The Fifty Best Burgers in Texas: The List
You can access the full story on texasmonthly.com (subscriber-only), but here’s the list, just to get your tastebuds revved up. Also, there are lots of related burger sidebars that we couldn’t squeeze into the magazine. Check them out.
The list is ranked in order of our preference from one to fifty, with the name of the restaurant first. The exact burger we sampled is listed–if you haven’t had it, go try it before you leave a comment. The same place may offer burger variations that range from great to good to yuck. Trust us on this–we ate at more than 250 places to choose the top 50. (Pictured: Dutch’s, Fort Worth, #8.)
1. The Grape, Dallas, Classic Cheeseburger
2. Counter Cafe, Austin, Counter Burger
3. Alamo Springs Cafe, Fredericksburg, Cheeseburger (with green chiles on a jalapeno-cheese bun)
4. Toro Burger Bar, El Paso, Toro Burger
5. The Cove, San Antonio, Texas Burger
6. The Porch, Dallas, The Stodg
7. Perini Ranch Steakhouse, Buffalo Gap, Hamburger Steak on a Bun
8. Dutch’s, Fort Worth, Bacon and Bleu Cheese Burger
9. Beck’s Prime, Houston, Bacon Cheeseburger
10. Orlando’s, Lubbock, Cheeseburger in Paradise
11. White Buffalo Bar, Gage Hotel Marathon, Buffalo Burger
12. Cover 3, Austin, Chop-House Burger (with cheese and bacon)
13. Burger Fresh, Conroe, 1/2 Pound Burger
14. Burger Tex II, Austin, Burgogi Burger
15. Twisted Root Burger Co., Dallas, Hamburger
16. Max’s Wine Dive, Austin and Houston, Kobe Beef Burger
17. Love Shack, Fort Worth, Dirty Love Burger
18. Fatty’s Burgers & More, San Antonio, Ref Burger
19. MoMak’s Backyard Malts & Burgers, San Antonio, MoMak Classic Burger
20. Kelly’s Eastside, Plano, Southwestern Burger
21. Big’z Burger Joint, San Antonio, Big’z Famous No. 1
22. Chicken Oil Co., Bryan, Snuffy Burger
23. Cafe Michael Burger, Galveston, Tiki Burger
24. Burgers, Fries and Cherry Pies, Midland, The French Connection Burger
25. Mockingbird Bistro, Houston, American Kobe Beef Burger
26. Parkside, Austin, Cheeseburger
27. Black Sheep Lodge, Austin, Black Buffalo Burger
28. Miss Hattie’s Cafe and Saloon, San Angelo, Miss Hattie Burger
29. Mel’s Country Cafe, Tomball, Double Hamburger
30. Roaring Fork, Austin, Half Ass Burger (also in San Antonio)
31. Gene’s Tasty Burger, Wichita Falls, Frisco Burger
32. Cliff Cafe, Dallas, Brie and Granny Smith Burger
33. Bracken Store Cafe, San Antonio, Bean and Frito Burger
34. Sam’s Deli Diner, Houston, Hamburger
35. Dry Creek Cafe, Houston, The Regular (with asadero cheese)
36. Hamburger Store, Jefferson, Build-Your-Own Burger
37. Mighty Fine, Austin, Hamburger
38. Roadhouse, Bastrop, Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger
39. Lankford Grocery and Market, Houston, Old-Fashioned Hamburger
40. Classics Burgers and “Moore,” Kerrville, Cheeseburger
41. Koffee Kup Family Restaurant, Hico, Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger
42. Hruska’s Store and Bakery, Ellinger, Cheeseburger
43. Rosco’s Burger Inn, El Paso, Rosco Burger
44. Port Aransas Brewing Company, Port Aransas, Stopher Burger
45. Goode Company Hamburgers and Taqueria, Houston, Mesquite Burger
46. Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar, Dallas, Green Chile Swissburger
47. Fred’s Texas Cafe, Fort Worth, Diablo Burger
48. Speedy’s Burger, Houston, Hamburguesa Mexicana
49. Gourmet Burger Grill, San Antonio, Hamburger
50. Jakes, Dallas, #1 Jakes Special
Tagged: 50 best burgers, dallas, dutch’s forth worth, texas monthly, the grape.
judy wilson says:
Gues I missed Kincaids on your list, huh?
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Gabe Terrell Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Where is Kincaid’s Hamburgers on the list?
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William Reply:
August 15th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Kincaids isn’t deserving.
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monte mason says:
One of the best classic, old fashion hamburgers…anywhere….is Herd’s Hamburger in Jacksboro, Texas. They obviously never tried one.
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Herds Fan Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I second the Herds nomination – The Best Ever!
