Reviews of Al's Burger Shack (Restaurant)

516 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, United States

Average Rating:

DESCRIPTION

You have all the reviews of people who bought the products of Al\'s Burger Shack (Restaurant) in the area close to North Carolina.

As of day the firm gets a rating of 4.7 out of 5 and that score is based on 1299 reviews.

You may have noticed that it reaches an reviews average is virtually the highest, and it is based on a large number of opinions, so we may conclude that the rating is quite reliable. If there are many people who bothered to give their review when they are happy with the service, is that it works.

As you know, we don't usually stop to give opinions when these are correct and we usually do it only if we have had a problem or incidence...

This Restaurant corresponds to the category of Restaurant.

Where is Al's Burger Shack?

REVIEWS OF Al's Burger Shack IN North Carolina

Hope Wilson

Delicious burgers and great service. The atmosphere was cozy, the sweet potato fries needed a bit more sugar but I will definitely recommend to others!

J Eric Braun

First-rate burgers, dog-friendly outdoor seating with water bowls!

Will Williams

Good, but not legendary like the Franklin St original.

Chris A

I have been in Chapel Hill for years and I am just making my way to Al's. The burgers and fries are great. Everything is good. I would highly recommend it. Eating space is very limited so beware.

Steven Li

After Hops’s closing, Al’s is my favorite burger store in CH. good flavor and I like the fries and shake!

Sandi LaMoy

Friendly service and awesome burgers! Lots to choose from. Out door seating as well. Family friendly, we each ordered a different burger and there were no complaints. They were delicious! My only constructed criticism is outdoor seating needs umbrellas or a shaded area when it's quite warm out.

Katie Jarrell

Delicious burger and fries. Reasonable prices. Cooked to order. Friendly staff.

Alicia Quinones

My favorite place in Chapel Hill! Yummy burgers and friendly staff! Went almost everyday we were in town.

George Simons

Unique experience and awesome burgers. You MUST get the truffle fries too!

Regina Jenkins

Great food great service

Gabrielle Scronce

I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and I love Al's veggie burgers! They're homemade and unique; one is sweet potato-based, and the other is cauliflower-based. They are so good they don't even need ketchup! Bonus: Al's has crunchy ice!

Penny Kay

II eat Al's burgers once a week at Southern village or Franklin street, and I always order my burgers with the rolls in a separate Box because then when I take it home the roll is not soggy. I love the burgers and this time when I ordered at the Governor's Al's I ordered the same thing .When I got home to Meadowmont there was the Burger in my box with no roll. I called to let them know, and I said, how am I gonna eat my Burger? and their guy said with a knife and fork. I said thank you, I'll go to Southern village from now on

Lisa Jeffries

Solid fast casual lunch spot but go early or late for chance at a seat if you want to dine in rather than carry out. The other vegetarian review of the black bean and sweet potato burger wasn't very favorable but my outlook a little better. I agree that it wasn't the most flavorful (a slice of pepper jack cheese would go a long way) but the patty was generously sized and I appreciate veg thinking beyond the standard black bean. Sweet potatoes are one of NC's best crops, after all! My addition of mustard added a nice zip (I love it on my sweet potato fries after all) and the single side of fries was plenty for two to share. My lunch mate ordered a single hot dog that came out piled high with toppings and he appreciated that it was split and grilled to allow the often tough beef hot dog skin to be more palatable. Cheerwine on the drink fountain, ftw!

Hemanth Ramineni

Best burger in chapel Hill. I always order bo bo chili and sweet potato fries.

ernie potter

Good quality burger!

Bill Alston

Good burger and the fries with rosemary is different but I like them.

Jedediah Seltzer

Between Al's and Buns Chapel hill has some of the best Burgers I have tried. I like the outdoor seating at Al's and the freindly staff. Lines can back up so come prepared. Parking is street only so also come prepared for that

Beef Supreme

Sandwich was good. However, I waited in line too long for a quick lunch grab and go. Got halfway down the road and realized they didn't put my sweet potato fries in there. Those ain't cheap either. Hop's burger joint down the street is better in my opinion.

Natarsa Patillo

This place is so amazing!!! I asked for the burger with no bun and they had no problem with that all. If you haven't been to Al's get there!!!! Great food. Great service!

Elsa Rouviere

Very nice hamburger, hot dogs and fries. A couple of good beers too

Samantha Chan

If I could rate this zero stars I would. We went in and there were flies EVERYWHERE. We were so grossed out that we left and decided to go somewhere else.

Daniel Jenkins

The burgers are awesome. Great service

Dave Reed

Stopped through for lunch on our way to Nags Head from Charlotte. Heard they had great burgers... Won award for it... Had the burger with bacon jam and pimento cheese. Look, it was a good, real good burger. Award winning? I dunno... It was good. Fries were ok- bottom of the pile was better than the top as all the salt + season was there.

Mike Kean

Burger was ok. Toppings out flavored the meat. Curly fries looked and tastes like they were pre-frozen. My daughter had the Kaarin veggie burger which was over seasoned. I have no idea what all the fuss is about nor how it claims to be the best burger joint in the US.

Martin Moody

The Classic Burger is absolutely AMAZING! The burger was mouth watering and the cheese just melted and made the burger even better. Mr. Al keep up the great food.

Andre Novak

I actually ordered by phone from branch across town. But I went to downtown location to pick up. They gave me no grief but filled my order and offered me a sip of icewater while I waited. A class act, these.

J R

Great local burger joint with very few tables. Not the most innovative options for toppings or combinations but the burger meat is local and well prepared. The fries are nothing special. Frozen crinkle cut with lots of seasonings. Personally I like the fries better at 5 guys but prefer the burgers at Al's. I wish they could up the game on the fries. That would make this place a 5 vs 4.

