Explore The Best Of Missouri Through These 18 Amazing Burger Joints
Missouri knows how to do burgers right, serving up everything from classic backyard-style bites to bold creations piled high with unexpected toppings.
Across the state, local joints are flipping patties with serious personality, each one offering a delicious glimpse into Missouri’s flavorful food culture.
Whether you’re road-tripping through small towns or navigating big-city streets, these burger spots prove that great taste is never far away.
Come hungry because this is a journey your taste buds won’t forget.
1. Squeeze Inn – Stockton
Hidden along the backroads of Stockton lies a burger paradise where cheese skirts are legendary.
The signature move? A thin patty topped with cheese that spreads across the grill, creating a crispy, lacy cheese crown that extends far beyond the bun.
Locals drive for miles just to experience this cheese spectacle. Family-owned since the 1980s, this joint keeps it simple with quality ingredients and that unmistakable small-town charm that makes every bite taste better.
2. Stacked STL – St. Louis
Burger architecture reaches artistic heights at this St. Louis hotspot where gravity-defying creations challenge everything you thought possible between two buns.
Not for the faint-hearted or small-mouthed, these towering masterpieces require strategic eating plans.
Founded by a former fine dining chef with a passion for comfort food, Stacked STL transforms quality ingredients into indulgent works of art.
Their signature truffle aioli alone has developed its own cult following among the city’s food enthusiasts.
3. Smash Em’s Burger Bar – St. Louis
Watching the grill master at Smash Em’s press fresh beef balls into thin, crispy-edged patties is practically dinner theater.
Each smash releases a satisfying sizzle as the meat caramelizes, creating flavor magic that’s impossible to replicate at home.
The menu stays refreshingly simple—focusing on perfecting the basics rather than overwhelming with options.
Their house-made pickles cut through the richness perfectly, while the potato buns somehow manage to hold everything together despite the juicy onslaught.
4. Good Company – St. Louis
Stepping into Good Company feels like joining a secret burger society where every detail matters.
Their patties—a custom blend of brisket, chuck, and short rib—arrive with a perfect pink center and a crust that makes burger purists weak at the knees.
The atmosphere matches the food: unpretentious yet exceptional. Vintage arcade games line the walls, making it impossible not to linger after your meal.
Their seasonal burger specials showcase local ingredients that tell the story of Missouri’s agricultural bounty.
5. The Golden Hoosier – St. Louis
Nostalgia gets a modern upgrade at this South City gem where vintage vibes meet contemporary burger craftsmanship.
The Golden Hoosier’s signature burger features local grass-fed beef, house-made aioli, and that perfect balance of fancy and familiar.
The restored historic building adds character you can’t manufacture, with original tin ceilings and exposed brick.
Weekend brunch brings out their breakfast burger topped with a sunny-side-up egg that creates Instagram-worthy yolk cascades.
6. Shelly’s Smash Burgers – St. Louis
From humble food truck to brick-and-mortar sensation, Shelly’s rags-to-riches story is as satisfying as their double-patty masterpieces.
The owner, who learned burger-making from her grandmother, creates thin-pressed patties with crispy, lacy edges that extend beyond the bun.
Lines form early for these affordable flavor bombs topped with American cheese that melts into every nook and cranny. Their secret weapon? A custom seasoning blend that’s become so popular they now sell it by the jar.
7. Danny’s Burger Shack – Kansas City
Flames leap dramatically from the open grill at Danny’s, where the owner—a former rodeo rider—flips burgers with the same flair he once showed on bucking broncos.
His quarter-pound “Rodeo Burger” comes topped with onion rings, BBQ sauce, and enough attitude to win any showdown.
The walls display Danny’s rodeo memorabilia and photos of celebrities who’ve stopped by. Despite its growing fame, prices remain refreshingly reasonable, proving that exceptional burgers don’t require emptying your wallet.
8. Cosmo Burger – Kansas City
Born inside a neighborhood bar during pandemic pivots, Cosmo Burger proves crisis can spark culinary genius.
Their Oklahoma-style onion burgers feature thinly sliced onions pressed directly into the patty, caramelizing as the beef cooks.
The kitchen space might be tiny, but the flavors are astronomical. Operating late into the night makes this a favorite among Kansas City chefs after their shifts end.
Their house-made “cosmos sauce” remains such a closely guarded secret that even regular customers can’t quite identify all the ingredients.
9. Tay’s Burger Shack – Kansas City
Blink and you might miss this unassuming roadside stand where burger magic happens without fanfare or fuss.
Tay’s hand-forms each patty to order, using beef ground fresh daily that’s never seen the inside of a freezer.
