Hopdoddy Burger Bar

«Get on down wichyo badddd self» — our waiter when my friend said she was still working on her food. Can he be my best friend please???
This place is just an experience all around. There’s a line that wraps around the corner to get in, and then ANOTHER line to order. Even with that, it’s definitely a five star place. Hence the 3400 good reviews they already have. I got the Sangrita cocktail (sangria and margarita) the Prime time burger, and we split the truffle fries (duh!!). It was a fantastic meal and we got to sit outside to enjoy the 75 degree day (I especially enjoyed this because back home was a brisk 30 degrees. Ha ha sorry Denver!)
I have been to the one in Denver, and this Austin location is completely different! They’re both good just in their own way! Check it out you won’t regret it!

The review on Hopdoddy is very straight forward. The food and burgers are absolutely amazing, but the wait time, which is seemingly always out the door and forever is terrible. Thankfully, you can order a drink while waiting in line. Pick an off hour and grab a delicious burger that is certainly worth the wait.

After checking into our hotel, we immediately made our way to Hopdoddy for dinner. Unfortunately for us, it was a Saturday night and the line wrapped around the restaurant. We ended up coming back on a Monday afternoon and walked right in, thanks to no line. The service was also super friendly and very quick.
We had the Poutine (the runny egg totally did it for me) and Terlingua burgers (anything with Fritos and chili is a winner) which were super tasty and filling. The patties were cooked just right (medium), with a slightly crispy crust, lightly seasoned, and a crumbly but moist texture.
While it’s not *the* best burger I’ve ever had, it’s worth a visit if you are in South Congress and have an appetite.

Quite possibly the best burger place in the World. Gourmet, locally sourced burgers with great fries! Service is great & happy workers. They have always accommodated my daughter since she was a baby in a stroller to a crazy active 4yr old.

Their secret sauce was so secret that it didn’t exist on my burger.

Can I just say I love everything about this place?! If you’re in town I say this place is a must if you want your burger fix. We went on a Saturday night and there was a 30 min wait (which is pretty typical) — however, they take your drink order while in line. I was able to drink the 512 IPA, and by the time I was done I was ready to order my food. The service here is really top notch which I wasn’t expecting.
I split two burgers, and they were both excellent– the magic shroom and the greek. I can’t decide which one I liked better. The lamb was so good but the combination on the magic shroom was almost better (it’s hard say so you should probably get both if you’re debating).
The staff were organized and super friendly — overall a great experience!

Without a doubt: a top notch establishment. The burger was absolutely to die for. We saw the line that stretched around the building and me and my buddy wondered if it was worth the wait. It definitely was. The staff were nice and took our beer orders as we waited in line. We had a nice chat with the employee who welcomed us to Austin (we were visiting from LA).
The burger itself was probably the best food I had in Austin. I got the magic shroom burger which came with angus beef, goat cheese, mushrooms and basil pesto. I inhaled it within a few minutes because of how tasty it was. I’m currently getting hungry just thinking about it. I think I’m gonna go to the hopdoddys in LA now. See ya! (You have to try this place!)

I’m not a fan of lines. I think that unnecessarily complicated ordering protocols are maddening. I hate when a restaurant crosses that difficult to define line and becomes a «scene.» I think cloying or «cutesy» restaurant names are a turnoff. Hopdoddy, unfortunately, checks all four of those boxes.
BUT…
I cannot tell a lie, and their burgers are goddam*ed delicious, consistent and reasonably priced. Sure you’re going to pay an average of $ 10, but you just don’t get a juicy, well assembled burger like this at many places these days. There are greasy burger dives, fast food joints, those that fall somewhere in the middle and institutions like Hut’s. Hopdoddy has created a niche all its own.
So what if they use Mexican non-​organic tomatoes? Who cares if you have to basically shove your way back into the one-​way beverage/​condiment line to get any extra ketchup or refill your drink? The food is really good, and it has been every one of the 20+ times I’ve been there despite all the deal-​killer, show-​stopper, unforgivable sins they’ve committed in every other category than the food itself. :-)

PRIMETIME is where it’s at! This is easily one of my more favorite burgers in the entire world! The brie, arugula, truffle aioli, and perfectly cooked patty is just to die for! There is usually a line if you go on peak hours so try to avoid lunch time, dinner time etc by an hour or so and you’ll be good. We usually go around 5PM, 11:30AM for example and there has not been a line. Their shakes are amazing, too. I usually get the oreo shake but if you do then you should probably share your burger since the burgers and shakes are on the heavy side. Truffle fries are a must and their ketchup is amazing. (I don’t like ketchup usually) Parking is easy to find here and the service is pretty great considering how busy they are!

