The hamburger may be one of the only truly American culinary creations, which is why it is no surprise that May is National Burger Month. Hamburgers gained national recognition at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair when the New York Tribune raved about the new sandwich. Since then, burgers have been reinvented countless times over, with restaurants putting their own unique spin on the beloved sandwiches. In Portland, there is no shortage of places to grab a great burger, and with new meat alternatives, the list keeps growing. Here are some of our favorites.

  • Beaumont: Have you ever eaten a burger on an english muffin? If not, head over to Peter’s Bar and Grill to give it a try!
  • Central Eastside: Canard always draws a crowd for their slider-sized steam burgers, and for good reason. The onion-infused beef patty comes with crisp chopped onions and pickles, plus mustard and melted American cheese.
  • Foster: Good things come to those who wait! For one of the tastiest burgers this side of the Mississippi, check out Proletariat Butchery every last Friday of the month for “Butcher’s Burger.” Ground and wood-fire-grilled right on the spot, their burger is near perfection.
  • Hawthorne: Visit one of Portland’s oldest food cart pods, Cartopia, for a classic burger from Bottle Rocket made with spicy mayo for an extra kick.
  • Historic Parkrose: Sandy-O’s is the newest spot in Parkrose to get a burger. They even process and smoke their own meats at their Sandy Blvd location!
  • Lents: If you have a hankering for a classic burger, shake and curly fries, Joe Daddy’s Burgers is the spot! This food cart is known in the area for being one of the very best!
  • Lloyd/NE Broadway: The Sports Bra is the world’s first bar dedicated to women’s sports. They also make a mean burger featuring a 1/3 pound hand-formed patty, lettuce, tomato, pickled onion, roasted garlic aioli, and extra sharp white cheddar cheese served with fries or tater tots.
  • Midway: Humble digs for diner-style burgers, patty melts, several different styles of fries, and ice cream, Cruisers Drive-In has it all!
  • Montavilla: For a new twist on an old classic, the menu at the Observatory features a lamb burger that is very much worth the stop.
  • Raleigh Hills: The Canyon Grill has an unrelenting love for creating spectacular and unique burgers! Check out these unique burgers like the Chili Cheese Fries Burger, Hawaiian Burger and the Egg On Your Face Burger!
  • St. Johns: Enjoy a burger while you are watching a movie at McMenamins St. Johns Theater and Pub! In the mood for a local brew while enjoying a burger? Look no further than Stormbreaker Brewing.
  • Williams District: Migration Brewing is such a staple of this district, they even have a burger named after it! Try the Williams Burger with one of Migration’s delicious beers.

This list is non-exhaustive so don’t forget to explore the burger offerings in your own business district. Show us how you are celebrating National Burger Month on Instagram and Facebook.