Buddy&#x27;s Burger

1st time at Mile high. Manager was amazing and very friendly. Went over menu and gave suggestions,…read morerestaurant was clean. Food was delicious!! We will def.be back again. 5

Two locations (that I'm aware of). One in Austin and this one in San Marcos…read more Review of San Marcos location: Super friendly service. Self-order & pay at counter kiosk---efficient & easy. Black & yellow theme throughout (now of course this Yinzer has Wiz Khalifa's voice in her head). Older space but very clean + the aforementioned vibrant black & yellow decor. Shared the First Class Half Mile Smashburger (supposed to be a smaller version but it's huge! Heck, everything really is bigger in Texas.) & Half Mile Fries (seasoned, thick, hand cut fries). Cooked to perfection. Juicy burger with fresh toppings, sauce, and cheese. Perfectly cooked fries. We're big fans.

Poutine

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Restaurant exterior

The Taproom

3.9(473 reviews)

1.4 mi

I love the food (great burgers), beer and service here. The reason for four stars is that although…read moreplace is a dive (with great potential) I can't get past the sticky floors, tables, chairs and doors. Definitely not for germaphobes...or anyone who can't handle years of bar residue.

Still amazing. Their beer selection never lets you down and their holiday specials make it a novel…read moreexperience while still keeping their classic, burger & brew dive vibe. The service is still on point and food is perfect.

Draft Wall

The Works

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Yellow rose beer

Hopdoddy Burger Bar

4.0(178 reviews)

0.4 mi

We came on a busy Saturday but that didn't affect the customer service nor quality of the food. It…read morecame out fast and great! The GM was there bussing tables, helping run food and helping the bar and thats how to set expectations as a manager! He was also very friendly checking on our party! Great place consistently!

We recently stopped by for a meal prior to the Texas State football game. While the food was…read moregreat, we waited over 45 minutes to be served our meal. While I can appreciate being busy, the wait time was excessive for an establishment that has a small menu selection. In contrast, we went to a sit down restaurant after the game which was as, if not more busy, then Hopdoddy and our food was prepared and served in about 15 minutes.

Come say hi to Carl..

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Jam Burger

3.7(3 reviews)

1.3 mi

Wow. As a burger snob, the must bacon was one of the best burgers I've had in Texas. The spicy…read moremaple jam onions was the perfect combination of sweet and spice. Keep up the good work!

Had the triple 6 burger with grilled onions and pickles at axis last night. Dare I say it was one…read moreof the best burgers I have had the pleasure of eating. Sweet and spicy with sweet jalapeño jam, tangy and balanced with the onion, pepper jack cheese, and pickled elements. Owner gave excellent service and was very accommodating. Overall great experience and I'm already looking forward to the next time I get to return.

The triple six burger

Must love bacon burger, tots and tot sauce

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Chili cheese burger

Cody's Restaurant Bar & Patio

4.5(555 reviews)

5.6 mi

•$$$

The service was excellent and the food was great…read more I would definitely recommend this place

SERVICE: table side, attentive AMBIANCE: clean, cozy,…read morerelaxing FLAVORS: short ribs (10/10) - it's only 4 slices but they are the best most flavorful short ribs I've had in a while! pork chop (8/10) - SO tender and juicy, but the topping of crunchy peppers with goat cheese and potato puree were discordant even though tasty PORTIONS: filling and hearty PRICE: $$$$ BONUS TIP: parking is $10 and not validated like with Krause.... Hmmm

Great Bartender!!!!

Brussel Sprouts

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Interior painting of Muddy Waters

Gil's Broiler & Manske Roll Bakery

3.7(298 reviews)

1.3 mi

Stopped in on the way to Austin as a few months ago tried to get a Manske roll and they had sold…read moreout. What's a Manske roll you may ask--Just one of the best cinnamon rolls you will ever taste. Always served warm. Today no problem getting a four pack to go. Our Gil-a-Monster burgers served without a bun were great too. The onion rings and tater tots were cooked perfectly as well. If you are in San Marcos Texas and need something sweet or a great burger Gil's fits the bill.

What a change, I can't pin it down, it the food just isn't the same…read more The burgers weren't what they have previously been. Perhaps it was because I really had a great burger down the street at Jax. Whatever the reason, we probably won't be returning here.

