Few things are more disappointing than craving a perfect burger only to find your chosen spot shuttered on a Monday night—leaving you staring at a darkened storefront while your stomach growls in protest. But in Tulsa, you don’t need to settle for fast-food desperation. These 16 burger joints deliver juicy, creative, and downright crave-worthy patties, ensuring your burger fix is always within reach.
Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili
$ | (918) 250-7667 | WEBSITE
If a burger that costs just over $9 with tax doesn’t brighten your day, we don’t know what will. Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili is a popular restaurant that consistently provides good food and friendly service, and truthfully it doesn’t matter when you visit. Just be sure to order a spread involving tasty options like jalapeno chicken, fried chicken tenders, and kid-friendly meal choices.
The staff, including a waitress named Courtney, are quick and attentive, making it a pleasant place to dine even during busy times with their friendly and energetic service.
Burger King
$ | (918) 592-2414 | WEBSITE
Burger King in Tulsa is the quintessential lunchtime burger spot. They don’t have table service, which makes it a low-pressure choice. Each meal—be it a classic Whopper or a crispy chicken sandwich—comes with fries and (surprisingly good) fountain drinks, which is a good deal to fuel the afternoon. And the bustling dining room full of bright red booths and cheerful staff members keeps things pleasant.
Freeway Cafe #2
$ | (918) 836-6726 | WEBSITE
This Tulsa classic works any day of the week, particularly on weekend mornings when you can settle into a cozy booth and soak up the retro atmosphere. But seats at the counter are easier to come by on weekdays, and a lot of hunger pangs can be solved by the cafe’s piping hot Western omelette with mushrooms, perfectly crispy hash browns, and side of biscuits and gravy.
If it’s been a long morning, you may even want to pair that meal with a bottomless coffee refill—equal parts comforting and energizing.
Freddies Hamburgers
$ | (918) 836-5600 | WEBSITE
Freddies Hamburgers is a great place to linger for lunch with the family, or have an easy weeknight dinner that involves satisfying American classics. Their juicy charburgers alone are worth sitting down to savor, but you’ll find other tasty dishes, too. Perfectly seasoned home-cut fries have crunch, grilled corn is loaded with butter that melts right off the cob, and fluffy cinnamon rolls come bundled in wax paper like the little gifts they are.
Jumbo’s Hamburgers
$ | (918) 663-0944 | WEBSITE
This Jumbo’s Hamburgers may be the city’s most understated burger spot. It has the facade of a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall, with lightning-fast service, friendly staff, and families casually enjoying meals together—but the burgers here could make a fast-food patty weep. A simple menu highlights the available options, and the double cheeseburger is a great place to start. It will hit the table at a pristine golden brown, with a crispy surface and swirls of melted cheese on the bottom of the bun.
The sides are excellent, too—crispy hot fries are by far our favorite burger accompaniment, and we could eat the gyro burger with its unique gyro meat topping like a daily special. The vegetarian options like stuffed grape leaves and hummus add welcome variety, and the family-run atmosphere makes every visit feel like coming home.
Tally’s Good Food Café
$ | (918) 835-8039 | WEBSITE
Even in a Tulsa scene crowded with burger joints, this 50’s-style classic continues to stand out. The spacious dining room with retro memorabilia feels like a lively time capsule party. The charred burger is a necessary order with its delicious patty and great flavor, but the breakfast options satisfy, too. Sharing huge cinnamon rolls on the patio here is something every Tulsan should do at least once.
Society Burger
$ | (918) 392-7667 | WEBSITE
Just the thought of Society Burger’s perfectly seasoned patties and homemade jalapeño tots is enough to power us through a dreary Wednesday—a day that clearly calls for a burger. The burgers here, topped with bacon, caramelized onions, and pepper jack cheese, are outstanding, as is the Okie burger complete with its unique peanut butter flavor and jalapeño cheddar appeal.
Round out your meal with a diverse selection of beers, freshly battered onion rings, and the Hangover burger with all its delicious toppings.
Karl’s Famous Burgers
$ | (918) 299-0088 | WEBSITE
This Tulsa burger joint acts as an archnemesis to the weekday grind. For starters, their fresh-to-order, perfectly cooked burger alone has enough flavor-boosting power to convince us it’s USDA-approved. Thick and delicious fries with a side of must-try okra are the solid equivalent of texting your best friend a food revelation. And the friendly, solo owner running the show reminds you that not every restaurant needs a complicated operation. Lunchtime blues don’t stand a chance.
