I've driven past Murph's on Arrowhead Parkway maybe a hundred times before finally pulling in — one of those east-side spots that doesn't shout for attention but somehow holds a 4.8 rating across 563 reviews, which made me curious enough to see what the fuss was about.
The setup is straightforward. Counter service, paper-lined baskets, the kind of place where you order at the register and wait for your number. Nothing fancy. But the burger that arrived — a double with cheese, grilled onions, pickles — had that weight and heft that told me someone here actually cares about the beef they're putting on the griddle. The patties had char on the edges, real browning, and the bun didn't disintegrate halfway through eating, which happens more often than it should in this town.
The fries came hot and properly salted. I tried the cheese curds too, because this is South Dakota and you're supposed to, and they were the kind that squeak when you bite them — fresh, not freezer stock reheated in a hurry.
What's interesting about Murph's is that it doesn't try to be anything other than what it is. No craft burger menu with seventeen toppings, no Instagram wall, no pretense. Just burgers and fries done right, which feels increasingly rare. The dining room is clean but basic — a few tables, some booths, the kind of space that works for a quick lunch or picking up takeout on your way down 41st.
The only catch is the hours — they're not open late, and they're closed Sundays, which has tripped me up more than once when I've had a craving at the wrong time. But that's also the trade-off when a place is actually making food instead of reheating it.
If you're near the east side and want a burger that tastes like someone's paying attention, Murph's does the work.
— Grace