Top 3 burger in Austin. What makes a great burger? I suppose everybody has their own requirements. For me, it comes down to just a few simple things; the meat, the bun, the bacon. The meat: 5 stars. good sized patty, freshly ground and seasoned well. Cooked to order and perfectly seared to make a juicy burger. The seasoning on their meat is VERY similar to Dan's Hamburgers, which to me is a great characteristic since I would rank Dan's as the best burger in Austin. The bun: 5 stars. It really amazes how many places mess this element up... Its really quite simple. One must have a good bun to meat ratio, the bun must be toasted, and MOST IMPORTANTLY the bun must hold the burger together. The most annoying thing to eating a burger is when the bun just self destructs as you take your 2nd or 3rd bite. Cow Bells has a really good bun that keeps control of their juicy burgers. The bacon: Bacon and cheese are essentials for making a great burger. While every place has the option of cheese, it boggles my mind that some places sell burgers without having the option of adding the awesome porkiness (is that a word? lol) of bacon. In n out is guilty of this offense. P. Terry's was guilty of this as well until early last year. What a world of difference it made for my overall feel for P. Terry's. You also need the non flimsy cuts of bacon for a burger... as much as I love whataburger, their bacon is truly awful. This is truly a great burger joint. Their panko crusted onion rings are probably the best in Austin as well. Definitely give these guys a try if you're ever in the south Austin part of town. read more

Had their basic burger and added some cheese. The ingredients are fresh and the meat was juicy and had the right amount of seasoning. I also ordered tater tots wit their chipotle ranch. We scarfed down the meal in less than 5 min. I wish the weather was more permitting when i went so i could of enjoyed the burger right then and there. I'm sure it would of tasted 20 times better right off the grill.... read more

What a treat! I finally managed to stop in on my way downtown this afternoon. Spoke with the owner for a bit (what a friendly guy!) and got the Blue Flame. I don't think i'd ever thought to put both Blue Cheese and Jalapenos on a burger, but I probably won't eat it without them from now on! Excellent place, would for sure be back. read more

Wow, all I can say is wow. I accidentally stumbled upon this trailer while looking for something else, and I'm sure glad I did. The burgers are some of the best I've ever had in my life, and the patty was juicy, thick, and heavenly. The toppings were wonderful too and you get lots of choices with their sauces, and things like that. Don't let the boring yellow exterior fool you...the food here is top notch! Also, the service was pretty darn good too. They have a good drink variety, cool food options, and nice people working there. You can't go wrong by trying this place out! read more

This place rules! I live next door to this Cow Bells food truck and it recently replaced Squealers, the bacon/BLT joint. Cow Bells is better. Tonight I tried the bean/veggie burger (I believe it was called the Woody Harrelson) and it was very very good. I got it without tomatoes and had them add jalepenos--I recommend that! I wasn't expecting such a sweat yet savory flavor from a veggie burger--it was a combination of the perfect pickles and special mayo (I think the sauce was a mayo...) that really made it. It also had some avocado (maybe that's what was in the sauce) and onions. I normally don't like avocado but this burger was perfect. Also, the dude that works there, Daniel, is really f*****g cool. I'll def be back there...maybe try the sliders next time. Word! P.S. Wanted to amend this review and say I have been back to Cow Bells dozens of times. I've tried almost everything on the menu, and every time I've been more than pleasantly surprised/satisfied. Recently I tried the menu's newest addition: TACOS! I had one steak and one chicken (cooked to Daniel's recommendation--crispy/crunchy shell) and since I'm not sure which I liked more, I definitely want them BOTH more! I love how Cow Bell's menu is simple, yet it's got great variety within its constraints. I almost wish Daniel would add even more to the menu, though that's hardly necessary...I say that because I know that Daniel could add his own touch to any dish, and make whatever really damn good. And though I say I want more options now, why mess with something that works? Something simple and delicious and worth reliving over and over... That's all I gotta say. Go there! Trust me. read more

