Alabama burgers are the best burgers. Fight us.

But really, this state knows how to grill a beef patty and add some fixings that’ll straight-up change your life. Last summer, AL.com set out to tell the world which restaurants had the best burgers up and down the map, and the picks will not disappoint you.

Jot these down, get hungry, and set forth on a burger odyssey for the ages with 25 spots you must try in Alabama.

Our readers also told us which magnificent burgers we left off our lists, so make sure you try their picks, too.

READ: 21 Alabama barbecue joints you must try (and what to order)

Ale’s Kitchen

2610 Clinton Ave. W., Huntsville, https://straighttoale.com/ales-kitchen

Anyone who attended middle school during “Stranger Things”-era yesteryears will experience déjà vu upon entering Straight to Ale. STA is housed inside the former Stone Middle School (which itself was formerly home to Butler High School). Their brewing setup is located in the school’s old basketball gym. Suds-wise, Straight to Ale is known for their Monkeynaut India Pale Ale, also the city’s signature beer. Ale’s Kitchen is STA’s in-house food op. They serve everything from tacos to Cuban sandwiches to pizzas. The menu also boasts compelling burgers, including the El Diablo (ideal for heat-seekers), Classic American (the missionary position of hamburgers), Beyond Burger (house-made plant-based patty) and Bistro Burger.

What to order: Visually, the Bistro Burger has a lot going on. Crispy onion straws spilling off like they’ve had too many Monkeynauts. Thick-cut bacon protruding out in a way that feels like the burger’s sticking its tongue out, daring you to eat this ½ pound burger in one sitting. It’s an overwhelming burger but in the best way. More is more. More textures. More flavors. Rustic yet refined. And allocate at least some space for the excellent hand-cut fries. — Matt Wake

READ: 6 Huntsville craft beers for beer drinkers who don’t like craft beer

Avenue Pub

2230 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, and 4575 South Wilson Blvd., Orange Beach. www.avepub.com

Shortly after this downtown eatery opened in 2014, they threw down the gauntlet as one of Tuscaloosa’s best new burgers. The Pub’s Bacon Burger is hand-patted with fresh ground beef, topped with cheese and bacon, served with greens, red onion and mayo for $16. It is a thick and juicy burger many consider the best in the city (and the state, in fact). After eight years in business at its 23rd Avenue location, the business recently relocated to a beautifully renovated space around the corner at 2230 University Blvd. (formerly Mellow Mushroom). Also, in 2021, Avenue Pub opened a second location in Orange Beach. So, whether you’re in T-Town for an Alabama game or at the beach on vacation, get your appetite ready and check it off your Alabama burger bucket list.

What to order: Bacon Burger. — Ben Flanagan

Bill-E’s in Fairhope

19992 Highway 181 in Fairhope. bill-es.com

It stands to reason that the guy who makes the most amazing bacon in Alabama would serve the most killer burger around, too. And that he would put the two together to build the perfect bacon cheeseburger. William Ernest Stitt -– the Bill E. who launched his Bill-E’s Small Batch Bacon business about five years ago — is also the proprietor of Bill-E’s bar and grill, a roadside dive on Highway 181 in Fairhope that is famous for its cold beverages, good vibrations and next-level pub grub. Stitt cures and smokes his bacon in a room next to Bill-E’s courtyard music stage, so, as he likes to say, it is “serenaded by songwriters, savored by carnivores.” The Bill-E’s Bacon Cheeseburger is a half-pound hunk of Certified Angus Beef blanketed with melted American cheese, complemented with a house-made Comeback sauce, and crowned with crisscrossed slices of Bill-E’s hickory-smoked bacon that flop out over the sides of the soft but sturdy bun. While that one is his best-seller, Stitt is particularly proud of the Bill-E’s Blended Burger, an 85/15 mix of beef and pork belly that’s topped off with Wickles Pickles, Swiss cheese and, if you’re so inclined, a soft-fried egg.

