St. Paul keeps its burger loyalty close to the neighborhood bar that pours the pint alongside it. This list runs from Lowertown patios to West Seventh pubs, weighing the patty against the room that serves it, no chain math involved.
№ 01
Brunson's Pub
St. Paul $$
956 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16514472483
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Brunson's Pub leans into pub identity with wood and tap handles announcing the mood before the menu does. The patio fills fast on sunny afternoons, and the standout is a single patty topped with white American, sauteed red onion, pickle, and mustard, built for a slow group hang rather than a quick stop.
What to orderMN Burger Week burger, classic burger, craft cocktails
№ 02
Shamrocks
St. Paul $$
995 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512289925
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Shamrocks carries the Irish bar lineage of St. Paul's St. Patrick's Day circuit, still rowdy in memory if calmer now. The burger and fries anchor a menu that also runs Irish stew, and the covered patio holds up well after dark. Loud inside, but the crowd and the service carry it.
What to orderburger, fries, Irish stew
№ 03
The Nook
St. Paul
492 Hamline Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116 · +16516984347
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The Nook in St. Paul draws travelers chasing its reputation for one of the Twin Cities' best Juicy Lucys, the cheese sealed inside the patty rather than melted on top. Fish and chips round out the menu, but the burger is the reason for the wait, and Friday nights run packed with a line out the door.
What to orderJuicy Lucy, fish and chips, burger
№ 04
Red Cow St. Paul
St. Paul $$
393 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102 · +16517890545
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Red Cow St. Paul runs the same reliable burger and fries formula found across its other locations, with the bar seating offering a front row view of drink service in motion. Recommendations from staff steer newcomers well, and the format favors a casual dinner with an engaged, lively bar atmosphere.
What to orderburger, fries, craft cocktail
№ 05
Burger Moe's
St. Paul $$
242 W 7th St, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512223100
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Burger Moe's built its name on the Jack Daniel's burger, a St. Paul staple for anyone circling the Xcel Energy Center before a game. The beer list runs deep, service moves with the speed of a sports bar on a big night, and the room holds a college energy that suits pre-game groups.
What to orderJack Daniel's burger, classic burger, beer selection
№ 06
Flameburger
St. Paul $
2534 Rice St, Little Canada, MN 55113 · +16514838444
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Flameburger keeps its diner-dive identity intact with oversized portions and a menu that runs late into the night. The strawberry French toast draws its own following alongside the burger and fries, and prices stay low, though the kitchen can run behind or out of items during the latest hours.
What to orderburger, strawberry French toast, fries
№ 07
St Paul Tap
St. Paul $$
825 W Jefferson Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512276315
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St Paul Tap centers on a wide patio that draws crowds even on gray afternoons, with burgers, wings, and fries as the core order. The format suits a loose hangout with friends, though service pace has grown inconsistent, swinging between quick seating and long waits depending on the day.
What to orderburger, wings, fries
№ 08
The Bulldog Lowertown
St. Paul $$
237 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55101 · +16512210750
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The Bulldog Lowertown sits in the thick of St. Paul's festival calendar, feeding crowds headed to Mears Park or Harriet Island before the music starts. Burgers, wings, and fries move fast at lunch, and the bar seating behind the taps offers one option among several for outdoor and indoor tables.
What to orderburger, wings, fries
№ 09
Pillbox Tavern
St. Paul $$
400 Wabasha St N, Ste 220, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16517567566
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Pillbox Tavern holds a corner of downtown St. Paul as a pre-event stop, with burgers, wings, and nachos built for sharing before a show. High top tables line the edge of the dining room, and the format rewards regulars who plan a stop here on the way to whatever is happening downtown that night.
What to orderburger, wings, nachos
Frequently asked
What is the best burger near me in St. Paul?
It depends on which neighborhood is closest. The Nook is known for its Juicy Lucy near the river, Burger Moe's suits downtown near the Xcel Energy Center, and Brunson's Pub and St Paul Tap work well for neighborhood patio seating. Each entry above is ranked using the Insider Score, which reflects the review record and nothing else.
What is a Juicy Lucy and where can I get one in St. Paul?
A Juicy Lucy is a cheeseburger with the cheese sealed inside the patty rather than melted on top, a format invented on Cedar Avenue in south Minneapolis. In St. Paul, The Nook has built its reputation on this style, drawing visitors specifically for it.
Are any of these restaurants paying to be listed?
No restaurant pays for placement on this list. Every entry is ranked using the Insider Score, a measure built from the public review record, not advertising or submissions.
Which of these St. Paul burger spots are best for groups?
Shamrocks, Burger Moe's, and The Bulldog Lowertown all handle larger groups well, with patio space and a casual pace suited to crowds heading to or from downtown events. Their Insider Scores reflect consistent service at volume, not just the food.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
