By Sam Chapman and Samantha Deline

10. Hut’s

There’s no end to the list of reasons to recommend Hut’s. There’s the fact that by entering it you feel like you’re stepping into a time capsule abandoned during the Eisenhower administration. There’s the location, not only downtown but prepared at any time to fall into a drainage ditch. Then there’s the burgers and shakes, both as delicious as we liked them in the fifties and as massive as we like them today.

9. Elevation Burger

You may feel slightly strange walking in here and ordering an “elevation burger” but if you can get past the absurd name, you’ll find one of the best—and most eco-friendly—burgers in town. The patties are small but hearty and the fries—unique to this joint—are cooked in olive oil, which will have you completely abandoning decorum in your haste to wolf them down.

8. Short Stop

Yes, Shortstop is a chain, and yes, we tried to stick to the family owned, out of the mainstream joints, but we made an exception. My reasoning? It’s relatively local, with no TV advertising, and exceptionally good, grilled burgers. Put aside the quality of the hamburgers, and you have the best fries in Austin, along with your choice of frozen slushies.

7. Dan’s/Fran’s

Originally owned by a married couple and known only as Dan’s, a divorce led to the separate names of basically the same restaurants. The same menu, the same atmosphere, and hey, even the names rhyme. Along with a cute story on how it came to be, the food isn’t too bad either. In fact, it’s actually pretty good. Again, homestyle burgers and greaseless fries, along with a selection of specials make up the menu.

6. P. Terry’s

Such an institution it’s hard to believe it’s only been there since 2004, this Barton Springs drive-thru (walking thru is also available) offers the inspired model of giving you an organic, homegrown burger while allowing you to feel like you’re eating a greasy, deep-fried double-patty. To complement it are fresh-squeezed lemonade and homemade oatmeal cookies. Their second store is now open on Lamar, just south of 35th street.

5. Moonshine

Legend has it there’s a single stand on a lonely stretch of Texas highway that serves “Moonburgers”: the greatest burgers in the world. Nobody knows what special ingredient they use, or if the place even exists—but it offers the final challenge to the ultimate burger lover. Not for amateurs.

4. Hill-Bert’s

‘

One of the oldest of our Top Ten, Hill-Bert’s has been around for over 30 years, and still has some of the best burgers around. Completely covered in yellow and brown bricks, you get the feeling of walking into a giant banana when entering this 70’s themed burger joint. With thick, hearty burgers and fries, you also get your choice of fresh made shakes and malts.

3. The Tavern

With its distinctive charm and pride and its air-conditioning, The Tavern needs no introduction to those readers for whom it’s an essential part of a night at House Park. For the unenlightened, The Tavern offers arguably Austin’s best burger, perfect for before or after a game, or during if we’re losing really badly. Along wih the flawless bun, The Tavern is loved for the authentic sports-bar atmosphere—you feel that at any point during your meal you might be knifed in the back by an irate Arsenal fan.

2. Mighty Fine

If you recall, we had Mighty Fine Hamburgers as our No. 1 for last year’s Top Ten Obscure Lunch Places. A year later, and this place isn’t so obscure anymore. With hearty burgers and an upbeat atmosphere, you also get your choice of fresh lemonade, special fries seasoning, and who doesn’t love that nifty hand-washing machine?

1. Top Notch

Family owned and, in my opinion, still the best, Top Notch is one of the few hamburger joints where you can get an old fashioned, grilled burger, with that personable, friendly 50’s atmosphere. With Sonic-like drive-thrus and a sit-in eating area, the menu consists of all your regular burgers, along with some specials unique to Top Notch.