My Top 4 Favorite Austin Veggie Burgers
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Just because I don’t eat cows doesn’t mean I don’t love burgers. In fact, even though I’m not a fan of traditional hamburgers, the smell of them somehow primes my belly for a big honkin’ veggie burger. Sometimes it feels like veggie burgers are an afterthought at burger joints, and sometimes establishments don’t feel the need to offer vegetarian-friendly alternatives at all (I’m looking at you, Five Guys and Mighty Fine). And sometimes, places get it right, really right.
Now, I don’t consider myself a foodie by any stretch, so these are just the burgers I enjoy and like to go back and enjoy again and again. I’m always looking for new veggie burgers to try, so if you have any favorites or think I’ve left one out, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
1) My current favorite is The 78704 Burger (sub veggie patty, of course) at Phil’s Ice House. Luckily this sister (or is it brother?) restaurant to Austin institution Amy’s Ice Creams now has a second location actually in 78704, so I can chow down on this perfectly tuned combination of salty, spicy and sweet flavors, which includes Monterey Jack cheese, jalapenos, grilled onions, sliced avocado and chipotle mayo all on a jalapeno-cheese bun. My mouth is watering.
2) I guess my taste can be easily stereotyped because my second favorite veggie burger is also named for the same part of town. Freddie’s Nouveau South Austin is available with a veggie patty or a grilled portobello (oh, and chicken and hamburger, too) and is topped with a delectable combo of avocado, homemade hummus, sprouts and pepper jack cheese. Go for the jalapeno-cheese bun on this one, too.
3) Fuddruckers may be a chain, but it’s a Texas-based one (and a struggling one, I’d wager, based on the closure of two North Austin locations last year), so it deserves our support. I suspect their veggie burger is just a Gardenburger Original Patty, but their buns and extensive toppings and sauce bar elevate it to awesome status. Their fries rock, too.
4) Woodland‘s veggie burger has a unique patty comprising a house mix of nuts, herbs and grains that nearly falls apart when you eat it while imparting a flavor that is both sweet and savory.
Also-rans: As you’d expect, both Mother’s Cafe and Garden and Eastside Cafe offer solid veggie burgers, but neither option really has me immediately plotting my return.
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I’m a foodie. I can safely say that Phil’s Ice House, Freddie’s and Eastside Cafe rock. (So can you, actually.)
P. Terry’s!
Like Counter Cafe’s and really like 24 Diner’s too. 24 has these really good roasted tomatoes you can add that taste like ketchup for grown ups.
I recommend the Alamo Drafthouse’s Black Bean burger, paired with their Chocolate Peanut Butter milkshake.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. I forgot P. Terry’s – their sauce is awesome! And I need to try Counter Cafe’s and 24 Diner’s. I love their vegetarian breakfast sausage patties at 24, so I bet I’ll like their burgers too.
The veggie burger at the Nutty Brown Cafe is surprisingly good (their stuff tends to be greasy but not this item). They also have seriously tasty onion rings.
Thanks, John. I’ve still never been out to the Nutty Brown Cafe, so I definitely need to try it.
Veggie burgers are for sissies. Best REAL hamburgers are as follows:
1.) Fuddrucker’s 1/2 pound 3-cheese burger
2.) Player’s double cheeseburger
3.) O’Husband’s own Heart-Attack-Special
*honorable mention to the McDonald’s double cheeseburger for being so yummy and cheap!
***or just go to Franklin’s and eat ribs/brisket – holy sh%#!!!
Ha ha ha. Heart-Attack Special. What’s in that?
O’Husband, I think you should write a Franklin review!
And yes, what is this heart-attack special?