There are burgers you eat because you’re hungry, burgers you eat because everyone insists they’re “the one” and burgers you plan your day around.
Palm Beach County has all three, which is why our annual burger roundup keeps expanding rather than narrowing.
May is National Burger Month, with National Burger Day landing May 28. It’s a fitting moment to look at what locals actually order and return to, not what photographs well.
From crowd‑sourced winners to a reliable chain plus a short list of elevated picks, this guide focuses on burgers that earn repeat visits.
The power of the vote: Reader favorites
Palm Beach County’s readers don’t just eat burgers, they advocate for them. That shows clearly in the 2026 Community Choice Awards, where burger loyalty translated directly into wins.
This year’s top reader‑voted burgers ranked in order are Duffy’s, Brass Ring (which also won 2025’s editorial readers choice poll) and Old School. Each represents a different version of why people return again and again.
Duffy’s burger
Duffy’s wins on familiarity and reach. It’s a place people know and visit often.
Details: Multiple locations, duffysmvp.com
Brass Ring burger
Brass Ring’s support reflects neighborhood pride and long‑standing appeal, especially in North Palm Beach.
Details: Multiple locations, brassringpubfl.com
Old School burger
Old School, the food truck wildcard for many aficionados, is the kind of result that keeps this category interesting.
Details: Find oldschoolmfs on Instagram
It underscores why ballots matter and why local habits, not just hype, shape Palm Beach County’s burger scene.
The consistent crowd‑pleaser
Habit Burger
Habit Burger keeps earning its place in this conversation for a simple reason. It delivers every time. While trends cycle quickly, Habit’s appeal doesn’t.
The chain has built strong name recognition through national accolades, including repeat USA TODAY 10BEST recognition, and locals remain loyal for good reason.
It’s a reminder that excellence doesn’t have to be exclusive or precious. You know what you’re getting, you know it’s going to hit and you don’t need to overthink the order. When consistency matters, Habit continues to stand out.
Details: Multiple locations, habitburger.com
The luxe lane: Burgers that aim higher
There’s room in Palm Beach County for a more elevated burger, as long as it doesn’t lose the plot. The best upscale versions focus on balance and intention, not excess.
Hive Bakery & Café burger
At Hive Bakery & Café, the burger works because it stays disciplined. The patty is well seasoned, the bun holds together and the richness is measured. It feels like a thoughtful upgrade rather than a statement.
Details: 1603 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-360-2196, hivebakeryandcafe.com
Café Boulud burger
Long before burgers became menu staples in fine dining, my work alma mater the ‘21’ Club burger set the standard — expensive, indulgent and synonymous with power lunches. When Daniel Boulud introduced his DB Burger in the early 2000s, he didn’t replace that legacy so much as evolve it, applying French technique and intention to an American icon. That shift helped redefine what a luxury burger could be, a lineage that carries through today at Café Boulud, where the burger reads as quiet confidence rather than excess.
Details: 301 Australian Ave., Palm Beach, 561-655-6060, cafeboulud.com
Mary Lou’s burger
Then there’s Mary Lou’s, USA TODAY’s Bar of the Year in 2025, where the splurge is explicit. The menu’s $50 A5 Big Mac leans fully into indulgence, using rich wagyu and a familiar format pushed to its limit. It’s not subtle and it’s not meant to be. In a room driven by cocktails and late‑night momentum, the burger fits by design. This is luxury as choice, ordered knowingly, enjoyed slowly and very much part of the theater.
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post’s food and restaurant writer. If you have any news tips about the local dining scene, please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best Palm Beach County burgers worth a splurge, drive‑thru stop, votes
Reporting by Diana Biederman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
