Phantom Gourmet: Great 8 'Better Burgers'

There's nothing better than chowing down on a nice, juicy burger, especially when it's made with fresh beef and great toppings. So Phantom stocked up on some napkins and found these 8 Great places for Better Burgers.

Shake Shack
Chestnut Hill, Harvard Square, Legacy Place

Kicking off the Great 8 is Shake Shack. This fast-growing chain with a cult-like following started in New York City and now has over 2 dozen locations worldwide, including Chestnut Hill, Harvard Square and Legacy Place. Here they serve griddled burgers on fluffy potato rolls, along with crispy fries and thick shakes called Concretes - all made with the freshest fare they can find, cooked to order.

Max Burger
Longmeadow, West Hartford

Max Burger in Longmeadow and West Hartford, Connecticut specializes in all things burger. This casual hang-out features upscale creations like the Kobe Fun Guy burger with a truffled mushroom spread, crispy onion strings, and side of au poivre for dipping. There's the Miss Daisy, capped with brie cheese, apple wood smoked bacon, and apple honey Dijonaise. For a burger that's truly over-the-top, order up the Fatty Melt: an 8 ounce patty topped with cheese, served in between two grilled cheese sandwiches, one with bacon, the other with tomato.

KKatie's
Plymouth, Marshfield

Another Great 8 winner is KKatie's in Plymouth and Marshfield. This small, spirited eatery serves burger after burger to hungry South Shore customers. There's the wildly popular KKatie's KKrunch Burger topped with caramelized onions and cherry wood smoked bacon, and the Juicy Lucy, oozing with cheese. But no matter what you order, you can be sure the patty was packed that day.

Ki Bistro
Boston University

Ki Bistro is a quick service Asian fusion spot popular with Boston University students. Here you'll find juicy burgers stuffed with cheese and topped with fresh veggies and crispy bacon. But what makes these burgers really special is not what's in them - but what's around them: a ramen noodle bun. The ramen is shaped and then griddled on the flat top, so it's crunchy on the outside and soft in the center.

Pub 97
Groveland

Pub 97 in Groveland doesn't just offer a few specialty burgers; they offer 97 of them. The base of each burger is a chargrilled, half-pound Angus patty. But when it comes time for toppings, just about anything can happen. There's the Polynesian Burger with sweet and sour sauce, pepper jack cheese and crushed pineapple; the Surf and Turf Burger topped with four juicy grilled shrimp; the Inside Out featuring one bun between two burgers; and The Eastside, finished with cool, creamy cole slaw.

Burger Dive
Somerville

Another Great 8 winner is Burger Dive in Somerville's Assembly Row. This counter-service spot grills top-notch burgers, blends thick, creamy milkshakes, and fries all kinds of sides. The burger lineup features classics, like the Cheeseburger topped with lettuce and tomato, and some should-be classics, like the Frito Chili Cheddar Burger. Burger Dive can be enjoyed any time of the day with the help of the Brunch Burger, featuring apple wood bacon, melted cheese, crispy potato chips, and a gooey fried egg.

Fuddruckers
Saugus, North Andover, Methuen, Reading

With locations in Saugus, North Andover, Methuen and inside Jordan's Furniture in Reading, Fuddruckers is famous for fluffy, fresh-baked buns, a massive top-it-yourself produce bar, and some of the best beef in the business, offered in five sizes of patties.

Wahlburgers
Hingham

Rounding off the Great 8 is Wahlburgers in the Hingham Shipyard. Brainchild of Mark, Donnie and chef Paul Wahlberg, this bustling burger joint grills their all-natural patties on a flat-top and serves them up with lettuce, tomato, and homemade pickles, all on a fresh baked roll. If you look closely, you'll notice the toppings are actually on the bottom, so you get all the right flavors in every mouthful.

"We stack all of the condiments on the lower part of the bread, and then put the burger on top because when you bite into it, you taste the components and the burger at the same time."

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