I was playing the OLDE TYME Festival in Hutto, and part of the writer was dinner at Top Notch…read moreBurgers. I gotta tell you, it was EXCELLENT! It reminded me of In & Out, but with the Char of a flame broil. The Fries, not like In & Out, but good. The burger flavor was exceptional! Great work!

You know that one movie? The one with that one actor who wears Texas on his sleeve? I think he has…read morea catchphrase with something along the lines of "For sure, for sure, for sure." I'm pretty sure that's what he says. Anyways, he eats at this burger drive-thru place called Top Notch. Thanks to this movie representing Austin so well, the movie and the restaurant became a cultural touchstone of the Texas capital. Fifty years later, Top Notch opened their second location in the middle of Hutto, Texas. I've been to the Hutto Top Notch location three times now. Once to try, once because of its convenience during an event, and once for lunch with co-workers. Each time, I've left with the same impression: it's alright, alright, alright. That's what the quote was. I remember now. I've only had their burgers. Twice, their cheeseburger, and yesterday, the Top Pick Burger. All things considered, it's a decent burger. There is nothing obscene or wrong with the burger. It's just a burger. The Top Pick Burger seems like it could be fun and special, but it's really just a worse burger compared to their cheeseburger. It's not bad, but I didn't find it a better replacement for a cheeseburger. Their menu has a lot more options than just their charcoal-broiled hamburgers. They have fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, seafood combos, and their Top Dog sandwich. Two hot dogs in a sandwich. Something I'd whip together if I was seeing stars off Benadryl. Their fries are pretty good, though pretty simple: skinny, crispy, and salty. Good fries. Their shakes are thick without it being a fight for my life to drink. I don't know if my lack of intense enjoyment was thanks to recently having Johnny Rockets and being more impressed with their attempts at crafting a retro '60s burger joint, but Top Notch is more or less Middle-of-the-Pack Notch.

Buddha Burger gets a full 5 stars from me! I stopped by their food truck for a pickup order. I got…read morea cheeseburger (patties) with lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and asked for the Nirvana sauce on the side, along with some barbecue sauce and fries. The burger was incredible- fresh, flavorful, and those smash patties really hit the spot. Everything tasted amazing once I got home. The order was ready in under 10 minutes, the staff was super friendly, and the price was really affordable. I didn't check for seating, but this is the kind of burger you can enjoy anywhere, even in your car. I'll definitely be back!

It's a Friday night and my buddy and I decided it was time for a little adventure. He saw a video…read moreon social media talking about Buddha Burger having some of the best smash burgers in the Austin area, so we made the trek to the Valero gas station in Pflugerville that houses the burger joint to give it a shot. As we walked in, we were surprised to see a pretty long line. Mere seconds later, the entire line dissipated because it was all delivery drivers. The amount of DoorDash and Uber Eats orders coming out of Buddha Burger is insane, and for a burger joint, they seemed pretty on top of getting orders out in a timely manner. My buddy placed his order first, getting the California Classic and their Chocolate Toffee Cookie. I ordered the Big Buddha with their poutine purely out of curiosity. In about 10 minutes, both of our orders were ready. Inside the gas station, there is one large kitchen island style table where everyone can sit. The Big Buddha was good. It didn't wow me by any means, but it was solid. I think the hype around it being the best smash burger in the area led to some disappointment because it was fine. It didn't make me melt or blow my taste buds away. The California Classic my buddy ordered was also good, but nothing extreme. As for the poutine, I do not see myself ordering it again. Ever. The cheese curds were not as melty as I would hope, even with hot gravy poured on top, and by the time we got to it, the fries were completely soggy and lacked any crispness. I know poutine is inherently soggy, but this just did nothing for me. Maybe I'm not a poutine guy and that could be on me, but I'm just being honest. Neither of us cared for it. We split the cookie, which was huge but toothpick thin. We both thought it was okay, but a little too sweet. Not worth ordering again. We decided to dine in because I think food is best eaten immediately after it's ready. While waiting, we watched the kitchen operate and it honestly felt like a new hire was being berated at every given moment. The staff seemed to be working like they were under Carmy from The Bear. As someone just sitting and waiting for food, it felt awkward to witness and made me a little uncomfortable. I know most of their business comes from delivery apps so this probably isn't seen often, but for a place called Buddha Burger, there was no awakened state from the staff. There was no peace and no compassion. It felt weirdly hard-ass while we were there. I hate feeling lied to by a social media video. I've become weary of most especially if they get special treatment and don't talk about the plus and minuses. Everything is a lie these days. At least they didn't put generative AI in the burgers. I'll drive for good food, but the 20 minute trip didn't make this feel totally worth it. The burgers are good, but nothing exceptional, especially at the price point. If I lived closer, I'd probably return, but I don't have a strong urge to come back. Still, it's worth a shot. RIYL: Smash burgers in ten minutes or less.

