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Houston has an unusually strong burger culture that has entered a sort of golden age, with fine new joints popping up every other month. Here’s a guide to the city’s top burger specialists, followed by a short list of restaurant burgers worth seeking out.
Hubcap Grill
Big old hand-formed patties, fantastic ciabattalike buns and owner Ricky Craig’s wild combos make this downtown hole in the wall a must-stop for connoisseurs. Terrific hand-cut fries, too. It’s cash only, but there’s an ATM on site. 1111 Prairie, 713-223-5885.
The Burger Guys
Almost everything is made from scratch at this chef-driven west-side spot. Hand-formed patties from Texas-raised Akaushi beef, duck-fat French fries, hand-spun shakes in ingenious flavors, and a dizzying array of dipping sauces and condiments. 12225 Westheimer 281-497-4897.
Bernie’s Burger Bus
This bright new school bus turns out wonderful, charry, grass-fed Angus burgers and what may be the city’s best hand-cut french fries. Blue-cheese burger kills. Condiments are made in-house by chef-owner Justin Turner. Find the bus by calling or texting 281-386-2447 or falling the bus on Twitter@BerniesBurgers. Location varies, 281-386-2447.
Christian’s Tailgate
Classic Texas funk. Purists adore the original Washington icehouse for its monumental burgers and onion rings, but the more central Midtown location makes a mean open-faced chiliburger, too. 7340 Washington, 713-864-9744; 2000 Bagby, 713-527-0261.
Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot
This robin’s egg blue stand just east of downtown offers sprawling, soulful cheeseburgers (try them with chili) and massive onion rings. Walk-up only, with a few tables for outdoor seating. 1515 Dowling, 713-225-8044.
Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack
Just south of the Galleria, this hidden gem makes a juicy buffalo cheeseburger. Small-town icehouse atmosphere, local Saint Arnold beers and outdoor seating add to the appeal. 5230 Westpark, 713-661-1622.
Restaurant burgers: outstanding burgers at restaurants with wider menus.
Mockingbird Bistro
Sit at the bar for the magnificent Kobe-style blue-cheese burger with Parmesan fries to dip in garlicky aioli. It’s perfect. 1985 Welch, 713-533-0200.
Amazon Grill
This casual South American spot does an outrageously delicious half-pound burger trimmed with silky provolone, smoked mustard, jalapeño mayo and a dice of pickled red onion and tomato. Great skinny sweet-potato fries or yuca fries, plus all the chimichurri you can eat. 5114 Kirby at Bissonet, 713-522-5888.
Pappy’s Cafe
This homey Texas roadhouse makes fine half-pound Angus burgers, hand-cut fries and onion strings. Shakes are of regional favorite Blue Bell ice cream; frozen margaritas are cheap and surprisingly good. 9041 Katy Freeway, 713-827-1811.
Perry & Sons Market & Grille
This trim southeast-side meat market features in-store dining and a gloriously oozy house-ground Angus burger that’s among the best in town. Try the Texas burger with pickled jalapeños, cheddar and sautéed onions. Skip the fries in favor of onion rings. 12830 Scarsdale, 281-481-5214.
Block 7 Wine Company
A sleek wine bar setting for a very pure dry-aged burger with artisanal trappings: mustard-spiked aioli, onion-bacon jam, gruyere cheese, brioche bun and arugula. Twelve bucks and worth it. Have it with herbed fries and a good red wine. 720 Shepherd, 713-572-2565.
Max’s Wine Dive
The Wagyu cheeseburger on a brioche bun sheds juices everywhere. Get it with Texas cheddar, caramelized onions and fresh-cut fries. It’s 22 bucks and kinda-sorta worth it. Lively, roll-up-your-sleeves Texas wine bar setting.
Annies on Post Oak and Tree's on Stuebner-Airline. Haven't been to either in a long time, but back when I did they were great.
I second Annie's Hamburgers. It isn't fancy like these other places, but it has been great and exactly the same for 30 years plus, I think.
Can't comment on Tree's since I've never been there but Annies consistently serves an outstanding burger. Their double bacon burger is phenomenal.
i'm shocked you left off your ninfa-burger. is it noted elsewhere? it's definitely a show-stopper.
It is noted in my essay about what makes Houston restaurants special. As it does. Majorly.
There's a place up near Intercontinental called "Best Burger." I had some time to kill before a flight, so I stopped there. It's not just a name--that was one of the best burgers I've ever had.
Good lord Alison can you put the Hub Cap Grill anywhere else in ur blog? who needs to advertise when ya have you in their back pocket. if it wasn't for ricky or caswell what would you write about! just a comment! have a good day!
...i assume you've never been. it is literally one of the best burgers in this entire state; it deserves to be mentioned in any converstation relating to burgers/fries!
I completely agree! Hubcap Grill is EASILY one of the top 3 burgers in Houston
I have no objection to any of the burgers listed, but if you haven't been to Plonk for a burger yet, you should check it out. Tried it last week - they grind their own meat and top with guanciale. Yep, face bacon! Served with thick cut sweet potato steak-fries.
How about one day doing the WORST burgers in Houston? :)
Sure...Whataburger would make that list.
I don't know about that...it's pretty good for a fast food burger.
Annie's and Bellaire Broiler Burger are both really good, for standard, un-fancy burgers. Plus, Annie's has that amazing pile of bacon, outrageous lemondade and consistently good onion rings.
well BS I doubt you have been all over the stae, and it's not one of the best, you must not get out much! or bad taste buds, we love ricky!
