Kooper’s Chowhound Burger Wagon

Very good burgers. Wish it wasn’t so expensive, but they are very good.

When I saw the Chowhound parked outside of my work one day last week I was PUMPED! I was craving a juicy burger and fries and knew that Koopers would not let me down. I love that you can order different types of meat, pick from what seems like an endless amount of toppings and then you still have to pick what side you want!
The burger was cooked perfectly to my liking, the french fries were the perfect balance of crispy and soft and the service was just as great. I find that most of the time food trucks don’t excel in service because they aren’t really expected to. People walk up, order their food and then go on their way, but this food truck service was great. The man at the counter answered all of my questions and updated once it was almost ready.
I’ve been peaking out the window since then to see when they come back so I can try something new!

Their food truck was at the Samuel Adams Brew & View last weekend. I’m not sure which burger (s) he’s eaten, but my husband said that their burgers weren’t really «the best in Baltimore.» We therefore passed on those as there was another burger truck right next to it. However, I got the sweet potato fries and truffle fries, as well as a pickle.
The pickle was okay, nothing special.
The flavors of the fries were good, though the truffle one was more subtle and oftentimes dominated by garlic, which made the $ 5 price tag a bit steep (–1 star). I’m also happy that there were no burnt fries in the bunch. Unfortunately, though, while the fries might have started out crunchy, there was a really small window for this (–1 star), perhaps because they paper-​bagged each individually, and then wrapped them both up in yet another bag. By the time we walked back to the other side of the (small) park where we were seated, steam rising from the fries made the act of opening one of the bags rip it. That same steam made the fries get soggy rather quickly… They should really reconsider their packaging method.
In unrelated news, their website says that the truck comes to some fun-​looking events, so I might keep tabs on their website just for that. :P Their home page picture also implies that they cater for weddings, if you’re looking for that kind of thing.

I ordered the Gozo sliders with no tomatoes for lunch. It tasted good but there was nothing special really. I would probably get a five guys burger instead of burger here because five guys has a bigger burger with a better price, and in my opinion a better tasting burger. I would probably go to this shop again if I wanted to see how a «wagyu» burger tasted like, even though I don’t know if it would be worth the 12 dollars.
But pretty much this has an ok burger, but with a little a high of a price.

Great crab cakes; loved the sauce that came with them. Loved that there were so many options for sides – including sweet potato fries. I upgraded to a side salad also, which was huge (extra $ 1, fyi). Server Sam was super cool. Iced tea was fresh brewed. Nice atmosphere – historic.

I decided to give Koopers a try one Friday afternoon… boy was I happy!
I stood in line and thought, this had better be good… the line and heavenly smells made think that it WILL be good! So finally, my turn, I ordered a turkey burger with onion straws, lettuce, and tomato with jack cheese and BBQ and ranch sauces with a side of French fries. Once I received my food I was pleasantly surprised to see the portions, good sized burger and the fries were almost too much to eat. The burger was great! the patty was well cooked and the fresh fixens added to the burger feel. On top of that, they fries are seasoned fries, which came out crispy and hot, just like most people like them!
Overall great food (burger and fries, good service (quick turnaround for the meal), and great value (the price was $ 10 for the burger and fries)… not bad for a food truck
I would highly recommend Koopers, so good, might need to track them down for another burger!
Enjoy and don’t take your eyes off your hound, he’s eyeing your burger up!

On the bright side, I can definitively say that these burgers are far better than those from the Dorothy Moon food truck that used to often visit my job at lunch time – but these look and smell better than they taste.
I will admit my quintessential burger is one that is done medium rare – and although I asked for mine cooked rare-​mid rare it definitely was not. It was at least medium well. If they could not cook it the way I wanted, they should’ve said so.
What I did like were the bun and the fresh fixings. I had tomato, some super fresh arugula and yummy mushrooms. The meat was just OK. It didn’t seem like 1 lb of meat, though, as ordered…
Not sure if the burger was worth $ 8.
I’ll stick with McCormick and Schmick’s happy hour, Five Guys, Rays and umm, my charcoal grill for great burgers.

Kooper’s Chowhound Gourmet Burgers at Vocus
Split today’s $ 13 Chef’s Special– Ground Short Rib and Brisket, Bibb Lettuce, Tomato, Knobb Creek Caramelized Onions, Sharp Provolone, Roasted Red Pepper Aioli served on Brioche with Fries (Regular, Sweet Potato and Truffle*)
I like that their beef is somewhat locally sourced (NJ).
The burger was amazing. Almost rivaled Ray’s Hellburgers in Arlington. Truly could not distinguish the difference between Wagyu and the Short Rib/​Brisket mix, other than it was good. The toppings were fresh delicious accompaniment. But the brioche bun was cut thick on the bottom which did not lend well to a balanced burger.
And then the fries experiment– 2 stars out of 5 and they came out lukewarm (fail). Sweet potato fries (if you like them, I do) were definitely the better of the three with a sweet caramelized crunch. Regular fries were unfortunate and chewy. With scattered clumps of chopped parsley and uncooked garlic, the truffle fries, while smelling heavenly, turned out to be a disappointment. They had that regular fry chew and not much truffle flavor.
The staff was friendly and they do take credit cards now. I’d definitely go back for a burger and Sweet Potato fries. Hope they come again!

