Food & Drink
The Best Burgers in Springfield
Read all about the burgers from Springfield, Missouri's menus that surprise us, delight us and always indulge us.
By Katie Pollock Estes
Aug 2025
Art direction by Sarah Patton. Photos by Brandon Alms, Leah Stiefermann
Consider this our ode to Ozarks burgers. We’re talking juicy, beefy, meaty things to satisfy the carnivore deep inside you. No shade if you prefer a veggie burger or some other meat-free option—we’ve included some meat-free burger options below, too. This is a roundup of the wild ones that come dripping with cheese, buckling under the weight of a thousand toppings and nestled into a carb bomb of a bun.
[This feature was updated September 2025]
Photo by Brandon AlmsChoose from a list of nine sauces (this one is blueberry ketchup) to go with a just-runny-enough fried egg and American cheese topping two juicy beef patties and bacon strips, all under a freshly made waffle. Plus roasty Red Rooster potatoes. You know, for something healthy on the side.
Purchase Photo
Smash Burger
Druff’s, 331 Park Central East, Springfield, 417-719-1719
On Fridays and Saturdays after 4 p.m., the grill at Druff’s starts working overtime. Their smash burgers are only available during this narrow time frame, but they are so good we’ll let them play hard to get.
The Bun: A timeless white roll
The Meat: Your choice of a single or double smash patty that’s perfectly crispy around the edges.
The Toppings: House-made pickles, shredded lettuce and a generous layer of cheese
Order it With: Chips or a small house salad
Mushrooms N’ Swiss Burger
Burger Bar, 1845 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-430-0400
Some consider caramelized onions an optional topping when it comes to a mushroom Swiss burger, but we are sure glad this version includes them. These three toppings are a literal dream team and a true treat for the taste buds.
The Bun: A classic burger bun, toasted to perfection
The Meat: 6-ounce smash patties made with a signature blend
The Toppings: Grilled mushrooms, Swiss cheese, balsamic grilled onions and garlic aioli
Order it With: An old fashioned
The Breakfast Burger
Civil Kitchen & Tap, 107 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-501-8456
Okay, hear me out: Ditch the bun and grab a waffle. You’re trading fluffy for crunchy and yeasty for sweet, but my goodness it works. That’s what you get with Civil Kitchen’s Breakfast Burger, just one of the beefy burgs on the menu. They offer up some classics too.
The Bun: A freshly made waffle
The Meat: Two juicy beef patties plus bacon strips
The Toppings: A just-runny-enough fried egg and American cheese
Order it With: Roasty Red Rooster potatoes
Read reviews for Civil Kitchen.
Mac'n Cheese Burger
Bair’s Sports Grill, multiple 417-land locations
Bair’s has 35 burgers on their menu, so you know you’ll find something that fits your mood. And if your mood happens to be “over-the-top cheat meal that I might regret later” or “I want a burger but I also need to stress-eat some carbs,” then you’ve got to cheese it up with this bad boy.
The Bun: A classic white roll, gently toasted
The Meat: A half-pound of hand-pattied beef
The Toppings: Macaroni and cheese and a five-cheese blend and jack-cheddar cheese
Order it With: A side of jalapeño bottle caps.
Read reviews for Bair's Sports Grill.
Photo by Brandon AlmsGet it! The Steak Burger from Farmers Gastropub is a beautifully done classic that’s calling your name.
Purchase Photo
The Classic Pub Burger
Farmers Gastropub, 2620 S. Glenstone Ave., 417-864-6994
We’re highlighting the regular menu’s Steak Burger because it’s a classic that never disappoints. But burger-lovers, listen up: The burger specials here are phenomenal too. Follow on social to see the burger-of-the-day details.
The Bun: A potato bun
The Meat: One or two patties of Blackgate Farms beef
The Toppings: American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, ketchup and mustard
Order it With: A frosty pint of Old Speckled Hen ale.
Read reviews for Farmers Gastropub.
