Finding a truly great burger can feel like searching for buried treasure, but Carmel is home to plenty of hidden gems and local classics. Whether you’re craving an elevated steakhouse creation, a cozy pub burger, or a Latin-inspired twist, you’ll find your perfect bite just around the corner.
Let’s get to it.
Anthony’s Chophouse
In downtown Carmel, Anthony’s Chophouse brings a fresh spin to the classic steakhouse… think less mahogany and more sleek date-night style. Steaks and seafood lead the menu, but the Chophouse Wagyu Burger steals the show. A Wagyu beef patty topped with Bibb lettuce, American cheese, garlic aioli, and jalapeño-bacon jam makes it almost too fancy to pick up with your hands. Frites arrive on the side alongside house-made chop sauce or an extra-creamy truffle aioli.
Cocktails look swanky and the wine list is seriously impressive. The main dining room feels buttoned-up at dinner, but there’s a relaxed lounge area and the 3UP Rooftop Lounge if you want a skyline view. They’re family-owned and haven’t forgotten the kids—there’s a menu for them too. Seasonal seafood specials rotate regularly, keeping the offerings fresh. It’s not just another steakhouse; it’s a modern twist on a longtime tradition.
Muldoon’s on Main
Muldoon’s on Main has been around since 1981 in Carmel’s Arts & Design District. It feels like a neighborhood hangout mixed with a cozy Irish pub. The Black and Bleu Burger is a real standout—blue cheese, bacon, chipotle aioli, and crispy onion straws all piled on an artisan roll. You can choose fresh-ground beef, blackened patties, chicken, or pork tenderloin, and the fries always arrive perfectly crisp with your choice of house buffalo sauce or blue cheese dressing.
They also serve shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and a rotating lineup of daily specials alongside classic American sandwiches. The bar menu covers craft beers, cocktails, wine, and coffee, plus there’s a vintage cash register that sparks conversation.
Indoor fireplace seating makes for a comfy vibe, and the dog-friendly patio comes heated when Indiana weather turns chilly. You’ll often catch live music or trivia nights here. Muldoon’s on Main is reliable, family-friendly, and never too fancy—just a laid-back spot that delivers solid food and drinks every time.
Flight Burger
Flight Burger in Carmel turns a basic burger stop into a grown-up playground. Neon lights, craft beer, and a laid-back patio set the scene—though you might skip outside seating in February. The highlight is the slider flights: three 3-ounce patties in flavors like premium beef, salmon steak, falafel, grilled or hand-breaded chicken, and a Build-Your-Own option if you can’t pick just one.
The Anarchy Burger slider brings together fried egg, bacon, hashbrown, and BBQ sauce for a serious flavor combo. On the side, you’ll find tots, sweet potato fries, mozzarella bites, and the fan-favorite Sidewinder fries. Pair your sliders with a hand-spun shake or go boozy with a margarita flight.
The place fits families too—kids dig the mini burgers, and there’s space for about 40 guests inside and 30 on the patio. Free parking and regular beer and wing specials keep things simple. You might even spot their food truck making the rounds. Flight Burger proves you can have variety without overthinking the menu.
BuffaLouie’s Carmel
BuffaLouie’s Carmel is a fresh addition to the Arts & Design District, and it dives headfirst into wings and burgers. It feels like a classic sports bar with Colts, Pacers, IU, and Purdue gear on the walls. The wings stick to the old-school Buffalo style, and all sauces and rubs are made in-house. You can get bone-in, boneless, or tenders, plus wraps, subs, and a few salads for balance.
Burgers are all about comfort. The Sweet Lou Bacon stacks cheddar, bacon, and an onion ring with Sweet Q sauce. If you want something more traditional, the All-American Bacon hits the spot. There’s also grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches and a black bean burger for a change. Sides include curly fries, onion rings with special sauce, and tater tots—you really can’t go wrong.
