This Chapel Hill, North Carolina Burger was Named the Best in America in 2018

Al's Burger Shack opened at 516 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill on September 18, 2013. That date is National Cheeseburger Day, which turned out to be appropriate and perhaps a little foreshadowing.

TripAdvisor eventually crowned the Bobo Chili Cheeseburger the best burger in America five years later, in 2018. Bon Appétit and the New York Times followed. Garden and Gun named it one of the best in the South. Fast Food Club called it the best cheeseburger in North Carolina in 2025.

Current owners Charlie Farris and Jason Kesler have preserved every original recipe, including the house-made chili, bacon-onion jam, and Al's Sauce. It made 50 burger shops worth knowing about.

The founding principle was simple: great sourcing and great execution. All-natural, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef from North Carolina pasture-raised cattle. Local farmers for produce. All specialty toppings made in-house at the shack. The results speak directly to that standard.

What to Order

The Bobo Chili Cheeseburger is the definitive order: hand-pattied Black Angus beef, house-made chili, cheese, and Al's Sauce. The combination earned TripAdvisor's best-in-America designation and hasn't been altered since.

The Nashy adds Tennessee whiskey and caramelized onions. The Mely Mel brings a Southern flavor profile that converts visitors who thought they knew what a burger could be. All 100 percent Black Angus ground chuck is hand-formed, individually seasoned, and cooked to your temperature.

Frozen custard milkshakes sourced from local North Carolina creameries are the essential dessert. Local craft beer on tap. The permanent line out the door is not a problem to solve. It's the system working. For more on the food scene nearby, see North Carolina's most delicious burger.

From Cheeseburger Day to America's Best

The interior uses recycled materials; the picnic tables and bar tops come from reclaimed wood; some patio bricks are more than 200 years old. The commitment to local sourcing extends beyond the beef.

Multiple Chapel Hill locations and expansion to Apex and Leland have followed the original's success without diluting what made it work.

The house-made chili at Al's is a developed, specific recipe that appears across multiple menu items. It is not a generic topping. The flavor is distinct enough that regulars order it on fries as a standalone side just to experience it on its own.

Chapel Hill's food scene benefits from the University of North Carolina community, which brings culinary expectations from across the country. Al's competes in that environment by ignoring the trends and focusing on fundamentals. For more of the state's dining history, see the best restaurants in Chapel Hill.

Plan Your Visit

Al's Burger Shack has multiple locations: Franklin Street (516 West Franklin) and Southern Village in Chapel Hill, plus Apex and Leland.

Hours run Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Outdoor seating is available with heating for cold weather. While you're planning the trip, check out nationally recognized restaurants in North Carolina.