Decent Burgers in Austin: Hopdoddy

 4.3/5 About a month ago, I heard of this incredibly good place that had the best burgers in town. It was Hopdoddy. My cousin and I decided to give it a shot. This restaurant is known for its long “waiting lines” and liveliness. However, we went during the weekdays and I didn’t experience what I had heard from other people.

 Yesterday, we passed by and saw people waiting outside. They literally reached the street.  It was crazy. So, we parked and waited outside. It took so long because when you enter the restaurant, you’ll still have to wait in a long line because the counter is at the very end. The waiters provided some drinks to those who were waiting in line, including us, but I still felt that it took so long. After 45 minutes, we finally reached the counter. I ordered The Goodnight Burger with truffle fries on the side. Also, Hopdoddy has a different machine for their drinks with various options. It was so organized. Sauces, napkins, and all you need were available. The best thing about this restaurant is that it provides healthy selections; for instance, you could replace your original bun with the gluten-free or whole wheat bread.

 The food was served and it was ridiculously good. My first bite took me to heaven and the truffle fries were delicious. I am not talking about those refrozen or pre-cooked burgers. I mean a true, freshly-ground beef, as I expected. It was juicy and delivered just the way I wanted it to. Usually when I go to restaurants similar to Hopdoddy, I prefer a medium-well burger. Similarly, the truffle fries was delicious; the Parmesan cheese added some great taste to it.

  The atmosphere was phenomenal; it was crowded and lively. However, because we sat outside, it was so quiet and peaceful. For a moment, I thought that I was sitting in a 5 star restaurant. We had the best service and everything was perfect. I felt like every table had its own waiter/waitress. If we wanted something, they were just there for us; additionally, they were so caring and kind.

 Is it worth waiting for and hour? No. I really recommend it, but waiting for an hour in line is too long, especially if you’re really hungry. However, if it’s ok with you to stay, then wait. I think that they have the best burgers in Austin. You should try it yourself!

link for the picture above: 
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/cityofate/2012/12/is_hopdoddy_just_a_one-off_bur.php

An Interview with my Cousin

It is my first semester here in the United States, and I will hopefully start college on January 2015. I applied to two universities in Texas: UT San Antonio and UT Arlington. Last week, I interviewed my cousin, Ahmad, about his experience in the United States.  He is a graduate student from The University of Texas at San Antonio and is on his way to receive his Master’s Degree from UT Austin.  I choose this topic because it could provide me with some information about the college life in Texas.

When asked how was his life back in San Antonio, Ahmad said, “San Antonio was just like my home; my friends and some family members are still studying there. It’s a beautiful, quiet place. I think people here are much friendlier than San Antonio.”

From what I understood from my cousin, San Antonio is different from Austin. Austin is full of life; younger generation and atmosphere is phenomenal. San Antonio has a quiet atmosphere when you compare it to Austin.

Ahmad moved to Austin because the university is ranked as one of the top universities in his major, which is Civil Engineer. It has a great reputation.

I asked him what he liked most about Austin. Ahmed told me that he had liked South Congress because it had great restaurants, nice weather, and it was located near Lake Travis. “The nightlife on Sixth Street is amazing. Austin has a diverse population and is close to San Marcos, where the outlet is located,” he added.

Ahmad’s life changed since he came to the United States six years ago. He met lots of people from different cultures. “I became independent, more social, and my English definitely improved,” he added.

Furthermore, I asked my cousin whether he would prefer living in the U.S. or Kuwait. He told me that he couldn’t really decide. “You know, Kuwait is my home and where my family is. But Austin is also a nice place,” he said.

Ahmad believes that it would be better if he worked here for a couple of years and then return back to his hometown. He thinks that job opportunities are better in Austin.  He told me that in Kuwait, you would have to wait for a long time to get a job. “I would like to have this special experience. I am not planning to work here all my life, but for several years. You know, get some experience and then go back to Kuwait,” he added.

At the final stage of the interview, Ahmad told me that so far, he’s happy with his life here in Austin. “Great professors. I met lots of people and they are so amazing,” he added. My cousin had loved the festivals that were held in Austin. He finalized the last question by saying, “The community is great, and I hope to stay here for a long time.”