Good burgers seem to be easy to come by in Austin, and this place is no different. A few days ago I came to eat at Oh! Bento food truck in the same lot and my friend also recommended cow bells for their "boca chicas" or 3 wonderfully grilled sliders. With a minimalist approach in toppings, maybe a pickle or two and ketchup, the well-seasoned medium-well beef patty was what made it great as other reviews have mentioned. Yesterday I came again and had the Woody Harrelson, normally a vegetarian black bean burger, with honey mustard, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and grilled onions on a wheat bun. The owner was more than happy to accomodate with a meat patty and said I was the first to order it that way and that it sounded good. No joke, that was an awesome burger, with a side of crispy on the outside sweet potato fries and chipotle ranch dipping sauce. The cherry lemonade I could live without in favor of something carbonated to complement a great burger and sweet potato fries. Considering some of the best burger places I've enjoyed in Austin have come from the late Stack burger bar, Hopdoddy, Casino el Camino, Justine's, this easily unnoticeable trailer can hold its own with all of the above. Bonus: Down the ramp behind the apartment complex next door is a picnicable green slope, walking path, and dock to town lake. Pretty awesome. read more

Recently ate here and boy was I a happy camper. I should say that I have never eaten at an Austin food truck before Cow Bells. Pretty sad huh? Anyway, keeping my limited experience in mind, I still know what good food tastes like even if I can't compare it to other local Austin trucks. In Denver, the "food truck" concept isn't nearly as popular and the few times I've grabbed a bite at one were not exactly memorable. This was. As far as the business goes, it's conveniently located, well-stocked and the owner/manager/chef/cook/server... scratch all of those... the Christopher Walken of Cow Bells food truck was awesome. He knows what he's doing and has clearly has a passion for food and business. As far as the food goes, I cannot adequately describe how simple yet delicious these burgers were. It was not long after enjoying my delicious Blue Flame burger with perfectly cooked sweet potato fries that I was back at the window getting an Archetype for the road. It didn't make it too far before it was gone as well. I'm sure he hears these awful jokes all the time but that's not my problem: In the words of THE Bruce Dickinson, you have what appears to be a dynamite burger. Ok, so I had to change the last part to make the joke work but you get the idea. GO HERE. It won't disappoint. read more

Wow! just finished a burger from CowBells and I am so happy :) Got the Tire burger and some tots, super delicious! the meat was expertly seasoned and cooked. Quick service AND yummy, cheap food, I think I have a new favorite food trailer in my area. Cant wait to try the rest of the menu :D read more

2nd visit, 1st review. Cow Bells has, hands down, one of the best tasting burgers in Austin! The flavor profile of this perfectly seasoned patty paired w delicious toppings in between soft buns will send your taste buds soaring! This "backyard" style burger will have you telling all of your friends about Cow Bells...but brace yourself for all the "thank yous" you will get in return. "The fear of loss is greater than the fear of gain". So, what are you waiting for? Stop wasting your time at those over-priced fancy burger joints w long lines that over promise and under deliver. Go to Cow Bells now and see what a burger is supposed to taste like! read more

Daniel, the only reason you did not get 5-star rating is that you didn't ask how I wanted my egg and bacon cooked on my sunrise burger. The burger hit every other spot on my list, fresh meat, veggies and cheese, better than average onion rings and a large coke in a bottle! Super, man!! Don't eat the O rings without the sauce. As good as Caines. My other regret is that I did not try the sweet potato fries, that EVERYBODY else was getting!-( Daniel seems to be a great guy and they can cook your egg and/or bacon toppings to order...next time over medium egg and bacon more fully cooked. Oh what the heck Daniel, 5-STAR! All the best on your trailer business! read more

We hired Cow Bells to cater our wedding this past weekend and I don't believe I could have made a better choice. We were looking for someone who would fit the fun and casual vibe of our wedding and Cow Bells was perfect. All my guests were raving about the food and the trailer. They catered burgers and sides for us (baked beans, potato salad, and salad) and it was all delicious. I was served my burger near the end of the guest service and it was hot and fresh, so I know they were churning out some yummy burgers for everyone else. I would also like to say that Daniel and his mother, Maria, were wonderful to work with and made the whole process painless. I'm so glad we went with them and not a traditional wedding caterer. They were patient when I had lots of questions, and very considerate when dealing with our venue and some of their restrictions. All in all, Cow Bells is AWESOME!!! read more

