The best burgers in Brighton

Chuckaburger is built on one person's long-running quest for the perfect burger, which eventually led to California-style smashed patties. Burgers here come with crisp edges, soft brioche and plenty of sauce, and the menu includes everything from simple cheeseburgers to specials with pastrami or fried onions. There's a solid vegan option, too. You can swing by the Preston Street spot for a sit-down burger or track the food truck as it moves around Sussex.

Burger Brothers is a small but busy spot in the North Laine where everything is prepped on-site using fresh local produce. The menu covers the basics, although there are a few more out-there choices for anyone who wants something beyond cheddar and onions. Blue cheese, roasted peppers and chunky guac all make regular appearances.

Boysterous Burgers operates out of the Fountain Head, a cosy North Laine pub with brick walls and open fires. Smash burgers arrive with caramelised edges and soft brioche, and oysters give the menu something a little different. Sundays are busy with roast dinners, and the pub hosts regular quizzes and music nights, which keeps things lively throughout the week. 

Smoque's has been serving proper mouth-watering burgers since 2013, and the focus is very much on doing the basics well. Everything from the hand-cut fries to the sauces is made in-house, and much of the produce is sourced locally. It's somewhere you can drop into for a quick lunch, settle in for dinner or order from home. They have branches in Hove, Brighton and further afield in Burgess Hill.

Joe's Burgers is known for using good-quality meat, fresh toppings and homemade sauces, which keep regulars coming back time and time again. The Brighton, Hove and Lancing branches make it easy to grab something on the go or sit at one of the small tables. The menu sticks to the classics and usually includes a few extra deals if you order online.

Salt Shed started on the pop-up circuit before opening its North Laine restaurant, where everything is cooked over an open flame, giving the food a smoky, charred finish. The menu includes a short list of burgers, from a classic aged beef patty with cheese and pickles to options stacked with smoked pancetta, bacon and onion jam or thick-cut pastrami. There is also a plant-based Symplicity patty with vegan cheese and mayo. Beyond burgers, you will find larger sharing platters, grilled meats and their popular Sunday roasts, plus cocktails, beer and wine throughout the week.

7Bone is all about properly stacked, saucy burgers, made better by an optional long list of add-ons. The menu covers smashed patties, blue cheese, jalapeños, truffle mushroom mayo and other toppings that go perfectly with fries. There are tacos, wings and a large plant-based section, and most dishes can be upgraded if you fancy. Families are covered with a separate kids' menu, and there are desserts and drinks if you want to turn it into more of a full meal.

Moyos Burgers started with a dish that made the finals of the 2018 National Burger Awards, so there is some real confidence behind what they do. The menu covers beef patties, jerk chicken and proper vegan options that feel like a main part of the menu rather than added on last minute. Flavours nod to African, Black American and Caribbean cooking, and most dishes are prepped in-house. Portions are generous without being over the top, and you have the option to build your burger exactly how you want it.

Oowee Vegan focuses on vegan fast food in a setting that feels familiar to anyone who has spent time in a classic burger shop. Burgers, fried faux chicken, loaded fries and shakes make up most of the menu, and everything is entirely plant-based. The vibe is relaxed, and it works for both sit-in and takeaway. It's a cracking spot for anyone looking for a tasty vegan option that still feels like proper fast food.

Lost Boys runs the kitchen at The Joker in Preston Circus and at a stall in Shelter Hall, and specialises in buffalo wings and messy chicken sandwiches. Everything is cooked fresh, and the sauces are made in small batches on site. First-timers usually go for the classic buffalo wings with a pot of blue cheese, although the sandwiches are just as popular. They arrive stacked, crunchy and designed to be devoured before they fall apart.

Primal focuses on proper comfort food with a menu built around classic burgers and wings. Chicken options include the 'Big Bird' and 'Buffalo Betty', while beef choices range from the 'Drunken Bore' to other stacked favourites. There are also California-style smash burgers for anyone who wants those crispy edges, along with fried chicken burgers and a solid range of wings.

The Bok Shop gives the familiar fried chicken offerings a glow-up with influences from Asian, Southern US and London cooking. The fried chicken is cooked in pressure fryers that keep everything juicy, and the vegan “chick'n” options get just as much attention. Burgers, tenders and saucy sides make up most of the menu, and everything is prepared in-house.