When you're craving a burger, nothing else will do, and LVB Burgers and Bar at the Mirage is definitely a good place to satisfy your hamburger needs. The menu's beef burgers come in a variety of delicious styles, from the familiar Old School Burger and The Cheeseburger to the A.A.A. (Angus, Applewood, Arugula), which comes on a sesame brioche bun with Boursin cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, bacon and mayo. If you're not interested in beef, LVB also offers a Chicken Salad Club, a Cuban Sandwich, turkey burger, vegan burger and fish sandwich. Gluten free buns are available. Salads, wings and appetizers round out a solid selection of comfort foods, plus you'll find an assortment of milkshakes (both spiked and regular).
Recommended for Burger because: LVB Burgers and Bar serves up some tasty burgers along with a host of tempting sides and spiked milkshakes.
Terrisa's expert tip: The large bar menu at LVB includes locally made craft brews and a selection of specialty cocktails, like the Pink Cadillac Margarita with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and pomegranate syrup.
The retro design at Bobby's Burger Palace gives Chef Bobby Flay's burger joint a little bit of a 70s feeling, but the burgers are thoroughly modern. Take your pick of certified Angus beef, ground turkey or whole chicken breast and put it with one of restaurant's signature burger builds, like the classic Crunchburger with American cheese and potato chips, or get adventurous with one of the other choices, like the Dallas, with coleslaw, Monterey Jack cheese, pickles and BBQ sauce. Sides includes several types of fries and onion rings as well as salads. Since no burger restaurant would be complete without milkshakes, Bobby's Burger Palace offers a selection of the creamy treats. Guests over 21 can spike theirs with a shot of bourbon, rum or vodka.
Recommended for Burger because: A retro decor and big, perfectly cooked burgers make Bobby's Burger Palace a great place for a casual meal.
Terrisa's expert tip: If you have the Crunchburger (which you definitely should), skip the fries--you'll wind up with too much food and no room for a shake.
Many a burger lover's bucket list includes Shake Shack. Its popularity started in New York, where it began as a food cart and then grew into restaurant. When Shake Shack opened in Las Vegas, the long lines were a testament to the restaurant's tasty burgers. Shake Shack keeps things pretty simple, featuring hamburgers and hot dogs and the usual sides. The sustainability and eco-friendliness of Shake Shack's food and restaurants is an important part of their philosophy: 100% natural Angus beef, humanely raised and sourced verified, without hormones or antibiotics. The Summerlin and MGM locations each have their own selection of concretes (they're cousins to the shakes), giving customers a big selection of cold sweet treats to try. The atmosphere here is relaxed and contemporary, like a fast-food place that's all grown up. You'll also find beer and wine, and even dog treats at the Summerlin location.
Recommended for Burger because: Shake Shack's delicious 100% Angus beef burgers have earned this East Coast chain a devoted following.
Terrisa's expert tip: The popular chain has five locations in Las Vegas: Downtown Summerlin, The District at Green Vally, Las Vegas Premium Outlets North, at the New York-New York and at the T-Mobile Arena.
Fukuburger started out as a food truck, and it remains one of the most popular food trucks in Las Vegas. They recently added two stationary restaurants, one in Chinatown and one on Buffalo Drive, giving burger lovers places they can always find Fuku's Japanese influenced food, even if they don't know where the food truck is. Wasabi mayo, teriyaki and furikake are some of the flavorful additions you'll find on a Fuku burger, as well as grilled shitake mushrooms, pickled red ginger and habenero kabayaki. If you'd rather sample some of Fuku's other tasty offerings, you can try the Chicken Katsu or the Naga Dog. Be ready for spicy, messy goodness, no matter what you choose.
Recommended for Burger because: Hamburgers have received a flavor make-over at Fukuburger, where the classic burger gets a Japanese twist.
Terrisa's expert tip: If you have a chance to check out Las Vegas' monthly art festival, First Friday, you'll almost certainly have a chance to get a burger from Fukuburger's food truck.
After a hard day of shopping at the Fashion Show Mall, Stripburger gives tired and hungry shoppers a place to refuel and take in a view of the Strip. Stripburger is all-outdoors, and its Strip-side location allow you to indulge in some people watching while you enjoy a classic burger, cheeseburger, or Stripburger's signature blue cheese burger. The mini burger sampler gives you three small burgers--the blue cheese, the whiskey barbeque and the cheddar burger--perfect for sharing. The menu offers diners plenty of non-beef options, like a turkey, veggie and ahi tuna burger. You'll also find chicken sandwiches and salads, along with a cocktail menu, adult shakes and a selection of beers.
Recommended for Burger because: Guests at Stripburger can enjoy their juicy burgers and fries with a view--the restaurant's open-air patio is right on the Strip.
Terrisa's expert tip: Enjoy Happy Hour at Stripburger daily from 4 - 7 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to close. Beers are $3 or $4, well drinks are $4 and mini burgers are $2.50.
