In a city like Houston we are fortunate enough to have access to food from all over the world. Here you’ll find top notch food from the Philippines, China, India, and beyond. Sometimes though, you just crave an old fashioned hamburger. Read on to discover our list of some of the best burgers in Houston.
1. Trill Burgers
Trill Burgers is the project of King of Trill, Bun B, and Andy Nguyen of Afters Ice Cream. Since its inception, the smashburger concept has hosted many wildly successful pop-ups, culminating in the title of “The Best Burger in North America” awarded by Good Morning America. Soon, the iconic burger spot is opening a brick-and-mortar in Montrose on the corner of Shepherd Drive and Richmond Avenue.
đź“Ť3607 S Shepherd Dr.
2. Tookie’s Hamburgers
Hop in the van and ride out to Kemah for Tookie’s Hamburgers. Founded in 1975, Tookie’s Hamburgers is a nod to the drugstores and soda fountains of a time since past. Styled in vintage decor and Americana ambience, Tookie’s is known for their classic menu and super-sized beef patties hamburgers made fresh daily.
đź“Ť406 Texas Ave #2845
3. Hubcap Grill
While the Original Hubcap Grill in Downtown, Houston officially closed a few years ago, there are thankfully three more locations in the Houston area. Its Galveston location features a weekly Happy Hour between 3 pm and 6 pm, where customers can get $5 cheeseburgers or order from its specialty burgers – including the Texas Monthly-written-up Philly Cheese Steak Burger – and get a $1 martini.
đź“Ť2021 The Strand #3
4. Rodeo Goat
Located in East Downtown, in the company of 8th Wonder Brewery, Miss Carousel, and Truck Yard, Rodeo Goat is a Texas-founded burger house renowned for its eccentric, house-ground burgers.
Featured options include the Whiskey Burger, piled with Irish whiskey cheddar, candied bacon, blackberry compote, shredded lettuce, and whole-grain mustard; and the RIP Wheeler, a coffee-rubbed beef patty with black better bacon, Dr. Pepper BBQ, smoked gouda, chuckwagon mayo, and curly endive.
đź“Ť2105 Dallas St.
5. Stanton City Bites
Stanton City Bites is a mom-and-pop sandwich shop and grocer in Downtown, Houston. In its spacious homey dining space, customers can choose from its specialty burgers clocking in at a half-pound each.
Options that include the Miss Piggie with freshly ground bacon, hash brown, cheddar, and house candied bacon; Chili Cheeseburger with house chili, house habanero mustard, bacon, grilled onions, and American cheese; and the Original Bacon Cheeseburger.
Meat free options are also available, see the PMS: house basil, Portabella mushroom cap, roasted red peppers, grilled onions , fresh spinach , and provolone on a challah wheat bun.
đź“Ť1420 Edwards St.
6. Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack
Family owned and operated for the past 30 years, Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack is exactly how the name describes: a small burger shack under Westpark Tollway. Through word-of-mouth and quality bison burgers, the little burger joint has accrued a serious following among locals.
đź“Ť5230 Westpark Dr.
7. Burger Park
Opened in 1968, Burger Park is a local institution on Martin Luther King Blvd. in South Houston. The small burger stand serves high-quality, mouth-watering burgers, milkshakes, slushees, hand-cut fries, and sandwiches. Burger Park also serves a number of vegetarian and vegan burger options.
đź“Ť6704 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77033, United States
8. Annie’s Hamburgers
Annie’s Hamburgers is another Houston institution that’s been in operation for over 30 years. Serving classic American fare with no-frills hamburgers, frozen lemonades, shakes as well as diner-style breakfast every day, the nostalgic haunt is a staple in Houston’s culinary scene.
đź“Ť10821 S. Post Oak Rd
9. Burger Bodega
Houston newcomer, Burger Bodega, is located on Washington in a graffiti-scrawled storefront, complete with a bodega atmosphere curated by interior designer Vy Truong and a rooftop area.
It serves a variety of burger and fry options including the Classic Cheeseburger and their Chopped Cheese Burger –two chopped patties with American cheese, onions, bell pepper, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and bodega sauce on a hero roll.
đź“Ť4520 Washington Ave
10. The Hobbit Cafe
Here in Houston, just southwest of Montrose is The Hobbit Café. Since 1972, the café has served all the hobbits, elves, wizards, and dwarves the best food Middle Earth, Houston has to offer. Its menu is full, juicy, and scrumptiously crunchable. The café offers a hoard of vegetarian options as well as burgers, sandwiches, and other Dwarvish dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.
Go bold with their Balrog Burger — a double-meat, double-cheese burger with bacon, avacado, stuffed jalapeno, mushrooms, and chipotle mayo.
