Contest Rules:

Anyone may nominate a hamburger for a Tennessee Restaurant. To be eligible for the contest the hamburger MUST meet the following criteria: 

Burger Entry Requirements:

To qualify, the burger must:

1. Be made from 100% beef (other ingredients like cheese or spices may be added to the patty).
2. ALL burgers must be composed of a formed ground beef patty/patties served on a bun or other bread products (such as biscuits, focaccia, tortillas, etc.). 
3. Burgers may include any combination of condiments (such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard), sauces (such as barbecue, aioli's or hot sauce), cheeses and toppings (such as bacon, onions, tomatoes, and lettuce). 
4. Every component of the burger must be placed between the bun or bread pieces or served open-faced on a bread product. 

Offical Rules: 

1. Entries will be accepted online between May 1, 2026 – May 31, 2026. Voting will end at 11:59pm Central Time on May 31, 2026. 
• To nominate click on "VOTE NOW" and follow the on-screen directions to submit your nomination. 
2. Burgers MUST be available on the nominated restaurant's regular menu. 
3. Restaurant must be open for business by the beginning of the nomination period – May 1, 2026 and be open all year-round. 
4. The sponsor TBIC (Tennessee Beef Industry Council) retains the discretion to make all decisions regarding the interpretation of these official rules.
• All decisions of the sponsor are final and discretionary.

SELECTION OF FINALISTS: 

Five (5) restaurants/burgers will be selected as finalist "Top 5"  from across the state based on the number of nominations each burger/restaurant receives. The sponsor (TBIC) retains the discretion to make the final selection of the "Top 5". All decisions of the sponsor are final. 

• All burgers nominated from a single restaurant will be included in that restaurant's final nomination total. 
• EXAMPLE: Restaurant receives three nominations, but each nomination features a different burger from the restaurant's regular menu. Though the burgers submitted aren't the same, Restaurant will still receive a nomination credit for each of the nominations.
• Restaurants who receive nominations for multiple locations will be counted per individual location not as a total.

Judging Criteria: 

Selection of the 2026 Tennessee's Best Burger will be conducted by an anonymous judging panel. Judges will not announce their presence at the restaurant or request a free meal. The decision of the judges is final.

The following guidelines will be used in judging: 

• Taste of burger patty – 50%
• Appearance & Presentation – 30% 
• Proper cooking temperature/degree of doneness – 10% 
• Overall Eating Experience – 10%