We tried some of the priciest burgers in Lexington. These were our top 9

For many of us, burgers are a way of life.  

When a burger is well-executed, it can be immensely satisfying and anything but boring. 

Lexington is home to an array of top-notch, mouth-watering, crave-worthy burgers. We all have our go-tos -- from Tolly-Ho’s ‘Ho Burger’ and Timmy Two Times’ ‘Bourbon BBQ Burger’ to Bella Café & Grille’s ‘Café Burger.’ It is difficult to pick a favorite.

But where do you go in Lexington when you want a splurge-worthy burger? One that exceeds the average price of most others in town, but is anything but average.

I found the top-priced handcrafted burgers in Lexington in hopes of finding nirvana. 

For this, I followed three rules:

1. The menu price must exceed $20;

2) The burger must be cooked “medium” for consistency’s sake; 

3) How does it taste? 

Beyond that, each was rated on its overall enjoyment.

The competition was fierce. But nine burgers, from places like Bear & The Butcher and Blue Heron Steakhouse, stood out. (And there was a tie!) But only one taste-bud tantalizing burger stood above the rest.

Here are the ranked burgers, starting at the bottom.

No. 8: The Rackhouse Burger at Rackhouse Tavern

This burger is built around an eight-ounce patty from Wholesome Living Farm, a grass-based, holistically managed farm in Clark County.It came with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and garlic aioli. There was a good crunch to the onion and lettuce, and the pickles were nicely tart. But overall, the beef lacked a lot of flavor and juiciness. It tasted average at best. Price: $21.

Rating: 7.0/10

Rackhouse Tavern is at 1375 S. Broadway; 859-519-1329 Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 4 p.m.- 11 p.m.

No. 7: Wagyu Kobe Burger at Harry’s and Malone’s.

This premium American wagyu burger had an excellent char. It also had nicely melted Gruyère Swiss, crispy onion strings, lettuce, and tomato on a butter-toasted brioche roll and slathered with Parmesan-garlic mayo. Includes choice of a classic side. Overall, it was a surprisingly messy burger and the roll fell apart. The generous amount of onion strings detracted from tasting the full flavor of the beef, but the Kobe flavor was there. Price: $23.99 on Harry’s dinner menu and Malone’s lunch menu and $27.99 on Malone’s dinner menu.)

Rating: 7.5/10.0

Harry’s American Bar & Grill is at 3735 Palomar Centre Dr., 859-977-2620; and 1920 Pleasant Ridge Dr., 859-809-3190. Hours: Sun.: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. 

Malone’s is at 1920 Pleasant Ridge Dr., 859-809-3190. Hours: Sun.: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat.: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; and 3735 Palomar Centre Dr., 859-423-1401. Hours: Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat.: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.;

and 3347 Tates Creek Road., 859-800-2986; Hours: Sun.: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat.: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

No. 6: (tie) Prime Steakhouse Burger from Blue Heron

This quintessential steakhouse burger is made with chargrilled ground Black Angus chuck and brisket and a choice of lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, cheddar, Gruyère Swiss or bacon. It was delicious from the first bite. The thick-cut bacon was just the right amount of salty and perfect. It had beautiful slices of tomato and onion with a pickle spear on the side. Unfortunately, the bun disintegrated. The burger came with hand-cut fries. Price: $22.

Rating: 8.0/10.0

Blue Heron Steakhouse is at 185 Jefferson St., 859-254-2491. Hours: Mon.–Thurs.: 5 p.m.–10 p.m.; Fri.–Sat: 5 p.m.– 11 p.m..

No. 6: (tie) Wagyu Burger from Carson’s

This wagyu burger is flame-grilled, finished with truffle butter and topped with Gruyère Swiss, cherrywood smoked bacon, avocado, lettuce, red onion, tomato, and Carson’s signature burger sauce. No char was detected, and there was too much lettuce and sauce. On the plus side, there was a nice crunch to the red onion, the good portion of meat was flavorful enough to fight through the toppings and perfectly balanced with the bun. Price: $23.

