Austin, TX

Last night I had to pick my car up from the shop. Since it was just 4 miles from Dirty Martin’s we decided to stop in and try out thier burgers. I’d been meaning to try them for ages but just hadn’t found the time.

Dirty Martin’s has been around since 1926. The building occupies a decent bit of real estate in the college district of downtown Austin. There is a huge billboard overhead indicating Dirty Martin’s is HERE with a large arrow pointing down at the restaurant.

Inside is an old fashioned lunch counter with a half dozen booths. Around back is a larger area with TVs.

I ordered a basic cheeseburger and my partner-in-crime ordered a bacon cheeseburger. We shared a basket of fries and a basket of jalapeño poppers that were still half priced for happy hour. I had a cherry coke which didn’t have enough cherry flavouring to taste cherry like at all.

The burgers arrived with that slick sheen of grease on the buns that I remember from childhood. The cheese was sliced, processed, american. The paper under the burgers coated in grease. I picked up the burger and grease ran out into the basket. The taste, again, reminded me of burgers when I was a kid. It was ok, but nothing to write home about.

The french fries were the kind I like; hand-cut with the skin still on. Unfortunately they were fat with grease, too.

The jalapeño poppers were ok but unremarkable.

Overall we found the adventure disappointing and see no reason to return.

If you’re a big fan of Dirty Martin’s I’d love to hear why you think they are so great.

Burgers, Austin, Austin’s Best Burgers, Dirty Martin’s, french fries

A couple of years ago I made it my mission to discover Austin’s best burgers. Although I’m still researching (burp!) this topic, here are my top picks thus far:

Huts: This restaurant has been in existence since 1939 and has a loyal following. Rated 5 stars on Austin Citysearch, Hut’s lives up to it’s reputation. The ambiance is 60’s college and the burgers are wonderful with a myriad of toppings and catchy names like “The Buddy Holly” burger. I LOVE their big, chunky, pepper-encrusted onion rings. You can even get french fries and onion rings together in their signature half & half basket. As an alternative, you can get your burgers vegetarian or made from buffalo. Good old-fashioned milkshakes and colas with flavourings like vanilla and cherry top off your meal very nicely. Out of town visitors and children both love this place. What’s not to love?

Dan’s Hamburgers: Voted City Search Best Burgers for both 2005 & 2006 by Austinites, Dan’s Hamburgers is also a bit of a retro throw-back. I am, however, all for a burger joint that offers a Jalapeño Burger! Yeah, baby! Another great feature of Dan’s is the ability to order your hamburger in small, medium or large. Dan’s milkshakes are thick and delicious and their french fries and onion rings are perfect. Eating at Dan’s is always a treat. Oh… and if you’re in the mood for breakfast, you can’t go wrong with Dan’s. Just go early on the weekends because they get packed!

Phil’s IceHouse: If you love sweet potato fries like I love sweet potato fries then get on down to Phil’s Icehouse. Not only does Phil’s have a fabulous selection of burgers but they are also well connected. Connected to Austin’s favourite ice cream shoppe, that is. Yes, Phil’s is attached to Amy’s Ice Cream. As if that isn’t enough to get you headed out the door to Phil’s, let me tell you about their burgers! From their Violet Crown burger dripping with bleu cheese and grilled onions all served up on a toasted jalapeño bun to their mini sampler basket, Phil’s burgers will have you begging for more. For those of you with a smaller appetite, you can even get a single mini burger. Those of you who don’t eat meat can enjoy veggie burgers. Kids will adore Phil’s and not just because it’s attached to Amy’s but also because of the over-sized playscape out front. Parents can enjoy their burgers and ice cream while the kids burn off excess energy.

Casino El Camino: I vote Casino El Camino as the very best “greasy bomb burger” in Austin. If you’re in the mood for a big burger, packed with flavor and you’re not afraid of a little fat, this is your place. These are burgers for “real men”. They also have some of the very best french fries in town. I bet these would be great hangover burgers. Not that any of you are ever suffering from hangovers. Heh. I should probably mention that Casino El Camino is a dank, not overtly friendly bar. Push your way past that and you’ll find a funky little outdoor area. You also have to order your burger at the end of the bar at a cash only window. But… they have a 3/4 lb angus burger! These burgers are not small. If you eat light, you may want to consider sharing with a friend. The grill is also small so on a crowded night you could end up with a long wait. Casino El Camino is located next to The Velveeta Room, a comedy joint that makes a great accompaniment to a night on the town. Stop in on a Thursday night for Open Mic Night, it’s a blast and if you happen to see the talented Mr. John Rabon, tell him Kyla sent you!

Burger Tex: If you like to assemble your own burgers, Burger Tex is your burger joint! They feature a “fixins” bar with all the burger toppings you could want. I like their onion rings but I confess I’m not a fan of their french fries and that generally keeps me away. Try them for yourself, though, you may like ‘em just fine! The burgers themselves are great.

Player’s: If you’re a mushroom fan you must try Player’s stuffed mushrooms. I’m not a fungi fan but my brother has not stopped raving about them since I took him there. Players has great burgers, fries, onion rings and milkshakes. They also serve beer and have a big-screen TV. Players is a great place to take a group.

Dirty Martin’s Place: This is where I admit to having been somewhat remiss in my mission to find Austin’s best burgers. I’ve been repeatedly told that Dirty Martin’s makes the best burgers in Austin, but I’ve yet to try them. It’s definitely on my list, though!

Check out these great burger joints and if you know of others please let me know!

Burgers, Austin, Austin’s Best Burgers, Huts, Dirty Martin’s Place, Player’s, Players, mushrooms, sweet potato fries, French fries, Onion Rings, El Camino, Casino El Camino, Burger Tex, Phil’s Ice House