Dining Showdown: The Best Burgers at Walt Disney World

I thought ranking the best pizza at Walt Disney World was pretty challenging, but that was nothing compared to my next dining showdown, an epic quest to find the best burgers at Disney World. Nearly every theme park and resort features a restaurant serving some kind of burger, and in recent years, several standout options have emerged as upscale restaurants have joined the burger bandwagon. I’ve tried so many burgers around Walt Disney World, but the ten options below are my favorites based on the quality of the patty, toppings, and yes, even the sides that accompany the burger. Let’s count them down!

The Rankings

10. El Diablo Burger at D-Luxe Burger (Disney Springs; quick service; $10.99)

Though D-Luxe features several beef-patty burgers, this chorizo and signature blend burger is a standout (and just happens to be the first burger I tried there during my review). Since opening, this burger’s flavor has grown, with the fried banana peppers, pepper jack cheese, grilled onions, and chipotle mayonnaise on top offering a bit of spice to the perfectly caramelized chorizo patty. I find the addition of any one of D-Luxe’s signature fry sauces to the burger elevates the flavor as well, a fun customization you can make with little effort. This is the cheapest burger in my top 10, but one word of warning: this burger does not come with anything else (fries are available for purchase on the side, and are highly recommended, despite the cost).

9. “Steak” and Egg Burger at Landscape of Flavors (Art of Animation Resort; quick service; $14.29)

Only available during breakfast, this burger is worth the stop in the morning before heading off to the parks. Though it features the standard Angus chuck burger patty you’ll encounter at most quick service burger joints around Walt Disney World, this fun variation comes topped with a fried egg, cheddar cheese, and bacon, and is served with your choice of breakfast potatoes or French fries. I’ve found this burger to be well-cooked (not dry or too greasy, as you’ll often find), and very filling. With a side of breakfast potatoes, it really satisfies as a different kind of breakfast option than your standard Bounty Platter or Mickey waffles.

8. Grilled Wagyu Beef Burger at The Hollywood Brown Derby (Disney’s Hollywood Studios; table service; $23.00)

From one extreme to the other, my next pick for top burger is by far one of the most decadent burgers available in all of Walt Disney World, perfect for one of the most upscale restaurants in the resort. Topped with gruyere cheese, grilled pastrami, heirloom tomato, avocado, cognac-mustard aioli, and a fried egg, this is definitely a rich meal. The wagyu patty is so tender and flavorful, and then the variety of fresh toppings elevates the whole plate to a new level. While the Brown Derby has a ton of great options on its menu, if you drop in for lunch, you should really consider taking a chance on this fancy take on a classic.

7. TIE: Beaches Patty Melt and Angus Beef Burger at Beaches and Cream (Beach Club Resort; table service; $16.00 each)

A long-time fan favorite, Beaches and Cream was an obvious choice for one of my favorite burgers around Walt Disney World. The only problem? They have two great variations featuring the same Angus beef patty. You can take the burger “straight-up”, served classically on a butter-grilled bun with a pickle and fluffy French fries, or you can take it to the next level with the Beaches Patty Melt. Topped with sautéed onions, Swiss cheese, and garlic-peppercorn ranch dressing, and served, as is tradition, on grilled rye bread, this patty melt is the perfect diner fare. Don’t forget to splurge on loaded fries or onion rings on the side, the perfect accompaniment to either burger.

6. The Burger at Paddlefish (Disney Springs; table service; $19.00)

One of the newest burgers available around Walt Disney World, this burger really took me by surprise on my first visit to Paddlefish. Huge in size (9 ounces!) and perfectly cooked to order, this burger is really made by the pimento cheese spread on top – when mixed with the house-made pickles and red onion, it is the height of cheesy, peppery heaven. I’ve since returned to Paddlefish to try this burger again for lunch, and found it just as satisfying as that first bite, in part because of the great fries served on the side (perfectly crisp and caramelized, they are worth the trip alone!).

