Learn more fun facts on the National Hamburger Day Video Page.
- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- American foodComfort FoodFast Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every May 28
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍔
National Hamburger Day celebrates America’s most iconic food every May 28. Americans consume over 50 billion burgers annually, making this day a fitting tribute to the beloved sandwich. Grill up your favorite patties, explore local burger joints, or try a new recipe to join the delicious festivities.
Want to sponsor National Hamburger Day? Learn how
Expected National Hamburger Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that National Hamburger Day reliably brings sizzling deals from top chains. Expect McDonald’s to offer app-exclusive discounts on classic burgers, while Burger King often features Whopper specials. Wendy’s typically rolls out BOGO offers or combo meal savings. Gourmet burger spots like Five Guys and Shake Shack might introduce limited-time menu items or loyalty rewards. Regional favorites such as Whataburger and Sonic Drive-In are also likely to join in with special pricing on their signature patties. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as May 28 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Hamburger Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalHamburgerDay. Film your ultimate burger creation or a taste-test challenge.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalHamburgerDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your favorite burgers, from homemade to gourmet.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalHamburgerDay. Ask your friends for their top burger joint recommendations.
National Hamburger Day Hero
Louis Lassen
History of National Hamburger Day
Ah yes, the hamburger. A baked bun, beef patty, mustard, ketchup, onion, pickles, with optional cheese. Convenient, cheap, and delicious, the world-famous burger has a storied and uncertain history. No one is quite sure about the origins of the hamburger, other than that it is eponymously named for the town of Hamburg in Germany.
People have been eating cooked meat on bread for centuries, but the association with Hamburg seems to stem from a 1758 recipe for a dish called the “Hamburg Sausage.” Others think the name originates from a cruise company known as the Hamburg America Line, which served its passengers similar sandwiches in the Mid-1800s. To this day, there is little agreement over who actually created the iconic food.
Numerous deli and diner owners across the United States claim that their joint is responsible for inventing the burger. However, there seems to be some consensus amongst historians that the food as we know it today truly gained popularity at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, an event that also gave us the ice-cream cone. However it happened, the hamburger has grown to be one of the world’s most widely consumed food items, found on menus from Texas to Thailand. They can be had for a dollar apiece or made from gourmet ingredients that cost hundreds. However you decide to chow down, this day is for you. Fire up the grill, gather round your friends, and cook up some delicious burgers.
National Hamburger Day timeline
A Chicago Tribune article makes a reference to the growing popularity of the 'hamburger sandwich' amongst rail commuters.
White castle becomes one of the first major hamburger chains, marketing their square burgers as 'sliders.'
The first McDonald’s restaurant opens in San Bernardino, California.
In partnership with the Impossible Foods company, Burger King begins serving the Impossible Burger, made entirely from plants, at locations worldwide.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Hamburger Day
Local businesses can celebrate National Hamburger Day by offering special deals or unique burger creations. Restaurants might introduce a limited-edition ‘National Hamburger Day Burger’ or run a ‘buy one, get one’ promotion. Food trucks could host a pop-up event featuring gourmet sliders, while grocery stores can promote sales on ground beef, buns, and toppings to encourage home grilling. Encourage customer engagement by asking them to share their favorite burger photos on social media.
National Hamburger Day - Survey Results
Traditions of the Day
Ah, the hamburger. A juicy patty cooked to perfection, topped with your favorite add-ons and condiments, and wedged in a lightly toasted bun. And don’t forget the fries as a sideline. Grills are fired up, and family and friends gather for a barbecue cookout. Burger lovers all pitch in their tried-and-tested methods for making the ‘best burger’ and eat to their heart’s content.
Of course, the highlight of the day is the hamburger, so pretty much every eatery participates in putting forward their best burgers and offering great deals. Food marketing goes into overdrive as iconic burger franchises offer special burger editions for the holiday and bring back limited editions of great deals from the past. Many people get out of their comfort zone and try different burgers. There are so many types available to choose from — chicken burgers, buffalo burgers, veggie burgers, and the latest in recent years, the ‘Impossible Burger’ with a patty that isn’t made from meat at all!
We don’t acknowledge this often, but some of our best memories have been shared over burger meals — a first date, coupons and rewards at work by the boss, and discovering different sauces and spice blends for the perfect burger. These traditions are revisited or continued on National Hamburger Day.
By the Numbers
1921 – the year when the oldest burger chain ‘White Castle’ was founded.
49 cents – the price at which the McDonald’s Big Mac was introduced.
40 billion – the estimated number of hamburgers consumed by Americans in a year.
$15,000 – the number of dollars offered by PETA once to the town of Hamburg, New York, to change their name to ‘Veggieburg.’
4 – the average number of hamburgers eaten by every American in a week.
1 nickel – the price at which White Castle’s first burger was sold.
60% – the percentage of all sandwiches sold in the world that are hamburgers.
2,014 pounds – the weight of the world’s biggest burger, at Black Bear Resort Casino in Minnesota.
10 feet – the diameter of the world’s biggest burger.
75 – the number of McDonald’s Big Macs sold every minute.
National Hamburger Day FAQs
When is National Hamburger Day?
In 2027, National Hamburger Day is observed on Friday, May 28, setting the stage for a delicious start to the weekend. Plan your celebrations around this iconic culinary observance.
How many burgers do Americans eat each year?
With an average American eating roughly three burgers per week, the nation’s total consumption surpasses 50 billion patties each year. This makes the hamburger a truly iconic and widely enjoyed food.
What is the history of the hamburger?
While its exact invention is debated, the hamburger evolved from German immigrants’ ‘Hamburg steak.’ Early American vendors, such as Louis Lassen, are credited with serving the first ground beef patty between slices of bread, popularizing the format we recognize today.
Is National Hamburger Day a federal holiday?
Despite its widespread popularity and commercial appeal, National Hamburger Day remains an informal celebration. Government offices and banks will operate as usual, as it does not hold federal holiday status.
National Hamburger Day Activities
Fire up the grill
Of course! Set up the lawn chairs, ice up the coolers, and get to grilling. The best way to enjoy a homemade burger is surrounded by friends and family.
Eat a gourmet burger
Get fancy with it — many fine dining establishments serve high-end burgers on their menus. Sample a burger made with Wagyu beef, or coated in gold leaf.
Drive thru!
The fast-food hamburger is nearly synonymous with the food itself. Sometimes, you want it cheap and fast. Pull around to your local fast-food joint and score some inexpensive, but delicious, eats.
5 Mouth-Watering Burger Facts
Popular sandwiches
Over half of all sandwiches sold worldwide are burgers.
A burger for a king
The world’s most expensive burger retails for over $5,000.
Let freedom ring
During the first World War, hamburgers were called “Liberty Sandwiches”
MVP
There is a hamburger hall of fame in the purported birthplace of the sandwich, Seymour, Wisconsin.
America’s favorite sandwich
Americans eat, on average, 3 hamburgers a week.
Why We Love National Hamburger Day
It’s delicious!
Do you need another reason? Hamburgers are popular for a reason; they taste great. Today is a great excuse to munch on some tasty burgers.
It brings us closer
Hamburgers are synonymous with summertime cookouts and beach picnics. Pulling out the grill and offering to cook up some burgers is an excellent way to spend time with friends and family.
It lets us get creative in the kitchen
The recipe for the hamburger is so well established — why not have some fun with it? Let today be your opportunity to come up with all kinds of crazy burgers, and have some fun cooking.
Social Media Tips for National Hamburger Day
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