My favorite food truck!
I feel quite fortumate that the Chowhound stops at UMB every Wednesday. Now, I can’t say that stop by every Wednesday, but I manage to get my burger fix pretty frequently.
It was love at first bite when I tried the Elvis Got the Blues burger. The burgers here are cooked well done, but they are still juicy and flavorful. And bleu cheese and bacon? Seriously the greatest combination! I like to finish off my burger experience with the sweet potato fries. They’re delicious and for $ 2 you get a ton!
The service here is great. The guys who run the truck are really nice and you get a punch card. Free burger after you buy 10! Not impossible, trust me.
If you are stopping at the Chowhound while it’s at UMB, sometimes the area is a bit dicey, even at lunchtime. That being said, the guys who run the truck are very adamant that they don’t want anyone harrassing their customers, which I appreciate.
Another added bonus — this truck is great workout motivation. If I don’t make it to the gym in the morning and I get Kooper’s, I’m totally motivated to go after work! But the burger and fries are totally worth it!

I had my first burger from the wagon, which was delicious, and the resturante/​bar is just as fantastic. Service was great. The food is a bit pricey for a burger, which is why I am rating it 4 stars, but the you’re getting your bang for the buck!

When I get burgers, I usually get them medium rare. So when I ate from here for the first time, I was very disappointed after finding out that all burgers are cooked well done.
However, my burger tasted great and all the toppings were fresh.
Don’t bring a credit card because they only take cash.

I stopped short of 5 stars, and it’s really more of a 3 ½. The burgers here are delicious and never overcooked. The prices are just a little bit steep for what you get. I feel like for a burger alone, I shouldn’t have to pay more than $ 7 unless I’m at a place like Abby’s Burger Bistro. That being said, I still fork out $ 8 or $ 9 because these burgers destroy any lunchtime quick service alternative. I’m never disappointed with anything I order, and the service is friendly.

I love a good juicy burger, I mean L-​O-​V-​E! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to experience this from Koopers food truck!
Don’t get me wrong I like Koopers and I have had great burgers at Koopers a number of times (I mean it’s no Hamilton Tavern) but they make a pretty good burger.
But I do not get all of the hype about their food truck.
I was nothing but disappointed! The burger is clearly cooked earlier and then reheated. It is way to over –cooked/​well done and has very little flavor.
I love food truck’s and they are supposed to produce great food where you dont have to go to a restaurant. Koopers fails to do this.

We tried this out on a whim, and were glad for the precise location twittered (and added to the facebook profile), and reflected in the schedule.
The food — HUGE Veggie burgers, with fresh-​tasting ingredients, and fresh fix-​ins. We’ve had better V burgers, and the price is on the high side for these, so they get dinged a star. No bun choices, nor is the bun toasted — so another star. For the price, they should offer more flexibility to an otherwise nice DIY sandwich!
Above-​average fries, non-​greasy but not quite up to (overly greasy!) 5 Guys fries’ taste standards.
Good food & service experience overall, and thought I won’t chase it down or crave the burgers, if the truck is in the same area as I am in, I’ll likely get a sandwich again. Reluctantly forking over about 30% more than I think it is worth!

Date: 08/​12/​2011
Time: 11:17 a.m.
Location: 400 E Fayette St at N Holliday St, Baltimore City Hall
Subject: Kooper’s Chowhound Burger Wagon
Mission: Eat delicious burger from food truck
Report:
After scoring a MacGuiness ($ 9.00) burger, Sweet Potato Fries ($ 2.00), and a canned Minute Maid Lemonade ($ 1.00), I dined al fresco on the south side of the War Memorial Building.
Since I got there just as grilling began, I asked for and was uncharacteristically allowed a meaty piece of Angus beef flawlessly flamed med-​rare. Otherwise burgers default well-​done. It was flipped sizzling hot fleetly from it’s grill to it’s big soft bun to it’s bag to my fervent hands. The toppings of apple-​smoked bacon, rings of red onion, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, and melty cheddar didn’t overwhelm, but complimented. My sweet potato fries were appropriately crisp outside & rightly tender inside without a burned or overcooked potato in the bunch. Flavorful, yes, but more savory saltiness couldn’t hurt. The canned Minute Maid lemonade? Meh. It was canned Minute Maid lemonade.
This lunch was slightly pricier than most burger/​fries/​drink lunches I’ve had, but worth it. Next time I spy Kooper’s Chowhound I’ve got their Charlie Brown ($ 10.00) burger with it’s shameless full pound of Angus in my sights. And I’ll add the «sauce».
Mission summary: Burger delicious.
Mission accomplished!
Addendum: Five Guys who?

