New Braunfels Burger Places
We LOVE our favorite burger places here in New Braunfels. Nathan and I enjoy a good burger from time to time, preferably medium-rare. Our kids, however? Absolutely obsessed.
Any restaurant we go to that isn’t one of our favorite New Braunfels burger places had better still serve burgers on the menu. Orson even has a special burger magnet that goes on his visual schedule when a trip to grab a burger is on the horizon. As soon as he sees it, he talks about it all week.
We’re fortunate to live here in New Braunfels because the local burger place game is hot. In this review, I’m going to talk about 3 specific favorites that we have in the area. Rest assured, though, none of these burger joints lacks on flavor. Some may just get it better than others.
Our Top 3 Favorite Burger Places in New Braunfels
I’ll be reviewing Hopdoddy Burger Bar in San Marcos, Muck & Fuss Craft Beer and Burgers and Tin Top Burger Shop, burger places both situated in downtown New Braunfels. I’ll discuss the environment, quality of the food, flovors, and price point. I will share a little of our personal experiences at each establishment to paint a picture of what you can expect.
Let’s Chow Down!
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
I’ll say right off the bat: Hopdoddy’s is our special celebration burger place near New Braunfels. It’s not as close to us as Tin Top or Muck & Fuss, but whether it’s going out for a birthday burger or celebrating the last day of the school year, Hopdoddy’s is where it’s at.
Okay, so it is a little more franchise-y, sure. I do love supporting small local business, but I understand why this burger joint has successfully expanded so much. Hopdoddy’s has multiple locations spanning 7 states now, but it was born out of Austin, TX. In fact, my first Hopdoddy’s experience was in Austin, and I never forgot it. So when I learned there was one in San Marcos, a mere 20-25 minute drive away, I jumped at the chance to drag my family here.
Time to Celebrate
Our most recent experience here was a special occasion to ring in the start of summer, since Coen closed out his Sophomore school year with a stellar GPA. We thought we’d splurge a little and even get a kids’ milkshake for the toddlers to share. It was a celebration after all, and of the local burger joints on this list, Hopdoddy’s has the best shakes. We always each get one with our burgers. Sometimes, Mama and Papa even opt for the boozy versions…highly recommend. Our favorite is hands-down the Pretzel Nutella shake, but the Candy Bar one is fantastic too!
Anyway, we got shakes, yummy burgers (Nathan and I had the Mother Nature burger–to die for), and a basket of shareable parmesan truffle fries with truffle aioli. The toddlers pounded their burgers, fries, and chocolate shake (that was only slightly smaller than an adult-size shake). I’ve never seen them happily put away so much food.
But Coen…this kid has autism, and with it, some particular food aversions. Does. Not. Matter. He’s learned that the flavor combinations here are so flawlessly on point that he keeps EVERYTHING on his burger, and gleefully devours every last crumb without complaint or gag.
You Pay for Quality
The San Marcos location isn’t as pretty as some of the Hopdoddy’s I’ve been to, but the environment is the last thing you come here for. EVERYTHING is creatively packed to the MAX with ingenious flavor combinations. We’ve even had a special Thanksgiving turkey burger here…turkey, which I am not a fan of…and would absolutely get it again. Hopdoddy’s specials are sometimes bizarre, but always perfection.
Even the shareable fry options here (don’t worry, there is enough–and fries also come standard on kids’ meals) come with endlessly brilliant flavor options. Parmesan truffle is our favorite, but I’ve always been tempted to try the hot honey and sage or green chile queso fries. And I’ve already mentioned the shakes…
The point is, anything you order here is guaranteed to be out-of-this-world. Expect to pay more for that alone. The ingredients are fresh and the food is prepared in-house for “quality you can taste”.
Hopdoddy’s: Order Up!
Pros:
Unbeatable and creative flavors, with Burger of the Month specials that you just can’t pass up. The shakes, like the Pretzel Nutella shake, have incredible flavor and plenty of texture. The fries are shareable, but there’s a large portion of them (enough for 3 adults and 2 hungry toddlers). Amazing quality. Great drink selection. Gluten-free options. Big supporter of local musicians.
Cons:
I’ve been to nicer Hopdoddy’s than the one in San Marcos, but convenience wins out in this case. The food is of the highest quality, but so is the price tag. It isn’t cheap, but it’s worth the cost once in a while.
Next on our list of Burger Places in New Braunfels…
Muck & Fuss
If you want a modern-chic, youthful, urban environment, you really can’t do better than Muck & Fuss. Situated right in the heart of downtown New Braunfels, this makes the list of local burger places and holds a special place in our stomachs. It was the first burger place we visited since moving to New Braunfels.
It’s a silly thing, but as I mentioned, my kids love burgers. We had a favorite burger joint in Tulsa, OK before we moved down: Society. It was Coen’s favorite restaurant, hands-down. But visiting Muck & Fuss for the first time was such a nice transitional moment. This is our home now. And this burger place reminds me of one of my favorite things about the home we left behind. It felt like settling in and embracing the new.
Muck & Fuss has some awesome burgers, and like Hopdoddy’s, has some fascinating flavors. Poutine, Cubano, the Scapegoat, and the Breakfast burgers, all superb. And unlike Hopdoddy’s, they come with delicious side options, like the TOTS. Yes, it ranks on my list of New Braunfels burger places, but they have other offerings as well worth mentioning. Selections like tacos and sandwiches.
Not to mention, yummy shakes. So, I wouldn’t quite rank these as equal to Hopdoddy’s, but they are an oh-so-close second. And I love any shake selections that have a boozy option. Never enough alcohol to feel tipsy from, but it punches up the flavor to the max.
What’s All the (Muck &) Fuss?