I had the double meat smash burger with cheese and fries. The burger was great, good flavor. The…read morefries could've been better, they were a little soggy and not salted. Service was great and the restaurant itself was clean. I do recommend this place for a good burger.

Came in on a Tuesday around noon, plenty of seating, no waiting…read more The onion rings are so good!!! I got the fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was well seasoned and breaded, with pickles and a jalapeño sauce. But the onion rings. Get them. My friend said the fries and chicken tenders were also very good.

Love this place the beer is cold and the workers are friendly! My kids love the food as well!read more

Everytime I have been there to watch a Texas Longhorn game they don't even have the sound on for it…read more! They have it on but they are playing music ! Who does that ? Also the last time I was there there didn't have a bunch of appetizers available AND several of the draft beers weren't available ! Really ?

It was one of the better burger stands I have been to. This place has some delicious double…read moreburgers. We also had some Buffalo fries... now those were amazing. They have a small little canopy with a fun basketball game and a small arcade with old school games. It was so much fun. They also had some pay per view ucf fights on their TV. They bring your food straight to your table outside that you are sitting on. Great service. Guys have a great attitude, and this place is so much fun. We will definitely be back to try more on the menu.

The service is always top tier like going to your local diner they are the sweetest!! This is my…read moreguilt pleasure burger it's always juicy and delectable!!!! I can say I miss the old buns.... It just gave it unique flavor and messed so with the juicy-ness of the veggies on top of my burger.

Incredible good, hospitality and cold beer! Best else could anyone want ! Great for lunch or fur…read moreafter work Beers. Great place

Ordered the special through Uber Eats. Asked that they not obliterate the hamburger patty, (they…read morehav a tendency to smash the hell out of them)and that it be pink. I think that their buy one get one free was because they cut the amount of meat in half. It was over cooked , and so salty I had to throw it out. Used to be one of the best burgers around. Won't risk it again.

Lives up to the hype. Great service, great food…read more 5* fried green tomatoes 4.5* trout (but trout is difficult to be great) 5* okra 4.5* apple pie. The apples and the spice levels were fantastic. I didn't care for the crust as much, but my wife did like it, so...

First of all, we had the most amazing waitress! Robyn treated us like family and took very good…read morecare of our table. We were celebrating a birthday and she just joined in the fun. She's a hoot. We had the daily special fried pork chop, catfish and the smothered hamburger steak. Most everything was delicious except for the catfish. It has way too much breading and was overcooked. The pies were delicious but the blackberry cobbler was outstanding and a huge serving. It's a long standing local cafe with a very loyal following. A welcoming atmosphere and a menu with something for everyone.

Delicious pastrami sandwich! Scarfed it down. So great to have access in an area without many…read moredelis. My one note is that the bread gets soggy fast. If the owner could leave the sandwich open and serve the top piece of bread on the side, I think that could easily fix that.

The Pastrami Guy at Barking Armadillo on a Friday night along with Name that Tune Bingo by Red's…read moreEntertainment is one FUN NIGHT! Honestly, who doesn't love a good pastrami sandwich? The burger and sandwich were both delicious and flavorful. We really enjoyed the fries as well. I only wish the bread was a little thicker/sturdier as that sandwich got messy fast! But that's also a sign of how tender the meat was. My son got the hotdog which was excellent. A great food truck with delicious food.

