I started the Burger Beast site in September 2008 because I felt a void in the South Florida foodiverse. No one was writing about everyman or comfort food.
Nine months into my blog, I thought there should be awards with an event tied to it that celebrated the food of South Florida, too. The Burger Beast Burgie Awards, or Burgies for short, were born.
The first Burgie Awards was held at John Martin’s Irish Pub in Coral Gables. We also celebrated the first anniversary of BurgerBeast.com.
Would anyone even show up? I thought to myself. But they did, and the restaurant was packed to the rafters. The owners of the John Martin’s told me it had been the busiest night of the year, second only to their St. Patrick’s Day block party.
For many years, it was my most popular event. Still, in January 2017, I decided to retire the Burgie Awards to focus on my events, Hamburger House Party and Croqueta Palooza.
It was a blast while it lasted, and you never know when the time is right, it might return!
Burger Beast Burger Award Winners by Year
2017 BURGIE AWARDS
Saturday, January 21st, 2017 in Miami at Magic City Casino
2017 WINNERS
| Best Burger | Latin House |
| Best Cheesesteak | A Little Bit of Philly |
| Best Chicken Tenders | Caporal Chicken |
| Best Cuban Pizza | Polo Norte |
| Best Dessert | HipPOPs handcrafted gelato pops |
| Best Food Truck | World Famous EggRoll Truck |
| Best Garlic Rolls | Magic City Pizza |
| Best Hot Dog | Pincho Factory |
| Best Local Brewery | Funky Buddha Brewery |
| Best Restaurant | Blue Collar |
| Best Sandwiches | Cuban Guys |
| Trump’s Favorite Taco Food Truck | Taco Fresh |
2016 BURGIE AWARDS
Saturday, January 16th, 2016 in Miami at Magic City Casino
2016 WINNERS
| Best Appetizer/Starter | FINKA Table and Tap |
| Best Artisan Food Vendor | Babe’s Meat and Counter |
| Best Burger – | Latin House |
| Best Chef | Phil Bryant |
| Best Croqueta | Islas Canarias |
| Best Dessert | HipPOPs Handcrafted Gelato Bars |
| Best Food Truck | Ms. Cheezious |
| Best Frita Cubana | El Rey de las Fritas |
| Best Hot Dog | Pincho Factory |
| Best Pan con Lechon | Cuban Guys |
| Best Pastelitos | Vicky Bakery |
| Best Pizza | Frankie’s Pizza |
| Best Restaurant | Chefs on the Run |
| Best Sandwich | Ms. Cheezious |
2015 BURGIE AWARDS
Saturday, January 31st, 2015 in Hialeah at Milander Park
2015 WINNERS
| Best Miami-Dade County Burger | Swine Southern |
| Best Broward/Palm Beach County Burger | Rok Brgr |
| Best Food Truck Burger | Jefe’s Original Fish Taco and Burgers |
| Best Non-Traditional Burger | OTC Restaurant’s Green Chili Cheese Burger |
| Best Broward/Palm Beach Food Truck | HipPOPs Handcrafted Gelato Bars |
| Best 24-Hour Eats | Royal Castle |
| Best Dessert | Night Owl Cookies |
| Best Dish at the 2015 Burgie Awards | Yayi’s Desserts |
| Best Food Blog | Fatgirl Hedonist |
| Best Hot Dog | Jersey Dawg |
| Best Local Food Chain | BurgerFi |
| Best Miami Food Truck | Ms. Cheezious |
| Best Restaurant | FINKA Table & Tap |
| Best Sandwich | El Rincon del Coqui’s Tripleta |
| Best Orlando Burger | B&B Junction |
| Best Wings | Sports Grill |
| Best Taco Food Truck | BC Tacos |
2014 BURGIE AWARDS
Saturday, February 1st, 2014 in Fort Lauderdale at Esplanade Park
2014 WINNERS
| Best Miami-Dade County Burger | Latin House Burger |
| Best Broward/Palm Beach Burger | Charm City Burger Company |
| Best Chef | George Patti (MEAT Eatery & Taproom) |
| Best Chili | Burger Bar |
| Best Doughnut | Mojo Donuts |
| Best Dessert | Fireman Derek’s World Famous Pies |
