My Top 5 Burgers of 2022: Because Who Doesn’t Love a Juicy Burger?

Americans eat a whopping 50 billion burgers a year, which comes to 154 burgers per person per year!* My burger tally is probably closer to 15. If you count a double patty as two burgers, bump that up to 25.

*This statistic is quoted across the wild world of Google. Yet no one seems to link to a reputable source of this juicy fact. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the number is likely wrong *gasp*! So don’t go around quoting it saying The Frugal Foodie’s told you so….

My burger intake might be low (compare to other Americans at least), but it has certainly been mighty. So let’s dive in to….

My Top 5 Burgers of 2022

5. Ray’s Bar, NYC

Ray’s Bar is a dive bar on the Lower East Side with dim lighting and decor that got stuck in the 90s. The college kids of NYC flock to Ray’s on the weekends because it’s trendy and hipster. I went to Ray’s for the burger as part of a Smashed Burger Crawl.

The famous smashed patty pop up at Ray’s wasn’t happening during my crawl. BUT they brought out this double stacked number that was totally stellar. The patties were juicy and thick and the sesame seed bun was super thin, giving the meat the chance to shine– earning it spot #5 on my top 5 burgers of 2022 list.

4.Buena Vista Burger Shop, Tulum, Mexico

Many travelers see Tulum as paradise on Earth, but whenever the name enters my ears I get stomach cramps. At the start of the year, Jeremy and I ended up spending quite a bit of time in good old Tulum because we both got parasites in addition to salmonella (me) and a bacterial infection (Jeremy.). The real kicker was it hit during my best friends wedding. Life sure can be funny. I think I’m finally starting to giggle….

After 5 bed-ridden days our battered and withered bodies were finally ready to eat again. And this here burger from Buena Vista Burger Shop at the food truck park, Palma Central, was one of the first things I ate that my stomach and taste buds welcomed. It had a lovely charred flavor with smashed, yet juicy patties. It’s hard to say if it was really delicious or if it just came at the right time. Either way, it earns a spot on this top 5 burgers of 2022 list.

Hey Reader! Paradise Lost? The Unsettling Truth About Greenwashing in Tulum was one of my favorite pieces I wrote this year! Check it out if you have a minute 🙂

3.Vault & Cellar, Middletown, VA

Brunch burgers are one of the finer indulgences in life that I always forget I love until my hands are wrapped around one. There’s something so satisfying about slapping an egg with a runny yolk on top of a thick greasy patty. This one from Vault & Cellar in Middletown, VA was the only brunch burger I had of the year… and also the best.

2. Smokin’ Joe’s Knockout Burgers, Durban, South Africa

I joined Jeremy on the Zaandam for a full lap of Africa, and Durban was one of the first ports where I could have a foodie day. (Why didn’t I have more foodie adventures in Africa? Find out HERE.) We stumbled upon Smokin’ Joes Knockout Burgers and it was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.

I got the Smokin’ Joe which came with 2 x65g beef patties, cheese, caramelized onion, jalapeños, and a secret sauce. The caramelized onions added a pop of sweet while the jalapeños added the perfect amount of spice that didn’t totally blow out my taste buds. The beef patties were delectably greasy and it was one of those burgers that totally drenches your hands so that the aroma follows you for at least 3 bouts of hand washing.

1. Hot Mess Burger from Harlem Shake , NYC

Harlem Shake serves up classic American fare in a laid back restaurant with old school diner vibes. I got invited to try out their food in exchange for some content because #influencer, and the hot mess burger totally blew my mind.

It features two delectable smashed patties topped with American cheese, a smoky chipotle mayo, and a wildly delicious Hot Mess concoction of pickled cherry pepper and bacon. There’s the perfect blend of sugar, acid, and fat, earning it the #1 spot on my top 5 burgers of 2022 list.

There you have it. My top 5 burgers of 2022!

Cheers to another delicious year in the books!