Gil's

Onion rings were pretty good

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Manske

Showdown

4.1(82 reviews)

1.3 mi

It has been awhile since I've been here. Great place to get a beer for sure. Also great place to…read morerun into people you haven't seen in a few years. There's a pool table, and plenty of seating, at the bar, tables, upstairs as well. Found out that they have food, which I didn't know. We got some burgers, to make sure they were good. And they were. Just good. I did love the fries, done week done, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I had onion rings with my burger, they were just alright. The service is good, plenty of bartenders. Super nice and helpful and patient, took me awhile to order. The bar has a mug system, not sure how it works, but they have discounts daily for mug owners. Pretty cool idea. Plenty of TVs on, music was playing.

Attentive bar tenders. Low key locals ( went 6ish on a Thursday the week after parents dropped off…read morestudents) crowd probably much different hours later& weekends. Didn't eat. Only had a few drinks. It's dive bar vibes.

Decor

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2.15.25

54th Street Restaurant & Drafthouse

3.8(453 reviews)

1.7 mi

Family-owned & operated

Gluten-free friendly

Came to drop our daughter off at Texas State and stopped here to eat, it was delicious! We decided…read moreto come for the 2nd day to eat! Definitely on my top list of restaurants to stop at when we visit.

I tried the Let's Do Lunch menu and decided to go with the Grilled Avocado Chicken Sandwich--and…read moreI'm so glad I did! I opted out of the fries and chose the vegetable medley instead, which was absolutely delicious. The sandwich was completely loaded with avocado, pesto sauce, melted cheese, and two perfectly cooked pieces of bacon on a soft, heavenly bun. Every bite was packed with flavor and perfectly seasoned. The cheese was melted just right, and that bacon was cooked to perfection! And let me tell you about the vegetables--zucchini, cauliflower, and broccoli--so good! I would definitely order them again. The service was really good, and of course, you can't go wrong with the atmosphere. I absolutely will be ordering this sandwich again! I highly recommend trying the Lunch Special! Delicious food, great service, and a wonderful atmosphere.

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Hat Creek Burger Company

4.3(168 reviews)

5.7 mi

This is a review of one particular sandwich, namely their veggie burger (which I got with sweet…read morepotato fries). So all of Hat Creek's meat options are delicious, and it turns out that... their veggie burger is as well! The patty is a black bean and quinoa patty with the normal burger fixings of lettuce, tomato, onion, and mustard. It doesn't try to match the flavor of a beef or turkey burger, but rather lets the beans and quinoa do the incredibly tasty work of making it good. This does mean that the patty doesn't hold the texture quite as well as a beef patty does... but who cares, since it's *delicious.* The sweet potato fries were also lovely, crisp, and just sweet enough that they went perfectly with the burger. Service was prompt and friendly and the only nitpick is that they forgot to include ketchup, but given how good the fries were on their own, that's *fine.* All told, wonderful food and a great vegetarian option..

When Mr R got his diagnosis and I contacted a few of his favorite local places about a couple…read moreingredients, Hat Creek was the fastest and friendliest reply I got which greatly endears them to me. 4pm on a weekday we hit their drive through for his black bean/quinoa burger, my pretzel jack, a soda, and some sweet potato fries to share. That combo and a sandwich was under $30 after tax, which felt great for the indulgent, tasty meal that we enjoyed. Needed a recovery nap, it was great. Single error was not including the ketchup he requested, which I share only in the interest of transparency. I mean, in my house ketchup is to make mid to poor fries tolerable and Hat Creek's sweet potato fries are great. Their good service and quality groceries continue, so will our visits will too.

Hand washing station inside, great idea

The Cobb Salad

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The Classic Burger, French Fries and Beer

Fat Shack

3.8(55 reviews)

1.4 mi

This Fat Shack has outstanding customer service. Love the new owners. They even came to the…read moretable to introduce themselves. Food was amazing.

Excellent service and the food was even better. Def worth checking out if your ur in the area!read more

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Deep Fried Oreos

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Half buffalo, half lemon pepper wings, single with cheese fries, fried pickle spears, and Sm (6") Fat Shack add Mac n cheese.

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61 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Abbie P.

2 years ago

As a newcomer to san marcos, I had never visited this restaurant before and, if I'm being completely honest, I initially assumed it was part of a larger chain. But from the moment I stepped inside, I was pleasantly surprised. The dining room was spacious and open, with a sparkling cleanliness that immediately put me at ease. Every single member of the staff I interacted with was incredibly nice and genuinely friendly, making me feel welcome right away. And then, of course, there was the food - absolutely amazing! Each dish I ordered was expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. I was thoroughly impressed. This first-time visit most definitely won't be my last; I'm already looking forward to returning and trying more of their delicious offerings. read more

Eva R.

