The cheeseburger has been an American staple since the beginning of time—well, for a century at the least. Something about the melted Swiss, American, or Cheddar variation seeping into a sizzling ground beef patty just screams BBQ season and everything joyous in life, so you know that we’re going all out for National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18. With mouthwatering burger concoctions on every corner, just call Miami the burger mecca of America (Burger King did first originate here). However, these seven spots in specific fire up a mean cheeseburger Miami-style, redefining the cheesy, meaty goodness we know and love so dearly.
Greg Schesser’s late night E11EVEN burger pop-up has permanently set up shop at The Lincoln Eatery in Miami Beach, bringing its award-winning Vice Burger to the heart of Vice City. The patties are freshly ground daily, made from a custom-blend of brisket, short rib, and chuck, and served on a delightfully airy brioche bun. Of course, the patties are dressed with the signature Vice Sauce and melted American cheese, topped with pickle chips and paper-thin onions.
Indulge in elevated comfort food at Le Chick with the most classic stomach-pleaser of all—the Royale with Cheese. This double-stack comes in hot with oozing cheddar, chopped tomato, lettuce, house pickles, and the Le Chick secret sauce, tucked inside a house-baked bun. Choose a side companion, whether it be skin-on fries, spiced sweet potato fries, or coleslaw, and pair the whole combo with the bar’s handcrafted cocktails. For a Southwestern spin on the cheeseburger, try the La Reina, which comes with roasted corn, pickled red onion, pickled guacamole, and chimichurri cotija aioli.
Batch Gastropub and cheeseburgers go hand-in-hand like chips and guac. Think juicy and tender brisket & short rib patty, garnished with pecan-whiskey candied bacon, “B1” aioli, mac attack croqueta, bourbon-caramelized onion, and the star of the show—cherrywood-smoked cheddar. This killer burger satisfies multiple cravings in one bite while honoring the cheeseburger roots, and that’s surely something worth celebrating.
The Pan-Latin eatery nestled in the oasis that is Coconut Grove gives way to a classic cheeseburger, but a special one nonetheless. It’s topped with the usual suspects—lettuce, tomato, red onion—but is oh-so delicious, perhaps as a result of the gouda cheese that seamlessly blends into the patty. Add bacon, guacamole, or egg for a few dollars extra to dial up the fun, and knock it back with a glass of red.
BBQs across America would be painfully incomplete without the cheeseburger, and BBQ & Craft Company is honing in on this sentiment in full force. Their Craft Prime Burger consists of house steak sauce, porcini mayo, smoked gouda cheese, fried pork belly, and brioche buns. Our stomachs are growling just from writing that. This burger sensation is priced at $10 during happy hour every weekday—with $7 well drinks to wash it down.
This old-Cuban-meets-modern-Miami spot has newly touched down in Bayside Marketplace, and as one would expect, its beloved Latin flair has translated to their cheeseburger. Bless your appetite with two smashed patties, chorizo jam, Munster cheese, mojo onions, and papitas, known as The Frita Burger (available on Sundays for a special brunch matinee). Instead of the classic brioche bun, Kuba Cabana serves their patties on a Cuban roll, and we’re certainly not mad about it.
Offering a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, Sawa Restaurant & Lounge has mastered the art of creativity. Their Artisanal Lamb Burger is a representation of this, built from a homemade lamb patty and sprinkled with feta cheese, onion jam, lettuce, a micro-Greek salad, and homemade tzatziki. Should you prefer a more classic variation, opt for their Angus Burger with bleu cheese.
Photography by: Ali Majdfar/Getty Images; Courtesy of Vice Burger; Courtesy of Le Chick; Courtesy of Batch; The Louis Collection; Courtesy of Julia Rose; Courtesy of Munch Miami; Courtesy of Sawa Restaurant & Lounge
