Eat More Beef: 10 Bun-derful Grand Forks Burgers

The American cheeseburger – a common craving among children and adults alike. Most restaurants offer burgers on their menu, but which places do it right? Where can I get a quality, signature burger from a local restaurant instead of ordering another Big Mac? I sought to answer these questions by visiting a few burger joints in Grand Forks and putting them to the test.

Now I want to make a few things clear– I went into this analysis with an open mind and empty stomach. In no way are the following restaurants listed in a ranking order. I believe that all of these local spots are worth checking out if you want a great burger!

Without further ado, here are 10 places in Grand Forks that I think deserve a shoutout for their signature burgers.

This spot is located near UND campus on N 42^nd St. They really hit the creativity and variety categories with offerings like pulled pork, jalapeno poppers and cheese curds on your burger. They have a great original sauce that pairs well with any of these burger choices. Some unique creations include the Honey Badger, topped, among other things, with ham, green peppers, and cayenne pepper honey sauce and the Reuby, which is smothered in corned beef, sauerkraut, and grilled onions. Whether you are feeling traditional or adventurous, Speedway Bar & Grill is a great choice!

Check out Speedway’s complete burger menu here. 

Located on South Columbia Road, JL Beers is a North/South Dakota and Minnesota chain restaurant that serves brews and burgers.  A local location is actually an 11 year “Best Burger in North Dakota” award-winner, so they’ve definitely got something good to offer. The “Humpty Dumpty” burger has a fried egg and cheese on top, and the “Rajun Cajun” offers cajun chile lime sauce and cajun seasoning in the patty. Yum! JL Beers is also the place to get house made potato chips with your burger, and you can even choose the seasoning that goes on them. Go check them out if you haven’t already!

Check out JL Beer’s full burger menu here.

Just over the DeMers bridge in East Grand Forks is a staple sit-down style restaurant of the area. Blue Moose is the perfect spot for grabbing appetizers or drinks with friends, but they also have incredible burgers (otherwise they wouldn’t be on the list… right?). They have a small but essential selection of burgers, including but not limited to vegetarian substitutions, the Outlaw Burger ( with Western style Chipotle BBQ), the P.B.E.B Burger (which includes an interesting combination of peanut butter and a friend egg), and of course, The Classic cheeseburger. but the most unique I have had is the Guiness Burger, featuring a burger patty marinated in Guiness beer. Very tasty and deserves a try the next time you’re out with the family.

Peep the Blue Moose menu here. 

Located inside the Riverwalk Centre and across from the River Cinema movie theater, it was only fitting that the Shire takes the movie theme to the next level. Everything from the decor to the menu is completely inspired by the world of cinema. Some fun burgers include the Baby Raptor, with spicy and sweet toppings, the Revenge of the Curds, a cheese curd-topped masterpiece, and the Ron Bourbondy Burger, which flaunts smoky toppings and a bourbon and chipotle mayo. I was surprised by how good these burgers were and I really enjoyed the cinematic atmosphere. Next time you go see a movie, make sure to get dinner here beforehand and you won’t be disappointed.

Catch The Shire’s menu here. 

Continuing our journey down DeMers Ave in East Grand Forks, we find ourselves at the Spud Jr.. Priding themselves on Red River Valley potatoes, their “Mr. Spud” signature burger features french fries on top of the burger. One of my favorites from here is “The Boot” that has fresh shaved prime rib and A1 steak sauce on it. Other crazy creations include the Backdoor, which has cream cheese and jalapenos and the Cuckoo’s Nest, piled with mac and cheese and bacon. They stack their burgers nice and high, and the fries are worth the hype. You can also host events there, as their back room “the Prohibition Room” is available for rent. Burger party, anyone?

Find The Spud Jr’s unique burger collection here. 

Moving on from East Grand Forks, we go back over the DeMers bridge to downtown Grand Forks to explore the bars and restaurants on 3^rd St. First up is a crowd favorite, the Toasted Frog. Known especially well for their fried pickles, the Frog offers two extremely unique and delicious burgers – both of which are not traditional beef. These include: The Elk Burger, topped with a caramelized onion ailoli and The Moroccan Spiced Lamb Buger, packed with middle eastern flavors and spices. If you are looking to try something new, this is the place to do it.

Find The Toasted Frog’s menu here. 

This well-known downtown bar also has an essential burger menu that will satisfy a late night craving. Spice it up with their “Firehouse Burger” that has jalapenos, pepperjack cheese and chipotle sauce, or cool it off with a “Southwest” burger featuring onion rings, coleslaw and bbq sauce. Savor your burger while watching the game on their 150” laser projection TV or hitch a ride there after dinner on their party bus! Check out their “any burger” specials on Thursdays, too!

Look here for Joe Black’s complete menu. 

Just across the street from Toasted Frog and Joe Black’s is The Hub Pub. Their selection of burgers has something for everyone to enjoy. Their menu features a few classics like a bbq burger, bacon cheeseburger, and mushroom and swiss, with a few more adventurous options if you’re feeling cheese curds or pulled pork on a burger. The unique twist here is that every burger is served with waffle fries and peppercorn gravy for dipping. Bring on the poutine!! (Pro tip – if you’re wanting a burger here, they are $8 on Mondays!)

Take a look at the Hub Pub’s menu.

Continuing south on 3^rd we hit Brick and Barley. Brick and Barley has a large variety of burgers on their menu, the most unique of which include one with bacon and maple sriracha sauce, and another called “Hawaiian” with grilled pineapple, teriyaki and arugula. For our vegan friends out their, they even have  a Vegan Black Bean Sweet Potato Burger! Try one with your next drink there! And while you’re at it, snag your burger during one of their many bingo, trivia, or karaoke nights!

Brick and Barley’s full menu is right here. 

Last but certainly not least, this charming family-owned restaurant on S 3^rd St has three burgers that are all worth trying the next time you are looking for something fresh and homestyle. They offer a local Minnesotan grass-fed beef burger (raised and processed by Szymanski Farms about an hour drive from Forks), a house made vegetarian burger, and a camel burger – yes, camel! Don’t knock it till you try it. Ely’s Ivy tops this one-of-a-kind burger with harissa (a chile paste from northern Africa), pickled red onions, mayo and lettuce. Trust me when I say it is worth it!

Find Ely’s Ivy’s menu here. 

To conclude our journey, we clearly discovered that Grand Forks has a lot to offer in terms of burgers that stand out among your normal fast-food franchises. Wherever you decide to satisfy your next craving for a beef, veggie, elk, lamb, or camel burger, make sure to support local businesses and try one of these Grand Forks staples. All these restaurants have something special to offer and are worth checking out for yourself. I hope you enjoy!