Rob’s Favorite Cheeseburgers in the Austin Area
In the FAQ category, I get “Who’s got the best cheeseburger?” probably more than anything. I don’t know if that’s a reflection on our overall tastes here in Austin or just the fact that we dearly love our burgers.
Well, there are so many excellent burger choices in our area, but let me narrow it down to my absolute favorites. They are, in no particular order, Mike’s Pub on E. 7th. This is a burger that’ll put some meat on your bones. It’s HUGE and it’s very tasty. Another serious contender is the iconic Hut’s on W. 6th St. The Buddy Holly burger is a staple I keep going back to and I love their onion rings and fries. A newer player on the scene is Mighty Fine Burgers. I tend to go to the one off Brodie but they have other locations as well. And contrary to some rumors, they are locally owned. All burgers are hand formed and the crinkle cut fries are a blast.
Out on Highway 71 in Spicewood is Poodie’s Hilltop Lounge, home of the famous “Poodie Burger.” The late Poodie Locke, Willie Nelson’s long-time road manager knew how to make a cheeseburger, and the one that bears his name is a 10-napkin affair that’s loaded with jalapenos and flavor. Another place you might not think of for cheeseburgers is the former Houston’s (now named Bartlett’s) at Anderson and Burnet. But they have consistently cranked out one of the tastiest cheese burgers in the area. Moist and delicious.
No discussion of cheeseburgers can omit Dirty Martin’s on the drag. This is about as down-home greasy-spoon as it gets and I love it each time I go in. And Casino el Camino on E. 6th makes the biggest damned cheeseburgers around. I absolutely LOVE their Amarillo Burger: ¾ of a pound of certified Angus beef. And served with attitude! Another slam dunk cheeseburger can be found at Top Notch on Burnet. This is an old-school kind of burger joint where the passage of time has done nothing to diminish the quality. And I am always drawn back to the Dan’s Hamburgers on Manchaca where the Jalapeno Cheeseburger is a work of art. I had my first ever cheeseburger in Austin at Dan’s when it was on the corner of Manchaca and South Lamar. It was good then. Still is.
The Green Chile Cheeseburger at Shady Grove on Barton Springs is another favorite of mine. You’ve got to love the location as well, nestled in among the trees. And I love the Burger Tex on Airport. Their buns are ridiculously fresh and the bun, when you’re talking cheeseburgers, well that’s at least half the battle.
Well, that’s a start. The list is by no means complete but I think you get the idea. If I’ve missed one of your favorites, shoot us an email and let me know what plunks your magic twanger!!!!!
