Al’s Burger Shack

Go inside- plenty of tvs, under-cranked ceiling fans - it screams less "restaurant" and more "your…read morefriend with the great garage." Names are stated, not numbers..which is personal, but perhaps a little prone to misheard orders.. "SEAN/JOHN/DON!" I think there are places in which by the time your order hits..it feels like you're in the middle of trying to make a gallery of orgami napkins... But the Grille isn't that..it moves at a steady breeze, carrying a gallery of food that could feed a small boar. But enough about the ambiance, you're probably here for exactly two things, and I'll name fries to make the review more succinct. You know, the logo cartoon is a bit.. funny. I'm like, "there's no way I'd want to take my lower jaw to such extreme positions!" But then I bit into the burger. That was my first mistake. To eat a Grille burger here is like falling in love, only to realize that the person loves me more than I ever could her. Naturally, I dropped my engagement ring. But not the burger. Whoever flips these needs a raise. Burger King throws them into the microwave or whatever and then tries to add "char" effects, which has the taste of imitation crab being dropped in a ash-heap. But PT's. Words can't do it justice, but I'm going to try. The beef seemed fairly rotated, unlike my arm during bowling. Crisp. Sweet. Layered. Crunchy. My jaw was getting oddly closer to the surrealistic logo that I thought I was above. Naturally, I ate the fries before picking up my engagement ring. I asked her if she could be my wife...And she responded "No, I am just your food induced hallucination that comes from having the best Burger on Earth. " As the stars faded from my eyes, I realized... you can take back a vow, but you can never take back the sheer amazement of picking your jaw off the floor to keep the food from escaping the confines of the pain of love and loss. Or you just like the food- we've all been there. :)

Being typical American burger lovers, we eat at PT's in Leland fairly regularly. And have done so…read morefor several years. With all the burger places around, we feel that PR's is arguably the best. Choice of full-size (8 oz). Or Junior (4oz),custom cooked on the grill,, your choice of condiments, served with an outstanding order of fries. Free drink refills. Good service. Strong focus on customer satisfaction. Consistency! That's why we've been regular customers for so long.

Menu

Chicken tenders, fries. Grilled chicken sandwich

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Menu, how to order

Blossoms Restaurant

3.8(43 reviews)

1.6 mi

Love this spot! One day soon, could you bring back the old hot dogs?…read more Here is my argument: 1.They are sooooo much better. 2.My partners fave chili cheese dog. 3. I love them too and I'm not a hot dog lover. It's really a win-win. I won't have to hear him crying every evening after golf and you sell more dogs. Truly can't wait ! On a serious note : The staff there is always so great, the food is always amazing! Happy New Year!

A lovely venue and the new menu is nice, however the service is just incredibly poor. Not sure if…read moreit's the norm or growing pains, but we are unsure if we will come back anytime soon. Been waiting 20 minutes for the check after waiting 10 to be acknowledged. It's a shame because the outdoor deck on the golf course at sunset is really nice.

Dining room

Veggie omelet. Massive!

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Chili Cheese Dog .

The Fork n Cork

4.2(1.2k reviews)

4.3 mi

fantastic food (I had the Reuben and it was excellent - juicy, just the right amount of cheese and…read morekraut, great bread) and the service was super attentive and friendly.

Ended up coming here for 4th of July because we were on vacation and found out they raised their…read moreprices compared to yelp menu prices. We ended up sitting outside because they didn't have seating available. Ended up waiting 34 minutes after ordering to remind the waitress to check on our food. She let us know it's going to be another 15-20 minutes because the kitchen was backed up. Which is pretty wild because all we ordered was burgers and fries. All in all we waited for our food for about an hour. Should have called beforehand to price check it because it's 100% not worth the price. Should have just cooked out on the bbq. I ordered the "Hot Mess" burger because it had decent reviews. The burger was decent size with a tiny portion of fries on the side. The service was mediocre, felt like the waitress / bartender was just damage controlling the small amount of tables in the entire establishment. On top of it all the ice tea was too sweet, we exchanged it for a water and still got charged. Overall, would not recommend, it was an absolute waist of money and time.

