Next Level Burger

Love this place… frequent customer. Everything is delicious and the staff is always super friendly. My only complaint is the price. It was fairly expensive when they opened, but I was ok with it taking into consideration the quality of the food. However, they just jacked their prices significantly, and they’ve only been open for 7 months, which is kind of a bummer.

The burger was really good; sort of reminded me of a fast food burger but better and the toppings were much better of course. I got the All American with special sauce instead of mayo. This was my first time trying tempeh bacon and vegan cheese and I wasn’t a fan of either. The «bacon» was too sour, which I thought was weird since I’ve never had sour tempeh and real bacon isn’t sour. The cheese seemed nearly flavorless and had a strange texture. Once I pulled the tempeh bacon out of the burger it tasted great.
I also had a soy-​based orange cream milkshake (you can choose coconut or soy based). It was the best milkshake I have ever had, no joke. So yummy! It was also very refreshing along with the burger.
I will definitely go back. The food wasn’t cheap but it was worth it. Another person I went with mentioned how usually when you get a burger you feel gross after but I guess because this was vegan that was not the case for this meal.

Best burger I’ve ever had! I only wish I had found this place before my last day in Portland. The staff was super nice and helpful. Everything is just the way it should be at this place, from the décor, to the food, to their philosophy, to the employees.
Bravo !!

Great Vegan Burger place! I went there with a few friends and tried the Mexican and Quinoa Burgers, Spicy fries, and the Cookies and Cream milkshake — all of which were delicious — I highly recommend. The burgers are healthy and flavorful, and not messy. They are not overly stuffed. The Cookies and Cream milkshake is the best that I’ve ever had! Taste like ice cream, can’t even tell it’s made from soy milk. The cheese on the spicy fries is very good — tasty!
Hope this place becomes a franchise and permeates over to the East coast to DC. Next time I’m in Portland, I’ll be sure to make a stop over to Next Level Burger.

So many vegan burgers, so little time. I made the mistake of visiting Next Level Burger on the final day of my trip to Portland. I ended up splitting 2 burgers with my friend and taking a 3^rd to go. Still had a lot left on the list that I would have loved to try. Everything here is 100% plant based.
I really like that they make their own patties here. The mushroom quinoa umami patty was particularly good; the tempeh patty was pretty great too. They do special fries here and one of them was comparable to the In n Out animal-​style fries. I am hoping this joint starts expanding across the country because it is fantastic. The service is quick and friendly and the burgers travel well!

We need one of these near San Francisco. I like it wayyyy more than VeganBurg.
1 star = The Animal burger (biggest burger I have ever encountered: see pic)
1 star = they let you sub your fries for tater tots!
1 star = the peanut butter chocolate milkshake was perfection
1 star = extensive menu of all vegan food (I wish I was visiting longer so I could experience more of it)
1 star = plenty of clean and modern seating

I am a fan. This place has discovered something great, they made a great tasting cheese that melts on burgers!
This is one of those places where you can run in with your vegan friends and they don’t feel like they have to order off a small section of the menu. On that same note it’s where your vegan friends can still take their omnivorous friends and they won’t notice that something is missing. I tried the chili which is hearty and warm, so that means it’s fantastic. I can’t wait to try the chili cheese dog. The all American burger was freaking tasty. This is where the cheese was able to shine.
I actually chose to eat this burger when thinking of burger places. I mean sometimes I don’t want that food coma feeling after eating and this places delivers on giving me a plant based option for a cheeseburger!
The only downside to this place are the straws. The milkshakes are so good, made with coconut milk, but the compostable straw doesn’t quite make it through the entire journey. That didn’t stop me from finishing that milkshake though!

I keep forgetting to review this place. I love this place for their seasonal milkshakes. I’ve only had their pumpkin spice and strawberry milkshakes. I plan on having more.
I’m honestly not a huge fan of their burgers because I used to be a big meat eater so eating «vegan meat» burgers tends to be disappointing for me. I can, however, get down with the burgers that aren’t supposed to be «meat».
I do love their children’s grilled cheese sandwich. My daughter gets it but she feeds me some. It’s so simple and it’s served with tomato soup for dipping.
I’m looking forward to trying out the rest of the menu, including the salads (which I haven’t had any of yet). I hope their salads are legit.

Our burgers were awesome, also I didn’t feel instant regret/​food coma after eating here. 100% plant based, love the atmosphere, great drink selections. I had the so-​cal burger and kale, so good!

