Best Burgers in the East Village, Ranked
By Brotherly Burgers, July 2026
The best burger in the East Village is Nowon (9.5), a Pantheon-tier Korean-inspired smash burger that ranks #3 in all of NYC. It's followed by Lion's Bar (9.0), Virginia's (8.3), and 7th Street Burger (7.5). The East Village punches above its weight in the burger scene, with fewer spots than the West Village but a higher average quality in its top entries.
The East Village burger landscape splits into two camps: elevated neighborhood spots (Nowon, Lion's Bar, Virginia's) and quick-service smash burger joints (7th Street). Both are well represented here.
| # | Restaurant | Score | Price | Neighborhood | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nowon | 9.5 | $21 | East Village | Smash |
| 2 | Lion's Bar | 9.0 | $19 | East Village | Tavern-Style |
| 3 | Virginia's | 8.3 | $20 | East Village | Tavern-Style |
| 4 | 7th Street Burger | 7.5 | $7 | East Village | Smash |
The Rankings
Nowon is a Pantheon-tier burger in a neighborhood full of good ones. The kimchi double smash is the signature: caramelized kimchi griddled directly into the patty, gochujang-kissed American cheese, all on a sesame milk bun. The Korean influence isn't a gimmick; it's a genuine flavor innovation that makes every other smash burger taste incomplete by comparison. Old-school rap and hip-hop on the speakers, disco ball overhead.
Price $21
Hall of Fame tier at a neighborhood bar price. Lion's Bar doesn't get the Instagram hype of some West Village spots, but the burger is objectively better than most of them. Well-executed patty, good cheese, and a setting that feels like your favorite local bar, because it is. The best quality-to-price ratio of any burger in the East Village.
Price $19
Virginia's is the East Village neighborhood restaurant that's best known for its burger, and for good reason. The patty is thick and well-seasoned, topped with Cabot cheddar, onion marmalade, and marrow aioli. Available at both brunch and dinner. The optional bacon and egg add-ons are worth it.
Price $20
The East Village location is one of 10+ across the city, and it's the most useful one: open late (until 3 AM on weekends), cheap, and consistently good enough for what it is. This is your 1 AM smash burger, your pregame snack, your no-reservations-needed reliable option. The double cheeseburger is the best deal in the neighborhood.
Price $7
The short answer
- Highest ranked here
- Nowon9.5 · #4 citywide
- Score range
- 7.5–9.54 ranked picks
- Price range
- $7–$214 priced
Updated July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best burger in the East Village?›
Nowon (9.5) is the best burger in the East Village and ranks #3 in all of NYC. Their Korean-inspired kimchi double smash burger is Pantheon tier.
Where is the cheapest good burger in the East Village?›
7th Street Burger at $7 for a double cheeseburger is the cheapest option that we'd recommend. For better quality at a still-reasonable price, Lion's Bar (9.0) at $19 is the best value.
Is Nowon worth the wait?›
Yes. At 9.5 (Pantheon tier), Nowon is one of only four burgers in NYC to score 9.5 or higher. The kimchi smash burger is unlike anything else in the city. Make a reservation to avoid the wait.
All scores are from the Burgerverse ranking system, based on Brotherly Burgers' reviews of 102 ranked NYC burgers. Scores use a 0-10 scale with decimal precision.