What to order: Bacon Cheeseburger. — Bob Carlton

RELATED: Bacon is Bill Stitt’s business, and business is good

Butch Cassidy’s Café

60 N. Florida St., butchcassidys.com

Over the past 30 years, Butch Cassidy’s, with a menu and a theme loosely based on the 1969 movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman, has become one of Mobile’s favorite gathering spots. The atmosphere is noisy in a cheerful way, with three silent TVs tuned to sports, rock and roll playing from the speakers and servers navigating the tight spots between the tables. Butch’s is known for wings, sandwiches (including the Sundance Reuben and the Woodcock Turkey) and the “now-famous” Butch Burger. You can’t go wrong with the battered French fries or onion rings as a side.

What to order: The Wild West Burger (which doesn’t come with cheese; you have to ask for it) is served on a chewy poppyseed bun, along with just the right amount of mayo and mustard along with crisp lettuce, tomato, red onion and the best pickles. — Michelle Matthews

MORE: A trip to Butch Cassidy’s and the best thing I ate this week

Callaghan’s Irish Social Club

Corner of Marine and Charleston streets, callaghansirishsocialclub.com

Located in the Historic Oakleigh Garden District, Callaghan’s is celebrating its 77th anniversary this year. Established as a private club in the neighborhood, it started evolving into the iconic eatery/bar/music venue when the current owners took over 20 years ago. Today, a clock on the wall ticks down to the next St. Patrick’s Day, when hundreds descend upon Callaghan’s for a huge street party. The everyday atmosphere is reminiscent of a place like “Cheers,” where folks know each other by name. The walls are lined with photos and memorabilia as well as tributes to Ireland, the beer is cold and the burgers are consistently delicious.

What to order: The Callaghan’s Cheeseburger with your choice of cheese (I like Pepper Jack) comes on a large kaiser roll with red onion, tomatoes and lettuce, and a pickle spear alongside. Pro tip: Get it with chips and order a side of French onion dip to go with them. So good. — Michelle Matthews

Chez Fonfon

2007 11th Ave. South in Birmingham. fonfonbham.com.

No Birmingham burger list is complete without mentioning the much celebrated and highly decorated Hamburger Fonfon at Chez Fonfon, the fancy but fun French bistro from James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs Frank and Pardis Stitt. The Cadillac of cheeseburgers, the Hamburger Fonfon features a grass-fed, house-ground Heritage Beef patty that is slightly seasoned with salt and pepper, lightly brushed with a little olive oil and cooked medium or medium-rare over an open-flame grill. It is crowned with melted Comté, a French alpine cheese similar to Swiss Gruyère, and served on a toasted Brioche bun that is dressed with grilled red onions, a leaf of Romaine lettuce, bread-and-butter pickles, and (when in season) an heirloom tomato slice. Like the Hamburger Fonfon, the crispy pommes frites that accompany it are transcendent.

What to order: Hamburger Fonfon. — Bob Carlton

RELATED: An ode to Alabama’s most celebrated burger

Dick Russell’s BBQ

5360 U.S. 90, dickrussells.com

Though this mainstay of Highway 90 in Tillman’s Corner is known for barbecue (baby back ribs, pulled pork shoulder and chicken) and breakfast (three-egg omelets, giant pancakes and homemade biscuits), the burger is my favorite item on the menu, which doubles as a placemat on top of vinyl checked tablecloths. Daily specials include comfort dishes like country-fried steak, fried catfish and meatloaf, served with two sides. With a mix of tables and comfy booths, Dick Russell’s is staffed by doting servers who will keep your tea glass full throughout your meal.

What to order: The Old Fashion Hamburger, the only burger on the menu, is described as “a hamburger to remember,” and it really is: a half-pound burger topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato and sauteed chopped onions, which make it special. — Michelle Matthews

The Essential

2018 Morris Ave. in Birmingham. essentialbham.com.

In the five years since chefs and co-owners Kristen Hall and Victor King opened their casual neighborhood café on Morris Avenue, The Essential has elevated the Birmingham dining scene with Hall and King’s creative takes on pastas, proteins and pastries. At the same time, they have raised the Birmingham burger bar, too. The Essential Burger is an inspired and enhanced reinvention of the McDonald’s Big Mac, with an 8-ounce, grass-fed Bear Creek Farm beef patty, melted American cheese, charred onions, pickles, shredded lettuce, house-made Russian dressing, and a smear of Dijonnaise served on a sesame-seed Brioche bun that is delivered fresh from Hall and King’s neighboring bakery, Bandit Pâtisserie. True to its name, it is the essential Birmingham burger.