I’m vegetarian and my husband can’t have dairy. We’ve become regulars at NLB and always have a great meal. I’ve tried a few different burgers, the quinoa chili, and salads to which you can add any of the burger patties. Everything is great. My husband loves the milkshakes.
Major props for the unpretentious atmosphere — you will see all types here and everyone is welcome. Awesome recycling /​reusing /​composting program. The disposable items like straws are all biodegradable. The music volume is just right. Great selections of teas and lemonades.
I love that basic nutritional info is presented right on the menu but I do wish I could get complete nutritional info for the items. I’m on Weight Watchers and need more info to determine how many points things are.
See you again real soon, NLB!

I’ve been dying to go to Next Level since they opened! I was so impressed with my entire meal today. The special sauce burger with sweet potato fries was so perfect. I also added on a kid’s size strawberry shake.

TWO WORDS ! Just amazing !!!
We stumbled upon this gem due to a friend recommendation ! We showed up 45 minutes before closing. I kno I kno we were «those people» …
BUT !
This amazing server/​customer service expert Clarence made out night a one to remember. His customer service skills were on point. We felt welcomed and taken care of. I don’t know who pays this man but he needs a raise, because he is amazing.
The food was on point. Love a GOOOD vegan /​veggie place with fresh organic food. All in all this review is about my great experience here also the great good ! Thanks again! We will be back ! Mainly because of Clarence !

I was aware that this new burger shop had opened up in my neighborhood a few months ago, but I hadn’t thought much of it. I figured it was just another in a series of hip, local burger shops we’ve seen popping up all over Portland. Then I learned that it was actually a plant based burger joint. How neat?! I am not a vegan, but I like to eat vegan meals at times. I figure it gives both my body and the planet a break. I like veggie burgers, sure, but I’m not crazy about soy. So, when I discovered that this place has things like quinoa and black bean burgers, I was keen to give it a try.
I had a quinoa burger with cheddar «NL cheez» — whatever they’re making the latter out of, KUDOS to them! I’ve tried plenty of vegan «cheese» and never have had one quite like this stuff. This stuff tastes creamy and melty and even stretches a little like real cheese.
The burger was delicious. So was the side of sauteed kale (with lemon and black sesame seeds), and the iced tea (blueberry Rooibos) was a standout too.
Also, I’d like to mention that the staff were off the hook. SUPER friendly, helpful and kind. Right on the ball. I am so thankful for that!
Bravo, NLB. You’ll be seeing me again!

The concept works! Both the All American and Special Sauce Burgers were very excellent. Knowing it’s good for me made it taste even better. Whichever burger you choose be sure to add a slice of their faux «bacon», yum.
The baked tater tots were a big miss, I guess I like em fried or not at all. The side kale, meh.
Ginger lemonade was a hit as was the watermelon soda.
The décor is chain-​like, ala Little Big Burger. Menu is a bit overwhelming the first time, but the counter guy was very cool. Nice attention to overall detail.
…went for breakfast (only available on weekends) and the raw juices weren’t ready, counter gal indicated its on their to do list. Maybe this list needs to be completed before they open. You get a lot of Chickpea scramble for $ 3, but taste didn’t do it for me. The Bacon Benny was scrumptious, but oh so small.

We just went to Portland downtown! At first everyone was hesitant to try vegan burger options but clearly we ended up enjoying our meal. We had the SoCal burger, the krautwich and special sauce burger, the shakes, tomato soup and the tots!
The krautwich was the best, the NL cheese added the much needed juiciness that the burgers lacked!
The shakes were a 5/​5, was delicious! The tomato soup was a 0/​5, too much tanginess and felt like a curry!
The tots were surprisingly less oily and it was good! A good vegan place to try!

We discovered this one after eating at the one in Bend. I have never been a fan of meat and my husband recently moved to the vegan lifestyle so this place is a plus. I have enjoyed the burgers and various fries I have tried here.
They have teas and juices for drinks you can also get a beer if you want and the atmosphere is low key. This is perfect for the Hawthorne district although I heard they are talking about the NW side as their next location to add in.
Keep ‘em coming, I’ll swing by.

Every time I come in I try something new on the menu, which is so not my go-​to-​menu-​item style! The burgers are awesome and each have their own unique flavor! The fries and tots are baked! There’s grilled cheese and tomato soup! There’s hot dogs! We’re talking kraut! And chile cheese here, people! There’s salads! There’s SHAKES! There’s coffee! There’s agave-​sweetened sodas with compostable straws and reusable cups! And the cheese! You connaisseurs of vegan cheese know that it can be GROSS. The Next Level cheese is not! And there’s breakfast (which I admittedly haven’t tried)! What is NOT to love about this place? True, it could stand to be bigger with better parking. But it could also stand to have more locations so you could walk there! I would eat here every week if it were closer to me!

