Two from Capital Region Made NY’s Best Burger List, Here’s Who Won

We Have a Winner

The results are officially in for the 2026 Best NY Burger Competition, and while the top prize is heading downstate, the Capital Region still has plenty to be proud of.

The New York Beef Council announced that Ben’s Fresh in Port Jervis captured this year’s title with its over-the-top creation called “The Empire State of Prime,” a pretty fancy burger served at the restaurant about two hours south of Albany.

The Empire of Prime

Their award-winning burger features prime beef topped with 5-year-aged Grand Reserve cheddar, espresso bourbon bacon jam, cherry pepper relish, and maple aioli, all served on a pretzel bun.

Yeah…that’s not exactly your backyard cookout burger.

Capital Region had Two in the Top Ten

Still, local burger fans had plenty to cheer about this year as two Capital Region restaurants landed in the statewide Top 10: Savoy Taproom in Albany and Illusive Restaurant & Bar in Rensselaer.

Savoy earned recognition for its “Brooklyn Pub Burger,” while Illusive made waves with its “Twisted Popper” burger. During the competition, Illusive thanked the community for rallying behind the restaurant, saying the support showed the true “power of unity” in the Capital Region. In a classy move, they also publicly cheered on their fellow 518 finalist at Savoy.

According to the National Beef Council, anonymous judges traveled across New York, tasting burgers based on flavor, presentation, doneness, and overall experience, before naming the winner.

Now comes the important question for burger lovers around the Capital Region: Did New York really get it right?