Dean’s One Trick Pony

***THIS RESTAURANT IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED***

I have found my favorite burger in Austin, Texas. That is, my favorite burger … so far.

Friends and family know that I am passionate about burgers. So when someone finds a restaurant that really knocks hamburgers out of the park, they’re quick to let me know. In this case, I got a word-of-mouth recommendation that I HAD to try the burgers at Dean’s One Trick Pony, located inside of the Line Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas. 

The restaurant is named after Don Dean, a host and performer who blew up the Austin scene performing live music at the hotel during the ‘60s. It feels immensely hip and cool, with modern furniture and lighting throughout the dining area. There’s a beautiful vintage pool table parked among customer seating, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows and eclectic potted plants. People of all ages are scattered throughout the space, eating burgers, drinking frozen cocktails, playing games, and enjoying each other’s company. 

We started with two simple classics: Dean’s Signature Burger in the Pony Burger size (one meat patty), and one in the Dean’s Double size (two meat patties). Each juicy burger is crafted using Creekstone Farms local beef, then topped with a pool of hot queso, charred onion mayo, tangy fry sauce, a thick-cut tomato, and a crunchy pickle. It’s all held together between two softly toasted Hawaiian buns. These burgers are fresh and impossibly flavorful.

And now: the Hot Honey Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich. (Try saying that three times fast!) This beautiful, enormous sandwich is made with a savory butter bun, perfectly fried chicken breast, hot honey with a kick of spice, kale buttermilk slaw, and yummy pickles. A word of warning when eating it: You will need a mountain of napkins. It is a messy one, but oh-so worth it. To finish things off, we ordered a side of crispy French fries, dusted with OTP seasoning and served with a cup full of fry sauce for dunking. 

We left Dean’s feeling immensely satisfied and excited to share our experience with more family and friends. If you like hamburgers even half as much as I, do yourself a favor and check out the fabulous Dean’s One Trick Pony.