The owner greets regulars by name while flipping burgers on a decades-old grill that’s developed the perfect seasoning. Cash-only and proud of it, this no-frills joint represents burger tradition at its finest.
10. Burger State – Kansas City
Gastronomic science meets burger passion at this modern eatery where the chef-owner spent months perfecting his custom beef blend.
Each patty gets cooked sous-vide before hitting the grill for precise temperature control that ensures perfect doneness every time.
The menu reads like a map of Missouri, with burgers named after state landmarks and regions. Local craft beers are suggested as pairings for each creation.
Their house-made ketchup contains 18 ingredients and simmers for six hours—a condiment commitment that speaks volumes.
11. SHAGGY’S – St. Peters
Motorcycle enthusiasts and burger lovers unite at this roadhouse-style joint where the owner’s shaggy beard inspired both the name and the generous portion sizes.
Their signature “Bigfoot Burger” features a full pound of beef and has defeated many hungry challengers.
Live music on weekends creates the perfect backdrop for these monster creations. The kitchen stays open late, making this a favorite pit stop for night owls.
Despite the rough-and-tumble appearance, families are welcomed with kid-sized versions of their famous burgers.
12. Duke’s on the Boulevard – Jefferson City
Political power players and everyday folks sit elbow-to-elbow at Duke’s, just blocks from the state capitol.
The owner—a former legislative aide—named menu items after political inside jokes that only locals fully appreciate.
Their “Filibuster Burger” comes stacked so high it requires a legislative act of jaw-unhinging to consume.
Black and white photos of Missouri political history cover the walls. Even during heated legislative sessions, rivals find common ground over these bipartisan beef masterpieces.
13. Booches – Columbia
Since 1884, this Columbia institution has been serving burgers on wax paper—no plates needed for these juicy handhelds that come with strict “no ketchup” traditions.
The pool tables haven’t changed positions in decades, and regulars can spot a university freshman by their condiment requests.
College memories are made here between classes and after football games. The burger itself is deceptively simple—thin patty, melted cheese, soft bun—but the combination has satisfied generations of Mizzou students and faculty.
14. Winstead’s – Kansas City
Beneath the iconic spire that’s illuminated Kansas City nights since 1940, Winstead’s continues serving steakburgers that have barely changed in 80+ years.
The vintage drive-in atmosphere transports diners to simpler times when burger dates happened in parked cars with window-hanging trays.
Their famous “skyscraper” shake serves five people—a dairy monument as impressive as the architecture.
Counter seating still features the original spinning stools where generations of Kansas Citians have twirled while waiting for their double steakburgers.
15. Lion’s Choice – St. Louis
Breaking burger convention, this St. Louis chain famous for roast beef recently unleashed a burger that’s converting even the most dedicated roast beef regulars.
Their “Black Angus Burger” features the same fanatical attention to quality that made their original sandwiches legendary.
The secret weapon? Their seasoning station where you can customize your creation with their famous “dust” – a seasoning blend so addictive that customers buy it by the bottle.
Founded by a pharmacist who applied scientific precision to fast food, Lion’s Choice elevates quick-service burgers to remarkable heights.
16. Town Topic – Kansas City
Round-the-clock burger satisfaction has been Town Topic’s promise since 1937, with their 24-hour downtown diner serving as Kansas City’s great equalizer.
Late-night revelers, early morning workers, and everyone between squeezes onto the limited counter seats for smashed burgers cooked on the original flattop.
The grill never cools and has decades of seasoning built up. Vintage neon bathes everything in a nostalgic glow that makes 3 AM burger runs feel like time travel.
Their hash browns—crispy, golden discs that perfectly complement any burger—have their own dedicated fan base.
17. Griff’s Hamburgers – Kansas City
Frozen in time since 1960, this fast-food throwback with its distinctive orange-roofed building serves nostalgia between two buns.
The original cash register still dings with each sale, and the menu board features prices that seem impossibly low in today’s economy.
Third-generation customers now bring their own children to experience burgers made the same way for over 60 years.
The owner refuses to change the recipe or modernize operations, believing some traditions shouldn’t be “improved.” Their paper-wrapped burgers come out hot and fast, proving simplicity often trumps innovation.
18. Red’s Giant Hamburg – Springfield
Resurrected from Springfield history, this Route 66 icon recently reopened after decades, bringing back the burger joint that claims to have invented the drive-thru window.
The story goes that the original sign maker couldn’t fit “hamburger” on the sign, creating the unique “hamburg” name that stuck.
Classic cars regularly fill the parking lot for unofficial meetups. The rebuilt restaurant meticulously recreates the original 1947 design, down to the red and white color scheme.
Their straightforward burgers transport diners to America’s golden age of highway travel.