The food scene in Richmond VA has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years. In fact, in 2019, 4 Richmond restaurants garnered James Beard award nominations, and just a few days later, the whole city was named by Yelp as one of the top food destinations in the country. Not that anyone here is all that surprised, mind you 😉 But because we love our city so much, and we love EATING in our city so much, we decided to ask some of our local friends, colleagues, and even some random folks in the community what they ranked as the best burger in Richmond VA. The results surprised us a bit! But we also asked the same group about the best pizza in the River City, and those results surprised us even more. Go figure!
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Tied for 1st place: Boulevard Burger and Brew
Boulevard Burger and Brew is a Richmond staple. We all know it. Located conveniently across the street from the famous Movieland Theater (which, by the way, occupies a really cool, retrofitted late-1800s locomotive assembly plant building), it was one of the first burger joints in Richmond to offer of-the-wall, gourmet burgers.
But the cool thing is that they’re not pretentious about it. Boulevard Burger and Brew’s look is pure diner-kitsch. The restaurant itself is a reworking of a classic drive-in that used to draw crowds downtown in the 1960s, and they’ve kept the over-the-top med-century vibes alive and well. Outside, its tall neon sign glints off the diner’s mid-century-tastic plate-glass windows and red and white paint. Inside, chromed-out counters, vinyl chairs, and walls lined with photos and memorabilia make this place a vintage-lover’s dream come true. The staff are nice but no-nonsense, and the food is killer good.
Order the Belgian burger with its Hardywood Singel caramelized onions, goat cheese, and apricot jam, a favorite of one of the folks we polled. Or, go with our personal favorites. I love a good turkey burger, and have heartily enjoyed the Animal Farm, with sautéed mushrooms, goat cheese, and kale on a turkey patty.
Boyfriend Perspective: I usually order a classic burger everywhere I go, because it’s easier to compare them. So my favorite here is the Plain Jane with the works. It’s a really delicious, hearty burger. Zero regrets.
And please, please don’t forget the fries. They’re breaded – which is fairly unique in Richmond – come in a big fry basket, and are so stinkin’ good. You really can’t go wrong, and we understand why locals have voted this the best burger in Richmond!
Practical information for your Boulevard Burger and Brew visit
- Address: 1300 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard Richmond, VA, 23230
- Hours of Operation: 11am – 10:00pm (Sunday ~ Thursday), 11am – Midnight (Friday-Saturday)
- Website + menu: http://www.boulevardburgerandbrew.com/ (and if you’re downtown, order through Chop Chop to get your burgers delivered!)
Tied for 1st place: Burger Bach
When Burger Bach opened its first location on Thompson Street in Richmond’s Carytown neighborhood, most of us didn’t really know what to think. A New Zealand-style gastropub? In… in Richmond? So, of course, lines were out the door every night. Once we finally got inside, the RVA realized that New Zealand free-range meats, fresh oysters, and really off-the-wall burger ideas go far better together than we had anticipated. And since they now have 4 locations in the Richmond metro area and one in Durham, North Carolina, they’re clearly continuing to do something right. Each of their restaurants has a classy, almost European feel to them, though they all look a bit different. The Carytown location relies on its patio and dark interior to add ambiance, while the Midlothian and Short Pump locations both go for a lighter, brighter approach that feels less like a pub and more like a restaurant.
Boyfriend Perspective: Let me just interject here. It’s been a constant bone of contention in this city since Burger Bach opened, but their website states that the second word in their name is pronounced “batch”, not like the composer. It’s a New Zealand thing, apparently. Back to your regularly-scheduled programming.
Perhaps the thing we like best about Burger Bach is their extremely diverse offerings. I don’t eat beef, but the Bach is one of the few places I’ve seen where I can actually get a ground chicken burger, rather than a grilled chicken breast on bread. And their fresh black bean burgers, if I’m not feeling meaty, are spicy and delicious. Add to that, all of their flavors and toppings are tailored to specific meats or patties. So, if I ordered my favorite black bean burger, the Koha, with a chicken patty, there’s a solid chance I might not like it as much.
