Best Burgers in Austin

This is my comprehensive guide for where to find the best burgers in Austin, Texas. These are my personal favorite spots, and all my thoughts are my own honest opinions, and nothing is sponsored, as always.

Bill's Oyster

This next spot was under the radar for a while, but Bill’s Oyster serves one of my favorite burgers in Austin. Many people didn’t know about it at first, but it’s become a must try. They also offer this burger at a much lower price during their daily happy hour.

The burger features a double smash patty, but what really makes it unique is the blend of brisket and short rib in the patty, giving it incredible flavor and a juicy texture. It comes with a special sauce and American cheese, as is classic with smash burgers. The burger doesn’t come with fries, but during happy hour, you can add them for a little extra, and the burger itself is only $10.

In my opinion, this is easily the best smash burger in Austin, and I recommend it to everyone who asks me for burger suggestions. Click here for their website.

Sour Duck

A lot of people rave about the burger at Odd Duck, but what I want to talk about is the burger at their sister restaurant, Sour Duck. Not only is it far more affordable, costing only $14 instead of $36, it is also fantastic. They use Peeler Farms wagyu, and the burger features two smash patties, American and pimento cheese, pickles, secret sauce, and a challah bun, all made from scratch.

Sour Duck is known for making everything from scratch, and the moment you bite into this burger, you get the charred, crispy flavor from the smash patties along with a hint of the wagyu’s richness. I am usually not the biggest fan of wagyu smash burgers because it can waste some of the juices, but this one works thanks to the combination of their secret sauce and the bun they make themselves.

For a long time, this was my favorite burger in Austin. It is not exactly a smash burger. It is more of a slightly thicker double cheeseburger, but it hits all the right notes. I also want to note that there is a difference in taste with the happy hour version, so I recommend going with the one on their regular menu. Click here for more information.

Casino El Camino

Casino El Camino is an Austin classic. This burger spot has been mentioned on countless Reddit threads and all over the internet. They’re located on 6th Street and have been serving burgers for many years. The burger features a thick, juicy patty.

I personally recommend the Amarillo burger, which comes with roasted serrano chilies, jalapeño jack cheese, and cilantro mayo. I like pairing it with the ciabatta style bun. These burgers are three quarters of a pound of charbroiled Angus beef, made into their own handmade patties. They typically cook them medium, so you’ll get plenty of juicy bite, but you can always request your preferred level of doneness.

The spot is located inside a bar, so check their hours carefully. Some times require guests to be 21+ and have ID, and they are pretty strict about that.

Click here for more information.

Buddha Burger

My next favorite burger spot is actually a food truck and gas station burger called Buddha Burger. They have multiple locations, one on Metric and another in Pflugerville, but their burger is exactly what you imagine when you think of a fatty fast food burger with a thick patty, perfectly golden toasted buns, and really good melted cheese.

Although they cook it in a semismash style with nice charred edges, the beef itself is actually on the thicker side, so it still retains the juices. They do not cook it medium; this burger is cooked all the way through. A lot of people swear by their burgers and think it is the best in Austin. I think it is up there, and I highly recommend it, but I am not sure it is the best.

They also have options like chicken burgers, but the ones I recommend are the State of Brado, which is a double cheeseburger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches. It is incredibly rich and buttery, and the layers are insane. I also tried the plain little Buddha with their Nirvana sauce, a beef patty, cheese, lettuce, onion, and pickle, and enjoyed it as well. If you are adventurous, you can try the Laughing Buddha, which is a cheeseburger topped with a giant crispy mushroom melt patty and other toppings.

Click here for more information.

LORO

I know we might be tired of smash burgers, but the smash burger at Loro is actually really consistent and an easy one to get, especially at the price of only $12.95. They have multiple locations in the Domain and on South Lamar. The burger features yuzu, a thousand island dressing, American cheese, and grilled onions.

The grilled onions make a big difference because they are more caramelized and sweet, which pairs perfectly with the crispy beef patties. They use the same buns as other smash burgers in Austin, known as Martin buns. I think it is worth a try.

Click here for more information.

JewBoy Burgers

No burger list is complete without Jewboy Burgers, one of Austin's most beloved spots for a burger. I have been coming here for many years, and although I would not say their burgers are life changing, I do like the creative takes they offer, including a burger of the month. They started as a small food truck and have since expanded to a restaurant, and they also have a sister concept called Jewboy Sliders.

Depending on your mood, the sliders are nice because they are smaller bites and done very well, but I think both options are good. I specifically recommend the Oy Vay Guey, which comes with roasted hatch chilies, pepper jack cheese, and a little mustard on the bottom bun. They always use eighty twenty ground beef and Martin potato buns. Another one I recommend is the Yenta, which has a latke on top of it.

For all the burgers, I recommend getting a side of their really delicious battered onion rings, which are crisp and perfectly made every time. I also enjoy a basket of their french fries or tots, which are fried perfectly. If you are not feeling burgers, you can also opt for their signature bean and cheese burrito.

Click here for more information.

Clark's Oyster Bar

One of my favorite burgers of all time is at Clark's. This burger is part of their happy hour menu and features hand roasted black Angus beef with a gribiche sauce and Gruyere cheese. It comes with their shoestring fries, which are so thin and crispy you basically have to shovel them into your mouth.

The burger itself is very thick and cooked medium, which can be a little challenging for people who do not enjoy medium rare meat. It is definitely juicy, and for that reason, I really enjoyed it. This is one of those burgers that you only want to get during happy hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 3-5 in the afternoon. During that time, the burgers are half off.

Click here for more information.

Bad Larry

My favorite style of burgers from a pop up is probably from Bad Larry. They set up in different places all around Austin, and last I checked they were opening a permanent location. If you have a chance to visit one of their setups, they use ketchup, mustard, onion, and pickled cheese on two smash patties, and you can add extra patties on a Martin potato bun.

It gives you that McDonalds feel without making you feel like you are eating fast food. It is the perfect greasy burger, balanced out with the ketchup and pickles, which bring a touch of childhood fast food nostalgia. The owner is also very vocal on social media about his beliefs if that is something you are interested in. For those reasons, I recommend Bad Larry because the personality he has built on Instagram matches the vibe you get from these burgers.

Click here for more information.