14 Underrated Virginia Burger Joints Serving Double Cheeseburgers Locals Call The Best
Think you’ve tasted the absolute best burger Virginia has to offer? Prepare to have your culinary world rocked. While the spotlight often shines on trendy eateries and upscale dining, true burger greatness frequently hides in plain sight, cherished by a loyal, in-the-know local following.
We set out on a delicious mission: to uncover the hidden gems, the mom-and-pop shops, and the unpretentious diners where the double cheeseburger isn’t just a meal – it’s an institution.
These are the places where every bite confirms why the regulars proudly declare their burgers the undisputed champion. Are you ready to discover Virginia’s best-kept burger secrets?
1. Doumar’s Cones & Barbecue – Norfolk
Norfolk’s Doumar’s has been flipping burgers since 1934, making it older than your grandparents’ love story and twice as satisfying. This drive-in legend serves old-school cheeseburgers with double meat options that taste like time travel on a bun.
The family behind the counter invented the waffle cone, so clearly they understand how to perfect classics. Carhops still bring trays to your window while you sit in air-conditioned comfort, living your best vintage life.
Each double cheeseburger arrives with perfectly melted cheese draped over hand-formed patties that sizzle on the same griddles used for decades. The barbecue might share the name, but locals know the burgers steal the show every single time.
2. Spelunker’s Frozen Custard & Cavern Burgers – Front Royal
Front Royal sits at the gateway to Shenandoah National Park, where Spelunker’s feeds hungry hikers with burgers big enough to require a trail map. The cave-town theme runs deep here, with menu items named after underground adventures and portions sized for actual spelunkers.
Their double cavern burgers stack two thick patties between toasted buns that somehow hold together despite gravitational concerns. Frozen custard provides the perfect sweet ending after you conquer one of their mountainous creations.
Local families pack the picnic tables on summer evenings, treating these burgers like the regional landmarks they truly are. The beef gets seasoned just right, creating that crispy edge everyone secretly loves best.
3. MELT Gourmet Cheeseburgers – Leesburg
Leesburg’s MELT turns burger construction into an art form where you play the artist and your stomach applauds the masterpiece. Build-your-own options mean every burger becomes a personal statement, though the recommended combinations never disappoint adventurous eaters.
Stacked cheeseburgers here lean tower-tall, requiring strategic bite planning and possibly an engineering degree. I once watched someone order a triple with every topping available, and the kitchen staff treated it like a challenge they’d been training for.
The beef quality shines through even when buried under creative toppings, proving MELT understands the foundation matters most. Loudoun County residents treat this spot like their personal burger laboratory, experimenting with combinations that would make food scientists jealous.
4. Burger District – Arlington
Arlington’s Burger District plants its flag firmly in double cheeseburger territory with menu items that spell out exactly what burger lovers crave. The Double Cheeseburger and Double Bacon Cheeseburger appear by name, eliminating any guessing games about portion sizes.
Each patty gets smashed onto a hot griddle, creating those lacy, caramelized edges that separate good burgers from legendary ones. The bacon arrives thick-cut and properly crispy, adding crunch without overwhelming the beef’s natural flavor.
Located near Metro stops, this joint feeds commuters who refuse to sacrifice quality for convenience. The straightforward menu proves that sometimes the best approach involves doing classic burgers exceptionally well without unnecessary complications.
5. Cook’s Burger Bar – Williamsburg
Williamsburg draws crowds for Colonial history, but Cook’s Burger Bar gives tourists an education in what Virginia burgers should taste like. Two locations serve the neighborhood with classic builds and double-patty options that make historical reenactments seem less interesting by comparison.
The kitchen treats each burger like it might be someone’s last meal, which sounds dramatic but feels accurate when you taste the results. Locals skip the chain restaurants near the tourist areas and head straight here for beef that actually tastes like beef.
The double-patty builds arrive juicy enough to require extra napkins but never so greasy they leave you regretting life choices. Simple ingredients prepared with care create the kind of burgers people remember long after vacation photos fade.
6. Beauvine Burger Concept – Richmond
Richmond’s Beauvine earned awards that line the walls like diplomas proving their burger expertise to anyone who doubted. Hearty patties and double options turn lunch into an event worth canceling afternoon plans to properly digest.
The concept behind the name involves carefully sourced ingredients meeting creative preparation methods, resulting in burgers that taste both familiar and surprisingly new. Each bite delivers layers of flavor that make you wonder why other places bother opening when Beauvine exists.
The cheese melts into the beef rather than sitting on top like an awkward hat, showing attention to details most restaurants ignore. Local food critics ran out of superlatives years ago, so now they just send friends here and wait for the inevitable text messages of gratitude and disbelief.
7. The Shack – Staunton
Staunton’s dining scene punches above its weight class, with The Shack leading the charge armed with spatulas and premium beef. Burger offerings including double and smash specials draw crowds that spill onto sidewalks during peak hours, creating lines that move slowly but reward patience handsomely.
The kitchen smashes patties onto a scorching griddle, creating that signature crust that crackles between your teeth before melting into beefy goodness. My cousin drove two hours just to try their weekend burger special, then immediately planned a return trip before leaving the parking lot.
Local ingredients show up whenever possible, connecting each bite to the Shenandoah Valley surrounding this charming town. The acclaim feels well-earned rather than hyped, making The Shack the kind of place you tell friends about but secretly wish would stay your personal discovery.
