In a city like Houston we’re 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.