Wes's Burger Shack — Restaurant in Temple

We stopped at Wes’s Burger Shack in Temple on a Thursday for lunch at 12 noon. The Burger Shack is only open from 10 to 3 during the weekdays and is closed on the weekend. It was busy when we got there, but we were able to get a table right away (it’s a seat yourself type of place). From the outside, it looks more like a metal building used car dealership and the inside is nothing fancy, but don’t let that deter you! This is a GREAT place to go and grab some lunch!

This is the kind of local family-run small business that I dream about finding! Everyone that worked there was very friendly and attentive to every table. The servers knew the names of some of the customers, so there is clearly a strong repeat clientele. The owner, Wes, and his wife were cooking in the back open kitchen. Despite being busy, Wes made time to come around to every table and greet people (some by name) and ask how the food was. We told him that it was our first time, and he said, “Welcome to the family.” There is nothing chain-restaurant-fake about this place. It feels very genuine with a friendly family atmosphere.

Of course, all of that is great, but we did come to eat lunch and not just enjoy family fellowship. We got the Appetizer Combo for 2 with Cheese Curds and Fried Mushrooms. Both were good, but we liked the mushrooms a little more and will just get them the next time. Ranch dressing is served as a dipping sauce for the appetizer, and I’m not sure if they make it or buy it, but it was very good. I got the Double Meat Cheeseburger for my meal, and it was great. This is a large burger that is juicy and packed with flavor. The Burger Shack knows how to make a great burger! FYI, the burgers don’t come with a side. My wife got the Chicken Fried Steak (large dinner plate). It comes with two sides, and she got French Fries and Onion Rings to share with me and because we wanted to try both. The fries were good, but I would recommend that you give the onion rings a try because they were great. The chicken fried steak was also very good. It is clearly made in house and has a light and crispy coating. It seems like every place has CFS on the menu, but this one is near the top of the ones we have tried. The only minor criticism would be that the food needed a little more salt for our taste. This is not a big deal because there is salt and pepper on each table, and we would much rather have to add a little salt than to get our food overly salty!

The food is good, and the service and atmosphere are great! What else can you ask for? I highly recommend that you stop and try this family-owned and operated...

I work around the state and one of the joy’s of the job is picking where to eat lunch in whatever town we are in. After finishing a project and on the way out of town today we were stopped at the light and noticed the sign at Wes’s and a busy parking lot, after the normal rush time. “That’s a good sign” we said and pulled in.

We were greeted by the waitress as we opened the door and told to pick a seat. Though very busy the few open tables were perfectly cleaned and ready. The atmosphere of a well run local gem was evident, by the time we were seated we were asked for drinks and given menus, and my native Wisconsinite heart immediately warmed by the sight of a fried cheese curd appetizer.

Now twenty years in Texas , I’ve been offered “cheese curds” here just enough times before to not get too excited. But when they brought out a bottle of ranch and then garlic butter(!) with the generously portioned basket I knew Wes’s had risen above. Best fried cheese curds I’ve had outside of Wisconsin and better than many of what you can find back in the cheese state.

Then out came the cheeseburgers, I’d ordered a double with bacon and all the fixins, and my partner a single, and each was massive and delicious. My work partner is an old hat who loves to be a burger snob and after a few bites proclaimed he may make the hour drive north from Austin just to eat there again, and I agreed. He compared it to our favorites back in Austin and declared that for the price, Wes just may have beaten them.

We’re hungry men and neither of us could complete our meal without taking portions home, which the waitress was happy to oblige and also transfer our drinks to take away cups and refilled.

Before we stood from our table we were visited and thanked by Mr. Wes who went on to work the room and all his regulars like the Don of burgers he clearly is.

My only regrets are not eating there every day we were working in Temple, and spending too much time ranting and raving at the table about how great everything was that we didn’t notice all the Special staff he had bussing tables and backing up the great waitress u til we had signed the check and were heading to the door. If ever there is a place to tip 100% this is it and I will the many “next times” after experiencing what...

This is a wonderful restaurant for us all. Look at the daily specials. The alternative is their great variety of burgers. Also their fries, onion rings. Excellent desserts too. Update: 9 October, 2024. Always enjoy coming here. The fellowship alone is fantastic. The food is excellent 👍. Best Burgers around town. Try it, you'll will definitely enjoy 5 ⭐'s rating always. Update: 10 January, 2025. Late lunch today and wow!! Chicken and dumplings special along with Catfish Special. This place was crowded for their delicious Specials. Fantastic service and delicious food. 👍👍. Update: 14 Apr, '25. So very nice to go here for lunch. The people who patronizes this restaurant are from all walks of life. Each and everyone of the staff are excellent, greeting you as soon as you enter. By the way, if you don't know, a variety of shirts for sale too. Noe they also have some nice hats...