A lot has changed since 1957. At Del’s Charcoal Burgers in Richardson, Texas, much of the appeal comes from what hasn’t.
For nearly seven decades, the small burger joint on McKinney Street in Downtown Richardson has kept the focus on the kind of meal that first put its name on the map: flavorful burgers, classic sides, fried desserts, and ice-cold mugs of house-made root beer. It’s an old-school experience in the truest sense, and one that has lasted through generations of local customers.
Del Smith opened Del’s in 1957, establishing what would become one of Richardson’s longest-running restaurants. When Hossein “Hoss” Taherzadeh took over ownership in 2003, he made sure to preserve much of the original character and classic menu items, including one key detail that has helped earn decades of customer loyalty: fresh beef patties cooked over a charcoal grill.
That charcoal is more than a detail in the restaurant’s name. It is central to the flavor and one of the easiest ways to understand why Del’s has endured. The patties are cooked directly over the fire, giving each burger the unmistakable char and smokiness that has defined the restaurant since the beginning.
Hoss also ensured that much of the menu would remain recognizable to customers from years past. The Del’s Special keeps things straightforward with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and mustard, while other burgers feature the restaurant’s tangy relish or hickory sauce. Hot dogs, fries and onion rings round out the classics.
Del’s menu has welcomed a few new additions over the years. The Texas Cheese Burger is a customer favorite, topped with cheese, bacon, jalapeño, lettuce, tomato, hickory sauce and mayo. Guests looking beyond beef can find options including grilled chicken, turkey, veggie and salmon burgers, along with a patty melt and other sandwiches.
And then there is the root beer.
Made in-house and served in a frosty mug, Del’s root beer has become nearly as synonymous with the restaurant as its charcoal grill. It can be ordered on its own or turned into a float with Texas-made Blue Bell ice cream, making the burger-and-root-beer combination an easy starting point for anyone experiencing Del’s for the first time. For dessert, hot fried apple and cherry pies keep the menu firmly in classic burger-joint territory, with a fried Twinkie available for anyone willing to fully commit.
The surroundings are part of the experience, too. Del’s has never tried to reinvent itself as a modern burger spot. Its nostalgic personality is part of the draw, offering a glimpse of the kind of independent neighborhood burger stand that has become increasingly hard to find.
That longevity was put to the test in the spring of 2025. A fire forced Del’s to temporarily close, interrupting a run that had stretched across nearly 68 years. While repairs were underway, longtime customers stopped by to check on Hoss and the restaurant, offering encouragement as the team worked toward reopening.
The response provided a fitting reminder of what nearly seven decades in one city can mean. Del’s has served customers who first visited as children and returned years later with families of their own. Its history isn’t preserved behind glass or relegated to old photographs. It continues every day when someone walks in, orders a familiar burger and sits down with a frosty mug of root beer.
That may be what makes Del’s such a fitting Richardson Original. Longevity alone is impressive, but keeping the character of a place intact for nearly 70 years is something different. New menu items have found their place and ownership has changed, yet the charcoal still burns and the restaurant still feels unmistakably like Del’s.
For a first visit, start with a charcoal-grilled burger, add onion rings or fries, and don’t skip the house-made root beer. For longtime regulars, chances are an introduction isn’t necessary.
Del’s Charcoal Burgers
110 S. McKinney St.
Richardson, TX 75081
972-235-9191
Hours:
Monday–Saturday: 10:30 a.m.– 9 p.m.
Closed Sunday
