Holy Burger Albany — Restaurant in City of Albany

Excellent halal fast food burger! Finally a legit halal alternative to Five Guys (which coincidentally just also opened down the street!). I had the Holy Burger and medium fries. TBH, the burger was good, but not “wow, I’m never eating anywhere else again” - but definitely a great option to the typical fast food burger. The Holy Burger sauce wasn’t that distinct that I can say good or bad things - the burger was tasty. I also added pickles and jalapeños- but only found the jalapeños in my last couple bites. The patty was rich and the blend of meats makes it somewhat unique. Coulda used a little more lettuce, but really, the patty is the star of this show.

But the fries - medium seasoned fries - huge enough for 2 or even 3 people!! They placed the fries first in my bag while still working on the burger, so by the time the order was complete, the fries were a touch cooler than I would have preferred, but still crunchy.

With a Salaam cola (yay no Pepsi/coke!) the total was $24, so much more on par with a Five Guys or Elevation Burger, and definitely good competition for either.

The staff was friendly, and what can I say about the atmosphere - this location was a functional Taco Bell for 10+years until a few months ago (which I did frequent often), and they’re just starting out and have new business problems (like short staffing and training, etc.). The music was low volume, and the color scheme was a little monotone in this red-orange color.

Basically if you’re looking for a certified Zabiha Halal fast food burger that will be a million times better than McD’s (next door) or BK, want a good alternative to Five Guys or Elevation Burger, Holy Burger is for you. I will be coming back, maybe not too often as my cardiologist may yell at me, but definitely in my...

I went here for the Grand Opening around 5:00. I was a bit surprised about by how few people were there. Overall an OK experience.

I ordered a Holy Burger with Large fries and can of soda. Bill came to total of little over $24, and I was prompted for a tip. The order took about 5-7 minutes before it was delivered to my table. Burger meat was actually very good quality. Nice juicy 1/4lb? burger made of short rib and brisket. Nice quality buttered and browned roll. Burger comes with tomato, onions and scant bit of lettuce. Holy sauce was nothing to write home about. Mild flavored mayonnaise based sauce Like mayo with paprika? in it?. There are no fountain beverages served there, and the drink sizes are tiny $1.50 7.5oz cans and 12oz bottled drinks at $3.50.

The order of large fries was quite, well, LARGE . Probably like double the size of a large order at most fast food restaurants. They very crisp, hot, and fried in clean oil A large order costs $8.50 and is enough for two people. Can of soda was small, and I had to go back for another drink at $3.50 bringing my total bill to about $28.00.

Basically, they serve pretty good product. However, the prices were quite high, the drinks were tiny and the fries were really oversized. There's stiff competition in the area for high end burgers, and this place is just ok. Five guys has better toppings, fresh cut fries, fountain beverages and it's a bit cheaper. McDonald's QPC Deluxe right across the street comes with a fountain beverage, competitive burger and costs over $6 less per meal. I probably won't be back and I don't think they'll last terribly long with there high prices and...

I was hopeful when I saw that Holy Burger had a dedicated gluten-free menu — that’s always a great sign for those of us who have to eat gluten-free. I’ll start with the positives: the gluten-free bun was actually pretty decent. Like most GF buns, it did fall apart a bit, but it was tender and not dry or dense, which was a pleasant surprise.

Unfortunately, the rest of the experience fell a little short for me. My burger itself was quite dry, and the sauces just didn’t hit the mark — they had an odd flavor combination that didn’t really complement the burger. I understand the restaurant is fairly new, so I’m hopeful they’ll find their footing with consistency and seasoning as they go.

The service was mixed. The kitchen seemed quite slow getting orders out, but I have to give a huge shoutout to the one man working up front. He was doing everything he could to keep things moving — checking in with customers, updating everyone on their food, and even running meals out himself. His effort and attitude really stood out, and he deserves credit for keeping things positive despite the delays.

A couple of other notes worth mentioning: the atmosphere could definitely use some attention. The music in the dining area was loud and full of profanity — not exactly what you want to hear while trying to enjoy a meal. On top of that, there was a noticeable smell of cigarette smoke inside, which made the dining experience less enjoyable.

Overall, I’d say there’s potential here, especially with the gluten-free options and the dedication of the front-of-house staff. But the food quality, pacing, and overall environment need some work before...