A sunny day in Austin, Texas isn’t complete without a great burger and a cold drink. Located south of the capital city, Austin’s diverse and lively 78704 neighborhoods are full of terrific spots to stop and grab a burger. Ranging from simple cheeseburgers and fries to inventive variations, there’s plenty to experience while walking along the streets of this bustling area.
Dan’s Hamburgers:
No list of Austin burger restaurants would be complete without including Dan’s Hamburgers. Opening its doors in 1973, Dan’s has proven to be a popular and longstanding part of the community. Now, Dan’s has a total of four restaurants spread throughout the Austin area, and plans to continue growing into the future.
The charming part about Dan’s Hamburgers is how gradually it has evolved over the years. In fact, the first menu was only burgers, fries and soft drinks. Slowly, Dan’s began adding items to its menu, much to the delight of their customers. After adding shakes, onion rings, chicken fried steaks and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, it became even more clear that customers were loving the additions.
Today, Dan’s menu offers everything from breakfast to shakes. You won’t find anything out of the ordinary on the menu’s pages, but after realizing how well done they do the basics, you won’t even want to look for anything more.
Sandy’s Burgers:
Sandy’s Burgers is reminiscent of the roadside burger joints you used to visit every summer as a kid. In Austin especially, Sandy’s frozen custards and shakes are a perfect fix for the end of a hot summer day. Here, things are simpler, but that’s a good thing. The menu is concise, offering the classic burger and french fry options that you’ve come to know and love.
Out back there’s a quiet spot to sit and enjoy your food outside. There’s nothing fancy to find at Sandy’s Burgers, but the food comes out hot and fresh. Sometimes it’s refreshing to find a place that still appreciates the classic fast food experience that we all grew up loving. Austin seems to have a little piece of living Americana with Sandy’s, and if you find yourself wandering the roads of Austin’s 78704 neighborhoods you’d be wise to check it out.
Gourdough’s Public House:
There’s plenty to talk about for Gourdough’s without even bringing up the burgers. But then again, that would defeat the purpose of placing Gourdough’s Public House on this list of Austin’s best burger places. You might be wondering if you read the last part correctly, especially since Gourdough’s is probably best known for their deserts and donuts.
Well, this is Texas after all, and what that means is that Gourdough’s is home to the best Donut Burgers for miles around. Let us give you a sense of what we’re talking about.
Take for instance one of the more popular items on their menu—the Double D Burger. It’s an unglazed donut sandwiching a fresh and juicy Angus beef patty, crispy bacon, a fried egg, blue cheese crumbles, plenty of buffalo sauce, crunchy red onions, and a blend of chipotle mayonnaise to top it all off.
In addition to their various burger creations, Gourdough’s Public House also offers sandwiches and other deserts, as well as fresh baked donuts. It’s hard to think of reasons to skip out on this place, aside from a minor scolding at your next doctor’s appointment.
The Shady Grove:
How can we ignore the beautiful outdoor scenery that Texas is so well known for? Adding a bit of ambiance to a great meal really solidifies The Shady Grove as a “must experience” for those looking for a bit of fun and excitement. Going on 27 seasons, the “Unplugged at the Grove” live music series is actually Austin’s longest running of its kind.
From April to mid-September, customers are treated to live music while they enjoy delicious home cooked meals on the restaurant’s expansive patio. If music isn’t your thing, there are also showings of classic films at the restaurant’s Starlight Theater, where you can bring back long-lost memories of drive-in movies under the stars.
The Shady Grove has an extensive menu of Tex-Mex and comfort food, so choosing your meal may be the hardest part of your entire experience there. But, for those who like to keep it simple, there’s also a mouth watering assortment of burger options to choose from. Coupled with the experience of eating amongst the music and ambiance, The Shady Grove definitely qualifies for our list of best burgers in the 78704.
If dinner and a show is what you’re after, look no further than The Shady Grove—just make sure you leave yourself enough time to explore their menu.