Rating: 8.0/10.0

Carson’s Food & Drink is at 362 E. Main St. and 3450 Todds Rd., 859-309-3039. Hours: Mon.–Thurs.: 11:30 am– 10 p.m., Fri.-Sat.: 10 a.m.–11 p.m.; Brunch: Fri.-Sun.: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

No. 5: Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger from OBC Kitchen

In the mood for a juicy, messy burger dripping with great flavor? Try this one. It’s a chargrilled premium American wagyu beef patty that’s extra flavorful. It came with sharp cheddar, Gruyère Swiss, thick and delicious applewood smoked bacon, cabernet onion marmalade, lettuce, tomato, and garlic-parmesan aioli. It is served on a butter-toasted brioche roll with tangy pickles. It pairs perfectly with the salty and sensational sidewinder beer-battered French fries. Everything here works in harmony. Price: $25.

Rating: 8.5/10.0

OBC Kitchen is at 3373 Tates Creek Rd., Tel.: 859-710-6680. Hours: Mon.-Thur.: 3 p.m.-10 p.m.; Fri: 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Brunch: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

No. 4: Jeff Ruby’s Burger at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse

Jeff Ruby’s focuses on the most important thing -- the beef. An 8-ounce Prime patty is not overly adorned with its three toppings of caramelized onions, nicely melted American cheese and herb aioli. The caramelized onions perfectly complement the flavorful beef. This proves it’s possible to serve a satisfying, top-notch burger without a lot of extras on top. Served with house fries. Price: $22.

Rating: 8.75/10.0

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse is at 101 West Vine St., 859-554-7000. Dine-in hours: Sun. 4:30 p.m.–9 p.m.; Mon-Thurs. 5 p.m.–10 p.m.; Fri. 4 p.m.–11 p.m.; Sat.: 4:30 p.m.–11 p.m. Takeout hours: Sun.-Sat. 4:30 p.m.– 9 p.m. Delivery hours: Thurs.-Sun. 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

No. 3: Mileta Burger from Mileta

The dry-aged Berry beef Mileta smashburger with creamy American cheese, crunchy angel hair lettuce and mustard relish is a definite don’t miss. Plus, it comes with just the right amount of house fries. Berry beef, named after Kentucky poet and agrarian philosopher Wendell Berry, is raised in Henry County. Its flavor comes through, and the sesame seed bun was a plus. Mileta has made a big splash on the local dining scene with its contemporary Italian cuisine; but when you’re craving a smashburger, this is where you want to go. My server even called it “the best burger I have ever had in my life.” Price: $22. Available only at brunch.

Rating: 9.0/10.0

Mileta is at 3565 Nicholasville Rd. at Fayette Mall, 859-303-8855. Hours: Lunch: Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Dinner: Wed.–Sun. 5 p.m.-midnight.

No. 2: 1977 America’s Cup Bison Burger from Ted’s Montana Grill

Made with freshly ground Great Range premium bison, this burger is a winner. The bison comes from premier ranches in North America, and is raised without antibiotics or growth hormones. Bison is leaner than beef, with a slightly sweeter, richer taste. This behemoth burger is loaded with quality toppings, including melted American cheese, crispy bacon, grilled onion, mushroom, and a fried egg, and comes with an American flag toothpick to top it off. It is a knockout combination, and the bison is the star of the show. Bonus: the burger’s name pays homage to entrepreneur Ted Turner, who founded the restaurant, and his 1977 America’s Cup sailing win. Price: $21.

Rating: 9.5/10.0

Ted’s Montana Grill is at 2304 Sir Barton Way at Hamburg Pavilion. 859-263-5228. Hours: Sun.-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.- Sat.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

No. 1: The Beast Burger from Bear & The Butcher

This colossal, creative, over-the-top half-pound premium patty combination of wagyu beef, wild boar, bison, and venison tops the list of the most delicious among Lexington’s top-priced burgers. It is a carnivore’s dream. 

It comes stacked with tasty bacon, white cheddar, lettuce, tomato, an onion ring, smoked pepper BBQ slaw made in-house, and bread and butter pickles on a grilled onion bun — all skewered with a steak knife. This hefty gut-buster is a taste of welcome decadence. The mixture of meats creates a flavor that is hard to improve upon. It’s served with fries, tots, or mixed greens. Price: $25.

Rating: 10.0/10.0

Bear & The Butcher is at 815 Euclid Ave. Tel.: 859-469-9188. Hours: Tue.-Thurs.: 4 p.m.- 9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat.: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m., Sun.: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 

Rob Bolson is a freelance writer residing in Lexington, Kentucky, who writes about food and culture. Follow him on Instagram at @robbiebolson. Email him at foodwriter@earthlink.net.

This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 5:02 AM.