Sean Gay

Amazing burgers best burger shack I have been too.

Ashley Monitor

I can't believe I've walked by thos place so many times and never tried it. Wonderful burgers and fries at a great price. And rumor has it soon to be dog friendly!

SVP

Great place. Got one of the best burgers I ever had. Cheap, fast, good quality.

Caleb Townes

The juiciest burgers you will ever have with an awesome variety of flavor

William Parker

Definitely will NEVER be dining here again. Service to order and service to receive food was exceptionally SLOW. A friend and I dined here last week. Took what felt like forever to get waiting on at the counter and twice as long to get food. While we waiting on our order to be prepared we looked around at everyone sitting at the tables and virtually everyone in the place was waiting on food. Once we did get our order we were shocked at how tiny the burgers were. Even the "Al's size" is smaller than most pub burgers. Oh, and the fries... The fries were the absolute worst fries I have ever eaten. Reminiscent of very poor quality amusement park fare. They were exceptionally bland and possibly freezer burnt. The noise level was just insult to injury. Needless to say, I do NOT recommend this establishment.

Andy Bailey

Good quick serve meals, very limited seating. Appears to be more of a take out place.

satya kallepalli

I always get black bean burger and chicken and bacon goodness. Can't go wrong here.

carmen Lima

very delicious burgers and very good service I loved it

Jessica Meadath

don't want none unless y'all got gluten free buns hun!

Cody Pineiro

Al's is a one of a kind burger joint with an amazing atmosphere!

Torlin

Some of the best burgers in the triangle. Great service and excellent crinkle and sweet potato fries.

Kristen Hill

Easily the best burgers I've ever had. While it is a bit pricey, It's definitely worth it for the quality of the food and the business in general. Al is always super friendly and all the employees remember your name when you dine in, so it feels very personable. Get the rosemary fries, they are TO DIE FOR. And a smaller helping easily caters to 2.

Francesco Bratos

Great burgers! I visited the Sotluthern Village location with my wife and tasted their renowned bacon cheeseburger. Very well done, juicy meat and awesome quality ingredients. House fries very good (with a touch of rosemary). Not too much seating space but I think it's part of the philosophy. Definitely recommended!

Nora Talley

Burgers are delicious!!! Love that they offer 2 different sizes. My kids like the milkshake and fries. Southern Village location could us more seating. We'll be back!

Tony Jimenez

For a gourmet burger joint, this place looks the part. The burger I ordered is the Al's classic. The beef was cooked medium just the way I ordered it. The fixings are plentiful and generously served. Shredded lettuce, two thick slices of tomato, pickles, red onion. All in a potato bun. It should have been delicious but regrettably, it was just OK. The beef was tasty but the rest of the sandwich just didn't add much to the flavor experience . Too bad, it really does look good. I ordered it with crinkle cut fries that are just slightly darker golden and a little overdone, again just the way I like them. However that's where the praise has to end. The fries must be cooked in a very light and tasteless oil that gave me the impression that I was eating crispy air. The best fries I have ever tasted were fried in lard. Even the McDonald's fries of the '70s and' 80 back when they were fried in beef tallow tasted better to me. Service was quick and friendly. Anyway, not a bad burger joint, just not a great burger joint.

Michael Steele

Burgers we fantastic! Menu is a little overkill for my liking but I think most people like a lot of choices. I can see how they continue to win awards for their burgers. They really are THAT good!

Elizabeth Endicott

Great burgers!!! Excellent sweet potato fries!!! Superb customer service.

Monique Gareau

My favorite burger place in the triangle- maybe even anywhere. Consistently fresh and delicious burgers and the best rosemary fries. Be prepared to wait, but it’s always worth it.

Chicago Willis

The biggest burger I've seen created, home made.

Pedro Carrozza

Awesome burgers. One of the best we've ever had.

James Brennan

There might be a long line, but it moves fast and the food is totally worth the wait. Grab a beer next door at beer study while you wait after placing your order.

Michael Giordano

So Damn Good. I go here weekly. Get the mookie--you will not regret it. If you are vegetarian, they also have a great vegetarian burger. The line can be pretty long, so prepare to wait if you are going at a peak hour. Nice outdoor seating, etc.

FD Matt

Lives up to its label as top shelf burger. Both fries were very good. Cashier was very courteous

Nilanjan Evans

Also has amazing Burgers! Definitely try the Sean's bacon cheddar burger. Great customer service and chill vibe. Beware you may have to sit outside if it's busy!

Varanda Ragland

Clean restaurant and nice outside sitting area. I had the classic burger, rosemary crinkle fries and sweet tea. It was ok. I had my burger cooked well. Not much seasoning on burger. The fries were nice and crunchy with very little salt but just enough rosemary. I'm a southern country girl so I like my tea to be sweet. The tea was not sweet at all.

Teddy Reger

Fantastic. Well worth the wait on a Saturday night

Regina Carter

The food is amazing!!!! I'm a Drivers Ed Instructor and my students rave about Al's.... I head to visit!!!! They did not disappoint me!!!!! I love it!!!!!

Jason Pearl

Excellent cooked to order burgers. Giant servings of fries. Highly recommend.

Scott Neidich

Al's serves of the best burgers in town: but what makes them the best burgers joint is the quality of the fries. Always hot and crispy with perfect flavor. No other burger joint in the area has as good of fries. Milkshakes are also great.

Victor Donabedian

The story of Al’s Burger Shack is amazing. They serve THE BEST BURGERS IN THE UNIVERSE. It’s not just my humble opinion you know. It’s official. Their fries are otherworldly delicious. How they can keep the price so reasonable making such a high quality products? It’s likely a magic. But who cares? Whatever Al is doing he is doing it right! Thank you Sir!