8. Burger In The Square – Roanoke
Roanoke locals have been trusting Burger in the Square with their lunch breaks for so long the restaurant practically owns real estate in their hearts. The menu explicitly lists a Double Cheeseburger, removing any ambiguity about what you’re getting when hunger demands serious solutions.
Long-running establishments earn their longevity by doing things right consistently, and this spot proves that theory with every order that leaves the kitchen. The square itself buzzes with activity, but regulars know the real action happens inside where griddles sizzle and cheese melts over perfectly seasoned patties.
No fancy concepts or trendy toppings distract from the main event: two beef patties, cheese, and a bun that knows its supporting role. Simplicity executed flawlessly beats complexity attempted poorly every single time, which explains why this place never lacks customers.
9. Citizen Burger Bar – Charlottesville
Charlottesville’s downtown hums with college energy, and Citizen Burger Bar channels that enthusiasm into burgers that fuel late-night study sessions and celebration dinners alike. Big, locally sourced burgers arrive stacked so tall they require structural assessment before attempting the first bite.
The commitment to local ingredients means your burger traveled fewer miles than you did getting to the restaurant, supporting Virginia farms while satisfying Virginia appetites.
Popular doesn’t begin to describe the crowds that pack this place during University of Virginia game days and random Tuesday evenings.
Each double cheeseburger gets assembled with care that respects both the ingredients and the hungry person waiting to devour it. The bar atmosphere stays lively without becoming obnoxious, creating the perfect backdrop for burgers that deserve your full attention and appreciation.
10. Grill 309 – Culpeper
Culpeper’s Grill 309 takes creative liberties with burgers that would make traditionalists nervous if the results weren’t so delicious. The menu features half-pound builds and a Double Grilled Cheese Burger that sounds like someone’s midnight fever dream turned into lunchtime reality.
Two beef patties meet grilled cheese sandwich technology, creating a hybrid that makes you question why this wasn’t invented decades ago. Regular burgers satisfy normal hunger, but the creative options here reward adventurous eaters willing to trust the kitchen’s vision.
Each component gets prepared separately before assembly, ensuring the grilled cheese elements achieve proper crispiness while the beef stays juicy. Local families make Grill 309 their weekend destination, knowing the kids’ menu keeps children happy while adults explore more daring burger territory without judgment or regret.
11. Big Buns – Various Northern Virginia Locations
Northern Virginia’s Big Buns spreads across Ballston, Shirlington, Vienna, and beyond, proving good burgers deserve multiple zip codes. The regional brand serves stacked and double options that justify the cheeky name while maintaining quality across every location.
Consistency matters when you’re building a burger empire, and Big Buns manages to deliver the same satisfying experience whether you’re in Arlington or Fairfax. I’ve tested three different locations like some kind of burger detective, and each passed the double cheeseburger investigation with flying colors.
The buns actually hold up to the meat and toppings without dissolving into soggy disappointment halfway through your meal. Busy professionals grab lunch here knowing they’ll get filling, tasty burgers without the wait times that plague trendier spots trying too hard to be Instagram-famous instead of actually good.
12. Smitty’s Better-Burger – Hampton
Hampton’s Smitty’s wears its nostalgia like a badge of honor, serving drive-in classics that transport taste buds back to simpler times when burgers were serious business. This institution has been feeding locals hearty burgers for generations.
The name promises better burgers, and decades of satisfied customers prove that wasn’t empty marketing hype. Everything about Smitty’s feels authentically retro without trying too hard or becoming a theme park version of itself.
The double cheeseburgers arrive wrapped in paper that barely contains the juicy, generous portions inside, requiring immediate attention before gravity claims your lunch. Locals love the bigger builds specifically because they deliver old-fashioned beef flavor without modern pretensions or unnecessary complications that add cost without adding value.
13. DoG Street Pub – Williamsburg
Merchants Square in Williamsburg hosts DoG Street Pub, where gastropub sophistication meets burger fundamentals in delicious harmony. Premium burgers available in double and large formats prove that upscale doesn’t mean tiny portions or pretentious presentations that leave you hungry.
The kitchen sources quality beef and treats it with the respect it deserves, creating burgers that satisfy both refined palates and straightforward appetites. College students and tourists mingle with locals who’ve been coming here since before gastropub became a common word in American dining.
The pub atmosphere stays relaxed despite the elevated food quality. Double formats mean you’re getting substantial protein alongside your fries, turning a casual meal into something that fuels the rest of your day exploring
14. The Filling Station (Growlers Grub & Gas) – Amherst
Amherst’s Filling Station combines two things every road trip needs: fuel for your car and seriously good burgers for your stomach. The pub-slash-gas-station hybrid sounds like a joke setup but delivers hand-pattied burgers that make the concept brilliant instead of bizarre.
Double options and popular signature burgers keep locals coming back even when their tanks are full, proving the food stands independent of the novelty factor. Hand-pattied means each burger gets individual attention rather than assembly-line treatment.
The quirky location becomes a conversation starter, but the burger quality ensures people remember the taste long after the novelty wears off. Growlers, grub, and gas create an unlikely trinity that somehow works perfectly for Central Virginia, where practical meets delicious and nobody questions success when burgers taste this good and satisfying.