UPDATE:: I had to come back to yelp to review their fried pickles. I am a huge fan of the fried pickles from Pluckers. I honestly just go there for the pickles if im to be completely honest. but not any more. these fried pickles are perfection!! seriously, if you're a pickle fan, GET THE PICKLES! (i really like pickles, okay? lol) dropped by this place on my lunch break. it was really tasty. I wish this business the Best! Im a big burger fan and will often judge a place by its burger quality (its a simple dish but you'd be surprised at how many places cant make a decent burger!) and have been to austin must haves like Hopdoddy and honestly, this place kicks soo much butt in comparison and is cheaper! I got the Rise n Shine and it was very very tasty! only eat it if you come here with someone you love that wont run away after they see you swallow that burger and get the egg yolk on your face lol Also bought some fried pickles but those will have to wait as Im very full after the burger but mmmm they smell good. I was also given some coupons for next time. You can text in your order or call in for pick up which I thought was nifty. read more

I was hoping to be the first to review this place. ::Shakes fist at alyssa:: I tried this place today. I had the sliders and a plate of onion rings. The quality of the meat is great -- really juicy and kinda reminded me of Wholly Cow. If you like that place, you'll like this place. They came topped with grilled onions and pickles. The onion rings were solid too with a side of spicy ranch sauce. $8 all in. Definitely going back to try the other burgers. They sound legit. The place takes credit cards via Square and the dude that works there (Daniel) is really nice. read more

Cow Bells - Sliders with onion rings - Burgers Near Me

Just went for lunch and got the Tire Burger, it was good, real good. They have a ton of stuff I want to go back and try. The size of the burger for the price can't be beat. My only wish would be that they had regular fries and not just sweet potato fries, they do have tator tots though! read more

Cow Bells - Sooo yum..double meat with cheese, Bacon, Mayo and fried pickles! - Burgers Near Me

I hear a lot of discussion about Hopdoddy's and Casino El Camino as being the best burger in Austin. I have had both of them and, let me tell you, I'll take Cow Bells over both of those any day. The burger is just what it is, a burger. I highly doubt you'll ever see truffled mac and cheese or anything like that on one of Daniel's burgers. Simple, yet incredibly flavorful. My favorite is the Rise n' Shine burger - beef patty, ham, bacon, fried egg, lettuce, tomato and spicy mayo. Seriously. You must try this. And the buns don't get all soggy and fall apart! I don't know what secret blend of spices Daniel is putting on his burger - he won't tell me - but that alone is worth the trip out to east Riverside. read more

Omgggg this is my new favorite burger joint in Austin! I had the Spare Tire which was AWESOME. The fried pickle was a geniussss bonus to it! You made this pregnant woman very HAPPY! The taters were so yummy too. AND the cherry lemonade was the best I've ever had around town! I'm definitely coming back for MORE! read more

Cow Bells - I'm in love with this place only after 1st try! I got the Spare Tire, The fried pickle= genius bonus! AND the cherry lemonade was the BEST! - Burgers Near Me

I will say, I found this place through the Austin Food Trailers blog and yelped it. I found there was a lot of strong talk about these burgers, so I had to try one for myself. All the hype lived up to its word!! I ordered the Spare Tire with no fried pickles or mayo. I've always been drawn to burgers with BBQ sauce on them. The patties themselves were delicious. I read on one review here that the patties are "juicy but not greasy" and that's the perfect way to describe these delicious patties. The sweet potato fries were awesome as helllz and even this bad ass V sauce goes with it! The Cherry Lemonade was also delicious. They have a lot of condiments to choose from as well (on the back of the menu). Maybe they should consider (or display) a Build Your Own Burger menu with all the condiments and ingredients they have to offer. Will I be back? For certain! TWO FORKS UP! read more

Good burger. Seasoned well and many different choices. Plus it's right next to the churro truck. Can't go wrong. read more

Cow Bells - Yummy. Burger seasoned to perfection. - Burgers Near Me

Gem! Juicy handmade patties, great combos, sweet potato fries are amazing... Best burger I've ever, ever had. Boyfriend got the burger with the egg... I got jalapeño and blue cheese. We ate them in less than five minutes and they were huge!! You have to try this place. Seriously. read more

Cow Bells - Blue flame burger + sweet potato fries + barbecue ranch= heaven. Try it. - Burgers Near Me