Adam Clark

An absolutely phenomenal burger. Great choice if you're in Chapel Hill.

Ted T

The wait can be long, but there is not many places that can cook a good burger medium rare. Walking in the door was a line, flies everywhere. I waited, pay at the counter and wait for your name to be called. I will most definitely be returning to Al's Burger Shack!

Betsy Crittenden

The burgers were delicious and cooked to perfection. I'd like the sweet potato fries served without sugar. I wish they had more seating.

Ben Powell

Great fries. Was disappointed that they got my order wrong. Burger was tasty.

Joshua Mecimore

Outstanding. The burgers are great and the employees are outstanding!

Tyler Brown, North Carolina's Mercedes Guy

The folks here were so lively and helpful! I ordered the cheddar burger because I had to see if the critics were right about this being the best burger in the USA. I can understand why! The buttered bun with the fresh tomato, perfectly cooked bacon, and expertly seasoned burger was a religious experience. WOW.

F.E. R.

Great food, However poor service by the cashier. Pushed us to order fast, maybe she is taught to do that, and lost on opportunity that we wanted to order more and she received zero tip. First time for my family, and not sure we will be back.

Ian Mcswain

So so, somewhat dry burger, soft fries. Would not go back!

Bob Gomperts

Yummy food, tasty burgers, fries great and they have good beers.

Saliha Baloch

I happened to be in Southern Village so I stopped here just to see if the menu was the same as the Al's on Franklin street. There was a older white man holding the door open for people to come in. When the white people came in before me and after me he smiled and welcomed them loudly. When I walked through, he scowled, did not say a word and looked the other way. Same thing happened as I walked out. I think I will think twice about eating in a racist establishment such as this. Ain't got no time for that ish.

Chuck Gallagher

Your in Chapel Hill and craving something delicious and on a bun.....look no further and do not turn away because there is a line because it goes fast.

Nancy Wright

Overall we a pretty satisfied with our lunch. I had just a classic cheeseburger with all the fixings. Between the 3 of us we split a large fries easily. Will definitely be back!!

R McNeill

very good burger and fries, but a little pricey

Rand Pehrson

Really great food! The sweet potato fries were amazing and the burgers are awesome. I'd also highly recommend the chocolate milkshake. The service and cook staff were friendly and welcoming. Service was so and Al's us certainly my favorite local burger joint in the triangle area.

Alan Pitstick

Pricey, but delicious.

Nathaniel Solomon

Truly tasty burger with fresh, wholesome ingredients. Gotta try the salt & rosemary seasoned crinkle cut fries! Great, friendly service in cozy setting

Alyssa Rogers

Just had lunch here with my husband! Very positive experience overall! The staff was super friendly and helpful! The burger was soo good and I'm not a big burger person. The sweet potato fries were delicious! I've been on a restrictive diet because of possible food sensitivites and the staff was so helpful in letting me know ingredients in their food. My only critique is that the bacon on my burger wasn't as crispy as I like it. I like it really crispy! Everyone has their own bacon preference though, and it won't stop me from coming again!

Jesse Yoxheimer

Best burger in the Triangle! Aka "Best Burger in America"! Amazing burger for a great price! Keep up the amazing work, Al! We live in Southern Village and eat here once a week!

kevin kelly

As always the service and food were excellent. Please forgive me for not remembering her name but the young lady that manages Al's most times I'm there has an infectious personality and leadership style. The team reflects her energy , attention to detail and care for the customer experience. It's worth the trip every time!

Devon Killian

Wish there was a medium burger size but it's so good.

Ed Revugh

Al has the best and most unique burgers on Franklin. The "classic" shows off just how good the underlying product is. But you won't be disappointed if you branch out.

Ryan

Fantastic burgers. Unbelievable sweet potato fries

Jairo Ruiz

For me, the most delicious burger around Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Staff are very friendly, most of them are bilingual.

Peyton Rose Smith

The burgers are great and it's the number one burger shop in the US!

Glenn Rollins

This place is pretty good. Stopped here because "best burger in NC" but I don't agree. The sweet potato fries were very overcooked. Still, if I were a local, I would definitely be a frequent patron. WATCH that step down to the back porch. I was concentrating on the door, missed the yellow strip and tripped. My left thigh attempted to occupy the same space as the bench corner just beyond the step and I got a nasty bruised welt there now.

Augie Jurgensen

Came highly recommended but was not blown away. My classic burger was dry with little taste and the sweat potato fries left an odd aftertaste. The veggie burger was good but really didn’t like the seasoning on the fries.

Davia Nickelson

Friendly and prompt service. Great great great! burgers! The mookie is my favorite. You can't go wrong here. Be prepared to wait, especially at lunch time. The line will be out the door. But calling ahead and okaying an order is useful.

Eric Barnes

Had the Al sized classic for $8.95 without fries. For me, the hype is much overdone. The burger was smaller than my bun and was ok but, I was left with part of a soggy bun. I know it's a chain but, Five Guy's is much better.

Celeste Cantrell

Great burger, but waited an hour for our order due to a catering order.

Nikolaj Jensen

The best buger joint in NC 2019. I agree their burgers are very good and price is also good. I especially like the bun and the patties. I miss the strawberry shake but the vanilla is ok. Ohh yes the fries are luke the one in Europe

Sofie

good just check if they give you the sauces if you order them because they forget them sometimes

Hassan Pinto

Simply the best burger in America.

K. Javier Roberts

My family has to travel to Chapel Hill for various medical appointments, but we make sure to stop here for lunch whenever we're in town. It is always busy which just goes to show how delicious their food is. I would definitely recommend this place for those that have an intolerance to gluten. They have their own separate fryers and cooking area to avoid cross contamination. They even have a very delicious gluten free bun for an additional fee. It does take a bit longer to get your food because of the amount of people that order from here, but it is definitely worth the wait.