What to order: The Essential Burger — Bob Carlton

FIVE Tuscaloosa

2324 6th Street, Tuscaloosa

The Five double cheeseburger comes with a bacon relish, house pickles and side of fries — and even better, it only costs $12. We also recommend the breakfast cheeseburger, an 8-ounce burger also with bacon relish, American cheese and a side of fries. The big difference: It has a fried egg to top and costs $16. A wonderful fine dining experience no matter what you pick, including a delicious burger at the right price.

What to order: Double cheeseburger. — Ben Flanagan

Hero Doughnuts & Buns

3027 Central Ave. in Homewood; 1701 First Ave. South in Birmingham; and 314 Main St. in Trussville. herodoughnutsandbuns.com.

It is almost unfair that one of our favorite doughnut shops serves one of the best burgers in town, too. Birmingham chef Wil Drake debuted Hero Doughnuts at a pop-up event at Seasick Records seven years ago, and after partnering with the Pihakis Restaurant Group, his little start-up business has grown to include three brick-and-mortar locations around Birmingham, as well as others in Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. As the menu expanded to include not just doughnuts, but cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches, too, the name evolved to Hero Doughnuts & Buns. At Hero, they prepare the dough for the buns using the same two-day-process involved in making the doughnuts, and, as much as we ooh and aah over those elegant, glorious Hero doughnuts, the Hero Cheeseburger is a tasty work of art, too. Perched on a soft, golden Brioche bun that’s studded with sesame seeds, the all-beef burger is complemented with American cheese, pickles, onions, and Hero’s house-made Cracked Sauce. If you prefer, do as we do and order it “stacked” with a second patty. And if you really want to take your burger game to the next level, let us recommend the Doughnut Burger, which is served between a sliced glazed doughnut instead of a bun. We kid you not.

What to order: Hero Cheeseburger. — Bob Carlton

Heroes Sports Bar & Grille

273 Dauphin St. in downtown Mobile, and 36 Hillcrest Road in west Mobile, heroessportsbar.com

You don’t have to be a sports fan to be a fan of Heroes, which offers a variety of great sandwiches (including an excellent club), baskets and Hero Burgers. I know someone who orders the Spinach and Crawfish Dip appetizer as her entrée every time she goes. The downtown location, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is next to Cathedral Square and features a deck along South Jackson Street that’s perfect for people-watching. If you’d rather dine inside, there are 12 big TVs in the main dining room, with tables along one wall and a bar stretching the length of the other.

What to order: The Black and Bleu Burger, which has a crispy coating of blackening seasoning on the outside and is topped with an abundance of melting bleu cheese atop slices of red onion, tomato slices and lettuce on a pillowy soft bun. It comes with not just one but two sides. — Michelle Matthews

What to order: Hero Cheeseburger. — Bob Carlton

Hooligans

515 15th Street, 1351 McFarland Boulevard NE #112 (Tuscaloosa)

Self-described as an eatery that serves American dishes with a Mediterranean flair, Hooligans opened the downtown location in 1998 before moving to 15th Street in 2021. While you can’t go wrong with a classic gyro, chicken spud, falafel plate, Greek salad or pita bread and hummus (not to mention the local favorite mint tea) at this longtime staple, sometimes you just need a cheeseburger, and there’s nothing like grabbing a basket with the paprika-dusted fries and a cold Dr. Pepper. All burgers are dressed with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato and a pickle on a bun.

