If you haven't heard yet, Al's Burger Shack has officially landed in Summerville (and it was worth the wait).

Al's got its start in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where it built a devoted following doing one thing exceptionally well: burgers made with 100% fresh ground chuck, hand-pattied in-house, cooked to order, and served on a buttered, toasted potato roll. Everything on the menu is made fresh, including all the sauces, the chili, and the frosty milkshakes. It's the kind of place that doesn't cut corners, and you can taste it.

Our friends Amanda and Dex were among the first through the door at the new Summerville location and came back raving. They hit the Bobo Chili Cheeseburger (American cheese, mustard, house-made chili, onions, and slaw — a legitimate contender for best burger in town), Sean's Bacon Cheeseburger, crinkle cut fries, tater tots, sweet potato fries, all the house-made dipping sauces, and a chocolate handspun milkshake. Their verdict: everything was delicious and they couldn't even get through everything they wanted to try on the first visit.

For families, the kids' menu is simple and solid including a plain cheeseburger, hot dog, grilled cheese, or chicken nuggets, each with a choice of side and a drink, all for $8.95. You can upgrade to a kids' milkshake for a few dollars more. The house-made dipping sauces (AL Sauce, roasted garlic aioli, sriracha aioli, spicy ranch, and more) are free with every side order and are worth sampling across the whole table.

Al's Burger Shack Summerville is at 9500 Dorchester Rd, Suite 188. Open Monday through Sunday, 11am–9pm.