Best burgers in the Smokies include a Greek burger and anything with an egg on top.
From the usual suspects to some well-hidden gems; from just a good, expertly cooked basic burgers to unique, bizarre and even veggie – the Smoky Mountains has anything you’re looking for between two pieces of bread – or grilled cheese sandwiches.
This is by no means a complete list, so please don’t yell at me if I missed your favorite! Explore and enjoy!
First, let’s start with a little burger history:
Graze Burgers opened a year ago in downtown Sevierville and uses only natural grass-fed beef. My sister Heather says it IS the place for the best burgers. “Go there,” she said. Her favorite? The Mad Greek (makes sense since she is married with a Greek background).
“Wonderful burgers and probably the best one there is the lamb burger. … Their fries are great,” Heather told me.
The Mad Greek is made with Colorado lamb, feta, Tzatziki sauce, olive tapenade, cucumbers, local greens, tomatoes and onions.
Another unique burger at Graze is The Tennessee – bacon jam, bourbon barbeque, smoked gouda, beer-battered onion rings, house slaw, tomatoes and house pickles.
For the vegetarians in your life or for those just looking to eat less meat, there’s The Hippie – a veggie burger with black-beans, corn, feta, roasted peppers, bourbon-caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, local greens, house pickles and pesto mayo. THIS is my kind of burger 🧘🏽♀️
Find Graze Burgers at 125 Bruce St, Sevierville, (865) 366-3775.
At Mountain Edge Grill, the burgers are a big half pound of ground beef steak served on a grilled bun wih French Fries. On the menu are a Buffalo Burger plate; the American Classic; Chili Cheese Burger; Forrest Burger with sautéed mushrooms and Swiss cheese; Thunder Road -a burger topped with 1/4lb. hot dog, chili and onions; the Tram Burger with bacon, American cheese, onions and BBQ sauce; Appalachian Trail Burger – a half pound all beef steak burger topped with onion rings and bleu cheese crumbles.
Mountain Edge is located at 631 Parkway, Gatlinburg, (865) 436-0013.
Also in Gatlinburg, Three Jimmy’s Good Time Eatery, which serves BBQ, burgers and hearty American meals.
The burger selection, which comes with beer-battered onion rings, includes a Traditional Burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickle on a brioche bun; Classic Patty Melt with caramelized onions, burgundy mushrooms and swiss on toasted marble rye; Jimmy’s Smokehouse with cheddar, smoked bacon, and “Rockin’ Rib Sauce” topped with onion crispers; Got The Blues with bleu cheese crumbles and caramelized onions; and The Higlander made with black angus beef burger piled with pulled pork, draped in cheddar, smothered Rockin’ Rib sauce, and crowned with onion crispers on a pillowy brioche bun.
You can customize your burger with different cheeses or by adding bacon, pulled pork, chili, coleslaw, signature mushrooms, or sautéed onions.
Three Jimmy’s is located at 1359 East Pkwy #F, Gatlinburg, (865) 325-1210.
The names of the burgers here are creative as the burgers themselves. This is a down-to-earth watering hole with TVs for sports fans and indoor/outdoor seating. Located in Marketplace Mall at 651 Parkway #110, Gatlinburg, (865) 325-6022.
Ole’ Standby is a thick 8oz.-beef burger on a toasted bun with your choice of toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos, pickles, mayo, stone ground mustard and your choice of cheese. You can add an egg, chili or a fried green tomato – yum!
Arl’s Favorite is an 8oz. beef burger on a toasted bun topped with cheddar cheese, grilled onions, tomato and stone ground mustard. Add apple wood smoked bacon!
(Ask about Arl when you go in. I want to know who Arl is, don’t you?)
Red Hot Mama is topped with super spicy ghost pepper cheese, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato, onion and spicy mayo and served on a toasted bun. 🌶
Conrad’s Chili Burger is topped with cheddar cheese, pickles and chuck wagon chili on a toasted bun.
Blue Moose Burger and Wings is a Pigeon Forge family sports grill.
