South Austin Fixture Hopdoddy Burger Bar Revamps Its Menu

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — The popular Hopdoddy Burger Bar, a South Austin fixture, has refreshed its menu with an array of fries, revamped cocktails, hand-spun shakes and more. Patch was invited to sample some of the new offerings earlier this week, but words may fail to convey the scrumptious nature of that culinary adventure.

Upon arrival on Tuesday evening, Patch was greeted with an array of new offerings set on a table off to the side of what is a favorite stop for many at 1400 S. Congress Ave. The place was bustling as it usually is, people enjoying their food in a spacious room adorned with framed photos of Texas music icons, including Willie Nelson and ZZ Topp.

First, Patch was invited to sample some slider versions of burgers that are new to the menu. Little did Patch know the level of sensory overload Patch would experience.

Things got started casually enough with the "breakfast burger," a twist on an old classic with sausage, ham and beef grind with an egg patty, applewood smoked bacon and American cheese. An herb mayo gave the thing that extra umph, and this scribe was left longing for time travel with the ability to start the morning off at Hopdoddy's for breakfast and supplant the unspectacular coffee-and-toast breakfast of earlier. A glance at the menu conveying one also can "truffle" or "spice" this breakfast treat had Patch virtually looking for a wormhole to start the day off again for reals. But we all know that's not possible.

Things got a little crazy after that. The el Diablo was as tempting as its namesake, provoking a gastronomic gusto while indulging flavorful interplay of Angus beef with tillamook pepper jack, habaneros and serranos suffused with caramelized onions and sprinkled with salsa roja. Chipotle aioli, lettuce and tomato added to the festival of flavors.

Next came something completely different. The Ahi Tuna version contained sushi-grade tuna dressed in sunflower sprouts with nori chips infused with a dizzying mixture of flavors — teriyaki, honey wasabi, mayo and pickled ginger. A nod to burger tradition was evident with the lettuce, tomato and onion accompaniment. It was a delightful departure that, if not fully achieving genuine umami had one short of crying oh mami!

Finally, the pièce de résistance: The Elvis burger had entered the building.

The Elvis burger has left the building

Patch sampled the featured burger for May aptly named for the inclusion of IPA-whipped peanut butter and sliced banana on a house-baked egg bun. There was an Angus beef patty topped with American cheese and Applewood bacon. Initial trepidation given the hints of hedonism innate to this offering quickly dissipated in assessing the surprisingly effective combo that Elvis Presley favored. The peanut-butter-banana inclusion yielded a not-overpowering note complementing the full flavor of the Angus beef. We get it now, Elvis, and we were all shook up.

Along the way, varied fries of myriad variety were enjoyed. The revamped menu includes what Hopdoddy calls "shareable fries," served on large platters to be enjoyed among diners. Among them: Parmesan truffle fries, green chile queso fries, chili cheese fries, hot honey & sage fries and buffalo fries.

As the media preview came to an end, Patch was asked if an ice cream milkshake was in the offing to top things off. This is something akin to asking "Would you like this sack of money?" or "Do you want this coupon for free massages for life?" The answer, of course, was yes. There were many to choose from: Oreo cookies n' cream; Oreo cookie crumble; s'mores; strawberry shortbread; vanilla birthday cake; malted root beer; and bananas Foster.

Patch went with the latter as goodbyes were exchanged, heading out the door while something so delicious and life-affirming as to make one feel like a carefree boy again with nary a care in the world. Chunks of cinnamon-suffused banana would be sucked up intermittently through an oversize straw, the flavors accented with salted caramel and brown butter.

We were sorry to see it all come to an end, but suddenly gladdened with the knowledge that Hopdoddy itself — with all the delights within — isn't going anywhere. The popularity of the place can be seen especially on weekends along the South Congress Avenue corridor lined with shops, restaurants and bars with invariably long lines of people waiting to get into to place.

Given all that was experienced in what amounted to just a taste of the new menu, a return or two or more is definitely in Patch's near future.

To make things more tempting: During happy hour (3 to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday), the burgers and pints cost $5, as do the new shareable plates. With late hours of 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. (depending on location), Hopdoddy also is a nice place to drop by for a refreshing cocktail among the many new concoctions offered, including a pineapple daiquiri; the classic frozen margarita infused with Gold tequila; the Green Rickey with Tito's Handmade Vodka garnished with basil, cucumber and arugula with lime, soda, black pepper and cardamom; the sparkling Pamplejousse; the Stormy Libre containing dark rum, lime and ginger; and more.

In addition to the South Congress Avenue location, there are three others in the Austin area at 4615 N. Lamar Blvd.; 2438 W. Anderson Lane; and 2600 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock. To see the full, updated menu, click here.

>>> Photos by Tony Cantú