Someone from the Willamette Weekly trashed this place in their review. The reviewer obviously wasn’t vegetarian. I am. The reviewer was wrong.
This place is close to my work and home and eat here at least once a week. Since I’ve been doing that (since they’ve been open), I’ve lost twenty pounds. The food is healthy and more importantly it tastes great.
Try a sausage burger with jalapeños.

I don’t rate service, ambiance, cleanliness and wait times; they are too variable. I can put up with anything if the food is good. It is all about the food– that’s it. All of my ratings are based on vegan options only.
Notes: It was good enough out of convenience since its fast food. Don’t bother with the chili cheese fries, super bland and flavorless and french fries weren’t hot/​crisp enough. I also got the Sauerkraut Dog and the cheese version of the next level burger. The hot dog toppings were great, hot dog not so much. It was way overcooked. The burger was alright. Not delicious. Not terrible. I definitely have had better, but it was the best of what I had out of everything I got.

I was really hoping this place would take it to the «next level» of my vegan burger experience but sadly you can make most of this menu at home. I’ve been here twice and both find the experience lackluster. The service is very slow, the fries are bland, and the burgers taste and look like they’re from the freezer isle. I would love a house-​made patty (que LOTS of places in Portland) that are big and generous with a bite, but this place doesn’t deliver. Can’t say I would go back.

This place is TOTALLY Peewee’s Playhouse.
The design patching and semiotics are way cool. Totally off-​putting upon entering. Almost like a truck stop convenience store but worse. But then you inhabit it and it starts to click in and make sense and generate good energy in syncopation.

This place is SO great! Everything is plant based, there are TONS of options (especially for us non vegans) and the flavor of the dishes is incredible. I had the all American «burger», which is a veggie patty with tempeh bacon. So delicious! I’ll be the first to admin I’m not a huge fan of meatless alternatives, but this place really nails it. I’ll be back!

I was hoping Next Level would take me to a new level of taste, or at least some heightened inspiration, or something. Sadly, this was not the case. I have a hard time with veggie burgers, I really want to love them, but most often, I find them mushy and bland. The two veggie burgers I really do love are super processed, frozen supermarket brands, so I try to not eat them. But I keep believing there’s some healthy, home made veggie burger out there that’s really good.
Though we’re not vegans, my roommate and I had been feeling like we were eating too much meat, we also enjoy many vegan dishes and we had been wanting to try Next Level since it opened. On the plus side, the staff were so very friendly and helpful, that was much appreciated. The interior is fun, but a bit on the crazily bright side, as noted by other reviewers.
Then there’s the food. I ordered the So Cal burger, which is a tofu and veggie patty. Sorry to say, it was rather bland and mushy. It was on the small side and it appeared they wanted to make it look bigger by adding lots of veggies. But this had the effect of muting the taste of the special sauce, which was tasty on the bites of burger that had fewer veggies on top. I don’t think the tempeh bacon was even noticeable, flavor wise. It was edible, but no wow factor, more of a meh factor. My fries tasted pretty good, but were nothing spectacular.
My friend had the grilled cheese, which she said was very tasty. But she also added that her tomato soup was mediocre.
For beverages, she had a hard cider, which I tasted and it did have a great flavor. I decided to try the citrus mint ice tea. It was weak tasting with just a tiny hint of the supposed flavors, it was more like drinking flavored water.
I want to go back and give this place another try, the tangy tempeh burger sounds promising and the chili cheese fries looked very addictive. I like the concept, the execution could use a little help.

I have to start this by saying I have no idea what a good vegan burger is suppose to taste like. So I am conflicted about even posting this review. However I am going for it… Let’s just say this carnivore TRIED to change but this meal didn’t convince me.
Super location! Such great staff, very friendly! The interior is clean, modern and comfortable. The food looks and smells delicious.
The bun was good. Fresh veggies were excellent, the lettuce crispy and tomatoes juicy. The fake bacon I could have done without entirely, ga, it’s not even close to bacon! Mine wasn’t even remotely crispy it was weak, limp, mushy smokey flavoured cut in half hot dogs… The soy swiss was alright. The patty was hum… I don’t have the word… different. Crispy crinkle fries just fries nothing fancy about them. I liked that! However overall, unfortunately my stomach didn’t really like the meal. I didn’t feel great after the meal and for some time, nothing to describe just a general full ick feeling. I went for lunch and ended up skiping dinner. Maybe it’s all coincidence, I dunno. Either way sadly not my thing, I really wanted to love this place.
Guys you gotta know it’s totally me not you!

