Serious Beef

Cows are big business in Oklahoma. So it’s no surprise the state’s citizens have strong opinions about where to get a good burger. Whether you’re eating Mexican-inspired burgers in the Panhandle or classic concoctions in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District, you’re always within a twenty-five-mile radius of a world-class burger. Here are eight local institutions beloved by beef eaters.

Hank's Hamburgers in Tulsa Photo by Lori Duckworth

Hank’s Hamburgers in Tulsa

Burger lovers will find plenty of options to quench their cravings in Tulsa. Spots like Goldie’s, Brownie’s, and numerous others offer plenty of bovine-based nourishment in this urban burger haven. Hank’s Hamburgers, open since 1949, is a legendary eatery along old Route 66 that does not disappoint. You can opt for a relatively demure single patty burger or chomp down on a towering, one-and-a-half pound, six-patty Okie Dokie with all the fixings. Complement your feast with tots, fries, onion rings, or crispy fried okra.

The Eat Out's Sweet and Sexy Burger Photo provided by The Eat Out

The Eat Out in Hochatown

Deep in the heart of Kiamichi Country, The Eat Out in Hochatown is a fun spot to chill out and fill up. Along with indoor tables, there’s plenty of covered outdoor seating to keep you cool. Third-pound burgers include the Sweet and Sexy—with goat cheese, seasonal jelly, and bacon—and other choices that may include Fritos and chili, fried eggs and candied bacon, or standard toppings like lettuce, onion, pickles, and tomato. Of course, you can customize your fare any way you want as well. More offerings round out the menu, like chicken sandwiches, salads, and huge chicken wings. Try not to skip the cocktails (or mocktails) either. They make a mean boozy milkshake in these parts.

Onion burger from Sid's Diner Photo by Lori Duckworth

Sid’s in El Reno

If you live in Oklahoma, you’re undoubtedly acquainted with the onion burger, an invention born from Depression-era scarcity. In El Reno, there are three names that rule this fragrant scene: Johnnie (https://www.johnnieselreno.com/), Robert (https://www.facebook.com/robertsgrill1926/), and Sid (https://sidsdinerok.com/). You certainly won’t go wrong with any of these places, but I’m partial to Sid’s Diner. Here, mounds of onions are seared into wide, thin patties of beef on a well-seasoned grill and can be dressed with whatever fixings you want to add.

The Cali Rancher burger at Patty Wagon Photo by Lori Duckworth

Patty Wagon in Oklahoma City

Those in search of pretension-free, gourmet provisions head to Patty Wagon in northwest Oklahoma City. Specialties include the Swiss N’ Shroom and the Beanie Burger—a messy delight slathered in chili, Fritos, cheese, jalapeños, and bean dip. The popular Cali Rancher comes with avocado, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, and jalapeño ranch sauce. Come hungry, because these burgers are big, and you’ll also want to load up on sides. Fries, hand cut daily and fried to crisp magnificence, join a hearty supporting lineup of sweet potato fries, roasted corn nuggets, onion rings, and tots. Wash it all down with the extra-sweet root beer.

New State Burgers & Spirits Photo by Lori Duckworth

New State Burgers in Oklahoma City

If you’re a pickle perfectionist, you’ll appreciate New State Burgers in Oklahoma City. This Plaza District staple has taken the ingenious approach of using chopped pickles on its burgers, ensuring you get your dill in every bite. Rotating specials keep the menu lively, but the regular offerings—cheeseburger, Theta, black bean, Beyond, hot hamburger, patty melt, and a quadruple-patty behemoth—are reliably delicious and reasonably priced.

Riverside Cafe in Medicine Park Photo by Lori Duckworth

Riverside Cafe in Medicine Park

Situated among the cobblestone cottages lining the streets of Medicine Park, Riverside Café joins the ranks of go-to burger joints in southwestern Oklahoma. Overlooking Medicine Creek and Bath Lake, the restaurant has plenty of patio seating, frequent live music, and a laid-back atmosphere. The Okie is a signature item, with fried onion strings, bacon, a mix of cheeses, and ranch and barbecue sauces. Another fun pick is the Goober Burger, piled with American cheese, jalapeños, and peanut butter and jelly. Of course, there are more basic burger and diner choices as well along with seriously good fried chicken sandwiches.

Pub on the Bricks in Guymon Photo by Lori Duckworth

Pub on the Bricks in Guymon

Way out yonder in the Panhandle, where space is plentiful, it takes a few more miles on the odometer to satisfy hunger. Fortunately, Pub on the Bricks in Guymon has a bountiful burger and drink selection, along with ribs, steaks, Mexican food, and plenty of other options. Along with all the standard offerings and spicy add-ons like Texas toothpicks and green chilis, a unique menu regular is the Quesadilla Burger. The third-pound patty is smothered in cheddar-jack cheese, tomato, onion, a secret quesadilla burger sauce, and served on toasted flour tortillas.

Hamburger Inn in Ardmore Photo by Lori Duckworth

Hamburger Inn in Ardmore

It has been said that the famed onion burger was born at the Hamburger Inn in Ardmore. This tiny downtown diner has been in business since 1938, and not much on the menu has changed over the years. The regular, deluxe, educated, and Lucy burgers—with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and raw or grilled onion—are named for their increasing weights. The Lucy is the biggest at half a pound, but the Pregnant Lucy tips the scales by adding grilled jalapeños and onion, peanut butter, strawberry jam, bacon, and American cheese. Other specialty selections involve fried eggs, hash browns, and sautéed mushrooms. Salads, hot dogs, and sandwiches are available for contrarian palates, and there’s breakfast, too, if you can get there between 7 to 11 a.m.

Written By

Megan Rossman

Megan Rossman is Oklahoma Today's photography editor.