The Grotto Burger
The Grotto West Coast Grill, 301 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, MO, 417-886-9600
The Grotto Burger is a choose-your-own-adventure experience since you get to pick the toppings. Take our advice and get the super-indulgent combo below. It’s our garlicky, cheesy go-to for bad breath that’s worth it.
The Bun: Fluffy brioche, perfectly toasted
The Meat: 1/3 pound of certified Angus beef
The Toppings: Roasted garlic aioli, bleu cheese crumbles and crispy bacon
Order it With: A side of sweet potato fries. Or, if you just can’t get enough stinky cheese, the addictive bleu cheese chips.
Read reviews for The Grotto West Coast Grill.
The Full Ride
J.O.B. Public House, 319 E. Walnut St., Springfield, MO
When Grad School closed and some of its menu migrated over to sister-restaurant J.O.B. Public House, we had one very serious question: Okay, but what about The Full Ride? Well, lucky for all of us, that juicy little wonder made the cut!
The Bun: Satisfyingly soft and barely toasted
The Meat: Two griddle-cooked beef buddies
The Toppings: Soft sharp cheddar cheese (the highlight!), caramelized onion, lettuce, tomato and bacon
Order it With: Something from J.O.B.’s extensive whiskey selection—on the rocks.
Springphilly Burger
Black Sheep, multiple Springfield locations
It’s not easy to pick just one burger to highlight at Black Sheep. Burgers are their whole thing! But the Springphilly is a new favorite. I mean, just look at the bottom burger in the pic above—who could resist something so beautifully sloppy?
The Bun: Regular or gluten-free
The Meat: 4 ounces of ground beef—plus (are you ready?) sliced marinated filet on top
The Toppings: Grilled red peppers and onions and an ooey-gooey cheese sauce
Order it With: The Boss milkshake spiked with vodka.
Read reviews for Black Sheep.
Photo by Brandon AlmsThis tall king is The Mill Burger from The Ozark Mill Restaurant, and he’s piled high.
Purchase Photo
The Mill Smash Burger
The Ozark Mill Restaurant at Finley Farms, 802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark, MO, 417-210-6644
Gather up your favorite work buddies to join you for lunch, and order this absolute tower of a burger from The Ozark Mill Restaurant. It ticks all the boxes for a stellar burger: It’s a little refined, a little indulgent, a little surprising, a little messy and oh-so-flavorful.
The Bun: Toasted to (chef’s kiss) perfection!
The Meat: There’s not just a run-of-the-mill beef patty—this burger has braised short rib.
The Toppings: Aged provolone, spicy arugula (so much better than lettuce!) and truffle aioli
Order it With: A pimento margarita. Make sure you opt for the spicy chili syrup!
Read reviews for The Ozark Mill Restaurant.
The Slab Burger
The Rock, 4018 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, MO, 417-986-0632
When your taste buds can’t decide what mood they’re in, it’s nice to find a dish that can pull double duty. In this burger, grilled ham adds a salty hit, while apple-habanero barbecue sauce brings the heat and the sweet.
The Bun: Crispy grilled brioche roll
The Meat: A half-pound beef patty and a thick slice of grilled ham
The Toppings: Apple-habanero barbecue sauce, sauteed onions and cheddar cheese
Order it With: A spicy buffalo cauliflower appetizer for the table.
Read reviews for The Rock.
Lindburger
Lindberg’s Tavern, 318 W. Commercial St., Springfield, MO, 417-868-8900
Lindberg’s Tavern sort of flies under the radar as one of the best burger joints in town. Their smash burgers come in three sizes (the Lindburger option has two patties) and there are several fun topping options that we don’t see every day (like homemade ketchup, green tomato relish and onion jam). We recommend trying the combo below, but you can always build your own.
The Bun: Classic, no-frills, toasted just right
The Meat: Two juicy smashed patties seared in duck fat
The Toppings: Melted provel cheese, beer-braised mushrooms, bacon, homemade mayo and standard burger veggies
Order it With: A side of fried green tomatoes.
Read reviews for Lindberg's Tavern.
