North Metro
Burger Wars 2026
THE CHAMPION
Route 65 Pub & Grub
Ham Lake / East Bethel
“The dust has settled. The grease has cleared. Route 65 is the Roadhouse Warrior of the North.”
The Final 4 Breakdown
CHAMPIONSHIP
Commissioner’s Report
We started with 32 of the best local joints in Anoka County and the surrounding North Metro. We narrowed it down to the Sweet 16, then the Elite 8. Now, the wars are over.
Route 65 Pub & Grub mobilized a massive voter base. They are the “Roadhouse Warriors” of this tournament. Just when everyone thought the Jucy Lucy or the Anoka legends would take it, Ham Lake proved its loyalty.
Thank you all for participating and voicing specific positive qualities of these locally owned businesses.
What’s Next?
“Burger Wars” was just the beginning.
(Yes Denise, we have the Yeti Wings on the list!)
North Metro Burger Wars Semifinals: Anoka vs. Coon Rapids vs. Ham Lake vs. Champlin
The Final 4: North Metro Burger Wars Enters the Semifinals
🍔 Quick Answer: North Metro Burger Wars (Final 4)
Who is in the Final 4? The field has been cut to four finalists representing the best burgers in the North Metro:
- Serum’s Good Time Emporium (Anoka)
- Shortstop Bar & Grill (Coon Rapids)
- Route 65 Pub & Grub (Ham Lake/East Bethel)
- 5-8 Grill & Bar (Champlin)
Current Status: Voting is OPEN for the Semifinals. Early polling data shows massive leads for Shortstop and Route 65, but polls remain open until Thursday.
How to Vote: Scroll down to the interactive bracket below to cast your vote.
Commissioner: Jacob Zwack (MnByJZ / MN Real Estate Team)
The dust has settled. The grease has cleared. After thousands of votes, heart-stopping lead changes, and a few shocking upsets, we have arrived at the North Metro Burger Wars Final 4.
We started with 32 of the best local joints in Anoka County and the surrounding North Metro. We narrowed it down to the Sweet 16, then the Elite 8. Now, only four heavyweights remain.
The polls are officially OPEN for the semifinals. If your favorite spot was eliminated, I feel your pain. But if your spot is still in it, it’s time to rally the troops—because early voting data shows some shocking blowouts forming.
Here is your official State of the Wars.
The Elite 8 Recap: How We Got Here
The Quarterfinals were an absolute bloodbath. Here is how the Final 4 punched their tickets.
The “Route 65” Upset
Winner: Route 65 Pub & Grub (56.2%) Eliminated: Ole Piper Inn (43.8%) Just when everyone thought the “Piper Army” was unstoppable, Route 65 proved that the Ham Lake/East Bethel corridor is a force to be reckoned with. Ole Piper had a legendary run, but Route 65 mobilized a massive voter base to secure the win by over 12%. They are the “Roadhouse Warriors” of this tournament, and they are looking dangerous.
The Nail-Biter of the Tournament
Winner: Shortstop Bar & Grill (52.1%) Eliminated: Jellybean & Julia’s (47.9%) This was the closest match of the Elite 8. Jellybean & Julia’s has been a fan favorite (and a 1-seed caliber team) all tournament, but Shortstop pulled off the miracle. In a back-and-forth battle that came down to the final hours, the Coon Rapids legend squeaked by with just a 4% margin of victory. Shortstop has proven they can win the close ones—a critical skill for the Final 4.
The Anoka Standoff
Winner: Serum’s Good Time Emporium (53.1%) Eliminated: 201 Tavern (46.9%) The Battle for Anoka was intense. 201 Tavern put up a hell of a fight, keeping it close for days. But in the end, the history and legacy of Serum’s prevailed. The “Best Wings West of Buffalo” proved they have a burger following to match. They are the last Anoka proper team standing.
The Heavyweight Knockout
Winner: 5-8 Grill & Bar (71.1%) Eliminated: Tasty Pizza / Hangar 45 (28.9%) Tasty Pizza is a legend, but they ran into a buzzsaw. The 5-8 Club (Champlin) didn’t just win; they dominated. With over 70% of the vote, the home of the Jucy Lucy flexed its muscles. They enter the Final 4 with the most dominant victory of the previous round.
The Final 4 Matchups: Scouting Reports & Early Trends
We are down to two matchups. One path to the Championship. Here is the Commissioner’s breakdown.
Matchup #1: The Battle of Heritage
Serum’s Good Time Emporium (Anoka) VS. Shortstop Bar & Grill (Coon Rapids)
The Vibe:
- Serum’s: Historic, eclectic, “The Best Wings” (but don’t sleep on the beef). The pride of downtown Anoka.
