Top 10 Best Cheeseburgers in Maine

Maine may be better known for lobster rolls and seafood shacks, but the state has a surprisingly strong burger scene of its own. From iconic roadside counters and coastal general stores to modern smash-burger spots and mountain-town institutions, these restaurants have built real reputations around the cheeseburger. This Discovery Matt ranking highlights standout burger destinations across the state, with an effort to spread the list beyond Portland and southern Maine while still recognizing the places that have earned serious statewide attention.

1. 1

   Owls Head General Store

   Owls Head

   Owls Head General Store earns the top spot with its famous Seven Napkin Burger, one of Maine's most recognized cheeseburgers. The store says the burger was voted Maine's Best Burger by Down East Magazine readers in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Food Network previously highlighted it for its remarkably juicy, messy build. It is the kind of burger that has become inseparable from the restaurant's identity.

   Known for: Seven Napkin Burger, statewide burger awards, coastal Maine destination

2. 2

   Palace Diner

   Biddeford

   Palace Diner is one of Maine's most beloved small restaurants, operating from a historic 15-seat dining car in Biddeford. Its burger, the Palais Royale, has earned statewide and national attention for its double-patty, griddled style and tightly focused execution. It ranks this high because the restaurant manages to make a classic cheeseburger feel iconic without overcomplicating it.

   Known for: Palais Royale burger, historic diner setting, Biddeford food destination

3. 3

   Harmon's Lunch

   Falmouth

   Harmon's Lunch is one of Maine's essential old-school burger stops. Roadfood praised its cheeseburger with fried onions as "lunch counter patties par excellence," and the restaurant has long been associated with simple, griddled burgers that rely on repetition and consistency rather than flash. It earns a top-three spot because it represents a true Maine burger tradition.

   Known for: Fried-onion cheeseburgers, no-frills counter-service tradition

4. 4

   Black Cow Burgers

   Portland

   Black Cow Burgers gives Portland one of its strongest modern burger destinations. The restaurant describes its approach around smash-griddled burgers with "explosive flavors," supported by house-made fries, sodas, cocktails, and a full burger-joint atmosphere in the Old Port area. It stands out as a polished but still highly craveable contemporary cheeseburger stop.

   Known for: Smash-style burgers, Portland burger bar atmosphere

5. 5

   Thoroughfare

   Yarmouth

   Thoroughfare has built a strong reputation in Yarmouth around burgers, fries, shakes, and a slightly more chef-driven fast-casual feel. Local coverage noted that it began as a pandemic-era burger concept from chef Christian Hayes and quickly connected with diners. It lands in the top five because it brings a modern, focused burger experience to a town outside Maine's larger food hubs.

   Known for: Burgers, fries, shakes, Yarmouth casual favorite

6. 6

   Blazes Burgers

   Westbrook

   Blazes Burgers is a locally owned Westbrook shop built around fresh cheeseburgers, hand-cut fries, tots, and classic sides. Its official materials emphasize a burger-first identity, while local business listings and community attention have helped reinforce its place among southern Maine's better independent burger spots. It earns its spot for clarity of concept and strong local support.

   Known for: Fresh cheeseburgers, hand-cut fries, Westbrook local favorite

7. 7

   The Bag and Kettle

   Carrabassett Valley

   The Bag and Kettle is a Sugarloaf Mountain institution and home of the Legendary Bag Burger. The restaurant has served visitors and locals for decades, and its signature burger remains central to its identity in the western Maine mountains. It earns a place here because few burgers in the state are so closely tied to a destination experience.

   Known for: Bag Burger, Sugarloaf tradition, mountain-town destination

8. 8

   Burger Boy

   Caribou

   Burger Boy has long been one of Caribou's most recognizable burger destinations, known locally for its old-school drive-in identity and a menu built around classic burgers, fries, and casual comfort food. Its decades-long presence in northern Maine gives it a strong place in the state's burger conversation.

   Known for: Retro drive-in history, Aroostook County burger legacy

9. 9

   Nocturnem Draft Haus

   Bangor

   Nocturnem Draft Haus brings Bangor into the ranking with a more pub-oriented burger experience. Its current menu includes a dedicated Grass Fed Burgers section, making it more than just a beer bar with a burger on the side. It earns its spot as one of central Maine's more distinctive burger destinations.

   Known for: Grass-fed burgers, Bangor craft beer setting

10. 10

    Two Rivers Lunch

    Allagash

    Two Rivers Lunch rounds out the list with a truly far-north Maine pick. The Allagash restaurant is described locally as a gathering place for hunters, fishermen, snowmobilers, and travelers looking for hearty diner-style food in one of the state's most remote regions. It closes the ranking as a fitting small-town representative that keeps the list from leaning too heavily coastal.

    Known for: Allagash local gathering spot, hearty diner-style meals