Where to Bite Into the Best Burgers in Reston & Herndon
(Because great real estate and great burgers both hinge on location, location, location.)
Table of Contents
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Why This List Isn’t Just Yelp Copy-Paste
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Reston Burger Royalty
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Herndon Patty Heroes
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Fast-Casual Hall Pass: Five Guys & Z-Burger
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DIY Burger Crawl Itinerary
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Burger FAQs for NOVA Newcomers
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Final Thoughts from Your Neighborly Burger-Loving Realtor
1. Why This List Isn’t Just Yelp Copy-Paste
Every spot below earned its stripes through three filters:
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Crowd Consensus. Reddit r/nova threads, Facebook foodie groups, and recent Yelp trends.
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First-hand Calories. At Greater Reston Living we’ve munched our way through each menu… tough gig, right?
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Hyper-Local Only. If the parking lot doesn’t say Reston or Herndon, it didn’t make the cut. The lone exceptions are Five Guys and Z-Burger—national brands with devoted local followings and brick-and-mortar addresses inside our zip codes.
(Fast-food giants beyond those two are omitted on purpose—sorry, drive-thru lovers!)
2. Reston Burger Royalty
| Burger Stop | Why It’s Worth the Calories | Must-Try Order |
|---|---|---|
| The Capital Burger – Reston Town Center | Wagyu-blend patties, truffle fries fried in beef tallow, and boozy shakes in an upscale lounge attached to the Hyatt. | Capital Burger with cremini mushrooms & shallot aioli |
| Big Buns Damn Good Burgers – Reston Station | Build-your-own format, cereal-milk shakes, patio overlooking the Metro plaza—perfect post-commute splurge. | El Jefe (pepper-jack, jalapeños, cilantro-lime crema) |
| Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge | Retro 1940s décor, thick-cut bacon cheddar burger, legendary shoe-string fries. | Jackson’s Classic—add a side of “drover sauce” |
| Makers Union Pub – Library St. | Gastropub energy, 24 taps, beer-cheese-blanketed Union Burger. | Union Burger double-stack, onion jam |
| Heirloom – Over Open Road Distilling Co. | Date-night Wagyu “umami bomb” and craft cocktails in a velvet-booth hideaway. | Heirloom Wagyu Burger with aged cheddar & bacon-onion relish |
| Five Guys – Plaza America (Fast-Casual Pick) | NOVA-born chain still cranks out peanut-oil-fried fries and fully custom burgers; gluten-free bowls available. | Double cheeseburger “all the way” + Cajun fries |
| Z-Burger – Coming Soon to RTC West | D.C. cult favorite landing its first Reston shop with 75 milkshake flavors. | Classic single with z-sauce & Oreo shake |
Quick Real-Estate Angle
Living in South Reston? Your drive to Plaza America’s Five Guys is <10 minutes. Buying a condo at Reston Town Center? Capital Burger becomes your “downstairs kitchen.” That’s lifestyle value Zillow can’t quantify—but your best Reston agent can.
3. Herndon Patty Heroes
| Burger Stop | Local Hype Factor | Must-Try Order |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern – Historic Downtown | Bills itself “Herndon’s living room.” Half-pound Legend Burger pairs with 40 craft brews and Bills-fan energy on game days. | Legend Burger + side of Buffalo sauce |
| Charred – Worldgate Dr. | Hickory- and cherry-wood-grilled patties, house pickles, plus a weekend brunch burger with a sunny-side egg. | Charred Classic on brioche |
| Sully’s Pour House – Elden St. | Rotating “Burger of the Week” (think Surf-n-Turf or Mac-n-Cheese), 30+ beers on tap, open till 2 a.m. | Whatever the weekly special is—trust the chef |
| Egg Karne – Herndon Centennial Golf Course | Filipino-fusion breakfast burgers—purple ube-pancake buns and longanisa-spiced patties. | Ube Breakfast Burger w/ garlic aioli |
| Five Guys – Centreville Rd. Outpost | Same peanut-oil fries and paper-sack charm, now upgraded with mobile pick-up lockers. | Little bacon cheeseburger, lettuce-wrap style |
Neighborhood Note
Herndon buyers often ask for walkability to Jimmy’s and Sully’s—two watering holes that double as burger havens. If that vibe sounds like your jam, let the best realtors in Herndon, VA steer your house hunt accordingly.
4. Fast-Casual Hall Pass
We said we’d sidestep most drive-thru brands, but these two deserve honorable mention:
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Five Guys – Born in Arlington, perfected in Reston & Herndon. Fresh ground beef, no freezers, endless toppings.
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Z-Burger – The D.C. staple famous for Tim Burton-level milkshake menus and late-night service; new Reston location replaces BGR at RTC West.
(If you’re looking for standard national chains like McD’s or Wendy’s, you won’t find them here—this list is about standout flavor, not convenience alone.)
5. DIY Burger Crawl Itinerary
| Time | Stop | What to Order | Travel Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | Makers Union | Union Burger & cold-brew martini | Park in Orange Garage before the brunch rush |
| 1 p.m. | Big Buns | Build-your-own bowl (save bread space) | Hop the Silver Line—no parking needed |
| 3 p.m. | Heirloom | Split the Wagyu burger as a snack | Call ahead; bar seats open early |
| 5 p.m. | Jimmy’s | Legend Burger & Bills-Mafia beer | Free public garage on Station St. |
| 7:30 p.m. | Charred | Charred Classic & local IPA | Walk it off around Worldgate pond |
| 9 p.m. | Sully’s | Weekly special & tots | Live music most Fridays—stick around |
(Yes, you’ll need stretchy pants.)
6. Burger FAQs for NOVA Newcomers
Q: Which spot has the best vegetarian or vegan option?
Big Buns offers an Impossible™ patty, while Makers Union will swap in a black-bean burger upon request.
Q: Kid-friendly picks?
Five Guys (peanuts aside), Jackson’s, and Jimmy’s all have crayons or game nights.
Q: Can I commute via Metro?
Yes—Reston Station literally sits on the Silver Line, and RTC’s bus loop connects to the Wiehle-Reston East stop.
Q: Parking headaches?
RTC garages are free after 5 p.m. Weekends at Worldgate and Historic Downtown Herndon offer ample street parking.
7. Final Thoughts from Your Neighborly Burger-Loving Realtor
Great neighborhoods aren’t just about school scores and square footage; they’re about Tuesday-night cravings solved within a 10-minute drive. If a killer burger scene ranks high on your lifestyle list, Reston and Herndon deliver in double-stack fashion. Ready to plant roots (or upgrade to a bigger backyard grill)? Reach out—after all, the best Reston agent always knows where the next great bite is waiting.
