Updated since Dec 2022
I love a good burger from time and time and after eating dozens of burgers in town for the past 13 years, here’s my list of the best burger spots in Austin.
SEE ALSO: 29 Spots With The Best Brunch In Austin, Updated 2022
Now there are good burgers and there are great burgers so I’ve also rated these burgers from a scale of one to ten with ten being the highest. And what goes hand in hand with this guide on the best burgers in Austin is my best French fries in Austin guide.
Better Half
The cheeseburgers are only $6 during happy hour and you can choose from beef, chicken, or veggie (Beyond Meat patty). The American cheese is a must. Add on sangria for only $6 too.
Cheeseburgs are only $6 during happy hour from Sunday & Tuesday to Friday from 3pm – 6pm
BURGER RATING: 8/10
FRIES RATING: fries are extra
PRICE: $6 during happy hour
406 Walsh St, betterhalfbar.com
Hank’s
I’ve had the cheeseburger at Hank’s more times than I’d like to admit because it’s really good. The burger is also half off on Mondays!
BURGER RATING: 9/10
FRIES RATING: 10/10
PRICE: $12, fries included
5811 Berkman Dr, hanksaustin.com
SEE ALSO: My Favorite Austin Restaurants
Carpenter Hall
I really wanted to like the griddle burger at Carpenter Hotel but it was over-sauced with their special sauce and oversalted.
You can pick between fries or a green salad – make the right decision in life. I did LOVE the fries but they were also oversalted.
BURGER RATING: 7/10
FRIES RATING: 9/10
PRICE: $8, fries included
400 Josephine St, carpenterhotel.com
Kinda Tropical
The burger at Kinda Tropical in East Austin is as straightforward as a burger can be with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo. You can sub a vegan patty for $2 and grilled pineapple for $1.
The curly fries are an extra $7 but they’re SO good and come with two sauces.
BURGER RATING: 6/10
FRIES RATING: n/a
PRICE: $10, no fries
3501 E 7th St, kindatropical.com
Jacoby’s
This is by no means a healthy burger, it’s a dirty burger and by dirty, I mean like it’s oh-so-good and drip-down-your-arms good. Jacoby brand chili and Grizzelda’s queso on a high-quality Jacoby beef patty. Feel free to add on bacon, jalapeno, avocado, and a fried egg – live a little.
You can’t get more Texas than this.
BURGER RATING: 9/10
FRIES RATING: 10/10 because they’re CHILI CHEESE FRIES
PRICE: $18, fries not included ($10 cheese & veggie burgers during happy hour)
3235 E Cesar Chavez St, jacobysaustin.com
Dai Due
I feel like a lot of you guys are going to disagree with me on this rating but maybe Dai Due was having an off day the day I went. The local butcher shop’s aged wagyu beef burger was SUPER salty – I had three glasses of water. I think the burger was salted, the mustard was salted, and the cheese was salty. I did like how peppery the patty was.
Unfortunately, the sweet potato fries were limp and while I appreciate Dai Due made their own ketchup, I don’t like beet ketchup.
BURGER RATING: 4/10
FRIES RATING: 1/10
PRICE: $22, fries included
2406 Manor Rd, daidue.com
Leroy & Lewis
The L and L Burger at Leroy & Lewis has a smoked brisket patty with cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and burger sauce on a toasted potato bun. I also highly recommend the deluxe Frito pie with Texas red chili with onions and a side of the bacon ribs (Saturdays only).
BURGER RATING: 9/10
FRIES RATING: no fries
PRICE: $14
121 Pickle Rd,
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
I still remember the first time I bit into that burger at Hopdoddy when they first opened on South Congress and the lines were over an hour long.
I do like the Prime Time burger with a fried egg at Hopdoddy but I love the Impossible Burger that comes with the Impossible Patty. I think they sear the patty on the flat top so it gets a little crispy and I love that texture in my burger. The El Diablo with pepper jack cheese is also a popular option.
And I always get a side of truffle fries. You can make the burger entirely vegan by asking for veganaise and vegan smoked gouda (instead of cheddar cheese).
BURGER RATING: 8/10
FRIES RATING: n/a
PRICE: $12.75, fries not included
COVID-19: Hopdoddy is doing curbside pick up.
s congress ave, multiple locations, hopdoddy.com/menu/
SEE ALSO: Ultimate Neighborhood Guide To South Congress, Austin
Josephine House
Another one of my favorite Austin burgers is the house beef burger at Josephine House that comes with Grafton cheddar, harissa aïoli, red onion, and really amazing fries. It’s a classic burger that satisfies.
