What Is the Best Burger in Nashville?
- 2 sections
- 1 table
- 1 source cited
The current critics’ pick is Schulman’s in East Nashville. The Infatuation’s burger guide, updated October 14, 2026, says that if you “only try one burger in all of Nashville, make it the one from Schulman’s” (The Infatuation). Its patties are thin “without going full smashburger”, with stacked traditional toppings, served in a paper-lined basket at 1201 Porter Rd. The guide limits itself to standard cheeseburgers with traditional toppings, and it lists 20 burgers in all. For a smashburger, its pick is Bad Luck Burger Club at 918 Woodland St, whose smashburger it calls “the greatest in town”. For a thick, medium-rare patty, Present Tense in Wedgewood-Houston serves an off-menu burger with gruyère and dashi onions, and only 10 a night. The guide also keeps Dino’s at 411 Gallatin Ave, the late-night bar burger, on its list.
Burgers in the Guide
| Burger | Address | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Schulman's | 1201 Porter Rd | the guide's first pick; thin patties, traditional toppings |
| Bad Luck Burger Club | 918 Woodland St | smashburger with pickles under the patty and a sweet potato bun |
| Present Tense | 509 Houston St | thick, medium-rare, off-menu; 10 a night |
| Dino's Bar & Grill | 411 Gallatin Ave | charred beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles; late-night |
| Charmers | 1316 Adams St, Germantown | double smash with gribiche, from the Peninsula team |
| Xiao Bao | 830 Meridian St | bao bun burger with garlic, ginger, and green onion paste |
| Turkey and the Wolf Icehouse | 800 Meridian St | the Mama Tried Burger |
| Husk | 37 Rutledge St | brunch only, or happy hour 5 to 6 p.m. in the bar |
| Redheaded Stranger | 305 Arrington St | hatch green chili cheeseburger, the menu's one burger |
| Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint | 410 4th Ave S | topped with brisket |
| Fat Mo's | 2620 8th Ave S | half-pound, one-pound, or 27-ounce burgers; drive-thru only |
| Brown's Diner | 2102 Blair Blvd | open since 1927; claims Nashville's original burger |
Source: The Infatuation, October 14, 2026. The guide’s other eight entries are Gabby’s Burgers & Fries, Dreamburger, Verna, Brave Idiot, Grillshack Fries & Burgers, Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, Bare Bones Butcher, and Mr. J’s Original.
Picking One
- For a first visit: Schulman’s, the guide’s first choice.
- For a smashburger: Bad Luck Burger Club or Charmers.
- For a thick burger: Present Tense, early in the evening, before its 10 burgers are gone.
- For after midnight: Dino’s; more late kitchens are in the best late-night food in Nashville.
- For a burger under $20 with a side: Brown’s Diner and Bare Bones Butcher are both in the best cheap eat in Nashville.
Hours change; check the restaurant before you go.