Best Burgers at Disney World
Looking for the best burgers at Walt Disney World? This list shares our favorite all-beef patties in the theme parks, resort hotels, and at Disney Springs. There are even a couple plant-based Impossible and Beyond Burger options for vegetarians! (Updated April 17, 2024.)
Burgers are my passion and my calling (or so I’d like to think). If allowed to do so, I would eat them 4 meals per day. My life’s goal is for the staff at In-N-Out Burger to greet me by name, as if I’m Norm entering Cheers. Suffice to say, I have a lot of experience with burgers at Walt Disney World. I’ve had some great burgers there and some bad ones (and then there’s the short-lived Cosmic Ray’s Pizza Burger, which I just barely survived consuming), and this has been an “in progress” post for ages now.
That remains the case to this day with our April 2024 update. Sadly, although there are a couple of additions with the latest refresh to this list–there are also a couple of big losses with the removal of the Lobster Thermidor Burger at Grand Floridian Cafe and Main Street Burger at Plaza Restaurant in Magic Kingdom. When Walt said that Disney would keep moving forward, I don’t think this is what he had in mind. But just as Disneyland will never be completed, this list of the best burgers at Walt Disney World never be finished…
Be confident that I will not rest on my burger-consuming laurels. I will leave no menu unturned in my consumption of burgers–all in the name of science, research, and the future of mankind. If a new burger appears on a menu at Walt Disney World, I will be there to try it, reporting back to you on the quality of each specimen.
Note that this list contains both table service and counter service burgers from around Walt Disney World. The table service options are almost universally better on a strict quality scale, but accounting for value, some counter service choices are worthy inclusions on the list.
They say everyone was put on earth for a purpose, and if that’s true, I’d like to think mine was “eating burgers.” It’s tough work, but someone has to do it. Let’s start in Magic Kingdom…
Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger – If you’re in the for a good burger at Magic Kingdom, your best option is actually leaving the park and walking (or taking the monorail) over to the Contemporary where you’ll find arguably the best burger in all of Walt Disney World: the Stack Burger. This Steakhouse 71 special features a Signature Blend of Beef, American Cheese, Lemon Aïoli, Red Onion, House-made Pickles on a Brioche Bun, topped with Pork Belly.
For the sake of research, I’ve ordered the Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger 4 times in the last year-plus, and can confirm that it’s consistently delicious. As for why I’ve had it so many times–the bar here serves the full menu, making it the best and easiest place to eat within walking distance of Magic Kingdom.
Suffice to say, the Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger is up there as one of my top 3 burgers at Walt Disney World. Maybe #1. The Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger is a greasy diner burger, perfected. I’d liken it to a higher end version of Shack Shake’s ShackBurger, but with the amount of cheese you’d get at In-N-Out plus pork belly to top it all off. In case you haven’t had any of those options, that’s very high praise. It’s just not “very best burger at Walt Disney World” levels of praise.
Bison Bacon Cheeseburger – Another top 3 burger at Walt Disney World that’s also near Magic Kingdom is the Bison Bacon Cheeseburger at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. I’m not 100% sure it’s the absolute best (extensive research will be undertaken to conclusively determine whether that’s the case), but Wilderness Lodge is our favorite resort and we eat here a lot.
There’s a lot going on here, but none of the ingredients are out of place. To the contrary, this is a symphony of flavors. Everything adds something, be it in terms of texture (onion straws) or flavor (aioli). The Marionberry BBQ sauce is the highlight in this regard, and made the dish more like something you’d find in the Pacific Northwest. Some will claim that bison is too lean to produce a truly great burger, but I’m guessing those people have never tried this. It’s neither overly lean nor does it have a gamey flavor–it’s perfect in every way.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Burgers – This hyper-themed table service restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has long been known for its burgers. These have changed a lot over the years, starting with the All-American Burger about a decade ago, devolving to the Picnic Burger (topped with hot dogs), and then evolving to seasonal specialty burgers.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these. They now use a Signature Blend of Beef with House-made Burger Sauce and have unique toppings. I’d say these are among the best burgers at Walt Disney World. My favorite is the “Pork-on-Pork” or “Double Pork Burger,” which features a pork burger patty topped with pork belly, rainbow cabbage slaw, cheese, and house-made mustard bbq sauce.