Blue Moose claims to serve one of the juiciest angus beef burgers – you be the judge while you’re watching one of the 20 flat-panel televisions.
The Big Mushroom Melt is a mouthwatering hamburger with lots of Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms.
The Farmhouse Burger is Blue Moose’s all-American cheeseburger topped with a fried egg, grilled ham, and bacon.
Moose’s All-American Cheese has two slices of melted American cheese.
Double Down Burger – double burger patties, double cheese and double Applewood bacon on a bakery fresh bun.
Cajun Blue Burger – is a “delectable nod to good eatin’ on the bayou.” Made with a special blend of Cajun spices and a creamy bleu cheese dressing.
Blue Moose also serves a buffalo bacon burger; a grilled cheese burger – with two melty grilled-cheese sandwiches as the bun; a veggie patch burger with a meatless 3-greain burger; a steakhouse burger with A-1 sauce and onion straws; the Junkyard Burger piled high with crisp bacon, American cheese, caramelized onions, mushrooms, chili and slaw; and the Hawaiian Luau Burger, which is a 1/2 pound-beef burger topped with grilled pineapple and mango habanero.
So many choices!
At the Local Goat – definitely a locals’ favorite, the burgers are made daily using a “secret blend of fresh, locally sourced beef.” All burgers are served with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, and hand-cut French fries. Gluten free buns also are available.
My sister Summer likes the goat-cheese burger – “It is Fan…tastic,” she said. Called the BGT Burger includes goat cheese, crispy onions and bacon jam.
Summer’s oldest daughter, Jenny, loves the Pimento Cheese Cheeseburger. “Oh my gosh it is amazing!”
The Pimento Cheese Cheeseburger includes Pimento cheese, bacon jam and sautéed onions.
Jenny’s cousin, and my nephew, Jay, had the Elvis burger when he was in town last. “There’s candied bacon,” Jenny said. “It was great.”
The Elvis adds the King’s favorite peanut butter, smoked bacon and fried bananas to a mouthwatering burger.
Other unique burgers at The Local Goat include The Patriot with a choice of cheese – American, Swiss, pepper jack, provolone or cheddar; Bacon Cheeseburger with aged cheddar cheese and smoked bacon; Black and Blue includes Creamy blue cheese, smoked bacon, crispy onions and blackening spice; Billy Burger has Sautéed mushrooms, sautéed onions Swiss cheese and garlic aioli; The Farmhouse includes American cheese, fried egg, smoked bacon and garlic aioli.
Other burgers – yes there’s more! – include the Smokehouse Burger with Smoked gouda cheese, BBQ sauce; TN Whiskey Glazed Burger with TN whiskey glaze, smoked bacon, crispy onions and garlic aioli; Lamb Burger with Tzatziki sauce, feta cheese, red onion and spring salad mix; Potobello Burger – a marinated portobello mushroom, piquillo pepper, grilled red onion, fresh greens and roasted tomato aioli; and The Schrute Burger – a plant-based burger with sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, BBQ sauce and garlic aioli.
You can find Local Goat at 2167 Parkway in Pigeon Forge; 865-366-3035.
Monster Mash is a burger joint that lets you build your own burger – everything from meat to bread. Monster Mash uses in-house ground meats.
The monster-themed restaurant is built on the owners’ love of classic, as well as, modern monster movies, books, and legends, according to the Web site.
Burger Creations are made from short rib, brisket, and sirloin served in a unique mad scientist lab motif.
Find Monster Mash at 611 Parkway Sevierville, (865)366-1268.
With locations in 14 states, Quaker Steak and Lube takes American food and gives it a twist. Quaker Steak and Lube in Sevierville opened in 2015 not far from Dollywood. Here there are events including Cruise-ins and sports playing on more than 30 televisions.
Among the burgers served in this motor-themed spot include the LUBEBURGER, which is topped with sautéed mushrooms, smoky bacon, hot sauce and melted American cheese with blue cheese dip on the side. Served atop shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion and dill pickle chips.