Delphine Maetzel

One of the best burgers i have ever had and the fries are so good. But the line can be long

Ken Brooks

Best burger I've ever had. Very consistent service and quality of food. The rosemary fries are great also.

Tristan Bavol

The Kenny J is the best burger I've ever eaten!

Tonyia Dos Santos

Always busy. Food is really good. No frills. Food cooked to order and done right.

Jeff Langenderfer

This review is based on one visit. This burger I had -- chili, cheese, slaw -- was fine, but nothing special. I had the large , and size-wise, it was pretty underwhelming. The burger patty itself is like a puffy pillow, much fatter in the middle, and didn't cover the whole bun. The toppings were fine, but nothing special. Fries were slightly undercooked. Overall, it was absolutely nothing special, and a bit on the pricy side for a place that is definitely aptly called a shack.

Rob Strickland

Tried the new Shrimp burger which was very tasty with just the right about of spice without overpowering the taste of the shrimp!

Tyler Frankenstein

Would you like some flies with that? No? Well you'll get some flies with that. I've never been in a restaurant with so many house flies buzzing around. Nasty! Besides the flies, the fries were burnt and the burger was just mediocre.

Michael Tiemann

You can't understand why Al's Burger Shack is so popular until you experience the pride with which they deliver their burgers, and the perfection they deliver when they do.

Crystal Kennedy

Omg their burgers are heaven

Lawrence Taub

My son and I came here for dinner after hearing and reading about the "best burger in the country". I'm not sure who gave that accolade to these guys but it was not the best burger. Neither of us were that impressed. The burger was fine but that's it. The fries were also hyped but there was nothing special to them. They were crinkle fries with rosemary on them. They didn't even seem fresh. That said, it was a perfectly okay meal and I didn't feel like I was overcharged. I also do agree with the general comments about poor seating options.

Christopher Richardson

Food was great! Service was even better!

Carol Rooney

Good burger. Bun collapsed after three bites. Fries were very good. Drink comes in small cup but refills are free. Two should share fries and drink.

Jacob Mader

Pretty good local burger shop. Veggie burger is a kind of potato mash with good consistency of flavor. My teammates ordered the famous America's best burger and tell me it didn't disappoint. Great craft beer selection as well.

brenda spruill

Food where good and service

Alan Byrd

They claim it's the best burger in town. I don't know about that, cause I make a pretty good burger too, but my name is Al!

Brian Isgett

Restaurant is much too small to handle any sizable crowd. To be avoided on busy nights, especially when the weather makes eating outside impossible. The burgers are truly excellent when they are done right, but my half dozen visits tell me that happens less than half of the time. Burgers are regularly under seasoned and cooked more than the requested temperature, sometimes reaching the dreaded dry phase (I always order my burgers medium). The sweet potato fries are a highlight. Bottom line: I want to like this place more than I do and it's all down to inconsistent delivery of their occasionally-extraordinary burger.

Jordan Slomianyj

My dad and I go here 2-3 times a week. It’s our favorite place to go because the food is always great and the service is excellent. For anyone going for the first time , I highly recommend any of the hot dogs but especially the DC 40 or the Steph Dog. The crinkly cut fries are to die for!!

Alexis

The lines outside Al's are worth the wait. Unbeatable food and service quality for the amount of traffic this restaurant gets. You can't to wrong with the Bo-bo burger or the chicken sandwich. The fries are also great - a small is enough to share for two, and a large is enough for a family.

Rita Macaluso-Gregory

The atmosphere is very cozy, they were very busy, the server though was very attentive. The food was very tasty and fresh. I had a tuna burger with mushrooms and a side salad. My husband had a classic burger he said it was very filling.

Melanie Dayer

Burgers were awesome. Fries were fabulous. Maybe my NC State shirt bothered the order taker.....did not feel the love

Tanner Hock

Consistently good burgers and fries. Great shakes. Chicken sandwich is on point. Excellent service. On the expensive side. Lots of disposable stuff to landfill when you’re done.

William Mowery III

Al's Burger Shack, both locations, produces consistently awesome food. The burgers aren't pressed, the buns are properly toasted, and the burger is cooked to temperature upon receipt. Let it sit for a few minutes though, otherwise you will find hot deliciousness escaping in the form of liquid running down your fingers. It is important to note, however, that by doing so it will continue to cook slightly, but fret not, as it will remain delicious and quite juicy. If you're less inclined toward burgers, the hot dogs are also quite delectable, and I must admit I have not strayed from the known to try the chicken sandwich yet!

Sue Tolleson-Rinehart

Delicious, wholesome, jolly busy space -- with the highest sanitation rating and friendly, efficient young staff. Burgers and hot dogs don't taste like "fast food" -- they taste like wonderful food!

Tiffany Le

This place was good, not the best burger in the nation, but still unique and delicious. We got the Mookie and Kenny J. I personally preferred the Mookie. We got both types of fries, the regular fries is the large size and its pretty big! For 2 people, it was way too much and would only get 1 next time. I think the sweet potato fries were better because the regular fries we had were way too salty, not sure if it's all the time or just that once though. Bottom line, it's a good burger place and if you want to try something new this would be a good place.

Melinda Comfort

Interesting, serves veg burger. Fried are seasoned. Popular. Outdoor seating

Richard Bobinski

Food is Good and staff was friendly.

Nick Tsihlis

Crispy crinkle cut fries, juicy burgers, and good local beers on tap. Nice seating area outside, but the inside is a tight squeeze on a busy Saturday at lunch. Will definitely be back.

