Burger News

Award-winning Dallas burger joint opens location in Forney

Blues Burgers

YoSoySalma

An ambitious burger restaurant from Dallas has debuted in Forney: Called Blues Burgers, it’s a mom-and-pop burger spot, located in a former Schlotzsky’s at 750 E. US Hwy. 80 #100, where it opened April 1.

Blues Burgers is from Howard and Catherine Baldwin, who opened the original Blues Burgers near Love Field in Dallas in 2014.

They use Angus beef for their burgers, and make their own sauces and spreads in-house. They fry in beef tallow, and their sodas are made with cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup. They also do fried pies, made in house.

They also offer vegetarian and vegan options for burger patties including Impossible Burger, vegetarian, and black bean patties. They maintain a dedicated fryer for those who prefer plant-based cooking oil, and they also have a gluten-free bun baked by Local Oven.

These are all steps that earned them a spot on a 2016 list of best burgers by Texas Monthly.

The couple closed the Dallas location in February to focus attention on the Forney restaurant. Catherine says it’s not a relocation, as they have plans to open a location in Dallas, once they find the right spot.

“Mockingbird would be crazy busy at lunch, but the location never had any dinner traffic," she says.

Blues Burgers tater tots Blues Burgers skewered tater tots served with ranch of course.Blues Burgers

Their menu features a dozen burger options including:

The Trailer Park: bacon cheeseburger
The HMF: bacon cheese burger with grilled onions and spicy ghost pepper cheese
Double Wide: fried beef bologna, bacon, cheddar, fried egg
Three Dog Night: burger topped with an all beef frank, house made chili, cheddar, chopped red onion, and mustard

Burgers are $11 to $15.

They also have a fried chicken sandwich, grilled chicken panini, and tuna salad sandwich, plus a whole host of fun sides including fried pickles and jalapeno poppers. They do French fries and tater tots plain or loaded, plus a unique dish featuring skewered tater tots layered with bacon & jalapeno and topped with cheese.

Fried pie options include apple, cherry, peach, banana cream, coconut cream, and chocolate.

The Forney location does not yet have their signature local beers on tap, but Catherine says that's in the works as soon as they get their liquor license.

“A lot of the people that visited us in Dallas live out this way, and we even have some regulars drive from Dallas to visit since the other location closed,” Catherine says. "Forney has more of a small town feel here and it's a little more of a community.”

burgers openings

Shawarma News

Kebab concept Doner Shack comes to Texas with location in Prosper

Doner Shack

A new doner kebab chain is coming to town: Called Doner Shack, it's a quick-service restaurant concept based in the U.K. which is opening its first location in Texas in Prosper. The restaurant has yet to be built, so the opening date is still TBA. But according to a release, it will open in a shopping center at the intersection of Teel Parkway and University Drive, on the northwest corner, kitty corner from the PGA Golf Resort.

Doner Shack says it was built with one goal: to become the world’s leading kebab brand. No mention of the food, but what they're really pushing is franchising. Founders are chef Sanjeev Sanghera and Laura Bruce, who own three stores in the U.K., and who were inspired after an "epic 48-hour trip to Berlin" where the culture and kebabs blew their minds "in the best way possible." Hopefully that means the food is good.

Doner kebab is the dish of Turkish origin made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. It's popular in Germany because there's a large Turkish population there. Competitors — many of whom have expanded to DFW — include Halal Guys, Nick the Greek, The Great Greek, Spitz Mediterranean Grill, Soulard Gyro, and German Doner Kebab.

Doner Shack's menu features the original doner kebab with beef on Turkish bread and salad, and then varieties such as chicken, or beef with chili sauce, or a vegetarian with fried halloumi cheese.

In addition to doner kebabs, there are also chicken tenders served with crinkle cut fries; slider-size sandwiches with fried chicken or with shaved beef; and loaded fries, topped with the same assortment of meats.

Bringing it to Texas is franchisee group Gyro N Philly LLC, led by Hassan Zaman who says in a statement that they're delighted to bring Doner Shack to Prosper.

"With the new PGA headquarters across the street, a high school with over 30,000 students, and the upcoming Universal Kids Theme Park just minutes away, we believe this is a home run location," he says. For good food, one hopes.

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