Black Tap Burgers & Beer specializes in big, juicy burgers with all the extras. Located next to the Venetian's poker room, this casual eatery features both a bar, an indoor dining area and an outdoor patio adjacent to the Strip. In addition to its quality burgers, Black Tap also offers chicken dishes, salads, milkshakes (with an option to add booze) and craft beer. Their tasty burgers range from the standard All-American Burger, a generously sized burger with all the expected toppings, to The Greg Norman, made with Wagyu, house buttermilk-dill, blue cheese and arugula. The beef burgers are made with Prime beef sourced from Pat Lafrieda, a humanely raised, hormone and antibiotic free beef. The relaxed atmosphere is great for quick meals at any time of day.
Recommended for Burger because: The burgers are cooked to tasty perfection at Black Tap, plus they offer a large selection of beers and shakes.
Terrisa's expert tip: If the weather's nice, ask for a seat on the outside patio. You'll be rewarded with a lovely view overlooking the lagoon in front of the Venetian.
In-N-Out is a burger place that hasn't strayed far from its roots as a basic drive-thru hamburger restaurant. The succinct menu is all about the burgers--you won't find chicken sandwiches or salads at In-N-Out. You also won't see the "secret" menu that In-N-Out devotees find so exciting: options like "protein style," with the patty wrapped in lettuce, or the most popular choice, "animal style," with pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions. (Most of the secret menu is posted on In-N-Out's website.) The number of specialized options should satisfy even the pickiest burger lover, but even if you never stray from the posted menu, all the burgers here are freshly prepared from ingredients that were never frozen or pre-packaged. In-N-Out makes their own patties and buns, and the restaurant's emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients pays off in delicious burgers, fries and shakes.
Recommended for Burger because: In-N-Out keeps its menu simple and focused on hamburgers made to order with the best ingredients.
Terrisa's expert tip: Although the "secret menu" at In-N-Out isn't much of a secret anymore, you might not realize how extensive the list of special preparations is. It even includes a grilled cheese made with freshly baked buns.
Gordon Ramsay Burger brings the chef's famously exacting skills front and center with a menu starring hamburgers. The gourmet burgers are crafted with a range of deliciously different ingredients, like the Blue Cheeseburger, which comes with blue and manchego cheese, fig jam, arugula, cider vinegar reduction and spicy mayo. The selection of burgers also includes the classic-style Backyard Burger with American cheese, butter lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion. Hamburger enthusiasts will certainly find a dish they can't wait to try. Gordon Ramsay Burger also serves snacks and sides that are equally as diverse as the menu's burger choices: hummus, ahi tuna sliders and Burnt Ends Poutine are some of the options to consider, as well as hot dogs, salads, a fish and chips burger and a pork burger.
Recommended for Burger because: At Gordon Ramsay Burger, the well-known chef shows off his talents with gourmet hamburgers, snacks and sweets.
Terrisa's expert tip: The wait for a table can be pretty long, but fortunately you've got the Miracle Mile shops to explore while you wait to be seated.
Holstein's fits perfectly into the atmosphere at the fun, quirky and elegant Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. As befits any Strip restaurant, the cocktail menu is exhaustive, and includes a selection of alcohol-infused shakes--"Bam-Boozled Shakes"--as well as both Veuve Cliquot and Dom Perignon Champagne. The beer selection is impressive, giving diners plenty of options that pair perfectly with the restaurant's selection of burgers, salads and other dishes. For traditional burger fans, The Classic is exactly what it sounds like--lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickles, ketchup and mayo. But if you'd like something different, you'll find plenty of options like the Al Pastor Burger, with al pastor pork in addition to a beef patty, habanero cream, red onion, grilled pineapple and avocado. Toppings, buns, and condiments are all created in-house.
Recommended for Burger because: The burgers at Holstein's are deliciously crafted from premium meats and topped with the perfect accompaniments.
Terrisa's expert tip: The Late Night Menu is served on Friday and Saturday in a small window of time, midnight to 12:45am. Choose from a small selection of favorite burgers, milkshakes and Bam-Boozled Shakes.
The Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay has been around a while, having been one of the first upscale burger restaurants in Las Vegas--and it continues to serve delicious burgers, fries and shakes. Renown Chef Hubert Keller is the mind behind Burger Bar. You'll find plenty of gourmet touches to these quality hamburgers. Patties made from beef, buffalo, and turkey are topped off with things like tapenade, roasted pineapple, or fried egg. While the American Classic is everything a burger lover could want--Angus beef, cheese, bacon, tomato and onion--you could also go over the top with the $65 Rossini: Kobe beef, sauteed foie gras, and shaved truffles. Look for the typical sides like fries, onion rings, and pickles, and a tempting array of shakes for dessert.
Recommended for Burger because: Burger Bar elevates the humble burger with premium meats and an assortment of patty-perfect toppings.
Terrisa's expert tip: During Happy Hour (Sunday through Thursday, 3 to 6pm at the bar), enjoy a selection of tasty small plates like sliders, a wedge salad and street tacos, all under $10, plus $4 beer, $5 wine and $6 well drinks.