What to order: Trust us. Get the double. — Ben Flanagan

J&J Grocery & Deli in Bessemer

8169 Dickey Springs Road, Bessemer. facebook.com/jjgroceryanddeli

A country store-cum-burger joint, J&J Grocery & Deli has been a Bessemer mainstay for decades, the place to go whenever you have a hankering for one of the best cheeseburgers around. Longtime owner Allison Coker — who bought the business in 1998 from previous owners Joe and Juanita McClanahan, the “J&J” in the store’s name — is on a first-name basis with most of her customers, some of whom drop in daily. Every time a newcomer pays a visit, though, Coker and her crew welcome them with shouts of “Y’all, we got a first-timer!” and a celebratory blast from a bullhorn. The deli only seats a couple of dozen customers, who sit across from one another at two long community tables in the middle of the store. The conversation is almost as good as the burgers. The J&J menu includes a mushroom-and-Swiss burger, a chili-cheeseburger, and a jalapeno-and-bacon cheeseburger, but for our money, it’s hard to beat the old-fashioned cheeseburger, which is topped with a slice of American cheese and served “all the way” with lettuce, tomato, pickles and diced onions.

What to order: Cheeseburger. — Bob Carlton

RELATED: The little country store with one of the best burgers in Alabama

Little Diner

1219 Jordan Lane N.W., Huntsville, facebook.com

The Little Diner’s signature burger doesn’t involve any snooty razzle-dazzle. It’s just a well-executed, big-and-tall-sized backyard burger. Two luscious-plump patties, tomato, onion, American cheese, lettuce, mayo and mustard. A Happy Burger isn’t a handful. It’s two handfuls. Given the Happy Burger’s girth, it’s funny the place that serves it’s named Little Diner. But that’s an apt appellation for this eatery, located in the corner of a time-worn commercial strip near a Chuck E. Cheese. The place is tiny. Particularly the front half, which is in an old-school diner configuration. The staff here is soulful, cool and worthy of their own workplace-set prestige TV show.

What to order: The Happy Burger is a Huntsville culinary right of passage. Versions tricked out with kimchi or slaw are also available. If you’re feeling un-burger, Little Dinner also makes a mean pot roast. — Matt Wake

READ: Little Diner’s gargantuan Happy Burger lives up to its rep

Niffer’s Place

1151 Opelika Road, Auburn; 917 South Railroad Ave., Opelika; 7500 Highway 49 South, Dadeville. niffersplace.com

Orange and blue through and through, Niffer’s Place has been an Auburn favorite since former AU swimmer Keely Beasecker started her burger business in 1991. (Niffer’s has since opened a second location in neighboring Opelika and a third in Dadeville on Lake Martin.) The Niffer’s menu features about 20 different burgers, including a few named for Auburn sports heroes – The Sullivan (with chili and white cheese dip) for football legend Pat Sullivan, The Pearl (with bacon, pepperjack cheese and sweet chili sauce) for basketball coach Bruce Pearl and The Bramblett (with Buffalo dip) in honor of the late radio announcer Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula. While all those are good, let us recommend The Orange & Blue, a half-pound burger that is topped off with bacon, crispy onions and blue cheese crumbles and smothered in a chipotle sauce. (Note: The Opelika location of Niffer’s Place is temporarily closed due to storm damage earlier this year.)

What to order: The Orange & Blue. — Bob Carlton

RELATED: Niffer’s Place is fun, funky and inviting

Oasis Bar & Grill

6720 University Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa

AL.com’s Dave Holloway put it best writing about these two all-beef patties topped with American cheese on a buttered bun at the dive bar/burger joint in on U.S 11 in Tuscaloosa’s Cottondale community (open since 1958): “It is a massive, double slab of goodness that is a testament to the way things used to be. A true old-school, roadhouse burger that draws locals and travelers alike for a taste of true Americana.”

What to order: Double Cheeseburger.

Peppered Pig

1305 Four Mile Post Road S.E., Huntsville, pepperedpig.net

It’s a long way to the top if you want to make Huntsville’s best burger. Married couple Shawn and Lacy Duvall have lived that. They spent 10 years slinging sandwiches from inside their South Huntsville food trailer, Peppered Pig. Finally, after three years of looking for the right space, Peppered Pig made the leap to a Jones Valley brick-and-mortar location. Shawn’s food concepts have always been clever, tasty and hearty. But now they’re plated and not just wrapped-up to-go (as many mobile food ventures do) they look as good as they taste. In addition to an array of burgers, Peppered Pig essentials include their “knuckle sandwich” (house-roasted roast beef, pesto, fried-onion, tomato, provolone). The secret ingredient to everything on the menu? Shawn, a former mechanic turned food-industry lifer, and Lacy, a former regional manager, never take for granted their food-trailer customers followed them here. And each day’s is a new chance to make new regulars.

