Juicy, thick and grilled just right, Tank's burgers can be served topped with nothing or a laundry list of items at no additional cost. Banana peppers and horseradish, anyone? Cheeseburger, $6.59; Hamburger, $6.39; Tankburger (half-pounder), $7.49
Voltzy's Rootbeer Stand, 4668 Springboro Pike, Moraine, 937-299-1440
This stand has great-tasting sliders with character – plenty of it. Burgers are made to order. There are about a dozen ways to order a burger, starting with a basic $1.30 hamburger to the $4 Double Voltzy – a regular cheese burger on a buttered bun topped with ham, raw onion and sauce.
>> RELATED: Voltzy’s Root Beer Stand’s temporary closure extended
The Oakwood Club, 2414 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood, 937-293-6973
Oakwood Club steaks are an area favorite, but some of the tastiest beef is used to make the burgers. Try the Oakwood Club Steak Burger ($8.50) or the Oakwood Club Roquefort Steak Burger ($8.95, cheese is 25 cents more).
EO Burgers, 4482 Glengarry Drive, The Greene, Beavercreek, 937-431-1242
ExtraOrdinary. These goodies are made with 100% USDA Prime beef and grilled to perfection with plenty of unique flavors and toppings. EO is owned by a small Michigan-based restaurant company. Try the EO Classic Burger, $5.99; EO Classic Cheeseburger and Bourbon Street Burger, $6.99 each; Kobe Burger, $9.99 and the Santa Barbara (guacamole, jalapeno, Monterey Jack cheese with a special sauce), $7.99.
Coco's Bistro, 250 Warren St., Dayton, 937-228-2626
This is how to do a gourmet burger. Start with the creamy Boursin cheese, thick Applewood smoked bacon and sweet caramelized onions and go from there. The Bistro Burger is always on the menu, even when it’s not listed. The Bistro Burger with side is $13.
Pine Club, 1926 Brown St., Dayton, 937-228-5371
The Pine Club may be known for steaks, but the burgers are also amazing. Beef and lamb are ground in-house before being cooked to perfection. Try the Pine Club Hamburger Platter with onion rings or fries, $12.75, or the Pine Club Cheeseburger Platter with onion rings or fries, $12.95.
K's Hamburger Shop, 117 E. Main St., Troy, 937-339-3902
This is a Troy institution that everyone around Dayton should experience. Low frill, all-American burger in a retro burger shop, with beef ground in-house. What more do you need (besides a delicious milkshake to go with it)? Get a cheeseburger for $2.70 or a hamburger for $2.50.
Slyder's Tavern, 836 Watervliet Ave., Dayton, 937-258-1222
The juicy meat is packed with flavor. Get a hamburger with chips, $6.05 (7 oz.) and $6.75 (10 oz.); Cheeseburger with chips, $6.45 (7 oz.) and $7.15 (10 oz.).
Benjamin's The Burger Master, 100 N. Main St., Dayton, 937-223-8702
Slider-style burgers with names like Poor Richard’s Burger and the Big Ben to pay homage to the restaurant’s namesake, Benjamin Franklin. The list of full-size, made-to-order burgers range from the $2.99 hamburger to the $3.99 bacon cheeseburger. Extra meat, please and thanks, is $1.50.
Blind Bob's, 430 E. Fifth St., Dayton, 937-938-6405
You will find robust stuffed burgers, including the Island Delight burger ($10) — a half-pound patty, stuffed with sweet pineapple and zippy pepper-jack cheese, covered in a teriyaki glaze with a tangy wasabi-mayonnaise — and the Italian Burger ($10) — a half-pound patty, stuffed with provolone cheese and cooked basil and green peppers, topped with marinara and a mound of caramelized onions. Other burgers include a vegetarian friendly Garden Burger ($8), a quarter pound "Little Lisa's Burger" ($8) for those looking for something a little more petite, a Cajun burger ($11.50) made with blue cheese, bacon and a healthy dose of Cajun seasoning, a Frisco burger ($10) stuffed with sautéed onions, swiss cheese served on grilled sourdough with thousand-island dressing, a BBQ burger ($11.50) stuffed with caramelized onions, bacon and cheddar, topped with BBQ sauce and a fiesta burger ($10) stuffed with cheddar-jack cheese, corn and jalapeños that's topped with salsa and sour cream.
Smokin' BBQ, 200 E. Fifth St., Dayton, 937-586-9790
This place is known for its barbecue, but one of the best things on the menu is the burger. This burger will literally melt in your mouth. No chewing required. What you will get is a full half-pound patty that’s been smoked for more than 2 hours in beef broth. The burger is $5. You can add cheese or a tomato for 50 cents each or bacon for $1.50.
Sam and Ethel's, 120 E. Main St., Tipp City, 937-667-0113
Think homemade. The “S&E Burger” includes two quarter-pound patties, a “special S&E sauce,” onion straws and the fixings on a grilled double-decker bun. The burger is $7.99. You can add cheese for 50 cents or bacon for 99 cents.
Diamond D's Diner, 2301 Germantown St., Dayton, 937-268-3000
If you're feeling daring, try The Donut Burger. It has been an original on the menu since opening four years ago. It features a half-pound ground beef patty, pepper jack cheese, bacon and grilled onions on a glazed donut. Yes, we said donut. This burger is $5.95.
The Hamburger Wagon, 12 E. Central Ave., Miamisburg, 937-847-2442
White Lotus, 327 E. Third St., Dayton; (937) 222-7030.
The White Lotus has an eclectic menu that includes Thai cuisine and yummy burgers. We recommend the Yummy Burger, hand-crafted with care just like mom used to make you at home. A half-pound hand-formed patty cooked to perfection. This burger is $4.95 and add cheese for 25 cents. You can also opt for the Yummy Bacon Burger ($8.20) or the Yummy Extreme Double Burger ($9.20).
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