Gourmet burger with juicy beef, cheese, arugula, and crispy onions on a toasted bun, served with fries in a Gwinnett restaurant.

HAM It Up

When it comes to amazing takes on the classic hamburger, Gwinnett County has mastered the art of making mouths water, thanks to an incredible variety of restaurants offering hand-held masterpieces.

These eight take the cake (or burger?) as some of the most distinct and delicious.

The Dancehall Queen Burger - Slutty Vegan (Duluth)

Founder Aisha "Pinky" Cole's Caribbean roots inspired this plant-based burger patty, sandwiched between vegan Hawaiian buns and topped with lettuce, tomato, dairy-free cheese, caramelized onions, sweet jerk plantains, and house-made sauce.

The Sink Burger - Local Republic (Lawrenceville)

Adventurous eaters will love this hearty double-stack, which comes topped with an egg, cheddar, jalapenos, and the star of the show, French Fries with fry sauce. (Yep, on the burger!) The same restaurant group has brought its newest concept, LR Burger, to Duluth.

The BBQ Ranch Bacon Burger - Lazy Dog (Peachtree Corners)

This layered half-pound burger with smoked bacon is bursting with color and flavor, thanks to a tall helping of cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions. It's finished off with a hefty drizzle of chipotle ranch.

That's Money Burger - Over The Top Burger Bar (Buford)

You'll get fries, signature sauce, and a side of gravy plus suggested beer pairing with every order, but this two-patty behemoth dives deep into deliciousness with shredded cheddar (and queso!), grilled Andouille sausage, balsamic ketchup, onion, and even a mac-and-cheese croquette on top.

The Mexican Burger - B & W Burgers, Buns, & Brews (Norcross)

This neighborhood eatery opened in the fall of 2022 and instantly endeared itself to the community thanks to its sports bar feel and burgers like the Mexican, which takes a half-pound beef patty and adds pork, ham, bacon, avocado, and grilled jalapenos to the classic lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese set up.

The Death By Peaches Burger - Stäge Kitchen & Bar (Peachtree Corners)

Indulge in this premium burger made with short-rib chuck topped with peach pepper jam, aged white cheddar, crispy onions, arugula, and ghost pepper yuzu aioli, all fitting elegantly within a brioche bun.

The Ooey Gooey Mooey Burger - Uncle Jack's Meat House (Duluth)

Sink your teeth into this sophisticated burger, served on a brioche bun and made with a custom blend of prime beef, it's accentuated with gourmet toppings of house secret sauce, buttermilk blue cheese fondue, onion jam, and maple-pepper bacon. Also available at the Lawrenceville and Peachtree Corners locations of Uncle Jack's Tavern.

The K Pop Burger - Craft Burgers By Shane (Suwanee)

Cooked to order with premium, high-standard certified Hereford beef, this one-third-pound patty is loaded with toppings of pepper-jack cheese, fried onions, romaine lettuce, pickles, and Korean bulgogi sauce. You can almost hear the shouts of joy from fans of all ages as they bite into the savory stack.

Honorable Mentions:

The House Burger - Village Burger (Lawrenceville)

Feeling like keeping it classic? This simple stack comes with your choice of American, cheddar, pepper jack, Swiss, or blue cheese.

The RKO Burger - Local on North (Duluth)

This tasty burger is made with certified Angus beef, American cheese, tomato jam, and crisp onions served on a locally baked brioche bun.

*This article, written by Mike Jordan, originally appeared in Volume VIII of Explore Gwinnett Magazine*

Korean BBQ in Gwinnett

Few meals bring people together quite like Korean BBQ. Around a tabletop grill, friends and family share sizzling meats, colorful banchan, and conversation that lasts long after the first bite.

Best Barbecue in Gwinnett

There's no better place to get your BBQ on than in the south. Gwinnett has some pretty amazing BBQ options, but we're unique, because not only do we have traditional southern barbecue, but we also have Korean variations.