Haystack Burgers & Barley

This is my favorite burger joint in town! My husband and I have been going to this place for about a year now. Every single experience was great! All of their staff is super friendly with fast service. You can’t really go wrong with any of their burgers on the menu. It just depends on your mood. Our favorite is the Haystack burger with half fries and half onion rings. They make their own BBQ sauce. Their salads are are very good too! This place serves beer, wine, milk shakes — they’ve got just about everything! Wonderful little place!

I was super excited to try this burger joint because burgers are my favorite food group.
My burger was pretty big and had BBQ sauce on it, I will probably not go with that one again and try something different. I love most sauces but for some reason not this one.
We. Ordered the chips and guac while they made our burgers and the chips were good, the avocado tasted really fresh but it lacked salt, I don’t think they put any in it, we mixed a nice amount in and then it tasted great. They give you so many fries and they tasted pretty good.
This place has outdoor seating and is in a pretty cool part of Richardson so I’ll probably come have dinner again when I stop by Alamo draft house or half price books.

Great juicy burgers and the owner makes sure seats are available and the line keeps moving.

Casual-​funky-​chic vibe that is small in size but packs it in a big way with well made burgers and sandwiches and a impressively extensive craft beer menu.
Located next to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, I can see this suburban strip mall being Richardson’s hipster central (if there is ever to be a critical mass of hipsters in a suburb, that is) with a good cocktail bar inside the Alamo cinema and a popular brewery across the highway.
I ordered El Tres buyer which included a half pound patty with cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, avocado, and ranch (which I replaced with garlic mayo aioli). And I added fried egg to the mix.
And my initial expression upon ordering this at the counter was «half pound?! I’d be good with a quarter pound» and then the helpful lady directed me to the kid’s menu which would have potentially given me the same burger with additions, fries and a drink, but with a quarter pound patty. I considered this until she said it was a thinner patty — and so of course I stuck with the regular, agreeing to the half pound.
And well, I wolfed it down. All of it, surprisingly. The meat was perfectly cooked medium/​medium-​rare as any gourmet burgers should be. The cheeses were oozy and good tasting. The egg had the perfectly runny yolk for the burger. And the rest were all good.
Only one thing to mention — the buns had a great taste, but I did think it was a bit on the dry side, which I noticed more as I tore through it. It was helped though with the juiciness if everything else.
Despite the dryness of the buns, it still is by far the best gourmet burger experience I’ve had in this part of town. Definitely better than Twisted Roots, and certainly about the same price. Not sure about best burger overall, since even in the area, there’s other great and cheaper burger shops but they’re just not gourmet.
And the prices are high for a burger, and on par with other gourmet burger shops. But unlike other gourmet burger shops, I felt this one paid more attention to the grilling and the service was much more knowledgeable of the offerings and was ready to offer alternatives or ideas for substitution.
Additionally, there were some noticeable things this place tries to differentiate itself from the others such as cloth napkins and shakes (they had banana pudding shake and some other flavor, they change it around every now and then).
Good place to visit if you’re around here. Even better to eat here before going to the movies next door.
PRICE: gourmet burger prices, ~$ 10 more or less
ATMOSPHERE: casual
SERVICE: good, order at counter and the rest is all your doing

Richardson is really upping their burger game and Haystack’s burgers are pretty good. Not the best burgers I’ve ever had but they’re definitely up there. I got the jalapeño escabeche burger and even after eating it I still don’t know what escabeche is. It was tasty though. The burger was cooked to perfection — the meat was extremely juicy. The bun was great as well. The staff here is also really nice.
The fries are pretty average. Large portion though, definitely enough for two.

We were craving a good burger and tried a few other places in the area that were lackluster. Then we found Haystack on Unilocal and the reviews were high and plentiful. Our search for the best burger in Richardson is over! Thanks fellow Unilocalers! We ended up going back a second time in the same week because it was so good. The fiancé got the chicken fried burger and I made my own cheese burger. We also got the stuffed jalapeños. Every item was absolutely yummy! On our second visit we swapped and I got the chicken fried burger. This burger is INSANELY delicious. It is breaded and fried just as you would expect from the term «chicken fried» then it’s topped with a jalapeño bacon cream gravy. Wowsa! I couldn’t eat the whole thing so if you plan to save half then I recommend getting the gravy on the side so it’s not soggy when you eat the rest tomorrow. This burger is probably not recommended by your dietitian or cardiologist but if you’re planning a «cheat day» this won’t let you down! The homemade fries are also delicious and one order is large enough to share.
On our third visit (yes, my pants are fitting tight now thank you) we were introduced to the banana pudding milkshake. Try this at least once but it is truly a meal in itself and should be shared.
To-​do list
1. Haystack
2. Gym
3. Tan
4. Laundry

We went here last Sunday and had a great time!
We had a group of about 15 people the they accommodated perfectly.
With a group this size we had all kinds of dietary needs. A vegetarian, a gluten free, a low carb, let’s just we had them all and there was something for everyone.
Every burger, sandwich and salad order was amazing! I had the el tres and can’t wait to go back and try them all.
Thanks for the tasty burger!

