SO GOOD!! I would eat here every single day if I could. Everything is 10/10 the milkshake I would sell my family for. Everyone needs to eat here if you come across it. SOOOO DELICIOUS!! read more

One of my go-to places whenever I'm in Chapel Hill. Good, thick, juicy burgers. Gourmet burger feel, made with simple, high-quality ingredients. Love their burgers of the month. Had the elote burger. Solid. Have tried their classic, Kenny J, and Mookie. All good. Fries and tater tots are solid. So are their sweet potato fries. What puts this place above others are their sauces (aioli). Chef's kiss. There's also a sweet dipping sauce for the sweet potato fries if you're into that kind of thing. read more

This longtime Chapel Hill institution serves up ridiculously good burgers, hot dogs and fries in a casual Franklin Street setting that's just a short walk from the UNC campus. Al's Classic Hamburger might just be one of the best I've ever tasted -- cooked to perfection and topped with fresh onions, pickles and Al's amazing sauce. Pair it with a side of crinkle fries and a cold draft beer from Al's fantastic selection of North Carolina crafts, and you'll soon be in hamburger heaven. Service was fast and friendly, and despite the tight accommodations at the front counter, there are ample tables out back, both outside and covered. There's also a taproom in a separate building where you can enjoy a burger and cold beer at a booth or table. And there's no dedicated parking, so drivers will have to find a spot on the street or in a nearby public lot. Serving up one of the best burgers I've had in a very long time, Al's is a Chapel Hill experience I'll be looking forward to whenever I'm back in town. HIGHLY recommended! read more

Al's Burger Shack - An Al's Classic Burger and a cold craft beer. There's nothing better! - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I've heard so much about Al's Burger Shack that I had to come and try it out. The place was busy with lots of people sitting inside and outside in round and picnic style tables. You can order in the 'shack' or like I did, outside by the bar. There was no line there. I ordered a burger and fries and a hotdog and fries with a Coke and it was surprisingly very good. You do have to wait a bit for the food, approximately 20 mins. They come around and yell out your name when the food is ready. Be patient and enjoy. Would definitely try again. It sort of reminded me of 'In and Out' only because this place has a following who swear by these burgers. read more

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Great service, great food, and good vibes! I would definitely recommend if you are in the area. read more

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Food was delicious! Quick service for a Tuesday afternoon. Outside seating was perfect for the 70 degree weather. read more

Al's Burger Shack - 2025 Best of Chapel Hill - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Everything we tried here was delicious. The fries also came with a dipping sauce so I chose the ranch which is made in house. The hot dog had a nice snap to it and the burger was very juicy. Very cute vintage decor as well. read more

Al's Burger Shack - Sweet Potato Fries, Mr. G (hot dog Carolina style), and Sean's Bacon Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Love love love Al's Birger Shack! The best impossible burger I've had in ever! Such an amazing place; a must when u visit Chapel Hill! read more

Hands down my favorite cheeseburger in the Triangle. It's a small space, you walk up to the counter and order, they have daily specials on the board, you pay, and they'll call your name when your order is ready. Everything is cooked to order and it goes pretty quickly. There is outside seating and some bar seating inside. It's low key vibes with high key flavors. The regular cheeseburger is my go to. Their crinkle fries and tots are incredible. I keep meaning to try their shakes - but honestly the cheeseburger is the show stopped imo. 15/10. No notes. read more

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Amazing burger and fries! Burgers are cooked to order and mine was done to perfection (medium rare). Fries were hot with just the right amount of crinkle. Rosemary spread on top was a nice touch too. You walk in and order from a counter and then have your choice of seating either outside or in heated enclosements. Staff was friendly and brings food to your table. Personally, I thought $17 for a burger and fries with no drink was a touch expensive, but the quality of the food outweighs the cost. Definitely come check this place out if you are ever in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area! read more

Al's Burger Shack - Bobo Chili Cheeseburger and Crinkle Cut Fries with Siracha aioli sauce - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Placed an online order for pickup and it was ready before the estimated time which is always a pleasant surprise. Prices were reasonable and we got the Kenny J and Mookie burgers with 2 orders of fries for just under $30 including tax. The Mookie burger had blue cheese, bacon jam, and a roasted garlic aioli. The Kenny J was topped with bacon, grilled onions and pimento cheese. Both were cooked to a perfect medium and the patties were juicy and flavorful. Their fries are crinkle cut and the portions were generous - they were sprinkled with rosemary which definitely came through as a stand-out aromatic flavor. Plus, the fries come with a choice of dipping sauce - we went with the roasted garlic aioli which was delicious. They have nice vibes with the outdoor seating but limited seating indoors so we chose to takeaway to a local brewery (also for a wider range of drink options). Highly recommend, you simply can't go wrong with a solid burger/fry combo! read more

Al's Burger Shack - Kenny J (left), Mookie (right) - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Such a classic Chapel Hill spot. Usually a long line but always worth it. Such juicy flavorful delicious and big burgers. The fries are great as well. Always enjoy a stop at Al's. read more

Al's Burger Shack - Hamburger - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Great burgers and vibe. But burger was little too small for the price. We came here after reading yelp review, agree with many others read more

I enjoyed the chili burger, fries, and chocolate shake. Fast, delicious, wonderful service! I will definitely be back!

