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    Al's Burger Shack

    4.0 (154 reviews)
    ModerateBurgers, Hot Dogs
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Al's Burger Shack Takeout or Delivery

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    AL'S BURGER SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Al's Burger Shack

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    Jake V.

    | Overview: + Award-winning Bobo Chili Cheeseburger is 1 of the best burgers you can find in Triangle NC. + Patty size looks back to the larger size compared to my last visit in downtown Chapel Hill 2 years ago. + Medium-cooked patties in my burger were perfectly-cooked. + They bring your order to your table. + Option to add fried egg to your burger is nice to have. - Sides are not exciting. (No cajun or garlic fries) - Limited burger options in menu - Drink cup is too small. - Ambiance is so-so. | Review: It's been a long time since I've been to 1 of the 2 Al's Burger Shack in Chapel Hill. Since then, UNC graduates Charlie Farris & Jason Kesler bought the Shacks from original owner, Al Bowers. A new location also opened in Leland just a few months ago. The last time I went, which was about 2-3 years ago, was a disappointing experience as I noticed that the patty size was smaller than what they served when I first visited around 2018. I remember Covid days made it harder for this burger business as I was required to order via phone or website when I was already there in person. Thankfully, the size of the patties in my latest order was just fine, which I thought was a good sign that the Shack is now in good hands. I had to order the award-winning Al's famous Bobo Chili Cheeseburger ($9.95), and I added extra patty ($4+) & fried egg ($1+). With the fountain drink and no sides, total came up to be $19.60. I've tried Al's sides before: crinkle fries and sweet potato fries, but I haven't tried cheese fries here before. The Shack offers options to add chili, or bacon for $1.50 each; fries also come with your choice of 1 of the 6 House - Made Dippin' Sauces (I don't remember seeing that in my previous visits). Anyways, I didn't order any sides because crinkle fries are not exciting; if they have Cajun or Garlic fries, I'd definitely add a side. It took about 12 minutes for my burger to arrive. There's a few toothpicks to keep the thick burger together. The two patties and fried egg were well-assembled along with the American cheese, house-made chili, slaw, onions, and mustard. The patties were perfectly-spiced, Medium, and every bite was satisfyingly juicy. Some pieces of the fried egg fell, with the yoke dripping, but the whole burger wasn't soggy at all. I scooped up the tiny bits of egg that fell on my small plate. The combination of chili, onions, mustard, and slow make Bobo's flavor unique. This is not your typical Cook Out Style burger (which also has chili and slaw); it's elevated, and of course, about $4-$5 more expensive with just 1 patty compared to Cook Out's 2-patty (albeit, smaller sized patties) burger. My latest visit was not a bad casual dining experience. There's a soda machine, sweet tea & unsweetened tea. The drink I got was quite small but I was able to refill my sweet + unsweet tea. Al's also offers beer and I'm sure the burgers would go well with it. I also noticed that the milkshares here are now called "Maple View Farm Milkshakes", so it's nice to see that a local dairy farm is teaming up with a local burger spot. Ambiance here is alright for a casual spot; not very spacious, with just a few tables inside and the small outdoor area. I was able to find a seat though, but I can imagine that this place can be packed in peak hours. Parking might also be an issue as the Shack shares spaces with other surrounding businesses nearby, including a fresh market close to it. Was the 2-patty + fried egg Bobo Chili Cheeseburger with drink & no side worth $19.60? I can say I'm somewhat satisfied, but not to the point that I'd crave to return here often. For a similar price, I can get 2-patty Bacon Cheeseburger with drink & Cajun fries in Five Guys but that burger is greasier, so each has their own pros & cons. Like Five Guys though, Al's Burger Shack's menu is quite limited. There are only 5 different kinds of burgers to choose from, and the few non-burger options are not exciting. Nonetheless, if you're craving for a well-crafted Chili Cheeseburger with delicious patties, that might be a good enough reason to visit Al's Burger Shack. | Overall Score: 3.8/5

    Raw Burger

    My fiancé and I got lunch here today, we both ordered our burgers rare. Mine came out rare as intended (it was yummy). However the cashier marked my fiancés as medium rare on the ticket and the burger she received was cooked to medium-well. We know it was marked incorrectly because they came and showed us the ticket. I asked kindly for a replacement burger for her and within a very short period of time they gave her a burger that was cold and raw in the middle. When the new burger was given to her the server seemed agitated about the ordeal. Now my fiancé is sick to her stomach and throwing up. This feels intentional by the staff.

    Mookie and Shroom and Swiss
    Joey N.