Disappointing.
Wait was way too long. Food was good. Service polite but painfully slow.
I’ll go back when my veggie head friends get to choose the restaurant but I wouldn’t really recommend it. There are so many better options.

I am always excited to try new burger joints in Portland, so I decided to try Nextlevel today.
I had NO IDEA it was vegan/​vegetarian until I got there — their advertising is a bit misleading as they don’t really say it upfront. They picked a good neighborhood to try this in so they may last for a while.
That being said, I decided to try it. I ordered the «All-​American Burger». It was okay. Visually it looked like a burger and was pleasing to the eye. The patty tasted okay — definitely not as good as a beef burger but it was filling. If you are a bacon eater, AVOID the smokey tempeh bacon they offer — it does not taste in the slightest like bacon — it does have a very light smokiness to it but overall — it is limp and unsatisfying. The «NL cheese» (exactly what is that by the way?), tastes extremely artificial — not like cheddar at all.
The tater tots were just okay as well — nothing to get excited about.
The staff was very professional and courteous.
Overall, I tried it but it isn’t my thing. I like my bacon to taste like bacon and my cheddar to taste like cheddar. The patty was okay but not enough to make me want to go back — the food has a «cardboard sheen» — it’s like eating in black and white.

I wasn’t overly impressed with my first couple visits to Next Level Burger, but I have changed my mind. I kept trying different things because it’s so cool to have a vegan place within walking distance. I honestly don’t think that their burgers are anything special, for a burger place. I’ve had the Quinoa burger, the So Cal Burger, and the Next Level Burger. Of the three, I like the So Cal Burger best, but they put way too much special sauce on it, making it very messy to eat. My favorite sandwich is the Krautwich. It’s crave-​worthy. So many flavors! I also really love the Chili Cheese Dog. So flavorful and delicious! The fries and tater tots are on the healthier side since they are baked and not fried. The Chili Cheese Fries are kind of a meal unto themselves. I wish I could eat them every day. Pro-​tip: On the Chili Cheese Dog and Fries, sub out the raw red onion for grilled onions. Makes it so much better! I’ve only tried one shake (plain chocolate) and it was very creamy and delicious. I can’t speak to much of the breakfast menu, but I did go and have the Brekky sandwich once. It was fine, but nothing I couldn’t easily make at home. I would go back and try something different for breakfast.

I just have to say the staff is amazing. Clarence and Daniel are such sweet, amazing people. They are always so helpful and friendly. You can feel the good vibes they put out and they really care about what they do.
As for the food, it rocks. So far (creature of habit) I’ve only had the SoCal burger and the BLT-​A, but they’re both so delicious and flavorful. The vanilla soft serve seriously reminds me of the the soft serve I use to get at Mc’Dees.
Seriously, just eat here. You won’t be disappointed. And if you are, well then maybe you need to get your soul and tastebuds checked out ;)

The wife and I went here for «date» night.
We have been wanting to try it since it opened just always forget, so tonight we finally got to!
We both go the special sauce burger, add «bacon» and avocado. We also got sweet potato fries.
We took our food to go, as they were closing soon and we didn’t want to feel rushed to finish our food.
Everything was great! Burgers were delicious and didn’t lack the thrill of a burger, even without the meat. Friend fries were yummy! I love that they aren’t fried and greasy.
Great place! Glad we have one here in Portland!
We will for sure come back, next time we are going to try breakfast and a shake!

Ordered take-​out for several people at my office. Food was great, even the meat eaters were pleased with the burgers.
Didn’t experience the undercooked fries or tots like other reviewers so maybe they got that all worked out.
Staff did an excellent job of organizing and labeling all orders which made it super easy when I arrived back at my office greeted by hungry ladies!
Will definitely be back.

Nextlevel is a much-​welcomed addition to the Hawthorne corridor! My wife is a vegan, and we have plenty of veg-​friendly options in southeast, but few (if any) of these options specialize in quick-​and-​easy comfort foods like «burgers» and shakes.
When you walk into Nextlevel, you are greeted warmly by the staff. It reminds me a lot of In-​N-​Out when they first started up in California, where they emphasize friendly service as one of their key differentiators. The menu consists of a variety of vegan burgers, hot dogs, and other fast food delectables; it’s really hard to find something a warm-​blooded American wouldn’t love. I’m an omnivore, and I prefer their shakes and burgers to that of any other high-​end fast food chain like Little Big Burger.
My favorite options are the sausage burger and the NL grilled cheese. Wash it down with a shake and call it a day. Love this place!

