Return visit after our first experience, to try out the daily special we had noted before. Was surprised at the two star review that showed up shortly after our first visit, so we were looking to seeing if the previous good visit was a fluke. Service is outstanding, we were greeted and got our drink orders in about 60 seconds after we sat down. Server was friendly, and we had a good visit talking to her when she would stop by to check on us. Our daily special was the chicken and dumplings, and we got fried okra, mashed potatoes, pintos, collards, and gravy between us for sides. Everything was fresh and homemade, and very, very tasty. Good solid country fare. If you're originally from rural vs urban, you'll feel right at home. If you want old time country diner experience, you'll be pleased. Just to clarify, this is a "seat yourself" place, with a LARGE SIGN stating that as you walk in. There is no door greeter/hostess station, and the counter is as far away from the front door as you can get and still be in the same room. (They also have a sign at the entrance about the card fee, like most places do these days). Well worth a return visit! read more

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It was ok. The brown gravy was so salty that my husband could barely eat it (and he's a salt-junkie from Georgia!) The cabbage was sooo strong in vinegar that I couldn't eat it( even with a packet of sugar on it!) Pork cutlet was ok. Mashed potatoes were good! Generally not worth the drive out to Walburg. Sorry. read more

Dale's Essenhaus is a cool little hidden gem off the beaten path with great German heritage vibes. Food-wise, the burger patty was packed with flavor, even if the bun left a little to be desired. Skip the cheese fries unless you're feeling nostalgic for cheap college-dorm food. But whatever you do, get the onion rings - OMG, absolutely incredible! I could eat a mountain of them. Would come back just for those rings and the cool atmosphere! (Delayed review: Visited May 2nd, 2026) read more

Dale's Essenhaus - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

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Service was great food was good , but it's getting soo pricey. A rib plate on Thursday with 2sides $20, that's ok. Then we got dessert a berry cobbler no price on menu so we order then got a second one first one was not big enough to share. Check comes and 2 desserts $15.98 OMGosh 7.99 each way over priced for an average piece read more

We walked in late afternoon. Several young ladies behind the counter. We were not greeted. Took a few minutes for someone to come over with menus. Decent selection of food. Some of the menu can be a little confusing. There are some items that come with two sides that do not mention that. And with the burgers you have to pay for sides separately. We opted for a chips and salsa, meatloaf (with greens and mashed potatoes as sides), a burger (fries cost extra), and chicken strips with broccoli and another side that I forgot. Chips and salsa were bad, but salsa needed a little salt. Greens were not fresh, potatoes were bland--gravy not good. Meatloaf wasnt bad. Burger was just okay. Chicken strips were just okay as well. Looks like they have a beer garden outside and being that it is a German/Texan fusion type spot maybe they do some time of events/entertainment...not sure. Would be interesting though. The food was mediocre and bland and the service not that great. They charge a fee to use card--but also do not give the coin portion of your change--which I kinda feel is another fee just to pay cash. Last I checked they still make nickels, dimes, and quarters. This spot is a little out of the way so I don't think that we would return. read more

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First time customers. When we walked in we knew we had a winner. True country playing in the background. ( George Strait ) Two converted pool tables into dining tables. Miller Lite on tap. Our server, Hannah, was excellent. Very attentive and got our order correct. We both ordered the fried catfish dinner plate. Fries and onion rings as the sides. (And a couple of jalapeño hush puppies.). The catfish was breaded in cornmeal. Beer battered onion rings. All the food was hot and fresh. We thoroughly enjoyed and WILL be back. There's like 5 other dishes I plan to try. We ate until we were so full and still had a TON of leftovers. The portions are HUGE! read more

Dale's Essenhaus - Specials - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

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Everything. I've been to Dale's maybey 6 times, and everything was great, Catfish, Hamburgers, Meatloaf, Chicken & Dumplings... read more

So VERY GOOD!!! Lots of food--excellent friend and blackened seafood! We'll be back next time we're in town! read more

Dale's Essenhaus - Fried catfish - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

