5 Best Burger Spots in Louisville that Locals Rave About

Louisville’s burger scene is exactly what you’d expect from a bourbon‑obsessed, chef‑driven city: creative, indulgent, and a little bit over the top. These five spots get constant love from locals.

1. Mussel & Burger Bar

The name pretty much gives it away—this place takes burgers seriously. It’s a sit‑down, slightly upscale‑casual restaurant with big, stacked creations that feel more like full entrées than bar snacks.

Highlights locals go for:

• The Argentinian Burger with chorizo and chimichurri—big flavor bomb.
• The Spanish Blue with blue cheese, fig marmalade, and bacon.
• Special blends and perfectly seared patties that stay juicy even well into the meal.

Fries and sauces are equally thoughtful, and if you want to turn the night up a notch, their cocktails and craft beer list make it a full experience.

2. Grind Burger Kitchen

Grind started as a food truck and blew up into a must‑visit brick‑and‑mortar. It’s casual, modern, and very Louisville: local ingredients, scratch cooking, and fun but not gimmicky burger builds.

Expect:

• House‑ground beef cooked to temp with great crust.
• Creative toppings like pimento cheese, beer cheese, roasted jalapeños, and smoked bacon.
• Excellent veggie options and a turkey burger that’s not an afterthought.

The Bison Burger and their rotating specials get a lot of love. Add in hand‑cut fries and solid local beer on tap and you’ve got one of the city’s most consistently praised burger spots.

3. Ollie’s Trolley

Ollie’s is tiny, old‑school, and iconic. If you talk to anyone who’s lived in Louisville for a while, they’ll bring it up. It’s essentially a walk‑up burger stand with a secret‑spice‑mix legend.

Why locals are obsessed:

• Seasoning. The patties—and even the fries—get hit with Ollie’s special spice blend, which is savory, salty, and just a little bit sweet and smoky.
• Classic build—no wild toppings, just a perfectly seasoned, juicy burger on a soft bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, and sauce.

It’s pure nostalgia with actual flavor to back it up.

4. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint (Louisville)

Primarily a barbecue place, but Louisville locals quietly rave about the burger here, especially if you like smoke and char.

You’ll usually find:

• A beef patty kissed by the grill, sometimes blended or topped with pulled pork or brisket for extra indulgence.
• American or cheddar cheese, pickles, onion, and house BBQ sauce if you want to lean into it.

Pair with their fries, slaw, or mac and cheese and it’s the kind of messy, sauce‑dripping burger you remember.

5. Five Guys (Louisville locals’ chain caveat)

While it’s a national chain, Louisville folks still bring up Five Guys when talking about reliable, loaded, classic American burgers. The fresh, hand‑formed patties, the fully customizable toppings, and the “why are there so many fries?” portions have made it a default comfort choice.

If you’re new to town and want something you know will hit, locals won’t judge you for starting here—especially if you go bacon cheeseburger with all the fixings and Cajun fries.