In honor of national burger month, I went with some friends to Al's. I had heard some good things, and wanted to see for myself what all fuss was about. The fuss is warranted. I expected a sloppy chain restaurant burger with ludicrous offerings such as pretzel buns and dry patties stacked to high heaven - and I mean no offense to those spots because I love a trashy burger once in a while. Al's is no such burger. I had a juicy and fresh burger with a tasteful blue cheese sauce with nicely caramelized onions - all on a basic potato bun, a far cry from the fad-driven creations you might find in the nearest "food hall." There isn't any indoor seating here, but there is a covered area just outside the main shack, as well as plenty of outdoor benches. it made for an interesting experience. when a few minutes after getting my order, it started thunderstorming outside. well, it would be nice to have some tables indoors, I didn't mind watching the downpour from under the covered area. The crinkle cut fries were also perfectly done. aromatic from rosemary, and fried to crispiness without being burnt. I usually prefer shoestring, but I didn't mind The tasteful thickness of these fries either. Overall I would say that Al 's is a great spot to get a timeless burger. They take the basics and do it right. I will be coming back. read more

I had a burger with a gf bun. It was pretty good. I didn't get the fries or anything since I was just doing a quick meal. The food came out very fast even though it was busy read more

Great vibes and lovely employees! I'm from the west coast but wow!! I'm a fan of this southern charm haha! The burger isnt bad but it isn't the best. However, the tater tots are crispy and the cookies & cream milkshake is peak American food! I'd come here again :) read more

The burger is so juicy and the bun is always so fresh and soft. Great burgers, fast service, great staff. read more

Al's Burger Shack - Nashy Smashy and combo Half n Half Fries - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I was standing in line with other customers and the person taking orders left us standing while she answered the phone. Poor customer service. read more

I apologize because I couldn't tell you if an organic cow birth this burger. However, rest assured you will get a darn good burger! One of my favorite burger joints. -Potato Bun -Good meat to fat ratio -Cooked to order -Solid sides Servers asks preference on beef temperature (well, rare, etc) This isn't a gourmet burger, it's a consistent darn good burger: Attention to detail, good customer service, and affordability (non fast food). When calorie count allows/ Non gourmet: 5/5 read more

Perfectly cooked burger, a little pink on the inside. Fresh lettuce and tomatoes. Perfect balance of pickled. Grilled potato bun. Hot dog huge and split fried witj great texture and mustard, slaw, chili and onions --Carolina style. Fries perfectly crispy. Highly recommend. read more

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Consistency is absolute when it comes to a burger joint. Al's delivers that in spades, and occasionally shakes it up with some new featured burgers and handhelds. The fries are always fresh, and the sprinkling of rosemary really livens them up! Pair it with one of their signature dipping sauces (my favorite is the spicy ranch), or just keep it simple with a handful of ketchup packets on request. I've had most of the burgers here and honestly haven't been disappointed in any of them, though my go-to is the Bobo chili cheeseburger... Carolina Style! The service crew is always on point and moving things quickly, so you're almost guaranteed to get your order in 10-15 minutes or less. Fresh, hot, and bursting with flavor! read more

Al's Burger Shack - Basic menu - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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If you've read my burger reviews you'd know i love burgers and crinkle cut fries. Al's is just that. I would have to say that it's the best burger and fries spot I have reviewed in the triangle so far. I had their bacon cheeseburger, crinkle fries and tater tots and they were fantastic. Add the small counter service shack and the outdoor picnic tables and you have a quintessential burger joint ambiance. Staff was very friendly and patient for first timers. So no pressure ordering. Definitely on the go to list. read more

Honestly I was very disappointed with the burgers. We drove 50 minutes to try these because I heard great things. Maybe it was an off day but I've had better burgers at McDonald's and I'm not a McDonald's fan read more

Al's Burger Shack - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Fun pick up joint just north of campus. Burgers weren't very seasoned. Drink choices were meh, given their location (surrounded by bars and breweries). Would have loved a win here but it was just okay. Service was just okay. Slower than we anticipated. Loved the outdoor patio vibe. read more

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Hands down the best burger I've had in NC. One of the best burgers I've had period! It's a small burger shop with little room inside. Decent amount of seating outdoors. Order your food a pickup at the counter. I ordered the classic Kenny J, and sweet potato fries. Burgers were $10 each. The classic had cheese, tomato, onion, pickles, and their special Al sauce. A classic burger! The Kenny J came with pimento cheese, bacon, grilled onions, and BBQ sauce. The sweet potato fries were nice and crispy. Great but nothing special. Both burgers were excellent! The classic was the better of the two, if I had to pick. A simple, classic cheeseburger with simple toppings. Tastes like a burger from a cookout but elevated. Patties were juicy and tender and perfectly seasoned. Beef was of very high quality. The toppings complimented the burger nicely. I made the 1 hour trek from Raleigh to get some burgers here, and it was well worth it! read more

