If you're like us, every time you come across the words "bone marrow butter" on a burger menu — and, doubtlessly, the ensuant double-digit price tag — you die a little inside. (But just to clarify you uh... also probably order it.) That's because, why, back in your day, burgers were simple! A burger was a burger! Thankfully, there's still a little of that spirit left in good ol' Big D. Here are 10 Dallas burger chains that preserve burger canon — and the reasons why they're worth visiting.
If you're into nostalgia and you respect tradition and longevity, then Burger House is the Dallas burger chain for you. The original location opened in 1951! And not long after, I assume, hordes of people began knocking down the doors to get just one more sweet taste of those signature seasoned fries. Burger House tosses their deep-fried thin-cut potatoes in a spice mixture that's reminiscent of Lawry's. They've won their share of awards for these fries because people are obsessed with them — and have been for decades — and rightfully so.
If you shame-patronize Sonic under the guise of "I like their limeades" or "they have good ice," Burger Street is the Dallas burger chain for you. Stop going to Sonic. Sonic is a garbage company despite a funnier-than-average television advertising campaign. To get your delightfully pebbly ice fix, go to Burger Street instead. After all, it was founded by one of DFW's own, and their curly fries (related: stop going to Arbys) will make you feel doubly better about yourself.
If you desperately want to hate all of the self-satisfied hipster-transplant flimsy do-gooder food smugness that comes wafting this way from Austin — but you just can't — then Hopdoddy is the Dallas burger chain for you. Yeah, the burgers are well-made and taste great, and sure the fries are crispy and salty and yummy and, god, the milkshakes, and all the local beers on tap, and okay okay okay fine Hopdoddy is great. But a lot of places have great burgers and fries and shakes and booze right? Well, no, but even if that were true, here's what no other place has: a gooey, meaty, soul-soothing chili con queso to sink your fries (and troubles) into. Queso connoisseurs: take note. Hopdoddy is pacing the field.
I happen to think that the poppy-seed buns at Jake's are packed with a little more pop than other pro-poppy seed places, but if you disagree, you are welcome to get your poppy-seed fix elsewhere. (Lookin' at you, Keller's.) What you can't get elsewhere? Fried cheesecake. Fried brownies. Fried bananas foster. And fried jalapenos, known here as bottle caps, little poppable breaded morsels of mouth-puckering joy. You can put 'em directly on your burger too, because Jake's cares about you, if not your cholesterol levels.
If you're quite possibly the laziest human in the Metroplex — which would put you high in the running for laziest worldwide — then Keller's is the Dallas burger chain for you. Four words, my friend: beer in your car. You read that correctly. The Northwest Highway drive-in is a Dallas essential, and that's maybe 85 percent because they will bring you out a beer alongside your tasty burger. Keller's is a beautiful thing.
If you're frequently complaining about the quality of chain-restaurant beef patties — too thin, too gray, too bland, too boring — then LA Burger is the Dallas burger chain for you. Specifically, the Coreano — made with bulgogi, the thinly sliced barbecue beef mixture that adorns most every Korean fusion concoction — is the burger you should be ordering. That aforementioned bulgogi makes certain that your burger will be memorably, seriously good. LA Burger will also make you wonder why every other place isn't using kimchi as their go-to burger accoutrement. The acid kick it adds brings the humble dill pickle to shame.
[Photo: LA Burger/Facebook]
If you really wanna eat local, then Liberty Burger is the Dallas burger chain for you. Founder Mariel Street is a native Texan. Dallas grub coarses through her blood — her brother is the man behind Snookie's; her father, Gene, we have to thank for the Black-Eyed Pea. She also has a conscience (she even did a stint in the Peace Corps). Liberty Burger doesn't spout tired "local, sustainable, responsible, quality" rhetoric as a PR move; it's more than buzzwords here. They give proceeds from their burger slingin' to local schools and charities. And their Lakewood location has their own compost pile! They also serve only Texas-brewed beers — and they put booze in their milkshakes. Score.
If you're Blythe Beck, this is the Dallas burger chain for you. If you have kids, this is the burger chain for you. (The chalkboard is a perennial kid-friendly favorite.) If you grew up watching way too many Kevin Smith movies, this is the Dallas burger chain for you. (Mooby's, anyone?) Even if none of these criteria apply to you, you'll probably still like it. They make their own buns! And shakes with real ice cream! What's not to like?
It's trending to #hatehard on Twisted Root because Guy Fieri once went there. But if you're on the lam (no judgment here), Twisted Root is the burger chain for you. They don't care what your name is; in fact, they give you a new one! Only here can you pull a Bob Durst and then, while ducking your recently issued warrant, claim your order as Fred Durst. So when you do order, add a milkshake to your exotic-meat burger of choice. As your pseudonym is called (Austin Powers? Paula Poundstone? Vanna White?) grab your burger, put on your pantyhose mask, and definitely stock up on those excellent housemade pickles before you sneak out the back.
If you're a little too "I lease my midsize sedan at Park Cities Volvo" to idle in a drive-thru, then Village Burger Bar is the Dallas chain for you. With their Build to Suit Burger, you get to have it your way without also having to answer "do you want chicken fries with that?" A lot of these fancier fast-casual burger joints get so caught up in their clever concept that they forget what Village Burger Bar, itself fairly fancy, encourages: This is about you. So build your own burger however the hell you want it, add some shoestring fries and a sensible cocktail, and remember when a burger used to mean whatever you wanted it to.