After a rocky start. I was finally able to catch cowbells open! Boy was it worth it. I got the spare tire! Easily one of the best burgers I've ever had! Dan at cowbells is awesome. Personally reached out to me to make my bad experiences right! Great people! Great customer service still exists! To make things cooler they were playing Careless Whisper over the speakers! read more

The Rise and Shine burger with fried pickles is absolutely mind blowing. This place is THE place to go for the best burgers in Austin. Everything is made fresh to order, and jam packed with flavor. Outdoor seating, so you can bring your pupper (mine begged his booty off). Don't forget to pick up a punch card, because there's no way you won't revisit after tasting their food! read more

Cow Bells - Burgers Near Me

Just had my second Pilgrim (turkey) Burger in two days. This is one fine burger, and it's prepared beautifully. The patty is juicy without being fatty, and the basil is a nice touch. Love the dried cranberries on top, and the whole wheat bun. Daniel's doing things right. I'm impressed! read more

My experience with Cow Bells can be summed up in only one word: exceptional. Daniel (the owner) is a fantastic manager and treats every customer with respect and friendship. I myself have been in several times and not only does he remember my name, he remembers what my favorite orders are and how I like them prepared. I've always wanted to feel like I was a "regular" at a restaurant and I feel like I've finally found the place. The food here is divine, seriously you need to try those Boca Chicas they are to die for. Little tiny burgers made on a roll they are just perfect. The Rise and Shine burger is a great way to start your morning off, and they're tater tots are awesome. I don't personally enjoy sweet potato fries but my roommate who does says the ones here are top-notch. Ok, I'm done babbling like some crazed Justin Bieber fan. Cow Bells is awesome and you definitely need to stop by and try it. read more

Cow Bells is by far a stellar food truck and makes a decent burger! Came here late morning right before lunch time so no long lines. The food and drink selection is decent and not too overwhelming. I ordered the Rise n Shine burger, fries and a Topo Chico. Roughly $10-$15 for a meal which wasn't too bad for what you get. The food truck park has picnic style seating with wooden benched and tables literally locked to the ground - probably had some theft in the past?? The burger was cooked more on the medium-well but still retained its juiciness. Only issue I had with the Rise n Shine burger was that the combo of the sunny side egg, bacon, burger, lettuce, tomato and sauce made it not only messy but everything was moving out of the bun. Fries were ok, definitely happy they weren't frozen before fried. And the sauce it comes with was a nice chiptole mayo to zest it up a bit. Overall, good tastes and friendly service. read more

This is an awesome trailer and I have no idea why there's not a huge line in front of it each time I go. Its specialty is burgers, and they're really good - hefty, well-seasoned, and juicy without being greasy. The Blue Flame is a solid choice, as you would expect from anything that involves both blue cheese and grilled jalapeños. Just today I had the Rise 'n Shine, which piles on ham, really really good smoked bacon, and an egg cooked to your taste. It's the kind of burger that makes you stop after you finish it and contemplate where your life went right. Both burgers also feature strangely excellent tomatoes; seriously, it's a small thing, but a small detail like that adds a lot to already-top notch burgers. The buns are the only feature that's merely decent instead of superlative, but maybe the sweet rolls that the sliders come on, which I haven't tried, will knock my socks off. The sides are good as well. Awesome sweet potato fries and onion rings, and the BBQ ranch dipping sauce is a must-have, especially if you swirl in some Tabasco. The drinks are home-brewed, and there's an interesting contrast between the two I've tried - the raspberry iced tea is not very sugary but has an excellent strong raspberry flavor, while the cherry lemonade is sweeter than Sonic or the lemonade at Barton Springs. I prefer the more low-key but flavorful raspberry drink, but if you want your dentist's eyes to light up when you go for a checkup, the cherry lemonade is really tasty as well. Finally, Daniel the owner is super-friendly and attentive to customer feedback. Despite gaps of weeks between visits, he remembered my name and my earlier order, which is pretty cool. He even thanked me for my Yelp tip, so he definitely pays attention to what people have to say. The number of 5 star reviews here is no joke, and here's hoping one more steers a few more people his way since the lack of lines in front of his trailer is criminal. $7 for a burger + $3 for onion rings + $2 for a drink is a little on the high end for lunch, but you won't be disappointed in the slightest. read more

