40 Best Burger Restaurants in Columbia

“This place is my little secret, even tho it is not a secret to many people. Always get a chili slaw dog with onion rings. Even tho they forgot my slaw on thos order I still love the dog and this place. Definitely got to try it out but make sure you get there early. Sometime the lunch rush and get busy. Thanks to everyone there for great service“

“Very good food and service!“

“Hands down best food and customer service I’ve experienced in my 46 years! I wish I had paid attention to our server’s name tag so I could call her excellence out in this review. She was a 10 out of 10 for kindness and knowledge of the menu. Treating people with love makes all the difference in the world! Thank you Smashburger for a wonderful experience 🙏🏻“

“Enjoyed my first visit ! Food, Atmosphere & Service was Awesome! My only downside was price, but times we are living so can’t fault them on this. I’d definitely go back“

“i’m from North Carolina. I’ve never been to one of these places to eat and went today and I give them a 98% overall… Its all good 98% over all…“

“We always enjoy a great burger here, and they even have gluten free buns! Customer service is fantastic! The wait staff is polite, informative, and give just the right amount of service... and not hovering. Each time we have eaten here, the manager checks in with us to make sure everything is as it should be. Perhaps it was the last time we ate here, I happened to forget an unusual drinking cup. I was totally surprised when today the waitress saw I had a similar one with me and inquired if I might have left one behind. They kept it safe for a few weeks and returned it to me! #10+ for that service!“

“I'm not sure what sparked the craving, but as I passed through Columbia at lunchtime, fried chicken suddenly seemed like the only answer. I asked Yelp for the highest‑rated spot and ended up here.

The place was bustling, with most of the parking lot full, yet the ordering process moved quickly. By the time I returned from the restroom, my number was already being called. I had ordered a three‑piece meal with double cole slaw in place of fries and a sweet tea. Settling in at a table, I dug in.

The cole slaw leaned too far on the sweet side for my taste, though the texture was crisp and fresh. I skipped the dinner roll and the tea, focusing instead on the chicken. It was thoroughly cooked, meaty, and satisfying. Not especially spicy or bold in flavor, but solidly good.

This isn't a fancy establishment. The tables and floor may not be spotless, but the food delivers. Best fried chicken I've ever had? No. Still, it was very good, and worth the stop.“

“Had lunch there today.. Bison Burger ..upstream sandwich (Salmon ) and Parmesan fries were great 👍“

“I’ve been coming to Rush’s for years every time I come into the Columbia area. The food is so good! The burger is always amazing. The milkshake is a nice dessert. But those fries. They are delicious! I normally use ketchup as a habit with most fries I eat. These are the only fries that I feel the ketchup is not needed. To me, that is the sign of a good fry! Keep it up. If I could get a Rush’s in the upstate, I’d be even happier!“

“Went this past Sunday. First of all the restaurant is so nice and clean. Staff was very freindly and nice. Food was amazing and they got it to us fast. Will return.“

“We just left and I was very impressed with the staff. They were extremely friendly and efficient. It is some of the best customer service I’ve received in quite some time. The restaurant was very clean. On top of that the food was delicious.“

“Food is amazing. Recently got a bunch of food for friends visiting from Atlanta, and they were blown away and already talking about eating there again when they come back. Can’t talk about good BBQ in Columbia and not mention Big Bull’s!“

“The lady that took my order was polite and knowledgeable. I wish I would of gotten her name but I totally forgot because she was so personable. I got a chili cheese basket without lettuce, tomato, onions. I got my food promptly and HOT. But the burger looked smashed and the bread was extremely soggy. But other then that it was great. Hopefully thet 2“

“To the stains Andrews ihop!! I want to say to that my service waitress Erica was the one for me. I want to thank her so much for going the extra mile and making my to others a silly over the top and weird request possible ❤️I hope she didn’t get in trouble but she was very sweet and when I asked for this request and was sure it couldn’t happen…but when she came back with my order filled and delivered with professional and right and hot and ready. Yessss that’s customer service baby 💯. Had the others guest asking for the same way🤣I had to say naw this was a 1 time order your have to do it yourself. So again thank so much Erica your service has been on ever social media platform I’m on😍“

“First time what a great place service 5 stars will be back“

“This was a veteran's appreciation meal. A lot of veteran's with family were there. The wait time was an hour. They kept me posted on where I was on the wait list which made the wait not difficult. Once at my table, the service was good and fast. The waitress was very polite and professional. The food was wonderful! The meal was complimentary; which allowed us to tip the waitress even more since her service was so professional.“

“My friend came into town and I was on my way taking her back to the airport. We needed a quick place to grab a bite because her flight was delayed. I decided to get the burger. Wow! Totally amazing. At this location their burgers are fresh, never frozen! You can definitely tell the difference. I'm not a big fan of Applebee's I won't lie. But that burger deserves ALL five stars!!!!!“

“Hands down this place is AMAZING!!!! We got the Zesto Burger and fries, chicken tenders and onion rings. First, that burger 🤌🏼 The onion rings were a perfect mix of onion and batter. Second, the tenders… I would eat them all the time!!!!! I feel sorry for the place across the street, that also serves chicken (no match, EVER). I hope others enjoy this meal as much as we did!“

