Orange cheese flecked with red pepper doesn’t look like much sitting in a plastic tub at the grocery store, but melt it over a hot beef patty and it turns into something close to magic. Across North Carolina, small burger joints and roadside counters have quietly turned pimento cheese into their secret weapon of flavor.
The best ones are often the places you almost drive past, the kind with plain signs and crowded lots that turn out to be the highlight of the whole trip. Grab a napkin or three, because these seven burgers are worth every extra mile.
1. Nick’s Old Fashioned Hamburger, Lexington, NC
Old U.S. Highway 52 outside Lexington is the kind of road where a burger stand with a drive-through feels like a reward for patience.
Nick’s Old Fashioned Hamburger sits right along that stretch, and it keeps things refreshingly simple. Patties are hand-formed, the counter moves fast, and nobody fusses over presentation.
The Pimento Cheeseburger is the reason to pull off. Both the pimento cheese and the slaw are made locally, and the spread leans a little sweet compared to the sharp, peppery versions found elsewhere in the state.
Fans of a sugary Southern tang will love it, while anyone who prefers more bite can order it ‘all the way’ so chili, slaw, and onions balance things out.
Sides deserve a spot on the tray too. Thin crinkle-cut fries and a basket of onion rings come out hot, and a side of ranch for dipping is a smart add.
Bigger appetites can go for the Triple or Quad Cheeseburger, the Big Nick Mac, or a Chili Cheese Dog.
Plan around the clock here. Nick’s runs 11 AM to 7:45 PM on weekdays, closes at 5 PM on Saturday, and stays closed on Sunday.
Expect a wait on Friday afternoons, though the drive-through and curbside pickup make a quick getaway easy, and a kids’ menu plus outdoor seating keep the whole family happy.
2. Pinky’s Westside Grill, Huntersville, NC
Quirky is the house style at Pinky’s Westside Grill, and the Huntersville location off Gilead Road carries that offbeat energy just minutes from Lake Norman. The menu roams from fish tacos to Nashville hot chicken, yet pimento cheese is the thread that ties so much of it together.
Here the spread lands on burgers, on fries, and just about anywhere it can fit.
Start with a burger topped with the house pimento cheese, especially the version stacked with fried pickles. The creamy, tangy cheese softens the crunch and brine of the pickles, and the combo tastes like a backyard cookout.
Custom build options, plus vegan and plant-based choices, mean everybody at the table gets a turn.
Then come the pimento cheese waffle fries. All that cheese gets piled on top, so give the basket a quick toss before digging in, or you’ll run out of topping halfway through.
A loaded version with bacon takes things even further.
Timing helps. Weekday lunches tend to be calm, while Friday and Saturday evenings fill up fast.
Pinky’s is open every day, stays open until 11 PM on weekends, and accepts reservations, so a summer afternoon on the lake followed by a burger here makes an easy North Carolina day trip.
3. The Milk Bar, Walnut Cove, NC
Ice cream counters and burgers have been best friends in small Southern towns for generations, and The Milk Bar on North Main Street in Walnut Cove keeps that tradition going strong. The town sits in Stokes County, within easy reach of Hanging Rock State Park, which makes it a natural refuel after a morning on the trails.
Inside, the mood is quiet, cozy, and welcoming.
The Pimento Burger is the headliner. A juicy beef patty wears a thick layer of creamy, tangy pimento cheese, crowned with fresh lettuce and ripe tomato on a toasted bun.
Pair it with the house-made chips for a crunchy, salty sidekick.
Pimento cheese fans get bonus options here. The pimento cheese cornbread and the cheddar jalapeño cornbread are both worth ordering for the table.
Breakfast is served too, so early risers can grab the Breakfast Burger.
Save room for something sweet from the ice cream counter before heading out. The Milk Bar is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 AM to 9 PM and closed on weekends, so a weekday off in autumn, when the hills around Hanging Rock glow gold, is the perfect excuse to go.
4. Daddy Mac’s Down Home Dive, Asheville, NC
Candied bacon, jalapeño pimento cheese, pickles, and a fried green tomato. That lineup describes the Down Home Burger at Daddy Mac’s Down Home Dive, and it might be the most Southern thing you can eat on Biltmore Avenue in Asheville.