Austin takes their food trucks more seriously than most cities. And Cow Bells proves that you can get a great burger from a food truck. I also appreciated that they had a veggie burger as it's own menu item that they put some thought into. They called it the Woody Harrelson. It had a black bean burger patty dressed with honey mustard, avocado and the usual fixins. And it was very good. read more

Cow Bells - Burgers Near Me

The hubs and I went here last night for date night. We ordered a bit of everything since it was our first time there. Here are our reviews: Burgers: I ordered a cheeseburger with bacon and pickle only. The spices on it were great, but it was a bit dry. Oh, and they forgot my cheese. oh well. The bacon was delicious. It's real & thick bacon-yummy! The hubs ordered the breakfast burger(I can't remember the name). It had ham & a egg on top. He liked it a lot but found it to be just a tad dry. Sweet Potato Fries: I have never been a big fan but these were pretty good actually. The hubs loved them(and ate them all to boot!) Mini Corn Dogs: These were good but nothing special. They are just... mini corn dogs. Hard to screw these up. Fried Pickles: thick pickle slices + fried = delicious. They only gave us about 5 pickle slices (not the spears, just hamburger slices). It wasn't a problem for us since we had so much other food, but if that was all I ordered I would have wished they gave us more. The good thing is, they are $2. Can't be beat, I suppose. I ordered a bottled water and the hubs ordered a Mexican Coke. Our total was $23. All in all, I will be back! PS: They only have a few parking spots in front of the trailers so I assumed that was all of the parking. Thankfully we got one of those few spots as it wasn't a prime time, but a coworker told me this morning that you can park in the AMLI parking garage for free(bottom floor only)... good to know! read more

Great burgers, great service=great Saturday afternoon. The owner, Daniel, after noticing my less than favorable review of one of his competitors (Svante's,) reached out and invited me to try his burgers. Well, he's got some greatness going on... We had the Archetype and Rise N' Shine. These are cooked to order, in the true sense. Daniel even asked me how I wanted the egg prepared. The beef is real quality. Nice and juicy even when cooked medium (I'm a medium rare guy pretty much across the board when it comes to red meat but my wife insists on medium--it didn't matter in the least when I took my first bite.) The other ingredients are fresh and simple, so they let the meat headline--winning. But now folks, let me say, what really put these burgers over the top were the buns. Wow, slightly toasted I'm guessing, with a nice subtle buttery thing going on. For me, best buns ever. The man himself knows what's up. We chatted for a while about our favorite burgers in town, his business, and whatever, he seems like a down to earth guy who wants to make you a great burger, ain't nothing wrong with that. Check it out. read more

I LOVE their cheese fries and cheese tots! The person working is always super nice, and the burgers are all cooked to order (I often call ahead so then I can just walk over and pick up). If it's a drive from you, it's still only app 10 min from once you order to when it's ready (depending on other orders), but there are picnic tables to sit down at and wait/eat. It's one of my favorite burger & fry places! read more

I have to give the one guy working the grill mad props for being able to serve up 7 burgers and fries/tots within 20 minutes! I also want to mention their website. The color scheme is actually good, and the alignment of text and the size of font is not offensive or badly used. I ordered the Woody Harrelson sans pickles (no red meat for this lady). It was pretty damn good. The avocado could have easily stood on its own without the honey mustard. My only complaint is that it was really greasy... as in an-hour-later-my-stomach-is-churning greasy. Meh. Grease is kind of expected at a burger place. I had a conversation with the guy afterwards and he assured me he makes a mean turkey burger and I am definitely down to come back and indulge. I don't get everyone's gripe about the price. It's one fucking guy in a food trailer making quality burgers with obv fresh ingredients and (I'm gonna go out on a limb here) he probably forms and seasons the patties himself. *GASP* $7? What an outrage. I didn't even get red meat and I'm not bitching about paying $7 for a black bean burger. Go pay $5 for a mass produced and processed Big Mac at McDonald's then. Shit. read more

