Shortwave Diner (Menchaca Rd.)

Just tried this place a few weeks ago and was blown away! The breakfast sandwich was so good and simple, and the staff was even better! I don’t want to say it’s a hidden gem because I’m sure people know about it but it wasn’t busy at all and not sure why because it’s in a great spot with other things around it to try!

Decent burger for a decent price. Service was poor. Borderline rude. It takes such minimal effort to say "How can I help you?" Or literally anything other than a blank stare. There's way too many choices for food to feel like I'm inconveniencing someone with my presence. Service like that gives tip culture such a bad look. We're talking minimal effort here.

Updating review so it's value add: - Missing ingredients, extremely limited service! Park's atmosphere is good but I do not think that has nothing to do with the truck. Room for improvement: - Employee needs training on POS - Ordering process needs to be improved to bridge the language barrier - Parfait without fruit is not a parfait; Remove items off menu if you don't have the ingredients

Delicious food, but you'll have to wait a while for it! We went today around 10 am and waited for about 25 mins for avocado toast and chicken and waffles. It's on the property of Radio Coffee, so at least you can have coffee while you wait.

HORRENDOUS SCAMMY experience: this location is NOT OPEN!!! And they are taking ORDERS WITH NO NUMBER POSTED ONLINE for assistance or refunds!!when you arrive it’s closed. There is no email or phone number to reach for a refund. This place is stealing money and providing zero way to either get your food or a refund. Such a shame bc the food here is pretty good. Hate to see it run into the ground by absolutely trash management trying to scam $15 off people’s lunch money. Do better

20% mandatory gratitude is not ok and the guy that handed us the food wasn't even nice so mandatory gratitude was even more annoying. And worst, food was so mediocre. Burger mahhh, fries- too salty. Total 2 burgers 1 fries was $40. After today's experience, I would not go back.

I ordered the smash burger and fries… it was one of the best smash burgers I have ever had! I will definitely be back!

Online ordering is pretty messy with this place. 20% minimum gratuity (no custom amount allowed) or no tip at all. The add-ons section is mandatory for some reason on the breakfast sandwich, so we couldn't order the sandwich as listed on the menu without paying for extra add-ons. The parfait is tasty but a little overpriced for the size. We've had the burgers before and they're pretty good but this place definitely has some growing pains that need to be addressed.

We were at Radio East for a show and ordered a smashburger basket ($12) from the food truck. The food took FOREVER but it was very busy, so understandable. The burger was super flavorful and decadent, the burger sauce and pickles are so my jam. The fries were fine - kinda soggy limp boys. I wish they offered ketchup immediately or some kind of dip with them. Lots of outdoor tables to sit from. You can order using a QR code.

We stopped by Shortwave Diner on our way to Lake Austin to grab some burgers, and at first, I was really excited. They proudly advertise having a few vegan options!! Ordering was a bit of a hassle since you have to scan a barcode and order through your phone, my phone wasn't loading but my bf's was so we ordered on his & again was happy to see clearly labeled vegan options for their original burger and smash burger, even with vegan cheese and vegan sauce. I ordered the vegan burger to-go and was starving by the time we got to the lake, but the moment I took a bite, I knew something was wrong. It was real beef. Pink on the inside, unmistakable texture and taste. I haven't eaten meat in over ten years, and it was absolutely disgusting and deeply upsetting. It's unacceptable for any restaurant to mislabel food like that, especially when people are trusting their dietary needs and ethical choices to what's written on the menu. I lost all trust in this place and was so disappointed. If you have any kind of dietary restriction (vegan, vegetarian, allergy, anything -- be extremely cautious ordering here (or don't take your chances)

Avocado toast is INCREDIBLE. Perfect jammy eggs and the pistachio crumble on top is unique and delicious. Thought it was a bit pricey not knowing portion size when ordering but it was huge and filling. 10/10.

Fries were great! $5 The egg sandwich was fine but it was $9 amd pretty small. English muffin was chewy instead of crispy or toastes.

I'll admit that whenever I come to Radio, I typically eat with the intention of going to the other trucks, but last night, I made it a point to visit Shortwave Diner since it's always open, and I've been curious. It's a truly underrated little truck. My only complaint is scanning a QR code to order/pay. Call me old school, but it almost feels faster for me to talk to a human and tap a card, but I'll follow the house rules. In any case, it came out very quickly, so that's one plus. I got the Glizzy Paul basket. This might be my new favorite hotdog in town. Not to mention I got a fully dressed hotdog with a sizeable portion of freshly made fries for under $10. That's kind of unheard of in Austin these days. (Shout out inflation.) Anyway, I'm glad I took a chance on this truck and left with my hunger satiated. I'm looking forward to trying something new next time.