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What a fantastic establishment! Would highly recommend. We were in Chapel Hill for a short visit and found this place on Yelp. This cute shack has a variety of burgers on potato buns. The burgers are just the right size, moist, and flavorful. We tried the tater tots and sweet potato fries which were both great. There's very limited indoor seating, but they do have have plenty of outdoor seating, some of which is covered up with heating. The prices are very very reasonable, and the staff are very friendly. There is one large restroom which was clean and well kept. I would definitely go back and recommend this place to visitors! read more

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Enjoying my first visit to Al's! We ordered inside at the counter. There was a line, but it went pretty quickly. We enjoyed sitting outside, and enjoyed our burgers a lot. read more

An adorable local burger joint that will give you the mom and pop vibes. The burger was small but their thick patty will compensate for the size. Everything was fresh and we would definitely be visiting again. Their sides were delicious. Limited indoor seatings but there are plenty of seats outside if you want some vitamin D. read more

I came on a Saturday, which meant there was a bit of a lying, but it wasn't too bad. I got the chili burger, and the tater tots. One thing to note about their burgers: they're not large in diameter, but the patty is really thick. That keeps it nice and juicy. I felt like the chili and the slaw were not overpowering, but added a nice tang to the burger. It was just enough to balance the fat of the burger. Overall, very satisfying. They have a nice patio outside, and they'll bring you your order. A pretty good selection of beers, and It definitely feels like a street side burger joint, even though it's downtown. read more

Al's Burger Shack - Bobo Burger - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Great burger joint with a delicious twist on the usual stuff. Get multiple sauce for the sweet potato fries.

Great Food, service was great. Fries and burger was amazing. The Store was very clean.

Great food, nice people and quick. Excellent meat to bun ratio on the burgers. Sweet potato fries have a sweet and salty dusting and the tots are tender inside and crunchy outside. Highly recommend! read more

Al's Burger Shack - 2 legends - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I really like Al's burgers is our go to for delicious burgers and fries so yummy and perfectly cook, not greasy, crispy and you get to pick a sauce. The Srichacha aioli was my pick and it was really good. I usually order the mushroom Swiss but I've had the others and they are delicious. The staff is really nice and friendly. The place inside is small but plenty of seating outside. read more

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I have lived in Chapel Hill for 30 years, but never made it to Al's in Carrboro before the business was sold. I heard a lot about how great it was. I just got together with a friend at the new Al's location in Apex. Practically empty when we got there at about 11:45. We both ordered a classic cheeseburger and fries. I noticed on the menu that burgers were supposed to all be cooked to medium (pink), which was just great. Didn't take very long for the food. Noticed right away that the burgers were too thin to possibly char on the outside and be pink on the inside--and they weren't. Basically well done. Juice? Nope. The other stuff was OK, but boy what a disappointment. Premium price, though. This friend and I have made a habit of meeting periodically at burger places all through the area, and this was clearly the worst we've run into. So I don't know what's happened, if this was a one-off or if the new management is living off old glory, but we're not going back very soon since there are a ton of alternatives that we know are better. read more

Food and service were impeccable. Had a burger and fries and they hit the spot. Service was quick and everything was fresh. read more

Al's Burger Shack - Burger and fries. - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

We needed a quick bite to eat in Chapel Hill and thanks to Yelp, we found this burger spot. I'm a burger fanatic so it has to be really good to impress me. I went in with neutral expectations. My husband thought they would be smash burgers and ordered a double. I don't advise that unless you're really hungry because they are sizable burgers. I have to say this spot was delicious. The burgers were seasoned well, cooked perfectly, hot, and the right ratio of condiments. My only complaint was that I love a steamed bun and while their buns were very soft and delicious, I like them warm. Next time we're in Chapel Hill and crave a burger, this will be our go to in the spring and fall! read more

Al's Burger Shack - Classic burger and fries - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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We decided to stop in at Al's before a show at Cat's Cradle. The burgers are actually cooked to medium and are seasoned and delicious. They have crunchy green leaf lettuce and tomato adding to the quality. As far as service, you order at the register and the staff brings your meal to you while calling your name. They have plentiful outdoor seating. Hint: you can order your fries half sweet potato/half regular. Both were mouthwateringly good. read more

Al's Burger Shack - Build a Burger - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Really delicious burger! From a first look, it seemed quite small, but it was actually the perfect size for me and quite filling! The burger patty is really thick, juicy, and has a ton of flavor. The Al sauce on the burger was a little bit too watery and didn't add much flavor to the burger itself: I prefer a more creamy sauce. But the burger as a whole was amazing and I would definitely come back!! read more

Al's Burger Shack - Classic - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Al's Burger Shack was yum. My burger came with bacon, grilled onions, shack Q sauce, and spicy pimento cheese. Look at how nice and melty and ooey gooey this burger looks. She was a gorgeous mess. This type of fry isn't my favorite tbh BUT the sauces made them great. Al's is the type of place that has a lot of house-made dipping sauces. My favorite kind of place! read more

Al's Burger Shack - Burgers Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina