Hopdoddy Burger Bar now open at The Market Place in Tustin, California

Hopdoddy Burger Bar became my favorite burger place in Spring 2016 after trying their first Orange County location in Fashion Island. The burgers are just mesmerizing from their fresh ground meats to their freshly baked brioche buns. On Wednesday, August 31, 2016, Hopdoddy debuted a new location at The Market Place in Tustin, CA. It is located in a new cluster of restaurants where the old Black Angus used to be. The cluster has invigorated this part of The Market Place with lots of new foot and vehicle traffic, especially in the parking lot.

The interior of this location has good natural light and has a little bit hipster meets warehouse feel with reclaimed wood tabletops, dark brown booth seating, and bright green chairs. They also have an order-take system which queues new guests but the order will not be submitted to the kitchen until a table is available for you. It’s beneficial on both sides, guests are guaranteed fresh hot food delivered to their table with the ability to order additional items from a server and the kitchen has a steady rhythm of orders.

The bar area is centrally located and is also a bit larger at this location.

Their scratch kitchen is exhibition-style with an on-site bakery for those freshly baked brioche buns.

A window into the refrigeration area next to the drink station is available for you to watch the butchers freshly grind meats and mold patties. The service from start to finish is attentive and courteous.

Green Chile Queso with Kennebec Fries ($6.75) is creamy and cheesy with a subtle kick of green chile heat. Double up the fries when dipping for a super cheesy bite! Rating: 4.5/5

Chile Con Queso ($6.75) comes with Kennebec fries. I’ve had this item before and it did not disappoint. The fries are tasty, crispy and well-seasoned. Chile con queso is creamy with a chili powder kick. It is super cheesy. Double up the fries when dipping for a super cheesy bite! Rating: 4.9/5

Terlingua Crafted Burger ($9.50) starts with a freshly baked brioche bun topped with an angus beef patty, chili con carne, Tillamook cheddar, corn Fritos, ‘sassy’ sauce, red leaf lettuce, white onion, and beefsteak tomato. This burger is moist and juicy and has just the right amount of chili so it is not too messy to pick up. Most chili burgers are served opened face but where’s the fun in that?! The chili is slightly spicy but certainly not overwhelming. The Fritos are evident on the first couple of bites but get soggy and start to fade into the background as you progress through the burger. Rating: 4.8/5

Spinach & Arugula Salad ($10) starts with organic farm-fresh greens topped with beets, goat cheese, toasted pecans, sugar snap peas, tart apple, and sherry cane vinaigrette. You can add an angus beef, akaushi beef, bison, lamb, tuna, turkey, chicken, or black bean patty. I went with the lamb patty (+$5) since I thought it would pair well with the greens and the goat cheese. And boy was I right! This is a refreshing, well-balanced salad with bitter arugula, sweet beets, crisp tart apples, tangy vinaigrette, and creamy goat cheese. The lamb patty pairs perfectly with a juicy, meaty texture and lamb flavor goodness. Rating: 5/5

Oreo Shake ($6.50) starts with their cinnamon vanilla custard spun with Oreo cookie and topped with whipped cream and Oreo cookie crumbles. OMG! This is one of the best Oreo cookie shakes ever! The only difference is the custard which adds that slight cinnamon flavor and rich, decadent texture. I’ll take frozen custard over ice cream any day! Rating: 5/5

Now for an adult treat, you can add a shot of your favorite liqueur to any shake. I went with the Red Velvet Cake Shake ($6.50) with a shot of bourbon (+$5). They spun actual red velvet cake into the shake so you get the texture of bits of cake and a little bit of cream cheese then topped it with whipped cream and pink sugar crystals. The bourbon shot is amazing and works well with the shake. I’m still dreaming about it! Rating: 5/5

After shopping at The Market Place, hop on over to Hopdoddy! There’s a great burger with your name on it!

Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 stars

Décor: 5 out of 5 stars

Service: 5 out of 5 stars

Food: 5 out of 5 stars

For more information:
Hopdoddy Burger Bar

3030 El Camino Real

Tustin, CA 92782

+1.714.505.2337

Hours: Daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Parking: Free shopping center parking