Rachel Reyes

Yum!! This is a damn good burger. I’m thrilled that I’ve got another burger joint to add to the meaty rotation. Plus? The employees Rock! We had a great laugh with the person who took our order. Killer folks. Killer burgers. Okay fries. If the fries were more my speed, this place would be unstoppable.

jimmy williams

Great food cheap prices

Barry Dowdy

A literally classic burger experience.The burger was well prepared with fresh ingredients and condiments on the counter.The menu had plenty of original options.Just maybe add another table or two.This old boy had a time climbing onto that stool.LOL.

Anna Gumpenberger

Al's is soooooo tasty. Their 60/40 burger is to die for and their truffle fries are next level delicious. Would reccomend this place highly for anyone interested in a top tier burger!

Julia Black

Were in the area and happened into Al's. Great burgers. Sweet potato fries were excellent !! As were the regular fries..with salt and rosemary! Very limited indoor seating but there is a nice outdoor patio.

jkannen

Did not disappoint! Awesome food and friendly staff. Tiny place, worth the wait.

Arka Chaudhury

Had the San Felipe. Great burger topped with great chili. Will definitely be back.

Robby Crownover

Outstanding! Perfect at what they do. Not the largest selection of meats and toppings, but what they offer is done to perfection. They love up to the hype.

Kristan Mckoy

Next to my job && has the most AMAZING burgers! New renovation happening outside of the restaurant, but still easy to access

RobertsMom NC

Tried the cauliflower burger. Love having a non-meat option for when I’m focusing on veggies.

Heather Wells

I have been glutened here twice. The food is delicious, but if you can't eat gluten, beware. They will offer you a gluten free bun, but then not tell you that the cheese contains gluten, etc. It does taste good, but not worth the sickness I get after.

Jonathan Cox Jr.

First time customer and I was impressed. The food was amazing and I will be coming back again! My only complaint is the lack of space inside.

Matt Holsclaw

This place is exceptional! The quality of the food and the flavors are what make it stand out. Recently votes "Best cheeseburger in America" and (shockingly) it actually DOES live up to the hype! Really great fries too. Order a large for your table to share.

Darrell Dean

Very enjoyable. Great burgers. Liked the outdoor seating

Jess Black

It's hard not to have unreasonably high expectations when a place comes as highly recommended as Al's. At the end of the day it's a freshly made hamburger. Though they do offer plenty of options outside the beef realm, which makes it easier to appease to many palettes. The fries where the most memorable to me. Love a good crinkle cut. The rosemary is a unique touch too.

Danielle Sword

Dope. The burger with the chili on it was amazing

Kimberly Kelly

This is a great place to hang out with your friends and family and great food

Dorothy Bobo

Al’s Burger Shack has the best burgers! It’s a casual place and I enjoyed eating outside, people watching. I tried the “Bobo Burger”, I had to. haha It has chili and slaw, not my usual picks for a sandwich but was very good. Fries were hot and the Coke was cold. There wasn’t a line during the week day around 2pm but it gets lines out the door at peak times. Will keep it on my “favorites” list.

Dion Archer

Great atmosphere, the Manager comes to the table personally and brings you the order and follows up via name to check on you....FRIES ARE SOOOO GOOD...THX BOSSLADY FOR LUNCH...

Yanzhe Gao

The burger is really good! The buns of the burger is not great. The size is a bit small for its price comparing to similar burgers at BUNS and five guys.

Lisa D

Al’s Burger Shack deserves the title of Best Burger in America (Food and Wine Magazine). It was delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful, offering to substitute the American cheese because it had gluten for cheddar instead (I am gluten free). They also have gluten free rolls available. Despite the busy crowd on Saturday the staff was professional and took their time to get our order correctly. We even found a place to sit on the patio. Don’t be intimidated by the line out the door, the ordering counter area is small and the food is delicious and worth whatever wait there may be. I went there while visiting the area and would definitely come again. I wish I lived closer!!

Brian Kurzius

Great burgers and fries. I'm deducting a star because they serve all their drinks in plastic. Please switch to paper!

Kelvin W

Best burgers I've ever had!

Spencer Garfield

Surprisingly disappointed. The burger I got (basic hamburger with lettuce/tomato/sauce/onions/pickles, medium rare) was bland and a little difficult to eat. Am I missing something? Did I order wrong? I enjoyed the sweet potato fries, the brown sugar was a smart touch. I wanna give Al's another chance. What ought I order next time to get a genuine impression?

Kenneth Parker

Good selection and friendly service. Personal issue, due to an allergy to Cilantro.

Katherine Ham

One of my favorite burger places! Such a cute atmosphere and the people are so friendly. I’m a big fan of the Mookie but branched out to try the Kenny J burger this time (bacon, pimento cheese, Cheerwine BBQ sauce)

Suyash Varma

They prepare cheeseburgers that simply melt in your mouth - easily the best in the Triangle. They have a lot of variety too with chicken sandwiches and veggie burgers being there in the menu as well. The place itself is very casual with a young crowd. They have canned and bottled beers. The sweet potato fries were great too. Will visit again and again.

Sharon Winston

Great great burgers. They melt right in your mouth. My husband and I were pleased.

Krista Ung

I love Al's and frequently eat here. I also frequented to location of Franklin St. The burgers are amazing and we enjoy supporting a local business. Al also uses high quality ingredients and the staff is always amazing. We have never had an incorrect order or a long wait time. You can even go just for desert!

Ed Miramontes

If a fresh burger is what you seek then Al's now your place. Just really enjoyed this icon of Chapel Hill.

