Top Notch

What drove me to try this place was Dazed and Confused lolol. A legitimate reason yes?! Plus it’s just so darn cute. I’m sure many other reviews make the movie reference but whatever it’s too cool to not mention because who doesn’t love that movie.
But okay okay now to the actual food. It’s pretty yummy. Simple, classic and yummy. It’s a place to go to when you want a real, simple and quick burger.
I love that this place consistently stays classic with its retro style atmosphere and simple menu. I have yet to try the chicken sandwich but I hear it is amazing. Definitely going to get that next time!
Don’t come to this place expecting some kind of interesting artsy dining experience. It’s suppose to be simple and classic. This is the real deal of retro. Embrace it’s simplicity like you would’ve when you were a kid. Aight? Aight.

Basic food done right. Burgers, fries, onion rings, chicken, everything was good that I tried, and especially enjoyed my double cheeseburger. If it’s not greasy, it’s not good and this burger called for about 5 napkins, thumbs up!

Tried their fried chicken sandwich #14 which was ranked in the top ten chicken sandwiches of Austin by the statesman in 2016. The chicken was freshly fried and steaming, the batter is a light color devoid of spices and more bread-​y vs. crispy. Comes on a plain white bun. It was good, but very basic to the tastebuds. A spicy version of this burger would be a good addition for the Austin market.

No, guys. Just because a nostalgic restaurant was in a nostalgic movie does not make it tasty. The fried chicken was $ 8 for two small pieces. The recipe for the batter was good but the fries did not «stand on their own two feet» as my husband put it – meaning you can’t eat them without ketchup and you need to season them yourself. My grilled chicken sandwich was tough and heavy on the mayo. Really the seventies were not known for their culinary achievements: mayo, lots of grease, ugly lamps. This is what 1971 had and that’s what Top Notch has. Truth in advertising but what a sad truth.

If you’re like me, then stop it. It’s creeping me out and there can only be one Ry-​Man. But also, you probably love the movie «Dazed and Confused». It’s one of my favorite movies and because I now live in Austin I can visit some of the spots where it was filmed. Like, for example, Top Notch, which was where they filmed Matthew McCono-whatever’s scene where he goes «Alright alright alright…»
I honestly loved walking into this time warp of a restaurant. From the yellow and brown designed cups to the 70’s style window shades, you can almost smell the ghost of Richard Nixon. I opted to sit indoors, but, as fas as I can tell, you’ve also got the option for curb service if you wanna stay in your car and crank a Deep Purple 8-​track.
The food is absolutely, 100% fan-frikkin’-tastic. I went with the 2-​piece fried chicken basket, white meat. These folks know what they’re doing with a bird! No doubt they brine that fowl ahead of time because that meat was juicier than a Starburst commercial. There was a breast and a wing and they were both wrapped up in a seasoned batter that crunched like it means it. Bravo!
My meal came with 2 sides. I got the tater tots because sometimes I like being 12-​years old again, and the cole slaw because I needed a vegetable. In my world, cole slaw counts as fiber. (Suck on that, doctor!) Anyway, crispy tots and a well done cole slaw rounded all of it out.
The service was fine, the parking was fine, and the overall experience was enough to make me blast «Slow Ride» on my way out. Will definitely return.

This is an Austin relic for sure but still as good now as when I first ate here almost 40 years ago. The burgers are the best in town. Believe me I have lived here a long time and have had my share of burgers. If you are looking for a slice of Austin and non corporate food then this is your place. You can eat inside or order and eat in your car carhops and all. Enjoy it while you can because any more it seems like the good old days are no more. No more Holiday House. No more Airport Burgers. No more Dans on Cameron. Let’s keep Top Notch here for another 40 years.

This was such a fun place to visit. It brought back great memories of life «back in the day «.
We ordered at the drive in part & ate at the picnic table. We watched the fire under our charbroiled our burgers They were very tasty, just the right amount of mayo The onion rings were very crunchy and tasty. The fried apple and lemon pies topped off our meal.
We love the theme and props from the movie Dazed and Confused. It was our first visit and will definitely return on our next visit to Austin.