3 years ago

Buddy's Burger in Austin is amazing, stopped by here while visiting my granddaughter at TX State. I love their Christmas spirit, their tree and decorations are beautiful. Their food is always spot on, I love their Mango lemonade and spicy with cheese. They aways win best of Austin, I wonder how they will do in San Marcos, I come to the area once a month and will visit Buddy's when I'm here. My husband always gets an Electric Jellyfish in Austin, they don't have beer here yet, they said they are to need and still working on their permit, my husband got a Mexican vanilla shake instead, it was just as good as the Electric Jellyfish. read more

Seth B.

1 year ago

I've been to Buddy's Burger a few times now, and it never disappoints. The food is super tasty--burgers are juicy, well-seasoned, and full of flavor. You can tell they use quality ingredients. The fries are crispy and go perfectly with their sauces, and their shakes are solid too. What I really like is that the prices are pretty reasonable, especially for the quality you're getting. It's a great spot whether you're grabbing something quick or sitting down with friends. Definitely one of my go-to burger places in San Marcos. read more

James G.

3 years ago

Food was great, I ordered the double with cheese. Next time I'll get the spicy, the seasoned fries where great and I'm sure glad I took their recommendation. I had one sip of the chocolate shake before my kids devoured it, but I was smart and ordered an Arnold Palmer with mango lemonade. Service was great and super friendly at the counter, they even walked around and touched our table a couple of times. Top notch. Ambiance was great, even know we visited later in the shift, coming back here for sure. read more

Anna Mae H.

1 year ago

Buddy's Burgers is hands-down one of my favorite spots! The burgers are juicy, flavorful, and always made fresh. Every bite is packed with quality and love--you can truly taste the difference. The staff is super friendly, the service is quick, and the atmosphere is laid-back and welcoming. Whether I'm grabbing a quick lunch or hanging out with friends, Buddy's never disappoints. I love them so much and always leave full and happy. If you haven't tried them yet, you're seriously missing out! read more

Diana V.

2 years ago

This is my first time here at buddies I came with my bestie Alyssa and Beth was so sweet and nice just very attentive and when we went to tell management about how great customer service was they let us know that's how they train all of their employees and it's a staple here at buddies to offer more than just a regular experience. we dined in and felt so comfy and taken care of. yall are great !!! Will come here again read more

Austin D.

1 month ago

Visited Buddy's Burger and had a solid experience. I ordered a classic burger, seasoned fries, and a mango lemonade. The burger was juicy and well-made with good-quality beef, and the fries were flavorful and crispy. Prices felt fair for the quality. The mango lemonade was just average, but overall, it's a great spot if you're looking for a reliable, good burger. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Jeremiah G.

3 years ago

OMG. WOW. I never had a burger this fresh before. WOW, this burger and season fries are just mouth dropping mouth watering good. I'm never going back to McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, or any other lame burger joint again. We love the food and atmosphere here. And the service was amazing.‍‍ Way better then IN and OUT. 1 hour later, I came back for some Oreo shakes and wow.... read more

Guerson C.

3 years ago

We were greeted as we walked in and our food came out quick and hot! As someone who has eaten at the ATX location this spot definitely matches the great quality in their food. I think the employees here were definitely friendlier! Plus its only like 10min drive from the San Marcos outlets, so big plus on the location . read more

Diego T.

2 years ago

Best burger I've had in a while. Mark was the best server/cashier he was such a vibe. Loved every second of being here the lemonade is very tart just the way lemonade should be. The smash burgers are to die for. Best part is self service ketchup station. Coming from San Antonio that's never over there ever. read more

Evan L.

3 years ago

DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!!!!! Service was great made me feel like apart of the family. Julia the person working front was really nice and helped me all the way through my order since is was my first time being here. The burgers are great and well seasoned and you HAVE to get the seasoned fries. read more

Willie R.

3 years ago

They didn't have my beer Electric Jellyfish because they said they are brand new and working on their permit to sell beer still but I got my second choice, Mexican Vanilla Shake with seasoned fries and double spicy. Real good, when you try it, please thank me. read more

Unc J.

3 years ago

This place has the most awesome tasting burgers !! The staff was very friendly and professional. The manager even came out to ask how my service was . Reminded me of old southern hospitality. Greatly recommend this place to all burger lovers read more

Carter A.

3 years ago

Very good burger, probably the best in San Marcos. Better than JAX and any other fast food place. If you're hesitant to try just do it. The buddy's sauce is amazing coming from someone who doesn't like many sauces. read more

Jaylen J.