The Big Lew

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Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries

4.0(50 reviews)

0.3 mi

Went here, on a whim, for lunch today. Seen others at work having their food, so I thought, 'it…read moremust be at least decent.' They didn't disappoint. The original chicken sandwich coukd stand against that of Chic Fil A! The Chicken Philly could easily compete against Charlie's Cheesesteak. The fried pickles were top notch. The boy downside was the fries: undercooked and under-seasoned. The atmosphere is pleasant, hardening to a retro diner, but keeping a burger joint kinda feel, much like Five Guys. Service was prompt..Never felt like we were waiting too long for anything. Would definitely go here again!

Really good burgers and fries as well as awesome milkshakes. The servers were great. The staff were…read morefast and friendly!

Burgers cooked in front of you and served by talented staff! She ended up carrying 5 burgers and 3 fries!!

Philly cheesesteak

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Clean, fun and delicious!

Eggs Up Grill

3.4(45 reviews)

0.0 mi

At the Monkey Junction location, they used bottled salsa on the avocado toast. That was a surprise,…read moreafter having it for the first time, in Leland. I prefer the fresh! Our server let me know they make it "in house". I have to say, the chair are so uncomfortable. I only want to sit in a booth.

7/4/26: Eggs Up Grill was a great brunch stop during our time in Leland. We visited on the morning…read moreof July 4th, and the restaurant was packed. There was about a 15-minute wait, which wasn't bad considering how busy weekend mornings seem to be here. We ordered the Hash Benedict, Classic Benny, Croissant Style Donuts, and the Chimi Steak Scrambler with cheesy scrambled eggs, grilled marinated skirt steak, avocado, tomatoes, toast, and home fries. Every dish was well prepared and exactly what we were hoping for. The benedicts had perfectly cooked poached eggs with rich hollandaise sauce, the Chimi Steak Scrambler was hearty and flavorful, and the croissant-style donuts were a fun, sweet treat to share at the table. Because the restaurant was so busy, the food didn't come out immediately, but the wait was completely reasonable and never felt excessive. The staff did a great job keeping everyone moving, and our server was exceptional. She was friendly, attentive, and checked in on us throughout the meal despite having a full section. Overall, I'd give Eggs Up Grill 4/5 stars. The combination of great food, outstanding service, and a welcoming atmosphere made for an excellent brunch. I'd definitely come back the next time I'm in Leland and would recommend it to anyone looking for a dependable breakfast or brunch spot.

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Creme Brulee French Toast from their website.

Fox’s Hole In The Wall

4.4(64 reviews)

4.4 mi

The name for this establishment is perfect. And what a great find!! All 3 of ordered the Boston…read moreBeef Back It Up half pound sandwich. It was AMAZING!! Tender and juicy. I don't see how anyone could be disappointed in it. We loved it. The curly fries were good too.

This is one of the best hidden spots in Wilmington. It's located on a corner kind of easy to miss…read more We stopped here on a late Sunday night after the beach as it was one of the places open late, very thankful that it was. Such a unique and different menu we started out with the Big Wes Lil' Weiners which was 4 smoked Jalapeno and cheddar sausages wrapped in an empanada crust served with an arugula chimmichuri dipping sauce. So innovative and delicious, sauce had a bite to it and the sausages were juicy and crispy with the empanada crust, highly recommend. I wanted to house made roast beef only available on the weekends but it was sold out, no surprise. Opted for the Ghostface Fillah instead. Shaved ribeye, arugula, horseradish on delicious sourdough bread. Perfect amount of ribeye and the all of the components worked perfectly. Saw quite a few people getting the burger as well, people rave about it. We also got an order of the garlic parm curly fries which couldn't have been much better, place just has such a fun menu putting their twist on American staples, perfect spot to grab a bite and watch a game. Our server had food recommendations, limited seating inside but just the right amount, worth any kind of wait you might encounter.

Big Wes lil weiners

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Winnie's Tavern

4.3(283 reviews)

4.0 mi

It's clear why this is a local favorite. Good burgers, good service and good vibes. There isn't…read moremuch seating, but there are tables, bars and booths.

