27 Best Burger Restaurants in Berkeley

“Outstanding burger with outstanding service!
I have been craving a really good burger for a while. My standard places (Five Guys or Habit) just haven’t been doing it for me. I was in the Berkeley/Albany area and decided this would be a good time to try a different burger place. Oh G Burger x Chimmelier was the best rated burger place in the area that I was in. It was also the most out of the way. But I never been to that area so I decided to go for an adventure. I am very happy that I did! 😃
I ordered the standard double smash burger with Oh G sauce and tater tots. The burger was thoroughly greasy in the best way possible! A hamburger is not health food. A good hamburger should be 20% fat and thus greasy. This is an outstanding hamburger! And I’m so glad that other reviews mentioned the tater tots. They were fluffy, crunchy pillows of potato delight. 🥹 I had forgotten how wonderful a tater tot can be!
And the burger and tater tots together were just over $18 before tip. That’s right in line with what I pay at the other places I go, but this is a far superior burger. I will be back again, hopefully soon.
An unexpected plus was the outstanding person working the front of the restaurant , Nivea (pronounced Ni-VAY-ah, NOT like the hand lotion). I’m a very observant person and my work involves increasing productivity (nerd alert!), and I developed as habit of observing how people do their work, especially in service jobs. Sadly, it seems that most people working in customer service jobs today have little to no interest in serving customers. That is not the case with Nivea. I came in at 7 PM on a Sunday night, so it was late in the shift the restaurant was full. She greeted me quickly and with genuine warmth and a smile. When I asked where the restroom was, she gave me clear instructions and also warned me that it might be a little wet in there. I watched her move around rapidly, serving all the different customers. Then she took the opportunity to clean up the restroom, then she was back filling up the water, pitcher moving rapidly to get it done quickly. When a large group that was seated at the counter, asked her what type of ice cream was used in the milkshake because they really liked it, she went to the back and got the information. I think there were only three workers in the restaurant at that time, two in the kitchen and Nivea in the front of the house. That’s a lot of work and responsibility to be on one person and most people in food service would not manage it, but she handled it with grace.
I’ve never met Nivea before, I just think it’s important to recognize outstanding work whenever I see it, as it is becoming increasingly rare. She was totally caught off guard when I told her what I thought about her work. The group seated at the counter agreed with my observation that Nivea is an excellent server and worker.
Nivea, if you happen to read this, there are many jobs in and out of customer service where your positive energy and diligence will take you far. Don’t sell yourself short.
And to other restaurant owners in the Berkeley/Albany area: if you’re looking for a good food server, come by Oh G Burger x Chimmelier, and ask is Nivea is working. If she is, order some food, sit down, and enjoy the food and the service.“

“A game day classic, but also a great place to chill with your friends or family on other days in the cozy banquettes. Great space, excellent drinks, and the new burger is amazing.“

“Solid burgers for really affordable prices with a mildly unnerving interior. I got a cheeseburger and fries for $7.70, the most economical option near campus. The cheeseburger had two thin patties and grilled onions, which were a nice touch. The fries tasted great, but I got a lot of bits less than an inch long. Food was out in 3 minutes - amazing.“

“My sister and I just had a couple of Cali Alley burgers delivery and these things are good! Next time I'm in Berkeley, I will definately order again.“

“Top of the line Smash burgers! It gets no better than this! Juicy and delicious 😋 ❤️ The fries are so tasty and that sauce.... All I'm gonna say is rush to this place! Enjoy the view of the historic Claremont hotel while you're there 😊👍🏽“

“Quality and large burgers packed with flavor. I’ve never tried a halal burger but it was delicious. Burgers were grilled fresh and fries were fried fresh and crispy. Well priced burgers with good portion size. I got the 3 M’ini burgers with fries pack ($17) which allows you to try many of their different burger styles.

Shroom burger: packed with juicy and flavorful mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, sweet grilled onions, and a large halal beef patty.

Fries: their spicy garlic sauce is one of the best sauces I’ve ever tasted in my life. A strong garlic flavor with a sweet sauce with a lingering spice after eating it, the sauce complements the fries extremely well.

Service: I have to give a shoutout to the cashier that allowed me to try the spicy garlic sauce for free. She wasn’t supposed to give it to me when I asked because it’s an extra charge but out of the kindness of her heart she let me try it because I mentioned it was my first time at the restaurant. Thank you!“

“Good lamb burger. Quality of food is very good. BRING BACK THE DOOGH (yogurt drink). Falafel is not good on the Mediterranean Plate, a few crumbs instead of a proper falafel ball. Also bring the eggplant back. Should go back to the old menu items.“

“I have heard about this restaurant from friends so I went to try it, it is a sit-eat-and-go place I have tried the Persian burger and it taste good it looks like a kafta kabab taste. As a Lebanese and food lover I was impressed with the hummus the taste was good but the Tabboule didn’t meet my expectations because you shouldn’t have cucumber and lettuce as also it needs more lemon juice.
It was a nice experience, and I would go again if got the chance.“

“Good selection with a lot of options and they don't disappoint. It was my son's 1st time and he loved it‼️“

“I came here because I used to go to BurgerIM in Los Angeles, on Western and Melrose many years ago and now that I live in the bay I was surprised to see an old favorite here. Let me just tell you their burgers are just as delicious as they always have been. I’m shocked this place was super empty, because their sliders are truly quality. Their fries - eh, not my favorite. But you really can’t go wrong with their sliders.“

“Delicious but somewhat expensive burgers in the Gourmet Ghetto that is in North Berkeley. Barneys is a small chain of hamburger restaurants that are primarily in the Oakland Berkeley area. We didn't know, but now we do.

