The RDU Buzz

By: Emma Belk

Al’s Burger Shack: Good is Good Y’all 

Where you can go to get the best burger in Chapel Hill is a debate that I’m sure has caused some arguments in the past. Many restaurants put up a mean fight: Four Corners, and Top of the Hill, to name a few. Even so, I feel comfortable defending my choice: Al’s Burger Shack. I’ve never had a burger at Al’s that I didn’t love. It’s also a fan favorite with my Dad as it’s always his first choice to eat when he is in town. 

Location

Al’s Burger Shack is located down Franklin Street right before the start of Carrboro. The “Shack” part of the name only lives up to the restaurant when it comes to its inside space. The building is nice but most customers choose to eat outside on their picnic tables. They have a bar around the perimeter of the inside space to sit but in my experience, it is always too crowded with excited burger-orderers to want to sit inside. 

There are a couple of parking lots close to Al’s off of Franklin Street where customers can park. Or, if you are lucky, there is street parking right around the corner outside the restaurant. You may need to pay to park depending on the day of the week you go, but paying by the hour is not too expensive. 

Burgers & Fries 

Normally when I eat at restaurants I have trouble trying new things and I stick to what I know will be good. This is not the case when I go to Al’s. Every time I have gone, I’ve tried a new burger. I just know they will all be good. Still, if you’re not feeling adventurous, they have a classic burger option and you can make substitutions. 

Of all the burgers I have tried, my favorite is the Kenny J. The Kenny J burger has bacon, grilled onions, shack Q sauce, and spicy pimento cheese. I’d recommend getting a side or two of fries to split with the people you go with. Al’s has crinkle-cut fries seasoned with sea salt and rosemary. They also have sweet potato fries seasoned with sea salt, cinnamon sugar, and their Winnie Sauce for dipping. 

Final Remarks

Like any good burger restaurant, they have a signature sauce. Al’s signature sauce “AL Sauce” is delicious. Another neat thing about Al’s is they normally have specialty burgers. The last time I went, they had a Hawaiian burger with pineapple and I’m still mad at myself for not trying that. I am a big fan of pineapple on burgers. All in all, you can’t really go wrong with any burger at Al’s, and the corner on Franklin is a good spot to enjoy it outside, especially in the summer. 

Restaurant Information

Hours:

Mon: Closed

Tue-Sun: 11 am - 8 pm 

Address: 

516 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516