I love that Muck & Fuss is not only a local small business, but in running its business the way that it does, it’s also supporting surrounding small businesses. Where do the fresh-baked burger buns come from? Naegelin’s Bakery. What about the 1/2 pound Texas Angus beef patties? The beef is sourced from responsibly-raised cattle on Dean and Peeler’s Ranch, a mere 45-minutes away, in Floresville, TX.
Other perks about visiting Muck & Fuss to get your burger fix? There’s a ton of comfortable outdoor café-style seating on the DOG-FRIENDLY patio. Bring your canine compadres up here to enjoy some tasty table scraps, if there’s anything left on your plate to share…We do love the patio in cooler temps too, since Muck & Fuss uses decorative space heaters to keep the space cozy and inviting.
Muck & Fuss: Order Up!
Pros:
Awesome flavor combos. Craft cocktails and full bar. Gluten-free options. Pet-friendly patio. Yummy shakes! A local small business that supports other local small businesses; I LOVE it! Very “cooperation vs. competition”, and it makes me want to eat there more frequently. A bit less expensive than Hopdoddy’s when you factor in that the burgers come with sides, but overall, a fairly negligible price difference.
Cons:
Muck & Fuss is downtown. Parking isn’t always the easiest to come by, depending on time of day (and time of year–hello, Schlitterbahn summertime traffic!). At least, not without a walk. I also find that the food tends to sit a lot heavier here, which I guess can be a pro or con, depending on perspective (and self-restraint). I like leaving a restaurant satisfied, but not overfull. Muck & Fuss kind of tips the scale toward overfull, and some of their options, like the delicious tots, tend to be a bit greasier. Still, amazing food, and won’t keep us away!
Closing out our list of New Braunfels Burger Places…
Tin Top Burger Shop
Sometimes, a “greasy spoon” burger is just what you want to hit the spot. Y’know what I’m talking about. The shiny buns that make your fingers kind of slick, and it slides down so easy. But in contrast to a typical diner “greasy spoon” burger, Tin Top brings top notch flavor to a nostalgic comfort food.
Speaking of nostalgic, the restaurant itself is set up in a quaint, historic house in downtown New Braunfels. It’s cozy, and creaky (in a good way), and has a ton of charming character. For the New Braunfels burger places, I think this may be one of the cutest. A little side-note bonus? It shares this adorable abode with Rhea’s ice cream! Burgers and ice cream? What a sweet combination!
To date, I’ll admit, we’ve only been to Tin Top once so far. But it did leave an impression. Both good and meh. Let me explain!
I adore the aesthetic of the place. I dig the flavors, since they come up with some really fascinating specials as well (like the Schlitter-Banh Mi). And I LOVE that these are smash-patty burgers. The prices are much lower than Muck & Fuss and Hopdoddy’s, but, at least the burgers we got when we tried it, seemed so small. And they don’t come with fries. Even though it was cheaper, it felt more expensive. Likely, it was just an issue of expectations on our part.
That being said, in some ways, Tin Top really can’t be beat. Especially concerning the outdoor space. Elevated from the street and fenced in, there’s an adorable play space for the kids. It LOOKS LIKE a PIRATE SHIP, guys! We can feel safe and secure to enjoy a relatively peaceful meal while the toddlers entertain themselves. That is PRICELESS!
Tin Top is Tip Top Yumminess
For real, commentary about small-ish burgers aside, they are good. Don’t let that deter you from giving them a try. If you don’t believe me, consider the fact that for this year, 2023, they received a “Best of New Braunfels” Reader’s Choice award from the Herald-Zeitung. The ingredients used at Tin Top are locally-sourced. The service is fast, but you don’t have to “sacrifice quality for quickness”.
We’ll definitely be back to give this another try. With its convenient location, downtown New Braunfels, right by Schlitterbahn, it’d be a perfect one on our list of burger places to pop into this summer. And I’m sure we’ll top it off with Rhea’s.
Tin Top Burger Shop: Order Up!
Pros:
Delicious, high-quality, flavorful, smash-patty, “greasy spoon” burgers. Fast service. Cute, cozy atmosphere. Super kid-friendly with an outdoor pirate-themed, fenced-in, safe play space. Locally-sourced ingredients. FROZEN HARD CIDER! Vegan and Build Your Own Burger (B.Y.O.B) options. In partnership with Rhea’s Ice Cream!
Cons:
While conveniently located if we’re walking over from Schlitterbahn, I could see parking being an issue here. There’s a small lot available behind it, but during busy season, I’m sure it fills up fast. Honestly, thinking about it, the small portions aren’t really a con. It just wasn’t what we were expecting, so it’s good to know going in if “more is more” for you.
Our Favorite on the List of New Braunfels Burger Places
By a really close margin, I think we’re partial to Hopdoddy Burger Bar. It’s nice, even as frustrating as it is, for the competition to be so fierce that it’s hard to nail down a solid favorite without at least a little hesitation. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong in choosing any of these New Braunfels burger places to get your burger fix.
They’ve all got it down in terms of flavors, though I think, for us, Hopdoddy’s pushes out ahead a bit on that race. Comparing portion sizes, prices, accompanying sides or lack thereof, I feel like they’re all reasonably close in terms of price point. Point being, with high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients, you’re paying more for better food that’s worth paying for. This isn’t McDonald’s, people!
Give all of these New Braunfels (or close to) burger places a try. You won’t be disappointed! And if you are, we can’t be friends.
Just kidding!
Looking for some local parks to let your kids burn off that extra burger energy? Check out Best New Braunfels Park (and Why). Planning some fun family outings and need some ideas? Read up on My Toddlers’ Favorite Indoor Outings or Fun Things to Do in New Braunfels (and Beyond) for inspiration.
And reach out! What do you think of these burger joints? Leave a comment or connect with me on my socials!