For perspective, a Barneys burger costs $17.50, but it's a really good burger. Burgers are cooked to order with very good quality beef. Fries, onion rings, and other sides are ordered separately. Whereas the burgers were excellent, the onion rings and fried vegetables (their version of tempura) were on the oily side. Keep this in mind.

Their menu is expansive, and they offer salads and other items. We stuck to the burgers.

Service is friendly and efficient. Parking can be challenging, but there are metered spaces about a block away near Safeway.

The restaurant is clean and well maintained. The shiny sign out front gives a slight indication of the pride they take in the establishment... or maybe we're just being too generous.

In any case, on a nice day, try to snag a table on the patio and bite into a juicy, well crafted burger..all while soaking in the liberal elite vibe of North Berkeley It's a nice experience.“

“Food was yummy, service was great, vibe was chill“

“Came in to eat with my wife and just as always we enjoyed our meal and had a great experience. Staff here at the Berkeley location are always so friendly and make me feel welcome to eat there. Always nice to see friendly employees and a clean restaurant. Food was prepared deliciously as always.“

“This place has absolutely amazing burgers! I come all the way out here from SF every once in awhile just to get some! I haven’t really tried much else on the menu but my friend got the wings and really enjoyed those as well, I did get to try the steak fries which I would definitely say to avoid they are pretty soggy and the cheese sauce isn’t very good, but I’ll continue coming back here and recommending it because it’s hard to find an actually good burger around here! Plus it’s a great area to go with friends cause there is tons of food options and also bars to hangout at! Just be ready cause it can get pretty busy over here on the weekends!“

“Amazingly delicious. Very filling and good vibe.“

“If you’re trying to pay at the register at this location with Apple Pay and getting declined, it’s because you have Apple Card or Apple Cash as your payment method. Kinda counter intuitive that they take Apple Pay, but not with Apple Card or Apple Cash.Same thing if you are paying through BK app.“

“Good gyros. My favorite is the beef and lamb gyro. Ground meat kebab can be a bit hit or miss, but the texture isn't too fine, and the meat isn't sliced too thinly, which I like. The prices for all the gyros is the same, which is a little odd to me and makes the falafel feel like a bad deal, it's still good.“

“Not many vegetarian options, but the one you have is the best ever🤩“

“This was my first time here, and I'm so glad that I visited. I ordered the double smash burger, which was delicious and juicy. The order came with seasoned fries. The atmosphere was simple, no fuss, and the service was quick.

Parking: Depending on time of day, parking can be difficult.“

“We live in this neighborhood and if you know the North Shattuck and Northbrae Neighborhoods, there is no shortage of walkable dining. We just love Jerusalem Organic Kitchen for a consistently well prepared meal, friendly staff, and really good ingredients! They serve a quick, casual, healthy, and absolutely delicious meal. Everything we have tried is great with balanced seasonings. My personal favorite is the Shawarma Platter. Don't miss the perfectly prepared salmon platter with a generous serving of salmon that won't set you back an arm and a leg. The salad with chicken shawarma on top is great too. And they, of course, prepare a great middle eastern platter and falafel platter. And if all you want is a sandwich or burger - you won't be disappointed. Get the idea? We like their food and for good reason - they don't try to be all things to all people - they do middle eastern cuisine and do it really well. Try it - you'll like it!“

“Long time customer. Ordered bacon and cheese quiche to eat in and a chicken turnover to take home. Both were excellent. Also my standard a blueberry Danish and their dark roast coffee. Just wish they would return some of the savory baked goods from the past like mustard laced cheese sticks and cheese scones.“

“Amazing food. Love all the vegan options. Especially vegan sauces, that's always a hard find. Nice and spacious. Great atmosphere. They have games and a full club situation downstairs. Highly suggest for a quick slice or a late night. They make everything fresh in house. The chef takes a lot of pride in his work, I was able to chat with him during a sample give away day. Everything is made from scratch. They bread their chicken in house. Really delicious, and prideful food. Not necessarily the cheapest place on the block, but definitely the most delicious and deliberate. Absolutely worth the price, and it's not expensive, it's just in comparison. This is my go to spot every time I'm in the area. And close to cheap parking garage“

“This is purely a review of their food - I'm not about to judge them on the space since they're kinda in a parking lot. I've had their food a few times, and I usually start on my meal about 5 mins after I got it from them. This is kind of a factor for burgers and fries...

...And they are excellent! Their burgers are solid, and very reasonably priced. I like Jack in the Box, but if I'm paying $8-10 on a nice burger from either place, Fosters Freeze is by far the better choice. Minimal grease or salt, doesn't make me want to run and grab a salad afterwards - yeah, these guys are legit!

As for fries, I'd rate them as pretty good overall, but you can't go wrong with their waffle fries - so good that I'm tempted to go back just to order only those!

If you think of them as a takeout spot and not a sit down restaurant, then they're definitely up there at the top. Thanks guys!“

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“Great food and friendly service! We've dined in and gotten takeout and both times the food has been super tasty. I like that they can open up the big doors to the main room on a nice day. There's some outside seating too. Highly recommend a burger on Hawaiian roll and tater tots!“

“The level of delicious is unparalleled. The cheese, the fries. Everything is so good. Serving sizes are incredible. The staff is super friendly and nice. You have to ask for napkins, there's a drink machine with free refills, it's a great place to sit at the bar and have a hot dog. You can watch in the window and see all the craziness go by. It gets a little busy and it's pretty small but definitely don't skip this place. I love it. I am always happy when I drive by and I love the opportunity to stop in.“