Arlington Insider

AIRWAYS REAL CHARCOAL-GRILLED HAMBURGERS

1106 N. Collins (Collins @ Randol Mill Rd)

Mon-Sat 7am to 10pm; Sun 11am to 8pm.

(817) 461 1601

If you like good old-fashioned charcoal hamburgers, the kind Dad grilled in the backyard, give Airways Hamburgers a try. 

Although the “Old Fashioned Cheeseburger”, “Airways Double Hamburger” and “Bacon Cheeseburger” are the top-sellers, I tried something different, the #9 “Airways Lucky Burger”.  Sure, I’ve had hickory sauce on burgers.  Yes, I’ve had chili and cheese on burgers.  Even tried Thousand Island on a patty!  But it never occurred to me to combine all those sauces on top of one patty.  The Lucky Burger includes chili, cheese, hickory sauce, onions and Thousand Island.  

Was it sloppy and did the sauce start to run down my fingers?  Yes!  It cost $3.79, less than what I would have paid for a combo meal at the Arby’s next door.

My dad went conservative with the Old Fashioned Burger.  It was only $2.99.  Next time, he vows to try the “Fire Dog” which is the hot dog that includes jalapenos, chili, cheese, onions and mustard.  The guy at the booth next to ours was eating a Fire Dog and it looked so good.  I’ll try the Green Chile burger with jack cheese on the next go-round.

The kids shared a chicken tender basket for $4.89 and a Blue Belll chocolate shake for $2.49, but most of the items on the kids menu (kids burger, kids dog) were only $1.89.  Anyplace that serves Blue Bell is a-okay with my kids!

So I’m glad we finally heeded the advice of “eating where the locals eat”.  Having just finished a tour of Rangers Ballpark, our plan was to eat cheap/quick at the Taco Bell or Arby’s we saw at the corner of Collins and Randol Mill, right there next to the new Cowboys Stadium.  Then we spotted Airways next to the Arby’s.  The Airways’ parking lot was full (1106 N. Collins, ¼ block north of Randol Mill Rd).  You could tell it was workers from nearby businesses who were grabbing a quick lunch.

Airways is definitely not fancy on the outside or inside, but the indoor decorations of airplane propellers and model airplanes and old airplane radios are a hint that the place is owned by an aviation enthusiast.  The lady at the counter (it’s counter service or drive-thru) said the owner loves airplanes because his dad was in the Army Air Corps in World War II.   In the women’s bathroom, a sign on the door (obviously taken from a small airfield) asked ‘Have You Closed Your Flight Plan?”  It definitely made me double-check to make sure my zipper was closed! 

With the proximity to the new Cowboys Stadium (Airways is on the northwest corner of the Collins/Randol Mill intersection, the stadium on the southeast corner), I’m sure this place will be hopping on gameday.  I suggest coming early to the game and, instead of tailgating and grilling burgers, just walk across the street to Airways and eat there or take it back to your car.

All four of us ate for $20. 

Other menu items included Chicken Fried Steak Platter, the Patty Melt, BLT’s, Grilled or Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Veggie Burger, Steak Fingers, Grilled Chicken Salad, and a Fried Shrimp Basket.  There’s a  “South of the Border” chicken sandwich with lime, cilantro and pepper jack cheese. 

Prices range from $2.99 for the cheapest hamburger to $4.99 for the Steak Finger Basket, to $5.99 for the Chicken Fried Steak Platter.

Side items:  in addition to French fries and onion rings, there are tater tots, twisters, stuffed jalapenos, Frito Pie, and a dinner salad.  For dessert, in addition to the Blue Bell ice cream, they also have fried pies.  Prices ranged from $1.59 for tater tots to $1.09 for fried pies to $2.39 for the stuffed jalapenos.

Airways is also open for breakfast on Mondays thru Saturday beginning at 7am.  They don’t open on Sundays until 11am.

We didn’t eat breakfast there, but their “Real Breakfast” Menu included omelettes, migas, taquitos, pancakes and breakfast sandwiches.  The most expensive item on the breakfast menu was $4.29…so I’m sure they get a good amount of customers in the morning. 

Airways isn’t fancy, but it’s good food at a good price.  When you want to fill your family’s stomach without emptying your wallet, why not eat a real hamburger instead of the same-old fast food?  And if you can get a fried pie in the process, it’s a great day!