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15 Must-Try Burgers in Charleston

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It may not be the biggest culinary challenge a chef could face, but how their hamburger offering stacks up could test the mettle of their menu. Beef patties on buttery buns are the ultimate comfort food. Pair it with a beer and some fries and any bad day melts away. Sure, you shouldn't indulge in a cheeseburger every night of the week, but if you wanted to try, Eater selected 15 options to keep you busy until the end of July. Just in time for The Five Days of Meat, we present a map of burgers across the Lowcountry worth a bite. If your favorite is missing, present your case in the comments. Picks are presented in alphabetical order.


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39 Rue De Jean

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Rue de Jean is the classic French bistro that happens to offer a kick-ass burger. Thick and meaty, this patty requires two hands. The grill is seasoned after years of service to cook up the perfect temperature. Toppings range from bacon lardons to stinky (heavenly) blue cheese.

Bohemian Bull

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Bohemian Bull capitalizes on two of the most loved menu items around: burgers and beer. They offer lots of combinations to make most everyone happy. Also, there's a bocce court to burn off the indulgent offerings.

Butcher & Bee

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The burger isn't always on the menu here, but when it is, ORDER IT. The patty is a special blend of beef and is topped with the "specialist sauce." The crisp fries don't hurt either.

Cypress

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The patty melt at Cypress is a buttery, indulgent mass of meat. On burger night, they are only $5. Chef Craig Deihl does a lot of fancy meat, but he can get down on a humble burger too. Some other options include the the wood grilled burger with bacon jam, pimiento cheese, butter lettuce, and yeast roll (shown here).

Edmund's Oast

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What's better accompaniment to all the beers at Edmund's Oast than a bacon, egg, and cheeseburger? The smoked salt and pepper brioche bun really compliments the meat. It's available at brunch too.
If you like variety, HoM is the place for you. Burgers are their specialty, and they come up with the most creative combinations around. Be sure to play a round of ping pong before your order is up.
Sure, chef Sean Brock's skills go beyond the domestic delight that is a burger, but you wouldn't want to deny yourself a chance to eat a meat patty with the bacon ground in. Two slabs of beef, American cheese, and a pillowy bun make this burger worth trying once, twice, maybe 20 times.

Moe's Crosstown Tavern

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Moe's has been flipping burgers for years, and you can taste the perfected patina of the grill in every bite. On Tuesdays, the meaty minions are half-price. Try the goat cheese and poblano pepper combination or the more traditional fried green tomato BLT option.

Oak Steakhouse

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While others may question why you’re ordering a burger at a steakhouse, you know that this beef patty is made of the finest Certified Angus Beef cuts. Chef Jeremiah Bacon’s special blend is made of a melt-in-your-mouth mixture and topped with a buttery bun. The best part? It’s only $10 during happy hour

Poe's Tavern

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Beach + Summer = Gimme a burger. Poe’s is there for patrons coming off the ocean in search of filling fare. Everyone has a favorite, and the burgers are named after the mysterious and macabre poet Edgar Allen Poe's work. Relax under an umbrella and order a Tell-Tale Heart burger.

Sesame Burgers & Beer

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Sesame has several stores, so it's likely there's one near you. With ingredients ranging from banana slices, to pineapple, to guacamole, there's something for everyone. They even have a choice of patties: beef, chicken, turkey, or bean.

Ted's Butcherblock

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They cut and grind the meat in house, so it doesn't get any fresher than the patties at Ted's Butcherblock. Every Saturday, the team comes up with an "Ultimate Burger." Last week the meat was topped with corned beef hash, cheddar cheese, and an egg. The burgers are cooked to order on the Big Green Egg staged out front.

The Macintosh

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Simple pairings of lettuce, tomato, onion, Nueske's bacon, and cheddar cheese make the beef on this cheeseburger sing. It's big enough to split if you order appetizers to share. The Pecorino truffle fries on the side are a winning combination.

The Rarebit

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There are two situations that require a Rarebit patty melt: either you've been drinking or you're suffering a hangover. Not saying that's the only time you should try this diner staple, but the griddled beef tastes that much better when it's sopping up alcohol.

