Mooyah Burgers & Fries--Info & Reviews
9070 Research Blvd
Austin TX
380-0990
- Service: Counter
- Cuisine: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs
- National Chain
- Coke or Pepsi: Coke!
Overall Rating:
About Mooyah Burgers & Fries
Dallas-based burger chain, first location in Austin. Their website offers up some pretty lofty burger claims: "a truly life-changing burger," "the best burger you've ever tasted."
Elsewhere Online
- Yelp Reviews
- Overall glowingly positive, to the point of giddy shillness (is that a word?). Some examples: "in the hierarchy of Austin burger joints, I'd rank this one as number one", "This blows mighty fine out of the water.", etc. There are a few more restrained reviews, but it's mostly over-the-top positive.
- Chowhound Thread
- This is the thread, started 8 months prior to Mooyah opening, where I first heard were were getting a Mooyah. Several pretty positive reviews way down the thread (after the place finally opened). "The burgers were oodles better than Mighty Fine". This person is more on the mark in my mind: "Sonic's #2 beats it by a mile."
- Dallas Observer review
- Mooyah originated in Dallas, so figured it would be good to include this. Reviewer not impressed (much like me), and has an amusing diatribe on the possible origin of the goofy name.
- Robb Walsh's review
- Houston perspective. Good picture, and this is where I learned of the Dallas review listed here also. Robb not impressed with Mooyah.
Staff Reviews (Your Reviews Below)
Zzzzz
Reviewer: Chris
Original Review Date: 10/03/2008
Rating: 0/+3(Ho hum)
Well, we finally got our Mooyah open. This location has been under construction for a long long time (the first posts on Chowhound about this new location appeared eight months ago). My first impression was "not worth the wait." Had the Mooyah Cheeseburger, which consists of two thin patties (the "junior" burger is a single patty). The burger was a typical thin-patty burger to me, yes, cooked on a griddle. Mooyah touts their fresh-everything--fresh beef never frozen, fresh hand-cut fries, fresh veggies, fresh house-made bun--but none of that freshness translated into much flavor for me. The patties were too thin to matter, the cheese I think was American instead of the cheddar I requested, which didn't help my overall impression (this same Cheese Problem was reported in the Chowhound thread above), the raw onions had no onion flavor (seriously, was really strange), the ballyhooed bun ("our buns make the difference") was a typical mushy bun by the time I unwrapped the foil ball that was in my burger bag.
Fries were just ok. Fresh cut, but limp and soggy. The only special thing about them was the cute little cup they are served in (reminiscent of the truly great Jack's Fries, in serving container appearance only, available each fall at the great State Fair of Texas).
Even the fountain Coke tasted bland! Really!
One nice touch is that you can pick any veggies you want on your burger, no charge. This includes such items as grilled onions and jalapeņos, which typically incur a surcharge at your usual burger places.
I saw no compelling reason to return, especially when you consider how close Mooyah is to Top Notch (as pointed out by a poster at Chowhound). The Notch will win out every time. I'd even drive out of my way a bit to hit Mighty Fine over Mooyah when in the general vicinity. Sorry Mooyah.
Your Reviews (add a review)
Not So Good
Reviewer: Joseph 70.112.0.196
Review Date: 06/23/2009 12:57AM
Rating: 0/+3(Ho hum)
Tried to give this place in a strip mall off Burnet the benefit of the doubt. But after three tries, I'm convinced the burger offerings at Chili's next door are a way better option. Now Five Guys or Mighty Fine... different story! Love those places. Mooyah is a no-yah for me.
Pretty Good
Reviewer: Kevin Jolly 17.102.95.1
Review Date: 11/24/2008 05:07PM
Rating: +2/+3(Goooood)
Been there 3 times now over the past few weeks.
I like the burger - it's well sized for the bun, well seasoned, and cooked well. The veggies are good -whole leaves of lettuce instead of fizzly little shreds, tomatoes - well - as good as you can expect in Nov - pickles are very crunchy and tasty. Lots of stuff to dress the burger with. I probably like this burger a little better than Mighty-fine.
Fries are really good - twice cooked - crunchy - once a little too salty - but generally well seasoned - and a generous portion. I like the Mighty-Fine fries - but a lot of times you end up with a bunch of little pieces - these fries are bigger (not crinkle-cut) and more consistent.
I like the place better than MightyFine - not as frenetic - not as noisy.
I'd say it edges out Mighty-Fine in my burger rotation
Kicks Mighty Fine's Butt
Reviewer: Craig 71.145.175.31
Review Date: 11/23/2008 12:02PM
Rating: +3/+3(Great)
Burgers are great, but fries are way better than Top Notch or Mighty Fine. I love Top Notch for the flame-kissed flavor, but their fries are so thin they are cold by the time you get to the last ones. Same with Mighty Fiine--crinkly, yes, but mighty thin.
MooYah fries are thick, fresh and HOT.
I'll be back many times.