    Yummy burger joint! I really love the outdoor seating they have here! My girlfriend and I ordered the Mookie and Shroom Swiss along with the garlic aioli and it was DELISH. Tender, juicy, and bouncy beef patty and the sauce was a great touch. I do wish it was a teeny bit more salted, but that is just my preference. Crinkle cut fries were a perfect crunch and paired well with the burgers. Highly recommend giving AL's a try! I think I'm going to try the Sriracha aioli and milkshakes here next time! They looked super delicious too!

    Cheeseburger
    Kyle R.

    Came here and I've been wanting to try it for a while and it was pretty good! I've heard a lot of good reviews and overall I would say it was worth it. Nothing spectacular but a good decent hamburger.

    Hot dogs, sides, and sauces
    John C.

    Visited Al's mid-afternoon as just a little snack. We were all from out of town staying in Chapel Hill for the evening. Beers were had until everyone arrived then we each got a hot dog and shared one of each of their side items (tater tots, fries, and sweet potato fries) with two of each of their sauces. We're sauce people, ok? The hot dogs were good: split and griddled, placed in a toasted bun and topped with chili, slaw, mustard and onions. For me there was a touch too much slaw. I like slaw, but it was kinda the only thing you could taste in each bite. We enjoyed all of the sides and it truly made a great sampling plate for our group of four. Our favorite sauces were Al's Sauce and their Ranch. Our least favorite was their BBQ. It just had a strange aftertaste. Service was good. We chose this location because it didn't look like the Franklin St. location had much covered seating and it was a rainy day. I'd return to try other menu items!

    Jean H.

    My friend was craving sweet potato fries, so we visited Al's Burger Shack. Long story short, great burger, but the fries could use some improvement. Food: I got the Mookie. Thoroughly enjoyed the thick, juicy burger patty cooked t medium. The bread was soft, potato bun I believe, but tasted like a brioche. Blue marble cheese, bacon-onion jam, and aioli a delicious combo. Able to add tomatoes, and presumably other standard fixings. The sweet potato fries, unfortunately, were found wanting. They were on the cool side, so looked and tasted like they've been sitting around. Bit too much cinnamon sugar on top, which I tapped off. They recommended a special sauce that isn't on the menu that the fries are usually pair with, which was a frothy, thinner concoction. Surprisingly worked, but difficult to describe the taste. A pro is that the fries portion was large! The space: normal table seating, bar stool seating along the walls, and outside seating. Casual. Plenty of free parking. Service: Wait in line to order, self-seating. Friendly, didn't have to wait long even on Friday night. Tl;dr: Great burger, casual spot, wish the sweet potato fries are fresher!

    Kellie D.

    Grabbed dinner here after picking up Tar Heel Ten Miler packets. Perfect pre-race food! We sat outside at one of the picnic tables on a nice evening. Food was delivered to us in a reasonable time and everything was correct. I ordered the Cajun chicken sandwich on a gluten free bun and husband and I split an order of sweet potato fries and an order of crinkle fries. Both fries were delicious. The sandwich was a good portion of chicken cooked perfectly and I really appreciate that they have gluten free buns. Beer prices seemed reasonable but I did not indulge due to race. Thanks Al's -- PRed -- so if I ever do another race in CH this is the place I will eat again!!!

    Half n Half Fries, Bobo Chili Cheeseburger
    Jonathan L.

    Located in a plaza with easy access to parking! There was plenty of outdoor seating and the food came fast. I got the Bobo Chili Cheeseburger because the menu had a quote saying it was the best burger ever. I think it's a pretty good burger but I didn't taste too many strong flavors and it felt lumped together, so I don't think I'll get it again. I also got half and half fries and tried sweet potato fries and tater tots. The tater tots were crispy and flavorful! I'll have to try one of the more standard burgers next time!

    Turkey burger and totts!
    James E.

    Been to Al's on Franklin so I figured I'd give this location a try. Setup is the same (counter order/find a table) and so is the menu, but this location has the benefit of a newer building and more seating. Turkey burger was probably one of the best patties I've ever had!

    Classic burger, sweet potato fries

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    6 months ago

    Best burgers and fries around. Kids love it too. If you want to go nuts then try their milkshakes too.

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    9 months ago

    30 min wait for food and no seating. Order wasn't right either. Was not worth it for a burger.

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    2 years ago

    Fast and friendly service. Burgers cooked to your specifications. Very tasty. I'd go back again.

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    4 years ago

    Al's burger shack a great burger, fantastic fries. One day I am getting the 12 pack of burgers!