This is a serious contender for the best burger in Austin. Fresh hand pressed patties grilled up to perfection. A little char on the outside but super juicy on the inside! Just the way you'd make them at home... if you are a grill master that is. My fave burger is the Rise N' Shine. How can you go wrong with a fried egg and bacon on your burger?!? The Blue Flame is also delicious. Make sure to get the sweet potato fries! Definitely my favorite sweet potato fries in Austin. So crispy!!! The japanese style onion rings (panko breading) are also a great side. Make sure you ask for "sexy sauce" too. It's just a combo of ranch and bbq sauce but it's darn good! read more

This is my go to burger place. And as of late, really the only place I go to at all. Service is fantastic! Friendly and fast. The food... oh, the food. I wake up craving the damn Boca Chicas on a regular basis now. I've had the Boca Chicas (get 'em with spicy mayo instead of ketchup), the Rise 'n' Shine, the Blue Flame, and the Woody Harrelson. I can't even choose a favorite. The ingredients always taste fresh, and the burgers are cooked perfectly. Ask about their specials, too. Different burgers are half off on certain days. And don't forget to grab a cherry lemonade! Mmmmmmm. read more

I'm a new transplant to Austin area! I moved from Pittsburgh, PA where we are known for great burgers and fries!! It took me a while to find a great burger joint but "COW BELLS" saved the day! The quality of the meat is amazing and ALWAYS fresh! In addition to that, they have awesome sweet potatoes fries. One of my fav burgers there is the "Spare Tire" GREAT BURGER!! Daniel, the owner is always friendly and from my experience gives each customer great service. I'd recommend this spot to anyone. read more

Burgers. They are that little disk of meat (or beans for you vegers out there) that either hold a promise of glory or a deep dark secret of shame. You can dress your meat disk up with whatever add ons you want (sauces, avocado, bacon, cheese blah blah, blah blah) but an honest burger needs not these things to make it good. Perhaps better but not good. The meat is the show. And the Cow Bells' patty is a hell of a show. I think I'm setting the DVR, binging on the Netflix, and buying the series box set. Today was the "Top Secret" Sexy Burger. Sexy sauce, good. Apple smoked bacon, good (duh). But that patty. Dead sexy. I would have eaten the patty alone. Well seasoned with superb flavor. It gave my bacon apple wood. read more

Great spot for lunch or dinner. Hard to beat the sunrise burger, very generous amounts of bacon with an egg on the burger. Head on over to churro co next door for dessert after. read more

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We used Cow Bells to cater a tailgate-themed wedding shower and were really happy with how everything tuned out! The burgers were really delicious. Daniel, the owner, was very professional and easy to work with ahead of the party. He even came out to my house ahead of time to make sure there would be enough room to park the food truck. He was right on time and cooked at a very good pace. We had a fairly large group but no one had to wait very long for their burger. Lots of people went back for seconds because they were so good! I would definitely recommend him and will use him again for future parties. read more

Cow bells is pure burger sexiness. The guy manning the food truck was friendly and helpful. He gave us coupons for next time and our burgers came out quicker than expected. I'll be coming back here and bringing some friends for an authentic Austin food truck burger experience. The menu has something for everybody including vegetarians. read more

Since moving to Austin last July, I've been coming on regular basis to get a Spare Tire burger which is by far one of the best hamburgers I've ever had within the U.S.!! Not to mention the customer services which is prompt, accurate and more than welcoming....keep it up Cow Bells! The down side? 30 minutes of extra cardio the following day, but it's well worth the sweat! read more

I loved Cow Bells! The service is great, the atmosphere is fantastic and the food is awesome. I had the Woody Harrelson, which is a black bean burger with sweet potato fries as my side. It was made to order and extremely delicious. I will definitely be going back! read more

I got to find a place to eat on an impromptu lunch date with my favorite lady in the world today. I thought a burger would be delicious and Cow Bells was the first place to pop up on Yelp so we gave it a shot. We ordered a Woody Harrellson and a Blue Flame so we could split the burgers, and we snagged some onion rings and sweet potato fries. The Woody Harrellson (veggie patty) was really really really good. I don't think I've ever tried a veggie burger that has made me say anything other than "it was alright" until today. The Blue Flame (sans Jalapenos, plus bacon) was pretty damn fine in it's own right. My only complaint (and it's not really a complaint because I loved the burger) was that it was bleu cheese dressing rather than crumbles, which I probably would have preferred. The guy running the show was about as nice as they get and I am fairly certain that the whole experience will end up calling me back for more in the future. read more