Sweet meets heat in every bite, and a special sauce ties the whole stack together.
The kitchen leans hard into smoked meats and comfort food. Mac ‘n’ cheese skillets are a signature, and plenty of travelers count them among the best in the South.
Egg rolls stuffed with pulled pork, collard greens, and pimento cheese add a playful twist, while the FGT BLT sliders give fried green tomato fans another reason to smile.
Beyond the plate, the space feels rustic-chic and relaxed. A fireplace warms up chilly mountain evenings, rooftop seating shines on warmer ones, and live music fills the room on some nights.
Dogs are welcome as well.
Parking downtown can be tricky, so arrive early or plan to stroll over. Hours run late every day, until midnight most nights and 1 AM on weekends, which makes it an easy dinner after a day at the Biltmore Estate or a leaf-peeping drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Finish with a brownie skillet or banana pudding if there’s any room left.
5. Grimmburger, Wilmington, NC
Smash burgers are judged by their crust, and Grimmburger in Wilmington passes that test with flying colors. Patties hit a scorching flat top and come off with crispy, lacy edges that crackle with each bite.
Add a scoop of housemade pimento cheese and the result is juicy, rich, and delightfully messy.
The signature pimento cheese burger piles on bacon and even tucks fries right onto the bun. It sounds like a lot, and it is, but the creamy cheese pulls the salty, crunchy layers into one tidy flavor.
For a change of pace, the onion ring barbecue burger is another crowd favorite, and a plain burger works well for younger eaters.
Fries here come with sauces for dipping, and cheese fries are made for sharing. Ordering happens at the counter, service moves quickly, and the space stays simple and cozy.
A kids’ menu, high chairs, and outdoor seating make it an easy family stop.
The location on Military Cutoff Road puts it close to Wrightsville Beach, so a salty morning by the ocean pairs nicely with lunch here. Grimmburger is closed Mondays, open 11 AM to 9 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 AM to 8 PM on Sunday.
6. MoJoe’s Burger Joint, Raleigh, NC
Raleigh locals know Glenwood Avenue for its busy evenings, but the big patio at MoJoe’s Burger Joint is where plenty of them settle in for lunch. The mood is casual and unhurried, and dogs are welcome both inside and out.
It feels like a neighborhood hangout that happens to make serious burgers.
Order the smash burger with pimento cheese, and don’t skip the tater tots. The tots are about as crispy as they come, and the fries can be topped with pimento cheese or served with house ranch.
For something bigger, the Big Mo is a hearty pick, and ambitious eaters may notice a wall of fame worth aiming for.
Not in a burger mood? A pimento grilled cheese brings the same creamy spread to a buttery, toasty sandwich.
Next Level Nachos, fried green beans, and half fries, half onion rings baskets keep the table stocked, and a full vegetarian menu offers plenty of options.
Street parking near downtown can be tight, so give yourself a few extra minutes. MoJoe’s is open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM, and weekday afternoons are usually the calmest time to grab a patio seat, especially on a crisp fall day in the capital.
7. Cin Cin Burger Bar, Winston-Salem, NC
Flappers, gold diggers, and roaring-twenties flair set the stage at Cin Cin Burger Bar on West First Street in Winston-Salem. Menu names like Flappers Chicken & Waffles and Gold Digger’s Mac & Cheese nod to the 1920s theme, while the dining room feels modern, trendy, and comfortable.
It’s the sit-down option on this list, perfect when you want a burger night that feels like a small celebration.
The signature burger to know gets a sweet molasses glaze, then piles on caramelized onions, bacon, and pimento cheese. The pimento cheese melts like a slice studded with green peppers, creating that stretchy pull you see in every burger photo.
Patties are cooked to order, and the flavor is so bold that ketchup feels unnecessary. At around $14, it’s a splurge that earns its price.
Sides get creative here. Creamy gorgonzola fries, eggplant fries, and onion rings are all worth a look, and the Pickled Bang Salmon Burger offers a lighter twist.
Leave room for a milkshake, because the Cookie Butter Milkshake is a sweet finish. Cin Cin is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, takes reservations, and offers an outdoor patio.
It’s a delicious final stop on a pimento cheese road trip across North Carolina, proof that this humble spread can shine anywhere from a highway drive-through to a stylish city dining room.