Photo by Leah StiefermannHere’s to the sloppy-but-worth-it H.A.F.B. Burger from Gettin’ Basted. This juicy bite isn’t for the faint of heart.
Purchase Photo
H.A.F.B. Burger
Gettin’ Basted, locations in Branson, Nixa and Springfield
Stop! Before you dig in to the H.A.F.B., you’re going to need to round up a small mountain of napkins. Trust us, you’ll need them. (Hot tip: You can get an H.A.F.B. at Downing Street Pour House too, with just slight ingredient changes.)
The Bun: A balance of soft and toasty
The Meat: A patty made of the juiciest American Wagyu beef
The Toppings: A gooey soft fried egg, sharp white cheddar cheese, rich avocado butter, bacon jam and Sriracha for a hit of heat
Order it With: An app to share, like a gigantic soft pretzel with mustard and cheese sauces.
Read reviews for Gettin' Basted.
Photo by Brandon AlmsPinkies up: There’s nothing dainty about the huge Western Burger from W.F. Cody’s.
Purchase Photo
Western Burger
W.F. Cody’s, 3138 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, MO, 417-887-8083
If you know, you know. W.F. Cody’s has long had a reputation for serving some seriously delicious, mostly no-frills burgers that are so good at scratching that I-need-a-burger itch. Their Western Burger fits the bill with the perfect combo of indulgent toppings. Giddy-up!
The Bun: Classic and simple—it’s all about the toppings on this burger.
The Meat: A juicy hand-formed and griddle-cooked patty
The Toppings: Bacon, barbecue sauce, pickles, American cheese and a nice, fat onion ring
Order it With: An ice-cold pint of beer. This is a dive bar, after all.
Read reviews for W.F. Cody's.
Photo by Brandon AlmsThe triple steakburger from Taylor’s Drive-In is as old-school as it gets.
Purchase Photo
Double Cheeseburger
Billy Bob’s Dairyland, 1829 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO, 417-337-9291
This unobtrusive little diner on the Branson Strip has quite the following for its fried hand pies, its luscious milkshakes and malts, and of course its mega-juicy burgers. The double cheeseburger topped the way you like with classic burger basics is a favorite.
The Bun: Split-top white roll, toastedThe MEAT Two big, thick patties of ground beef
The Toppings: Order all the crunchy veggies: onion, lettuce and pickles
Order it With: A classic chocolate malt or a fried pie.
Read reviews for Billy Bob's Dairyland.
Meat-Free Patties
These five meat-free alternatives have been carnivore approved when it comes to flavor.
Written by Ettie Berneking, illustrations by Heather Kohler
Beanie Babe
Black Bean & Quinoa Burger at Cafe Cusco
Vegan? You’re in luck. This black bean burger is even served on a vegan focaccia bun. The black bean and quinoa patty is held together with flaxseed and topped with roasted garlic and onions. The cilantro and avocado spreads give it a fresh kick.
Herbivore Delight
The Natural Panini at MaMa Jean’s Natural Market
Firm and packed with flavor, there’s nothing boring about this messy tofu panini smooshed with avocado, kale, tomato, pickled red onion, Vegenaise and Dijon. Fun fact: This was the first sandwich ever made at MaMa Jean’s deli.
The Natural Panini at MaMa Jean’s Natural Market
Firm and packed with flavor, there’s nothing boring about this messy tofu panini smooshed with avocado, kale, tomato, pickled red onion, Vegenaise and Dijon. Fun fact: This was the first sandwich ever made at MaMa Jean’s deli.
Happy Hippie
Hippy Burger at The Grotto
Smooth and creamy, this black bean patty packs a surprising punch of heat thanks to a hearty smear of chipotle aioli. But a creamy, cooling layer of fresh avocado helps smother the flames. This bad boy comes on a brioche bun with mixed greens, tomato and red onion.
Hippy Burger at The Grotto
Smooth and creamy, this black bean patty packs a surprising punch of heat thanks to a hearty smear of chipotle aioli. But a creamy, cooling layer of fresh avocado helps smother the flames. This bad boy comes on a brioche bun with mixed greens, tomato and red onion.