Fat Guy’s Burger Bar
$ | (918) 893-2232 | WEBSITE
If you’re craving a burger but that’s as far as you’ve gotten, Fat Guy’s Burger Bar in Tulsa serves up juicy, bold creations with different cheese options and a military discount. And their straightforward menu prioritizes flavor just as much as speed. For starters, the regular cheeseburger is the city’s greatest, packed with real taste and add-ons like peanut butter or bacon. The double cheeseburger is a winner, too.
But it’s impossible to leave this unassuming spot without the triple meat peanut butter and bacon burger, a hefty patty stacked and drizzled with house-made sauces that put a typical burger’s ketchup to shame.
The Freeze
$ | (918) 425-8102 | WEBSITE
Sometimes, the middle of the week hits you like a ton of bricks and the only cure is a juicy burger. The Freeze is a North Side staple that can provide this by way of a double meat and cheese burger that satisfies faster than your afternoon slump. And if something fried isn’t in the cards, their bacon cheeseburger with fresh toppings and seasoned fries has enough built-in comfort to carry you through to the weekend.
Grab your friends for a nostalgic group meal to make a Wednesday hit you more like a soft pillow.
Macaw Landing Grille
$$ | (918) 669-6623 | WEBSITE
You could make a whole Saturday lunch out of just the classic burger and fries at Macaw Landing Grille in Tulsa. The food is decent, the service is quick, and you may be tempted to come back next week and order it all over again. Also, the place here is very clean and eco-friendly, with a prohibition on straws, so the whole space feels like a lively, family-friendly spot.
Cherry Street Kitchen and Catering
$ | (918) 884-3408 | WEBSITE
“You should totally check out—oh wait, Cherry Street’s parking can be tricky” is a phrase we used to regularly repeat to friends and family in need of an outstanding downtown brunch. Not anymore. This welcoming comfort food spot is now worth the parking hunt. You can’t go wrong with any order, but the crispy fried chicken with French toast and a side of biscuits and gravy is the best combination for pretending it’s still the weekend.
Bill’s Jumbo Burgers
$ | (918) 592-5191 | WEBSITE
A double-patty cheeseburger stacked with fresh toppings and served on a paper-lined tray sounds like a perfect way to celebrate a craving, and you can get that exact thing at Bill’s Jumbo Burgers. This classic Tulsa spot is one of the best burger joints in town, and the fact that they’ve been slinging them since 1960 just adds to the charm. Grab a seat at one of the limited counters and watch the friendly team work, or take your perfectly seasoned burger to go if you’re in a hurry.
(They only take cash, too.)
Wolfey’s Paradise Donuts Inc
$ | (918) 712-9293 | WEBSITE
Set in a cheerful family-run space with a classic diner feel, Wolfey’s Paradise Donuts Inc in Tulsa is an excellent local spot where you can expect the donuts to be great and the lunch menu even better—plus, two people can eat lunch for around $15 total. The menu includes items like tasty sausage rolls and crunchy tots, but you should order the burger.
It comes at great value for under $10 and has a delicious and satisfying quality, including a perfectly cooked patty, fresh toppings, and a soft bun. Don’t miss the gigantic apple fritter, either.
Burger Street
$ | (918) 664-1774 | WEBSITE
This Tulsa burger joint keeps their drive-thru open late and got rid of limited indoor seating at most locations, making access easier than ever. It’s a terrific place to plan a quick weeknight meal with delicious takes on classic fast food that pair perfectly with one of their signature cherry limeades. Grab a few burgers made fresh to order (which taste as if fast-food patties grew up and earned a master’s in juiciness), and the rest of the evening suddenly looks a lot better.
Five Guys
$$ | (918) 551-7084 | WEBSITE
It goes without saying that you should order a burger at Five Guys, but we’ll say it anyway. The patties at this American spot have the power to improve virtually any Tuesday. The result of fresh beef paired with unlimited toppings is this happy marriage of juicy, flavorful meat and crispy bacon bits, honeymooning inside a soft toasted bun or wrapped in a foil bag. Go nuts with any of their tasty toppings (we prefer the grilled onions).
And while you’ll definitely want the burger in some form or another, the fries should not be missed.