Dirty Martin's Place
Hamburger restaurant · West University
2808 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705
Highlights
Old-school burgers, beer, shakes, and corn nuggets.
Old-school burgers, beer, shakes, and corn nuggets.
"There’s something special about sitting in a historic old building from the 1920s, eating burgers that have remained largely unchanged for a century. We like to think the grill has spent that whole time building up flavors and seasoning—in the greasy burger equivalent of Pujol’s multi-year mole—but we haven’t taken a look into the kitchen to see if the illusion holds up. Inside, there’s an old-school diner-style bar that just feels like the type of place you’ll want to slide up to, shout out “I’ll have the usual,” and sit back with an ice-cold schooner of Lone Star to kick things off. The menu at Dirty Martin’s is simple—burgers, patty melts, onion rings, and milkshakes. Sometimes, simple is better." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion
"The menu at Dirty Martin’s is simple—burgers, patty melts, onion rings, and milkshakes. Sometimes, simple is better. This is one of those times. Keep it classic with a Kumbak Burger (the original option here, with or without cheese), or go with our personal favorite, the D.H. special—basically a double patty melt on Texas toast. Whatever you do, save some room for a milkshake at the end for the full experience." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion, matthew jacobs
"Dirty Martin’s A West Campus institution since 1926, Dirty Martin’s is all grease, grit, and nostalgia, in the best way possible. Priced between $7 and $11, the burgers come smashed and sizzling off the flat-top, wrapped in wax paper with crispy edges and a soft, squishy bun. There’s no pretense here — just classic diner fare and a patio full of regulars, students, and the occasional hungover professor. The picnic-style seating indoors makes this ideal for a family or friend group outing; solo diners will feel plenty comfortable at the bar. Tip: Order a hand-spun shake and sit under the carport — it’s a rite of passage." - Darcie Duttweiler
"There’s something special about sitting in a historic building from the 1920s and eating burgers that have remained largely unchanged for a century. The diner-style bar is very much the type of place you’ll want to slide up, shout “I’ll have the usual,” and sit back with an ice-cold schooner of Lone Star. The menu at Dirty Martin’s is simple—burgers, patty melts, onion rings, and milkshakes. Sometimes, simple is best." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs
"It might look like the last stop before you hit the Texas Chainsaw Massacre from the outside, but visiting this campus burger dive at least once is a requirement for every UT student. John Martin opened the campus spot in 1926 as Martin’s Kum-Bak and later renamed it Dirty because of the original dirt floor. The funny, triangular dining room has plenty of picnic tables and options for two-tops, and there are several covered outside tables. Takeout orders can be placed online." - Melanie Haupt
