These days, burgers are becoming more and more versatile. No longer are we stuck with the timeless yet arguably basic cheeseburger. With Boston’s impressive food scene, there are endless options of how and where to enjoy our favorite types of burgers. To all my fellow burger lovers in Boston: you’re in luck because below you will find a list of restaurants where you can indulge in the best burgers in Boston when on a budget.
Boston Burger Company
Photo courtesy of bostonburgercompany.com
Boston Burger Co. has one of the most extensive and creative menus out there. With so many options and reasonable prices, their burgers and bound to be crowd-pleasers. I mean, just look at that burger topped with bacon and mac n cheese.
Their most loaded burger, the “420 Burger”, features cheese, mozzarella sticks, mac n cheese bites, onion rings, french fries, and bacon. Some of their burgers have even been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, The Rachael Ray Show, and Boston Magazine.
5 Napkin Burger
Photo courtesy of 5npakinburger.com
Another restaurant that serves up creative and exciting burgers is 5 Napkin Burger. Offering many options ranging from gluten free veggie burgers to lamb kofta burgers, this restaurant is bound to satisfy your burger cravings. Pair a burger with one of their shakes or floats for a delicious and even more satisfying meal.
Tasty Burger
Photo courtesy of bostonmagazine.com
Tasty Burger, which has five locations in Boston, is a practical and appetizing choice for college students. With their burgers costing around $5 and having convenient locations near many Boston college campuses, it’s not hard to figure out why they attract college student crowds. There’s even a feature on their menus called “Starvin’ Student” where for $10, you can order a cheeseburger or hamburger, fries, and a can of beer.
Shake Shack
Photo courtesy of forbes.com
If you haven’t been to Shake Shack yet, I highly suggest it. This burger joint is another casual restaurant that attracts a younger crowd also. They boast about their 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers and rightfully so since every bite tastes more and more heavenly. And for our vegetarians, they have a ‘Shroom Burger which replaces the meat with a fresh and whole portobello mushroom.
UBurger
Photo courtesy of zagat.com
For college kids on a budget, UBurger is another prime option. Not only does their menu feature cheap options but it also offers the option for you to build your own burger. With locations near Boston University and Northeastern University, UBurger knows how to cater to the college kid budget.
Wahlburgers
Photo courtesy of Whalburgers
Most people from Boston know of the Whalberg family, especially if you’ve seen Ted, a movie set in Boston starring Mark Whalberg. His brother, Paul Whalberg, decided to open a burger joint because his favorite food has been burgers since he was a child.
The menu features his favorite burgers from his childhood with creative twists. Something else that’s special about Whalburgers is that there’s a full service bar featuring spiked milkshakes aptly called “Adult frappes.” When you first walk into the restaurant, you have two options of either ordering first and then and grabbing a seat or heading to the back of the restaurant where you will be seated and treated to full service.
Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage
Photo courtesy of Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage
Open since 1960, this Cambridge located burger joint is perfect for college students. The dining room’s atmosphere is meant to resemble a dorm room, decorated with posters, bumper stickers, and signs. They even have a table meant for “single diners” where they boast several husbands and wives first met.
Not only are their burgers delicious and voted the “Best in America” by The Boston Globe and The Wall Street Journal, but each of their names incorporate political satire and reading through their menu is entertaining AF.
One of their burgers is called “The MBTA” and in parentheses the menu specifies “Most BrokenTransit Authority” and I know for sure that anyone in Boston can relate to that. This place is definitely worth checking out not only for their amazing food but also the entertaining menu and atmosphere.