Great Burger Restaurants in Sonoma County

There’s just no beating the burgers here in Sonoma County, California. This classic American meal can be paired with an ice-cold craft beer or a big ol’ glass of Zinfandel.

For our best burgers, dig into these made-to-order beauties. Go nuts with the toppings, from melted blue cheese and hickory bacon to pepper jack and roasted Anaheim chiles. We’ve even got non-carnivores covered, with veggie burgers so good you’ll never miss the meat.

Acme Burger, Cotati

Seasoned Chef Todd Kniess knows how to make a perfect burger. He stuffs toasted Sonoma County-made Franco American Bakery buns with goodies like grass-fed Sonoma Mountain Beef Company meat and “awesome” sauce, a spicy spin on Thousand Island. He powers up the toppings with add-ons such as jalapenos, Redwood Hill goat cheese, sautéed mushrooms, applewood-smoked bacon, and (wait for it) truffle butter.

If you’re craving something other than beef, Acme can make that happen, too. Choose from local Willie Bird turkey, a plant-based Beyond Burger slathered in hummus, buttermilk-fried or seared chicken breast, an ahi burger with wasabi mayo, flash-fried Bodega rock cod, or seared pork belly confit capped with a crunchy mix of slaw.

Palooza Brewery and Gastropub, Kenwood

Palooza owners Jeff and Suzette Tyler originally opened a hot dog cart to serve gourmet franks across Sonoma County, but folks loved it so much that the couple expanded to this full-fledged brick-and-mortar operation in Kenwood.

Beyond their signature hot dogs, you can also order their amazing burgers, crafted of chuck-brisket meat patties on a Racer 5 bun. Mouthwatering toppings include Pinot Noir-sautéed mushrooms and an aioli of brie, caramelized onions, bacon, and apple. The kitchen cooks up delicious, meatless Impossible Burgers, too.

The Dog House, Bodega Bay

After more than three decades of business, the owners must be doing something right with this tiny place, which sits right beside the Bodega Post Office. One thing is their delicious burgers made with fresh-ground chuck. You can get a third-pound or half-pound burger piled with what you like for fixings. If you’re feeling healthy, there’s a turkey burger, salmon burger, or garden burger. Pair your meal with a mountain of hand-cut French fries and an honest-to-goodness real milkshake in classic chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla.

Healdsburger, Healdsburg

This little diner doesn’t look like much from the outside, but step inside, and you’ll find it’s an adorable spot with cooks that rock the kitchen. Their basic sourdough cheeseburger is the bomb, but browse the choices of more than 16 combos – a buffalo cheeseburger, perhaps, or Cajun, or teriyaki Swiss? You may even find unique options like a ramen burger on a crispy nest of noodles. Healthy touches include gluten-free bun choices, a homemade garden burger, and a turkey burger.

Mike’s at the Crossroads, Cotati

Tucked off a twisting intersection at Old Redwood and Gravenstein highways, once you get here, you’ll be rewarded with more than a dozen burger options, each loaded with at least a half-pound of chuck.

Come early if you want to grab one of the 10 tables or dozen bar stools set on vintage checkerboard flooring, and pay heed to the bull’s head mural snorting “One Mean Burger” — ’cause that’s what you’re in for. Some of our favorite selections include the Stinky Breath, with sweet roasted garlic; the Great Western, with homemade barbecue sauce and bacon; or the Krush, with sautéed mushrooms, onion, and garlic in a Zinfandel glaze. 

KIN, Windsor

Maybe all you need to hear is the recipe for the Kin Burger: 8 oz. of spice-rubbed, coarse-ground beef grilled to order, with smoked white cheddar, applewood bacon, and homemade barbecue sauce, topped with lettuce, onion, and tomato on a sesame brioche bun, with your choice of spuds. Or maybe the Y.B.C. Burger does it for you, griddled on the flattop and buried under melting cheese (veggie version available, too).

Whatever your preference, this restaurant from two former GMs of the Guy Fieri empire specializes in juicy, first-rate burgers that require two hands and plenty of napkins. Don’t miss the garlic or Parmesan fries and sweet potato tater tots or fries.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Carey Sweet