3 Best Burgers in Washington DC

The best burgers in Washington DC get served up at nice joints in every neighborhood. These are 3 burger joints with reasonable prices including the only burger many Washingtonians will eat after dark.

Palena

If Palena was open during the day, it might put all the other DC burger joints out of business. On any night, almost half the diners order the burger. The buns are baked fresh every day, the cheese is infused with truffles, and the 7 ounce burger is big enough to share or take home for a second helping. You may also want to share the outstanding fry plate with the usual potatoes and onion rings plus the eye-opening deep fried lemons all served with a tangy garlic mayonnaise. This charming neighborhood spot is prettier than your average burger joint, but the burger and fries are on the café menu where they cost just $10 each. (3529 Connecticut Avenue, open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10 with Monday hours coming soon)

Matchbox

This hugely popular pizza and burger joint recently opened a second DC location. Both feature interesting re-uses of challenging urban space. The original Chinatown spot is a former grocery store while Capitol Hill was a vending machine warehouse. Personally, I wonder if their sliders really earned their own following or benefit from the generous piles of onion straws. It's safest to emphasize if you want them medium rare or they may get overcooked. That said, there's also a nice grilled vegetable sandwich and there's usually a big crowd waiting to get in. The Angus beef mini-burger platter is $14 for 6 burgers plus $1 to $3 for cheese. (713 H Street NW and 521 Eighth Street SE, open 7 days a week from 11 am to closing on weekdays and 10 am to closing on weekends)

Black Squirrel

A lot of people visit this pub just for the 90 varieties of beer, but it's also a place for serious food including a half priced burger special every Friday that makes it just $4.95. Chef Gene Sohn, previously the Chef de Tournade at the sumptuous Marcel's restaurant, grinds the Hereford beef himself. There's also a homemade vegetarian burger wrapped in freshly grilled eggplant. Squirrels would probably approve of this burger joint with a tree near the bar and a tree stump table. (2427 Eighteenth Street NW, open for summer hours from 5 until closing on weekdays and 2 until closing on weekends)