God I feel like such a pig because I keep writing reviews about how much I am dying over food, but this is another one worthy! The only reason this place doesn’t get 5 stars from me is because they don’t have the best fries I have ever had. Don’t get me wrong, the fries are really good, but now I’m just being picky.
I had the chicken fried burger, and it was amazing. I have had one of these before at some place in Chicago, and the batter was really falling off the hamburger patty and it was hard to eat. Not at Haystack. They have clearly mastered the art of the chicken fried burger. I got the jalapeño gravy on the side because I am not into hot things or gravy, but my boyfriend LOVED it and dipped the fries in it. Great idea.
We also tried the fried mozzarella, and I thought the 3 of us were going to fight over who got the fourth one. They were fat, gooey and delicious!

This place has one of the best burgers I ever tasted. So you may be wondering why I am only gave it three stars. I’ll explain.
Yesterday was my first visit and I was dying to try it considering the rave reviews. I had a lot of questions about the menu, but the person taking our order didn’t seem well informed nor did he act like he cared to be there. (In his defense it was New Years Day)
I asked him what I could get on the build your own burger. His response «Anything». So I can literally get ANYTHING? Your kitchen literally has everything I could ever wish for??? If I asked for beef that somehow didn’t make me fat and bacon that tasted like rainbows you’d have it?
I then asked for specifics, and he named a few things so I went with a fried egg (cooked HARD), bacon, lettuce and my burger medium rare
What I got: A burger that was extremely too pink for medium rare and an egg that was oozing yolk.
The burger was so flavorful and very juicy. It was a little TOO rare in my opinion, but I decided to stick with it because I was hungry and we were in a hurry.
I also ordered the Mozzeralla… YUMMY!!! These were almost perfect. the only downside was that they were lukewarm in the center, and not as hot as I prefer.
I couldn’t finish all of my burger, maybe ate a fourth of it; so I took it home to go. (these burgers are huge, and that is definitely a good thing!!)
What did I discover when I got home and opened by to go container?.. Egg Yolk every where. It wasn’t cooked hard like I specified.
*screams* I HATE RUNNY EGG YOLK!!!
The burger then went in trash.
To semi quote Langston Hughes. «What happens to a dream burger deferred???»

GREAT burgers, and good variety for others, including vegetarians and vegans.
Fries are not stellar, and the majority of seating is counter-​height, which isn’t all that comfy and not good for kids.
Been coming for the three years they’ve been open, and always very pleased — and full — when we leave.

Ask the cashier what burger to get before you place your order and go with their recommendation.
Some burgers are «Off the Menu» and change so they can make a suggestion for you based on what the options are when you decide to visit.
After reading the wonderful reviews on Unilocal I thought I would get a Haystack Burger and actually got the Frito Pie burger because they suggested it instead. It was amazing and so cheesy. I’m glad I listened and will come back.

I really enjoyed this place. The meat in these burgers are effin’ delicious. Prices are very reasonable. Please come here, please enjoy.

Definitely one of the more solid burger places I’ve been to in the DFW area. You can definitely feel the vibe of the mom and pop restaurant right here. From the traditional glossy tables, it’s pretty awesome.
I ended up getting the Escabache Burger with the Half/​Half (Fries/​Onion Strings). The Escabeche definitely packs a nice punch with its spiciness. The flavors just seemed to blend well together in the burger Happy that the burger came with a sizable toothpick to keep the burger together while eating, which enabled me to get a balanced bite the whole way of eating the burger.
The Fries/​Haystack onions were very enjoyable. In specific, the haystack onions had that nice crisp taste that I always love with my fried onions.
Definitely would come back here, especially since they have create chipotle ketchup. If you don’t mind feeling like a fat person after coming here, this place is awesome!

