Best burgers: 9 dive bar burgers

They may not all have a website, but they have regulars, pull tabs, and griddles that have been around long enough to give their burgers a little extra seasoning.

Here are nine dive bar burgers that stand out:

* Coastal Dive Bar

Although this little outpost in the back of Coastal Seafoods’ cool new spot on Snelling Avenue still doesn’t have its liquor license (come on, city of St. Paul, they opened this spring!), it’s still serving up a menu of seafood shack favorites and this ridiculously good smash burger. Two wagyu beef patties are seasoned perfectly and smashed just enough to give them a little crisp outside while remaining juicy inside. They’re topped with just the right amount of melty American cheese and a bright dijon mustard sauce on a sturdy brioche bun that holds up to the juiciness. This one rose to near the top of my list — and my very discerning teenage son’s.

Coastal Dive Bar: 286 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul; 651-698.4888; coastalseafoods.com

* 620 Club (formerly Keenan’s)

The burger at 620 Club (formerly Keenan’s) on West Seventh Street in St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

A few employees and a regular bought Keenan’s this summer after four generations of the Keenan family decided to call it quits. The 620 Club was quietly born, but it’s pretty much exactly the same as Keenan’s, and that’s how regulars at this comfortable West Seventh bar like it.

The burgers here are thin and well-seasoned and served on a fresh bun. Eight varieties are offered, from a classic California to the Blue Ox, topped with pickled red onions, blue cheese and horseradish mayo. Prices are reasonable ($12-$16, includes fries) but scoring a seat during the dinner hour can be a bit of a gamble. I’d argue it’s worth a little wait — the friendly bartenders will take care of you while you stalk a table or bar seat.

620 Club: 620 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-227-3840

* Alary’s

The smoked burger at Alary’s in downtown St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

We’re so glad this downtown sports bar is back, even more so since it added excellent barbecue and burgers from Petey’s BBQ! The smoked burgers are smoky, but not too smoky, totally juicy and really worth seeking. Order some traditional barbecue sides, like traditional mac and cheese, crisp coleslaw or bacon beans, and you’ve got a really hearty meal.

The folks behind Alary’s would like to remind you that they have free parking in the Block 19 ramp next door after 4 p.m. and on weekends, and that they offer shuttles to most downtown events.

Alary’s: 139 E. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-493-9725; alarys.com

328 Grill at the Legion

Chef Mik German brought his bar-food operation to the St. Paul Park American Legion and infused the place with new life — and new customers. Burger lovers have found their way to this off-the-beaten-track locale that serves creative, delicious burgers, sandwiches and sides.

The 328 Burger at 328 Grill at the Legion in St. Paul Park. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

Though it’s hard to pick a favorite, we recommend whatever the burger of the week is, but also The 328, a juicy patty topped with American cheese, crisp, shredded iceberg, tomato, housemade dill pickles and an herb-infused mayo. And if you’re a fan of hot peppers, the Jalapeno Bizness, infused with smoky bacon, jalapeno peppers and cheddar jack and topped with smoked cheddar and spicy mayo, is a real treat.

328 Grill at the Legion: 328 Broadway Ave., St. Paul Park; 651-459-8016; 328grill.com

Station No. 6 at Rosetown American Legion

This popular burger-centric food truck followed the 328 Grill model, opening a food operation within the Rosetown American Legion. This is definitely a trend we can get behind — an important community space gets delicious food, and an operator gets a steady stream of new customers while also bringing its fans to the joint venture. Rosetown is very lucky to have Station No. 6, which produces one of the best, crisp-edged smashies in town. Since each patty is 5 ounces, one is definitely enough for me, but you do you. They’re served topped in a number of ways, on a good bun and with fast-food fries that are actually golden brown instead of pale yellow, as the burger gods intended.

Station No. 6: 700 W. County Road C, Roseville; stationno6foodtruck.com

Bay Street Burger Dive

With a name like Burger Dive, the burgers had better be good. And they are. Chef Nick O’Leary, who has a long résumé working at some finer-dining restaurants in town, serves burgers and other bar food here, and each item on this menu gets proper attention.

The Mushroom Swiss burger at Bay Street Burger Dive in St. Paul, Sept. 2, 2020. (Nancy Ngo / Pioneer Press)

As for the burgers, try the Wedge, a burger play on the popular wedge salad, which is a gloriously messy and delicious concoction; or the Onion, with onions in raw, fried, onion dip and onion jam forms. The latter is definitely only for onion fans, but if you’re one, you’ll love it. Go with friends and order all the sides — from the pierogies to the curried cauliflower to best-in-class fried mushrooms, jalapeno cheese curds and onion rings — they’re all good. In fact, I prefer any of them to the fairly ho-hum fries.

Bay Street Burger Dive: 731 Randolph Ave., St. Paul; 651-294-3240; burgerdivemn.com

Shantytown Bar and Grill

We’d heard about this awesome suburban dive bar, where the burgers are good and the conversation is better, for years before we checked it out — don’t make our mistake. The space and the burger do not disappoint. We love the simple bacon cheeseburger, served without any pesky lettuce or tomato to muck things up. The tater tots are extra crispy and served with seasoned sour cream, but we’d come back just for the lightly battered, perfectly tender onion rings.

Shantytown Bar and Grill: 8512 Pillsbury Ave. S., Bloomington; 952-881-7223

Half Time Rec

The Rec’s award-winning, half-pound burgers are made with good beef, cooked through but still plenty juicy, and topped with a number of options, but we prefer the one with tangy, pickled green tomatoes, and a flavorful house-made sauce. It’s a three-napkin affair that goes great with a Guinness, which is usually what we’re drinking at this long-standing, appropriately dingy Irish pub.

Paddy Shack at Half Time Rec: 1013 Front Ave., St. Paul; 651-488-8245; halftimerec.com

Bull’s Horn

Oh, how we wish that Doug Flicker and Amy Greeley’s dive bar was in our neighborhood! Flicker, an award-winning fine-dining chef, has put all his know-how into making juicy fried chicken, bologna sandwiches and a really nice, reasonably sized burger made from Peterson beef. It comes with lettuce, pickles and special sauce, and we highly recommend adding the house-made American cheese and some righteous, smoky bacon.

Bull’s Horn: 4563 34th Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-208-1378; bullshornfoodanddrink.com

Related Articles

Restaurants, Food and Drink |


Toasted oats add flavor and crunch to hearty maple scones

Restaurants, Food and Drink |


Justin Sutherland, St. Paul celebrity chef, pleads guilty to felony charge of threatening girlfriend with gun

Restaurants, Food and Drink |


With this salmon piccata, the fish sings in butter, lemon and capers

Restaurants, Food and Drink |


Husband-and-wife food bloggers show how two chefs can navigate the home kitchen

Restaurants, Food and Drink |


Quick Fix: Mexican Chimichurri Skirt Steak with Hot Pepper Corn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous post Our 2024 guide to the best burgers in the Twin Cities
Next post Best burgers: 11 neighborhood spots