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I like the name–Herd’s. It has Texas authenticity. We’ll put it on the list to check next time we do this story (I should live so long . . . .). Pat
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Anonymous Reply:
August 1st, 2009 at 6:47 am
THIS IS VERY TRUE! WE PLAN OUR TRIPS SO THAT WE CAN EAT AT HERDS!
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#1 Herds Fan Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Herd’s in Jacksboro is the single best burger in TX! I can’t believe all the burger joints are mostly in big cities. I don’t feel like a true effort was put in the story without more small town joints! Please checkout Herds Hamburgers! It truly is the best you will ever have!
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Anonymous Reply:
November 28th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Herds is by far the greatest burger in the nation…. When I get the chance to eat there I get two double meat burgers just so I won’t be sad when the first one is gone. Greatest burger ever..
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Anonymous Reply:
November 28th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Omg- Herds burgers are melt in your mouth goodness!! We also plan or trips home around a burger at Herds!! LL
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Susan says:
Glad to see Cafe Michael Burger and Dutch’s, but it looks to me like you’re missing Tookies (Seabrook), Kincaid’s (Fort Worth), Tommy’s (Fort Worth), Al’s (Arlington) and Dean’s (Huntington). Maybe next year…..
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Tookie’s was closed, last we heard.
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karen Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
tookies has been closed almost a full year.
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Anonymous Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
yep
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josh Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Tookies never oppened back up after Hurricane Ike
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Chris from Euless says:
what about Kincaid’s in Ft. worth and Al’s in Arlington? Kincaid’s is listed as one of the best burgers in the nation, but not top 50 in Texas? Al’s is just a good old fashioned burger joint that serves a very good burger.
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Donna says:
What about the No. 1 Burger from last year — Winfield’s in Dallas? And Adair’s? I’m having a hard time believing a wine bistro has the No. 1 burger in Texas. I’ll reserve final judgment.
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Amber Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I’m with Donna. Question is, how much does it cost?
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Chris says:
Who is Pat Sharpe and how did he/she come up with this list? Did Sharpe actually taste every one of these burgers? And are these the only ones tested? So many other places that trump this list.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Hey, Chris. Thanks for the inquiry. All is explained if you look at the main story, but basically, more than 30 Texas Monthly staff members and restaurant reviewers participated, statewide. We went to more than 250 places and tried more than one burger at a lot of them, so I would say we sampled a minimum of 350 individual burgers. I personally sampled 57, including all the top ten. I’m a fourth-generation Texan and have been with Texas Monthly for 33 years. Grew up in Austin. — Ms. Pat (Food Editor)
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thgirbla Reply:
January 15th, 2010 at 1:23 am
“Burp !!!”
‘cuse me !!!
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adam l says:
Hold up. I can’t really comment on the rest of the state, but as far as Austin goes, how could both Hut’s and Top Notch (Top Pick or the Longhorn Special)and to a lesser degree, Casino El Camino be excluded from this list?
You include Cover 3, Max’s Wine Dive, Counter Cafe(at #2??)and Black Sheep Lodge, and Mighty Fine, all of which have opened their doors within the last year or two, but omit numerous Austin institutions that have been serving up delicious burgers to satisfied customers for decades?
Call me crazy, but this seems like more of a PR coup for new restaurants than a legit best burger list. There’s something to be said for longevity.
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danny longoria says:
we make a burger ,jerky and sausage out of brisket.we were in tx monthly 03 06 . the star telegram had us best hamburgers in dfw area followed by kincaids.sevaral other articals in the startelegram . we carry a 100 on our health dept except one 97 in 12 years of bussiness. the reason we were not mentioned is that all the hbs you mentioned are fried . we in texas born ,smoke the best texas hamburgers in the world.no preservatives just brisket . thanks
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David DeFalco says:
Oh, please! Any top 50 burger list that doesn’t have Kincaid’s (Ft. Worth), Mike’s (Ft. Worth) or Al’s (Arlington) ANYwhere on the list is just plain bogus. ‘Nuff said.
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Jeff says:
A wine bistro (The Grape) at no. 1 and an Italian restaurant at no. 10 (Orlando’s)? What’s going on here? Why not put Olive Garden on the list too.
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Roy Conner says:
Finally a burger list that does’nt have that over rated Kincaid’s burger.The meat has no flavor.
Thanks Texas Magazine
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Stephanie says:
Thanks for all your hard work and fat intake to determine the top 50 burger list. I see everyone has their favorites…as do I. Did you stop by Kenny’s Burger Joint in Frisco??? To die for.
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Scott says:
I had the burger at The Grape. It is unbelieveably good.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
They’re thinking they may offer it all day Sunday. That would be great.
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Oliver says:
The Grape burger is awesome. Excellent choice!
Fred’s in Fort Worth is a great one as well. I also like the flame-thrower at Chris Madrid’s in San Antonio.
