Budget bites: 10 South Florida hamburgers for $10 or less
By Phillip Valys, South Florida Sun-Sentinel,
2024-05-25
The Cowboy (with a side of tater tots) at Charm City Burger Co. in Deerfield Beach is burger blend of ground chuck, brisket and short rib topped with thick-cut bacon, cheddar, grilled mushroom and onions. Carline Jean/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/TNS
There’s a hamburger for everyone’s appetite in South Florida, but unfortunately not for everyone’s wallet. In these inflationary times, it’s tougher than ever to track down a simple restaurant staple — the humble hamburger — for less than a sawbuck.
Thankfully, we did the research for you. Below, find our lineup of 10 hamburger joints across Broward and Palm Beach counties slinging their delicious handhelds for $10 or less. We’d love to attribute this list to the upcoming National Hamburger Day on Tuesday, May 28, or to the fact that May is National Hamburger Month, but if we’re being honest, we’re just hungry. (And budget-conscious.)
As late singer Warren Zevon once opined, “Enjoy every sandwich.” Or, to quote “Popeye” cartoon glutton J. Wellington Wimpy, “I’d gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” This is golden wisdom from American icons, folks, even if one of them is fictional.
And now, the obligatory disclaimers: Don’t UberEats your burger if you expect to pay less than $10. These are dine-in-only deals, and some of them, luckily, are paired with french fries. Note that some hamburger joints only sling the discount on certain weekdays that are traditionally slow for business, or during happy hours. Finally, none are vegan-friendly.
Finally, at SunSentinel.com/bestof , we have a contest to determine the best hamburger spot in South Florida. Sirloin-savvy readers have narrowed it down to five finalists — and you’ll have until Sunday, May 26, to pick the winner.
Did we miss any noteworthy under-$10 burgers? Sound off by emailing pvalys@sunsentinel.com , and we’ll add them to this list.
What began as a tantalizing $5 deal more than a decade ago is still a formidable discount today. Tap 42’s Prohibition burger, usually $18.50, is half-off from 4 to 11 p.m. Mondays — and it comes with fries. The Prohibition is a beefy blend topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, aged white cheddar, applewood bacon, Dijonnaise and secret sauce. There are 10 South Florida locations including in Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Coral Springs, Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens.
The bar and nightclubby hangout slings a mean $6 Angus burger on Mondays only — and yes, it comes with french fries. Visit before 8 p.m. to take advantage of the pub’s $4 happy hour well drinks. Dining after 8 p.m.? Your burger will be paired with a Stilettos classic drag show.
This half-pounder routinely scores top marks at South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash and the Boca Burger Battle . The Tucker Duke, normally $16.69, will be half-off ($8.35 with tax) with a drink purchase on the first Tuesday of the month, which next falls on June 4. It’s topped with housemade onion rings, American cheese, Tucker sauce (a Cajun-inspired remoulade), spring mix and tomato on a toasted onion bun, and no substitutions are allowed.
A long-running gastropub with five Florida locations (including in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Miami), American Social offers its $8 AmSo burger (typically $16.50, with American cheese and special sauce on a toasted brioche bun) on Mondays only. The all-day deal, dubbed Burgers, Bourbon & Beats, is paired with $9 bourbon and whiskey pours, which sounds a little extreme for a school night, let’s be honest.
Locals adore this 65-year-old neighborhood grill for good reason: Curly fries, the baby back ribs and, of course, budget-friendly seafood and burgers. Its $6.99 hamburger (with a beverage purchase) is a 10-ounce behemoth on a kaiser roll served only at lunchtime (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) Mondays through Fridays. It comes with a choice of baked potato or dirty rice. Here’s sound advice for any Flanigan’s adventure: Arrive hungry and leave with a green Flanigan’s cup that will proudly adorn your kitchen cabinet until the end of time or until Florida is underwater, whichever comes first. There are 25 South Florida locations.
This sandwicherie has lasted a remarkable eight years on the tony Las Olas Boulevard drag for one reason: a shameless fixation on burgers, dogs, wings and other comfort foods. On Wednesdays only, B Square offers its half-pound Selfie Burger for $8.95 (usually $15.95), served with lettuce, tomato and pickles on a King’s Hawaiian bun. For a splurge, go during its 4-7 p.m. happy hour for $4 vodka, gin and rum wells.
M.E.A.T. Eatery & Taproom
2831 N. Federal Highway, Suite 9, Boca Raton 88005 Overseas Highway, Islamorada MeatEatery.com
Wimpy Wednesday (named, of course, after cartoon hamburger vacuum J. Wellington Wimpy) is the name of M.E.A.T.’s $5 deal: a Nancy Pants burger that’s a 5-ounce Angus ground chuck-brisket blend topped with American cheese, lettuce and tomato. Need more reasons to visit? M.E.A.T. was ranked the “ Best Burger in Florida ” by Reader’s Digest this month, and Food Network star Guy Fieri singled out its cheese-stuffed variant, the Juicy Lucy, when the host last visited M.E.A.T.’s Islamorada location on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” back in June 2019.
Never mind that this restaurant sounds like it sells food trucks and food-truck accessories: This fast-casual restaurant out of Argentina is strictly a burger joint . It has a new Wilton Manors location, which debuted in February, and another stateside spot in North Miami. All day on Mondays and Tuesdays in Wilton Manors only, they sell their quarter-pound burger with American cheese for $5.
Jack’s Old Fashion Hamburger House
4201 N. Federal Highway; Fort Lauderdale; 954-565-9960 591 S. Cypress Road, Pompano Beach; 954-942-2844
For 52 years, this hamburger institution has reigned over South Florida appetites with an appealingly slim menu of burgers and hot dogs. These days, the original one-third pound hamburger costs $9.55, while a quarter-pound Jack Jr. cheeseburger is $8.95. If you’re splurging, the half-pound Big Jack Burger is $10.95, but french fries and premium toppings (bacon, mushrooms, grilled onions) cost extra.
Almost every hamburger on Charm City‘s menu is a fancy blend of prime chuck, short rib and brisket sourced from Sunshine Provisions, the Hallandale Beach wholesaler owned by Charm City founders Evan David and Mike Saperstein. Which makes it all the more surprising that many of its burgers — The Good ‘Ole, The Volcano, The Cowboy and The Southern Belle — still ring in under $10 every day. We’re partial to the one-third-pound Cowboy ($9.95), which includes cheddar, thick-cut peppered bacon, grilled onions and mushrooms on a baked sesame or whole-wheat oat bun. “Hook ups,” Charm City slang for specialty toppings such as onion rings, cost extra.
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