By Zach Brown, Berks County Eats
Over the years, the Shillington Farmers Market has been home to some of our favorite spots. Brocmar Smokehouse and Matt’s Chicken were favorites before they closed, while Eve’s Thai Kitchen remains one of our go-tos.
And now, I can add That Burger Place to the list of great offerings at the market.
That Burger Place opened in late 2023 as Shillington Burgers and More in the former Matt’s Chicken stand. It became That Burger Place in early 2024, and last year, the business moved to a larger stand at the north end of the market.
I visited for the first time in early January. The stand was hopping at lunchtime with a line of people waiting for their food, and another two people in line in front of me, waiting to order.
The menu is written out on blackboards on the front of the stand. It starts with cheeseburger combos – quarter-pound burgers with fries and a drink for $8. Other options include grilled chicken, pulled pork, and chopped cheese.
Normally, I would have started with the basics, but not knowing when I’d make it back, I couldn’t pass on the January burger of the month: the French dip burger.
Roast beef and Cooper sharp cheese topped the burger, which came with a side cup of au jus for dipping. After about a 15-minute wait (all burgers are made to order), I got my food and headed to the upstairs seating area.
To say I was impressed would be an understatement. The burger itself was delicious: perfectly cooked and flavorful on its own. The roast beef on top was also flavorful, and the Cooper sharp was a great choice for the cheese – melty, but not overpowering in flavor. That Burger Place couldn’t have made a better first impression.
The fries were also good. Though they weren’t anything particularly special, they were hot, golden yellow, and perfectly satisfying while allowing the burger to be the rightful star.
I enjoyed the meal so much that I had to go back for another taste. This time, it was a simpler burger.
The standard toppings are cheese, mustard, ketchup, and pickles. I prefer the classic lettuce, tomato, and onion, so I passed on those toppings and spent the extra dollar for the veggies while also adding some BBQ sauce. It was about a 10-minute wait while they made everything fresh, then I made the short drive home rather than eating at the market.
Everything traveled very well. The burger was excellent again, with the patty showing a nice caramelization as it hung out of the sides of the bun. It was good from the first bite to the last. The fries also held up well on the trip home and remained crispy.
The prices are excellent, too. The French dip special was $13 for the combo, while my custom burger combo was still less than $10. Two meals for less than $25 is a great bargain, but the best part is that That Burger Place doesn’t sacrifice quality for those prices. These are some of the best burgers in Berks at half the price of a sit-down restaurant.
I know I’ll be paying more attention to their monthly burger specials, looking for an excuse to return. Not that I need one, the burgers at That Burger Place are just that good.
BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Excellent
Ambiance: Good
Price: $
That Burger Place
Shillington Farmers Market
10 S. Summit Ave.
Shillington, PA 19607
This story was contributed courtesy of Berks County Eats, a local resource for food and dining information. Berks County Eats is dedicated to promoting the dining scene in Reading and Berks County, PA, offering restaurant reviews, news, and events, and a comprehensive Berks County restaurant directory. You can read more at berkscountyeats.com.
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