KENTUCKY BOURBON BURGER* is topped with Kentucky Bourbon-glazed onions, smoky bacon, fresh jalapeño and pepper-jack cheese.
MAC & CHEESE BURGER* has smoky bacon, American and cheddar-jack cheeses and gooey, savory mac & cheese.
There’s a bacon cheeseburger, a “Pick Ur Cheese” burger and a Hangover Burger — with cheddar, smoky bacon and a freshly fried egg, served atop shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion and dill pickle chips.
You can add an egg to any burger, substitute a gluten-free bun or a “Beyond Meat” patty.
Motor into Quaker Steak and Lube at 1431 Parkway in Sevierville, 865-868-4972.
At Smoky Mountain Brewery in Pigeon Forge, every Wednesday burgers are $6. Located in Lumberjack Square, situated between traffic lights 2B and 3 at Wears Valley Intersection, Smoky Mountain Brewery grinds the beef for its burger daily, serving each on your choice of sesame or whole-wheat bun.
Among the options are Ole’ Smoky with smoked cheddar cheese, bacon and barbecue sauce; Swiss Mushroom Burger with mushrooms and Swiss cheese; Thunder Road Burger with blue cheese, bacon, Sweet & Spicy Sauce; Grilled Mountain Melt with Swiss and American cheese, sautéed onions on grilled rye bread; Kick-Back Burger with smoked cheddar and jack cheese, bacon, jalapeños and a spicy “Kick-Back Sauce”; and Brewhouse Burger – 2 fresh ground beef burgers, 1000 Island Dressing, American and pimento cheese, sliced bacon, lettuce, tomato and pickle.
That’s a lot of flavor from which to choose. You can also enjoy a craft beer with your burger. Find the brewery at 2530 Parkway, Suite 15, Pigeon Forge, (865) 868-1400.
At Chubby’s Deli – called a “hidden little gem” by one TripAdvisor reviewer – try the half-pound burgers for a bargain price! For less than $10, you can try Chubby’s Famous Burger – topped with bacon, slow roasted pork, BBQ sauce with grilled onions and cheddar cheese.
The sides are just as tasty, too! You can get the usual fries, onion rings, or tater tots, but where else can you find slaw or okra as a side dish? Premium sides include cheese sticks, jalapeno sticks, and Frito Pie – a southern favorite with corn chips, chili & cheese, lettuce, tomato, & sour cream.
You can find Chubby’s Deli off the beaten path at 2659 Newport Highway in Sevierville, located in the Citgo Station. It’s a great place to visit if you’re booking one of our Douglas Lake cabins! You can reach them at 865-712-6458. Please note this is a cash only restaurant!
Last but definitely not least is Burger Master Drive In in Townsend – a great town, a beautiful drive and fabulous burgers.
The menu is basic burgers – nothing fancy. Quarter-pound burgers options include a hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, chili cheese burger with grilled or fried onion and barbecue sauce, the Hickory Burger and the Patty Melt –
Topped with cheese and grilled onions. Served on Texas toast.
Of course, no hamburger meal is complete without a milkshake! Get a shake or a malt for only $4.00 in a variety of classic flavors and have your dessert too!
Just for fun, here’s a video of 10 burgers only Americans could create:
Whatever your burger cravings, Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain towns have it for you. Come see us!
Ready to book your Smoky Mountain vacation and burger extravaganza? Let American Patriot Getaways help.
When you book one of our Gatlinburg cabins , you’ll be close to all the action, excitement, and new attractions the area has to offer. Book today and let us know how you plan on spending time in the Great Smoky Mountains in 2020!
Give American Patriot Getaways a call at 800-204-5169. Let our experts help you find the right cabin and all the right fun, food and entertainment for an adult or family vacation that will have you wanting to come back as soon as possible. After eating all the tasty burgers in town, you can recreate your favorites on the grill at the cabin together as a family.
See our Pinterest board with incredible outdoor entertaining spaces for the best spots to grill out. For more adventures, go to our Smoky Mountain Travel Guide.
