March Madness, but make it burgers. Meet the Elite 8 hamburger joints and vote on the best

endia fontanez, arizona republic

Thu, Apr 4, 2024, 3:46 AM·4 min read

The highly-anticipated yearly NCAA Division 1 college basketball tournament that is March Madness is upon us. And this year, Phoenix is hosting the Final Four matchup on Saturday, April 6.

The tournament is played bracket-style, with 68 teams competing in six single-elimination rounds. College basketball fans can print their own brackets and make predictions ahead of the tournament. But even if you're not a basketball fan, you're going to want in on another March showdown: The Phoenix Burger Bracket.

The Republic needs your help naming the 2024 burger champion of metro Phoenix in a matchup between 16 of our favorite burger joints. Round one ended on Sunday, March 10. After counting over 2,000 votes, the top 8 restaurants remain in the competition.

Round two of voting begins Wednesday, March 13 at 5 a.m. and closes Sunday, March 17 at midnight.

The new bracket will be announced on Wednesdays, marking the start of a new round of voting. The winner will be announced Wednesday, April 3, in anticipation of the Final Four tournament that weekend.

Here's a look at the Elite 8 Burger contenders, and how to vote.

Only eight burger joints remain after the first round of the 2024 Burger Bracket. Round two of voting begins Wednesday, March 13 at 5 a.m. and closes Sunday, March 17 at midnight.

Choose your Burger Bracket

Vote online each week at azcentral.com/things-to-do/food-dining.

Choose your round two contenders below:

Meet the Elite 8 burger contenders

The votes from round 1 are in. Meet the Elite 8 burger joints contenders.

Arizona Wilderness Brewery, Gilbert

Apple and brie burger with green chile apple chutney, onion jam, brie cheese, arugula and bacon at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Gilbert.

Arizona Wilderness Brewery has won awards for its beer, but did you know they also serve great burgers? The namesake AZ Wilderness Burger is topped with house pickles, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onion and a choice of white cheddar, American, pepper jack or bleu cheese. They also offer some interesting options like a PB&J burger and a steak and potato burger.

Details: 721 N. Arizona Ave., Gilbert. 480-597-2739. More locations at azwbeer.com.

Bad Jimmy's, Phoenix

A double burger and a Coke on a table at Bad Jimmy's in Phoenix on Nov. 28, 2023.

Bad Jimmy's is the new brick-and-mortar smash burger restaurant from owner James Piazza, who previously had a food truck of the same name. The menu is small, with just a couple classic cheeseburgers and a vegetarian "Where's the beef?" burger.

Details: 108 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. @badjimmys on Instagram.

The Chuckbox, Tempe

Patrons order burgers at The Chuckbox, a Tempe staple that opened its doors in 1972 on University Drive, on July 8, 2023.

The Chuckbox is the place to go for old school burgers and nostalgia near ASU in Tempe. Some burger options include a half-pound ground beef burger, a bacon cheeseburger and a guacamole and bacon burger.

Details: 202 E. University Dr., Tempe. 480-968-4712, thechuckbox.com.

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Lucky Boy Burger Shop, Phoenix

Lucky Boy Burger Shop is a tiny retro diner in Phoenix offering charbroiled burgers and milkshakes. Fans love their juicy ?- or ?-pound burgers and friendly staff.

Details: 3430 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-274-6440, luckyboyburgershopphoenix.bestcafes.online.

Original Hamburger Works, Phoenix

Original Hamburger Works in Phoenix serves mesquite grilled burgers by weight.

Original Hamburger Works is beloved for its juicy, mesquite-grilled burgers, with up to a full 1-pound patty, served on classic sesame seed buns. They come with an all-access pass to the giant condiment bar.

Details: 2801 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix. 602-263-8693, greatburgeraz.com.

Paradise Valley Burger Co., Phoenix & Tempe

Paradise cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickled onion and 1000 island dressing at Paradise Valley Burger Co. in Phoenix.

Paradise Valley Burger Co. is a popular burger joint with two locations in the Valley. It was featured on an episode of Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives." The namesake Paradise Burger is topped with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickled onion and 1000 island dressing.

Details: 4001 E. Bell Road, Phoenix. Also, 815 E. Baseline Road, Suite 115, Tempe. pvburgercompany.com.

The Stand, Phoenix

The deluxe cheeseburger at The Stand, in Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood.

The Stand is a drive-thru mom and pop burger restaurant in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. They have a small menu of just five burgers, but all are worth trying. They also offer hand-cut fries and milkshakes. It's often compared to In-n-Out, but is widely considered better.

Details: 3538 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. thestandphx.com.

Welcome Diner, Phoenix

Welcome Diner is a beloved Phoenix hotspot offering five burgers, including the Welcome Burger made with a 6-ounce patty, mild cheddar, garlic aioli, ketchup, onion and pickles on a Noble brioche bun.

Details: 929 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. welcomediner.net.

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Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @EndiaFontanez on X, formerly Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best hamburger in Phoenix? Vote in the meatiest March Madness bracket