Hopdoddy Burger Bar

Hopdoddy opened on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, in 2010, and the name gives away the idea: hops, as in craft beer, and a “doddy”, an old Scottish word for a hornless cow. It was built as a burger bar for a city that takes both food and drink seriously, with beef ground in-house and buns baked daily.

The menu is where Hopdoddy stands apart. Next to a proper classic cheeseburger sit Wagyu burgers on pretzel buns, a bison burger with cherry-fig jam, a seared tuna burger and a chicken burger stacked with guacamole. It is the kind of place that makes a regular cheeseburger feel like a deliberate choice rather than a default.

Around 40 burger bars, most of them in Texas and the western US.

• BurgerFi (United States, since 2011). Florida’s “better burger” chain, built on natural Angus beef and a Wagyu CEO. Also built on beef, bacon, truffle and cheese.
• Red Robin (United States, since 1969). The sit-down burger chain with bottomless fries and a burger topped with a fried egg. Also built on beef, bacon, crispy onions and cheese.
• Checkers & Rally's (United States, since 1986). Two names, one menu, double drive-thrus and fries everyone argues about. Also built on beef, bacon, cheese and a double stack.
• Hardee's (United States, since 1960). Biscuits in the morning, Thickburgers the rest of the day. Also built on beef, bacon, cheese and a double stack.