Boyfriend Perspective: This is one place we go only when we can sit down and enjoy the meal there. Their fries don’t survive the journey home very well, in our experience, so we make sure we can devote a bit of time when we’re in a Burger Bach mood. Also, I stick with plainer burgers here, too, and can vouch that the Original is very tasty.
Note that Burger Bach’s fries come separate from the entrees, and each burger is instead served with a fresh salad by default. Also note that the Bach’s fresh french fry sauces are NOT to be missed. We prefer their Original Sauce, but you really can’t go wrong.
Practical information for your visit to Burger Bach
- Address: 3426 W. Cary St Richmond, Virginia 23221 (original Carytown location)
- Hours of Operation: 11am – 10:00pm (Sunday-Thursday), 11am – 11pm (Friday-Saturday)
- Website: https://theburgerbach.com/ (other location addresses + menus provided here)
2nd place: Station 2
Candidly, this would have been our vote for #1. I first “met” Station 2 burgers when I used to work in Richmond’s Shockoe Slip district, and they brought their food truck around to grill fresh burgers at area businesses. Then, I got Luke hooked. And we started inviting friends to go with us. And it has snowballed into easily one of our favorite places to eat in Richmond.
Located inside of a retrofitted fire station (hence the name!) Station 2 sits right down the street from beautiful Main Street Station and the Edgar Allan Poe Museum. Sadly, they didn’t keep the fireman pole because it impeded traffic flow, but you can see where it used to be. The interior is spacious, with high ceilings, solid wood booths, and really cool retro-industrial charm. The condiments sit in beer 6 packs, and the walls are lined with old firehouse memorabilia and local art.
And the menu! On of the people we polled is vegetarian, and she prefers Station 2’s veggie patty to most others, especially with the Grilled Cheese burger and the Curryous burger (can confirm – it’s delicious). Whereas, the Hawaiian Sun on the recommended turkey patty is easily my favorite thing they serve regularly. But their monthly special burgers usually hit the mark, too. And you can easily order sides that aren’t fries (even though their fries are tasty) – I’ve had veggies as sides that are cooked to perfection.
Boyfriend Perspective: Shocker, I’ll eat the Classic Station 2 burger alllllll day. It’s amazing and charred and really juicy. Also, make sure you save room for dessert. Their adult milkshakes are insane. The Naughty Girl Scout is our favorite, and no that’s not an innuendo.
It’s basically a cold, alcoholic Thin Mint in a glass, guys. YUM.
Practical information for your run to Station 2
- Address: 2016 East Main St. Richmond, VA 23223
- Hours of Operation: 11am – 2am daily
- Website + menu: http://station2richmond.com/
RVA burger joints that tied for 3rd place (in case these first 3 don’t immediately tickle your fancy)
And yes, FOUR places tied for 3rd!!
- Carytown Burgers & Fries
- This is our personal favorite place for a good, solid, delicious burger. I get the mushroom swiss on a turkey patty, and Luke loves the (you guessed it) classic. Their location in Carytown is fairly small, but their other locations are a bit larger and are all very good and consistent.
- Website + menu + locations: https://carytownburgers.com/
- Citizen Burger Bar
- This building has seen a lot of restaurants come a go, but Citizen Burger has stayed for quite awhile now. Right across the street from the historic Byrd Theatre, their patio and beer selection are huge draws, as are their delicious burgers.
- Website + menu + location: https://www.citizenburgerbarrva.com/
- Jack Brown’s
- Boyfriend Perspective: Jack Brown’s is all beef all the time, so I haven’t dragged Meagan there. But… it’s REALLY good. Yes, even the classic. Hush, you.
- Website + menu + location: https://www.jackbrownsjoint.com/locations/richmond/
- Beauvine Burger Concept
- This is on our list to try, but the poll respondents who voted for Beauvine had a very devout devotion to this place. Their high-quality ingredients, fresh-prepped desserts, and location and ambiance have all inspired an enthusiastic Richmond following.
- Website + menu + location: https://www.beauvineburger.com/
Don’t forget to pin the deliciousness 🙂
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