Ken “Zig” Naffziger opened up this Kenton neighborhood restaurant in 2015 and since then, the lamb burger has been a regular favorite. Swift and Union grinds its lamb in-house for a patty cooked medium-well, simply adorned with arugula, dijon, and pickled red onion. Swift & Union is open for indoor and outdoor service, as well as takeout.

Located in the Overlook neighborhood, the Old Gold is known for its casual vibe and whiskey selection. The bar’s elk burger arrives topped with smoked gouda and bacon-and-date jam, which gives it a great smoky sweetness; the garlic-herb mayo adds a nice creaminess, without weighing down the Durham Ranch patty. The Old Gold is open for outdoor and indoor dining, as well as takeout.

Southland Whiskey Kitchen is mostly known for its whiskey selection; however, chef Shan Gray’s food menu should not be ignored, especially Southland’s venison burger. Southland’s local venison patty, sourced from Nicky Farms USA, is blended with garlic and rosemary, served on an herb-butter bun. The pickle mustard mayonnaise complements the pronounced flavor of the venison; it pairs well with pretty much any whiskey behind the bar. Southland is open for onsite dining, takeout, and delivery.

Do not overlook the elk burger at Deschutes’ downtown Portland location. Durham Ranch provides the third-of-a-pound, juicy elk patty, highlighted by the nuttiness of Gruyere cheese and the salty-sour of beer-brined pickles. The crispy onions on top also give the burger a nice crunch. Deschutes is open for dine-in, curbside pickup, and delivery.

Neighbors greet each other warmly upon walking into Tabor neighborhood standby, eventually sitting down to casual comfort food — including a knockout lamb burger. Tabor Tavern’s juicy lamb patty is complemented by feta and arugula; however, the slightly smoky red pepper harissa sets it over the top. Tabor Tavern is open for indoor and outdoor dining, as well as takeout.

This Woodstock’s cafe, naturally, serves its Cattail Creek lamb burger open-faced on toast as a part of its happy hour menu, accompanied by roasted red pepper and caramelized onions. Happy hour runs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., only available for onsite dining indoors or outdoors.

There is no shortage of game burger options at this Paleo-centric diner. Venison and boar appear among the laundry list of potential proteins available on its BYO Burger; diners can choose from assortment of cheeses — think: blue, cheddar, goat, Swiss — and add toppings like grilled onions, kimchi, or pineapple. Those who would prefer to leave the burger design to the professionals can opt for a venison burger with grilled mushrooms and goat cheese, or a wild boar burger with shoyu-marinated pineapple and pepper jack cheese. Dick’s is open for takeout and delivery.