Best Burger Joints in the Grand Haven Area

Food + Drink

Saturday, May 28th, is National Burger Day! To celebrate we decided to take to the polls to find out where the best burger joints in the Grand Haven area are. Earlier this week we asked our followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to let us know their favorites. Here are the results!

Pavilion Wharf Deli & Grille – Grand Haven

The Pavilion has been a must stop when it comes to getting a burger in Grand Haven. This restaurant has been serving up mouth-watering patties and customers have been streaming in for 25 years. “Graffiti” written walls span the whole side of the establishment bearing the autographs of happy guests wanting to leave their mark. Complete with a outdoor patio right in the heart of downtown and multiple seating options inside, this restaurant can cater to any type of experience you are looking for. For our visit we decided to try their Olive Burger. Topped with crisp tomatoes, fresh lettuce,  juicy olives, and beef cooked to perfection – this burger did not disappoint. Some of their other burger choices are Big Trouble, Magnificent Stuffed Burger, and the Fiesta Burger.

JW’s Food & Spirits – Grand Haven

Located in the centertown district of Grand Haven, JW’s Food & Spirits has been serving delicious food and tasty drinks since they opened their doors in 1994. Being a little off the beaten tourist path, JW’s has that hometown pub feel where everyone knows your name and service is impeccable. JW’s has been the definition of consistency when it comes to dishing out fabulous food. They have won the Muskegon Jaycees Chili Cook off every year since 1999 with their White Chicken Chili. On this day, however, we were after a different type of award winner – their amazing burgers. For this trip we decided to try their Bacon and Smoked Cheddar Burger. Topped with crispy bacon, perfectly melted cheese, crisp pickle, and a flavorful patty, this burger truly lived up to our expectations. Some of their other burger options include the Rajun Cajun and the Patty Melt.

Ray’s Drive In – Grand Haven

Feeling a bit nostalgic? If you are, a quick stop at Ray’s will bring you down memory lane. This classic, old-school burger joint is a blast from the past. Serving quality food, amazing shakes, and a wonderful staff – you will leave with a smile on your face. On our trip our summer interns ordered the triple burger, double cheese burger, chicken sandwich, and a variety of shakes. The meal was fantastic! The crispy fries are packed into the bag almost to the rim, and their fries are to die for. The shakes were a perfect accent to the juicy burgers. Complete with outdoor seating and beautiful day, we could see why a majority of our our social media fans said that Ray’s was their favorite.

The Kirby House – Grand Haven

Located right across from the channel, The Kirby House is a hot spot for locals and visitors alike. This restaurant sits in one of the oldest buildings in downtown and sits in the location of Grand Haven’s first house owned by William Ferry. Complete with a wrap around island bar, live entertainment, friendly service, and close proximity to all the Grand Haven has to offer, The Kirby House is a fantastic dining option. On our visit to The Kirby House, we tried a fan suggested veggie burger – the Black Bean Burger. Who would have thought a black bean burger could taste so good? Topped with spicy slaw, avocado, and tomato, the Black Bean Burger is a great option for those looking for a healthier or vegetarian option. Some of their other great burgers are their Kirby Burger and the Original Steak Burger.

Sandy Point Beach House – West Olive

Located 20 minutes south of Grand Haven along Lakeshore Drive, West Olive is home to Sandy Point Beach House. SPBH infuses modern cuisine with local ingredients and flare. It has been described as “modern Chicago loft space meets lakeshore cottage”. This modern appeal, combined with lakeshore atmosphere makes for a wonderful experience – and they even have outdoor bocce ball courts! On our visit to SPBH we ordered the Beach House Burger. Topped with brie cheese, cherry onion marmalade, bibb lettuce, and roma tomato, it was quickly apparent why fans let us know that Sandy Point Beach House is one of the best places to grab a burger.

Turk’s Tavern – Nunica

Last on our list, but certainly not least, is Turk’s Tavern. Located just 15 minutes east of Grand Haven in the little town of Nunica, This restaurant is a local favorite and dishes out great food every time you walk in the door. Established in 1933, Turk’s is one of the oldest eateries in Ottawa County. Their motto “Eat, Drink, & Be Merry” carries throughout their dining space, menu, drinks, and wait staff. While they serve a full lunch and dinner menu, we were told by many of our fans that they served some of the best burgers in the Grand Haven area. Turk’s half pound burgers are made fresh with hand pattied ground beef. It was hard to choose a favorite on our recent visit so we tried a few including The Californian (avocado, pico de gallo, bacon, swiss, lettuce, tomato, and red onion) and The Nunican (ham, bacon, swiss, american, green olive, sauteed onion, sauteed mushroom, lettuce, tomato, and mayo). Don’t forget to add an fried egg and an order of homemade onion rings for good measure. Again, our social media fans did not steer us wrong with this suggestion for best burger joint!

Whew! We sure are full – but in a very good way! Thanks again to our social media fans for all of their suggestions on the best burger joints in the Grand Haven area. If your favorite didn’t make the list, let us know your go-to place in the comments below. 

Stay tuned to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – we’ll be asking you for more of your favorite spots in the Grand Haven area for upcoming blog posts just like this.