Two Boroughs Larder

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This burger is only available on Wednesdays (and sometimes at brunch), but you need to experience mornay dripping down your fingers as you bite into some of the most delightful double patties you’ll ever find. The sauce is a quarter of the appeal, but the pickled ramps/cucumbers/seasonal vegetables really pull the zing into it.

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39 Rue De Jean

Rue de Jean is the classic French bistro that happens to offer a kick-ass burger. Thick and meaty, this patty requires two hands. The grill is seasoned after years of service to cook up the perfect temperature. Toppings range from bacon lardons to stinky (heavenly) blue cheese.

Bohemian Bull

Bohemian Bull capitalizes on two of the most loved menu items around: burgers and beer. They offer lots of combinations to make most everyone happy. Also, there's a bocce court to burn off the indulgent offerings.

Butcher & Bee

The burger isn't always on the menu here, but when it is, ORDER IT. The patty is a special blend of beef and is topped with the "specialist sauce." The crisp fries don't hurt either.

Cypress

The patty melt at Cypress is a buttery, indulgent mass of meat. On burger night, they are only $5. Chef Craig Deihl does a lot of fancy meat, but he can get down on a humble burger too. Some other options include the the wood grilled burger with bacon jam, pimiento cheese, butter lettuce, and yeast roll (shown here).

Edmund's Oast

What's better accompaniment to all the beers at Edmund's Oast than a bacon, egg, and cheeseburger? The smoked salt and pepper brioche bun really compliments the meat. It's available at brunch too.

HŌM

If you like variety, HoM is the place for you. Burgers are their specialty, and they come up with the most creative combinations around. Be sure to play a round of ping pong before your order is up.

Husk

Sure, chef Sean Brock's skills go beyond the domestic delight that is a burger, but you wouldn't want to deny yourself a chance to eat a meat patty with the bacon ground in. Two slabs of beef, American cheese, and a pillowy bun make this burger worth trying once, twice, maybe 20 times.

Moe's Crosstown Tavern

Moe's has been flipping burgers for years, and you can taste the perfected patina of the grill in every bite. On Tuesdays, the meaty minions are half-price. Try the goat cheese and poblano pepper combination or the more traditional fried green tomato BLT option.

Oak Steakhouse

While others may question why you’re ordering a burger at a steakhouse, you know that this beef patty is made of the finest Certified Angus Beef cuts. Chef Jeremiah Bacon’s special blend is made of a melt-in-your-mouth mixture and topped with a buttery bun. The best part? It’s only $10 during happy hour

Poe's Tavern

Beach + Summer = Gimme a burger. Poe’s is there for patrons coming off the ocean in search of filling fare. Everyone has a favorite, and the burgers are named after the mysterious and macabre poet Edgar Allen Poe's work. Relax under an umbrella and order a Tell-Tale Heart burger.

Sesame Burgers & Beer

Sesame has several stores, so it's likely there's one near you. With ingredients ranging from banana slices, to pineapple, to guacamole, there's something for everyone. They even have a choice of patties: beef, chicken, turkey, or bean.

Ted's Butcherblock

They cut and grind the meat in house, so it doesn't get any fresher than the patties at Ted's Butcherblock. Every Saturday, the team comes up with an "Ultimate Burger." Last week the meat was topped with corned beef hash, cheddar cheese, and an egg. The burgers are cooked to order on the Big Green Egg staged out front.

The Macintosh

Simple pairings of lettuce, tomato, onion, Nueske's bacon, and cheddar cheese make the beef on this cheeseburger sing. It's big enough to split if you order appetizers to share. The Pecorino truffle fries on the side are a winning combination.

The Rarebit

There are two situations that require a Rarebit patty melt: either you've been drinking or you're suffering a hangover. Not saying that's the only time you should try this diner staple, but the griddled beef tastes that much better when it's sopping up alcohol.

Two Boroughs Larder

This burger is only available on Wednesdays (and sometimes at brunch), but you need to experience mornay dripping down your fingers as you bite into some of the most delightful double patties you’ll ever find. The sauce is a quarter of the appeal, but the pickled ramps/cucumbers/seasonal vegetables really pull the zing into it.

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