Yesterday, we declared that Slowboat has reclaimed its title as the 2026 Juicy Burger Cup Champion. However, we also have a second champion: Side Street! Our Burger Expert Panel has recognized them as a champion as well, and you can find out more about the panel here.
After the panel completed their rankings, Side Street narrowly edged out Slowboat, the people's champion, in one of our closest expert evaluations ever.
Why do we use two systems? Because each has its flaws. An expert panel might be seen as elitist, possibly disconnected from the preferences of everyday diners. Conversely, a general vote can fall prey to populism, get-out-the-vote initiatives, and ballot manipulation. By combining both approaches, we aspire to present a more equitable overall perspective.
While there was general consensus on the top two, with Side Street and Slowboat appearing either first or second on most panelists' ballots, several significant differences were noted beyond the very top.
The largest disparity was seen with Wolfgang's Steakhouse. Experts rated it #5, while readers gave it a cooler #18. Conversely, Beersmith Gastropub was favored by readers, securing a #3 ranking, whereas experts placed it at #15.
A few other establishments showed significant variations in rankings. Experts placed Burge's Bistro And Bar, Slider Nation, and Huddler Diner and Bar higher than the general public's assessments, while the public preferred Great Leap Brewing, Goose Island Taproom, and Plan B over the experts' choices.
Despite those contrasts, both groups generally agreed. Most venues were ranked closely to each other.
Several places received first-place votes from the expert panel, indicating that the experts recognized a broader spectrum at the top: Burge's Bistro And Bar, Wild Kite Brewing, Wagyu Kaiju, Q Mex, Home Plate BBQ, Great Leap Brewing, and Goose Island Taproom.
In the competition for the top two spots, the experts were nearly divided, with thirteen of the 21 panelists placing either Side Street or Slowboat in their top two.
The complete top 20 rankings from the experts, along with the reader rankings in brackets, are as follows:
1. Side Street (#2)
2. Slowboat (#1)
3. Wild Kite Brewing (#6)
4. Burge's Bistro And Bar (#9)
5. Wolfgang's Steakhouse (#18)
6. Jing-A Brewing Co (#5)
7. Wagyu Kaiju (#4)
8. Slider Nation (#14)
9. Q Mex Bar And Grill (#8)
10. Huddler Diner and Bar (#16)
11. WhyNot (#15)
12. Home Plate BBQ (#10)
13. Great Leap Brewing (#7)
14. Circle Burger (#11)
15. Beersmith Gastropub (#3)
16. Goose Island Taproom (#12)
17. Deli NYC (#17)
18. Plan B (#13)
19. Rich Burger (#20)
20. Take A Bite (#19)
Unsung Heroes
We also inquired with the Expert Panel about their "Unsung Heroes" — venues that didn't make it into the Top 20 but still merit recognition. Here are the venues they highlighted, along with their final reader rankings in brackets:
- Overtone Taproom (Reader Rank: #21)
- Hunger Dog (Reader Rank: #22)
- Dosh Gastropub (Reader Rank: #26)
- Blue Frog (Reader Rank: #27)
- The Cheesecake Factory (Reader Rank: #30)
- Commune Reserve (Reader Rank: #33)
- Trips Burger (Reader Rank: #37)
- Burp (Reader Rank: #48)
- Steak Factory (Reader Rank: #50)
- Burning Wood BBQ (Reader Rank: #59)
- Wake and Bite (Reader Rank: #61)
- The Roots (unranked)
- 桔Taproom (unranked)
While these venues didn't make the Top 20, the experts feel they deserve a visit. Sometimes, the most delightful bites are found off the beaten path.
READ: Slowboat Reclaims the Throne in 2026 Juicy Burger Cup
While Slowboat secured the People's Championship, Side Street asserts the Expert's title.