Salt. Salty salty salt.
Craving a burger, I tried Haystack. It was actually better than I expected. I’m always suspicious of highly rated burger places simply because to me, a burger is a huge commitment. A commitment to feeling like a guilty fat ass afterward. The last thing I want to do is fall in love and get committed. That being said, I am glad I did not fall in love with Haystack. I was committed to hydration afterward. Maybe it was just me, but my burger seemed very salty. Not in the worst kind of way, but in the kind of way that makes Haystack a once a year kind of meal.
I got the regular Down on the Farm Burger and the cut fries. The bun had a really nice and airy texture, although I felt like it overshadowed the patty a bit. The patty was very juicy and flavorful/​salty, but magically did not soggy up the bun. The fries were decent, but nothing exceptional. The one thing they were missing was vinegar which I also noticed was not an option at the condiments table. I really wanted to get a shake, but was saving space/​calories/​guilt for another time. I will probably try Haystack again because I think I heard somewhere that milkshakes counter the effects of salt.

This place is always busy every time I come, but I’m not surprised since the food and service is always excellent. Burgers are fat and juicy. I would avoid the sides because it is extremely oily. You can make a shot from the drained oil from the sides.

This place is dog friendly! One of the few places in the area that accommodates to our furry friends. They even brought out a big ol’ water bowl for our pup, which started our dining experience at haystack on a good note!
I love texmex so I couldn’t not get the chips and queso… and guac. $ 9 for chips wiedo and guac– it’s honestly not spectacular but it’s still good and satisfies your side texmex craving!
— most burger are around $ 7 – 9
— Barn burger– chipotle mayo, grilled poblano, pico, pepper jack cheese and side of queso; I ordered this and devoured it all. It has a spicy kick so if you’re not a fan of spicy, you might not enjoy this burger.
— El tres– cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado and side of three pepper ranch. The three pepper ranch is actually spicy! I love spicy and most restaurant’s «spicy» is mild at best, but haystack’s three pepper ranch meets my spicy standards. Woo!
— Escabeche– Jalapeño escabeche, pepper jack cheese, applewood smoked bacon, chipotle mayo, and haystack onions
— If you like chipotle ketchup, they have that available
— fries are on point– regular cut, cooked to perfection!
Based on past reviews, it seems lie haystack has made improvements or maybe I’m just dreaming? The barn burger had a nice kick to it. The fries were not soggy. Good to me!

I like to describe the burgers as simple but filled with flavor! I sometimes crave modern/​unique burger joints but sometimes you just want something more familiar without ingredients that make you question if it should even be in a burger. Haystack’s buns are buttery and toasted on the interior side, which I think makes quite the tasty difference.

Awesome place with a great burger! The burger snob has been satisfied…
It’s a small place, similar in style to 5 guys or smashburger, but obviously independent. Burgers are a great size. I ordered a haystack burger with fries. Man it was great! Cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly, toppings all neatly prepared and centered on the burger. It was even juicy and full of onion rings & BBQ sauce, and still was easy to handle and eat without making a mess. Combo of the salty onion rings and smokey barbecue sauce gave it an awesome flavor.
Fries were good too, had some nice seasoning salt on it. The chipotle ketchup was great, slightly reminiscent of Whataburger spicy ketchup, but different.
Pretty decent prices for huge portions. Will definitely return.

Burgers were so soft and so was the black bean Patty. You can sub any burger with the black bean for all your vegetarians. I had the barn burger and added jalapeño peppers. Tasted mighty good.
The fries were seasoned and tasted good as well. One order of fries is good for two people. One order of burger is just perfect.
Coming back for sure. Missed a star because you don’t take NFC/​mobile payments.

This was a great find for date night. Walking in, we were greeted by an immediate line extending to the front door. As we waited, the manager (?) handed us drink menus and brought out beers (with a smile!) while we waited. I love that first impression. Way to win customer service of the year award. The interior is fun. It’s got an Austin feel to it. I wonder if they originate in Austin?
You order at the front. Then, it’s open seating, and they deliver your food! We couldn’t ask for better service. They sell lots of craft beers, and the Haymaker (a frozen bourbon cocktail) is a must-​have. MUST-​HAVE. I tried to keep it 72% healthy and got the Taos Chicken Sandwich. The chicken was tender, the pico and guacamole were on point, and the poblanos were grilled to perfection. Boyfriend ordered the barn burger at the waitress’s recommendation. He killed it 3 seconds-​flat. Everything was cooked to absolute perfection. Not sure the fries were anything terribly special, but they were good! Fresh, thick cuts of fried potato that hit the spot.
So basically, we sat in the parking lot an hour before movie time at Alamo Drafthouse and stared at the restaurant list on the billboard. Haystack won, and will probably always win in this little shopping center.
–xoxo

