There’s something irresistible about a perfectly grilled burger and in this city, the bar is set surprisingly high. From roadside gems serving loaded Latin creations to sleek spots pairing patties with truffle fries and live jazz, there are plenty of local favorites competing for the top bite.
Let’s get to it.
Ukelele’s Outdoor Dining | Delray Beach
Ukelele’s Outdoor Dining is basically what happens when a Venezuelan family decides Delray Beach needs more scratch-cooked Latin comfort food and a place to eat it where you can hear actual birds. It’s an outdoor setup—picnic tables, some stools, string lights dangling overhead, all lined up right by the roadside so yeah, you’re pretty much eating burgers and arepas in the salty breeze of Atlantic Ave.
But about those burgers. These are not the standard hit-or-miss food truck patties. Ukelele’s House Burger comes stacked with crispy bacon, a slab of ham, fried egg, and a good hit of house garlic sauce (they do guasacaca too if you’re in the know), all smashed inside a soft roll from a local bakery. You can swap for a seasoned chicken patty if you feel like being that person. Fries come showered in cheddar and bacon or you can keep things sweet with plantains covered in cheese. And if you care, they do the whole thing with fresh-squeezed citrus juice instead of beer. The menu’s part burger joint, part crash course in Venezuelan hits—so you’ll see arepas, cachapas, and tequeños next to the loaded fries. It’s all family-run, no frills or pretense, just pretty great food on a Delray evening.
Dada
At Dada you get creative decor and a relaxed dining experience in the old 1924 Tarrimore House on Swinton. Quirky rooms showcase local art, there’s a bohemian lounge vibe, and a garden patio sits under a huge banyan tree for quieter nights.
Food centers around quality over quantity. The Dada Burger is the one to know: chargrilled 100% beef under melted American cheese, dressed with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles on a buttery brioche bun. Hand-cut fries are the default or you can upgrade to truffle Parmesan. Seasonal dishes pop up throughout the year, and craft cocktails keep the bar buzzing. They even run 99¢ mojitos on National Mojito Day.
Open late every night, Dada hosts everything from open mic sessions to art shows. It’s the kind of place where families, groups of friends, or solo cocktail fans can all feel at home until closing time.
The Wine and Spirits Kitchen
The Wine and Spirits Kitchen in Delray Beach blends a steakhouse attitude with a serious love of wine and cheese. Self-pour stations line one wall with 170+ wines by the glass, and an entire collection of bottles towers nearby. You don’t have to be a sommelier to enjoy it.
Food holds its own next to the wine. The WRKB 10oz burger comes with Brie, charred mushrooms, and shallots for a rich flavor combo. The classic Smash Burger pairs American cheese, caramelized onions, and a special umami sauce on a brioche bun from a local bakery. Every burger arrives with hand-cut fries and you can opt for truffle Parmesan fries if you’re feeling indulgent.
Beyond burgers, the menu includes flatbreads, confit-and-truffle chicken lollies, and cheese boards. Weekend brunch brings duck & waffles into the mix. There’s live jazz, late hours, and a hidden speakeasy for weekday evenings. Right on Atlantic Ave, it’s upscale without feeling stuffy, and totally walkable from anywhere downtown.
Lulu’s Café & Cocktails
If you’re craving something a little offbeat, Lulu’s Café & Cocktails is the spot for both lazy mornings and late-night hangs. Roll in around 10 AM for their Breakfast Burger dripping with egg and bacon, or swing by until 2 AM for cocktails that taste way fancier than you’d expect from a place with a bamboo bar and panini burgers.
The burger lineup is the real draw: classic double beef patties on a soft potato bun, an Avocado Burger melting with gooey pepper jack, a Korean-style chicken version on a sesame bun, and even a falafel option for plant-based fans. Sides include fresh-cut fries and a tangy pasta salad, plus house-made sauces like sweet chili, tahini, and sriracha mayo.