Long line, we arrived Saturday 1:30pm, waited almost an hour. Worth of the wait. While in line, water is offered and menu is too. Staff very friendly.
Cold day in Austin, will be nice if they have few heat lamp out. But we bundled up well.
Ordered mushroom burger and truffle fries.
Best fries ever had. Flavor is just so right and truffle oil penetrates into the fries yummy!!!
I am not a big fan of burger, for me, not too judgmental to burgers at all. It is a tasty burger for sure !
Every ingredient is from Austin. Travel local eat local is what I believe.
Love this place. Will come back again.

I passed by this place the first day I was in Austin and saw an enormous line out of the door. I decided to return back on another day during an odd hour, so I came back at 3 PM on the day of my flight and got the magic shroom with truffle fries. Totally worth the effort to make that last stop.
Meat is soft when cooked medium. Mushrooms and veggies yes yes very good, but the bun… mmm yes the bun completes the burger. As for the truffle fries, they were just the right size. Not too thin where it’s only crispy and not too fat where there is too much potato. They were just right. Definitely coming back whenever I am in town (at an odd hour).

«This is the definition of fast casual dining. Outstanding customer service from the moment of door entry through the entire dining experience.»
Service — Coming from downtown Chicago, high volume customers in fast casual places are difficult to manage. Long lines, fighting for tables, POS systems and confusion. But today, Austin’s Hopdoddy is the first in my book to really resolve those issues and set an example in fast casual! :)
Even though the lines are long, you can order drinks or view the menu while waiting. You are also given a table number so you don’t have scavenge for one. You also order while waiting in line for the POS. And there are staff members who serve you during your dining experience!
Food — Primetime Burger is served medium rare. I loved it. Good balance of beef, veggies and bun. A lot of the flavor from the meat is retained after cooking. The chocolate milkshake is great. Right about of fluff/​foam with chocolate syrup to top it off.
Please come to Chicago! I promise you’ll have a strong arm in the burger market!

We ordered the prime time with veggie patty and the sushi burger along with the Nutella pretzel milk shake! The milk shake was really good but the burgers were okay!
The sushi burger had too much wasabi which spoilt the entire taste. The veggie prime time did not have salt so it tasted bland. We ordered fries which were good.
However I feel the place is way over priced for the taste!

Simply amazing burgers, the meat that they use is outstanding, you can literally taste the freshness of the burger/​tuna, the meat was melt in your mouth once you bite into it and the buns are all freshly made in front of you, they look perfect just like what you see in the burger commercials, their shakes were good, we got the Nutella pretzel which was very filling but not overly sweet
Definitely a place to try out their burgers

Loved this place! We came here for lunch on a Friday. Even though there was a line out the door, it moved pretty quickly. I ordered the La Bandita and truffle fries for the table. So good! This place is welcoming and the staff is super friendly. The milkshakes also looked divine. I’d definitely visit again the next time I’m in Austin!
–L.

I kept passing this place during my visit in Austin, and managed to give it a try Monday night. Luckily, there wasn’t much of a wait around 8pm as there is usually a line around the establishment. We waited about 15 minutes before we put in our order. We ordered the Llano poblano and the magic shroom burger along with a large serving of fries. We were given a table number while we were in line, and went to find our table after we ordered. We got our condiments at the condiment and drinks bar. They had a range of sauces and a really good honey mustard.
We sat down at our table, and about five minutes later, we got our fries and a little after got our burgers. The burgers reminded me of Umami burger out in the West coast. The burgers looked a bit tiny, but were actually very filling. The meat was nicely cooked and flavor was good. But I was expecting a huge blow me away factor since there is always a crowd. All in all, they have solid food but I would never wait in a long line.

Probably the best burger I’ve ever had. Went here for dinner our last night in Austin, on a Monday. Arrived around 7. Line was out the door as usual for this place. It moved quickly and they had cucumber water for us as we waited. I heard they will come around and get drink orders but that was not the case. We waited in line and when we got to the bar ordered are first drinks. The beers are served in goblet glasses. Waited a little bit longer and ordered our meal to a server with an iPad. A few more minutes and we paid and got our table numbered. Sat down and the food was out within 10 minutes and man, it was delicious. Server was cool, friendly and attentive.
The burger was worth the wait, and I would definately go to Hopdoddy’s next time I’m in Austin.