The burger is half off during happy hour that’s Monday to Saturday from 3-5pm.
BURGER RATING: 9/10
FRIES RATING: 8/10
PRICE: $19 with fries (half of during hh)
1601 Waterston Ave, josephineofaustin.com
Clark’s Oyster Bar
The most expensive and my favorite burger in Austin is the pan-roasted black Angus hamburger at Clark’s Oyster Bar because the burger is so juicy and flavorful and because it comes with a mountain of shoestring fries. The burger is $19 but it’s half off on Mondays to Fridays from 3 – 6pm!
BURGER RATING: 10/10
FRIES RATING: 10/10
PRICE: $21 with fries (half of during hh)
1200 W 6th St, clarksaustin.com
Arlo’s
I was surprised when I visited this food truck for their vegan burger and took a bite of the Bac’n Cheezeburger – HOLY COW.
The Bac’n Cheezeburger has a house-made soy-free and gluten-free patty stacked with house-made seitan bac’n, melted cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayo, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and lettuce.
While the burger is vegan, it’s certainly not healthy.
BURGER RATING: 10/10
PRICE: $9 without fries
1700 E 6th St, arloscurbside.com/menu
Mighty Fine
Mighty Fine has several burger options – the classic 1/2 lb burger and the junior 1/4 lb burger and the country fried burger. I go to Mighty Fine more often than I’m willing to share because it’s inexpensive and I can add in grilled onions and jalapenos in the burger. But more importantly, I get both seasoned crinkle fries and onion rings because they’re SO good.
BURGER RATING: 8/10
PRICE: $7.99 without fries
Multiple locations, mightyfineburgers.com/menu/
SEE ALSO: Best Tacos In Austin
This guide is part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance’s 2021 City Guide. Check out more of the best eats in Austin, curated by Austin food bloggers, on the full list of guides.
Other burgers in Austin
Hopfields
I haven’t been to Hopfields in probably six years so I’m due for a visit. Their Pascal burger has camembert cheese, cornichons, whole grain mustard, and caramelized onions and on a brioche bun. It comes with pommes frites and aioli. Hopfrields also has a veggie burger with dijonnaise, bib lettuce, Texas heirloom tomatoes, onions, and house pickles.
PRICE: ?
3110 Guadalupe St suite #400, hopfieldsaustin.com/menu
Casino El Camino
Yes, I know. No, I haven’t had the burger at Casino El Camino, but I really want to.
Three-quarters of a pound of charbroiled Angus beef are in every handmade patty. You pick from a traditional egg-washed white bun, focaccia, ciabatta, or jalapeño-cheddar. Beer-braised pork belly is an optional add on, along with bacon and avocado.
PRICE: $10.50
517 E 6th St, casinoelcamino.net
SEE ALSO: Best spots for late night food in Austin
Hut’s Hamburgers
After 80 years in business, Hut’s Hamburgers closed their downtown Austin location this past year BUT they are at the Austin Bergstrom Airport!
Austin Bergstrom Airport
SEE ALSO: 36 Best Restaurants In South Austin
Salt & Time
Of all the burger joints that I’ve mentioned above, we should go straight to the butcher. Salt & Time’s butcher’s burger is made with steak trimmings, pickles, and mayo, and comes with a side of beef-fat fries. Have you had it?
PRICE: $10
1912 E 7th St, saltandtime.com/our-food
RELATED: 17 Best Margaritas In Austin
Other great burgers in Austin
Contigo- JewBoy Burgers – you can also get potato latkes here too!
Gourdough’s Public House on S Lamar Blvd (South Lamar)- Odd Duck on Burnet Rd
- Top Notch (7525 burnet rd) – old-school drive-in that first opened in 1971
- Dan’s Hamburgers
- Pool Burger – for Hawaiian burgers
- Counter Cafe – scratch-made curry chicken burger made it on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
- P Terry’s – fast food but the drive-thru is so convenient
- Sandy’s on Barton Springs – they also have hot dogs and milkshakes!
- Luke’s Inside Out
- Slab BBQ
- Phil’s Ice Cream – located next to Amy’s Ice Cream
- Launderette’s Plancha burger on a soft challah bun
