Roughly a decade ago, Glasgow found itself in the clutches of a fleeting food trend which transformed the city centre into a hotspot for supposed ‘gourmet’ burger restaurants.
Kicked off by the likes of Bread Meats Bread, soon every second opening promised to deliver its own take on the fast food staple, each stacked higher than the last with yet more outlandish toppings beneath a ubiquitous brioche bun.
The carnivorous craze was, unsurprisingly, short-lived and as interest in chain restaurant offerings waned many were forced to close, leaving behind them empty units just waiting to be transformed by purveyors of the next shiny foodie fad.
Their heyday may have passed, but thankfully you’ll still find a number of restaurants across the city that offer high-quality and gloriously messy burgers for those days nothing else will do.
Here are seven places serving some of the best burgers in Glasgow.
Smokey Trotters
233 London Road
Robert 'Big Smokey' Lorimer is the man behind the Smokey Trotters restaurants now found at the original space on London Road, Golf Fang, Inn Deep bar, Ibrox and Cambuslang.
Their belly-busting menus include the Bootleg Big Mac, a New York-inspired Ludlow Street Burger and the 'Dirty Dipper' served with crispy onions and peppercorn sauce for some unrepentant double dunking.
According to Herald food critic Ron Mackenna, it's also a favourite of James McAvoy too...
(Read more: I tried James McAvoy's favourite Glasgow restaurant - and I loved it)
El Perro Negro
152 Woodlands Road
Putting Glasgow on the map, El Perro Negro is the two-time winner of the National Burger of the Year Award with head chef Nick Watson also taking home the Burger Chef of the Year title for 2025.
Their ‘Top Dog’ made with bone marrow, Roquefort butter, double bacon, caramelised onion and black truffle mayo may be their most celebrated burger, but there’s a menu full of beef, chicken or vegetarian options waiting to be discovered at their Woodlands Road spot.
You’ll also find them at the Bonnie & Wild food hall in Edinburgh.
Read Ron Mackenna's review of the restaurant from last month here: Glasgow is home to UK's best burger. Is it all it is cracked up to be?
Buck's Bar
111 West Regent Street
They’ve now expanded across the city and as well as opening their first location in Edinburgh earlier this year, you’ll still find the original Buck’s Bar on West Regent Street.
Their buttermilk chicken burgers are instantly recognisable for the fact that they far outsize the buns they're served in from the Buc Mac topped with macaroni cheese to The King drenched in spicy peanut and sriracha satay sauce.
There’s also a 40% off selected cocktails from Monday to Wednesday if you’re after a proper weekday blowout.
Read more:
- I tried a pizza unlike any I've had before at a business park in Castlemilk
- Seven unexpected places to find great food in and around Glasgow
- My pick of underrated Glasgow restaurants and cafes
Dennistoun Bar-B-Que
585 Duke Street
A family-run spot in the East End of Glasgow born of a yearning for American-style BBQ classics.
“We wanted to go somewhere that cooked fresh steak burgers on those giant chrome griddles, served them on preservative-free buns and meat from an ‘always-on’ smoker, burning Texas oak,” owners said of their inspiration for setting up shop.
The handmade 8oz burgers here are served with a choice of toppings like onion rings and BBQ sauce, bacon and pulled pork or cheddar and pickle.
St Luke's
17 Bain Street
A new menu introduced last year at this popular Glasgow bar and music venue is driven by an in-house Traeger smoker.
From seasonal slow-cooked meats, smoked for up to 12 hours in the smoke pit, to house-made spice rubs and signature sauces, each dish is said to be bursting with "rich, authentic flavours that transport you straight to the Deep South".
Try a beef patty topped with 'low n slow' beef brisket or ramp up the spice with crispy chicken tossed in buffalo sauce with jalapeno and blue cheese.
Lebowskis
1008 Argyle Street
Having previously won the top prize on a Glasgow edition of Come Dine with Me: The Professionals during his time at Bloc on Bath Street, chef Andy Neilson has been running the kitchen at Lebowskis since 2023.
As you might expect, he's brought his passion for weird and wonderful burger creations with him.
Specials have ranged from a haggis-topped tribute to Burns to a towering burger stuffed with Monster Munch crisps while on the regular menu you'll find a mix beef patties, fried chicken and seitan alternatives for any veggies.
Nola Soul
72 Victoria Road
This tiny spot brings a taste of New Orleans to Victoria Road with a menu of authentic Gumbo made using smoked sausage, chicken and okra or American-style biscuits under lashings of white pepper and pork sausage gravy.
When it comes to burgers, their speciality is spicy fried chicken served in homemade Japanese milk buns with truffle mustard mayo.
You can read our interview with the owners from opening week in the summer of 2023 here: Glasgow restaurant brings a taste of New Orleans to the Southside.
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