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Sammy says:
Re: Austin: Thank goodness Huts is not on here. Talk about an over-rated burger. I am surprised, though, that Casino El Camino is not on here.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
You’re so right on Hut’s. You know, we debated long and hard on Casino El Camino. It was a close one, I have to say. Some decisions hurt. Pat
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kym Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 8:51 am
Amazing how people get worked up over an article. I think its great, intead of cooking my way through Julia’s cookbook I’m going to eat my way thru your list.
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Chris Berchelmann says:
How could you leave Chris Madrids Burgers and Tacos in San Antonio off the list? They are the best! I’m a seasoned burger eater and have enjoyed them all over the country but always return to my roots at Chris Madrids. No place compares.
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Rebecca Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Finally, someone who knows a great burger when they eat one. Chris Madrids was a terrible oversight. Try the Macho Tostada Burger as well. You’ll go back everytime you are in San Antonio….we do!
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Thanks, Rebecca. I will say that I have a soft place in my heart for Chris Madrid’s, but the admittedly compelling Macho Tostada Burger is in a class by itself. If you just have a plain burger and especially if you taste the meat alone, without all the fixin’s, it leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why so many of the old Texas favorites aren’t on this list–unseasoned meat, not juicy, overcooked. Pat Sharpe
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Anonymous says:
this list is way off. the big cities are too represented. Nothing in Waco? Stockyards? Dubl-R? C’mon.
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SA Native says:
Chris Madrids in San Antonio will always be my #1!!!!!
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Ryan Kost says:
I just about threw your issue back at the magazine rack. No Chris Madrid’s (voted #2 in the COUNTRY by aol.com and citysearch)? And seven other no-name burgers from SA (one of which is a chain)? You didn’t even get the rankings within the major cities of Texas correct. SA….wrong. Austin…..terrible. You should just remove the name “Texas” from your title and call yourselves “We Don’t Know Jack About This State Monthly”.
It’s going to be a long time before I pick up another Texas Monthly….and I am not kidding. But you can bet I’ll be picking up a Macho Tostada sometime next week.
Keep doing your thing Chris (sin cebollas).
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Debra says:
Wow, Texas Monthly is sure taking a hit..But, congrats to Alamo Springs Cafe for making the cover. Been there, did that and the place and food is awesome..Good call for TM. How you even found the place is amazing in itself. It really is in the middle of nowhere.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Our restaurant reviewers out that way turned us onto it about a year or two ago. It rocks. Pat
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Pam Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
My family went to Alamo Springs Cafe last weekend. Had it not been for me trying to spare my brother’s feelings, since he recommended it and drove us out there, I would have left!! My first clue should have been when our waitress came to our table and said, “My name is ____, and I have a runny nose.”
It was a dump! The place was filthy, no fries..they ran out of potatoes, the onion rings were a big basket of greasy onions with no batter, FLIES, FLIES, & more FLIES!!! BTW, who still allows smoking INSIDE their eating establishment??!! The burger that I had looked NOTHING like the one on the cover of Texas Monthly. I cannot believe they recommend this DUMP!!
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WOW Reply:
August 23rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
wow says that you are totally right. sure the burgers were okay, but that place can definitely not handle that kind of publicity!!!
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Steve Hall says:
Five Guys may be a chain, but they do burgers right. They use fresh, not pickled, jalapenos which have a real bite. I believe the Five Guys in Austin is better than Mighty Fine.
Thanks for your picks. The list will make for fun road trips.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Thanks for the compliments (we’re getting pretty beat up, in general). I like Five Guys too, but it’s a chain out of Seattle so we couldn’t use it, per our house rules on no out-of-state chains. Pat
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Michael Reply:
September 6th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Five Guys is NOT out of Seattle, it is from Washington D.C. still out of the competition which is fine.
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Noah says:
Any list that leaves Angry Dog out in Dallas is seriously suspect.
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Brian Sweany Reply:
July 27th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Noah,
As a native Dallasite who ate at the Angry Dog for this story, I have to disagree: for a great hot dog, eat at the Angry Dog. For a great burger, walk down the street and eat at Twisted Root.
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Michael Parker says:
Please give our burgers a try next time you do a best of Texas. We have been using fresh never frozen 1/2 lb burgers made with Creekstone Farms beef that has never been given hormones or antibiotics. Our latest menu is very burger-centric but was out too late to make the cut this year. I would put our Urban Bubba burger up against any other burger in the state. Check it out.
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james says:
For all those who cant afford the burger at the grape and say its bad, shut up, for all those who have not tried it and talk poorly about it, shut up, for all those who like it, well, you are savants!
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
James, I love you, man.
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juz says:
The only thing this list is good for is wiping your rear.
Becks as the top spot for Houston?? PLEASE…It’s decent for a regional chain but it cant hold a candle to Christians Totem, Lankfords, Millers Cafe, Bellaire Broiler or Bubbas Buffalo
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Lankford’s is on the list–but you’re right that the others you mention aren’t.
