#1 - Hester’s Restaurant and Pool Room
5152 Washington St SW, Covington, Ga 30014
(770) 786-9110
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:45 a.m.-8 p.m., closes Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Best burger: Hester’s makes two homemade top-sellers. The Double is a 6 ounce, ground beef burger (all the way includes mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion) grilled on a flat-top; and the Steakburger is a 9 ounce flattened patty with American cheese on Texas toast, with optional grilled onions.
Sides, like an order of large onion rings, can be purchased for $2. Wednesday and Friday specials include pot roast, fried chicken and fried pork chops, among others. Everything is made in-house; other menu items include coleslaw, potato salad, and from-scratch cakes—triple chocolate and lemon. Strawberry cobbler is also available.
Hester’s is family-run. Many items are made by Larry, the owner, and his sister Wanda.
Server Miranda DeRisi described Hester’s as “divey.” “It’s not a typical restaurant,” DeRisi said.
Price: double: $5.55, steakburger: $4.55; sides at additional cost.
#2 - The Wing House at 213
11257 Georgia 36, Covington, Ga 30014
(678) 625-9500
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Best burger: The Hamburger is Wing House’s best seller. It is a half-pound mix of seasoned fresh ground beef and ground chuck, and comes all-the-way with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mustard, ketchup, mayo and American cheese if desired.
Price: $5.99; $1.39 with fries. Other sides include onion rings, jalapeño poppers, fried pickles and mozzarella sticks.
#3 - Jimbo’s Grill at the Mill
2102 Main St, Porterdale, Ga 30014
(770) 784-1970
Hours: Open at 11 a.m. Closes Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m., Thursday at 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
Best burger: The Mushroom Swiss; a 10 ounce, house-seasoned Black Angus burger with sliced mushrooms and pickle slices
#4 - Little Phillies
10255 Industrial Blvd NE, Covington, Ga 30014
(770) 786-0095
Hours: Opens at 11 a.m. Closes at 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 p.m. Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday
Best burger: The Double Cheeseburger, a house-seasoned, hand-pattied all-beef burger. Comes all-the-way with onion, lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mustard and mayo.
Price: $6.99 with fries and a drink
#5 - Happy J’s
8105 Washington St SW, Covington, Ga 30014
(678) 625-7141
Hours: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed Sunday
Best burger: The Big J Classic is a J’s favorite. It is a hand-pattied, grilled third-pound beef burger. Cheese is an extra 45 cents. Customers order this favorite all-the-way with ketchup, mustard, onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato and American cheese.
Price: $7.45 with fries and a drink
