Few foodstuffs are as easily manipulated as the humble burger. It can be dressed with little more than a pickle and mustard, wrapped in paper and sold for $1. Or it can be much, much more. In central Arkansas, burgers are found on the menus of even the most storied white-tablecloth establishments. Whether it’s because of the specially sourced beef, truffle-infused toppings or a handcrafted bun, these burgers rise to gourmet in both ingredients and price point. We rounded up 11 of the most over-the-top, to-the-nines burgers available in the Little Rock area to see how they bring burgers to new heights.
The Burger with house-cured bacon and truffled bearnaise
111 W. Markham St., Little Rock
The burger at the Capital Hotel’s bar and grill is a burger I’m pretty familiar with, having ordered it numerous times. Can’t say I’ve ever walked away disappointed, either. The burger is a simple but high-quality creation, starting with 7 ounces of all-natural Creekstone beef and not skimping on the quality of the accoutrements. But while I’ve added Capital’s great pimento cheese to its regular $14 burger for a $2 upcharge, I’ve never gone all-in and added truffled bearnaise for $1 and Capital’s house-cured bacon for $2. The frothy, rich bearnaise sauce delivered a buttery goodness to the already flavorful burger, but the real winner was the thick, smoke-flavored bacon. Sure, the bacon possessed a robust flavor, but the key with the bacon on this burger was its slight chewiness which provided a wonderful texture contrast to the juicy burger patty. Maybe the bacon overpowered the bearnaise sauce a little, but who’s complaining about a dish tasting too bacon-y? Not me. (ss)
BBQ Mac and Bacon Cheeseburger
3701 Cantrell Road, Little Rock
Amid a menu that includes goat-cheese nachos, lobster-crab cakes and chicken-fried pork tenderloin is a burger that similarly goes above and beyond the usual. Red Door’s specialty burger doesn’t stop at adding bacon and a sweet, housemade barbecue sauce to the mix — there’s a layer of macaroni and cheese in there, too. And once you get past the very real struggle of positioning yourself to get a bite of this monster, you’re in for a sweet, savory, Southern-influenced masterpiece. Ask for a steak knife to cut the sandwich after giving it a good squash, and then a fork helps with outlying patty (which there will be) and fallen noodles. The burger’s a hefty one, but you can handle it. Just make sure you have room in your schedule for a good nap afterward. (sm)
Big Mouth Burger
5311 Highway 5 N. Suite 250, Bryant
This burger is daunting, even for the seasoned, big-time eater. The burger boasts a full pound of beef, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, jalapenos, two slices of American cheese and three slices of bacon. With a fried egg to top it off and a large olive garnish, the Big Mouth Burger dares you to finish it in one sitting. A strategy should be considered for holding the enormous sandwich, and even those with big mouths might need to stretch their jaws before attempting to tackle it — you know, safety first. Spicy food lovers will find the burger to hold a savory flavor, set off by jalapenos on the bottom to spike your first impressions. Even if you’re not a fan of spicy food, consider leaving the peppers in the order and taking them off yourself, because the jalapeno juice leaves a nice flavor on the bun without all the heat from the peppers themselves. (ma)
Classic H.A.M. Burger
2807 Kavanaugh Blvd., Suite. B, Little Rock
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. And that’s definitely true for our love of the burgers from Hillcrest Artisan Meats, which are only available Fridays at the Hillcrest restaurant and deli. On a recent Friday, I opted for the Classic, a patty of Ratchford Farm ground beef topped with white cheddar, tomatoes, greens, red onions, aioli, ketchup, mustard and pickles on a brioche bun. The quality of the meat is what shines for this gourmet burger, but we recommend eating in if you want to enjoy yours at a nice medium or medium rare. Get it to go, and the meat will cook too well thanks to the steam. (evz)
OMG Kobe Burger
5823 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock
Kobe — the Japanese cut of beef from wagyu cattle — is in the title of this Heights burger, but the meat is actually a half pound of American wagyu beef. The burger was a little leaner than what I expected but still possessed a bold, beef flavor. And the burger came served medium rare — as requested — with a nice char on the outside and a not-too-messy-but-tasty juiciness on the inside. This is a savory burger, but here are two suggestions: bump up the quality of the bun and find a cheese that is a little stronger in flavor. The hidden gem of this burger is the perfectly caramelized red onions, which provide a piquant flavor. (ss)
Veggie Burger with avocado
808 Front St., Conway
It may leave you saying “Where’s the beef?” but the veggie burger ($8.99) at Mike’s Place in Conway packs some serious punch thanks to a patty made with brown rice, quinoa, bulgur wheat, roasted corn, black beans and roasted red pepper. Not only does the burger come served on a croissant rather than a boring bun, adding avocado for $1.50 nets you nearly an entire avocado worth of creamy slices. Just don’t think about the calories. Veggie burgers are always good for you, right? The sandwich comes with your choice of sides, and thanks to Mike’s standing as a private club, you can even pair your meal with a boozy drink (a rare treat in dry Faulkner County), provided you become a member. (evz)
Double Pantry Burger
11401 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock
This beast, formerly known as the Lazy Boy Burger, is not for the faint of heart or those with small appetites. This burger comes with little frills — soft buns surrounding and in between two tasty, juicy half-pound patties, with slices of Edam and cheddar cheese and tomatoes, lettuce and onion on the side. On a recent visit I shared this with a dining companion, and the half more than filled me up with copious amounts of cooked-to-perfection ground beef. A simple yet delicious burger that easily feeds two. (no)
Patty Melt
1304 S. Main St., Little Rock
Tucked away under the “SoMa Classics” section of the lunch menu, South on Main’s patty melt is a delightfully rich mix of caramelized onions, mushrooms, cheese and buttery bread surrounding a good-quality patty. A salad comes on the side, and your arteries will thank you. (evz)
Pimento Cheese Burger
300 E. Third St., Little Rock
The homemade pimento cheese on this burger will convert even the staunch anti-pimento cheese eater. The patty is stuffed with roasted garlic, enhancing the umami of the dripping burger. The mayo sits on the top bun in contrast with the cheese atop the patty and the mustard strategically placed on the bottom bun. The sweet potato fries are not too shabby, either. (ma)
White Truffle and Pecorino burger
Multiple locations
On a menu filled with delicious gourmet specialty burgers, this combination is the most expensive and appeals to a diner with fine taste. The pecorino slice, fig jam and mayo make for a sweet and savory combination on a bed of soft arugula. The patty, as always, is thick and juicy, and the bun fluffy. (no)
Creekstone Beef Burger
605 N. Beechwood St., Little Rock
Ciao Baci’s half-pound patty of Creekstone beef, rolled thick and juicy, comes served on a brioche sesame seed bun with shredded lettuce, thick-cut tomatoes and red onions, house-made pickles and Ciao Baci’s “fancy” sauce. What’s in that fabulous sauce is a mystery to me, but whatever it is, it’s working. (sm)
Emily Van Zandt took the time to break down how to build your own burger here.