| Best French Fries | Blue Collar |
| Best Non-Traditional Burger | Pincho Factory‘s Toston Burger |
| Best Restaurant | Blue Collar |
| Best Sandwich | Cuban Guys‘ Pan con Bistec |
| Best Sausage | Proper Sausages |
| Best Food Dessert Truck | HipPOPs Handcrafted Gelato Bars |
| Best Broward/Palm Beach County Food Truck | The Rolling Stove |
| Best Miami-Dade County Food Truck | Ms. Cheezious |
| Cuban Guys’ Pan con Bistec | BC Tacos |
2013 BURGIE AWARDS
Saturday, February 2nd, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale at Esplanade Park
2013 WINNERS
| Best Broward/Palm Beach County Burger | Charm City Burger Company |
| Best Miami-Dade County Burger | Latin House Burger |
| Best Dessert | Azucar Ice Cream Company |
| Best Dessert Food Truck | HipPOPs Handcrafted Gelato Bars |
| Best Broward/Palm Beach County Food Truck | The Rolling Stove |
| Best Miami-Dade County Food Truck | Ms. Cheezious |
| Best Frita Cubana | El Rey De Las Fritas |
| Best Non-Traditional Burger | Pincho Factory‘s 24K Frita |
| Best Pizza Joint | Harry’s Pizzeria |
| Best Broward/Palm Beach County Restaurant | The Rebel House |
| Best Miami-Dade County Restaurant | Blue Collar |
| Best Sandwich | Cuban Guys‘ Pan con Bistec |
| Best Taco | Jefe’s Original Fish Taco and Burgers |
2012 BURGIE AWARDS
Saturday, November 19th, 2011 in Miami at Magic City Casino
2012 WINNERS
| Best Burger (Live at Burgie Awards Vote) | Burger and Beer Joint |
| Best Burger (Online Vote) | Burger and Beer Joint |
| Best Bistec ala Milanesa | Luis Galindo Latin American |
| Best BBQ Joint | Bulldog Barbecue |
| Best Croqueta | Islas Canarias |
| Best Dessert | Sweetness Bakeshop & Cafe |
| Best Food Truck | Ms. Cheezious |
| Best Food Truck Burger (Live at Burgie Awards Vote) | gastroPod |
| Best Food Truck Burger (Online Vote) | Latin House Grill |
| Best French Fries | Charm City Burger Company |
| Best Frita Cubana | El Rey De Las Fritas |
| Best Hot Dog | Dogma Grill |
| Best Mac n’ Cheese | Prime 112 |
| Best Non-Traditional Burger | Pincho Factory |
| Best Onion Rings | Burger and Beer Joint |
| Best Pasteles | Karla Bakery |
| Best Pincho | Sakaya Kitchen Bulgogi Burger |
| Best Pizza Joint | Andiamo! |
| Best Sandwich | Daddy’s Grill |
| Best Specialty Burger | Ms. Cheezious Blue & Bacon Grilled Cheese |
| Best Taco | El Jefe Luchador |
2010 BURGIE AWARDS
Monday, September 13th, 2010 in Miami at Transit Lounge
2010 WINNERS
| Best Burger – Dade County | Latin Burger & Taco |
| Best Burger – Broward/Palm Beach County | Charm City Burger Company |
| Best French Fries | Taurus’ Truffle Fries |
| Best Frita Cubana | El Mago De Las Fritas |
| Best Hot Dog | Yellow Submarine Food Truck’s Yellow Dog |
| Best Non-Traditional Burger | Sakaya Kitchen |
| Best Pizza | Pizza Volante |
| Best Sandwich | La Camaronera‘s Camaronera Sandwich |
| Best Specialty Burger | Quickie’s Burger & Wings’ M.O.A.B. (Mother of All Burgers) |
| Best Street Food | gastroPod |
| Best Taco | Jacalito Taqueria Mexicana |
| Best Wings | The Filling Station |
2009 BURGIE AWARDS
Monday, September 14th, 2009 in Coral Gables at John Martin’s Irish Pub
2009 WINNERS
| Best Burger | Kingdom |
| Best Burger (Reader’s Choice) | Charm City Burger Company |
| Best Cuban Sandwich | Luis Galindo Latin American |
| Best Chicken Wings | Sports Grill |
| Best Croqueta | Islas Canarias |
| Best Frita Cubana | El Mago De Las Fritas |
| Best Hot Dog | Dogma Grill |
| Best Pizza | Andiamo! |
| Best Side/Appetizer | Best Burger (Reader’s Choice) |