9 Sonic Burgers, Ranked

In a world where everything feels like it's bad news or there's always a bill to pay, I relish the moments that feel a little simpler. Sonic reminds me of my younger years, road-tripping with my dad, but it also feels nostalgic and old-timey, with its drive-in aspect that helps break me out of a routine. I can order and just sit there or sit at the bench. It may seem insignificant, but sometimes you need a little bit of joy, even if that comes in the shape of a burger. And that menu item is something Sonic is well-known for. I picked up a range of burgers from the chain, choosing one of each type my local store sold.

If you've been wondering which Sonic burger to get, I'll run through just about every option so you can better understand how the flavors come together. There is a lot of crossover with basic ingredients like the burger patty, bun, and cheese, but certain styles work better than others. I was pleasantly pleased with all the burgers, so I had to get granular with how I ranked them. I was really looking for the most interesting, flavorful burger of the bunch — no room for simplicity here. I also factored in how the ingredients added to the overall texture and mouthfeel of the burger. To set the scene, most burgers typically come with lettuce, tomato, crinkle-cut pickles, diced onions, an Angus beef patty, American cheese, and a bun; if anything changes in a particular burger, I'll let you know!

The Plain Sonic Cheeseburger lives up to its name, offering nothing but bun, patty, and a slice of American cheese underneath. And it's perfectly tasty. The minimalist approach allowed me to really taste the meaty patty, which offers a bit of dense chew to contrast the pillowy bun. The cheese is there as a creamy companion but doesn't add much in terms of flavor. There's nothing wrong with this cheeseburger, but it's obviously the plainest and least interesting — by definition alone, not just by my opinion. This also makes the burger's slight blandness and the bun's breadiness more obvious.

It should take last place, since it competes with plenty more complex orders. However, you can enhance it with ketchup, mayonnaise, or mustard at no extra cost. Onions are also free if you want a more biting element, but other toppings require a fee. Any of these can keep the essence of the plain burger alive while giving it some zest. If you're looking for other ways to jazz it up, try one of the many Sonic secret menu items, like the Hickory BBQ Cheeseburger.  Still, let's see what else Sonic has to offer.

The Jr Double Cheeseburger might be ideal when you want something satisfying without being an enormous meal; it's also a sweet price for what you get: two beef patties, two cheese slices, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and a bun. The key here is the inclusion of two smaller Jr. Patties, resulting in a more petite option compared to the rest I tried. This is a nice-looking burger, and the patty is much better than the previous. This time there's more flavor to back it up. The meat patties seem equal to the other ingredients, without overpowering them. The addition of pickles, ketchup, and loads of mustard adds flavor and a touch of creaminess to the mouthfeel, making it a little more interesting than the Plain Sonic Cheeseburger. 

I don't mind the smaller size, which fits nicely in my hand. It has a McDonald's cheeseburger-like quality, thanks to the petite size (minus the onions McD's uses). The mustard offers a tangy note that helps cut the richness of the meat and cheese; even though there are two patties, the smaller size makes it less burger-forward so I can enjoy the other add-ons a bit more.

When you crave something simple and familiar, opt for the Sonic Cheeseburger. Although minimal, it still has more going for it than the previous two options. This cheeseburger features the classic combination of a burger patty and an American cheese slice. Still, you also get all kinds of fresh ingredients to keep it from feeling too forgettable. The toasted bun keeps everything together and offers structure. 

I think the placement of the cheese on the bottom of the burger is interesting; it keeps things from sliding off, but it also feels like it's just hanging around, not offering much. This one is actually slightly more comparable to McDonald's cheeseburgers with the addition of onions, but it is noticeably larger. I think this cheeseburger has the most intrigue thus far. The condiments, colorful tomato, and crunchy lettuce offer vibrancy, but the added onions here bring an astringent touch that I can taste long after I swallow the bite. Notably, the lack of mustard in this makes it feel a little richer, with only pickles to offer a tangy touch.

SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger has all the classics, but with two beef patties and two cheese slices to ramp up the heartiness. It looks beautiful with the vibrant sliced tomato and crisp lettuce, but then you get the cheesiness and meat to give it some heft. It's a truly attractive burger, but compared to the Sonic Cheeseburger, this has double the meat and cheese. It doesn't feel overwhelming, though, because of the fresh, piled-on ingredients. One thing I appreciate about Sonic's burgers is the flavor and quality; they don't taste like they've been sitting under a heat lamp. 

The lettuce is green and crisp, and doesn't appear as though it's been sitting in a prep container for days — you know, when it gets all sad and slimy-looking. The freshness factor could be why my order took around 30 minutes to complete (15 minutes ordered ahead online, and then another 15 minutes waiting at the drive-through) despite nobody else in line and only one car in the carport. This is arguably one of fast food's most underrated double cheeseburgers; I'd be happy to order this time and again.

Got bacon on the brain? The SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger brings crispy, salty bacon into the mix, acting as a smoky balance to the two beef patties. To be fair, I don't have much to say about this one that I haven't already described. However, as you can guess, that slightly crunchy bacon element helps the double cheeseburger rank slightly higher, as it noticeably makes it more complex. Parts of the bacon are crunchy, while others are somewhat softer. None of it, however, is so crisp it shatters. It lands squarely in the middle, which is actually my ideal option in a burger.

