Dirty Martin's Place — Restaurant in Austin

Dirty Martin’s Place: A Timeless Austin Classic Nestled in the heart of Austin's West Campus, Dirty Martin’s Place stands as a testament to the city's rich culinary history. Established in 1926 by John Martin as Martin’s Kum-Bak, the establishment began with a single flat-top grill, an eight-stool bar, and a small drive-thru. The original dirt floors led to the affectionate nickname "Dirty's," a nickname that has endured even after the floors were replaced with concrete in the early 1950s.

Over the decades, Dirty Martin’s has become a regular hangout for University of Texas students and locals. The restaurant's commitment to quality and tradition has kept it a staple in Austin's dining scene. I went with two friends, Mark and Susan Wilson, who attended UT almost 50 years ago, and they remembered going on dates there on Friday nights.

“I remember the cook frying burgers, and he would have cigarette in his mouth. We always joked that there was a good chance some ashes would fall on the grill and provide extra flavoring. We have a ton of good memories in this place,” said Susan.

I asked the waitress what the main sellers are these days, and she said the Kumbak Cheeseburger, the D.H. Special and Dirty’s Chicken Sandwich are the big three.

Kumbak Cheeseburger - The signature dish since 1926, the Kumbak Cheeseburger features a juicy 100% Angus beef patty, topped with American cheese, mayo, pickle and tomato and toasted sesame bun. It's a simple yet satisfying choice that has stood the test of time.

The D.H. Special - This is a double patty melt served with grilled onions, pickle and tomato on Texas toast.

Dirty Chicken Sandwich - Fried chicken tenders, with lettuce, tomato, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle mayo served on a toasted sesame bun.

While the Kumbak Cheeseburger is good, I liked the O.T. Special. It’s basically the Kumbak Cheeseburger but add bacon. I also chose to double the meat. Guys will want to add the double meat option. The patties are thinner, and the extra meat made the choice perfect. Next time I want to add a fried egg, grilled onions and jalapenos to the O.T.

I also tried sides of tater tots and onion rings. The tots were so good. Soft and properly salted. Onion rings were a little dry for me. Some people may like that style. I will go with tots and Fried Pickles next time.

The restaurant's rich history is also marked by the dedication of its staff. Cook Wesley Hughes served at Dirty Martin’s from 1956 to 2009, becoming a beloved icon in the community. Legend has it that his brother, J.T., created Austin’s first bacon cheeseburger, which evolved into the O.T. Special.

Dirty Martin’s Place offers more than just a meal; it provides a glimpse into Austin's past and a taste of its enduring flavors. Whether you're a long-time local or a first-time visitor, a stop at Dirty Martin’s is a must to experience a piece of Austin's culinary history....

Dirty Martins is a must-visit for any burger lover visiting Austin. This classic Austin institution has been serving up delicious burgers and drinks since 1926, and it's easy to see why it's been so popular for so long.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Dirty Martins with a group of friends, and we were all blown away by the food. I started with the DIRTY TOTCHOS, which are tater tots topped with homemade queso, ground beef, and pico de gallo. The tots were crispy and flavorful, and the queso was rich and creamy. The ground beef added a nice savory flavor, and the pico de gallo provided a refreshing burst of acidity.

For my main course, I had the O.T. SPECIAL, which is a classic cheeseburger topped with bacon, American cheese, mayo, lettuce, and tomato. The burger was cooked to perfection, and the toppings were all fresh and flavorful. The bacon was crispy, the cheese was melty, and the mayo added a nice creamy touch. The lettuce and tomato provided a refreshing contrast to the richness of the burger.

My friends also had some great things to say about their food. One friend had the CHILI CHEESEBURGER, which is topped with cheddar cheese and Z's Chili. He said that the burger was delicious, but the chili was a bit greasy. Another friend had the ONION RINGS, which were fresh and crispy. He said that they would have been even better if they had been seasoned with a bit more salt.

Overall, Dirty Martins is a fantastic place to get a delicious burger in Austin. The food is great, the atmosphere is fun, and the prices are reasonable. I highly recommend checking it out if you're...

I have soooo many good memories from this place over the past 30 years. The combination of Dirty's malts, onion rings, and cheeseburgers can't be beat for taste. It's a little cleaner than it was in the past, and the kitchen is not so visible. Both were part of the charm. The QR codes for menus and ordering plus the lack of human presence really puts a damper on the experience. It took us 10 minutes to place our order for 4 people because the interface on their app was so horrible. Since there is no longer a server, you can't make obvious requests such as "Can we get our shakes about the same time we get our food?" Instead, they bring it out when they make it, and yes, we were finished with our food before the shakes came out. On tipping, I almost always give a 20-25% tip as I was a waiter in a previous life. I know that waiters live on tips. However, the app suggests 17% and wants you to pay even before you get any service. This is disconcerting to me. I'd love to tip a server adequately for normal service and generously for great service. So, what do you tip when your only service is a runner who just delivers your food? On top of that, our final bill (no alcohol) was $97 for 4 people! I'm not giving a super low rating, but I should. I'd love if the management at Dirty's would read my review and carefully consider returning to their roots. I love this place and am so...