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The best burger in North Carolina comes from a Durham burger joint known for exotic burgers and obsessively housemade ingredients.
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Bull City Burger & Brewery has been named North Carolina’s best burger shop, according to national travel site 5 Reasons to Go.
In a piece highlighting the best burger in every state, the publication zeroed in on Bull City Burger, a downtown Durham burger shop famous for making every single thing in-house (except the ketchup).
Opened 15 years ago by Seth Gross, Bull City Burger serves grass-fed beef, dozens of housemade toppings, handcut fries and beer brewed on-site. Even the buns are baked in-house. The only exception to Bull City’s housemade philosophy is the Heinz Ketchup.
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“This recognition means a lot because it reflects everything we believe in,” Gross said. “We have always focused on doing things the right way, from grinding our own beef and making food from scratch to brewing beer right here in Durham. Being recognized on a national level is incredibly exciting for our team and our community.”
Burgers start at $12, according to its online menu. Fries and sides start at $4.
Beyond the scratch made everything, Bull City is perhaps best known for its annual exotic meat month, held each year in April. For that month, you’ll find the usual beef burgers, but also camel, yak and tarantula.
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 2:50 PM.