The juiciest and most flavorful local burgers in Bend and Central Oregon to enjoy in any season.
Walk down your street on any given evening and the scents of burgers on the grill waft in the breeze. Whether it’s a hot summer day or a chilly dark evening, a patty cooked to perfection and wedged between two halves of a bun with all sorts of condiments piled on top is always crave-worthy. If you’re not in the mood to grill up your own feast, Bend is rich with burger options. From burgers with beers, to burgers in your car, to meatless burgers, we’ve got you covered.
Pour House Grill
Just about every pub in town offers a burger. But not all pub burgers are created equal. My favorite is found at the Pour House Grill. The menu at this south-Bend pub is famous for smoked meats and generous portions. The Pour House’s Signature Burger is grass-fed house ground brisket and chuck, perfectly grilled to medium. Add anything from pulled pork to pickled jalapenos to a fried egg on top, and eat it up with a side of French fries, tater tots, mac salad or coleslaw. Beer pairing: Sunriver Brewing’s Fuzztail Hefeweizen.
Dandy’s Drive-In
Dandy’s may win in the charm category alone, with the servers meeting you at your car on roller skates. Besides those mouthwatering cheeseburgers and french fries, Dandy’s is known for its house-made fry sauce which has kept customers coming back since the drive-in began. Park at Dandy’s Drive-In and travel back in time for a nostalgic experience right here in Bend. There’s nothing better than a cheeseburger, french fries, fry sauce and a milkshake brought to you by a cheerful roller skating carhop. The retro vibe of Dandy’s radiates from its little pocket of happiness off Third Street in Bend.
Brother Jon’s Public House
Brother Jon’s Public House nails solid pub food accompanied by a long, frequently changing tap list in a casual, friendly location. Try the Fire Marshal Burger: two patties with bacon, pepper jack, habanero cheese sauce, pepperoncini and roasted jalapeños. Beer pairing: Double Mountain Vaporizor Ale.
The Hideaway Tavern
The Hideaway is a sports bar sheltering some of Bend’s best food. Try the Hideaway Burger on a Big Ed’s Texas toast bun. Beer pairing: Forget the craft brew—now’s your chance for a Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap.
Deschutes Brewery
The original Bend pub, Deschutes Brewery sports a signature burger made with a Barley Beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese on a brioche bun. Beer pairing: Black Butte Porter.
Blue Eyes Burgers & Fries
Blue Eyes Burgers & Fries has quickly become the go-to spot for smash burgers and it’s no wonder why. Here, you can kick back, soak in the nostalgic dinner vibe, and enjoy a fantastic locally sourced-burger. Sip on handcrafted cocktails and indulge in perfectly crafted smash burgers, fluffy buns, crispy fries and delectable soft-serve ice cream. Come for the food, stay for the atmosphere and soon find yourself becoming a regular.
MidCity Smashedburger
MidCity SmashedBurger is redefining what it means to enjoy a classic burger. This accessible food cart is all about combining retro with a fresh and fun twist. They start with 80/20 Oregon beef sourced from Painted Hills, then smash it flat beneath a cast-iron press, resulting in thin and crispy patties that are nothing short of mouthwatering. These burgers are covered in American cheese and generously slathered with their signature Smash Sauce, all nestled between Franz Bakery buns.
Mountain Burger
Mountain Burger is on a mission to transform the burger experience. By offering locally sourced ingredients and both meat and plant-based alternatives, they’re catering to a wide range of tastes and dietary preferences. Dining here means enjoying your meal in a friendly, full-service, colorful and comfortable atmosphere. Savor healthy salads and creative cocktails while supporting the burger joints’ mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable dining.
Willie Burger
Willie Burger is a delightful mom-and-pop burger cart that embraces the taste of simplicity. Their specialty lies in smash-style burgers that come standard with grilled onions, cheese and mouthwatering burger sauce. With options ranging from singles all the way to triples, there’s a burger for every appetite. They’ll be taking a short hiatus to welcome a new member of the family but look forward to seeing everyone in 2024.
The Row
The Bleu Diamond burger at The Row at Tetherow, topped with maple bacon and bleu cheese, practically has its own local fan club. Beer Pairing: The Bleu Diamond is served with IPAoili, so you’d better make it a Bend Brewing Co. Elk Lake IPA.
Sno-Cap Drive In
The beauty of the drive-in burger lies in its simplicity. Beef patty with melted cheddar cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, maybe a pickle or two and some fry sauce between two potato buns. It’s nothing fancy, but that’s not the point. A drive-in burger is the kind of burger you crave on a road trip, or after a long hike and a dip in lake. Central Oregon has a stellar lineup of classic drive-in burgers. But Sno-Cap in Sisters, that iconic white, 50s-style building on the corner of the Western town, takes the prize, if only because the fresh milkshakes alongside it are truly the perfect pairings for a meal that tastes like childhood with each bite.
McMenamins
At Bend’s McMenamins Old St. Francis School location, the expedition elk burger is topped with coffee-bacon jam, black garlic aioli and white cheddar on a sesame brioche bun.
Tastee Treet
Tastee Treet is old school Americana at its finest. The neon signs outside make it look like it hasn’t changed since it opened, and thank goodness the hand-cut fries haven’t either.