What to order: The Bulgogi Burger. Korean barbecue sauce marinated burger, topped with fried sesame sushi cake, with kimchi, garlic mayo and grilled scallions on a soft-yet-stable ciabatta bun. Flavor and texture for days. I’m smiling now just thinking about it. — Matt Wake

READ: Huntsville’s next great burger place is already here

Purveyor

201 Jefferson St. N., churchstreetfamily.com/restaurants/purveyor

Now going for around $25, the Purveyor Burger costs more than I paid to see Guns N’ Roses on the “Use Your Illusion” tour. Live GN’R was way more epic, but for a burger this thing rocks too. Sticker shock is understandable, especially since this is Huntsville and not, say, Atlanta. We eat with our eyes first, and the Purveyor Burger isn’t visually overwhelming. But once you bite into a Purveyor Burger — made from a blend of posh Wagyu and ribeye — you’ll know exactly where the money went. I’ve never had a burger melt in my mouth like that. Rich and succulent. 3D natural flavor. The tasteful/subtle fixings include truffle aioli, Bibb lettuce, heirloom tomato and onions. Soft buttery roll. Located downtown, the Purveyor restaurant is upscale but warm. Dimmed lighting. Exposed brick. Tufted booths. Purveyor is run by Stephanie and Matt Mell, the talented Huntsville restaurateurs behind ventures including Catacomb435, Sea Salt Urban Oyster Bar and more.

What to order: If you’re down with the cow, the Purveyor Burger’s the move. They also do steak, creative small plate (think soft shell crab bao bun) and seafood. — Matt Wake

READ: Here’s what the most expensive hamburger in Huntsville tastes like

Rama Jama’s

1000 Paul W Bryant Dr, Tuscaloosa

You can get a “large” hamburger with a half-pound beef patty for $6.99 or the “Large Touchdown” burger platter with an 8-ounce burger with a fried egg, but we challenge you to take on the “National Champ Burger,” 18 ounces of Beef (in honor of the Crimson Tide’s 18 national championships), two Slices of Cheese, two Strips of Bacon, onion Rings, a dill pickle spear for just $12.99. Folks, 18 ounces of burger is a lot…a dynasty of ground beef. You will feel like you’ve won something if you finish it.

What to order: National Champ Burger. — Ben Flanagan

Roshell’s Cafe & Diner

2906 Springhill Ave., facebook.com

Hopefully the hospitable folks at Roshell’s won’t mind when I affectionately refer to this establishment as a hole in the wall. It’s somewhat out of the way, located in Crichton (yes, the place with the famous leprechaun), so if you know, you know. Originally known as Mack’s BBQ, Roshell’s has been in the same Crichton location since 1958 and calls itself “the home of the steer burger” – offering no less than 15 varieties, all served with fries (or you can upgrade to onion rings for an extra dollar). The atmosphere is no-frills, but the food and service will bring you back.

What to order: The Garlic Cheese Steer, described as “stinkin’ with garlic,” is topped with melted American and Swiss cheese slices. This mammoth burger is bigger than the sesame seed bun it’s served upon, and it’s dressed with “all the trimmings.” — Michelle Matthews

Staggs Grocery in Florence

1424 Huntsville Road, Florence. facebook.com/p/Staggs-Grocery

It’s as much about the down-home experience as it is the old-school burgers at this venerable Florence breakfast-and-lunch spot, which has been around since 1936. Located in Florence’s Sweetwater District, Staggs Grocery is the very definition of a hole-in-the-wall, and the no-frills cheeseburger is simplicity at its finest, with lettuce, tomato and pickles on a sesame-seed bun. While the burgers are the big draw every weekday at lunchtime, be sure to also drop by for breakfast on Friday, the only day of the week when Staggs’ famous chocolate gravy with biscuits is on the menu.