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batdoc Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 8:33 am
You must not have had a chance to check out Southwells near the Medical Ctr and I-10 West. They have the greatest mushroom swiss and other burgers.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
We’re making a list of all the ones that people are suggesting. Thanks for the tip! Pat
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Sean Stoner says:
@Judy -
Amen! Technically, Max’s had the top Houston spot, but I don’t uunderstand the Dry Creek entry either. Decent, but not on a list. In addition to Judy’s list I would include the sleeper King Biscuit Cafe (when they have a good cook on shift) to the Houston list. I would also add Hubcap grill and a couple of others I can’t conjure up. Also the 105 Grocery in Navasota.
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GM says:
So if I charged $25 for a burger would it be at the top of the list? The trick to make a good burger at a burger price.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Thanks for the observation, GM. Yes, I agree that price is a factor that can ramp up a burger’s quality, but, hey, we have plenty of good cheap burgers on the list, too: Burger Fresh in Conroe ($5.79); Twisted Root Burger Company in Dallas ($4.99); MoMak’s Backyard Malts & Burgers in San Antonio ($4.99); Love Shack in Fort Worth ($5.77); Fatty’s Burgers and More in San Antonio ($5.99). The list goes on. Were these in the top ten? No. But neither was the $29 American Kobe Beef burger at Mockingbird Bistro in Houston (it was #25). Pat
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Greg Gibbs says:
As usual you pretty much ignored Deep East Texas.
The PineyWoods??? Yall have’nt showed up here in
30 years! Ray’s,Mom’s,Dean’s,Thompson’s Pharmacy
all in or around Lufkin. Tons of burger shacks
from Cleveland to Texarkana. Last Word: Any
burger over five bucks ain’t a burger.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 27th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Hi, Greg: I don’t know if you count these as DEEP East Texas, but we do have three East Texas cities and towns: Conroe at #13 (Burger Fresh), Tomball at # 29 (Mel’s), and Jefferson at #26 (Hamburger Store). We sent eaters around to as many cities and towns as we could visit. Thanks for the other tips. Next time. Pat
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George says:
In San Antonio, Chris Madrid’s has been the top rated Burger for years. I have eaten there since Chris bought it from Larry and the Alpine Ice House served cold Longnecks.
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Wes says:
Is this Texas Monthly or is it now California Yuppie Monthly? No Kincaid’s, Keller’s, or Mike’s Pub? And a wine bar? Give me a break! And of course, y’all don’t even think of anything that’s more than a 4 hour drive from Austin, or you’d have considered the burgers in Lubbock.
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Pat Sharpe says:
Hey, Wes, our guys tasted a lot — I’d say half a dozen or more — of the burgers in Lubbock, but the only one that made the cut was the Cheeseburger in Paradise at Orlando’s. And that one is a great burger.
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ricky toms says:
We get emails from our cousin in Bryan talking about a place called Stover Bros. burgers. The guy uses Organic meat and makes it taste like old fashioned greasy burgers. Did ya’ll actually put a burger with avacado on a Texas burger list?
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Hi, Ricky. I’ll check out Stover Bros next time we do the story, or next time I’m in Bryan. Thanks for letting me know about it. Yeah, we put a burger with avocado on the cover (yum). Is that more shocking than a Texas burger made with organic meat that tastes like a greasy-spoon burger? It’s a brave new world. Pat
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Red Ganus says:
If I noticed correctly, the majority of the burgers were from the major cities. In my humble opinion, a Bob Pal burger from Superburger in Monahans belongs in the top ten. How about Bubba’s Burger in Harleton? It could at least make Honorable Mention. The holes in the wall always make the best burgers.
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Dick Barron says:
You’ve GOT to have Kincaid’s FW on your list for this to be a legit list.
Anybody from your staff try a Scotty Burger in Wichita Falls?
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Doyle says:
There is no way that Hamburger Depot in Beaumont was in on this taste test. Hamburger Depot is the “Best” I have tasted. I promise it will not disappoint like this list!!!
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Courtney says:
Glad to see Road House (#38) listed. I’ve never tried the jalapeno cream cheese burger, but I can vouch for just the regular cheese burger on sourdough.. the best I’ve ever had. We always make it a point to stop by every time we go through Bastrop.
If you haven’t visited, I recommend you do!
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Hi, Courtney. I love that little place. I think I’d drive 30 miles to Bastrop just to sit on the porch and have a burger right now. (Well, maybe when the temperature drops below 105.) Pat
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Dave says:
I have lived in FW for 30 years, and I’m glad someone finally realized that the “new” Kinkaid’s is overrated and is NOT the original! Charlie’s is much better. Also, great pick on Alamo Springs, Dutch’s, Fred’s, and Chicken Oil Co.