This burger is fantastic. The pork patty is leaner than the normal signature beef, but that’s more than offset by the pork belly. The acidic slaw and sauce has a light kick to it, and the cheese just melds everything together perfectly.
Gemini Burger – Served at both the insanely popular Space 220 Restaurant and even more insanely popular Space 220 Lounge, the Gemini Burger is a great option at the latter and only a so-so option at the former. That’s because the restaurant has a prix fixe menu and the burger is one of the lower-dollar values, whereas the lounge is a la carte.
Either way, the Gemini Burger tastes delicious. It’s a pretty unassuming burger, consisting of Signature Beef Blend, White Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Shredded Lettuce, Tomatoes, Roasted Pepper Citrus Aioli, and accompanied by French Fries. But the burger is thick, juicy, and incredibly tender. The generous helping of white cheddar cheese and citrus (but not overly so) aioli brings it all together.
Despite being less of a burger enthusiast than me, Sarah actually preferred the Gemini Burger at Space 220 to the New York Strip Steak!
Three Bridges Signature Burger – The eponymous burger at Coronado Springs’ fantastic over-the-water bar and grill is another gem. The Three Bridges Signature Burger is topped with crispy potatoes, Manchego cheese, roasted garlic-lemon aioli, arugula, and tomato.
Cooked to a perfect medium-rare, this is juicy and delicious. The biggest challenge is deciding between this, the lamb, and steak!
Kobe Beef Burger – This option at the underrated Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one pricey burger, but it’s made of Kobe beef, and I’m pretty sure Kobe means “expensive” in Japanese.
Now, something tells me that a burger made by a Landry’s restaurant is probably Faux-be beef since only scarce amounts of real Kobe are actually available in the United States, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is easily one of the best (if not the best) burgers at Walt Disney World.
Connections Cafe Burgers – When this relatively-new restaurant first opened, it had several different burgers on the menu–the Southwestern Burger, Mediterranean Burger, Banh Mi Burger, and French Bistro Burger. All are gone now except that last one, with a regular ole burger and plant-based option also added.
Depending upon which of us you ask, the French Bistro Burger is either the best burger on the menu at this new EPCOT eatery, or the worst. Fortunately, this was/is my favorite of the bunch. Consisting of a Gourmet Beef Blend, Caramelized Onions, Bacon, Brie, Mushrooms, Dijon Mayonnaise, and Toasted Brioche Bun, the French Bistro Burger is fantastic.
Regal Eagle Smokehouse – This restaurant in Epcot’s American Adventure pavilion is a salute to all foods, but mostly barbecue meats.
Both the plant-based BBQ Jackfruit Burger and its regular counterpart (both are pictured on the left side of the above photo) are very good. They’re not revolutionary, but they’re currently among the best counter service burgers in any of the Walt Disney World theme parks.
STK Burgers – Located at Disney Springs, STK (sound out the name instead of spelling it…) is a steakhouse that also happens to serve some of the best burgers at Walt Disney World.
We’re particularly partial to the Linz Angus Burger for lunch, but the Wagyu Burger is also fantastic. A thick and juicy patty that’s a tad fatty (I normally order burgers medium-rare, but think this one is better medium because of the fat) and incredibly filling.
Plaza Burger – The best burger at Magic Kingdom, and pretty much the only good burger in Walt Disney World’s flagship park, is right at the front in the Plaza Restaurant. Enjoy a view of Cinderella Castle while you savor this Angus Beef Signature-blend Patty, Smoked Bacon, Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, and Signature Sauce on a Potato Roll.
