Stella’s Has Hand-Pressed the Same Burger in Bellevue, Nebraska Since 1936

Good food doesn't need to be fancy. That was Stella Tobler's philosophy when she converted one room of her house into a tavern in Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1936.

Nearly 90 years later, Stella's Bar and Grill at 106 Galvin Road South has been named Omaha's Best Burger ten years running by local readers, recognized by the Nebraska Beef Council as the state's best, and featured in Gourmet Magazine and Business Insider.

The Stellanator, a 6-patty, 12-bacon, 6-egg eating challenge, remains one of the most demanding food contests in the Midwest. Fewer than a dozen people have finished it in 45 minutes. It made America's best burgers, one per state.

Six owners across nearly 90 years have followed the same recipe and the same cast-iron grill technique. That level of continuity doesn't happen accidentally. It requires each successive owner to understand what they're protecting.

What to Order

Every burger starts with a 6.5-ounce ball of fresh beef hand-pressed onto a cast-iron grill. The classic Stella burger comes deluxe on a Klosterman bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion. The Flying Pig adds shaved ham and two bacon slices. The Train Wreck layers shaved ham, split grilled mettwurst, and three types of cheese.

Fresh-cut fries arrive hot and consistently seasoned.

The Stellanator challenge: 6 patties, 12 bacon strips, 6 eggs, 6 cheese slices, jalapenos, and peanut butter. Finish it in 45 minutes and it's free. The attempt has a wall of fame. Finishing it earns a permanent spot on it. For more on the food scene nearby, see Nebraska's most historic restaurants.

Six Owners, One Recipe, 90 Years

Estelle Tobler was Bellevue's first tavern owner and a single mother who raised four children while running two businesses. She moved to 106 Galvin Road South in 1949 and named it Stella's.

Current owner Stephanie Francois is Stella's great-great-niece. The family connection across nearly a century of ownership is one of the most unusual features of the restaurant's story.

The cast-iron grill produces a specific crust on the Stella burger that flat-top cooking cannot replicate. The heat distribution, the seasoning of the iron, and decades of technique produce results that are recognizable immediately.

Bellevue's location south of Omaha catches both residents making the short drive for the food and travelers passing through on their way to or from the city. For more of the state's dining history, see the best restaurants in the Omaha area.

The nostalgic atmosphere inside the tavern keeps generations of families coming back, ensuring that Stella’s remains an essential landmark in Nebraska’s rich culinary history.

Plan Your Visit

Stella's Bar and Grill is at 106 Galvin Road South in Bellevue. Hours run Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sunday.

About 15 minutes south of downtown Omaha. Expect a line during peak lunch hours. While you're planning the trip, check out nationally recognized restaurants in Nebraska.