Inside, tropical-boho vibes come through in bamboo details, vibrant tiles, and so many plants you’ll wonder if they charge rent. Outside, a patio shaded by a banyan tree invites you to linger. Everything feels laid-back, family-friendly, and never stuffy. The cocktails here carry a bit of New York City flair served up on Pineapple Grove time.
Burt & Max’s
Since 2013, Burt & Max’s has been the go-to in Delray Beach whenever families and friends can’t agree on a menu. The atmosphere is warm and buzzing, with a bar that’s perfect for pairing a craft cocktail with a juicy burger. Their beef blends are top-notch, and they’ve also got turkey and seafood options if you’re feeling adventurous. The Prime Farmhouse Burger packs a fried egg, house-made BBQ sauce, thick bacon, and crispy onions on a pillow-soft challah bun.
But don’t sleep on the rest of the menu. Brick-oven pizzas emerge golden and bubbly, there’s fresh seafood, crisp salads, and a brunch spread so tempting you might rethink that lie-in. Indoors feels cozy, yet the outdoor patio steals the show with clear views of Delray Marketplace and plenty of space for groups. Friendly servers keep things moving whether you choose classic fries or stacked sweet potato fries. With daily happy hour and free parking, getting the crew together is totally painless.
THRōW Social Delray Beach
Over at THRōW Social Delray Beach, you get a quirky mash-up of 1960s Palm Beach vibes and dog-friendly fun. It starts with cocktails but quickly turns into axe throwing, ping pong, or grooving to a live DJ. Sip a Frozen Old Fashioned under punny neon signs and towering indoor palms.
Tucked just behind Atlantic Avenue, it’s central without feeling packed. The menu goes playful: burgers come classic or with grilled teriyaki, sandwiches like the blackened mahi actually deliver, and everything sits on a toasted sesame bun. Sides go big with an XL pretzel charcuterie board, pineapple coleslaw, and coconut shrimp.
Drinks include a self-pour beer wall, seltzers, bottomless mimosas, and a solid wine list. Outside, covered cabanas invite you to chill, and you’ll probably spot more than a few dogs roaming around. Brunch draws families, trivia nights bring friends, and people always stay later than they planned. It’s part bar, part arcade—100 percent good times.
The Hampton Social – Delray Beach
Since arriving at Atlantic Crossing in March 2024, The Hampton Social in Delray Beach has felt like it belonged there all along. The coastal-cool vibe hits you with exposed beams, giant wicker light fixtures, and a sprawling patio that practically begs for late afternoons. An open-air bar makes sunglasses an all-day necessity.
The menu shines when it comes to smash burgers. The double-patty beef version comes with cheddar, plenty of pickles, and a mustard aioli that keeps you coming back. Plant-based friends aren’t left out thanks to the Beyond Smash Burger on a feathery egg bun from a local bakery.
Sides range from classics to crave-worthy: Parmesan Truffle Fries and Creamed Street Corn take top billing. There’s also a full craft cocktail menu, a “Rosé All Day” lounge, and seasonal specials ready for your Instagram feed. Valet is available, families are welcome, and the vibe stays lively well into the night. It’s not a secret anymore, but it still feels like it.
Tim Finnegans Irish Pub
Tim Finnegans Irish Pub has been part of the Delray Beach scene for over a decade, and it still feels like a neighborhood living room with a full bar. The burger lineup could spark a friendly debate—it’s all hand-formed prime beef with creative toppings.
The Horseshoe tops a smash-style patty with its own fries. The Dublin Burger layers corned beef on prime beef for a hearty twist. You’ll find chipotle cream and Guinness BBQ sauce making regular cameos. Hand-cut fries and onion rings round out the sides and probably have their own fan club.
Inside, hardwood floors and a big whiskey selection set a cozy mood. Guinness flows the right way and live music on a small stage adds Dublin-style energy. A covered patio welcomes pups, and parking is free. The happy hour stretches longer than most naps. No neon shamrocks or plastic hats here, just solid burgers, good pints, and a genuine neighborhood feel.
Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen – Delray Beach
When you walk into Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen in Delray Beach, you know the burgers are going to be elevated. They cover all the bases: a gourmet steak burger, a bison creation piled with balsamic-glazed onions, pear, and cheddar, and even plant-based patties that actually deliver on flavor. Everything lands on fresh artisan buns straight from the bakery.
The sides are just as thoughtful. Crispy zucchini chips beg to be shared, truffle-parm fries satisfy any splurge cravings, and seasonal salads and slaws offer a lighter counterpoint. The open-air patio has plenty of shaded spots for casual people-watching on a sunny afternoon.
Inside, the vibe feels casually cool with a big bar and a playlist that strikes just the right tone. House-made sauces like chimichurri and chipotle crema show there’s real care in the kitchen. Beyond burgers, you’ll find a full bar, family-friendly brunch options like pancakes and French toast, and late-night service on weekends. It’s the kind of neighborhood place you return to again and again, especially with a Chopped champ running the show.
Mussel Beach
One glance down Atlantic Avenue will lead you to Mussel Beach, with its sidewalk seating and the smell of fresh shellfish in the air. This family-owned spot nails that laid-back local vibe without a hint of chain-restaurant energy. Inside, modern maritime décor sets a relaxed ocean tone.
The menu keeps things tight but interesting. You’ll find burgers done right and inventive seafood twists. The Beach Burger is a half-pound of Angus beef topped with American cheese and chipotle mayo on a soft Kaiser roll. Sea fans can go for tuna or lump crab burgers with creative toppings, and the PEI mussels are always fresh.
Happy hour fills the place with locals and families, thanks to creole slaw sides, craft cocktails, and a solid drink lineup. Service runs late on weekends so you’re never rushed. Sidewalk seating is perfect for people-watching, iced drink in hand. No pretension, just good food, fun drinks, and fries worth talking about. It’s an easy spot to hang out in flip-flops and stay awhile.
Delray Hideaway
At Delray Hideaway, casual beach bar vibes meet a classic neighborhood grill just two blocks from the sand. There’s a spacious patio out back and real parking spots, which feels like a small miracle in Delray. Inside, pool tables and dart boards encourage friendly competition, and you might catch live music or join in on bingo or poker nights.
The menu keeps things simple but satisfying. Burgers are the stars here, made with fresh ground sirloin and piled high on toasted Kaiser rolls. The Philly Burger loads on a whole cheesesteak, while the barbecue bacon cheeseburger arrives dripping with house-made BBQ sauce and crispy applewood bacon. Regular deals are part of the charm too: double bacon burger Thursdays and vodka penne Mondays have earned local fame.
Sides let you mix and match, classic fries, tangy coleslaw, cool cucumber salad, and especially those hand-battered onion rings. Dip them in jalapeño cilantro ranch for a real treat. The bar lineup runs the full spectrum from craft beers to fruity cocktails, and they even operate a package liquor store with delivery. Late night here means something different, and it’s why folks keep coming back.
Costa Delray Beach Contemporary American, Coastal Steak and Seafood
If you head to Costa Delray Beach, you get a beachy steakhouse vibe that actually works. The dining room mixes modern style with wicker chairs, lush greenery, and flattering ambient lighting. Coastal-chic details show up everywhere, but flip-flops fit right in. Chef Coton Stine Guzman keeps things local, using organic produce, fresh catches from nearby fishermen, and brioche buns from a partner bakery down the street.
Burgers here are a highlight. The Wagyu Steak Burger stacks aged cheddar, crispy onions, and white truffle aioli in perfect balance. Vegetarians will love the King Trumpet Mushroom Burger, with its cornmeal-crusted mushroom patty and rosemary aioli proving plant-based options can hold their own. Fries can be upgraded to truffle if you want a little extra. The full bar offers happy hour specials, organic wines, and cold-pressed juices for a lighter touch. A dog-friendly patio and highchairs add to the friendly atmosphere, and being right on Atlantic Avenue makes it easy to stop by any day.
