Forkelo ranking · Updated October 2026
9 cheeseburgers across New York City, ranked on what people say about the dish itself — never the restaurant's overall rating.
4 Charles Prime Rib · West Village, Manhattan
21 dish-specific mentions · 62% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Pressed wagyu double with American cheese, often topped with a farm egg. Many call it the best burger they've had; a few found it salty or no better than its sister diner's.
7th Street Burger · Midtown, Manhattan
37 dish-specific mentions · 54% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Thin, crispy smash patty with grilled onions and house sauce on a soft potato bun. Fans call it one of the best and cheapest in NYC; critics found it greasy, dry or ordinary.
Lovely's Old Fashioned · Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
18 dish-specific mentions · 67% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Foil wrapped smash cheeseburger on a butter toasted bun. Fans call it juicy, classic and worth the hype; critics found it average, small or overcooked.
Gotham Burger Social Club · Lower East Side, Manhattan
24 dish-specific mentions · 71% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Lacy smash patties with grilled onions, jalapeños and a tangy house sauce. Fans call it one of NYC's best; critics found it greasy, dry or short on crust.
Au Cheval · Tribeca, Manhattan
18 dish-specific mentions · 56% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Two griddled prime patties with melted cheddar, pickles and dijonnaise. Fans call it juicy and among the city's best; critics found it overhyped, greasy or let down by the bun.
Hamburger America · SoHo, Manhattan
18 dish-specific mentions · 56% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Old school griddled burger with onions smashed in and American cheese. Fans call it simple and among the best they've had; critics found it greasy, crustless or overcooked.
Red Hook Tavern · Red Hook, Brooklyn
9 dish-specific mentions · 67% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Thick dry aged patty with American cheese and raw onion on a sesame bun. Fans call it one of the best in New York; critics found it overrated or cooked past the order.
Burger By Day · Chinatown, Manhattan
15 dish-specific mentions · 67% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Juicy patty with American cheese and free toppings at a low price. Fans call it big and tasty; critics found it average, small or burnt.
Emily · Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
19 dish-specific mentions · 63% positive · 1 source type · menu verified October 2026
Dry aged patty with caramelized onions, cheddar and house sauce on a soft pretzel bun. Fans call it a top burger; critics found it pricey, cold or overcooked lately.
Every score is built from evidence about the specific dish: how often locals recommend it, how strongly, how recently, and whether independent sources agree. A restaurant's overall star rating is never converted into a dish score.
Quality and confidence are reported separately. A dish two people loved can score high, but it is marked limited data until more evidence backs it up. The whole calculation — every constant, and three dishes worked through line by line — is written out on the methodology page.
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