Some of the best burgers in Ohio come from grills that have been flipping patties since your grandparents were kids, and a few newer spots are keeping that same simple spirit alive. This list covers seven of them, from a 5 AM burger counter in Lima to a Canton lounge that has been around since 1959 and a small-town smash burger shop just outside Columbus.
You will find fresh-cut fries, thick malts, cream pies, a model train circling a dining room, and plenty of places where the menu has barely changed in decades. If you like your burger honest, affordable, and served with a side of Ohio history, save this one for your next road trip.
1. Kewpee Hamburgers, Lima, OH
Most burger joints are still asleep at 5 AM. In Lima, the grill at Kewpee Hamburgers is already open, and it stays busy until 9 or 10 PM six days a week.
The Bellefontaine Avenue location keeps things old-fashioned in the best way. You order at the counter or roll through the drive-thru, and the menu sticks to what it does well: burgers, fries, malts, and a few extras…