This place has been on my bucket list for a while. They are known for their delicious burgers and I…read morewas not disappointed. I ordered the Station Wagon burger with sautéed mushrooms, onions, Swiss cheese and garlic aioli and the garlic fries. I also ordered a beer and I dined at the bar. The burger was cooked perfectly and the bun was soft and fresh. The fries were outstanding! Perfect cook and seasonings. The wait staff were very friendly and the ambiance is cozy. I'm excited to return and try the Trailer Park burger next.

Christmastime at Winnie's

Station wagon Burger, sweet potato fries, and a little cup of bean salad.

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Full-size Station Wagon Burger with slaw & mini Carolina Burger with cajun fries

Brodee Dogs Brew House

4.5(54 reviews)

1.8 mi

I ordered a Leland style hot dog and a 1/2-1/2 combo of fries and sweet potato fries. I ordered…read moredelivery and I do know it was a long drive. I am taking that into consideration with this review. I air Fryed the fries to get them hot and crispy (which worked). The hot dog itself was decent. Nothing to be overly impressed with. The fries were so ordinary and tasted almost like fries out of the freezer. I was not a fan.

Great food and service! Tropical burger was an unexpected hit, sweet potato fries with Brodee sauce…read morewere yummy!!!

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The armadillo special

Rooster & The Crow

4.5(326 reviews)

4.2 mi

We were in Wilmington for an extended weekend trip and stopped by the Rooster & the Crow after…read moreseeing that it had good reviews and a nice, varied menu. This is located very centrally in downtown Wilmington and offers parking validation so don't be discouraged about the parking situation. There's a lot on the side you're free to use. We were seated right away on a weeknight and it was actually pretty full for being a weeknight. They have a good amount of space though. Millie was our server and she was a sweetheart. She was on it from start to finish. Checked in on us very regularly and provided above and beyond service. She contributed to our excellent experience. Fried chicken had to be ordered as it sounded so good and it definitely didn't disappoint. It comes with two sides and all of the sides were fresh. Portions were super hearty and generous. Chicken was fried to a crisp, in a good way!! The chicken sandwich was also great, but the fries are also very memorable, incredibly fresh. We were so surprised by how hot the food was in temperature, again in a good way. Everything was made to order. I loved that we were able to try this place out. I definitely recommend it and we will be thinking of the fried chicken for a long time!

Tl;dr - If you come here for their main event - chicken and fries - it's very good. Anything else,…read moredon't waste your time. Vegetarians need not bother. 3.5? I was not in love but I think there are some caveats there because I am not the typical customer. First, we appear to have come right at the height of their dinner rush. It took a while to get seated. The hosts told us to sit at the bar and then the bartender kicked us out of our stools because we were waiting for a table and apparently the bar stools were only for people who were eating, so we had to go find a bench. When we did get seated they put us at a really weird high top in a separate room when there was a much nicer low top available in the main room that we switched to. I got the sense both that this place was kind of hectic and that they didn't think they needed our service. But then as we were eating it cleared out all of a sudden and we were the only people left at like...8 pm. Our server was...accetptable. Not rude, but kind of short. Compared to the lovely personable service we got at other places in Wilmington it felt...I dunno, New Yorky? Then there was the food. And here comes my biggest caveat. I am pescstarian and do not eat chicken. So I ordered a shrimp po boy. It was not good. Not bad. But not good. Especially for the price which, honestly, competed with the prices where I live in DC. Every other person around me ordered chicken. My husband ordered chicken. He really liked his chicken. So obviously, this is a place where you get chicken (if the name didn't make it obvious). Had I ordered chicken I likely would have enjoyed my meal a lot more. But if you have shrimp po boys on the menu, endeavor to make them decent or take them off. Also I subbed a side cesar instead of fries and it was an afterthought. The fries themselves were excellent. If I ate chicken and came back to Wilmington I would maybe give this place another shot but as it stands, nah.

Rooster Cogburn

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Chicken and waffles

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2 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Cullen R.

2

5

9

1 year ago

We recently visited Al's Burger Shack in Leland, NC, and we were very disappointed. The Chapel Hill location was amazing, but the Leland one was just mediocre. The restaurant was clean and the employees were nice, but the food was lukewarm and chewy. The fries were the worst part, looking like they were fried multiple times and left out to dry. The tater tots were also dry and chewy, and the sweet potato fries were crunchy and not warm at all. Despite being hungry, the meal was disappointing. Hopefully, they improve, but we won't visit either the Chapel Hill or Leland locations again. read more

River S.