First time I’ve been back in a few years. I ate there while my car was being washed at genie car wash accross the street.
Didn’t quite live up to my admittedly high expectations. The burger is awesome. I had the number three with onions and BBQ sauce. The fries were pretty tasteless though although s bit of vinegar helped that.
All in all, it’s on the Austin burger pilgrimage but perhaps not the best…

$ 22 for 2 people & an alright burger combo = eh, I’ll skip it next time. Service was great; super friendly people, but still, I expected something amazing for that price.

Not knowing that this place is historical and where many films have showcased the traditional drive up stands (ie «Dazed and Confused») I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived to be greeted by the famous Top Notch sign along the road. This is definitely a classic drive-​in style restaurant with a ton of preserved memorabilia inside and out. Its located a bit outside of the downtown Austin area and close to the university so beware of students.
Came here alone looking for an authentic fast-​food experience. Had a classic cheeseburger with fries and small fountain drink. The burger was standard, thin but retained a juicy bite with a fryer-​meaty flavor and dressed with the works (lettuce, tomato, onion). The fries were a sad story: thin, over salty and obviously frozen to deep-​fryer. They also weren’t too hot which definitely would have made a better impression. The price for food/​drink is average and staff were ok, nothing worth mentioning. The old-​fashion, traditional Top Noch décor was cool but nothing here made me feel like I would go out of my way to come back. Kinda a one-​time event.

I find that I have an odd cyclical timeline of morose interests. It’s almost like my equilibrium tells me when to read about serial killers, alien abductions, and death row confessions. Around those times, I will bore my friends with facts and assorted questions. Two of my favorite questions to ask are:
«What would your last words be?»
«What would you eat for your last meal?»
Since my mood is leaning in this particular direction this morning, I am going to share with you my answer to both of these pressing questions.
I would have the No. 12 (mixed)with fried okra and cole slaw. This is three pieces of deliciously fried chicken with two sides. I am going to make this claim. It is bold, I know. Top Notch is the best fried chicken you can get in Austin. Period. It’s just the truth. It’s consistent, delicious, and taste like home. I have yet to have had anything close to a bad meal. This is saying a lot being that I have been going there on a fairly consistent basis for over twenty years now. So, if/​when I am on death row. The chips are down, and I am fully aware that there is no phone call coming from the governor. Just know that I’m sitting in that cell, elbows deep in my favorite meal.
My last words, you ask? I’ll look deep into the crowd watching, and utter something that they all should hear:
«You’re Welcome.»

I love this place! Their onion rings are so good, wow. Their fries are up there, one of my fav places to get fries.
Burgers are good, reminds me a little of whataburger (which I love). However, I think something’s up with their grill. Both times I’ve gone, burger patties slightly have a strange taste, like burned? But not? Idk how else to describe it.
But I got over it after a few bites and I haven’t died or gotten sick yet: D
Chocolate malt is good, very thick. My friend got the veggie burger and said it could give P. Terry’s veggie burger a run for it’s money.

I’ve been going to top notch off and on an about ten years. I got introduced by an old timer in my office who has since retired. I recall going there the first time and not having cash. At that time the place was strictly cash only. He ended up spotting me on it and I was glad. He would occasionally buy their fried chicken which was good.
I’ve eaten burger combos and tenders. The burgers are cooked on an open grill flame. It makes for one heck of a smell when walking in. My Wife likes their burger combos with tots. The food is good but a little pricey imho. I know much of that has to do with the movie that was shot there.
The bathrooms are small so if you get easily frustrated go before you go. The interior is old and dated but fiys the shtick of the place. I like the place and go back when in the mood. I rate it a good local dive.

WELCOME TO GOOD BURGER, HOME OF THE GOOD BURGER! The burgers are ON POINT, boasting a flavor packed char broiled punch in each bite! The onion rings are the BOMB DIGGITY and are my favorite onion rings in Austin. CHECK CHECK CHECK it out!