Families will appreciate the kids’ menu and attentive servers. The full bar features local beers and a whiskey sour you can grab to go. BuffaLouie’s Carmel is perfect if you’re in the mood for hearty, no-frills indulgence.
Kona Grill – Carmel
When you’re in Carmel and craving a burger but someone else wants sushi, Kona Grill steps up. This spot has been mixing sushi and burgers since 2004… it might be a chain, but it never feels cookie-cutter. The modern dining area and laid-back lounge vibe give it some flair.
The Burger Mania menu is the real showstopper: double-stacked beef patties piled on brioche buns, sliders on King’s Hawaiian rolls, and toppings that border on epic. The Steakhouse Burger comes loaded with grilled onions, shiitake mushrooms, and a secret sauce that makes napkins mandatory. There’s also a southern fried chicken sandwich with scratch-made honey mustard.
Fries come classic or sweet potato, and you can even add cheese and bacon if you dare. The bar covers everything from draft beer and cocktails to sake flights, and the patio at Clay Terrace is a nice bonus. Kids, brunch fans, and late-night snackers are all welcome. Happy hour bites priced at $3 and $6 feel like a cheat code for your wallet. Upscale-casual done right, especially for grabbing sushi and a burger at 10 pm.
Charleston’s Restaurant
Walking into Charleston’s feels like dropping by a friendly neighborhood spot… the dark wood, gas-lit lamps, and cozy booths set a warm tone that’s lasted for 25 years. The menu focuses on scratch-made comfort: big steaks, generous seafood plates, prime rib, and more burgers than your fingers can count.
You’ll find the classics—cheeseburger and turkey burger—before you even get to the Hickory Burger. That one comes with hickory sauce and Canadian bacon, like your favorite backyard burger dressed up for a night out. Sides stick to Americana favorites: real Idaho baked potatoes, fried okra, and baked beans that will stain your shirt in the best way.
There’s a full bar if you want a craft cocktail or a glass of wine, plus plenty of cold beer. No outdoor seating, but they’ve got a roomy lot for parking. Families are welcome with a kids menu, and the place stays open until 10 on most nights. Feel like dressing up? You can reserve a spot. Chain or not, they nail the basics every single time.
Bae Latin Food
At Bae Latin Food in Carmel, burgers get a Latin American remix. Hand-shaped beef patties come topped with crunchy potato sticks, a sunny-side-up egg, and sharp cheddar, then they drizzle on mayo or their signature BAE sauce. The Double Burger goes even further, smashing together beef and chicken, adding more egg and potato sticks, then layering in condiments for a delicious, messy feast.
The Cheese Burger triples the cheddar, while the Steak and Chicken Burgers each stick to that winning formula of protein, egg, and greens—mixed lettuce and tomato for a little balance. Every burger comes with hand-cut fries on the side, and the drink fridge has malta, Jarritos, and passion fruit soda if you want something different from cola.
This stand-alone spot in a plaza has its own parking, a patio for outdoor dining, and free Wi-Fi inside. It’s family-friendly but also perfect for anyone who likes a flavor adventure in their burger.
Bub’s Burgers & Ice Cream
Bub’s Burgers & Ice Cream is Carmel’s little yellow house of burger dreams. Since 2003, they’ve been serving 100% fresh, never-frozen beef, but you can also go wild with elk, chicken, grilled mahi mahi, or a portobello mushroom. Their signature “Big Ugly” is a one-pound burger that earns a spot on the photo wall if you finish it. Local legend status was sealed thanks to a feature on “Man vs Food.”
Buns arrive fresh daily from a local bakery. The menu keeps things simple, and when your sauces are house-made, you don’t need much else. Sweet potato waffle fries, Bub Dogs, and hand-dipped milkshakes round out the options. There’s outdoor seating on the patio, and dogs are more than welcome. Inside, you’ll find group seating and pies made in-house. Painted farm murals by Mike Brown add to the family vibe, and being right off the Monon Trail means you might spot a champion burger eater in action.