Super boring. Bland burgers. Terrible buns. Low quality sides. Clueless service.
The only salvageable thing were the shakes, but then they serve them with paper straws that dissolve before you can finish your drink???
You can have a better veggie burger literally ANYWHERE else.

We tried out the newest Next Level Burger early last week and it was pretty tasty. Despite reading mixed reviews, we gave them a shot because we enjoyed the Bend location so much.
Don’t judge a place in its first few weeks — opening up a business is hectic! That being said, no complaints over here. The sautéed kale was really flavorful and the loaded #vegan dog was great. We’ll be back again for sure as I have yet to try their famous burgers. Crazy, right?
Another great feature: they offer up all of their nutritional info right on the menu, which is super rare for smaller joints.
Be warned that there isn’t much seating, so it may be best for smaller groups.
If you like vegan fast food options, this place is pretty affordable. I’m sure the service will run more smoothly as they get settled — just give them a chance.

My new favorite place to eat in the area! We tried the special sauce burger with a side of Tots and their special soda. The burgers were great. Didn’t taste too meaty and the consistency was spot on. The cheese was great and melty. My boyfriend who is a carnivore loved it! He thought it was the best veggie burger he’s had. The soda was delicious! I don’t usually drink soda but I thought I would splurge and try one of their many flavored. The lemon limeade and the pear were SO good. I can’t wait to try some more!
My favorite part about this place is that with my meal I only produced one piece of trash. (My napkin) everything was reusable and I really loved that!!! We will definitely be back.

Awesome customer service and great concept. I love the idea of a vegan burger joint. The cashier was very friendly and so was the owner and his wife (I believe) with helping me to make a selection for my daughter. There food is organic, non gmo, and they have a grill for gluten free items. I got the kids burger for my daughter and the SoCal patty was recommended since they were out of the Next Level patty. I got the SoCal burger and we both got tots since they were out of fries as well. My daughter enjoyed the burger but unfortunately I did not enjoy mine. Also the tots were too soft for me. I really love the restaurant and want to support the concept so I will come back to try another burger and I had a lost sweet potato fry in my tots and it was good so I’ll get those next time. I want to see Next Level Burger become more common than those other burger joints!

Having heard great things about the Bend NLB location, I was so excited for them to open in Portland, and I made it in on their first *official* open day.
Since I’m vegan and don’t always like veggie burgers that try to emulate meat, I asked for a non-«meaty» recommendation. The cashier and counter person enthusiastically recommended their seasonal pumpkin burger. While the burger itself was ok, it was on the bland side, and the pumpkin mayo wasn’t anything special. The burger needed pickles or something else to give it some flavor. (³⁄₅ stars)
I also ordered the tater tots, which were extremely undercooked, barely warm, and not the slightest bit golden. They were the worst tater tots I’ve ever had. (⁰⁄₅ stars)
I decided maybe the «meaty» signature NLB patty deserved a shot, so my son and I went back again today. This time I ordered the Special Sauce burger (⁴⁄₅ stars) and added sautéed mushrooms and onions. I only got the mushrooms, but they put the onions on my son’s burger, and he HATES onions. I can forgive them that goof since they are working with a new business and new staff.
However, what I can’t forgive are the sad, soggy, pathetic, anemic fries we were served. I ordered fries instead of tots this time, hoping they’d be hot and crispy, as good fries should be. But, alas, they were perhaps even more pathetic than their tot cousins. (–1000 stars. Seriously.) I don’t know if they are having fryer difficulties or not, but they need to get the fry/​tot situation sorted ASAP. Undercooked, almost raw, soggy, pale, cold tots and fries are a travesty.
Positives included tasty sodas and a very friendly, enthusiastic staff.
If I decide to give them another chance (because I REALLY want to love them!), I’d like to try one of their shakes and maybe the bean burger. But, dammit, those fries better be sorted!

I have to start with my review of the special sauce burger. I have been vegan for a few years, so perhaps I have forgotten what a good meaty burger tasted like. However, I will tell you, while I have had many vegan burgers in my time, and most have been delicious, none have filled the burger experience I had when I ate meat. With this burger, I get the excellent flavor, texture, and fullness that I remember, but I don’t feel like greasy garbage afterwords!
I cannot yet speak to service, as this location only opened today. There has been a 30 minute wait all day, which can be expected when the best vegan burger shop in the country FINALLY opens up in Portland, after months of hiccups. The employees have been really friendly even with the constant business, something that might put other workers in a state of frustration. Points for that for sure!
Oh, and right now they have a pumpkin milkshake!!! You can get it coconut or soy base!