Ali Atwy

Food took nearly an hour to come out, and when it did , it the fries were cold, and we were missing items from our order, it took multiple attempts to get the rest of the order out and it felt like we were inconveniencing the staff by asking for the rest of our order. In addition to that, others came after us, got their order and left before we even got ours, so it's not an issue of them being busy.

Julie Lambias

Really good burgers .Great price! Try this burger shack!

Jamie Hodnett

GREAT burger and sweet potato fries! Met Al this time, he's seems like a great guy. Gotta get me one of those "body by Al's" tshirts. You'll be glad you went!

Jackson Lanier

Al's makes a great hamburger (probably the best on Franklin St) but for the price it better be. Everyone needs to try Al's at least once if the attend UNC.

Nathan Irby

Good but I've had better. Fries were great though. I'd eat there again though

Ted Nono

Good taste, but the size is quite small....may need two of classic.

Jonathan S

Bad value for the price. The burgers were bland and the portions were small (burgers, drinks, and fries). The only good things about this place are the fresh ingredients and friendly service.

Ben Sanders

Ordered a Turkey burger and instead got some kind of barely cooked hamburger. Girlfriend's burger had cheese when specifically requested not to. Supposedly one of the best places for a burger, so I'm at least hoping I won't get sick from eating that thing. Won't be back though.

Silver Turtle

Very good Burgers. Al’s burger is definitely one of the best in town. If you haven’t tried it then your missing out.

Kyle Cory

The food here is really good and the service is normally very prompt and courteous.

Lex

This place makes a wonderfully comfortable burger that backs up its famed reputation, and the best sweet potato fries I've had in NC. Highly recommend if you can manage to come by in off-hours that don't have a line stretched outside the door.

Kenneth Scott

Very good burgers, cooked well, very juicy and packed with flavor. Beef is seasoned well which gives strong flavor in absence of other toppings. Fries are crinkle-cut and seasoned with salt and herbs. Overall great experience, would glady return.

Alex Vinzant

Outside of the wait (which varies from no wait to a line out the door), this is undoubtedly my top choice for a burger in the area. You can't go wrong here. Get half and half fries (sweet potato and regular) with any Burger from the menu and you'll have an amazing time. Just be ready for a mess.

Kendrick Cobb

Great place to eat in Chapel Hill! Must visit!

Arkopal Choudhury

A very good burger place. The only problem is the size of the burger - the cost is a bit high compared to that. I would suggest you to get the chicken burger or the beef burger - it's really awesome. The burgers are one of the best in Chapel Hill. You would get free refills for drinks which is a bonus for the summer!

Darwin Hoop

I'm disappointed to read all the fawning, uncritical reviews. Al's is OK, but extremely over-rated and definitely not close to being the best burger in town. That honor goes to Town Hall Burger and Beer, where patties are cooked perfectly to order throughout the patty, toppings are amazing and yield artfully delicious results every visit. Where a flat and even patty is required for even cooking and ease of eating (another strong point of Town Hall), Al's tend to be a slightly-compressed meatball that is gray in the middle and increasingly overcooked the closer you get the surface. A "medium" burger is over-cooked everywhere but its core. This ball-like "patty" structure also causes Al's burgers to be difficult to eat. Most adults are incapable of getting their mouths completely outside the beef ball and are forced to attack it in much the same way a beaver might have a go at the trunk of a tree. The results are always messy and no two bites of the burger taste the same. Indeed, no two burgers of the same kind ever taste the same. Toppings are often too sparsely applied to be found in most bites. What's there will most likely be found on your hands or pushed out the back of the burger to fall onto your plate. The fries can be good if you are fortunate enough to get a fresh batch. I'm generally not that fortunate and take mine home to reheat. AL's potato fries are ALWAYS served peppered with rosemary flakes. I'm ok with this sometimes, but not most times. We eat there because it's right next to where we grocery shop. I'm generally disappointed and wish we'd held out for a better option. My memories of Al's on Franklin Street are considerably more pleasant, so maybe its a location problem.

Bill Ramos

Awesome, delicious, better than hoped for. Plus fast seevice and a friendly staff!

TJ Tyree

Great place to grab a quick burger. They have the option of sweet potato fries and they are hefty. They sprinkle salt and brown sugar on them and the flavor just pops. The burgers are delicious and a very good size, if you want it bigger you and always upgrade to a "Big Al" Size and get twice the meat. I had the Bobo chili cheese burger and my fiance had the Mookie. Both were delicious and when the ladies who cooked our food asked how it was they were so pleased that we loved it. They really seem to take pride in the food they make and that makes it extra special.

Daniel Edgell

Sweet Potato fries. It says right there in the name, they should be sweet. It's literally the only thing that separates them from regular fries. So when a restaurant serves sweet potato fries and they put sugar on em? It's because they know how to treat food. It's because they KNOW how things should taste. the flavors on my burger were spot-on, I don't remember what it was called but it was pimento cheese and bacon and Cheerwine BBQ sauce and sauteed onions and every component was crafted in such a way as to create One Singular flavor profile that was executed flawlessly. Counter service was quick and friendly. I don't know if the chef is Al, but he's hilarious. And for what you're getting, the prices are a bargain. When I'm in Chapel Hill again, I'll be back...

Tennis God117

Insanely good burgers. I had the one with cheerwine bbq sauce and it was absolutely sensational. Although slightly expensive definently worth the price.

Joi Whittington

First time here and we probably arrived at the peak of dinner, so we waited for about 10 minutes before ordering. After getting our order and driving around 20 minutes to get home, the fries were not at their best. Not bad, though! I'm sure if you can find a seat there, the fries are great!

