Classic Burger Joints in Dallas-Fort Worth
In Dallas-Fort Worth, we have no shortage of burger joints. We have smashburgers, like at the popular Burger Schmurger in East Dallas. We have barbecue burgers, like the ones at Dayne’s out in Aledo. Of course we have expensive burgers, like at Brass Ram in Dallas’ East Quarter. (Its grandiose name is A Burger Like I Had In Paris That One Time A While Ago. It costs $29. But at least you don’t have to fly to France.)
North Texas is also home to burgers with all the fixins, like at JD’s Hamburgers in Fort Worth, Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House in East Dallas and Rodeo Goat (with 10 locations across D-FW). We have Dallas dive bar burgers at Lakewood Landing and Lee Harvey’s.
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And we can’t forget TV-famous burgers at Maple & Motor in Dallas, Fred’s Texas Cafe in Fort Worth and Twisted Root. These burger joints received national acclaim thanks to a visit from Guy Fieri for a spotlight on Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. And they each make a good burger.
But we are gathered here today for a classic burger. An oldie but a goodie. Your server probably won’t ask how you want that cooked, cuz they make ‘em the way they want to. Here are five favorite classic burger joints in Dallas-Fort Worth.
About the Classic Burger Joints
These classic burger joints have been serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area for decades, and they continue to be popular among locals and visitors alike. Each of these restaurants has its own unique history, atmosphere, and menu offerings, but they all share a commitment to serving high-quality burgers that are made with fresh ingredients and cooked to perfection.
Boots Burgers in Rockwall
It’s a good thing newspapers have kept up with the history of Boots Burgers in Rockwall, because the restaurant hasn’t. “As we get older, it is harder to remember,” reads the website, “please bare with us on this matter as we think about it.”
Boots’ opening year was probably 1968, David Mooney told the Rockwall County Herald-Banner in 2023. At least, that’s what they painted on Boots’ sign. David’s dad Clarence “Boots” Mooney started the restaurant in his kitchen, and it was later moved out back, according to The Dallas Morning News’ archive. Boots died in 1978 and David took it over, keeping the tiny menu of hamburgers, chips and soda. The double-double with hot relish is the way to go. Just be prepared to wait your turn, then find a place to sit. Last time I was there, I ate in the front seat of the car.
One TikToker called this no-frills place “the hardest burger to get in Texas.” Amusing, given that the restaurant was founded nearly 50 years before TikTok was invented. But perhaps this influencer is right: Boots opens at 11 a.m. and serves lunch only. If they’re out of meat, they close. Better go early.
Boots Burgers is at 701 Austin St., Rockwall. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Burger House in Addison, East Dallas and University Park
The original Burger House opened on Hillcrest Avenue in University Park in 1951. Is there anything better than snagging a stool in the tiny kitchen?
It’s possible that the hamburgers at Burger House felt old-fashioned even when the restaurant opened in 1951. Very little has changed in nearly 75 years. Burger House’s seasoning salt is what makes it special. This blend of salt, pepper, garlic and cumin — which comes sprinkled on the beef patty, tossed with the fries and available in a shaker to take home — gives every bite an edge. This burger is possibly too salty, but many say it’s just right.
The original Burger House in University Park’s Snider Plaza remains a favorite, but they’re all so lived in, so loved by kids’ soccer teams and adults stopping in for a quick meal, that you can’t go wrong at any of the three.
Burger House is at 14248 Marsh Lane, Addison; 6248 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas; and 6913 Hillcrest Ave. (in Snider Plaza), Dallas.
Dairy-Ette in East Dallas
The Dairy-Ette neon: classic.
The year is 1956, and Dairy-Ette is slinging greasy burgers and ice-cold root beers to couples on a date at the car hop. Inside, the restaurant is cozy and cute, with swivel chairs at the bar and diner booths along the walls.
Fast-forward to 2025, and, yup, that’s still Dairy-Ette. Its owners never made a website to show off their reasonably-priced burgers, so it’s up to East Dallasites to sing the praises of the burger joint that opened nearly a decade before