I had the breakfast sandwich. You get a choice of sausage, bacon, or avocado spread. I definitely recommend it. Chalula sauce is optional and comes on the side. I wud. You could choose between an English muffin or a biscuit. Service is fast. Place is clean.

Great menu on this food truck with solid fries and a decent chicken. The bun was good but the sandwich itself was so small, wish it was bigger for the price. Didn't have to wait too long for it either.

Had Shortwave while at Radio for trivia night - ordered smash burger and chicken sandwich, both of which were good. They're pretty generous with side of fries too!

THE BEST BURGER IN TOWN!!! The fries are top notch, hand cut and fried fresh! I crave this burger not only every waking hour, but in my dreams. This is a MUST try whether you're local or passing through.

Shortwave Diner at Radio is my official go to when I want a classic burger and fries without the shame and GI problems of a fast food joint. Their smash burger is on a soft and slightly sweet bun with pickles and cheese and double patties. It's the perfect stack size, meaning I don't have to pull a snake and dislocate my jaw to get a full bite. Greatly appreciated! And their fries are PERFECTION- adequate salt and perfect amount of time in the fryer. Lastly, it's so quick! It took all of 6 minutes and it was served with a smile :)

The food was just ok, very greasy and heavy though, made my stomach hurt. It was prepared quickly tho, we didn't have to wait a long time but it wasn't busy when we went. Would like a better variety of food options at radio East!

Paul hot dog was good! But the fries were undercooked and underwhelming. The biggest let down was the chicken sandwich. It was fried to a crisp dark dark brown and had a rubbery off putting taste. We took off the fried breading to give it another chance and we still couldn't handle the taste so we threw it away. The food did come out in a reasonable amount of time.

I've been here twice and I'm sold. Radio is my spot and they always have great food trucks but Shortwave makes me happy in ways I cannot tell you. Yes I can and I'm gonna. Shortwave Diner presents like the girl next door but then you try it and find out... she a lil freak. You know what I mean?! The food looks... fine. It looks like diner food and that's what I love so much about it. It looks unassuming but then it's just better than you knew was coming. The breakfast sandwich - omg the aioli? I added avocado which tbh was guacamole when I was expecting slices but i'm not mad. The sausage and bacon were both perfectly cooked and crisp with the sausage being juicy still. The proportions of ingredients were balanced which people some to struggle with in an age where they just want people taking impressive photos of ridiculous stacks. The arugula kept the coefficient of friction to where even with aioli, tomato and guac- my sandwich didn't go slip sliding which I would haaaate. The hot dog and frriiiiessss. Oh Austin dog. Oh crispy snappy dog beautifully dressed with trappings of love. It's the perfect chicago dog renamed and made proud with the simplest but most perfect fries. Order EVERY side sauce. I just love it.

Our food was fantastic! The smash burgers were big and juicy. The chicken sandwich was crispy and hot and the slaw was great. Fries were hot and perfectly cooked. Really reasonable prices for generous portions. This is not my first or my last visit - they're our "go to" for food at Radio. Service was also excellent!

I had a burger earlier this year at Shortwave Diner and thought it was solid. I tried the smashburger again last night with fries and it is my new favorite burger in town. The fries were some of the best I have had as well. Delicious, quick and good value! Happy that it is at Radio/East and hope it continues to stay there.

Putting a mobile order only restaurant in an area with no Verizon signal is an act of stupidity so large it's almost admirable.

There's no contest when it comes to Shortwave. Amazing smash burgers, BLTs, and veggie burgers! Don't even get me started on the glizzys! Definitely a must if you're in the area of a Radio Coffee. The manager, shout out to Sebastian, has put together a great menu and an even better atmosphere! Go check it out y'all!

Absolutely terrible. Very disappointed because I love smash burgers. The burger was absolutely DRENCHED in salt. No exaggeration. Absolutely not. For $20 for fries & a burger that tastes like that.... I'll pass.

I ordered the Austin dog and the glizzy Paul. Fat juicy and flavorful sausages. A lot of people complaining abt wait times and forced gratuity. Looks like they fixed that bc I got my food immediately and there was a custom tip option. Great hot dog and good price!

Delish! We got the Austin dog, burgers, and fries. They were all so good! Loved all the flavors from the different Hot Dog toppings. Possibly my favorite fries I've had in a long time.

Food very good no doubt. Just not a fan of tipping 18% minimum requirements. Pay your staff better and let us decide the tipping amounts...also no cash is not ideal

I don't review a ton but I really felt compelled this time. Just sitting at Radio Coffee and Beer and randomly decided to order a burger. All I can say is wow! Got the Big Nick deluxe with no sauce sub mustard. Patties were flavorful and had that nice griddle crust on them. The bun was well buttered with a perfect amount of toast. Veggies were fresh. I'll be back!!!