MN Burger Week is here! And it’s bringing $10 burger specials to more than 60 locations across the metro. For one week, participating chefs put their own spin on the classic burger, from over-the-top creations to dressed-up takes on familiar favorites. Diners can use the MN Burger Week app to map out stops, check in at participating restaurants, and earn points along the way. Top point earners will win major prizes (e.g., $1,000 cash, huge Blackstone grilling set, and so much more).
The idea is simple: get out, try something new, and celebrate Minnesota’s ever-creative food scene—one $10 burger at a time. I’ve made the rounds recently and even had the enviable assignment of previewing a few MN Burger Week creations during media segments promoting the event. Here are five participating spots I’ve visited recently—and the burgers worth sinking your teeth into this week.
Northern Taphouse: The Big Dill Smash
Lakeville, Woodbury, Plymouth, and Maple Grove
As a frequent flyer at Northern Taphouse—and someone who believes there’s almost no such thing as too many pickles—this one was destined for the top spot. The Big Dill Smash piles double smashed patties with American cheese, dill pickle cheese curds, fresh pickle de gallo, Holy Dill aioli, dill kettle-chip crumble, and fried pickles. It’s salty, crunchy, cheesy, and unapologetically dill-forward. Consider it your warmup for State Fair pickle madness. And if you’re really committed to the bit, check out the Taphouse’s State Fair Bloody Mary this month, stacked with everything from cream cheese pickle bombs and cheese curds to a corn dog and mini donuts.
Stockyards Tavern & Chophouse: French Onion Burger
South St. Paul
I’m perpetually on the hunt for a great bowl of French onion soup, so naturally I needed to know what happens when you turn those flavors into a burger. Stockyards keeps it beautifully straightforward: caramelized onions, Muenster cheese, and garlic aioli on a pub bun. Rich, savory, and satisfyingly messy, it delivers exactly what I hoped it would. Add Stockyards’ rustic cowboy atmosphere and consistently great service, and this South St. Paul spot is an easy recommendation. Takeout is available, too.
Southern Social: Pimento Double
Woodbury, Chaska, and Eagan
Put pimento cheese on the menu and you already have my attention. Southern Social goes one better with its Pimento Double: two beef patties layered with house-made pimento cheese, candied bacon, and pickles. The creamy, tangy pimento against that sweet-salty bacon is a winning combination—and the pickles cut through all that richness. Southern Social’s energetic atmosphere is also top notch, making this one worth lingering over.
Mac Gnome
The Gnome Craft Pub: Mac Gnome
St. Paul
This is comfort food piled on comfort food, and I mean that as the highest compliment. The Gnome’s Mac Gnome Burger starts with a beef patty on a potato bun, then adds macaroni, American cheese, bacon, and honey sriracha, finished with house pickles. (Fries not included, but purchasing a side equals more point in the MN Burger Week app!) It’s big, indulgent, and just a little sweet and spicy. Grab a craft beer and a spot on The Gnome’s pet-friendly patio, and you’ve got yourself a pretty excellent summer evening.
NorthStar Tavern: House Burger
Bloomington
Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent the burger—you just need to make a really good, really big one. NorthStar Tavern does exactly that with a 7-ounce Rancher’s Legacy patty, smoked cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, house-made pickles, and NorthStar Fry Sauce on toasted brioche. Look at the size of this thing. NorthStar is already a trusty haunt for us Greenspring folks thanks to its proximity to the office, and this is a reliable crowd-pleaser: simple, substantial, and delicious. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, as is takeout.