Tony Mwalali

Interesting Rosemary Fries, Great burgers¥

David Porter

The is one of the best burgers I've ever had. Phenomenal ingredients that are super fresh. Cooked to order, I had mine medium, and just plain delicious. Fries were awesome as well. Overheard people raving about the milkshakes, but I didnt have one (next trip). Highly recommend this venue if you are even remotely close to the area. It wont disappoint.

Doug Bright

Burger was good, but the best part were the toppings - onion jam, bacon, blue cheese on the Mookie. Messy, juicy, tasty. Both types of fries were nice as well. Atmosphere was casual and pleasant. Just expected a bit more for the price, I suppose. ($11ish for a burger and fries)

Jason Harshaw

Burger was juicy but a little finely ground. Too much rosemary on the fries. The tip is requested by the software when you order - be advised the service is mediocre Excellent beer selection.

Vance D

1st Time here. It was just what it was advertised. Best Burger In NC. Sat at the counter so I could watch the well oiled operation. Must try the Kenny J Burger & the DC 40 Hot Dog AEESOME !! It was worth the drive from Lexington NC. I will visit again

Rob Reece

Very good burger. Service and quality are always consistent and very good. Never hesitate to go to Al's for a burger.

James Mc

Really my review can't do justice to the quality of Al's burgers. The staff is amazing but the burgers are some of the best around. As a matter of fact they were awarded best burger in America not too long ago. If you've never been you have to go at least once. Try something exciting when you go because everything is amazing.

John Roberts

Tasty burgers. But kind of small for the price. A nice variety on the menu and some craft brews, too.

Chris Watson

Good atmosphere for a really good burger!

Helga Bluestone

Wonderful burger place. They run specials daily. Everything is super fresh, great customer service, very, very popular place

Pittman Kuchers

I ended up getting the Kenny G burger and loved it! There's so much flavor to that thing. My wife and I split a large fry and couldn't finish it because of the size. For 2 people, I'd recommend their normal size fries to split. Top quality ingredients. Will definitely be coming back!

Mike Zheleznyak

Great burgers! Tasty grilled burgers with awesome toppings. Very well seasoned crinkle fries. Great service. Watch out there's almost no seating indoors so you'll have to be on the patio in the sun/cold.

Syed Osama Ahmad

One of the best burgers I have had in America

Ignasi Tobella

Good price/quality burgers.

Rob D

Hands down the best burger I have ever had! The customer service is second to none! Love this place!

Mary Katz

Outstanding! So glad to have eaten at this fantastic burger shack! Juicy, delicious, and great flavors. Loved the buns too! Rosemary fries were over the top! Friendly fast service. A real gem in Chapel Hill. Nice to have ended our visit there after a bad meal at Medici. Thank you, Al’s!

Virginia Phillips

must get their sweet potatoe fries, so damn good! loved their all woman staff too:)

Victoria Burdeshaw

I just tried Al’s for the first time today, and it was amazing! I got the mookie burger with regular fries and my mom got the classic burger with sweet potato fries. 10/10 would recommend!

Erline Bowden-Wilson

This is the best burger place ever! It is very difficult for me to rate anything 5stars, but this place exceeded my expectations. The burgers are flavorful and juicy, and the fries to die for!!!! I tried the Mookie burger and it blew my mind, will definitely be back. Way to go you guys!!!!!!

brian samick

Awesome burgers and fries. Long line for order but moves quickly

Alonzo Wells

Nice crew. Great food. Looking forward to going again.

Justin Brehm

The original. This place is a little harder to get to than the one in Southern Village. If you're in Chapel Hill thinking about burgers and delicious rosemary fries then this is the only place to go.

Bruna Brylawski

The burgers are just like one makes in the backyard barbecue, thick and juicy and tasty. The mix of regular and sweet potato fries is deliciously sinful. A beer with lunch...priceless. On top of it all, kind and prompt service. Must go.

Jean Tropical Shores

The burgers were good but pricey, especially for no table service. We all ordered the classic burger. The patties were thick and cooked medium which was perfect for us. It comes on buttery potato buns with cheese, tomatoes, pickles, onions and lettuce. Every condiment tasted fresh. The hamburger meat was juicy and tasty. Definitely a good burger but don't believe the hype of being the best burger in the USA, this is just another marketing gimmick. This was definitely not the best burger I've ever had in America, none the less it was a GOOD one. The fries were good too but way too salty. The sprinkling of rosemary on the fries is a nice touch. Beware that a single side order of those crinkle fries will be enough for 4 people. The service was slow but excellent. The lady who took our order was very friendly.

Sean ODowd

Amazing burgers. Fast service and high quality food!

Dan Selleck

Awesome burgers dogs and fries. No better place around. The food is always consistent. Help friendly.

Mina Yoo

That was awsome places. And good flavor, reasonable price I think. Also they just having dishes for vegetarians

David Segraves

Phenomenal burgers! One of the best in the country!

Bryan Rothamel

The double is way too much. Just get the single and you will be very satisfied.

Larry Klein

Great sweet potatoe fries

Meagan Riddle

Al's Burger Shack has the BEST burgers and fries around, I would say the best in the Triangle area if not the best in the state. They offer regular crinkle cut fries or sweet potato crinkle cut fries, on the regular fries they add dried rosemary and sea salt and the combination is absolutely delicious!! They also offer 2 sizes in their burgers: Al Size (which is a big burger, too big for me) the other size is Buddy Bite Size (which is similar to a slider size only its bigger then any slider I've ever had) I always get the Buddy Bite Size and a small French fries and it fills me up before I can even finish the burger. I know some people are very health conscious but Al's Burgers are totally worth the calories. They also have really great Hot Dogs and Milk Shakes. **Fun Fact: Al's Burger Shack was rated Best Burger In America by Trip Advisor and Food & Wine Magazine**

Ursula Lobacz

Best vegetarian burger I've had and the sweet potato fries were a hit. The customer services was quick and friendly. Very limited seating for such a popular place so plan accordingly.

