and tater tots. We recommend extra sauce for dipping and plenty of napkins on hand. 1501 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-4016, and 8204 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati, 707-665-9790. originalsuperburger.com
Best Value
Acme Burger
This is the place for great burgers on a budget. The single Acme Burger is just $7.10. Upgrades are à la carte, including fancy cheese, applewood bacon, avocado and even truffle butter. Their awesome sauce, however, is on the house. 1007 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa; 550 East Cotati Ave., Cotati; 701 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy., Petaluma; and 330 Western Ave., Petaluma. acmeburgerco.com
Best Burger and a Scoop
Iggy’s Organic Burgers
It’s normal to short-circuit just a little walking into Iggy’s. The narrow Healdsburg storefront is a scoop shop, and a burger restaurant run by a mother-son team. Start with the Iggy, an organic smashburger cooked in beef tallow and topped with local cheddar, pickled onions, and tangy Million Island sauce between two sweet Hawaiian buns. Save room for a scoop of caramel ice cream studded with chocolate-caramel toffee. 109 Plaza St., Healdsburg. iggysburger.com
Best Smashburger
Lunch Box
Though we’re longtime devotees of the diner-style Burger Harn with fancy sauce and shredded iceberg lettuce, the Oklahoma fried onion smash burger’s lacy cheese edges, sweet grilled onions, and drippy cheese can’t be denied. Pair with Dirty Fries topped with smoked bacon, pepperoncini, ranch dressing and garlic confit. 128 N. Main St., Sebastopol. lunchboxsonomacounty.com
Best Burger With a View
The Sea Ranch Lodge
The burger is good, but the seascape views on the patio of this windswept coastal lodge are incredible. Stop for a quick bite at the recently renovated lounge and solarium for a refined Sea Ranch Burger served with Fiscalini cheddar and aioli on a brioche bun. 60 Sea Walk Drive, Sea Ranch. 707-579-9777, thesearanchlodge.com
Find more favorite burgers around Sonoma County here.