~Hopdoddy vs. Wholly Cow~
Battleground: Austin, TX
Food: Cheeseburger and fries
Hopdoddy
1400 S Congress Ave.
Atmosphere:
Ask almost any Austinite about the best burger joint in town and you’ll hear a consistent contender: Hopdoddy. Listed in numerous articles and with nearly 3800 reviews on Yelp1 at just one location, there’s a reason this is one of the most talked about burger restaurants in all of Austin, if not Texas altogether. While the wait line is long- sometimes over an hour- you are able to get drinks, including to die for milkshakes. However, go for lunch during the weekday or to a less popular location and you might skip the line and then you’ll too be singing praises of Hopdoddy.
The service takes about 15 minutes after you order but has always been exactly what I ordered. And while servers are obviously busy, they are still very friendly, accommodating, and conversational. As a customer, you feel welcomed. However, don’t go here if you are trying to get to know someone because as you may guess, a full restaurant in South Congress in extremely loud and not exactly first date material.
Food:
While the wait may be long and the restaurant may be loud, there’s a reason people are willing to shuffle through an hour-long line to eat here. The food is fucking amazing. When I think of mouthwatering food, Hopdoddy is now my standard. I could eat these burgers everyday if I could afford to do so. They are that amazing. While the burger may be more expensive than your typical neighborhood burger joint, it is reflected in the quality of ingredients. The burgers are juicy, the buns are fresh and everything is perfectly proportional in flavor profiles. And while I
may like a simple burger, Hopdoddy offers many varieties of burgers, including turkey and lamb. There’s truly something for every burger lover. And if you happen to bring along the one vegetarian in Austin, don’t worry because there’s always their fries (and salads but that boring). Three words: Parmesan. Truffle. Fries. These are the best fries I have ever eaten. Crispy, fresh and packed with flavor, there’s not many other ways to describe the perfect combination of these ingredients. But be warned, you may develop an immediate addiction.
BREAKING UPDATE: Whilst researching the restaurants, I have discovered that Hopdoddy now offers online orders for take out. NO. MORE. LINES. This is a game changer.
Food Quality: *****
Menu Variety: ****
Location: ****
Ambiance: ****
Wait Time: *
Price: ***
1 As of 5/1/17
Wholly Cow
3010 S Lamar Blvd.
Atmosphere:
Located inside a convenience store this truly is an Austin gem. While the location is less than glamourous, this restaurant (?) shows that Austin has not exposed all its hidden secrets to the outside world. The store sells primarily drinks and some snacks, but it’s main purpose is to seat customers. Never overly crowded, you can actually hear other people talk while also waiting for your food whilst seated! And while the prospect of eating at a convenience store may not seem appealing, there is a unique energy that allows you to trust the food. However, the service is not nearly as approachable as Hopdoddy and takes just as long for your food to be served- though it is prepared fresh and is served hot off the grill.
Food:
Let’s be honest, after eating numerous times at Hopdoddy, I was not expecting to be wooed by these burgers. The standards were set high. However, the grass-fed beef between King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls took my taste buds by surprise! I actually had to take a moment after my first bite, look back at the burger to make sure I was eating the same burger I bought just moments ago in a convenience store. Sure enough, it was. This burger caught me by surprise in all the right ways. And with a menu that goes beyond just burgers and salads- including a breakfast menu as well –this really is an all-inclusive eatery. However, the fries were not crispy and are way over salted –if you must, I suggest the sweet potato fries over their regular.
Food Quality: *****
Menu Variety: *****
Location: *****
Ambiance: ***
Wait Time: ****
Price: ****
Final Verdict:
In the toughest battle yet, I really debated between the two restaurants. While Hopdoddy continuously proves why they have thousands of positive reviews, Wholly Cow surprised me beyond belief with their incredible grass fed burger and fresh ingredients. And while Hopdoddy comes at a higher price point, longer wait time and much busier location, their new online ordering system really added the competitive edge they were missing. In the end, I had to ask myself: what burger would I choose to be my last? Hopdoddy. The flavors are just purely undeniable goodness, and when taking into consideration the truffle fries and shakes- you’ve got the whole package. However, this was the closest battle yet and I still highly recommend Wholly Cow for those nights that you don’t want to stand in line or fight for a parking space.
