Best Burgers in McDonough GA: Why KirbyG’s Diner Takes the Crown
Lots of burger places claim to have the best burgers. Plenty of spots across metro Atlanta serve genuinely great ones. But very few can back those claims with real credentials. Only one restaurant in the entire metro Atlanta area has been named World Burger Champion — even beating NFA Burger for the title. And only one location in Henry County has been voted Best Burger in metro Atlanta twice by AJC readers. That place is KirbyG’s Diner & Pub in downtown McDonough.
At 45 Macon Street, this neon-lit 1950s Diner has been serving hand-pattied burgers since 2008. What sets it apart is a track record that few can match.
World Champion Credentials
In 2018, owner Neil Daniell and the KirbyG’s Pit Crew stepped onto the biggest stage in food sport—the World Food Championships in Orange Beach, Alabama. Only the top 50 burger cooks in the world qualified, each having already won a major competition just to earn a spot. Out of that elite field, KirbyG’s took home the World Burger Champion title and the $10,000 prize.
The following year in Dallas, the Pit Crew returned and finished 4th overall. They entered the final round sitting in second place—a stone’s throw from repeating as champions. Not too shabby for a little ol’ hole-in-the-wall place in McDonough, Georgia.
But world titles aren’t the only reason KirbyG’s is known for the best burgers in McDonough (and across metro Atlanta). We’ve placed in the Top Ten of Atlanta Burger Week every year since 2024, including a second-place finish out of 40 restaurants decided by a scant two votes. Additional recognition includes Georgia Tourism’s “100 Plates Locals Love,” Best of the Best by the Henry Herald, and features on Travel Channel’s Best in Food, Atlanta Eats, and CNBC’s Final Table: New Orleans.
The Signature: Marriage of the Century
The burger that helped secure the championship remains a menu standout: the Marriage of the Century.
Named after the 1954 wedding of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, it features a hand-pattied beef burger topped with homemade pepper jack cheese, slow-cooked pulled bacon (simmered five to six hours until it pulls like pork), crispy onion rings, lettuce, tomato, and onion. A sweet-and-spicy sauce on the side brings all the flavors together. Guests regularly call the pulled bacon a game-changer.
The team designed the burger to hit all five tastes—sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and savory—while focusing on texture and appearance. It uses a special “better burger” lettuce blend and brisket-blend ground beef from Disruption BBQ.
More Standout Burgers Worth Ordering
While the Marriage of the Century draws the most attention, the rest of the menu delivers:
Drive-In Crack Burger – Loaded with bacon, sharp cheddar, ranch seasoning, and often finished with bacon jam or crispy onions. Many describe it as addictive.
Ike’s “I Like Cheese” Burger – A clean, perfectly executed classic for cheese lovers.
Smash-style and rotating specialty burgers featuring pimento cheese, blue cheese, chipotle, or smoked brisket blends.
Everything is cooked to order. Sides like Foghorn French Fries, fried green beans, onion rings, and sweet potato tots pair well, and thick hand-spun milkshakes or floats complete the classic diner experience.
More Than Just a Burger
Stepping inside KirbyG’s feels like traveling back to the 1950s. The Pit Crew (the staff’s name for themselves) greets guests warmly, trivia nights and live music add energy, and the walls are covered in era memorabilia. Owner Neil Daniell occasionally teaches burger classes covering seasoning, patty technique, temperature control, and building a burger that engages all the senses.
Ready to Taste the Best Burgers in McDonough?
KirbyG’s Diner & Pub
45 Macon Street
McDonough, GA 30253
Come for the championship burger. Stay for the shakes, the fries, the atmosphere, and the feeling that the Fifties never tasted better.
The next time someone asks where to find the best burgers in McDonough, you’ll already know the answer.