Next year, might try out Grump’s in Granbury and Stephenville.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 27th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Thanks, Dave. We’re taking a lot of heat for omitting Kincaid’s, but we stand by our decision and are glad to have a 30-year FW veteran back it up. Pat
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Jacob Cook says:
Lil Gals Hamburgers in Zavalla, Texas (24 miles south of Lufkin) has by far the best hamburgers I have ever placed in my mouth Texas Monthly should investigate that one. Its at the Forks of State Highway 63 and State Highway 147.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Thanks for that tip. I’m already compiling a big old list for the next burger story (I should live so long . . . ). Pat
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Jenny B. says:
Mark me down for Chris Madrid’s – ate there twice this week! If the criteria is ‘naked burger’ why are there bleu cheese, brie, toro and goodness knows what else on the list? Shame on you Pat!
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Thanks for the feedback, Jenny B: We’re taking heat on Chris Madrid’s, which has the biggest unofficial fan club in Texas, as I am discovering every single day! But we never said our primary criteria was a “naked” burger. We tasted the meat alone first to isolate it from the fixin’s, and, yes, we gave considerable weight to the quality and cooking of the meat patty, but our final evaluation factored in everything on the burger. Pat
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Sally says:
This is the saddest list in Texas.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
You know, everybody is totally entitled to their own opinion, but I recommend trying out some of the choices, strange though they may seem. You might be surprised. Pat
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Sally says:
I mean, seriously, Mighty Freakin’ Fine? I have tears in my eyes, it’s painful to read. You can get a better burger at Whataburger than Mighty Fine.
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Shannon says:
Has anyone tried the burger at Neighborhood Services in Dallas. It should be #1 on this list!
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Good tip. Nick knows his burgers, that’s for sure. We’ll keep it in mind for next time. Pat
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Marty says:
How can you compare apples to oranges? Or should I say “Bean and Frito Burgers” to “Bacon and Bleu Cheese Burgers”? You even put a buffalo burger in there? Why not include elk or ostrich? Covering a hamburger up with lots of flavoring doesn’t grade the hamburger. Must be why you called them “burgers” and not “hamburgers”. But then, you blew the BBQ issue as well. You must really like fat and grease. The only thing you should include with your hamburger is fries. And not “cheese fries” or “chili fries” or “jalapeno fries” or . . .
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Jessica says:
How about the Rio Grande Valley? Sweet Delights. A Bertha burger is a must try!
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Jessica says:
Whoops! A Bertha burger is in Donna not at Sweet Delights.
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Chessy says:
It is a disgrace that you missed the very best hamburger in Texas. I have eaten at nineteen of the places listed in the hamburger article and nobody even comes close to the White House Meat Market in Odessa. They have been in business for over fifty years. Their hamburger is hands down the finest in the state. The meat is ground fresh daily and is out of this world. It is a crime that you missed this place. No other burger in the state compares. You guys really blew it on this article. Stop by White House Meat Market and see for yourself.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 10:48 am
Dear Chessy, I appreciate your passionate comment. For the record, our tasters did indeed visit the White House Meat Market in Odessa, knowing its reputation. It was the first place we tried in that city. We don’t question the excellent quality of market’s raw meat, but I’m very sad to say that the burger patty, on the day we had it, was overcooked, verging on charred, the lettuce was wilted, and the tomatoes were not ripe. We had so looked forward to this burger and were very disappointed it did not make the list. Does that mean every burger from the White House is sub-par? No. It does mean the quality is inconsistent. Yes. Some people might say give them another try. We can’t do that and be fair. We gave each of the more than 350 burgers we tried (at 250 places) one chance. I regret the White House didn’t live up to its reputation, but that’s the way it was. Pat
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Phil from Amarillo says:
Hey, Chessy above is absolutely right! Not only does the White House Meat Market in Odessa serve up the Best Burgers in Texas, but they have the friendliest group of guys working there that you will ever meet! Drop in some time and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 10:49 am
Hi, Phil: I just replied to Chessy. I’m sure the guys working at the White House are the best. It sounds like a great place, overall. Pat
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Tom Crosby says:
While I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying some of the burgers listed in the Austin-San Antonio area, I must comment that a couple of burgers that could have topped the list, at least in this area, were missed.
If you get the chance, stop by a little place called “My Place” just up 281 a few miles outside 1604 in San Antonio…you won’t be disappointed. The burger is not only hearty, but deeelicious!
Then there is T-46, on hwy 46 east of 281 about 3 miles. The burger here is a comfort food favorite…and the atmosphere (if it matters) will take you back several years. Friends and family from as far away as Montana have loved this place and their burgers.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 11:08 am
Thank you, Tom! This is how the second edition of a story gets started, one reader tip at a time. We appreciate it! Pat
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Bob says:
I rarely eat a hamburger…but, when I do, it’s usually at Goode Co. in Houston…..medium rare and then topped with their great pico de gallo. It’s awesome !
