Austin Burger Wars: First Edition
Breathes there a man with soul so dead who never to himself hath said, “Man, I am craving a burger.” With apologies to the famous poem by Sir Walter Scott, it’s hard to deny that each of us has been touched, some more than others, by serious burger cravings.
So in this inaugural installment of Burger Wars we’ll take a look at some of Austin’s oldest and newest burger joints, and give you our take.
Unlike Pizza Wars I’m not going to do a Top 7 here because there are so many damn good choices. So in no particular order, let’s start with the Poodie Burger out on Highway 71 in Spicewood. Poodie Locke was Willie Nelson’s long time road manager. He was a larger-than-life character who had a fondness for serious burgers. So he opened Poodie’s Hilltop Roadhouse and the Poodie Burger was born. This is a ten-napkin affair and the cheeseburger simply drips with flavor: the jalapenos take it over the top. And you gotta love Hopdoddy on South Congress. This collaboration between the owners of Moonshine and Eddie V’s has been wildly successful with lines out the door most days. Try the Magic Shroom among others. Another location has opened on Anderson. Also on the new front is Shane Street’s All Star Burger at the Galleria. The Yo Adrian burger is a killer and the milkshakes are almost beyond belief. The Apple Pie shake is stupid good.
And let’s hope that Mike Lavas finds a new location for the legendary Mike’s Pub. This place has been a staple downtown for years, and I’m hoping they reopen soon!
And what’s not to like about the iconic Hut’s on W. 6th? The Buddy Holly burger has been my favorite but there are 19 other choices if that doesn’t float your boat. Also like the huge Onion Rings. Open since 1938, Hut’s has had quite a run. Likewise Dan’s Hamburgers has been a perennial favorite. I had my first Austin cheeseburger at Dan’s back in the mid-70’s, and they haven’t slowed down since. Great breakfasts as well. And you have to get a kick out of locally-owned chain Mighty Fine Burgers. The Bacon Cheeseburger and the house made fries are spot on. The place is incredibly well run which is not surprising considering the Rudy’s BBQ (the Austin stores) guys are the owners. And another serious player is the Amarillo Burger at Casino el Camino on E. 6th! I am also particularly fond of Burger Tex (especially the one on Airport). As I noted in a blog over a year ago, their rolls are ridiculously good and that’s half the battle with a cheeseburger. The Green Chile burger is a blast at Shady Grove on Barton Springs. Great spot to eat outdoors as well. And local chain P. Terry’s has been growing exponentially over the past five years. The wait in the drive through line can be annoying, but worth it for those who don’t mind 20 minutes in the car. The burgers and fries are quite good. Dirty Martin’s on Guadalupe is another Austin icon where the mode is damn good greasy spoon fare. I love their seriously down-home Patty Melt. And one of the undiscovered treasures in Austin is the Cheeseburger at Canyon Grill Ice House on 290 just north of Dripping Springs. Put this one on your to do list! Also the cheeseburger at Bartlett’s (formerly Houston’s) at Anderson and Burnet remains a strong contender. Wonderful flavors. Huge and fresh rolls, and always well-cooked.
Top Notch Hamburgers on Burnet has been around for years and justifiably so. This is old-school flame-broiled beef, and the burgers are almost always the bomb. Fried Chicken is pretty damned good as well. And Fore out in Lakeway has a Sausage burger invented by Chef James Ramsey that is irresistible. The peppers and mushrooms that come with it are spot-on. And Jack Allen’s Kitchen has a burger that will make you get in your car and drive to Oak Hill. It’s called the Fat Jack Burger and it is comfort food at the highest level. Also really like the Vegetarian Burger at Hyde Park Bar and Grill (both locations). There are flavors and textures that set this one apart. And if you ever get up to Horseshoe Bay, the Cheeseburger at the Slick Rock Golf Course snack bar is legendary! The Gnarly Gar on Lake Travis (filling up again as of this writing) has a Peanut Butter burger that seems improbable but tastes wonderful! It’s an occasional indulgence at best but worth it. Also the Oasis atop Lake Travis has a bad ass burger that is as tasty as any in town. The O has ramped up its food since the pre- fire days and it’s now a good, solid comfort food experience. And a guilty pleasure, along with the custard, has been the burger at Culver’s on William Cannon. Wonderfully fresh rolls and tender beef.
Another icon is Sandy’s on Barton Spring Road. It’s kind of dumpy but who cares? The burgers are terrific, and their vanilla custard is right there with Culver’s. Down on Riverside, aside from being a great place to watch a game, the Draft Pick offers up great cheeseburgers. The Who-Dat cheeseburger is a blast. I also love their wings. Opal Divine’s is locally-owned and also home to a robust bacon cheeseburger. Ditto for Doc’s Motorworks on South Congress. And a surprisingly good cheeseburger can be found at Jim’s in Oak Hill. This has bailed me out on many a night driving back toward Dripping. Also the newish Your Mom’s Burger Bar is garnering rave reviews from our readers. And Elevation Burger at the Arboretum on Great Hills Trail is more than worth a visit. And the sister restaurant to Amy’s Ice Cream, Phil’s Ice House, dishes out some scrumptious cheeseburgers. I also like the burgers at the Green Mesquite. The cozy spot on Barton Springs oozes history and vintage Austin ambiance.
Well I could keep going and probably will soon. But for now, that’s our first installment of Austin Burger Wars. Bon appetit, ya’ll.