After renting my Santa costume next door at Lucy’s for the Santa Pub Crawl on December 5^th, I noticed their wasn’t a line at Hopdoddy’s so my bud and I decided to go. What a great lunch.
This was my first visit. I like the setup because you can grab a BIG FREAKING BEER while waiting to order inside. They have a full bar so you can have a margarita while waiting to order also.
The deal is you can’t order your food until the wait staff assigns you a table number. I like this because it eliminates the hassle of finding a table. And you will already have a cold, BIG FREAKING BEER in your hand so life is good.
The burger itself ties for first place with Lewbowski’s for the best burger in Austin. But Hopdoddy’s is by far a better destination than Lewbowski’s so I see myself coming back to Hopdoddy’s time after time.
The green chili Queso fries were good. I think one order is large enough to share between two people.
I received ½ off my tab yesterday because it was Veterans Day (USAF) and was shocked. Half off including my BIG FREAKING BEER tab!
5-​star review for tying for 1^st place for best burger establishment in Austin. And a big HELL YEAH for ½ off my tab on Veterans Day!
I’ll be back.

Hands down.
My favorite burger joint.
Located in SoCo of Austin, this burger joint is bustin’ with clientele daily. The wait times ranged from 5 minutes to 20 minutes for me, guess some good luck. It would be an additional 10 – 15 minutes to get your food. The lines can be around the corner, but Hopdoddy workers walk around with water every once in a while.
Parking is in the back garage, where a man stands and gives you a parking ticket. Make sure you redeem the ticket at the register! Otherwise, you have to pay.
Ordering system here:
–Line up and head to the register area
–Before you reach the register, there is someone who asks about your party and assigns you a table with a number
–Order what you want at the register and give him/​her your table number AND parking ticket
–Find your tagged table and wait for your food to be delivered
Important part, FOOD:
–Goodnight Burger (5/​5, Angus Beef, Tillamook Cheddar, Caramelized Onions, Sliced Jalapeño, Hickory BBQ, Sassy Sauce): It’s my all time favorite ever and is worthy of the crown! The key players are the caramelized onions, jalapenos, and bbq and sassy sauces. Those really changed a classic cheeseburger to something else. There is a slight sweet taste from the bbq and caramelized onions, but the jalapenos balance it out. Plenty of jalapenos in the burger as well. The coolest thing about ordering this baby is that it’s known as the Good Cause Burger because $ 1 is donated to a local organization.
–Classic Burger (4/​5, Angus Beef, Red Leaf Lettuce, White Onion, Ripe Beef Steak Tomato, Sassy Sauce, Classic Cheese, Bacon): You cannot go wrong with a great, plain cheeseburger. I personally didn’t order this. Just had one or four bites of a friend’s with a dip of green chili cheese here and there.
–Llano Poblano Burger (3/​5, Angus Beef, Pepper Jack, Roasted Poblano Chiles, Apple-​Smoked Bacon, Chipotle Mayo): This was the first burger I’ve tried here and wasn’t that thrilled about it. I actually chose this from reading prior Unilocal reviews. The most prominent taste from this burger was the angus beef itself. I would maybe add caramelized onions in this with an extra sauce.
–Truffle Kennebec Fries with Green Chili Cheese (⁵⁄₅): It is slap yo’ mama good! One of the days that I had the 20 minute wait, the worker was advertising truffle fries with green chili cheese and chili con queso. We immediately dipped a truffle fry in both and knew the way to go was with green chili. Recently, it seems that we got less cheese than normal. However, truffle fries have the perfect crisp without being extremely oily. Try this!
–Nutella & Chocolate Pretzel Shake (⁵⁄₅): Fan of Nutella? (Who isn’t?) Fan of sweet and salty? I highly recommend this. This shake is the subtle kind of sweet and salty that goes a long way with everything here. I was hooked on this after I tried a friend’s. If you’re feeling a little more adult, add some Bailey’s. Get it, get it!
–Red Velvet Shake (³⁄₅): This is average with bits of cake in it. Literally like a blended cake.
IT IS COMING TO HOUSTON SPRING 2016. YESSSSSSSS — I’ll be a regular customer.
I’ll most likely try the Terlingua Burger or Primetime Burger next. that is if I’m not craving my Goodnight Burger.

