Kick off March Madness with the Burger Bracket. Vote now on the best burger in metro Phoenix

The highly-anticipated yearly NCAA Division 1 college basketball tournament that is March Madness, is upon us. And this year, Phoenix is hosting the Final Four matchup on Saturday, April 6.

The tournament is played bracket-style, with 68 teams competing in six single-elimination rounds. College basketball fans can print their own bracket and make predictions ahead of the tournament. But even if you're not a basketball fan, you're going to want in on another March showdown: The Burger Bracket.

The Republic needs your help naming the 2024 burger champion of metro Phoenix in a matchup between 16 of our favorite burger joints.

Round one of voting begins Wednesday, March 6, at 5 a.m. and closes Sunday, March 10, at midnight. The new bracket will be announced on Wednesdays, marking the start of a new round of voting.

The winner will be announced Wednesday, April 3, in anticipation of the Final Four tournament that weekend.

Chose your Burger Bracket

Vote online each week at azcentral.com/things-to-do/food-dining.

Choose your round one contenders below:

Here's your guide to the 16 Burger Bracket contenders

New and classic, fast food to fancy, there are a lot of burgers to love in metro Phoenix. Which one of these joints serves your favorite?

Arizona Wilderness Brewery, Gilbert

Arizona Wilderness Brewery has won awards for its beer, but did you know they also serve great burgers? The namesake AZ Wilderness Burger is topped with house pickles, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onion and a choice of white cheddar, American, pepper jack or bleu cheese. They also offer some interesting options like a PB&J burger and a steak and potato burger.

Details: 721 N. Arizona Ave., Gilbert. 480-597-2739. More locations at azwbeer.com.

Bad Jimmy’s, Phoenix

Bad Jimmy's is the new brick-and-mortar smash burger restaurant from owner James Piazza, who previously had a food truck of the same name. The menu is small, with just a couple classic cheeseburgers and a vegetarian "Where's the beef?" burger.

Details: 108 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. @badjimmys on Instagram.

The Chuckbox, Tempe

The Chuckbox is the place to go for old school burgers and nostalgia near ASU in Tempe. Some burger options include a half-pound ground beef burger, a bacon cheeseburger and a guacamole and bacon burger.

Details: 202 E. University Dr., Tempe. 480-968-4712, thechuckbox.com.

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Fire at Will, Scottsdale

Chef Dom Ruggiero's Scottsdale restaurant is a chef favorite for its Hush Burger, which comes topped with caramelized onion, American cheese, pickles and fancy sauce on a brioche bun.

Details: 4912 E Shea Blvd., Suite 108, Scottsdale. 480-207-1819, eatfireatwill.com.

Hamburguesas y Cervezas, Phoenix

Hamburguesas y Cervezas opened a year ago on the ground floor of the Union @ Roosevelt apartment complex in downtown Phoenix and quickly became a cult favorite. They offer Mexican-inspired hamburgers including a chorizo burger, an al pastor burger and a Mexicano burger.

Details: 888 N. First Ave., Phoenix. 602-237-5146, hamburguesasycervezas.com.

Happy's Hamburgers, Scottsdale

Happy's Hamburgers in Scottsdale offers cozy diner vibes and mouthwatering burgers. Keep it classic with a signature hamburger or cheeseburger, or try one of their unique options like the pizza burger, chili burger or the Sonoran burger.

Details: 10435 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-630-2330, happyshamburgers.com.

Harvey's Wineburger, Phoenix

Harvey's Wineburger has been a Phoenix staple for over 65 years. The bar and restaurant offers nine burgers, ranging from classics to a garlic patty melt and a spicy burger topped with grilled green chilies, jalapenos, pepper jack cheese and two onion rings.

Details: 4812 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-248-9950, harveyswineburger.com.

Lucky Boy Burger Shop, Phoenix

Lucky Boy Burger Shop is a tiny retro diner in Phoenix offering charbroiled burgers and milkshakes. Fans love their juicy ?- or ?-pound burgers and friendly staff.

Details: 3430 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-274-6440, luckyboyburgershopphoenix.bestcafes.online.

Original Hamburger Works, Phoenix

Original Hamburger Works is beloved for its juicy, mesquite-grilled burgers, with up to a full 1-pound patty, served on classic sesame seed buns. They come with an all-access pass to the giant condiment bar.

Details: 2801 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix. 602-263-8693, greatburgeraz.com.

Green New American Vegetarian, Phoenix & Tempe

Green New American Vegetarian's street burgers are topped with pickles, grilled onion and special sauce on a toasted bun. Guests can choose one, two or three patties, add cheese or vegetarian bacon. Gluten-free buns are also available.

Details: 2022 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-258-1870. Also, 2240 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 113, Tempe. 480-941-9003, greenvegetarian.com.

Otro Cafe, Phoenix

Otro Cafe offers four burgers: a pork belly burger with citrus glaze and spicy relish; a pork belly bacon burger; a pica rica burger topped with roasted chile, caramelized onions, cheddar and aioli; and a traditional cheeseburger. All are made with 6-ounces of ground beef.

Details: 6035 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-266-0831, otrocafe.com.

Paradise Valley Burger Co., Phoenix & Tempe

Paradise Valley Burger Co. is a popular burger joint with two locations in the Valley. It was featured on an episode of Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives." The namesake Paradise Burger is topped with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickled onion and 1000 island dressing.

Details: 4001 E. Bell Road, Phoenix. Also, 815 E. Baseline Road, Suite 115, Tempe. pvburgercompany.com.

Peoria Artisan Brewing, Peoria

Peoria Artisan Brewing's namesake PAB burger comprises an Arizona Angus beef patty, bacon jam, lettuce, tomato, onion, Muenster cheese and aioli on a brioche bun.

Details: 10144 W. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., Peoria. 623-572-2816, peoriaartisanbrewing.com.

The Stand, Phoenix

The Stand is a drive-thru mom and pop burger restaurant in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. They have a small menu of just five burgers, but all are worth trying. They also offer hand-cut fries and milkshakes. It's often compared to In-n-Out, but is widely considered better.

Details: 3538 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. thestandphx.com.

Stoop Kid, Phoenix

Stoop Kid's Stoop burger is made with a brisket single patty, Tillamook cheddar, caramelized onions, dill pickles and Dijonnaise on a brioche bun. Other burger options are a spicy burner burger, the classic "Pobrecito" and a veggie burger.

Details: Inside The Churchill, 901 N. First St., Phoenix. getstoopkid.com.

Welcome Diner, Phoenix

Welcome Diner is a beloved Phoenix hotspot offering five burgers, including the Welcome Burger made with a 6-ounce patty, mild cheddar, garlic aioli, ketchup, onion and pickles on a Noble brioche bun.

Details: 929 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. welcomediner.net.

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Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @EndiaFontanez on X, formerly Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best burger in metro Phoenix: Vote now in the 2024 Burger Bracket