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Jan Benton says:
You must not have stopped by the WhiteHouse Meat Market in Odessa, Texas. The burgers there are by far the best in the State, I can’t believe they didn’t make the list. I have eaten burgers all over the world and none compare. The jalapeno patties are THE BEST ! Stop in, you REALLY need to try the BEST!
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 10:51 am
Thanks, Jan. I just checked in with my Midland area folks, who refreshed me about their visit to the White House. I replied above, under Chessy’s post. In the meantime, thanks for your comment. The White House sure has some loyal fans! Pat
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Sam says:
WHITEHOUSE MEAT MARKET of Odessa, TX! This establishment should have an entire article to itself. I assume that is why it didn’t make your list…saving the best for last? Just ask the cast and crew of “Friday Night Lights”!
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chase says:
Seems like West Texas has finally spoke.I would have to believe you guys did not get a chance to visit White House Meat Market in Odessa.Next time you do this list,you should stop there.I have lived all over the state and believe me nothing compares to a cheeseburger from that place.
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Niki says:
My husband and I have decided to eat each of these burgers! We’ll be blogging our journey!
http://burdettburgerblog.blogspot.com/
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 10:53 am
Awesome, Niki! I love it. I’ll check your posts regularly. Happy eating, and be careful on the road. Pat
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Dave says:
I’ve had 6 from the TM list and they all deserve to make the list, but I object to the omission of Goff’s-Dallas, Health Camp-Waco, and Tex Miller’s-Cameron, the best burger in the United States of America, not just Texas. On the Ft. Worth debate, Fred’s and the Love Shack both legitimately beat out Kincaid’s.
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GW says:
The “Bubba Burger” at Fugler’s grocery store in between Marshall and Harleton is something of a local legend. It is by far the best burger these lips have ever tasted. The Longview News-Journal did a story on it not long ago.
This is no “city-slicker” burger. It is served in a little gas station on the side of the road and you can get it for less than three bucks. Add a “belly wash” (aka cold drink) and you are in business!
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 12:16 pm
“Belly wash”? Belly Wash!!!!!! Where does that come from? I love these Southern colloquialisms. pat
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Sharon says:
Where is Burger Depot in Beaumont? Can’t find any listing. Always looking for a place to stop on the way to the Casino!!
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Gary Reply:
August 1st, 2009 at 9:30 am
Hamburger Depot in Beaumont coming from Houston, take the Port Arthur exit on 259/96, go down about two miles and take the Florida Ave. exit. It is right on the highway. Can’t beat a good Depot burger!
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eddie says:
How about expanding the list to say, Best 250 Burgers in Texas? 50 just don’t do this big state right. I live about a mile from Sam Deli Diner, on your list, and 3 miles from Becks but rarely eat there. Both are really good however! But there is a no name small place on Hempstead Highway I have ate at, just big old good burgers, all under $5, anothe place on Antoine I can’t think of name but also delicious. Would like to see 50 Best Burgers list that possibly not in metro areas perhaps, as someone mentioned, no piney woods places and one can waste a whole day driving from place to place eating burgers like Wimpy on Tuesday in that neck of woods alone. Too bad Dirty’s of Houston no longer around, I worked there for 9 years and the burgers were tops, would warm the buns in bacon grease, and use real, not soy or cut, meat, even added angus burgers later. You folks whose favorite burger joints didn’t make this list keep letting us know your favorite places to try.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Hey, Eddie: Thanks for sharing the memories. I didn’t know there was once a Dirty’s of Houston. (I guess that’s a nickname that gets thrown around a lot.) Pat
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MIKE says:
WHERE DID GET YOUR BURGERS TESTER FROM THE NAPA VALLEY,CA WINE COUNTRY. YOU LEFT CHRISS MADRIDS OFF
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Ricky says:
First of all, kincaids is so over-rated it’s unreal. For the dallas area, winfields and chapps are where it’s at. chapps kind of blows now because they tried to switch to some boochit lean nolan ryan meat or something like that. Anywho, Casino should have made the top 50.
BTW. twisted root is also over-hyped. People just think it’s legit because it was on that diners/drive thrus/ and dives show.
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Beverly says:
Phil’s Ice House in Austin much better than Mighty Fine. Apprehensive about the politics of KKK in Hico.
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Stevo Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Amen! Interesting flavors and combinations, who can beat the 78704 Burger with Jalepenos, Avacado, Monterray Jack Cheese on toasted bun!!! MMMMMnnn!
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billy says:
chris madrids not on the list….sad. who’s writing a magazine about texas and didn’t include chris madrids? bet they aren’t from texas.
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jfb says:
Beck’s Prime (Houston) is no where near the best in town. Whoever did your tasting has no taste. Christians on Washington or Miller’s Cafe are the two best. Lankford Grocery is pretty good (or was 5 years ago – haven’t been back in a long time). I guess it’s all personal opinion.