Off the beaten path and full of locals, it was obvious that we were ur driving through lol. Food was good, but expensive. An extra $1.50 to add bacon to our cheese fries and an extra $2.00 to add jalapeños. The sides were also extra $4 to add to burger. There were several signs that stated the restaurant was charging 3% for a credit card surcharge. I get it, we're in the middle of a recession and things are more expensive, this just seemed excessive. And I don't mind paying for good food. My favorite.. was the homemade ranch. The bacon in my BLT was a little too crispy. The mashed potatoes were delish. It's a middle-America kind of restaurant. read more

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I need to grab some food for some clients in Georgetown, Texas and I checked on yelp and I found this place. I sure am glad I found this place. When I walk in it's like walking into a time capsule. You'll see a bunch of local folks just sitting down and enjoying a nice meal. This is America. This is the USA. I love it. I had the pleasure to meet the man, the myth, the legend of Mr. Dale himself. What a kind nice man we talked for about five minutes and he was just simply a delight to talk with. He's someone who I could sit there and talk to for three or four hours. He reminded me a lot of my uncle Tony just a real good storyteller . What a great man. We talked about how it was from Houston and when he was a youngster, he took a job in Houston, but his truck broke down in Elgin Texas. He didn't make it. He has been in business for 27 years. If you understand the restaurant business, you understand that's quite the accomplishment. He must be doing something right because 27 years is a long time to stay in the restaurant business. Congratulations to Dale and his staff. His staff was just top-notch. I've never seen someone go out of the way like they have. They poured every single drink and a glass of ice and bag it up for me. I've gone to many restaurants all over the United States, all over Texas. I've never seen anyone do that. Talk about just going the extra mile I really appreciated that. Food: here's the best part. The food that's one of the best bacon cheeseburgers I've had in a long time. He told me they ground the beef there every day. Talk about fresh wow I was thoroughly impressed with their burger. I will definitely come back over and over again. Their fried pickles were simply amazing. Everything they serve today was top-notch. I cannot wait to go back and try more things off their menu. I really I'm glad I stopped in. Also, I like the decor. Like I said earlier, it's like stepping into a time capsule. Top-notch customer service. Dale was just the best ever. His staff was the best ever. It felt like walking into a family home or something. I cannot wait to go back ASAP. If you have not been here do yourself a favor stop in and give them a try. You will be glad you did. read more

Dale's Essenhaus - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

I usually let things like this pass, but I needed to express my disappointment in a recent visit. Dales advertised a Monday special of fried chicken. Since it was my birthday, my wife suggested we go there since she knows my weakness for good fried chicken, What a disappointment. First, upon ordering we were informed that they didn't have any mashed potatoes! I mean what is a good fried chicken dinner without mashed potatoes and gravy? So, when I ordered my chicken, I was asked if I wanted white meat, dark meat or a combination. I said a combination would be fine. To my surprise when the chicken arrived (less mash potatoes) I was served an over breaded chicken wing and a thigh. What a disappointment for a dinner! I'm sure we won't be going back there again, not exactly a great birthday dinner by any means! Next time I'm sure even KFC could beat this deal, hands down! read more

The food was good, but there is a credit card processing fee that was not disclosed. I only saw it in the bathroom(!!) after my meal. Visa states that: Businesses that impose credit card surcharges must display clear signage informing customers of the surcharge fees before a transaction takes place. These notices must be posted at all store entrances and points of sale, ensuring visibility. I did not see any such signage anywhere except the bathroom! This is a violation of Visa's merchant agreement, as well as the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). The PoS also defaults to a 25% tip. read more

Dales Essenhaus in Walburg is a local favorites in this area. This restaurant offer much to support the German history of central Texas. This location has indoor and outdoor seating, live music and of course dancing. They offer table service and a drive thru. Daily specials throughout the week are always appealing. The service is top notch, and excellent for large groups. We love to stop by whenever we nearby, yet I do enjoy the trip over. The scenery is beautiful with a small town feel. All I can say is check them out. Michael C. Georgetown, Tx. read more

Dale's Essenhaus - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

this place is always awesome. They have daily specials, but also consistently have dishes that taste like homemade food. read more

Dale's Essenhaus - stuffed pork schnitzel , green beans and butter beans ! Awesome - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

Had a great burger for lunch today. Really cool place. Definitely popular, too. My waitress was great, but it was really busy so it took awhile for the food to come out. But to me, that's the point of this kind of place. It's supposed to be relaxed. Cool looking beer garden too. I'd love to come back out on a Friday evening sometime. The old guys is playing dominoes on the patio while drinking lone stars just really adds to the vibe. read more

Great hometown restaurant. Casual and comfortable. Good home cooked food and drink. Good, friendly, and attentive staff.