Mr. Burns

Definitely the best burgers in North Carolina hands down well worth it

Alex Toth

GREAT burger. Got the Al's size and it was a perfect portion. Seating is a bit of a problem and the place next door was empty but still fussed at us using an outdoor table

Jake Watson

Parking can be an inconvenience but good burgers

Renee Blake

I had a milkshake and small regular fries. The milkshake was amazing. The fries took one getting used to. Idk what they use to season them, but at first they tasted very much like burnt pork or something...even though they were a perfect golden color and just crispy enough. After a few bites and dowsing them with ketchup, they became edible. The milkshake I had was chocolate and it's the only reason I am giving this place even 3 stars.

Annalee Harkins

I'm not really a burger person but Al's is amazing. Pro tip: call ahead to place your order and skip the wait when you pick it up.

Catheryne Pully

BEST BURGER IN AMERICA! Love this family-owned, friendly shack. They get their meat locally and as much of their other ingredients as possible. You can taste the difference!

James Lyons

Honestly I think the best burger I've ever had. Highly recommend.

Marshon Minters

Awesome place for family dinner!

Logan Beard

Rated best burger in America for good reason

Bart Hubbard

Al's is the burger place I take friends who really love burgers. Great counter service, cute outdoor seating area (depending on weather), fantastic burgers. They have an array of unique specialty burgers, but what makes them shine is the quality of the beef and how perfectly they're cooked. Excellent ingredients, too -- tomatoes, pickles, lettuce are all perfect. The fries are crinkle-cut, always crispy, and tossed with rosemary and sea salt. They have milkshakes that look amazing, but I haven't tried, yet. Highly recommended.

Ryan Beller

Holy smokes! These are burgers to die for! I had the the chili burger and about didnt come down from my high! Burgers better than 5 guys! You MUST try a burger here.

Michael C

Burger was well seasoned and cooked like I'd asked. Staff was attentive and quick. Only thing was didnt like the fact that rosemary automatically came on fries, but they were quick to give me another order of fries without it free of charge. Would go back again.

matt chap

Great burgers, awesome service. Emma is the bomb.

robert berlund

Good food good service I'm going back

Bryan Hassin

Good burgers that come in many sizes, good hot dogs. Their normal fries aren't great but they come with delicious rosemary salt. I prefer their sweet potato fries, which inexplicably come with brown sugar (Who needs to sweeten their already-sweet sweet potatoes?), but swapping that our for the rosemary salt is no problem.

Daniel Salgado

First time here. I ordered the Mookie Burger and a large sweet potato fries. The burger was perfectly prepared, but has you can see my sweet potato fries were over cooked and I had an after taste of slightly burnt fries. This is another restaurant where you are required to pay the tip up front, which I said I would leave one later. After I was served no one came by to check up on me if I needed anything, so no tip was left.

Monica Samsky

Great staff, seems like everyone in southern village goes here on Saturday nights! It's loud and crazy so we always get our food to go. These aren't cheap burgers, but they're super high quality. The rosemary crinkle cut fries are fantastic.

Elika Emerick

Walk up and order kind of place with outdoor picnic style seating. The food is phenomenal, and they have glass bottle coca cola. Make sure to make it "Al's size" burger because they are on the smaller side. Also they won "best burger" award from some where prestigious.

Marc Mason

Great burger in the best part of the country! Tar heel town!

Kenton Spencer

Quality burgers, friendly service, and great people! What's not to like? Offers a variety of vegetarian burgers including cauliflower. Did I mention wine too?

Loan Frankenstein

The meat was good. Everything else was okay. The sweet potatoes fries were burnt for the most part. And there was lots of house flies!

heatherkochan87

Neat atmosphere. Good music. Tasty food.

Aimee Aimee

Nice place..good burgers

Anne M

I've driven by this place several times in the past and there is always a line. Possibly there was no line for our visit because it was 100 degrees, and 4 p.m. on a Tuesday. We did not notice a parking lot or other obvious parking near the restaurant so we had to hike a few blocks from our parking spot. There is some counter seating inside but most of the seating is outdoors. We sat at some oversized picnic tables that were under a shade structure with some ceiling fans providing a little relief from the heat. The outside picnic tables looked normal sized but the ones we sat on seemed to be oversized - made for tall people. Who knows. Maybe the basketball team is a regular at this pace. Service was fast and friendly and we were given free samples of Cheerwine before we ordered. We had some burgers, a hot dog, and we all shared a large order of the Amazing rosemary crinkle cut fries. I had a chocolate milk shake too, that, while tasty, was nothing special. My hot dog was great and those rosemary were the stars of the meal. We loved the funky casual vibe of this place, definitely a local hangout. I can't wait to go back. If there were any negatives, my one tiny quibble was that during our entire visit nobody from the staff came by to clear the fourth picnic table that had some leftover food on it when we got there and it was still there when we left. Someone did go by the trash bins to scoop up the trays on which your food is served, but no member of staff ever looked at or walked into the actual outdoor dining area to see if anything needed removing or cleaning up.

Kulvinder Vohra

Awesome burgers, crunchy fries. A bit pricey but well worth the price.

Business Hours of Al's Burger Shack in North Carolina

SUNDAY
CLOSED
MONDAY
(COLUMBUS DAY) 11AM–9PM HOURS MIGHT DIFFER
TUESDAY
11AM–9PM
WEDNESDAY
11AM–9PM
THURSDAY
11AM–9PM
FRIDAY
11AM–9PM
SATURDAY
11AM–9PM

PHONE & WEBPAGE

Al's Burger Shack en North Carolina
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