City hotspot Bread & Bone almost needs a separate burger category, as the wood grill used to cook the patties gives it an unfair advantage. But it’s not just the quality of the beef and that smoky tinge we love but also the precisely honed balance of cheese, pickles and sauce that sets this burger apart. Decent fries and other sides are a given, plus there’s a smashing wine list. 15 Peel St, Adelaide; breadandbone.com.au.

Love your burgers sophisticated, but a bit sloppy? Meet the ‘Baz Deluxe’. With a generous grass-fed beef pattie bursting out of the soft bun, its extras – bacon, caramelised onion and ‘Baz Mayo’ – make it smoky and creamy. Grab a window seat overlooking Semaphore Rd, as well as the sea, and you will never even glance at a drive-thru again. 1/13 Semaphore Rd, Semaphore; barrysburgers.com.au.

Burgers just got tres chic at this new basement-level French restaurant. Not for the faint-hearted, it’s defined by a hefty wagyu patty, cooked medium rare, and rich gruyere cheese. Sandwiched in a toasted bun that’s not as sweet as many, it’s a perfectly balanced burger, served with excellent pickles and a generous allocation of shoestring fries. 89 King William St, Adelaide; lalouisiane.com.au.

Heavy spatulas in hand, this crew is leading the charge of US-style smashed burgers, in which the ground beef is squished on to a hot grill plate. This loose, deeply caramelised style of patty, with plenty of edges and crisped bits, is at its best in the Diamond Burger, with cheese, pickles, sauce and outstanding preserved yellow peppers. 3/563 Portrush Rd, Glenunga; @diamondburger_adl.

Indie fast-food joints tend to come and go, but this one’s been in business for a decade and can boast being on national best burger lists. Its ‘Smoking Bird’ has bragging rights over any big-chain fried chicken burger. It’s a little sweet and a whole lot spicy, thanks to a brioche bun and extra zingy pickled jalapeños and chipotle mayo. 19 O’Connell St, North Adelaide; burgastronomy.com.au.