The Main Street Burger is simple but highly effective. It’s essentially a ‘by the books’ soda shop burger. Good quality ingredients and beef that are better than the norm for Walt Disney World, but not necessarily gourmet or inventive. Nothing revolutionary or envelope-pushing, but sometimes a solid burger served on the heart of Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom is more than enough. That’s the case here, and I’d recommend this as a result.
The Donut Burger – Another option at Disney Springs is available at Everglazed, which is otherwise a donut and coffee shop. The Donut Burger features two patties, American Cheese, Ketchup, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato and B&B Pickles.
You might be weary of ordering a burger at a doughnut shop, but this is fantastic. We feared that this would be an unmitigated disaster of clashing flavors and over-the-top decadence, but it works. It really works! Against all odds, the sweetness of the doughnut melds beautifully with the patties and toppings and coalesces into one fantastic burger.
D-Luxe Burger – This is the Walt Disney World burger spot, with a solid lineup from start to finish. Usually, I’ll order their seasonal specialty for the sake of trying something new. If I had to pick a favorite beyond that, it would be Southern Classic Burger, which is topped with a fried green tomato, pimento cheese, bacon, and lettuce. The pimento cheese and fried green tomato add excellent texture and round out the flavor on an already great beef patty–it all just wows. I’m also a fan of the the El Diablo Burger.
There’s also something to be said with keeping it simple and letting the high-quality beef patty speak for itself with the Classic Cheeseburger. Whatever you do, be sure to order fries and try the various dipping sauces. They’re addictively delicious!
Braai Burger – This hidden gem is the “best Walt Disney World burger you’ve never heard of.” Available at Animal Kingdom Lodge, of all places, in the Victoria Falls Lounge.
The Braai Burger is cooked on a wood-fired grill, and has a lovely smokey flavor as a result. The patty is topped with Black Diamond Cheddar, Applewood Bacon, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Red Onion Marmalade. It pairs perfectly, but as you can imagine based upon its height in the photo above, the Braai Burger can be very messy. Totally worth it.
Yacht & Beach Club Burgers – Few experiences at Walt Disney World top grabbing a seat at the counter in Beaches & Cream, enjoying a burger and sundae, and then recovering from my food coma by floating around in the Storm-Along Bay lazy river for an hour or so.
The same could be said for the burgers at Ale & Compass Restaurant and Crew’s Cup Lounge. Personally, I prefer the latter (when open), and think the quality is just a tad higher at those two locations than Beaches & Cream.
Bronto or Megasaurus Burger – It’s a huge disappointment that this burger served at T-Rex Cafe isn’t made of actual dinosaur, but until science gets its act together and clones dinosaurs, I guess we’ll have to settle for beef.
I can’t penalize T-Rex Cafe for the shortcomings of science, though, and this burger deserves accolades for being surprisingly good. It’s not the leanest burger ever, but it tastes fresh and is plenty juicy, making it a great, safe option at T-Rex Cafe. (Note that these are the same thing, the Megasaurus Burger is simply “Mammoth-sized.”)
Spicy Jackfruit-Carnitas Burger – Served in the Centertown Market Food Court at Caribbean Beach Resort, this plant-based “burger” is topped with spicy jackfruit, bbq mushrooms, cabbage slaw, and chipotle mayonnaise. (This same burger has been added to many more menus throughout food courts at Walt Disney World.)
Juicy, lightly spiced, and full of meaty flavor, this Impossible burger was good enough to trick me. I could’ve done without the abundance of slaw, but everything else worked together flawlessly. It’s truly incredible the strides Walt Disney World’s vegetarian cuisine has made in only a few years—I remember when this stuff bordered on inedible, and now it’s among menu highlights.
Ultimately, there are dozens of delicious burgers at Walt Disney World, and I’ll continue to sample them all–for very important research. However, that covers it–for now–when it comes to my favorite burgers at Walt Disney World. Hundreds have entered (my stomach), few have emerged to take their place on this honorable list.
