Where is the best place to grab a burger near campus? Well, we sampled a few burger joints around the SMU area to give you an idea of the best places to go. All three of the places we visited ranged in price from $2.25 to $9 for a single burger – fries and sodas were extra.
Our first stop was Balls Hamburgers in Snider Plaza. The walls are covered with sports memorabilia dating back to when the restaurant first opened in 1987. We ordered the Big League burger, the most popular item on the menu, which came with cheese, onion, mayonnaise, bacon and jalapenos.
For smaller appetites we recommend the Little Leaguer, which is three simpler, smaller, plain burgers with cheese. We were surprised Balls offered some Tex-Mex dishes as well, but were there strictly to try out the burgers.
They have arcade games in the back, which feels more like a game room in one’s home rather than an arcade. This is the type of place a sports team might enjoy visiting after a big win, and guys might like to go to grab a burger and watch a game. However, it wasn’t our favorite of the places we tried.
Next, we went to Goff’s, which is within walking distance from campus on Hillcrest Avenue. The restaurant offers a great incentive to visit this burger joint every Tuesday: half-priced burgers. Be prepared to wait in a line because it is always busy. The crowds range from college kids to Highland Park families.
The service is great and the friendly staff always welcomes patrons with chit chat. Goff’s is famous for its hickory smoke sauce and relish sauce, both of which are a nice addition to burgers and can be purchased by the container.
The most popular item is The Works burger. It was a little smaller than we had imagined, but was still very tasty.
They also make a burger with a hot dog cut in half and placed on top of the hamburger patty. We did not try this burger, but it was highly recommended.
We saved the best for last. Of all the places we tried, nothing compared to Burger House. With a cherry Sprite, regular cheeseburger and seasoned fries, we were set. Burger House is a little farther down Hillcrest Avenue but it is sure worth the walk.
Compared to the other burger spots, Burger House is cheap: $2.25 for a hamburger and $2.55 for a cheeseburger. However, don’t let the price fool you, because it is by far the best burger place we have come across in Dallas.
You will not leave Burger House hungry, because of the very large burgers. The seasoned salt they put on the burgers and fries is to die for. They sell it by the container, and it makes a great addition to any meal. Burger House also offers free grilled onions on any burger.
One of the cooks gave us a little secret recipe that many patrons enjoy by placing some of their outstanding fries under the cheese of the cheeseburger. We will always eat our Burger House hamburgers this way from now on. If you are really in the mood to splurge, try one of the famous milkshakes. Make sure you bring cash or a check because they do not accept credit cards.
Finding a good hamburger seems like such a simple task, but it can actually be fairly complicated. There are so many ways to cook the meat, add the toppings, pick the best bun and, of course, choose the right seasoning. Overall, we found Burger House met all of these requirements perfectly.