I wanted to try a restaurant with real Texas and was delighted to find Dale's Essenhaus in Walburg, TX -- just a short drive from Georgetown. This cute restaurant and Biergarten was an absolute treat. Service was great and the menu was a thoughtful mix of German and Texas fare. I opted for a combination -- grilled cabbage, fried okra and 3-meats. Portions are more than generous and the grilled cabbage was some of the best ever! Loved everything and even had the pleasure of meeting Dale on my way out. He was a delight, this Kentucky gal was charmed by him. Definitely stop in if you're hungry and wanting an authentic Texas experience. You won't regret this little detour. read more

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Dale's Essenhaus is the perfect blend of Central Texas diner and German influenced food history. Essenhaus, if I'm correct, roughly translated means Food House or Cooking House. It looks and feels like the places we used to find around Central Texas -- even Austin back in the day. There is also a stage, biergarten and rentable dance hall. Technically, the compound is in Walburg very close to Georgetown. Their beer selection is great, by the way, and worth spending time sampling the varieties. Their hamburgers are really, really good (The Walburger and variations). They have usual Texas fair done well: Nachos, Fried Chicken, Chicken Fried Steak, lots of fried fish. But they also have sausages, Schnitzel, German Apple Cake. And the Biergarten has its own menu of BBQ, burgers etc. There are daily specials (The Wednesday chicken and dumplings gets high praise). And what's on no menu but you get a huge dose of Texas-friendly service. It's a great stop because you never know who might be playing on stage. TIP: It may look crowded from the parking lot but the restaurant is large and you'll be served quickly. Just order that beer as you're seated :) PROST!! read more

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I just love everything about Dales Essenhaus! It's one of my go-to places. I can always count on a good burger! Their German dishes are good too. Service with a smile & very accommodating! I've made reservations for groups of 15+ several times & never been disappointed. I like the rustic decor and general vibe too. Give it a try.. you won't be sorry! read more

I've been coming here for the last 5 years, the quality of the food has always been the same, great. The food is always hot and tastes good. I've been coming here for many years and I will continue to come back, they keep things simple and I like that. read more

Great food; great ol country cafe. Outside reminds me of the ol Hills Cafe. The occasional live music makes a great atmosphere.

We have ate here before, and the service and food was really good. Stopped by this evening to enjoy a hot burger, which I have not had here yet. I must say they did not disappoint, in my opinion and 8 out of 10. The beef was heavy and meaty and a whole lotta flavor! Also, the burger had lots different options and as ons. There are lots of other great options here if you like country home cooking, chicken fried whatever, etc. AND there's also a good selection of beer. Great small town spot with a real laid-back casual vibe and a really awesome outdoor beer garden! I recommend giving them a shot! read more

Dale's Essenhaus - Classic Wahlburger with bacon and cheese onion rings for a side - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

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Great food. They are our go to for Chicken and Dumplings every Wednesday. Friendly service and the sides are to die for.

Those burgers were seriously tasty and totally hit the spot. We were just cruising around for the weekend, trying to find the best burger places nearby, and Dale's was at the top of the list. We took a chance, and it totally worked out. We're definitely going back. read more

Drive 22 miles here on recommendation of a friend. Ordered fried chicken (a breast & wing) with country potatoes and pinto beans. Chicken was very good, but the sides were a big disappointment. Pinto beans were hard. Country potatoes were yesterday's leftover baked potatoes cut into chunks and sautéed with onions. Only took a couple of bites of each. The sides were inedible. It included some toasted Texas toast that was cold. Service was poor even though there were only us and three other tables there. Never came back to check on us and I might have been able to eat some of the stale potatoes if ketchup had been offered. The bill was $22 for two of us (water to drink) and I had to stop for some doughnuts on the way home because I was still hungry. Sorry Dale, we won't be coming back. read more