- Shortstop: The “Blue Collar Hibachi.” Loud, fast, and transparent—you watch your burger cook right in front of you.
Current Situation (EARLY VOTING ALERT): Hold onto your hats, folks. As of this morning, Shortstop is currently crushing Serum’s (77% to 23%).
- Serum’s Fans: If you want to see the Championship, you need to wake up NOW.
- Shortstop Fans: You are proving that the “Shortstop Faithful” are the most mobilized fan base in the metro. Can you hold the lead?
Matchup #2: The Roadhouse vs. The Legend
Route 65 Pub & Grub (Ham Lake) VS. 5-8 Grill & Bar (Champlin)
The Vibe:
- Route 65: The quintessential Minnesota roadhouse. Big portions, cold beer, and a loyal local following that has carried them through upset after upset.
- 5-8 Grill: The Jucy Lucy icons. A brand known nationwide, anchoring the Champlin food scene.
Current Situation (EARLY VOTING ALERT): This is the biggest shocker of the tournament. Route 65 is currently destroying the 5-8 Club (86% to 14%). Let me repeat that: Route 65 is up by 70 points.
- 5-8 Fans: Are you going to let the Jucy Lucy go down like this? This is a “Code Red” emergency.
- Route 65 Fans: You are witnessing a historic run. If this holds, Route 65 is the clear favorite to win the Golden Spatula.
How to Vote
The Final 4 Polls are officially OPEN.
This round determines who goes to the Championship Game. The stakes have never been higher.
Rules Reminder:
- One Vote Per Device/Person: We have bot detection. Don’t try it. I will find you.
- Support Local: The best way to vote is to go EAT the burgers. If you haven’t tried Route 65 or Shortstop yet, go there this week.
- Spread the Word: Share this link. If your favorite spot is losing, it’s on you to save them.
Voting Closes: Thursday, Jan 16th. Championship Matchup Announced: Friday, Jan 17th.
Instructions:
Old updates below
Archive: The Sweet 16 Recap
- The Blowout: Jellybean & Julia’s (78.1%) absolutely destroyed The Bridge Tavern, validating the fan outrage over the exclusion of The Wild Hare.
- The Nail-Biter: In the tightest race of the round, Tasty Pizza (51.7%) barely survived a late surge from Hidden Haven (48.3%) in the “Pizza vs. Golf Course” battle.
- The Heavyweights: 5-8 Grill held a nervous 54% lead over Willy McCoy’s, proving the Jucy Lucy isn’t invincible.
- The Comeback Context: At this stage, The Well was actually crushing Shortstop (62% to 37%)—a massive deficit that Shortstop famously overcame to reach the Final 4.
- Highway 65 Dominance: Route 65 established early dominance over Maxx Bar with a commanding 62% lead.
How to Save Your Favorite Spot
If you are looking at these percentages and panicking because your favorite spot is losing… GOOD. Panic is a motivator.
- Go to mnbyjz.com/burger-wars
- Cast your vote.
- Share this link. Text your group chat. Post it on Facebook. guilt-trip your family.
And remember, win or lose, I can help you buy a house within walking distance of any of these places.
Voting Closes Sunday. Let the best beef win.
The well has the Best food. I’ve never had anything I didn’t like there.
Barbara! You are not wrong—The Well is incredibly consistent. I feel like they fly under the radar sometimes because they do everything well.
Since we are in the middle of the Burger Wars… have you tried their burger specifically? If you think it beats out the contenders on this list, I might need to make a detour for some ‘field research’ this week. Thanks for the write-in vote! 🍔
The Well has to win! They have the best priority blend burger! With the best chef ever! Jorge is the best and he shows it in his food!
Brittany, THIS is exactly what this site is all about! It’s one thing to say a place is ‘good,’ but knowing the specific burger blend and shouting out Chef Jorge by name? That is true local insider knowledge. I love seeing the talent in the kitchen get the credit they deserve. Thank you for elevating the conversation!
This is cool!!
Appreciate you stopping by, Brian! Honestly, with as much time as we spend driving around the North Metro showing houses, I figured we might as well know exactly where to grab the best lunch in between appointments. 🏠🍔
Make sure to cast your official vote in the poll above—I don’t want your favorite spot to get eliminated in Round 1!
Love this bar! The best burgers!
Hi Janel,
Thanks for the enthusiastic comment!
I wanted to reach out and ask—which specific bar did you cast your vote for? I’d love to hear a little more about why they are your favorite. Is it the patty itself, a specific topping, or just the atmosphere that makes them the best?
Thanks for participating!
Best,
I’ve always loved 50’s Grill’s burgers because they’ve never disappointed me. Their beef is always fresh and never frozen.
