Who Has the Best Burger in New York? Nominations Are Now Open

Who Makes the Best Burger in the 518?

The search is officially on for the Best Burger in New York State, and this year, the Capital Region has a chance to make some noise.

The New York Beef Council has opened nominations for its annual Best NY Burger Competition, and burger fans across the state are being asked to submit their favorite restaurants for consideration.

Nominate Your Local Fave

• Nominations are open through March 14th, giving burger lovers just over one week to rally behind the spots they believe serve the best burger in the Empire State.
• Once nominations close, public voting will begin on March 18th and run through April 10th to help determine which restaurants move forward in the competition.
• We'll update this post in the coming weeks so area readers can vote for locally nominated burgers.

Last year’s winner was The Butcher’s Son in Corning, whose “Ghost Burger” — featuring two grass-fed beef patties, candied jalapeños, jalapeño basil pickles, provolone, and BBQ sauce — earned a record score of 99.24%.

No Burger Love in 2025

But here’s the thing: not a single Capital Region burger made the Top 10 in 2025.

Despite the incredible burger spots around Albany, Troy, Saratoga, and Schenectady, the Capital Region somehow got completely shut out. That’s why this year might be the perfect time for local burger fans to step up and nominate their favorite spots.

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Whether it’s a classic pub burger, a stacked gourmet creation, or a no-frills smashburger, the Capital Region certainly has contenders worthy of statewide recognition.

Now the question is… which Capital Region burger deserves a shot at being crowned the best in New York?  Show some love to your favorite by nominating here.