đź“Ť2243 Richmond Ave
11. Tejas Burger Joint
From the masters behind Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue comes Tejas Burger Joint. Located in Tomball, Tejas Burger Joint specializes in smoked burgers on buttered potato buns. Their flagship Smokehouse Burger is fixed with smoked ground brisket, topped with housemade bacon and smoky cheddar. Do the burgers go well with the restaurant’s milkshakes, you ask? Yes. Yes, they do.
đź“Ť200 N Elm St
12. Poppa Burger
Burger cravings often don’t follow a schedule, making Poppa Burger a convenient destination open 24 hours around the clock. Located in Downtown Houston, the family-owned burger stand is a long-running institution serving up no-frills burgers, burritos, and tacos on the cheap. Cash only.
đź“Ť1622 N Main St.
13. Lankford’s Grocery
Open for over 70 years, Lankford’s Grocery has had ample time to dial down their burger recipe. Presently, the Montrose grocer turned icehouse fires up mouthwatering burgers for which you’ll gladly shell out a cheat day or two; see their mac-and-cheese-loaded Grim Burger, Frito-filled Frito Pie Burger, and hot hot hot Firehouse Burger.
đź“Ť88 Dennis St.
14. Burger Chan
Customize your burger to your heart’s content at this cute, highly-acclaimed burger bistro in The Galleria area of Houston.
In addition to a wonderful assortment of ingredients, buns, and condiments ready for personalized burgers, the restaurant – twice named on Yelp’s Top 100 list – offers a number of chef-inspired burger creations including the signature burger-chan featuring two 2-oz patties, cheddar, sauteed onions, thousand island, lettuce, and tomato served on a brioche bun.
Available sides include sweet potato fries, curly fries, tater tots, fried cheese crudgs, and taro root chips – with the options of making them loaded, spam-chi, or chili cheese.
đź“Ť5353 West Alabama Street
15. Champ Burger
Home of the original Texas Size Steak Sandwich, Champ Burger is a long-running Houston establishment. Its no-frills burgers are comprised of 1/3-pound, fresh prime ground chuck with cheese, chili, bacon, and double options.
Veggie black bean, falafel, and impossible burgers are also available.
Champ also serves a variety of sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, and sides. Sides include fries, beer-batter onion rings, chili fries, hash browns, and hot apple turnover for dessert.
đź“Ť304 Sampson Street
16. The Burger Joint
With locations in Montrose, Heights, and Baybrook, The Burger Joint is a Houston mainstay. Using fresh-ground Angus beef, The Burger Joint features a variety of hand-crafted burgers ranging from Kimchi to classic, as well as veggie options.
Diners can also enjoy an assortment of hotdogs, sandwiches, chicken tenders, bowls, shakes, and more. Featured sides include Mac & cheese, bacon-parm fries, and chili-queso fries.
đź“ŤMultiple locations
17. Winnie’s
Relatively new to Houston, Winnie’s is a vibrant restaurant and wonderful, dog-friendly patio bar in Midtown. The restaurant features sandwiches, oysters, craft cocktails, and more.
Its stacked menu features a short selection of amazing burgers including the Rodeo Burger, Winnie’s Famous Red Bean Burger, and Winn-A-Burger made with 44 Farms Oklahoma-style beef patty, American cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and onions with Serrano mustard and mayo au pointe.
đź“Ť3622 Main
18. Moon Tower Inn
The Second War brewpub is a backyard of good times. In addition to the extensive list of craft beers, Moon Tower Inn also features a mouth-watering menu of hotdogs, hamburgers, and more.
Their Diner Burger is made with a 4-oz Angus patty with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, cheese, and super special secret sauce. You can also opt for one of the venue’s more inventive burgers ranging from the Cheech to the Chong, Willie, Bob, and Cajun Bazooka.
đź“Ť3004 Canal St.
19. Little Bitty Burger Barn
Little Bitty Burger Barn is a family-friendly neighborhood restaurant in Oaks Forest/Garden Oaks area of Houston. The as-seen-on-Food Network burger barn offers hand-crafted hamburgers on quarter-full-pound patties with options ranging from classics to specialties.
Favorites include its Ultimate Jalapeño burger (with jalapeños and pepper jack cheese on a jalapeño-cheddar bun) and Cowboy Burger (with bacon, Monterrey jack, sautéed mushroom, and housemade onion strings).
All burgers are served with seasoned, hand-cut fries. For more daring eaters, Little Bitty Burger Barn also offers the Five Alarm Burger Challenge – a mega-hot burger lit with jalapeño and habanero peppers and nitro sauce.
The venue also serves a solid-lineup of sandwiches, wings, and sides.
đź“Ť5139 Antoine Dr
20. Cream Burger
Cream Burger is a classic burger stand in the University of Houston area. The vintage venue is a local favorite, offering simple but tasty burgers alongside classic comforts like chili cheese fries, Frito pies, and Cookies N’ Cream milkshakes. Plus, affordable prices and ample patio seating. Cash only.
đź“Ť3481 Elgin St.