Hi Dane,
Thanks for casting your vote!
You make a great point—consistency is key, and “fresh, never frozen” definitely makes a huge difference in the texture and flavor. Since you are a fan of 50’s Grill, do you have a specific go-to burger on their menu that you recommend, or do you keep it simple to let the beef shine?
Thanks for participating in the debate!
Best,
Wagners is open in the winter.
Melissa, that is huge news! I was under the impression they had closed up shop for the season already. Thanks for the scoop—I will update the page immediately so everyone knows they can still grab a burger. Appreciate you keeping us honest!
I agree The Well has THE BEST food!
Everything there is delicious and their burgers are the best! ❤
That is high praise, Vickie! The Well is definitely a heavy hitter in the local scene. I’m taking note of this endorsement for the official rankings. Thanks for weighing in!
The Well has the best burgers with the friendliest staff!
Music to my ears, Sherry! As someone in the industry, I know that great service makes the food taste even better. I’m glad to hear the staff at The Well is treating people right. Thanks for the review!
I love this idea! Do wings next!!
Jasmine, you are speaking my language! I’ve spent over a decade working at Buffalo Wild Wings, so I’ve seen (and served) millions of corporate wings. But I’m with you—nothing beats the local joints that actually put some love and soul into the sauce. ‘Wing Wars’ is officially on the list. Thanks for the inspiration!
Be certain to include The Northern in chisago…specifically their YETI wings!!
Thanks, Denise! I’ve officially added The Northern in Chisago to the scout list. I’ve heard great things about those Yeti wings—they sound like a perfect contender for when we kick off Wing Wars. Appreciate the recommendation!
If you vote shortstop after watching them make their burgers in front of you! Gross.
The Well has amazing burgers! Fresh, uniquely made and presented well! No cross contamination to be found or seen ….
I hear you, Taylor! I always like to think of Shortstop as the ‘Blue Collar Hibachi’ of Minnesota. It’s dinner and a show right in front of you—just without the onion volcanoes, knife juggling, or the sake squirt gun to the face! It’s definitely a specific vibe, but I’m glad you found your spot at The Well. They are racking up the votes today!
The Well is hands down the go to spot if you want a great meal with amazing service. The burgers are definitely juicy and delicious. From the Big C, to the drive inn smash burger, an back all the way to the Cheese Explosion there is not one burger on their menu that isn’t perfectly done the way you ask an expect. Jorge takes a lot of pride in not only his work but all of his chefs below him as well. He truly makes the restaurant a special place where everyone can enjoy a top of the line meal at a great price. Anyone who has not tried there food needs to drop everything and check them out.
Solid endorsement, Davey. The ‘Drive Inn Smash’ vs. ‘The Big C’ is a tough choice, but it sounds like The Well knows exactly what they are doing. We need more reviews like this that go deeper than just ‘it was good.’ I’ve noted this for the North Metro Burger Wars rankings. Appreciate you weighing in!
The “Outpost” should have been on the Burger list! Hopefully they make the Wing list.
Thanks for the heads up, Charmaine! The Outpost (Jimmy) definitely has a loyal following. I’ll make sure they are on the radar for the Wing list—we can’t have a local gem like that missed twice! If you’re ever looking for a new spot (or a new home) in the area, you know where to find me.
Hands down the Short Stop in coon Rapids
I hear you loud and clear, Susan! Shortstop is an absolute Coon Rapids icon—their reputation definitely precedes them. While they have a massive fan base, the ‘Burger Wars’ bracket is a tough crowd and the people have spoken for this round!
That said, as someone who hyper-focuses on the Coon Rapids area, I’ll always have a soft spot for their menu. Thanks for weighing in!
Absolutely Shortstop!
Hard to argue with that, Carol! Shortstop is a total staple for a reason. Glad to see them getting some love in the comments!
I applaud you for getting it better this time around. Next time, no more personal information required!
Thanks for the feedback, Nonya! You caught me—I’m actually a local real estate agent who decided to dive head-first into the coding world. I build and run this entire website by myself because I’m passionate about finding new ways to support our local small businesses and engage our community.
As I’m ‘breaking into’ the world of web development, there’s definitely a learning curve, and I appreciate your patience while I fine-tune the tech side of things. My goal is to keep these events fun and accessible for everyone while making sure our local shops get the spotlight they deserve. Thanks for keeping me on my toes!
Is voting still open for this round? Last night at midnight and this morning at 7am 1/9 jellybean and julias was winning with 50.1% to shortstop with 49.9%. Now it’s tied 50% 50%?
Hi, Nae. I never deleted your comment, I just haven’t gotten around to approving it yet. Thank you for bringing my mistake to my attention. The numbers are still changing because we are active throughout the weekend.