The first time I came here, I concluded that this place is a fantastic little burger joint. Now, after returning a few times, I can conclude that they belong in the «5 star» club. This is the kind of place you want to drive out of your way for.
More notably, they may currently have the greatest burger offering in all of Dallas-​Fort Worth. (Yup – and in the eyes of this foodie, that explicitly considers the Twisted Root, Angry Dog, Hopdoddy, Village Burger Bar, Maple and Motor, Snuffers, and any of the other local classics that have slipped my mind at this point that I’ve also been to.)
Haystack is starting to become well known by locals, but as of this writing, it’s still not widely known. But that’s changing… and generally, it’s well known enough so that if you get to lunch or dinner late, you might want to expect a line out the door leading up to the cash register and a «table czar“once you’ve ordered. (Table Czar, defined — the person that tells you which table you need to go to once you’ve finished ordering, keeping the seating efficient and the line moving, preventing a potential bottleneck of people waiting for a table.) It should be noted that the restaurant is definitely on the smaller side.
The décor of the restaurant is kind of a modern-​meets-​hipster-​meets-​farm-​meets-​minimalist-​meets-​industrialist theme. Yes, apparently, that’s «a thing,» eclectic as it may be. Fake cowheads smile back at you in a relaxing way on the wall, accompanied with tin word art. Also, some retro-​ish industrial feeling light fixtures illuminate the ambiance. Remarkably, it works.
However, you didn’t come for the faux retro-​ambiance. You came for the food. Here’s my thoughts on that:
–The burgers, in general, are amazing. The barn-​burner is a real standout. I don’t want to burn this review just talking about the burgers though, because almost every other review has dived into those in detail.
–The grilled cheese sandwich is awesome and fancy. Before I can continue describing it, though, I have to fess up to a guilty pleasure that I’ve enjoyed since childhood… I’ve always dipped my grilled cheese sandwiches in ketchup. Yeah, yeah… tacky, I know. I still feel a sense of foodie shame when I do it. However, I feel better about myself when I have the haystack grilled cheese for two reasons:
1 — the fact that they offer (what I think is) a house-​made chipotle ketchup (as well as a normal ketchup of course). I feel better about myself because «Hey! Spicy!» seems more right than just dipping a grilled cheese in ketchup, but really…
2 — The fact that it comes with a freshly-​made ketchup marmalade. I don’t feel at all bad about the pulverized tomato-​cheese interaction in this regard… This just seems right. Fancy grilled cheese with tomato marmalade = culinary bliss. And if THAT’S wrong, I don’t wanna be right.
–The chicken sandwich is also notably quite good. You can’t go wrong with it, and if you’re feeling guilty about ordering the red meat, this is a solid option. Perhaps even a more solid option exists though, including…
–The Veggie Burger. Their veggie burger is pretty darn good (and, frankly, one of the best I’ve ever had).
–The club sandwich is also delicious, and will not disappoint. Especially when paired with one of their many different sauces and dips that they offer.
–The sauces and dips are their own highlight – I’ve already mentioned the chipotle ketchup and the tomato marmalade. But there’s more – the queso is awesome. So is the spicy mayo that they have… and I think they make them all in house!
–I also don’t want to neglect to mention the side dishes – the onion strings, the french fries, the mozzarella sticks, etc… all very impressive. If you want a good sampler, or if you can’t decide between the french fries and the onion strings, get the ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ (half fries, half onion strings).
–I would be lax in my duty as a true foodie by not mentioning the «Haymaker,» the signature cocktail of Haystack. The Haymaker is more notable than just a normal mixed drink though – it is frozen. Think of the Haymaker as a «frozen bourbon margarita.» I’m not one for «sweet» meets «alcoholic,» but fellers, this one work and is delicious. (But it’s not TOO sweet.) If you’re a bourbon drinker like I am, it’s certainly worth a shot. And they make these with Maker’s Mark. I mean – with Maker’s Mark, could it really be anything less than stellar?
So yes, Haystack is amazing, and I gladly drive out of my way to go to Haystack as often as possible. If on date night, I can’t get into a movie that I want to see at the Alamo Drafthouse (which almost shares a wall with Haystack), my wife and I will walk over to Haystack. Haystack is amazing, and I’d argue that Haystack being there has really «upped the ante» in the I-​75 & Belt Line Road corridor. It’s set the bar for all of the restaurants in that area. It’s not to be missed.