It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. Many features won't work correctly, and functionality can't be guaranteed. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused!
Read More about this safari issue.If you’re searching for the best burger in Northwest Arkansas, consider your search over because the winner of the Northwest Arkansas Burger Competition is Mellow Moose Burgers in Siloam Springs.
There are two types of people in this world: those with their favorite go-to burger spot and those always searching for the ultimate burger-to-end-all-burgers. I submit that both camps should consider Mellow Moose.
In November 2022, Adrian Lem opened a taco truck in Siloam Springs, in the Griffin’s Food Court off Mt. Olive Street. He was pretty pumped about it, as it would be the first food truck in Northwest Arkansas to serve Birria tacos.
If you know anything about Birria tacos, you know that producing a decadent sauce as tender and delicious as Birria sauce requires patience. The combination of slow-cooking multiple cuts of beef in adobo sauce and spices was an instant customer favorite!
Adrian spent hours and hours dedicated to his Birria tacos. Because of the time it took, he had to skip the lunch crowd and only open for dinner, which is what you do when you are focused on perfection.
As time passed and day after day, Adrian focused on perfecting the Birria taco. He was “craving a good burger,” so he decided to do a burger pop-up in the taco track one weekend.
The burger was a hit!
In March 2024, the taco sign was removed from the food truck and a new one replaced it: Mellow Moose Burgers. “People were so confused,” Adrian shared. “While they wondered where the tacos went, they were happy about the burgers.” His food truck may have had a new name and food offering, but everything else stayed the same – the dedication to quality food, his staff, and the location.
He even kept the same spot at the food court!
Oh, in case you were wondering, these aren’t * actually * moose burgers. These are 100% ground beef burgers served at Mellow Moose. Adrian previously lived in Northwest Arkansas but lived in Colorado for a time and admired the beauty and nature there. Especially the occasional moose he would see. “Mellow Moose just seemed like the right name for the new focus.”
Customers went wild for the new burger-focused food truck, and Adrian’s wife entered him into the Miracle League’s Northwest Arkansas Burger Competition. Not only did they win the best burger in Northwest Arkansas, but it also awarded them the Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships in Indianapolis!
“We had 10 days to submit a recipe and assemble everything before heading to the World Food Championships. I wouldn’t say we crushed it, but we did good! We were up against serious chefs from all over the world, including Europe. We placed 6th in the world. We are proud of that.”
Mellow Moose Burgers is all about keeping it super simple. After all, “mellow” is in their brand name!
Burgers are hand-patted daily, sauces are homemade, and onions are caramelized to just the right texture—not too crispy and not too soft. And their sauces are out of this world! They are all homemade, and some have a nod to the taco truck.
The menu is simple, offering burgers, fries, salads and extras on the side. If this is your first time, I recommend The OG Smashburger, which won the best burger award! It features a beef patty, grilled onions, American cheese, burger sauce, and pickles on a toasted bun.
If you are eating alone, definitely get the fries. If you are with someone else, I recommend splitting the burger and the Blazing Moose Fries with nacho cheese sauce, grilled onions, peppers, beef patty, Smokeshow sauce and ranch. It also comes with chopped bacon, but I skipped that part since I don’t eat it. Without it, it’s still amazing!
This locally owned family business is focused on providing customers with fresh, good food, and it shows. There’s something special about a simple and delicious burger that evokes nostalgia for the good old days of burgers and fries—dare I say, the mellow old days? See for yourself!
Mellow Moose Burgers
825 S Mt Olive Street
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-305-2800
HOURS:
Sunday-Monday – Closed
Tuesday-Friday – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4-8 p.m.
Saturday – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sign up for our weekly e-news.
Get stories sent straight to your inbox!
We select one featured photo per week, but we show many more in our gallery. Be sure to fill out all the fields in order to have yours selected.
Like this story? Read more from Lyndi Fultz
Pantry goods, homemade pastries and a sit-down deli all in one place?...
When a James Beard-nominated restaurant has an adjoining market...
Northwest Arkansas has all types of coffee shops to fit any mood. If...
Join the Conversation
Leave a Comment