“Kudos to Taryn (spelling) for giving us outstanding service today! If you haven’t had her as your server, you should request her!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Best burgers and hotdogs in the business!“

“My favorite place to go! Cozy vibes, and all ages. The staff is excellent! If you haven’t been, please do so. You won’t regret it!“

“I just went through the drive-thru at this location in the young lady that gave me my order was very sweet..I think her name was McKenzie. We had a short convo about EVs & Hemis. Lol . Very bright young lady! Great customer service ❤️“

“I remember Whataburger from Mobile, AL. as a kid. I haven't had it in over 18 years. I was skeptical because either my taste buds have changed or their recipe of cooking method may have changed. To my surprise the burger was just as delicious as I remember as a kid. I know that's a lot to say, as if I remember the taste from childhood. But, the taste was so familiar and it did not disappoint. I'll definitely visit once a week for the next month or so. My only complaint, which also left me confused, is the drive through. They have the two lanes. However, for the far lane, the young lady they had outside would take your card, if you're paying by card, and walk it to the drive through window and swipe it. It was also raining, although it wasn't hard, but she was standing outside in a poncho walking debit cards and food back and forth to the window and cars. I thought that was odd but also bad planning. But back to the food, it was delicious. I definitely recommend.“

“I just moved to Columbia two weeks ago, I absolutely fell in love with CookOut. I’ve been 5 times in those two weeks. Lots of cool unique options, the ordering of Tray’s took me a few visits, but I finally figured it out. (You can do a Corndog as a side?! Or a Walking Taco, which is AWESOME. Everything’s been on point, glad I found this place. (I’ve been to three separate Cookouts, this location is the best spot by far)“

“Went to this cookout while we were in town for Thanksgiving and all I can say is they were very pleasant. The general manager Darius definitely keeps the store up. The bathrooms were very clean and the dining area. There is nothing bad that I can say about the store and workers. The girl at the register was very pleasant. Compared to where I live there is a bunch of kids that have attitudes and seem like we are disrupting them. I highly recommend!“

“The fries are the best, just like my Mom used to make❣️“

“Hunter did an excellent job as our server. He was also bar tending. Hunter was efficient , personable and had a sense of humor! Black and Blue burger was excellent. Cooked as requested. Only disappointment was that there was no outdoor dining available.“

“The food and service is really good! Never been disappointed. Always delicious.“

“I’ve always been a Five Guys customer since they made their way to the Deep South. This is my home Five Guys and I haven’t had a problem throughout the years. The customer service seems to be okay and my food has always came out hot and fresh. There’s times where it’s really busy during lunch hours and it’s hard to get food. Overall I haven’t a bad experience. 🍔 🍟👍🏼.“

“I went for brunch today and had the most amazing time! The atmosphere was wonderful and the staff was on point!“

“Awesome food at an awesome place. Great staff and atmosphere. I LOVE this place!“

“I’ve been coming to Rush’s for years every time I come into the Columbia area. The food is so good! The burger is always amazing. The milkshake is a nice dessert. But those fries. They are delicious! I normally use ketchup as a habit with most fries I eat. These are the only fries that I feel the ketchup is not needed. To me, that is the sign of a good fry! Keep it up. If I could get a Rush’s in the upstate, I’d be even happier!“

“I just came through for a kids meal and a burger with no bun. The gal working the drive through was so friendly and helpful and the person making my burger went above and beyond by doing a little lettuce wrap instead of plopping it into a container. Such small gestures make a huge difference, thank you!“

“great“

“I came here on the saturday that USC was hosting Livererpool and Man United around 3pm and was blown away by how quick the service was.

Also the lady who took my order with blue eye liner (i believe) was remarkable, she was so kind. The perfect representation of Five Guys core values.“

“I love the eggs and steak and gravy“

“I had the divine pleasure of attending this heavenly establishment SIX years ago while in South Carolina. As I lay my head to rest in my New England town, I fall asleep to the thought of tasting their French fries one more time. Not a day has gone by in the past six years of my life that I haven’t dreamt of these absolutely delectable and mouthwatering sweet potato french fries drizzled ever so beautifully with sweet cinnamon sugar. I shed tears reminiscing the moment I put that first French fry in my mouth. I can only pray to have the satisfaction of tasting these scrumptious and succulent French fries again. I am considering driving 13 hours to have this angelic moment once more.“

“The atmosphere was inviting and relaxing, the reception was warm, and the waiting time was short. The food was excellent overall, though it could have used a bit more salt. However, the flavors of the rice were rich enough that I hardly noticed the lack of salt. The wings were juicy and well-spiced. Overall, it was a great choice for lunch.“

“I’ve been looking for a good wing spot since I left Atlanta. This spot is it! The food was fresh and delicious. The portion (and chicken wing) sizes are good as well. The service was friendly and fast. My family will definitely be back again!

Wheelchair accessibility: Easily accessible“

“I regularly visit this place, the people are always friendly, including management, but there's one lady who comes on occasion, her name is Francheska Rodriguez, she is the life of that place that needs to be rewarded earnestly for a pay increase, there's never one time that I've been there to see her smiling face, she is definitely the difference maker I hope management does something to reward her. 🤩“