(07/​07/​2011) We love food on trucks! Made the trek through the heat and humidity to the Chowhound today when they were down by SHA headquarters on Monument and Calvert. Got the «Elvis Got the Blues» (Maytag blue cheese, applewood-​smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion); charred burger with smoke/​grill flavor (well-​done, whereas I usually prefer my burgers rare to medium-​rare), gobs of salty, tangy, blue cheese. The wait was not that long for the number of people in the line (well-​organized), and the fragrance that washes over you when you stand next to the truck was saliva-​inducing. Now if we can only get them to come a little closer…

Rain or shine, sleet or snow, nothing stops the almighty Burger Wagon.
Food trucks are the cats pajamas, and well, Baltimore’s been a little late on the game. But Kooper’s Chowhound Burger Wagon is my favorite of the few we have.
They have a regular schedule and rotate through different neighborhoods on different days — I’m not sure if the Burger Wagon has a website, but they have a Facebook page that rules and is updated all day with locations and specials.
You can get whatever you want on a standard burger or try their special burgers (what I would suggest). I got the Elvis Got the Blues burger with (you guessed it) blue cheese and bacon. Drool worthy. They also have fries, sweet potato fries or the «Fifty-​fifty,» hald regular fries, half sweet-​potato.
I love the folks working at Burger Wagon. There’s one guy in particular who is the nicest, always up for having a quick lunch-​time conversation with anyone, and he remembers your name after your 4^th or 5^th visit — a true sign of great service.
Things to know:
— Cash only!
— Most burgers are between 8 – 10 dollars (a little pricey in my opinion).
— There are veggie options for our meat-​fearing friends!
Things to love:
— On your receipt, there’s a tear off coupon for a discounted drink at Kooper’s Tavern.
— They even drive out to Baltimore County on occasion — spread that burger love.
— There’s a Burger Wagon card so ask for one! 10 punches on the card equals one free burger.

Let’s face it, unless you live around the corner from Abbey Burger, Alonso’s or Kooper’s Restaurant itself you aren’t going to find a better burger for lunch (Unless you believe the Baltimore Magazine readers poll and live around the corner from Five Guys… WTF). Follow them on Twitter (@BRGRwagon) and see if they make it to your area.
It’s worth the visit. Downside: No credit cards (at least last time they were in Timonium and I could get a burger). So that looses them that fifth star. But for a Food Truck, you’ll never find a better burger.

Around the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, there isn’t really a plethora of eatery delights on wheels, except for the normal hot dog carts. So for lunch, as I was walking towards the golden arches to grab a quick bite of the elusive McRib (yes I know… I have stooped so low! fails)… I saw this happy looking truck with cute dogs on it.
There is a good amount of variety from this burger truck. Pick your choice of burger: bison, beef, turkey, and veggie, pick your choice of 3 toppings, pick your choice of cheese, and pick your choice of 3 sauces for just $ 8. So, $ 8 might seem a lot at first, but for the amount of toppings/​customization you can get on your burger and the sheer size of this burger (it is ginormous), it is worth the money. They have a lot of more special toppings (ie: baja salsa which was pretty yummy), than you may be normally used to, so be prepared for moment of indecisiveness. Fresh, made to order burger to send you into a food coma.
For another $ 2 you can get fries (sweet potato, regular, or half & half). I wasn’t a fan, but meh… the burger was the show stopper here. It’s $ 1 for a can of soda.
I kind of wish they had like root beer floats or something (somesort of a sweetness to pair up the richness of the burger), but might be too hard for a food truck to handle so many different elements. Also, wished that they would toast the buns prior to loading it up, but maybe they will do it upon request?
They said that they will be at W. Baltimore St. and S. Greene Street/​S Paca Street every Wednesday serving up lunch starting from today.

Oh yes, The Chowhound. Not your typical food-​cart!
These guys travel all over the region, delivering tasty gourmet treats to burger-​lovers everywhere!
The burgers are really and truly amazing. There are a few suggested combos, but basically you get to choose your burger, your toppings and your sauces. I like that up to 3 toppings AND 3 sauces are included in the base price — you can make some really creative flavor combinations.
I had the bison burger with roasted red peppers, red onions, and sweet BBQ sauce. According to everyone around me, you really can’t go wrong with any burger choice. Veggie, angus, bison, turkey, or kobe burgers… all scrumptious!
The fries were also delicious. They have regular handcut fries or sweet potato fries, OR you can have a mixture of both, which is fabulous.
The only down side was the 15 minute wait after I ordered, but when there’s a line, there’s gonna be a wait. And the guys were clearly working hard and were very friendly.
Follow them on Twitter or Facebook to find out where they’re gonna be. It makes it a special treat, like the ice cream truck when you were a kid or soemthing.