The 50 Greatest Hamburgers In Texas

A gastro-scientific inquiry into the finest burgers in the state that invented the burger, including the Toro (#4), the Stodg (#6), the Miss Hattie (#28), and, in our top slot, a miracle of meat served only on Sundays. No wonder they call it the Lord’s day.

Rena Behar, Nate Blakeslee, Jordan Breal, Cathy Casey, Ken Cluley, Pamela Colloff, David Courtney, Megan Giller, Lisa J. Grissom, Leanne B. Hedrick, Stacy Hollister, Charlie Llewellin, Margaret Y. Luévano, Patricia Busa McConnico, Fern McDougal, Wendy Moncada, Brad Perkins, Kaitlin N. Petersen, Tony Privett, Ronn Reeger, Emily Rosenthal, Patricia Sharpe, Sandy Sheehy, Jake Silverstein, John Spong, Mimi Swartz, Brian D. Sweany, Andrea Valdez, Katy Vine, Amy Weiss and Lois Wischkaemper

August 2009

(Page 4 of 4)

No. 37
Hamburger
$4.95
Mighty Fine, Austin

This sleek new fast-food franchise—which boasts sanitizing “hand Jacuzzis” in the dining area—looks too squeaky-clean and corporate to produce a good burger. Luckily, it serves up chow that has the heart and soul of a greasy spoon. The mouthwatering made-to-order half-pounder is hand-formed from all-natural beef that’s ground in-house daily. The hand-squeezed lemonade has just the right balance of sweet and sour, and the crinkle-cut fries, which are dusted with sea salt, are homemade. 5601 Brodie Ln., Ste. 1300; 512-735-2800. Two other locations in the Austin area. PC

No. 38
Jalapeño Cream Cheese Burger
$8.95 (Fries are included in this price.)
Roadhouse, Bastrop

In Texas, many people rightly contend that any dish can be improved upon by adding jalapeños. Elsewhere, others hold similar beliefs concerning cream cheese. This masterful sandwich brings these two camps together with spectacular results. The peppers lend fire while the big slices of cheese melt soothingly over a juicy beef patty on a sourdough bun. Somehow the spiky heat and the creamy richness bracket the beef to create a taste bomb that will knock you out of your chair, or at least leave you slumped half-conscious over the table in some gastronomical delirium. 2804 Texas Hwy. 21 E (across from Bastrop State Park), 512-321-1803. BP

No. 39
Old-Fashioned HamBurger
$4
Lankford Grocery and Market, Houston

Here’s a burger you could take to a Fourth of July picnic: hand-patted, half-inch-thick meat patty; sesame-seed bun lightly toasted; tomato sliced thick; iceberg lettuce shredded for that essential bit of texture that keeps everything from going mushy. Nothing fancy about this hamburger, and that’s why we like it. It is what it is, and so’s the comfy, rumpled, Mayberry-esque cafe itself. One friend’s observation says it all: “Anybody who doesn’t like the Lankford Grocery—there’s something wrong with them.” 88 Dennis, 713-522-9555. Closed Sun. PS

No. 40
Cheeseburger
$6.89 (Fries are included in this price.)
Classics Burgers and “Moore”, Kerrville

While not huge, Classics’ cheeseburger requires a two-handed grip to be properly managed. Its patty is handmade from beef freshly ground that day and nestled under crisp condiments on a butter-toasted bun. They’ll respectfully cook it to your specs (a rarity in smaller-town burger joints, we’re sorry to report), and even the “medium” stayed nice and tender till the last bite. The lightly battered fries crowding the plate define “addictive.” 448 Sidney Baker South, 830-257-8866. Closed Sun. ER

No. 41
Jalapeño Cream Cheese Burger
$9.59 (Fries are included in this price.)
Koffee Kup Family Restaurant, Hico

We gave the Koffee Kup a nod in our best small-town cafes roundup last December, and if you want to know the truth of it, this entire best burger story came about because we couldn’t stop thinking (or yammering on and on) about this incredible burger and needed an excuse to return to Hico and eat another one. Seriously. It’s that good. Texas Hwy. 6 & U.S. 281, 254-796-4839. PS

No. 42
Cheeseburger
$3.75
Hruska’s Store and Bakery, Ellinger

Midway between Austin and Houston on Texas Highway 71 lies the tiny hamlet of Ellinger. It is here, at a gas station with a funny name, a top-rate Czech bakery, and an out-of-this-world grill, that a burger without flaw resides. The patty is flavorful, juicy, and plentiful, the bun is toasted to perfection, the tomatoes are ripe, the rings of fresh-sliced onion and pickle are all they should be, and the iceberg snaps. With Platonic dimensions, it’s all bound together with Miracle Whip on top, tangy yellow mustard on the bottom, and silky cheese between. 109 Texas Hwy. 71 W, 979-378-2333. DC

No. 43
Rosco Burger
$6.05 (Fries are included in this price.)
Rosco’s Burger Inn, El Paso

