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Inside the World’s 25 Best Burgers and the Surprising Winner at No. 1
- Madison
- 20 minutes ago
- 5 min read
They say you can’t reinvent the wheel, but apparently, you can reinvent the burger. The latest World’s 25 Best Burgers list—the brainchild of London-based Upper Cut Concepts—has dropped, and it’s a mouthwatering snapshot of how far the humble burger has come. Once the poster child for comfort food, it’s now a global craft, judged across nine categories including ingredient sourcing, beef quality, and even the overall dining experience.
And drumroll, please: Hundred Burgers in Valencia, Spain has officially claimed the crown as the world’s best burger. Founded by Alex Gonzálex-Urbón and Ezequiel Maldjian, this small but mighty spot proves you don’t need bells, whistles, or gold flakes to impress the world—you just need impeccable beef and serious burger know-how.
Their signature cheeseburger is simple, confident, and unforgettable: a patty made from dry-aged beef ground fresh daily, tucked into a soft, buttery house-made brioche bun. Judges described the flavor as “artisanal excellence”—the kind of bite that stops you mid-sentence. It’s juicy, umami-rich, and texturally perfect. And here’s the kicker: it’ll only set you back €12.50 (about $14.72). That’s a steal for what’s officially the best burger on Earth.
The ranking itself is no small feat. Upper Cut Concepts—the same group behind the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants—evaluates burgers the way sommeliers judge fine wine. The criteria span nine factors, from meat quality to the precision of the menu descriptions (yes, even your adjectives matter). This year’s results show a clear trend: dry-aged patties and premium cuts dominate the top 10, proving that the world’s best burgers are leaning more steakhouse than fast food.
The Global Burger Map: Who’s Flipping the Best
Europe came out swinging with six top spots, while the U.K. scored seven total wins thanks to heavy hitters like Bleecker Burger and Black Bear Burger, both based in London.
Bleecker Burger snagged the No. 2 spot by embracing simplicity—just dry-aged beef, American cheese, onions, and house sauce, no distractions. Founder Zan Kaufman, a lawyer-turned-burger visionary, started with a food truck and now runs eight locations. Meanwhile, Black Bear Burger at No. 3 wowed judges with its perfectly seasoned dry-aged patty and a brisket version braised in beer for 12 hours. (They didn’t taste it for the ranking, but word on the street is that the Miso Bacon Burger—a smoky, buttery umami bomb—is the one to beat in the U.K.)
America’s Top Contenders
Of the 25 global finalists, six are from the U.S., spanning coast to coast. New York City alone nabbed a few bragging rights: Sip & Guzzle in Greenwich Village (No. 13) ranked as the top American entry. The spot—created by Shingo Gokan, the mixology mastermind behind Tokyo’s The SG Club—pairs high-end cocktails with a seriously craveable dry-aged cheeseburger. Just a few blocks away, Nowon (No. 15) keeps the streak going with a Korean-American twist, serving up bold flavors and local cult favorites like the double-fried chicken bun slathered in honey-gochujang glaze.
Chicago and Los Angeles also made appearances with their own distinct spins, proving that the U.S. burger scene still knows how to mix innovation with nostalgia.
So What Makes a “World’s Best” Burger?
If this year’s ranking is any indication, the new burger gold standard is less is more. Skip the gimmicks. Focus on the meat. Invest in good bread. And if you can, dry-age your beef—it’s the calling card of almost every burger in the top 10.
Because at the end of the day, a great burger doesn’t need to be reinvented—it just needs to be respected.
Now, grab your napkins and prepare to drool: here’s the full 2025 World’s 25 Best Burgers list.
The World’s 25 Best Burgers 2025 | ||
RANK | RESTAURANT | BURGER |
1 | The burger and cheeseburger are built using house-made brioche buns. $15 and $14 | |
2 | A simple and straightforward cheeseburger, yet the best patty that judges tasted in the past year. $13 | |
3 | Dry-aged beef in the classic and Brisket burgers, which use quality, locally sourced meat. $16 and $20 | |
4 | The classic cheeseburger comes in vegan and vegetarian iterations. $24 | |
5 | A “messy” Triple Cheeseburger with thick patties, layers of toppings, and an airy bun. Price not listed | |
6 | Organic beef cheeseburger with onions, pickles, and a house Gasoline Sauce. $16 | |
7 | The thick, smoky Royale With Cheese is stacked with cheese, bacon, and tangy sauces. $12 | |
8 | The Big Matt holds two dry-aged patties with melted American cheese, veggies, and special sauce. $26 | |
9 | The dry-aged cheeseburger and thick Bougie Burger are slathered with beef fat onions. $16 and $21 | |
10 | CopperTree Farms beef is used in the Cheeseburger — dressed with rose mayo, ketchup, pickles, and onions. $25 | |
11 | The off-menu Signature Dove Burger is a blend of four British beef cuts with melted cheese and a buttery sauce. Price not listed | |
12 | The signature Gidley Burger has a seared patty with melted cheese, pickles, and a toasted bun. $16 | |
13 | The Wagyu tenderloin Tavern Burger is caramelized and basted with beef tallow, then topped with a slice of Parmesan cheese within two sesame potato buns. $35 | |
14 | The smoky classic cheeseburger is grilled over charcoal and topped with truffle aioli, chili jam, caramelized onions, and sharp Cheddar. $10 | |
15 | The dry-aged cheeseburger and Jae’s Chicken Bun are menu standouts. Both $21 | |
16 | The Machine Gun Kelly is “messy, rich, and deeply satisfying” — with melted cheese, dense buns, and a juicy patty. $15 | |
17 | Premium Wagyu beef is at the heart of the Double Need Farms Burger, which also has cheese and lettuce with house-made sauce. $10 | |
18 | Thick, smoky Wagyu patty with mushrooms, Gouda, and sriracha sauce. $26 | |
19 | The top-awarded OG Cheeseburger combines savory flavors and smoky notes, topped with melted cheese and crunchy pickles. $28 | |
20 | This thick classic cheeseburger is cooked over a flame and inspired by barbecue. $11 | |
21 | Dry-aged burger with American cheese, white onions, and fries. $32 | |
22 | Two smashburgers — the Juicy Lucy and Double Smashed Cheeseburgers — feature grilled onions, pickles, and Thousand Island-style sauce. Price not listed. | |
23 | The Double cheeseburger is made with Wagyu and Marie Rose sauce. $39 | |
24 | The Amboy Classic and Steakhouse Classic are both slightly nutty with “meaty intensity” and softly toasted buns. Both $10 | |
25 | The recommended Boring Burger and The Heard are multilayered with a thick Heard Sauce. $14 and $17 |
Chart from Food & Wine