There are plenty of places to grab a burger in the D/FW area with new spots opening regularly. Some just aren’t worth the effort to show up and order. The great people of Richardson are lucky, because one of their newish spots, Haystack Burger and Barley, stacks up.

We’ll start with alcohol because … me. They have a signature frozen drink, The Haymaker, that puts a whole new spin on frozen drinks–whiskey. (And y’all know I love that.) Make sure to limit yourself to one because they’re on the stronger side. Praise the frozen concoction gods. Oh, and if you were wondering, the “barley” in their name represents their beer selection, which happens to be somewhat extensive for a small QSR and features local, quality options.

Their burgers are made with high quality beef and topped with fresh ingredients. Each of their burgers is unique and has a weird twist here or there–get a little wild with the Escabeche Burger (jalape?o escabeche, pepper Jack, applewood smoked bacon, chipotle mayo, fried onions) or go with their signature Haystack Burger (fried onions, cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, & pickles).

Now let’s talk sides … get them all. But really … the Half/Half (fresh cut Kennebek potatoes and fried onion strings) is where it’s at, and the Fried Pickles were crunchy, salty, and just real damn perfect. And definitely don’t miss the many many dipping options. I think we had six ramekins of sauce by the end of the meal and used each and every one of them.

The best part is the story behind the restaurant, which is kind of adorable–a Richardson couple wanted to open a quick-serve restaurant for their neighbors. One daughter named it, the other daughter helped decorate it. When I went in for a visit, the whole family was in for an early dinner … I mean, suhcute. It’s great to see such a small fast food restaurant doing so well, especially as it can be difficult to compete with some of the bigger chains. You can find out more here about managing your finances as a QSR if you’re interested in running one of your own.

BONUS … Monday-Friday, 3-6:30pm:

• $2 off draft beers and wines by the glass
• $4 Haymakers
• Refill a growler with one of their local selections for $4 off

Stop in for a dinner before you head next door to catch a movie at Alamo Drafthouse Richardson (because these burgers are better) and make a night of it.

Haystack Burgers and Barley
haystackburgers.com
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Richardson: 100 S. Central, Suite 17 | 972-479-9424
new location: Turtle Creek Village: 3838 Oak Lawn Ave, #175 | 214-377-7802