The double-cheese, double-meat Rosco burger is a sock-it-to-me assembly of smoky beef patties that are seared on the outside yet juicy in the middle; slabs of melted good ol’ American cheese; and a warm bun that tastes as if it were made fresh that very morning. All of this is framed with crisp lettuce and nice ripe tomatoes. Plus, the constantly sizzling grill gives this old-timey burger joint a lovely, come-hither cheeseburger scent. Rogelio Carrasco first opened the place in 1955 in a converted house; three generations later, it’s chugging right along. 3829 Tompkins Rd., 915-564-9028. Closed Sun & Mon. LBH

No. 44
Stopher Burger
$7.75 (Fries are included in this price.)
Port Aransas Brewing Company, Port Aransas

O frabjous day! A beachy brewpub that sells great burgers! Our ice-cold mug went beautifully with the Stopher—a handmade peppery patty on a slightly sweet homemade bun that was toasty-buttery-crunchy on the outside and just-right chewy on the inside. The classic condiments were fresh, and the sweet-potato fries were crispily delicious. Unwind while you listen to the seagulls and nurse another beer under a shady umbrella on the deck. 429 N. Alister, 361-749-2739. PBM

No. 45
Mesquite Burger
$5.50
Goode Company Hamburgers and Taqueria, Houston

Don’t forget the fries. At Goode Company they’re hand-cut and as appealing in their salty-peppery goodness as the sunny vibe in this neighborhood restaurant. The burger comes on a sesame-studded buttery bun with sprightly iceberg leaves, generous slices of onion, and juicy red tomatoes. You add jazzy fixin’s like salsa and guacamole from the condiments bar. The slightly fatty charbroiled beef patty recalls family backyard cookouts of yore. Luckily, Dad wasn’t around this time to make us share. 4902 Kirby Dr., 713-520-9153. MG

No. 46
Green Chile Swissburger
$6.99
Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar, Dallas

This is a classic Dallas place to grab a burger after work, watch the game, and drink a beer, and it’s also great for families. The laid-back Greenville Avenue original opened in 1978; since then more locations have sprouted around Dallas. But what remains the same is the quality of that big, mouthwatering burger, particularly the cheesy-tangy Green Chile Swissburger piled high with crisp shredded lettuce and fat tomato slices. And while it’s tough to beat the great fries, you’d be crazy not to order the cheddar fries at a place that’s bold enough to claim it invented them. 3526 Greenville Ave., 214-826-6850. Seven other locations in Dallas. BDS

No. 47
Diablo Burger
$10.95 (Fries are included in this price.)
Fred’s Texas Café, Fort Worth

Half a pound of ground beef is grilled and topped with taste bud–searing chipotles, heaped with Swiss cheese, and crowned with onion, pickles, tomato, lettuce, and mustard. The spicy elements play off perfectly against the cool and leafy ones; melted cheese provides the glue that holds it all together. Note: Don’t even think about wedging yourself into this popular, boisterous cafe and bar at rush hour. 915 Currie, 817-332-0083. Closed Mon. ER

No. 48
Hamburguesa Mexicana
$4.39 (Fries are included in this price.)
Speedy’s Burger, Houston

This sandwich is a brilliant example of Tex-Mex fusion: Take a patty and bun, blanket the meat in queso blanco, add a glossy slice of salty ham and a scattering of sliced jalapeños, and keep piling on with slivers of ripe avocado along with—wait, let’s do this in Spanish because it sounds so much better— tomate fresco, mayonesa, mostaza, lechuga, y cebolla. The result is a spicy, border-crossing delight that completely befits this homey pink-walled spot on Houston’s north side. 6303 Irvington Blvd., 713-692-4435. MS

No. 49
Hamburger
$6.95
Gourmet Burger Grill, San Antonio

You bite gently, and the patty’s grill-striped exterior yields to a moist, medium-rare center. Fashioned from eight ounces of Certified Angus, the meat is seasoned both inside and out and served on a toasted, fresh-baked sourdough roll. Customize it with weird and wonderful toppings (grilled pineapple or roasted red pepper, anyone?) and cheeses (American for old-schoolers, Camembert for Francophiles). The setting is more strip center than venerable burger joint, but close your eyes and the burger will convince you otherwise. 18414 U.S. 281 N, Ste. 116; 210-545-3800. KNP

No. 50
#1 Jakes Special
$5.49
Jakes, Dallas

Noticing the billboards for Jakes scattered across the Metroplex, you might be tempted to give the place a try. Good decision. The #1 Jakes Special is big—two thin but juicy and well-seasoned patties topped with American cheese and Thousand Island dressing (you’ll be shocked at how well the sweet tomatoey flavor complements the meat). Also unique to Jakes: buttery toasted poppy seed buns from a local bakery. 6606 Skillman Rd., 214-349-1422. BP

Read these additional stories from The 50 Greatest Hamburgers in Texas:

Famous Texans on Their Favorite Burgers
Rebecca Robinson, Joaquin Jackson, Little Joe Hernandez, Michael Williams, Betty Buckley, and Bum Phillips dish.

Whatastory
How a modest Corpus Christi burger stand became a Texas icon.

The World’s First Hamburger
It was served in Athens, Texas, no matter what Mr. Cutlets says.

How We Did It
Our 31 researchers were given rigorous training and dispatched to the field.

Pages: 1 2 3 4