I’m a huge fan of restaurants that use all natural and local ingredients. I’m an even bigger fan when the food is just plain, old delicious! & Ecstatic when the food is amazing + the service is awesome!
First, there will most likely be a line, but it’s so worth it. So wait! There’s even a burger bouncer! haha so cute! While on line, you can get a drink brought to you or free cucumber/​lemon infused water. You can also look at the menu and decide what you want.
How does it all work?
1. Line up —
— While you are on line inside, you will pass by the bar area in which you can order a drink while you wait
As you reach towards the back,
— watch the bread being prepared and baked
— take a peek of the meat being freshly grounded
2. Order in the back at the counter
— If it’s busy, one of the workers will come and take your order via an iPad as you get closer to the register. Your order will show up at the register, and you can get separate bills + be at the same table. The technology nowadays!
3. You will be given a table number to go to after you order
4. After you order, go to your designated table & your food will be brought to you
5. Get some chipotle ketchup!
6. Enjoy!
Food:
El Diablo — if you like things spicy, this is the burger to get!
— Angus Beef, Pepper Jack, Carmelized Onions, Habanero and Serrano Chiles, Salsa Roja, Chipotle Mayo
Parmesan Truffle Fries — omg. to die for. served with truffle aioli. get it.
Note: All burgers are cooked medium — medium well. First restaurant I’ve been to where they don’t ask you how you want your burger cooked. Just an FYI.
Beverages:
Soco Sweet Tea — Pretty tasty, not strong
— only $ 6 — House Infused Lemoncello, Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, Raspberry Purée, & Fresh-​Squeezed Lemon
There are so many craft beers and other drinks, Plus, they serve Maine Root’s FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED organically sweetened sodas!
IN CONCLUSION, GO TRY!

Mi impresión en el paladar estuvo ligeramente por debajo de las leyendas que me contaron de este lugar. Coincido en que es un spot que vale la pena frecuentar. Coincido en que lo recomendaría (quizá como segunda opción), lo que no comparto es la decisión de formarse para conseguir mesa.

The place is very good.
The hamburgers are great and the fries are awesome, but I do not know if the line is really worthy.
My suggestion is if you have to wait for so long it will not be worthy.
I must say that the burgers are great, but other places offer the same quality with without having to wait for so long and at a reasonable price.

Cuando voy a Austin siempre paso a Hopdoddy’s! Las hamburguesas son excelentes! El servicio es siempre rápido y amigable. Mi consejo es a pasar cuando no hay tanta gente (por la tarde después de 13:00 o antes de 18:00) por que las filas son a veces sorprendente largas pero comprueban la calidad de este restaurant.
Los postres (con alcohol) son muy muy buenos!
Es un poquito caro y solamente por eso no puedo dar ⁵⁄₅ estrellas.
*Hopdoddy’s es (no creo de casualidad) muy parecido al «imperio de hamburguesas» de Danny Meyer in NYC (Shake Shack).
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Whenever I go to ATX I make it a point to stop at Hopdoddy’s. The burgers are first rate! The service is always cheerful & prompt. I suggest coming during off peak times since the lines can be silly but attest to the quality of this establishment.
The desserts (with added ETOH) are really really good so save room!
It is a bit pricey so I have to deduct a star since it doesn’t hit that sweet spot of value & quality.
* btw Hopdoddy’s bears a very favorable resemblance to Danny Meyer’s burgeoning burger empire.
^^^
Wann ich reise nach Austin, ist zumindest ein Besuch bei Hopdoddy’s natürlich selbstverständlich. Die Burgers sind hervorragend! Die Angestellten und Gastfreundlichkeit sind immer ausgezeichnet. Meine Empfehlung ist entweder ein frühes Mittagessen (bevor 13:00 Uhr) oder frühes/​spätes Abendessen (bevor 18:00 oder nach 20:00), weil die langen Schlangen und wenige freien Parkplätze zur Qualität von Hopdoddy’s bestättigen.
Die Nachtische (mit Alkohol natürlich) sind sehr empfehlenswert!
Es ist zwar ein bisschen teuer y deswegen kann ich Hopdoddy’s nur mit ⁴⁄₅ Sternen bewerten.
Hoppdoddy’s ist (nicht zufälligerweise) sehr ähnlich mit Shack Shake aus NYC.