What to order: Cheeseburger. — Bob Carlton

RELATED: Chocolate gravy and so much more at Staggs Grocery

The Standard

1821 Second Ave. North, No. 188, in Birmingham and 700 Montgomery Highway, Suite 164, in Vestavia Hills. thestandardbhm.com.

One of the original tenants at The Pizitz Food Hall since it opened in 2017, The Standard delivers an old-fashioned cheeseburger that hits the happy medium between nothing fancy and an American classic. Young Shin, who operated the Pho Pho food stall next door to The Standard, bought the business from founder Matt Ralph three years ago, and Shin and his wife, Kookie Kim, opened a second location of The Standard south of town in the Vestavia City Center this spring. The Standard burger is ground in-house from a blend of chuck roast and brisket, and it is served on a potato roll with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and a proprietary, garlic-aioli-like Standard Sauce. If you want to fancy it up, add bacon, pimento cheese, pickled jalapenos or a fried egg. Whatever you choose, we recommend you pair it with a side of The Standard’s golden, crispy tater tots.

What to order: Cheeseburger. — Bob Carlton

Supper Heroes

1812 Winchester Road N.E., Huntsville, facebook.com

Present day. A mild-mannered building 15 minutes from downtown Huntsville. Inside, alter-ego is shed, and the true identity is revealed … Comic-book themed eatery Supper Heroes! While Heroes’ cozy interior may not rival the Batcave, its like a dream-sequence mancave for nerds. Framed issues of “Daredevil,” “The Fantastic Four” and “Moon Knight” adorn the walls. Overhead lights shine through symbols of characters like Spider-Man and The Flash. There’s a game room with Ms. Pac-Man and a pile of action figures I didn’t spend a few minutes playing with. There’s also “Star Wars” stuff and a framed autographed photo of the only Wonder Woman who matters, the immortal Lynda Carter. Even the food menu looks rad. It’s designed like a comic-book with action-packed artwork from J. Simmons to describe the fare, which focuses on burgers, wraps, salads and apps.

What to order: The “Huntsvillain” is the archnemesis of boring burgers. It’s a sweet-heat supernova, summoning the powers of fried jalapenos, pepper jelly, pepper jack cheese to transport the tender burger and grilled brioche bun to stratospheric yum. For some extra after-credits-scene coolness, add some of the luscious accompany coleslaw to the burger. If you dare … — Matt Wake

READ: How Marvel movies impact some Huntsville small businesses

Travis Chicago-Style Polish Sausage & Bear Burger

facebook.com/travis

You’ll need both hands — and a bear of an appetite — to try to tame this messy, mighty beast of a burger. Travis Chicago-Style Polish Sausage & Bear Burger is one of Birmingham’s original food trucks — if not the original — and you’ll find the familiar big red rig making the rounds all over town, from Avondale to Bessemer, Linn Park to Sam’s Club. The signature Bear Burger is a massive hunk of beef that is grilled on a well-seasoned griddle, blanketed with American cheese, smothered with sauteed onions, and then slathered with a barbecue-like sauce. The poor bun doesn’t stand a chance. (Note: The Travis truck gets around, but you can typically find it parked outside Saturn on 41st Street South in Avondale on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Otherwise, go to their Facebook page to find out where it will be next.)

What to order: The Bear Burger. — Bob Carlton

Vicki’s Lunch Van in Montgomery

106 Colisuem Blvd., Montgomery. https://www.facebook.com/vickislunchvanllc

Nine years ago, when our resident “eating dude” David Holloway traveled the state in search of Alabama’s Best Cheeseburger, he selected Vicki’s Lunch Van as his No. 1 pick. Vicki Lammon started her business in a food trailer (hence the name Vicki’s Lunch Van) in 2003, but eventually found a brick-and-mortar home when she moved into what had been an old Burger Chef. (Remember those?) Earlier this year, after their landlord sold the property, Vicki’s moved into its new digs on Coliseum Boulevard, and the crowd wrapped around the building for Vicki’s grand re-opening. For good reason, too. The Vicki’s cheeseburger, as David wrote, is “a marvelously prepared burger with lots of flavor” – a distinctive crunch on the outside but still juicy on the inside.

What to order: Cheesburger. — Bob Carlton