If you're into nostalgia and you respect tradition and longevity, then Burger House is the Dallas burger chain for you. The original location opened in 1951! And not long after, I assume, hordes of people began knocking down the doors to get just one more sweet taste of those signature seasoned fries. Burger House tosses their deep-fried thin-cut potatoes in a spice mixture that's reminiscent of Lawry's. They've won their share of awards for these fries because people are obsessed with them — and have been for decades — and rightfully so.
If you shame-patronize Sonic under the guise of "I like their limeades" or "they have good ice," Burger Street is the Dallas burger chain for you. Stop going to Sonic. Sonic is a garbage company despite a funnier-than-average television advertising campaign. To get your delightfully pebbly ice fix, go to Burger Street instead. After all, it was founded by one of DFW's own, and their curly fries (related: stop going to Arbys) will make you feel doubly better about yourself.
If you desperately want to hate all of the self-satisfied hipster-transplant flimsy do-gooder food smugness that comes wafting this way from Austin — but you just can't — then Hopdoddy is the Dallas burger chain for you. Yeah, the burgers are well-made and taste great, and sure the fries are crispy and salty and yummy and, god, the milkshakes, and all the local beers on tap, and okay okay okay fine Hopdoddy is great. But a lot of places have great burgers and fries and shakes and booze right? Well, no, but even if that were true, here's what no other place has: a gooey, meaty, soul-soothing chili con queso to sink your fries (and troubles) into. Queso connoisseurs: take note. Hopdoddy is pacing the field.
I happen to think that the poppy-seed buns at Jake's are packed with a little more pop than other pro-poppy seed places, but if you disagree, you are welcome to get your poppy-seed fix elsewhere. (Lookin' at you, Keller's.) What you can't get elsewhere? Fried cheesecake. Fried brownies. Fried bananas foster. And fried jalapenos, known here as bottle caps, little poppable breaded morsels of mouth-puckering joy. You can put 'em directly on your burger too, because Jake's cares about you, if not your cholesterol levels.
If you're quite possibly the laziest human in the Metroplex — which would put you high in the running for laziest worldwide — then Keller's is the Dallas burger chain for you. Four words, my friend: beer in your car. You read that correctly. The Northwest Highway drive-in is a Dallas essential, and that's maybe 85 percent because they will bring you out a beer alongside your tasty burger. Keller's is a beautiful thing.
If you're frequently complaining about the quality of chain-restaurant beef patties — too thin, too gray, too bland, too boring — then LA Burger is the Dallas burger chain for you. Specifically, the Coreano — made with bulgogi, the thinly sliced barbecue beef mixture that adorns most every Korean fusion concoction — is the burger you should be ordering. That aforementioned bulgogi makes certain that your burger will be memorably, seriously good. LA Burger will also make you wonder why every other place isn't using kimchi as their go-to burger accoutrement. The acid kick it adds brings the humble dill pickle to shame.
[Photo: LA Burger/Facebook]
If you really wanna eat local, then Liberty Burger is the Dallas burger chain for you. Founder Mariel Street is a native Texan. Dallas grub coarses through her blood — her brother is the man behind Snookie's; her father, Gene, we have to thank for the Black-Eyed Pea. She also has a conscience (she even did a stint in the Peace Corps). Liberty Burger doesn't spout tired "local, sustainable, responsible, quality" rhetoric as a PR move; it's more than buzzwords here. They give proceeds from their burger slingin' to local schools and charities. And their Lakewood location has their own compost pile! They also serve only Texas-brewed beers — and they put booze in their milkshakes. Score.
If you're Blythe Beck, this is the Dallas burger chain for you. If you have kids, this is the burger chain for you. (The chalkboard is a perennial kid-friendly favorite.) If you grew up watching way too many Kevin Smith movies, this is the Dallas burger chain for you. (Mooby's, anyone?) Even if none of these criteria apply to you, you'll probably still like it. They make their own buns! And shakes with real ice cream! What's not to like?
It's trending to #hatehard on Twisted Root because Guy Fieri once went there. But if you're on the lam (no judgment here), Twisted Root is the burger chain for you. They don't care what your name is; in fact, they give you a new one! Only here can you pull a Bob Durst and then, while ducking your recently issued warrant, claim your order as Fred Durst. So when you do order, add a milkshake to your exotic-meat burger of choice. As your pseudonym is called (Austin Powers? Paula Poundstone? Vanna White?) grab your burger, put on your pantyhose mask, and definitely stock up on those excellent housemade pickles before you sneak out the back.
If you're a little too "I lease my midsize sedan at Park Cities Volvo" to idle in a drive-thru, then Village Burger Bar is the Dallas chain for you. With their Build to Suit Burger, you get to have it your way without also having to answer "do you want chicken fries with that?" A lot of these fancier fast-casual burger joints get so caught up in their clever concept that they forget what Village Burger Bar, itself fairly fancy, encourages: This is about you. So build your own burger however the hell you want it, add some shoestring fries and a sensible cocktail, and remember when a burger used to mean whatever you wanted it to.
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