In Memoriam: Le Cellier Burger, Lobster Thermidor Burger at Grand Floridian Cafe, and Pork Belly Burger at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. This post is dedicated to your juicy deliciousness; you were taken from us too soon.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS…
Now, the question I have for you, carnivorous readers, what other burgers at Walt Disney World should I try? Have you consumed a delicious burger at Walt Disney World? What’s your favorite burger at WDW? Any burgers you recommend avoiding? Do you agree or disagree with my best burger picks? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Cuban burger at old port Royal seems to be missing.
Yup. I asked around, the Cuban burger was discontinued. Upsetting, as I’m staying here at CBR for eight more nights.
The brown derby’s burger is the best I’ve had, but I admit that I haven’t had several on your list.
I had the Beef Brisket Onion burger at the Plaza Restaurant on your recommendation last year.
Thank you so much. It was very unique and delicious.
As far as straightforward regular burgers around WDW go, I’ve always loved the ones at Big River on the Boardwalk.
However the many, many beers we always down there might have happily clouded my senses.
I had the Big River burger many moons ago (2008 or 09), and it was quite good. I haven’t had it recently-enough to be comfortable putting it on the list, though. Glad to hear it’s still good!
TOM WHAT WHY NO GRAND FLORIDIAN SURF AND TURF?!
I say that, in all caps, simply because I ate it last week. It blew my mind. It was a little messy, sure, but it was amazing. Those caramelized onions, that LOBSTER….omg. I want one right now. Sorry you had a bad experience!
I’ve always enjoyed the Bacon Cheese Burger at the Roaring Fork at Wilderness Lodge and the Cuban Burger at the ESPN Club.
Thank you for this! I’m taking my two pre-teen nephews down in December so this list (and everyone else’s comments) will be most helpful
For our trip next month, I had already be reviewing menus to locate the burgers. This post has definitely helped me prioritize which ones to try.
Your dedication on behalf of Burgerdom is an inspiration to us all Tom. I salute you sir. (says man with Char Grill burger in one hand typing with other hand.)
Wholeheartedly agree with 2 of your top choices: the Kobe beef burger at Yak & Yeti and the Angus beef burger at Beaches & Cream. To me, the reason I love the on at B&C actually IS due to its simplicity. As much as I love trying new things at WDW, there is something so comforting to me about going to B&C and getting just a classic cheeseburger after all the “new and interesting” things I’ve tried elsewhere around the “world”.
Finally – a list of good burgers at WDW, rather than a list of “things to eat BESIDES burgers.” There’s no shame in wanting a burger, and maybe I’m just hungry but that Beef Brisket Onion burger, and the Cuban burger, are calling my name right now!
I love the Kobe burger at Big River Grille at Boardwalk. Nothing fancy, just a straight, delicious cheeseburger. I also agree with the few posters regarding the Beaches N’ Cream burgers.
Interesting post – I had a horrible Angus burger at Beaches and Cream, so had sworn off all Disney burgers after that. It’s good to know there is hope!
As with anything Disney dining, inconsistency is part of the experience, I guess. It’s normally a good burger.
That’s what I’ve read elsewhere – we’re planning to go there again (they now have a chocolate lovers kitchen sink!!!) and maybe I’ll give it another try.
Mine tasted like someone had bought a burger at Pecos Bill’s, taken the bus over to Beaches and Cream, and served it to me after sticking it back in the microwave for 30 seconds.
I love the Grand Floridian burger at Grand Floridian Cafe. It’s topped with lobster and is very rich and delicious. Also, I think that the Grand Floridian Cafe is great if you want to splurge a bit and eat at the Grand Floridian, but not spend too much money (it only costs one meal credit to eat there on the meal plan).
I had that burger a couple of years ago, and found it to be awful. Dry, too much bun, and totally devoid of flavor. I know a lot of people love it, so I’m assuming mine was an anomaly, but I can’t put it on the list until I have a good experience with it…
While Rainforest Cafe is not a restaurant I rush to at Disney (we were in a pinch at Animal Kingdom last year), my husband still talks about the Beastly Burger to this day. I’ve never seen a bigger burger.