Delish burger place along ‘It’s Burnet, Durn it!’ avenue.
This is a place that combines a homey burger joint vibe with the pull-​up car service of the 50’s. I decided to eat indoors as I didn’t want my Longhorn special to drip all over my car!
Personally, I was a little underwhelmed with the fries and onion rings, which I’ve heard a lot of people rave about here. Perhaps I got them on an off day. But the burger was oh-​my-​goodness delicious, right up there with Dan’s or some of the other places. I think the flame grilling (it’s great to watch that little dragon at work up front!) makes the difference.
This place gets a 3 on the ‘CTJ Scale’ as noted below.
5 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​Jesus good. Would be OK passing on after finishing a plate here.
4 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​Mary good. Would be OK being seen eating here by Mother Mary.
3 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​Joseph good. Would be OK having a beer here with Jesus’ Dad.
2 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​the-​Apostles good. Meh. Wouldn’t have my last supper here.
1 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​Nobody good. I wouldn’t have my penultimate supper here, either.

I love that this place is an old school car hop. It definitely has a 70’s dive feel to it. They have outdoor Picnic tables if you want to eat and hangout outside and also have plenty of seating inside as well. The service was good and friendly as well. The food was alright I got the chicken tenders I could tell they were hand battered and not just frozen tenders out of a bag which I liked. The only thing I really didn’t care for was the fries they were very bland and could definitely use some work, other than that my over all experience was pretty good!

I know 5 stars seems lofty for a fast food burger place, but for me 5 stars means «I wouldn’t change a thing.» And folks, I wouldn’t change a thing.
I love every ounce of this adorable drive-​in. Charcoal grilled burger are the star of the show, but the chicken fried steak, fried chicken and fried fish are all delicious as well. Onion rings are better than the fries (in my opinion). I love that nothing has changed here, even after the company changed hands when the owner died. The new owner really maintained the ambiance and food perfectly, which I really appreciate. Make a point to hit this Austin Classic; it’s a gem.

If you’re looking for a quality char-​grilled burger and fries in ATX without standing in line for an hour or two, this is your place.
I ordered the No. 3 burger, which comes with savory hickory sauce, special sauce, pickles, onions, tomatoes, etc. The patty was grilled to perfection without being burned, and the tangy hickory sauce was definitely the star. Unfortunately, I didn’t taste the special sauce at all.
The sides are pretty good, too! The shoestring fries are abundant and enough to share. They come out piping hot and crispy, but not too crispy. The onion rings are also made fresh and golden crisp, but arguably a bit too crunchy as a result of too much batter and not enough onion (this could just be a personal preference though). Thankfully, they have a long list of sides for everyone to enjoy. I’d love to come back for the buttered corn.
The venue is great. They have curbside service, but also tons of space inside. There are tables for larger groups as well as smaller parties. Gotta love your classic, cozy booths! You can expect basic fountain drinks, sweet tea, condiments, and everything you need from an old school burger joint.
This is a great spot for a quick, quality burger for a practical price. I’ll be back!

I’ve gotta say, this was no different than me going to Short Stop. Hold on, let me take that back. There is a difference… Top Notch was about $ 4 more than what I’d pay at Short Stop and the fries completely lacked ANY seasoning! After doctoring them up with jerk seasoning, the fries finally tasted like something, but what a let down. The burger itself was completely lack-​luster. Didn’t even taste fresh off the grill and you can thank Mighty Fine for that one!
Those of you raving about this place, please, give me some insight because right now I’m seeing stars…2 stars that is.
Service was quick and courteous, but that’s the only reason I’m giving any stars. Just too much hype.

Wow, what a darn gem.
P. Terry’s tries for retro –
This is the real deal.
I got the veggie burger
and cole slaw, of course.
Oh and a kid’s malt.
I can attest, too
that the onion rings and fries
are some of the best.