5. The Mad King at Splitsville (Disney Springs; table service; $22.00)

Definitely the most extreme burger on my top ten list, this 21-ounce triple decker is definitely one for the whole family to share. Topped with cheese, bacon, and onion rings, this is just an obscenely large, but high-quality burger. If this monster is too big to tackle on your own, any one of Splitsville’s standard sized burgers are also sure to impress. Nothing here is too off-the-beaten-path – just simple burgers done well. I also enjoy the crinkle-cut fries served on the side here, especially if you enjoy them dipped in a bit of the restaurant’s signature chive-ranch dip (also a great burger topping).

4. TIE: Bison Burger Patty Melt and Signature Burger at The Wave… of American Flavors (Contemporary Resort; table service; $21.00 and $19.00, respectively)

The Wave’s burgers, only available at lunch, are the best burgers you haven’t yet tried at Walt Disney World. Though the restaurant’s menu varies seasonally, the signature burger and bison burger are generally always available, each with their own variations throughout the year. Currently, the restaurant is offering a bison patty melt, topped with roasted green chillies and cheddar cheese, or the char-grilled gras-fed Florida beef signature burger, topped with bacon, cheddar, and Vidalia onion glaze. Both burgers are just plain great – cooked to order, tender and flavorful patties with just the right amount of toppings to bring out the flavor inherent to each.

3. The Hamilton at Homecomin’ (Disney Springs; table service; $17.00)

I really liked Homecomin’ on my first visit, but I fell in love with this restaurant in subsequent visits by sampling the options on the awesome (and reasonably priced!) sandwich section of their menu. The Hamilton is one of these sandwiches, a patty melt-esque burger entry: two burger patties topped with white cheddar cheese, chow-chow (traditional Southern pickled veggie relish), grilled onions, and house made bread and butter pickles on two thick slices of grilled bread. For an extra $2, you can add a few slices of pecan-smoked bacon to really take this burger over-the-top, and trust me, it’s worth every penny. Sweet, smoky, sour, salty – this burger hits every flavor possible and really just satisfies from start to finish. What could be better? (Answer: the addition of the addictive house-made barbecue chips with icebox dressing drizzled on top that come on the side of this burger.)

2. Triple-Double Cheddar Burger at The BOATHOUSE (Disney Springs; table service; $19.00)

The Boathouse is really known for its great steak and seafood options, plus over-the-top desserts, but they really know their stuff when it comes to burgers. My favorite here is the Triple-Double Cheddar Burger, a new take on a classic – two 4 ounce signature blend patties, topped with tons of cheddar cheese, bread and butter pickles, and dijonnaise sauce. This is a huge burger that hits all the classic notes you’d want from a greasy-spoon thin-patty layered burger, but it just happens to be made with some of the best ground beef found in the US. The skinny fresh-cut fries on the side are perfect at cutting through each rich bite of this burger, sure to be one of your favorites on your next visit here.

1. Yacht Club Burger at Crew’s Cup Lounge and Captain’s Grille (Yacht Club Resort; table service; $18.00)

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the best burger comes from the restaurants next door to one of the best steakhouses at Walt Disney World, but I bet this will be controversial. Just give it a chance, though – this signature blend patty, topped with Swiss, brandy-peppercorn sauce, sautéed mushrooms, onion jam, and bacon really is the best burger I’ve ever had at Walt Disney World. Cooked to your preference and customizable (with different cheeses or fewer toppings), this burger is available at Captain’s Grille during lunch or Crew’s Cup Lounge all day. I discovered this burger when it was too difficult to secure a spot at Beaches and Cream one day, and I haven’t looked back since. Served with fluffy steak fries, veggie-packed orzo salad, or (at Crew’s Cup) with must-try truffle fries, this burger packs quality ingredients into every flavorful bite at a reasonable price.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great burgers at Walt Disney World – I’m sure a few of your favorites just missed my top ten list. Runners up for me included Plaza Restaurant’s burger, Sanaa’s lamb burger, Cookes of Dublin’s battered burger, and yes, even Sci-Fi Dine-In’s renowned picnic burger. What are your favorite burgers at Walt Disney World – let me know in the comments below!