I have to politely disagree with listing a Beaches and Cream burger as one of the best. My husband and I, upon our second visit this year, were more concerned about our budget and agreed that it was not very good value. Yes, it was a good burger, but I didn’t think there was anything special about it to be listed at that price. With that said, I love the sundaes there, so we definitely will return for those!
In looking at the menu now, I think the burger at Beaches & Cream has gone up in price at least $3-4 since the last time we were there. That price is pretty high for a basic burger. I guess it’s a popular-enough restaurant that they feel they can charge whatever.
I was at Beaches & Cream the night before last and the cost of a burger was $15.99. It was a very tasty burger and I don’t regret it at all but a rather plain burger for that price.
I had pretty much given up on finding burgers at WDW that didn’t taste like sawdust. Your Plaza Restaurant review has given me hope, and so I will be enjoying the brisket bacon burger (yum) at the Plaza Restaurant in December. Oddly, it wasn’t an easy reservation to get. Had to settle for dinner at 4:10. But who cares? It’s Disney! Thanks Tom.
Plaza Restaurant has limited seating, sets aside some of it for walk-ups, and is a cult favorite among Disney fans for its relatively low prices. I’m not surprised it was difficult for you to get the ADR!
Tom – Great list! My favorite is the Angus Chuck Cheeseburger at the Crew’s Cup Lounge adjacent to Yachtsman Steakhouse. I’m buying next time we’re both at WDW at the same time!
Last visit we got burgers at Sci-Fi Dine in, and were delighted by the flavor of the burger itself, as well as the overall quality of everything. I had gone in with really low expectations and was surprised and delighted. We’ll be back! 😉
Fun fact: I like to play “can I go the whole vacation without a burger?” just to be crazy sometimes.
Sci-Fi Dine-In! I actually ordered the burger there on your recommendation, so I’m surprised to not see it on this list. The only other one you’ve mentioned here that I’ve eaten is at Beaches & Cream, which was delicious, but I think the burger at Sci-Fi topped it.
The reason that burger isn’t on the list is because their current signature burger isn’t the same as the one I ordered. Technically, the “Build Your Own” burger could be the same as the one I got, but I’m not so sure that counts.
Their new burger is on my list of ones to try, though!
Maybe I’ll have to try the burger again at Sci-Fi Dine-in next time I stop in there. The one I had there in the winter of 2012 was maybe the most tasteless boring burger I’ve ever experienced and has been one of the primary reasons I have recommended to other people that they look elsewhere for an actual meal and only sit down in Sci-Fi Dine-In for a milkshake and to enjoy the theming.
Went to Sanaa for the first time a few weeks ago and was blown away at how good their Sanaa Burger was. Smothered in spiced mustard and melty goat cheese, topped with pink pickled shallots and spicy piquante peppers. Simply superb. Ready to go back to the World just to have that burger again (and return to Sanaa!)
Thanks, I’ve heard that from a couple of people now! On the one hand, I really want to try every burger at Walt Disney World. On the other hand, Sanaa is somewhat of an exception, as they have such an adventurous menu, and I want to support that, rather than going for the ‘safe’ choices, which in turn encourage menu homogenization. Decisions, decisions!
Sanaa, in general, just rocks overall. If only it wasn’t so far away from everything…
Thanks for the tips, Tom. What is the dress code at Markhams?
I would give honorable mention to any burger served with a decent toppings bar, so Cosmic Ray’s and Pecos Bill’s, piled so high with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions , peppers, and mayo, that a fork for cleanup is essential eating equipment, would make my list (offsetting the ho hum nature of the basic Disney patty you allude to.)
Beaches and cream is now on my to do list for my next trip to Disney World!
There’s no dress code of which I’m aware. I’m sure people would feel out of place if they looked sloppy or were in pool-wear, but this is the private clubhouse for homeowners at Golden Oak, so I suspect it’s more an unspoken dress code than anything else.
Agree with you on the toppings bars. I cannot fathom eating one of those burgers plain!