Across from the Nevin Post Office and a short walk from Kaiser Richmond, Marty’s Grill sits ready to serve the hungry with no-nonsense, old-school burgers and fries.
Marty’s, with its vibrant primary colors and large parking lot mural, always caught our eye during our busy outings. However, for the Richmond Burger Trail, we made a special visit to Marty’s.
The space is clean and bright, with simple tables, metal chairs, and a tiled floor that feels straight out of another era. It has a Wendy’s-like sunroom tacked onto the front that had us pondering what restaurant previously occupied the building.
The counter gleams in stainless steel, and the menu above it scrolls through burgers, cheesesteaks, and a handful of shakes and specialty lemonades. The walls were completely devoid of artwork, like unsettling, unadorned.
There’s a steady, unhurried hum in the air, punctuated by the clatter of spatulas on the grill and, on our visit, with Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’‧playing over the speakers. (yeah, yeah)
We started with the double cheeseburger, Marty’s classic test of skill. The burger came stacked high on a sesame seed bun, layered with shredded lettuce, fresh tomato, and slices of red onion. Thousand Island dressing oozed generously from all sides, promising a messy, satisfying bite. The patties were thick and square-cut, grilled to a juicy middle with just enough char to add depth.
So there might only be three appropriate uses of American cheese, but cheeseburgers are one of them, and anytime you get melty American cheese on a burger, it’s going to taste good. It’s not a gourmet burger, but that’s not the point. And that’s precisely what makes it work. This isn’t a burger designed for experimentation. It’s a burger built to satisfy hunger and nostalgia alike.
The burger lives comfortably between fast food and fast casual, an approachable and familiar, but with the care of a diner that takes its craft seriously. It most closely resembles the burgers we enjoyed from Phila Burger and Frosty King.
On the Richmond Burger Trail: Frosty King keeps it satisfying on Harbour Way South
There’s no mistaking Frosty King on Harbour Way South. The building itself is a throwback, trimmed in fire-engine red and sun-bright yellow, with the kind of bold mid-century angles that seem built for hamburgers and milkshakes. Our quest continues as we methodically devour Richmond’s burger scene one establishment at a
Soren Hemmila
On the Richmond Burger Trail: Phila Burger Station on 23rd Street
We’re back on the quest, forks and appetites at the ready, systematically eating our way through Richmond’s burger landscape one patty at a time. This isn’t about chasing viral food trends or hunting down the most photogenic sandwich. It’s about finding the best damn hamburger in Richmond, period.
Soren Hemmila
OK, so not everyone wants a burger, and we ordered a Philly Cheesesteak, which turned out to be the showstopper.
Marty’s version arrives on a toasted French roll, piled high with grilled onions, bell peppers, and a molten layer of cheese. The bread itself struck the right balance: soft inside with a slight crunch on the crust, sturdy enough to contain its generous, gooey filling.
Halfway through, we hit an unexpected twist: a fiery jolt from fresh jalapeños nestled among the bell peppers. The surprise heat didn’t overwhelm the sandwich but instead added another layer of flavor that kept us coming back for bite after bite.
The grilled onions were the unsung heroes here, cooked down until they practically melted into the cheese, tying the whole sandwich together with a rich, savory base note. The result is comfort food at its finest: filling, flavorful, and just complex enough to make you stop and appreciate it.
Marty’s Grill feels deeply local in the best way. During our visit, a mix of customers filled the space: a few hospital employees on break, postal workers stopping by for lunch, and neighbors chatting over plates of fries. Conversations blended with the soft background of Michael Jackson’s voice, creating a soundtrack that felt both familiar and comforting.
Marty’s Grill doesn’t try to reinvent the burger or the cheesesteak. Its strength lies in perfecting the classics and serving them without pretense. The burger delivers a hit of nostalgia, while the cheesesteak rises above expectations, adding a dash of personality with its jalapeño kick.
Whether you’re near Kaiser, running errands at the post office, or simply craving a hearty, well-made meal, Marty’s is worth pulling over for.
Onward along the trail
The Burger Trail is about more than just the food; it’s about the places that bring Richmond together, one bite at a time. Marty’s Grill stands out as a reminder of why local spots matter: they serve as neighborhood anchors, places where everyone from Social Security workers to hospital staff can grab a plate of comfort food and feel at home.
We’ll be back to explore more of Marty’s menu, but for now, we’re hitting the road, searching for the next stop on Richmond’s evolving burger map.
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