0

1

0

3 months ago

Very good. Burger and great fries and hot dog. and sevevws was great juicy burger and crispy fries. Al's Burger Shack serves up some of the best smash burgers in the South! You will definitely love their fresh, locally sourced ingredients and amazing Shack sauces. It's totally worth a visit! read more

Al’s Burger Shack - burgers - Updated September 2026

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PT's Old Fashioned Grille

3.8

(161 reviews)

Go inside- plenty of tvs, under-cranked ceiling fans - it screams less "restaurant" and more "your…read morefriend with the great garage." Names are stated, not numbers..which is personal, but perhaps a little prone to misheard orders.. "SEAN/JOHN/DON!" I think there are places in which by the time your order hits..it feels like you're in the middle of trying to make a gallery of orgami napkins... But the Grille isn't that..it moves at a steady breeze, carrying a gallery of food that could feed a small boar. But enough about the ambiance, you're probably here for exactly two things, and I'll name fries to make the review more succinct. You know, the logo cartoon is a bit.. funny. I'm like, "there's no way I'd want to take my lower jaw to such extreme positions!" But then I bit into the burger. That was my first mistake. To eat a Grille burger here is like falling in love, only to realize that the person loves me more than I ever could her. Naturally, I dropped my engagement ring. But not the burger. Whoever flips these needs a raise. Burger King throws them into the microwave or whatever and then tries to add "char" effects, which has the taste of imitation crab being dropped in a ash-heap. But PT's. Words can't do it justice, but I'm going to try. The beef seemed fairly rotated, unlike my arm during bowling. Crisp. Sweet. Layered. Crunchy. My jaw was getting oddly closer to the surrealistic logo that I thought I was above. Naturally, I ate the fries before picking up my engagement ring. I asked her if she could be my wife...And she responded "No, I am just your food induced hallucination that comes from having the best Burger on Earth. " As the stars faded from my eyes, I realized... you can take back a vow, but you can never take back the sheer amazement of picking your jaw off the floor to keep the food from escaping the confines of the pain of love and loss. Or you just like the food- we've all been there. :)

Being typical American burger lovers, we eat at PT's in Leland fairly regularly. And have done so…read morefor several years. With all the burger places around, we feel that PR's is arguably the best. Choice of full-size (8 oz). Or Junior (4oz),custom cooked on the grill,, your choice of condiments, served with an outstanding order of fries. Free drink refills. Good service. Strong focus on customer satisfaction. Consistency! That's why we've been regular customers for so long.

P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille

4.4

(83 reviews)

Best burger I've ever had. It's not a typical diner and there's no nonsense here. It's all about…read morethe burgers and they do it better than anyone in town. Whether you're hungover needing a fix or just craving a greasy burger with every topping, this place is the way to go. Service is fast and they check on you if you need refills or sauces. Don't waste your time with anywhere else in the area, PTs if your place to go. All you hear when you walk in is the bustle of the grill and employees getting orders in which makes you know what's coming has got to be good. I come here weekly and will continue to till I leave this place. I'll be dreaming of a PT burger anywhere I go next.

The burgers have a great history. Quick and accurate service while the dining area has a welcoming…read morefeel.

Merritt's Burger House

4.1

(48 reviews)

I have been going there ever since I was a little kid. When I was older and lived elsewhere, this…read moreis one of the places I greatly missed. Grandma always made the best coast all since she has passed. It's still good, very good, actually, just not as good as when she made it. My grandfather and then my parents took me there when I was younger. I went thereas an adult and I have taken my children. Their food is always fabulous. And since you drive up and sit in your vehicle, it has that old style feel to it, which is always welcoming.

We tried this drive-in on a Saturday and enjoyed the old school feel. Our waitress was so sweet and…read morecalled us hon/sweetie and was quick. You could tell the staff were working hard. It was fun just hanging out in the car and the nostalgic vibe. Since it's a burger house, we ordered burgers, fries, a vanilla milkshake and a bottled soda. It was around $21. It is cash only! The burger was just okay and could've used a bit more flavor. The fries were good and my son loved the milkshake. Next time I might try a hot dog since that seems like another popular item. Overall, the food isn't amazing, but the experience and nostalgic atmosphere made it worth the visit.