I've lived in Hutto since November. I've heard about so many legendary BBQ spots in the Austin…read morearea. The list goes on in every direction. With so many Texas Monthly Top 50 joints and honorable mentions nearby, it's easy to forget there's a BBQ joint right in your own backyard. BBQ Fiends is a food truck in Hutto that recently received an honorable mention from Texas Monthly, so it immediately moved to the top of my list. On an early Saturday morning, I stopped by Adam Orgain Park for the Catfish Derby. When that wrapped up, I parked at Rockabilly Brewing and was third or fourth in line at BBQ Fiends just before they opened. I think the best way to judge BBQ is by trying the brisket, pork ribs, and whatever sausage includes cheese, jalapeño, or chorizo. Their Texas Trinity plate, priced at $33, covered all three and came with one side. I went with the street corn. DANG. This holds up against some of the best BBQ I've had in Austin. If they keep up this quality, I can easily see them cracking the Top 50 list. The brisket was juicy, just like it should be. The sausage was bold and flavorful without being overly spicy. The ribs had a sweet, candied flavor. They were probably the least strong of the three, but still very good. The street corn was a standout and might be my favorite version I've had anywhere. I really appreciate when BBQ joints lean into their cultural influences, and the Spanish fusion here is excellent. Pairing the food with drinks from Rockabilly made for a perfect afternoon. You really can't ask for much more. I'm already planning to go back. With BBQ this good just minutes from home, there's no reason not to.

We recently had an event at a brewery where this BBQ truck was stationed (Rockabilly Brewery), and…read morethey absolutely blew us away! I reached out to them ahead of time to let them know we'd have a group ordering meals, and they couldn't have been more accommodating. The owner went above and beyond, personally walking each order to our group one by one, which I truly appreciated-it's a lot of work, and it didn't go unnoticed! The food was phenomenal. Everyone in our group raved about how delicious it was, and even the pickiest eaters (including kids!) cleaned their plates. I ordered the two-meat plate with turkey sausage, rice, and potato salad, and everything was bursting with flavor--no complaints whatsoever. I had a bite of the the tacos and chopped brisket sandwich. They are not shy with the meat and the it was chef's kiss. This BBQ truck is a gem, and we'll definitely be back. Highly recommend them for great food and outstanding service!

this is such a hidden gem. we are new to Hutto and this is our second time ordering from this…read morerestaurant, first time it was breakfast but this time it was for their special Italian nights!! the food was spectacular!!! the Pappardelle al Pollo and Pollo Parmigiano were some of the best dishes we've had in a long time. The star of the show was the sweet man who took my order over the phone. sometimes when you call instead of placing the order on line, the person on the other end doesn't seem very happy but this gentleman was so kind, it was refreshing!! Even though I mispronounced pretty much every dish name, he was sweet and knew exactly what I was talking about. It really is lovely to interact with people like that. Remember to support local gems!!! With local, kind humans!!!

Sometimes you go to a place and feel like you have been asleep your whole life, and today you just…read morewoke up. That is what it felt like to visit Hippo Cafe for the first time. I have heard high praise from locals, and at the end of the day, nothing beats a city's local diner. It is one of those places that closes by 3 pm every day and feels perfect for brunch after a Sunday church service. I came in a little after 11 am with the man who is basically the face of Hutto at his request. He has lived in Hutto for years and has countless stories of the city to share. We sat as he shared stories with my co worker and me about the history of the city. He is a wonderful man, and if he thinks Hippo Cafe is a must visit, DAMMIT, it is a must visit. The place feels ripped straight out of the 80s with artwork of musicians including Elvis and Willie Nelson, along with Alf, ET, and Gizmo. It is definitely dated, but in the best way. Looking at the menu, they have everything you would expect a diner to have. Everything is decently priced and affordable. I ordered two breakfast tacos and a tea. One was bacon, egg, and cheese. The other was chorizo, egg, and cheese. They were not winning any awards, but my god they were like an omelet on a tortilla. They were filled with eggs. With a little picante sauce, they were great and felt like a classic diner meal. The service is great. Our lady was attentive and very friendly to us. That seems to be the vibe here. There's a lot of 1 stars here, but trust the guy with the Yelp Elite badge and the essay of a review, it's not a 1 star establishment. It's more. This place feels historic and gets plenty of love from regulars in the city. You know what you are getting into when you visit, but what does that really mean? You are getting old town love. A classic meal. A feeling like you have been standing your whole life and you just sat down. That is Hippo Cafe. RIYL: Your classic cafe or painting of 80s icons (Alf)