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    Tandem - Beef short ribs

    Tandem

    4.0(403 reviews)
    2.2 mi
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    We have given Tandem a try a few times over the years. One time the oysters were served frozen…read more They brought us a new platter of a dozen that were better - that was 3 years ago. Lastnight, our family ate dinner there only to get sick from the muscles. 3 of us shared the muscles appetizer, which tasted great, but the three of us that ate the muscles ended up sick for a few hours later that evening and and next morning. Everyone else in the dinner party that had not eaten the muscles was fine. The service staff was over-extended. We had to ask the busing staff to get our waiter so that we could order and later in the meal to refresh our beverages. And finally, our dinner party was seated in the very furtherest back room that features an exit door with a large lit up exit sign over it. The room was not really fit to seat people at that price point. There are no sound buffers in the back room. It is akin to a large storage area with artwork on the wallks. There was no way to hear anyone talking at the table due to the roar of the sound bouncing off the walls. The room should not be used for seating at Tandem's price point. I rarely if ever give a bad review, but last night was really disappointing. My family came from Raleigh to join us and we had come over from Hillsborough. We were treating our parents out to a nice dinner - or at least that was the expectation. Otherwise the food was very good.

    Went out on Thursday night to tandem what a great experience. I ordered the Japanese eggplant with…read morequinoa, with a curry sauce. It was delicious and very tasty. With the quinoa adding a crispy crunch to the dish. Having only done lunch at tandem I was not prepared for the taste and unusual foods on the dinner menu. My wife ordered the 72 hr short ribs they were the most delicious and tasty short ribs I had ever encountered. I usually never order short ribs but I would try these out. Our dinner guest had the rib eye steak for one it was also delicious from our guests response. The service is always great with enough service but never overwhelming. For a night cap we enjoyed a Remy cognac. With there cheesecake and chocolate pudding cake. Both were delicious and very tasty.

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    Tandem - Lovely lighting and ample wine.

    Lovely lighting and ample wine.

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    Carolina Brewery - Carolina On My Mind Burger. $14.50. House-ground beef, pimento cheese, bacon, iceberg, tomato, red onions, house pickles, Carolina Gold BBQ.

    Carolina Brewery

    3.5(370 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    I was a first timer at this establishment. Hailey, the host was very welcoming and accommodated…read moremy request to add more seating for a larger party than what was expected. Additionally, the food was delicious. I highly recommend dining here if you are ever in Chapel Hill.

    After helping out at a Yelp event nearby, it was kind of late and I wanted a decent meal before…read morehopping in the car to go back to Greensboro. Already being on Franklin Street, I knew that wouldn't be a problem, and I decided to just pop into this Carolina Brewery location (I think their main one) because it was convenient. The inside is a beautiful mix of wood and metals with different levels, an interesting bar configuration and plenty of TVs. I took a seat at the bar and received excellent service, and enjoyed conversation about sports, beer, and food with a couple of other gentlemen sitting close by. The only snafu of the meal was the tea got dumped (close to closing) after I got my first glass but before I got a refill. They replaced it with another drink of course, but that was good tea! I ordered the shrimp and grits with tempered expectation, but will summarily say they were exceeded. This was a really nice sized portion of thick creamy grits, a total of 8 VERY plump shrimp, enough salty bacon and onion to balance it out. Each bite was well balanced, and while it can't compare to anything I've had out in the low country by the coast, it was better than I hope for this spot and time. If I had to suggest an improvement, it could use an element with a subtle sweetness, like roasted or blistered sweet corn shaved off the cob. I also would like the sauce more pronounced, or even a red-eye gravy. I wouldn't call it dry, but it could have benefited. That would take it onto another level. Anyhow, I enjoyed the meal and friendly conversation. I would certainly return next time I'm in Chapel Hill.

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    Carolina Brewery - Inside. Lower level at the bar, watching North Carolina vs NC State in the 2024 ACC Tournament championship game on March 16, 2024.

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    Sup Dogs - Smokehouse Dog + Buffalo Dog Combo

    Sup Dogs

    3.8(248 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Sup Dogs is hot dog heaven, full stop…read more If you love a creative, loaded, over-the-top hot dog, this is your place. The Firehouse Dog is a must -- bold, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with just the right kick. The cheesy jalapeño dog is everything it should be: melty, spicy, messy in the best way. And the taco dog? Somehow ridiculous and incredible at the same time. The fries are crispy, seasoned, and absolutely addictive, but let's talk about the real stars: the sauces. There are so many good ones that choosing becomes the hardest part of the visit. Drizzle, dip, smother -- you literally cannot go wrong. Even the buns deserve love -- soft, toasted just right, and strong enough to hold up to all that delicious chaos. Everything here is done right, from the flavors to the quality to the fun vibe. Sup Dogs is one of those places that makes you excited to come back before you've even finished eating. Five stars, no debate.