P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille

4.2

(133 reviews)

Excellent service. We had folks attentive to our needs. Food was excellent and salad was fresh. You…read morecan sit outside! Some beers on tap. They have a special season for fries. Casual atmosphere. They sell their seasoning.

Bacon Cheeseburger Lettuce Tomato Onion Ketchup and French Fries with a Sweet Tea…read more Yum! Service is easygoing, friendly, and easy. Cute Spot. Kid Friendly. We ate at two locations. Food was good at both. We'll be back.

Mess Hall

4.3

(240 reviews)

Heard great things about this restaurant and decided to visit. I am SOOOO glad I did because it did…read morenot disappoint in the least bit! The service was great and the food was excellent. I ordered the old fashioned smash burger and it was so delicious! The smash patties were cooked to perfection with crispy edges, gooey cheese and fresh toppings & onion straws. The tots were hot and crispy which was a nice touch to round out a great meal. Order at the counter, grab or fix your drink, then wait for your order to be called. I dined in and seating is pretty adequate and the vibes are great for convos- the noise level isn't loud at all. I can't wait to try a milkshake the next time I'm in town as well as some of the other menu items. I'll definitely be back and will bring my hubby and friends for them to try as well!

What a cool place! Driving to it had no clue where I was.. it's big container with its own parking…read morelot. It has shared outside space with pizza joint called rift. We walk in and grab menu.. my friend got covered torso. Cheese and bacon I got Chicken Sandy it comes on potato roll, fried tenders, pickled onions, hot honey! It's messy because of honey but oh my goodness it was so tasty! Pickled onions were very good not overwhelming just really good combo on chicken! It also has side of tots! I love tots! lol! Weather held out so we went outside to sit and eat. It's more rifts area but they share the space.inside the mess hall there's also a bar so they have alcohol as well as soft drinks, teas and water. Plenty of seating indoors too. Loved the space it wasn't overly noisy and staff was very nice and helpful telling us about things on menu and specials and where things were located. We will 100% be back

Beach House Burgers

4.4

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Amazingly good right by the pier. Fast and good service too, the food was cooked perfect, hit the…read morespot

Beach House Burgers here for the rescue! Honestly nothing except bagels across the street was open…read morein that close area on a Friday midday. We had driven from morning all the way to Kure to enjoy the beach first thing. We did not want a burger or anything greasy we wanted healthy food - but the universe had different plans for us and after walking within the blocks checking each restaurant in each corner the only one opened was them and no wonder it was so busy and popular.. it was the only thing available. But surprisingly it was delicious. The double burger with cheese wasn't greasy and not too salty so definitely a good order! My mother had fried and it was not bad at all. If you want a quick bite for cheap this is the stop. Such a very local beach vibe little stand - a burger stand to fill up your stomach and you can enjoy the beach all day long!

Cheese Smith

4.3

(160 reviews)

Cheese Smith was a great spot in Wilmington!! I tried the kimchi sandwich and the fig jam sandwich…read more Both were really good. Mine (pictured) was a little sweet/rich for a full sandwich, I would rather split it with another sandwich next time I go. The employees were kind and the vibes were super chill. Seems like a great spot to hang out!

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I'm not a fan of "cheesy" things nor do I have an affection…read morefor grilled cheeses, but I really enjoyed this experience. I ate half of a Buffalo Baby and half of a Figgie Smalls. Both were good, but I enjoyed the Buffalo Baby. The Figgie Smalls was the perfect blend of sweet and savory; I just missed having some meat on it. Bacon or some type of pork would have been perfect. I'm glad that I gave this place a try! The service was great, and the atmosphere was welcoming.

The Original Salt Works

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What else do you need to say.....JOHN is the MAN This guy is…read morea legend in the food biz and is a kind and hard worker. Get a burger!

Like the old atmosphere. Waitstaff great. Pecan waffle just OK - kind of bland. Real butter and…read moregood hot syrup could make it a little better. Bacon plenty tasty but not crisp.

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