You must think you have a superior bud. Just because you dont like it doesnt it isnt one of the best in the state. Most food critics would disagree with you on this one. It consistently gets mentioned by many publications as among the best.
Blake's on Jeanetta should be on this list as well as the Bar-B-Que joints list!
Love Shack out in Cypress Texas! Former owner of Rockwell's has opened a new place.. same great burgers and lots of crazy over the top creations. Huge outdoor patio area.
You need to try the hickory burger at The Mason Jar. AMAZEBALLS!
well Alison I guess Houston has spoken and Jonathon's won the best burger not Hub Cap Grill, see what happens when there is more than 1 vote? mmmmmmmmmm, but we have our favs!
I'm truly shocked Lankford's didn't make this list! I have frequented a lot of places on the list and look to the ones I haven't tried. Lankford's, though... WOW!
A list of best burgers in Houston without Lankford Grocery is kinda like listing the hottest women in entertainment without mentioning Megan Fox. It's a glaring omission!!!
I have to agree, Lankford is in the top 3 for sure. Also Shuttle Burger on the south side is rarely mentioned, what an over site.
Got to add The Love Shack to the list. Their burgers are over the top!!
Got to add The Love Shack to the list. Their burgers are over the top!!
People who eat hamburgers are FAT. Houston has some ugly people. California people are much better looking
anonymous,
Why do you even post. Go get your fake grass, tofu burger and stfu. California...please.
anonymous,
Why do you even post. Go get your fake grass, tofu burger and stfu. California...please.
Don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out!!!
Those California people are very stupid though.
Yeah...Too bad the people in California can't pay their bills. You eat salads because it's all you can afford,
Dont judge Californians bases on one idiot please.
Actually, I'm from California, I can pay my bills, Salads are way more expensive than hamburgers out here, and we have In-N-Out. For $6 I can get a double double, fresh cut fries made from real Idaho potatos, and a drink. Then I can go th the beach and burp in a hot chicks face. So there! Houston! I mean come on...you named an airport after a Bush! What a joke!
Tookie's is going to make a comeback in Seabrook/Kemah! Rookie Tookie Burger!
They are bac k and on 146 S doing business as Stump"s and they are very good as well.
I cannot see any validity to a "Best Burger" list when it does not consider Clay's Hamburgers to be in the top 5.
Excuse me but what about Lankford's Grocery ?? You must be rewarding the advertisers of this website .... tsk tsk ...
Damn, now people will find out about Perry's. Surprised Lankford and Petrol Station are missing, but I guess we should be thankful that there are soooo many outstanding burger choices that they all can't be on the list. Thank you for not listing the perfectly average, used to be better, Beck's
Lucky Burger on Richmond.
Tookies in Seabrook will be open in July and bringing all the hamburgers, the 99, the beanburger, the rookie the onion rings everything back to its former glory with a nice new interior and brand new kitchen and fancy restrooms. Tookies was my favorite place growing up and always had the best food anywhere.......
I don't like Lankford but that's probaby because I've had Burger Guys and nothing is better than that. It's like heaven in my mouth.
Very good Hamburgers. Unfortunately they are very arrogant and not at all service oriented. Being sick with Hepatitis C I tend to not have much of an appetite; In addition it frustrates me and makes me mad to see homeless people digging in the trash for food. As a result of both of these things I have made a habit out of asking that my Hamburgers be cut in half (so I can offer a clean un-chewed up piece of food to someone who is hungry). Well, don't try that at the HubCap Café! Without mincing words they will tell you that they DO NOT CUT THEIR HAMBURGERS. When asked for justification they will tell you that someone complained once about the ingredients falling out; so their solution is to not give service to anyone (Clever business strategy!). If you have any problem with all this they will just tell you to not come back (Literally, that is exactly what he told me)!!! Well, I have never in my life done this but I and fed up with this so I intend to spend as much time as I can exposing their arrogance to anyone who will listen. I will continue to do this until they understand that good food is just half of the game
I'm gonna go there twice as much then, I can't stand stupid people like you and I would probably kick you out of my place also....it's the beauty of owning your own business.
I have a sneaking suspicion they did something else to upset you or maybe you were just having a "moment" or you didn't get exactly what you wanted. I have worked in restaurants long enough to know that managers will do anything (especially something trivial like cutting a burger in half) for customer satisfaction and they will NEVER say "if you don't like it, don't come back". And anyway, if you care so much about the homeless people who are taking advantage of government funding that MY tax dollars are paying for...you should get them a whole burger. Not half. I mean...shouldn't you reward them for abusing the system?
Wait to go Allison, you mentioned the brger guys, these are the same guys who worked at Burger Palace, were fired because of their insubordinate practice, stole the concept for their own restaurant. And you do not even have Burger Palace-Check out Burger Palace excellent food the best quality ingredients and good service.
Wait to go Allison, you mentioned the brger guys, these are the same guys who worked at Burger Palace, were fired because of their insubordinate practice, stole the concept for their own restaurant. And you do not even have Burger Palace-Check out Burger Palace excellent food the best quality ingredients and good service.
I like the Burger Guys but they are a distant second to The Burger Palace at Sage and Hidalgo. Magnificent. I work across the street from the Burger Guys and live near Burger Palace. Try the French Connection burger at the Palace.....awesome. The Burger Guys I do love but their meat always tastes like it is about to go over the hill freshness wise.