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Kyle R Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Becks Prime is aweful!!! # 9 in the state they must be kidding! Bubba’s Burger Shack and Tornado Burger blow this establishment out of the water. Plus those who say 5 Guys is the best need to get their taste buds checked. Glad to see Cafe Michael Burger ate there when I was a kid and still remember how great it was.
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CJ says:
I really enjoy TM, and will continue to enjoy your magazine, but I really think you missed the mark on this article. Leaving out the great classic burger places (Chris Madrid’s, Kincaids, Hut’s) is like leaving Kreuz or Louie Mueller’s off of the top 50 barbeque. You guys did well on the barbeque article but failed miserably at burgers. I had been looking forward to this for a few months and am very disappointed.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
CJ: I agree that the places you mention have long-standing reputations and that they can be great fun to visit–Chris Madrid’s in particular has a wonderful atmosphere. But some of them are coasting on their laurels. Go try those classic burgers again and start by just tasting the meat alone. See how good it is without all the fixin’s (yellow mustard and strong dill pickles in particular) covering it up. Notice whether the meat patty is seasoned. Whether it’s overcooked or juicy. I’ll bet you’ll be shocked at how often the extra stuff covers up a mediocre burger. We did a blind tasting here as part of our training session and, believe me, some of our tasters had their eyes opened when they found out that the burger they thought they loved was the one they had just said “ewwwww” about. Pat
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Marty Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
You did not just test the meat alone.
I wish you had. That’s a list I want to see.
And then I would have mine with cheese, mustard and pickles.
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JackB, Dallas says:
There seems to be something a bit fishy (or should I say greasy) about your list.
In Dec 2008 your magazine included the 73 year old Rock Inn Cafe in Seymour (don’t confuse with Seymore, TX). Your article’s first mention is their hand-pressed burgers. They are truly extraordinary burgers that burst with flavor, yet they didn’t make your list of top 40 burgers. That seems inconsistent.
Another extraordinary burger people may want to try is from the
“Shopin Baskit” grocery store in Ballinger, TX. If you have 30 minutes to wait, the “deli” counter folks will take your burger order, then they’ll walk to the meat counter to get the fresh meat. On their way back the stroll through the produce section to gather the tomatoes and onions that you might have requested.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Hi, JackB: I love the idea of the burger makers shopping for your meat and fixin’s. That’s pretty dang fresh. Pat
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Matthew says:
They obviously didn’t stop in San Marcos. The Tap Room and Centerpoint Station have some of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten, and I’ve had a good portion of the ones from the Austin area that made the list. I’m also a little surprised that Casino El Camino didn’t make the list, even if I’m not crazy about them. I will agree with other posters that Hut’s is waaaay overrated.
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Patricia Sharpe says:
Hi, Matthew. Yes, people take Casino El Camino very seriously. I will say that it was one of the many burgers that was just shy of being on the final list. There were a lot that missed by a hair’s breadth. We’ll check out the Tap Room and Centerpoint Station next time. Thanks for mentioning it. Pat
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John says:
Ms. Sharpe,
Can you tell me if you or any of your associates visited Odessa, TX? I don’t think you would have left off The White House Meat Market if you did. It is without question the best burger in the State and dare I say the country. I understand you were trying to find different burgers and trying to get some people to branch out to new items but we are Texans and a burger is comfort food not something you should foofoo up.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 11:21 am
Dear John: Yep, our folks went to the White House. Out of respect to its many fans (all of whom seem to be taking inordinate pleasure in beating up on us), I explained the results of our visit under Chessy’s post, above (left on July 28, 3:01 p.m.). I appreciate your taking time to write. Pat
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Clovemite Johnson says:
I can’t believe your magazine claims to have covered the whole state of Texas in your so called quest to find the best burger. You totally missed White House Meat Market in Odessa, TX. Maybe your employees were too afraid to come try a hardcore burger in a hardcore town.