I can rip off a piece without the bacon disintegrating into a million shards on my lap. The bacon brings salt, smokiness, and fat to the burger, which ramps up the flavor intrigue. But that chewy texture also makes the consistency a little more memorable than the standard SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger's. The fresh lettuce also offers a crispness to keep it from tasting overly meaty. If you're not a bacon fan, stick with the regular. However, for the sake of my review, it clearly makes a more interesting burger and bite, and it takes fifth place.

As you peruse your Sonic menu, you might find something in the "local burger" section. The SuperSONIC Jalapeño Double Cheeseburger was part of mine, so I sprang for it. It's a double cheeseburger with a bit of lettuce, mustard, and jalapeños, blending fresh and spicy elements for a memorable mouthfeel. This option brings the spicy vinegar touch of the pickled jalapeño, so it offers dimension to every bite — one reason it is considered one of the top burger toppings. I often prefer this pickled version to freshly sliced just because it has a little more Intrigue going for it; it not only has the vegetal heat, but it also has that tang of vinegar, which is something I love about pickled jalapeño. 

Sonic layers the chile throughout the top portion of the burger, so you get a little piece in every nibble. It's spicy but not overwhelming because there's still cooling lettuce and creamy cheese to balance it. This is surprisingly complex despite its basic ingredients. The pickled jalapeño ramps up the tartness from the mustard, too. Of course, the jalapeño is doing the brunt of the work here compared to the relatively common burger ingredients, but that addition helps it earn its fourth-place ranking.

This creation isn't trying to reinvent the wheel, but it does bring new textures to the fold that we haven't seen from Sonic yet. This uses two smashed beef patties and two slices of American cheese to offer a heartier bite, served on a potato bun. Ketchup and mayo serve as condiments, adding a further dimension of flavor. There's also an All-American Triple Sonic Smasher, which includes a third slice of cheese and another patty. The All-American Sonic Smasher is ideal when you want a thinner, smashed patty with a crisper exterior. I really appreciate the texture that it brings; it's a little easier to chew, whereas the standard patty almost has a chewier, firmer base, particularly around the edges — which holds those burgers back. 

Here, the edges are crisp but still delicate. You can easily rip off the smashed pieces since they are thin and pliable. Though this has pretty much the same ingredients as many other options on this list, the smash burger helps elevate it even further. I would select this over the SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger any day, as I much prefer the pleasant mouthfeel of the smash patties to the classic ones. This menu item was deemed one of the best cheeseburgers the Tasting Table team has eaten in 2026 for good reason.

When you want to incorporate another meat source into your burger, the All-American Bacon Sonic Smasher might sound appealing. It has bacon added to the mix of smashed patties and other ingredients, and it also comes in the Triple with more meat and cheese. The sheer weight of this burger makes it seem like a challenge to finish, but a welcome one. It's flavorful and thoroughly satisfying. The smashed patties are a welcome relief from the heaviness of the standard patty, making this burger somewhat more approachable. There's some equilibrium with the various toppings, but I also love the use of the potato bun. 

It seems lighter and a little more complex than the other buns, which is part of why this ranks so high. Everything comes together to create a flavorful, meaty result that I was keen to go back in for more bites. There's a little bit of everything in each bite, and the patties' thinness takes things to the next level without feeling like I'm gnawing on a big hunk of meat. Out of everything thus far, this has the best balance. If you want meat, cheese, and fresh add-ins, this should be your top pick. Another writer at Tasting Table named the All-American Sonic Smasher as their favorite fast food smash burger, and I think the addition of bacon in this burger only adds to the standard smash's excellence. Go with the bacon version when you seek added complexity.

Thanks for sticking with me here. We've made it to the best Sonic burger: The Original Sonic Smasher. This tasty menu item swaps the standard patties for smashed ones and coats them with Smasher sauce for a more interesting bite. Because of the sauce, the toppings are simpler, with just cheese, pickles, and onions. It also comes in the Original Triple Sonic Smasher with, you guessed it, another layer of meat and cheese. The Smasher sauce feels in line with In-N-Out's signature spread, with a hint of tang, a smidge of sweetness, and a touch of creaminess. It's interesting, flavorful, and plentiful; though it seems like a small addition, it makes its presence known. 

When I took a bite, some of it leaked out like one of those old Carl's Jr. ads. This burger is proof that you don't have to pile a burger with various meats or a witch's potion of toppings and sauces to make it enchanting. The burgers were the stars here, showing off the fatty flavor but easy-to-eat thickness. Though there wasn't any crisp lettuce or juicy tomato like in the All-American Bacon Sonic Smasher, the pickles and onions give a potent flavor kick to keep things from feeling too overbearing. I found myself coming back to this one. After taking a few nibbles of each burger, I actually chose this Original Sonic Smasher to finish — and that's the highest honor.

I tried nearly every burger my Sonic store offered, opting to skip some options that were mostly repeats of a certain style — which I discussed previously where relevant, e.g., All-American Triple Sonic Smasher vs. All-American Sonic Smasher. If it added some other element, such as bacon or another condiment, that would have been fair game to try. 

I ordered them online, picked them up, and then tried them at home. I think they looked really nice and held up well on the drive. I cut off a small piece of each burger and tried them one after the other. There is a lot of crossover, so I was looking for something that was tasty and stood out. In the end, these are ranked based on flavor and overall execution.  

I wanted to taste the ingredients, and they needed to work together to create a flavorful result. Texture factored in as well, since various ingredients contributed different experiences — creamy, crisp, crunchy, etc. Based on these criteria, plainer burgers rank lower, and the more complicated ones shine bright enough to soar to the top.