Extol the virtues of locally grown kale all day long, but when it comes down to it, Traverse City likes its beef. The burger joints serving up the area’s best don’t disappoint, and in light of National Hamburger Month, The Ticker serves up some local faves.

J&S Hamburg on West Front Street is old school, and the regulars that haunt the red, white, and black diner are die-hards. The chefs there have been cooking up hand-patted burgers and serving mouth-watering milkshakes since 1938.

Like fancy? The Metro Coney & Grill near Chums Corners has 15 gourmet burgers on the menu. Try the Mr. Polski, with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing; the Ring Toss, with cream cheese, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese and bacon; and the crowd-pleasing Papa Smurf with blue cheese and double bacon.

This year, Northern Express readers named Bubba’s Restaurant and Bar as having the best burger in Grand Traverse County. With nearly 20 burgers on the menu, manager Jeff Marker says the most popular is the “simple and delicious” Bubba Burger, featuring bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and the secret Bubba Sauce.

Another area burger joint winning fans is Slabtown Burger, located on West Front Street. It offers everything from a simple single burger with ketchup and mustard, to deluxe toppings like ham, banana peppers and green olives.

For the health-conscious carnivore, there’s always the Plevalean burger, made with a combination of tart cherries and 91 percent lean beef. It was created by Ray Pleva in 1988, and is served at many local restaurants and Pleva’s Meats in Cedar. Owner Tom Pleva says he goes through up to 600 pounds of the zesty-tasting meat each week during the summer.

Sleder’s Family Tavern has been a TC staple since 1882 and one menu mainstay has been the popular buffalo burger, fresh from Oleson’s Farm. Manager Beth Schram says many tourists are surprised to hear of a buffalo burger, and then ask, “Did it come from the buffalo on your wall?”

Lamb, bison, and portabella mushrooms are all being made into burgers on the lunch menu at Phil’s on Front. Another burger twist? Phil’s Turkey Burger Reuben, served on rye with Swiss and coleslaw.

So what do you think - where can we find the best burger in town?