I stopped in a week ago to grab lunch while my car was charging. I just wanted a quiet place to hang out for a bit. Boy am I glad I did. I order the mookie burger (medium rare, I'm not a psychopath after all) and a side of tater tots. The burger was perfectly done. the right amount of toppings and sauce in relation to the patty size. Tots were the right level of crispy. Soooooo delightful The best burger in Chapel Hill! Come here TODAY and order the mookie burger. Service is awesome. People are great. 10 out of 10, would absolutely recommend. read more

Our first experience at an Al's Burger Shack was in Apex, and this place is on another level. The burgers are so much better here and the vibe is homegrown. Love the outdoor seating and beer shack connected. I had the Elote Burger (burger of the month), and it was awesome. The rest of the family had the Classic, Sean's Bacon Burger and Nashy Smashy. No complaints. read more

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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

Quality burger/sandwich and fries place! I actually got their turkey burger to switch it up this time and it was pretty good! I would probably prefer the normal hamburger patty, but still enjoyed the other. They also have grilled chicken and a black bean burgers. Their sweet potato fries are SO GOOD. They are salty with a little sugar sweetness. I do wish a side (fries of some sort) came with the burgers, but you do have to order them separate. In total my meal was $16.50 before tax, which I feel is pricey for a burger and fries- but they taste good so it's fine. The staff is friendly and nice. They have indoor (pretty limited) and outdoor seating which is great for a new sunny day. Overall this is a great place for a quicker meal! They were recently rated the top burger place in NC which is a great accomplishment! read more

Al's Burger Shack - Turkey burger with Sweet Potato Fries - 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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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

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

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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Friendly, great food, great service and great prices. We love the fries that are actually cooked right, not pale and raw. We are frequent diners there! Great job! read more

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

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

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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Oh my gosh!!! The burgers here are amazing. Service was excellent. I can't say enough good things about this place. Chefs kiss amazing!!

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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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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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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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