    Sup Dogs was a big disappointment. We arrived on game day but early enough in the day that they…read morewere steady but not super busy. It was freezing today outside and we were seated by the door. Everything was fine until the hostess propped the door open. They left the door wide open and everyone in the front seating area was miserable. I asked if they could please close it and I was told no. They said the hostess stands by the door on game days. So they really don't care if their customers are comfortable or not. That says a lot. They certainly could've made adjustments given the cold and windy day. But our waitress was kind enough to move us when a table opened up in the back. That was a big relief and much more comfortable. Now to their food. The bacon cheese fries were great but didn't have bacon so we had to get them to bring back to sprinkle on top. The ranch was excellent and we all liked the app. My youngest got a grilled cheese which he enjoyed. My oldest got a burger which he said was okay, but nothing special. But the real disappointment comes in with the hot dogs. My first dog was cold, like unappetizingly cold. The waitress was very nice and took care of it immediately. However, the second dog came out almost immediately. If you like a boiled hot dog that's reheated in a microwave, you'll like their hot dogs. But I want a quality grilled hot dog. We'll stick to our ol' faithful CH burger joint from here on out. And I hope next time your customers are extremely uncomfortable on a freezing day sitting right next to the open door, you exercise some courtesy and close the door next time.

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    Outside Seating

    Sup Dogs - Cheesy Tots, Spicy Hot Dog

    Cheesy Tots, Spicy Hot Dog

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    QueenBurger - Classic burger minus the "special" sauce

    QueenBurger

    4.3(164 reviews)
    11.9 mi
    $$

    We really enjoyed our visit to Queen Burger while in town for a Duke football game. It's in the…read morecutest little part of town and I love that it's fast casual with a very simple menu. The space is a little tight but they do have outdoor seating which worked perfectly for our group. I also loved that they served cocktails in to go cups. The food was outstanding - a melty, crispy edged smash burger with a side of cheese tots, yum! We also got the chicken tenders and fries for our daughter and the bites I tried were delicious. This will definitely be a spot we visit when we want something quick and scrumptious if we are in the area!

    We came here on a early Friday evening before a show a DPAC. Luckily we got there early enough to…read moresnag a table by the window so we could people watch. We both had a classic burger (him with no pickles, me with no special sauce), shared an order of fries, he had an IPA and I got a blackberry mojito for about $40. The good: The fries were amazing (shoestring fries are my favorite)! The amount of pickles they put on it were phenomenal! The drinks we awesome and the vibe was outstanding. The employees were friendly and helpful. And I feel like everything was priced well and appropriately. The not so good: The meat was just meh and the onions were straight up burnt. Not caramelized, burnt. Overall, the burger was decent, just not great like we were hoping. We sat at our table for quite some time and had a few drinks. It was busy but never too crowded. There was a line but it moved quickly. I would reccommend this place to grab a quick bite before a DPAC show!

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    Flip's Griddle-Burger - Kim Cheeseburger. Cheddar, Caramelized Kimchi.

    Flip's Griddle-Burger

    5.0(1 review)
    7.9 mi

    One of the best burgers I've had this year!…read more I'm a regular Koyku customer. I love their menu and their takeout service has been excellent this year with all the covid stuff going around. They've got a great setup and haven't changed it much with the reopening phases. They are keeping their staff safe but also have a great setup for getting customers the excellent food they're used to.  Recently opening up under the same roof as Koyku is Flip's Griddle Burgers. Basically it's another menu you can order from at Kokyu and under the same roof. Recently my wife and I ordered some food from both places. I love the burnt end nachos but really wanted to try a burger from Flip's.  I went with the PB BBQ Burger (pork belly on a large burger paddy along with 3 different kinds of onions - Crispy Shallot, Pickled Reds & Fresh Scallions. PlusTex*Asian BBQ, Cheddar, Lettuce and BFD Sauce.  Y'all this burger was ridiculous! It was cooked to perfection, which is a tough thing for a take out burger. It's also massive. This was one of the best flavor experiences I've had this year. I also got a side of the steak fries (which had replaced the tots from Kokyu - and while I'll always love the tots these fries were a great replacement. The Same flavor profile as the tots.  We also split a side of the Crispy BBQ Shrimp which were very tasty. I'd easily go back and get all these items again. As always Kokyu does a superb job with their food even with the different menus they are offering now out of their establishment. I can't wait to try more from Flip's menu. Highly recommended.

    From the owner: Flip's Griddle-Burger is one of KoKyu & Na'Means Ghost Kitchens running out of their Southpoint…read morelocation. Slangin' in Durham since 2010

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    Flip's Griddle-Burger - OMG.

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    OMG.

    Al's Burger Shack - burgers - Updated May 2026

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