10 restaurants vie for Tastemaker Awards' best burger in Dallas

Our latest chapter in our 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, honoring the people who make our local restaurant scene soar, covers a beefy topic: burgers.

It's one of the 10 categories in our special editorial series in which we've elected nominees, and whom we'll celebrate at a party on May 4 at Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G.) with tastings and awards to the winners. Tickets are on sale now.

We've already profiled the nominees for Rising Star Chef, Neighborhood Restaurant, Bar, Brewery, Bartender, Best Wine Program, and Best New Restaurant (you can still vote!), and we'll soon be covering Restaurant of the Year, and Chef of the Year.

But this entry pays tribute to one of the most beloved and surely one of the most controversial foodstuffs: the burger. Everyone has their favorite.

Here are our nominees for 2023 Best Burger of the Year, presented by Goodstock by Nolan Ryan beef.

Bizzy Burger
New concept from acclaimed Dallas restaurant mastermind Mark Brezinski embraces the "better burger" trend in a fast-food setting. It boasts uniquely gourmet elements including burgers made from HeartBrand Premium Akaushi Beef and buns from cult favorite King's Hawaiian. Probably the biggest distinction is that it features smaller patties a la White Castle, so you can get two.

Dairy-Ette
One of Dallas' most revered old-school burger joints has been open on Ferguson Road in Far East Dallas since 1956, with both drive-up and a small dining room with booths and a vintage menu board. They do thin patties, cooked on a flat top, topped with American cheese, chopped lettuce, onion, tomato, pickle, and mustard on a steamed bun, plus thin (but not too thin) fries, and root beer served in an iced mug.

E.J. Wills Gastropub
The burgers at this family-operated mom & pop pub in McKinney are 8-ounce patties made from a blend of brisket, short rib, & chuck - from the classic cheeseburger to the outrageous "Garbage Burger," topped with lettuce, tomato, slaw, turkey, bacon, mac & cheese, and fried onions & jalapenos. They pour Texas beer, and host live music, including an open mic night.

Easy Slider
DFW's first and only gourmet slider truck from restaurant insiders Caroline Perini and Miley Holmes serves creative mini-burgers all over town, as well as at a brick-and-mortar location in Deep Ellum. They've racked up countless awards for their Angus beef sliders with unique toppings, plus loaded tots. Options range from the Roadside with bacon, cheddar, jalapenos, & onions, to the irresistible Sweet & Lowdown with strawberry jam & goat cheese.

Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House
Comfortable casual East Dallas neighborhood favorite was first known as a craft beer haunt, back when craft beer was starting to trend. It was where you'd go to get rare, desirable brews no one else had. But they're just as well known for their menu of high-end burgers, overseen by chef David Peña, with options such as the spicy Salazar with habaneros, ghost chili sauce, and pepperjack cheese.

Haystack Burgers
Family-run chain has grown slowly-but-steadily since they debuted in Richardson in 2013: There are now five locations, each woven into the fabric of their neighborhood, serving burgers, sandwiches, salads, fun sides like fried pickles, and cocktails. They do half-pound patties topped with the likes of bacon, fried haystack onions, and avocado-ranch dressing, with Kennebec fries on the side.

Peak Inn
Divey (in a good way) East Dallas neighborhood bar is celebrated for its cheap, sloppy burgers, all under $10. Third-pound patties made from brisket and chuck get smashed on the grill until they're crusty, then served a toasted buttered brioche bun. The Texas cheeseburger comes with mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onion, and American cheese. There are also hot dogs, salads, loaded fries, and everything's made in house.

Roy G's
Cedar Springs burger joint is from the Street family (Liberty Burger, Snookie's, Street's Fine Chicken), and has tempting burgers such as the Rajas topped with poblanos, onions, and spiced white queso, plus chicken sandwiches, tacos, and a quesadilla. The big draw is the revival of cheese fries from the now-defunct Snookie's, one of the original loaded fries; and a full bar with frozen drinks.

Sky Rocket Burgers
The approach here is: keep it simple and do it well. They focus on burgers and fries, with a grilled cheese and an Impossible burger, as a nod to non-burger diners. Toppings are limited to bacon, a fried egg, grilled onions, grilled jalapenos — keeping the focus on the burgers: thin patties with edges seared — and the fries are skin-on. The original is at 7877 Frankford Rd.; three other locations are franchised.

Wulf Burger
Previously in Los Angeles and New York only, Wulf Burger made their Texas debut in Frisco in December 2020. Their signature is their red hamburger buns, created using a natural beet extract. The menu includes grass-fed beef burgers, crispy chicken sandwiches and fries, and Impossible patties. For those who cannot burger, they offer a backup Nashville-style spicy chicken. They've since opened two more locations at Mockingbird Station and in McKinney.