Behold: the burger.
A staple of warm-weather holidays, backyard grills and casual cuisine, the traditional ground-meat variety is an American summer favorite.
Dubbed Atlanta's official mascot, the burger takes a spotlight at metro Atlanta's favorite casual joints and on fine dining menus alike.
But the burger isn't only reserved for carnivores. Many Atlanta restaurants dish a delicious veggie burger with abundant flavor that even a carnivore could love, with a patty that subs grains and veggies for the beef.
Like the traditional variety, a great veggie burger doesn't stop at the patty: it piles tasty toppings high and nestles them into a perfectly baked bun.
Whether you're a vegetarian, a full-fledged carnivore or somewhere in between, try Atlanta's best veggie burgers for a flavor-packed bite that won't leave you missing the meat.
The Veggie Quinoa Burger — Farm Burger
Taste local, fresh-from-the-farm flavor in the veggie option on Farm Burger's blackboard. A patty packed with quinoa (an ancient grain) is the star of a burger that's piled with marinated beets, balsamic onions, mixed greens and aioli. Or sub a quinoa patty for beef on Farm Burger's build-your-own menu, and choose from a locally sourced variety of veggies, cheeses and toppings. Looking for the perfect veggie burger pairing? Don't miss Farm Burger's hand-cut fries — or spice it up with pimento cheese fries sprinkled with pickled jalapenos.
Burger — Cafe Sunflower
Order the burger on Cafe Sunflower's lunch menu for flavor that's closest to the quintessential, all-American backyard burger. It's packed with smoky grilled flavor and piled generously high with semisweet pickles, crisp lettuce and fresh tomatoes on a multigrain bun. The burger is plated with thick-cut, seasoned sweet potato fries and a vinaigrette-dressed, crispy garden salad. Add Daiya dairy-free cheese for even more backyard-grilled flavor.
Veggie Burger — Yeah! Burger
Yeah! Burger delivers a plethora of non-meat options on its Virginia-Highland and East Midtown menus, starting with a vegetarian patty sourced from organic produce and Sea Island red peas. Choose a bun (don't miss the whole wheat bun from H & F Bread Co.), cheese, sauce and toppings to create your own masterpiece. A favorite? Satisfy a hot sauce craving with buffalo sauce, grilled onions and pickles.
Pepper Crusted Gorgonzola Gardein Burger — Yard House
In addition to an extensive, ultra-vegetarian-friendly menu, Yard House subs a Gardein patty (soy, wheat, peas and grains) for a beef patty on any of its popular burgers. Order the Pepper Crusted Gorgonzola with a Gardein patty for a flavor-packed, slightly spicy taste that's accented with peppery arugula greens. The grilled Gardein patty is juicy and hearty; you'll easily forget that it's meat-free.
Dixie Veggie Burger — Grindhouse Killer Burgers
Build your own veggie burger deliciousness from the extensive selection of toppings on the Grindhouse Killer Burgers menu. Or sub a veggie patty, made with a blend of beans and quinoa, onto any of the popular Grindhouse burger styles. Keep it southern with the Dixie Style, piled with pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, coleslaw and chipotle ranch dressing, a satisfyingly juicy recipe of traditional Southern favorites. Pair the Dixie with sweet potato fries or cornmeal-dusted onion rings, and wash it down with a Sweetwater 420.
'Shroom Burger — Shake Shack
Indulge at Buckhead's Shake Shack with a veggie burger twist: the 'Shroom Burger loads melted muenster and cheddar onto a crispy portobello mushroom. It's topped with the traditional lettuce and tomato, and finished with a slightly spicy "ShackSauce." Pair it with a delectable blend of frozen custard ice cream and a slice of H & F Bread Co. pecan pie in the Pecan Pie Oh My; it's blissfully Southern and blissfully delicious.
Jane's Homemade Veggie Burger — Righteous Room
It's a veggie burger, if only by name. Righteous Room is a self-proclaimed dive bar that dishes up a delicious veggie burger, though it's the loosest "burger" interpretation on this list. Grilled naan bread wraps crumbled veggies, grains and tofu, topped with tomato, red onion and crunchy leaf lettuce. It's delicious on its own, but even better kicked up with a side of horseradish sour cream.
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