The Best in DFW

Angry Dog 

A shining example of an all-around impressively juicy half-pound burger made of freshly ground, spiritedly seasoned meat that satisfies whether austerely dressed or loaded with toppings. It's a burger you don't overanalyze: You just grip with two hands and snarf. That said, we'll take ours layered with cheddar, grilled onions and grilled jalapeños. The scruffy but welcoming bar atmosphere and killer beer selection at this Deep Ellum favorite only augment the burger's mystique.

2726 Commerce St. 214-741-4406. www.angrydog.com.

Fred's Texas Cafe 

If you're visiting Fort Worth's amazing museums, swing by this eye-popping bit of funky Cowtown for a nearby lunch first. The gold vinyl booths, the wacky wall coverings – and are those really antlers covering the ceiling in the back alcove? The not-too-dense Fredburgers are made of ground beef from Texas-raised cattle. Our favorite: the Diablo Burger, festooned with chipotles, grilled onions and melted Swiss in addition to the classic pickles, crisp lettuce, tomato and mustard. Incredible hand-cut fries to boot.

915 Currie St., Fort Worth. 817-332-0083. www.fredstexascafe.com.

Kelly's Eastside 

Kelly's makes half-pounders covered with everything from blue cheese to shredded cheddar, hickory-smoked bacon and ranch dressing. But for those of you who adore the thin patties, we didn't find a better version than those grilled for the Trio Burger: three one-sixth-pound patties stacked with cheddar, Swiss and pepper jack cheeses. Despite all that fromage, the smoky, almost caramelized taste imparted to the meat from the kitchen's wood-burning grill came through in every bite.

1422 Ave. K, Plano. 972-424-9200. www.kellyseastside.com.

Love Shack 

Celebrity chef Tim Love outdid himself when he constructed his bawdy "double Dirty Love burger": Two medium-thick patties, made from ground tenderloin and brisket, are deluged with tomato slices, shredded lettuce, bacon, two squares of melted American cheese, pickles, a fried quail egg and a spicy, tangy mayonnaise relish appropriately dubbed "love sauce." Dallasites unwilling to burn the expensive gasoline to grapple this lusty beast are in luck: A Love Shack outpost will open soon in Victory Park.

110 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth. 817-740-8812. www.shakeyourloveshack.com.

Perry's 

Consider Perry's the upscale underdog on this list: Among the numerous expense-account burgers we've recently devoured, this $16 lunchtime-only entrant made of prime aged beef most dazzled us with how not leaden it was for a chili burger (and we even added cheddar). The leaf of butter lettuce splayed over the burger was pristine. And among such old-school refinement, it would be more than acceptable to eat this baby with a knife and fork. Magnificently crisp potato wedge fries, too.

2911 Routh St. 214-871-9991. www.perrys-dallas.com.

Snuffer's 

The Dallas native among our circle of critics identifies herself as a "Snuffer's girl." For years, this is where she's gone when she craves a classic sesame bun-clad package of ground chuck. (We will admit, among this group, we lean toward the thicker, rather than thinner, patties when it comes to burgers.) This is the place to embrace American cheese melting over your burger. Running with tradition, we've got to have an order of cheese fries on the side.

Locations in Dallas, Addison, Plano, Rockwall, McKinney, Southlake and Highland Village. www.snuffers.com.

Twisted Root Burger Co. 

Jason Boso and Quincy Hart rock the chef-driven burger concept with this rebellious Deep Ellum joint (look for a second location to open in Richardson's Eastside Centre development at Central Expressway and Campbell Road). The wide hand-pressed patties create a level playing field for a far-flung range of toppings. A current favorite combo: green chile, guac and pepper jack. We know we said this is a beef-only discussion, but if you like buffalo burgers, plant yourself at a table here.

2615 Commerce St. 214-741-7668. www.twistedrootburgerco.com.

Wingfield's Breakfast and Burger 

When we reached into our to-go bag to retrieve our burger, we thought the folks behind the counter at Wingfield's had mistakenly given us a double bacon cheeseburger instead of a single. But, no: The burger is that tall, an architecturally constructed masterwork featuring brazenly seasoned meat and thick bacon reminiscent of Smithfield ham. Man, this is a standout burger. And, even with previous raves from another publication, it may still be the best-kept burger secret in Dallas. This tiny Oak Cliff business does take-out only, and regulars know to call ahead for their orders.

2615 S. Beckley Ave. 214-943-5214.

How we choose

Selections are based on recent reviews and dining experiences by Dallas Morning News restaurant critic Bill Addison and other regular reviewers, including Kim Harwell, Michael Hiller, Kim Pierce and Lawson Taitte.

When you see this symbol in on GuideLive.com, you'll know that location is a critics' pick. Critics' picks are presented alphabetically, without ranking. For more details on our price key and star ratings, check GuideLive.com's Restaurant Frequently Asked Questions. To join in and view other dining features, check the Restaurants page at GuideLive.com.