11 months ago

Buddy's Burger in San Marcos is hands-down one of the best burger spots around. The staff are always friendly and make you feel genuinely welcome. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in San Marcos! read more

Halle G.

2 years ago

Best burger in town! The service was excellent. The ambiance was so clean. I really loved this place we came here after floating the river and me and my family enjoyed a good meal after a long float. read more

Randy H.

3 years ago

Sad to say Buddy's isn't all that...I'm not a fan of in and out burger or P Terry's either, but if I had to choose between them and buddy's I'd go to in and out burger .Sorry guys I won't return.. read more

Rebecca M.

3 years ago

If you want a "homemade " tasting burger and season French fries. Buddy's burger is the place. SanMarcos TX. Friendly workers, good service, and the atmosphere is calm and clean place. read more

Kevin J.

3 years ago

Delicious burgers and fries! The thin mint shake is so good! The staff were friendly and attentive. The dining room is bright and welcoming and the whole facility was really clean read more

James D.

3 years ago

They have a smashburger spicy burger that was out of this world, flavorful and spicy but not too spicy, loved it, I would recommend the seasoned fries and the mango lemonade. read more

Buddy's Burger - burgers - Updated September 2026

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I was visiting San Marcos Saturday and stopped in her for lunch. This is a cozy restaurant with…read morefriendly service. The cashier helped us decipher the menu to order what we needed. The food came out fast and was very fresh and tasty. I really enjoyed the Cajun fries. Definitely worth a try.

The beat steak and cheese sandwich I have had outside of Philly. So delicious, piping hot, tender…read moresteak.

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The service was fabulous and friendly I didn't like that…read morethe burgers weren't priced because I had to keep asking how much. Get some chalk and write it and change it when market prices change. My meal ended up being $25 The burger was very good. I had the bacon bleu cheese with bacon. I also had the onion rings side which they make in house. However they are a cakey breading, so they were slightly crunchy outside and soft inside. I am not a fan of this style and prefer a crunchy thin batter. I might go again but will avoid the onion rings.

We just happened to pass by this place after we spent all day at the lake. The burgers hit the spot…read moreas well as their hush puppies and sweet potato fries. The service was great and the place was very clean. My family ordered the A1 burger and the popper burger, both were excellent. I'd highly recommend this place.

Kirby's Korner Restaurant

3.9

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Fast, good and inexpensive! All 3! I'd like to go back and try a few other things on the menu. But…read morethe Kirby Burger and Cajun curly fries were great today!

Very disappointed with this meal, especially for the price. We paid over $30 for two burgers that…read morewere basically two unseasoned patties on a bun with a little bacon. The "Cajun" curly fries tasted like the pre-packaged fries you can buy at H-E-B, and there was absolutely nothing Cajun about them. Even the sodas were watered down. For over $30, I expected much better quality and flavor. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this place and won't be returning.

Jay & Diane's Horseshoe Grill

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Wow! I have not been to Jay and Diane's in a couple of years, but it hasn't changed and they…read morehaven't changed! Their burger is simply the best burger I have ever had! Today I got the "double ringer", which is now the biggest and best burger ever! Massive and so delicious. Great, friendly service as I remembered. I love this place! And sitting on the picnic table under the trees... so nice!

always perfect burger and friendly folks. No frills outside spot . my favorite burger anywhere and…read morewe've tried a lot of burgers in many different states! love sitting outside under the trees

Flamin Burger

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I didn't want to cook and the family couldn't decide on what they wanted so my husband recommended…read morewe try this gas station/restaurant that has chicken and burgers. Our son got a burger from Flamin burgers and he said was pretty good. They cooked it fresh while my husband watched. They can make it regular or spicy. I loved that they had multiple choices in one location and they both are good! You need to try them!

Best burger in town. They also make the most perfect crispy fries. Don't be fooled by the gas…read morestation.

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Great place to stop for a late night bite. The service was excellent and the fries perfect. I just…read moreordered the cheeseburger but I shared the fries and felt I should have ordered a combo as well. This place is retro style adorable and clean. Glad that they are here for travelers like us. We will definitely come back again for the next trip.

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Best Burger for miles and miles!! Tater tots and service are…read moregreat as well. Worth the drive!!!!

Burgers are awesome. Huge thick patties. Got fries and onion rings. The rings were very good…read more Unassuming little place but makes great food. Definitely worth the trip if you don't live around the area.

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