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Great local place! We have gone to Dales multiple times and have never been disappointed. Food is always great and service is always accommodating. They have a drive through with a limited menu and a sit down option. You can sit inside or outside. Love the variety of food they have available. Definitely a must see local restaurant. read more

Dale's never fails to deliver. I usually stop by this place with motorcycling buddies as we're riding through and they have always been pleasant and the food awesome! read more

Nice country cafe and bar. The outside seating is only open for a few months out of the year. When we went, the outdoor seating was closed and we ate inside. I would like to go back and hang out outside. read more

This burger place is located a few miles east of I35 just on the outskirts of Georgetown. We stopped in on an off day well after the lunch rush, so we got great service and there was just a few other patrons. The three of us had three different types of burgers, a basket of rings and some blackberry cobbler to go. The Burgers them selves were very good especially for the price. They do offer a few beer choices along with some wine, but we opted just for water. It all came to $54 without tip and it was worth it. read more

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Good food is all I remember. Pleasant experience. Not much ambiance but ok with friends.

Ordered mushroom Swiss burger, husband's burger had bacon & avocado. Mine didn't have much taste. Looked like canned mushrooms. Needed a lot of salt & pepper. It was like they just took plain meat & threw it on the grill. Husband said his was so-so. Onion rings were good. read more

NOBODY COME HERE I ordered a dish that was advertised as catfish, but what I received was clearly not catfish -- it tasted and looked like a different kind of fish entirely (possibly swai or tilapia). When you're paying for a specific item, especially seafood, you expect accuracy and transparency. Mislabeling food isn't just disappointing -- it's dishonest, and potentially dangerous for people with dietary restrictions or allergies. read more

Great lunch! Neat little spot off the beaten path with quick and delicious food. Will come back

First time probably last Everything on menu kinda high Settled for hamburger in was $13 total with tax It was a real good $8 burger

Saw several people post in a local Georgetown group about this place having some of the best burgers, and it truly did not disappoint. Loved the mushroom Swiss burger and the onion rings. It was made in the type of batter I enjoy. I will recommend and definitely come back. read more

Dale's Essenhaus - Mushroom Swiss burger and onion rings - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

Service was prompt and friendly. Ordered onion rings as an appetizer. I had a burger which was very good. Bottled beers were iced cold read more

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First time at Dales! Thursday evening, weren't too many people. Outdoor seating at picnic tables was perfect. Got there just in time to hear Dale's daughter sing cover tunes to many country songs. Great voice and entertainment. We each had a cheeseburger. They were good. They make their own mustard which the put on burgers and provide for dipping fries in. Good mustard, but I am not a mustard fan. It was on my burger too, but was not too strong. Hint, if you aren't a mustard eater, make sure they know not to put it on our burger. Good meat, grilled onions on burger, fresh tomatoes. Fries were good, but not killer. We will be back and next time try their catfish. Fridays and Saturdays they have other various bands. read more

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The burgers here are messy and a tad expensive but they are probably some of the best around here. I totally recommend eating here.

Decided to get dinner for my sister and niece and had not been here in years. It had menu items that we all wanted, so I drove up to pick it up. This was like going to the twilight zone in 2020. No one in the place was wearing a mask, but that is common with many places outside the city here in Texas. Don't believe their website that they are adhering to country rules and I sure as hell hope to not get Covid from Walburg TX!! I ordered the food by phone and drove up there. It wasn't ready when I got there, but the cashier was sweet though looking at me sideways due to my mask. Went outside to wait for my food that was brought out to me by the cashier. I got the German Pork Schnitzel that was a large pork loin that was breaded perfectly. I got the greens and fried okra that went well with this meal. Greens were my favorite of the sides. My niece got the chicken tenders that came with white gravy that I enjoyed more than the brown gravy, so I would recommend going that route. For dessert, we got German Apple Cake and Peach cobbler. Both were a perfect ending to a perfect to-go order with vanilla ice cream. The apple cake was a little different and had the caramelized sugar, but really worth trying. read more

Dale's Essenhaus - Fire pit outside - Burgers Near Me - Georgetown, Texas

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We eat here at least once a week. The food is fresh and good and the service is always top notch and friendly! The hamburger steak, and hamburgers are our favorites. The daily specials are delicious too! read more