WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA — Apparently, you can search across the entire Bay Area for its best burgers without once stopping in Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Danville, San Ramon, Livermore or Antioch.
At least, that is the impression left by the San Francisco Chronicle’s current “Top Burgers in the Bay Area” guide.
The Chronicle’s restaurant critics selected 18 restaurants serving what they consider the region’s best patty melts, bistro burgers and smashburgers. The guide was originally published in May 2025 and most recently updated in 2026.
Not one of its selections is located in the 925.
Perhaps not surprisingly for a city-centered publication, the list is weighted heavily toward San Francisco. Ten of the 18 selected restaurants are in the city, including Beep’s Burgers, Bon Delire, Louie’s Original, Maillards, Outerlands, The Rotunda, Smish Smash, St. Francis Fountain, True Laurel and Zuni Cafe.
Oakland received three selections: Fast Times Burgers, Lana’s and Lovely’s.
The remaining five spots went to Al’s Big Burger in Albany, Charter Oak in St. Helena, Compline in Napa, KonJoe Burger in Los Altos and Lunch Box in Sebastopol.
Even the Chronicle Previously Recognized 925 Burgers
The choice likely surprised locals in part because the Chronicle has previously praised several burger restaurants within the 925.
Its 2023 guide to the East Bay’s top burgers included CaliKid Burgers ‘N Shakes in Livermore, Hazel’s Drive-In in Antioch and HD Burger & More, also in Antioch.
At the time, the Chronicle praised CaliKid’s namesake burger, made with white cheddar, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles and Cali sauce. The restaurant has since expanded beyond its original Livermore location and now also operates in Pleasant Hill.
Hazel’s earned recognition for its nostalgic drive-in atmosphere, oversized burgers and patty melt served on grilled rye bread. The Antioch institution dates back to 1947 and remains one of the increasingly rare places where customers can order a burger and milkshake from a genuine old-school roadside restaurant.
HD Burger & More was recognized for its charbroiled Angus beef burgers, toasted sesame buns and substantial lineup of fries and onion rings.
All three apparently fell out of consideration when the Chronicle narrowed its broader Bay Area guide to 18 selections.
The 925 Has Plenty of Other Contenders
The Chronicle’s previous favorites are far from the only 925 restaurants that could have made a convincing case.
George’s Giant Hamburger has been operating in Walnut Creek since 1982. The family-owned restaurant says it grinds Certified Angus chuck on-site daily, continuing the burger-making approach established by its original butcher-owner.
Mona’s Burgers and Shakes is another very popular local spot.
For a more contemporary option, Headlands Brewing serves smashburgers at its Lafayette and Walnut Creek beer gardens. Its original burger combines crispy-edged patties with American cheese, grilled onions, pickles and burger sauce.
Downtown Walnut Creek also has Broderick Roadhouse, where burgers have long been the restaurant’s main attraction, as well as Gott’s Roadside, the Napa Valley-born restaurant known for burgers made with pasture-raised beef.
That does not mean every popular neighborhood burger deserves to displace a restaurant like Zuni Cafe or True Laurel. Any “best” list is subjective, and restaurant critics cannot reasonably visit every burger counter in a region this large.
We’re mostly poking fun when we call this a “snub.” Our friends at the Chronicle have every right to choose whatever places they want. In the future, though, perhaps one of our “far east bay” burger spots will make the list.
Until then, 925 residents may have to conduct their own ranking — preferably with plenty of fries.
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