Clovemite Johnson
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 11:22 am
Hey, Clovemite. See my answer to Chessy’s post, which she left July 28 at 3:01. Thanks for posting. Pat
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John says:
I would not put down any of the “burgers” (and I use that term loosely) on this list without giving them a try first I believe every restaurant deserves a chance, but I do believe the burgers at White House Meat Market in Odessa, Texas would knock down the burgers on this list a few or several places down I cannot put into words how amazing the burgers are. I enjoy the fact that they kindly serve a ground fresh daily, and exceptionally juicy and tender burger. I know for a fact that if did like you mentioned in one of your earlier reply’s remove the fixins and things that would cover up a “mediocre burger” like the mustard and dill pickles the patties would still have amazing taste and be very juicy; I know this because on many previous visits I have noticed numerous people walk in and order just the cooked patties, Mostly because they cannot have buns or like there burgers plain. Beside the great burgers I would agree that there employees do have the customers best interest at heart. I’m greatly saddened that you would have not considered White House Meat Market your usually dependable magazine has let me and so many others down. There burgers are what Texas is all about.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 11:15 am
Hi, John, You White House Meat Market fans are a loyal bunch. As I explained in my reply to Chessy, above, we did indeed try the White House, with high hopes. I wish the results had been otherwise. I guess reasonable people will have to agree to disagree on this one. Thanks for standing up for your favorite. Pat
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Tucker says:
No offense Burgers,Fries, & Cherry Pies, but there’s no way they should make this list with White House Meat Market in a 500 mile radius. Since when should a burger be “FRENCH” what a disgrace. Trust me when I say White House Meat Market is where it’s at.
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jesse crawford says:
Great article. Can’t wait to try as many as I can. Looking forward to seeing an add-on to you list. Good idea to have a large selection of critics out on the tasteing trail breaking the way for Pat. Reading the blogs made me remember how excited Texans get over their burgers (as well as bar-b-q, fried chicken and mexican food). One thing I always remember is that the dress for a burger place is Levis (or jeans) otherwise, it’s not a burger just a menu item that probably overpriced but tasty. thanks jesse
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 11:11 am
Appreciate your comment, Jesse. Texans are indeed passionate about their burgers, as these posts testify. Pat
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Cole says:
Ms. Sharpe,
I appreciate your comment on White House Meat Market in Odessa. Although I do have to say I have eaten there twice a week for the last ten to fifteen years and can count on one hand the times burgers have been sub-par. It would sure be a disappointing ordeal if this place was not given a second chance in next year’s article. I would be very surprised if the same experience was repeated. Thank you very much for responses.
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scott says:
i went to the grape last sunday for the burger and it was pretty darn good. however, i do think adair’s in deep ellum shouldve made the list.
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Pat Sharpe says:
The folks at the Grape told us they went from an average of 12 burger orders on a Sunday to 130 after the story came out. Damnation. I hope we don’t destroy them. Pat
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GW says:
Pat — Did you guys try the Bubba Burger at Fulger’s outside of Harleton? I do not think that it would disappoint. It is only 15 minutes from the Hamburger Store in Jefferson. Although i eat at the Hamburger Store from time to time (and appreciate any deep East Texas spot getting a nod, I favor the “Bubba.” Bet it would crack the top ten.
But you better be hungry.
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Athene says:
Just had lunch at Cover 3 and had the Chop-House Burger (with cheese and bacon). Was ok, but didn’t think it was anything special.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Thank you for going to the trouble of eating it before posting an evaluation! I respect differences of opinion based on an actual tasting, even though it remains one of my favorites. Pat
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Clay Myers says:
These guys must have dodged Jacksboro TX-Herd’s hands down the best in the world. Kincaid’s makes a mean burger too and didn’t make the top 50? BS
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Hey, Clay: We’ll check out Herd’s next time we do the story–missed it this time. But not everybody is convinced about Kincaid’s (it’s not just us). See comment from Roy, above, posted July 23 at 3:16, as well as several others. But thanks for weighing in–that’s what makes horse racing (oops, bad choice of words. . .). Pat
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mcw says:
Take the time to visit Port O’Connor and try the cheeseburger at Josie’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina. It rivals any burger in the State. Smithhart’s in Lake Jackson is very tough to beat as well.
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Greg says:
Hamburger Depot in Beaumont has a very good burger! I’m a little disappointed to didn’t find a top-50 choice anywhere in the Beaumont / Port Arthur area.
A non-Texas must-have burger: Port of Call in New Orleans but you have to get it loaded, including sauteed mushrooms, and also get the baked potato, also loaded and with sauteed mushrooms!
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 5:09 pm
For some reason, we didn’t get a lot of tips on Beaumont before our 31 testers went out. So it was hard to know where to check. We had somebody assigned to the far southeast corner of the state, though. Thanks for your post. I wish we’d had it earlier. Love the sound of the Port of Call mushroom burger in NOLA. Pat
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Clint says:
Ms. Sharpe,
My name is Clint Fletcher and I am the owner of White House Meat Market in Odessa.I do appreciate my loyal fan base, but I do apologize for some of the course remarks my customers made.We have some very loyal customers.THANK GOD.I surprisingly agree with some of your replies.We lost our produce distributor about nine months ago and just recently found a solid replacement.We really appreciate your honest input on our burgers.The article itself was very well written and researched.We will be a better business because of your article. I grew up in this store with my dad and grandfather.This place has been owned by my family for over 53 years.This store absolutely means the world to me.We sell on average 300 hamburgers a day and have a great customer base.Your visit was a once in a long time disapointment.I will bet my bottom dollar we are on next year’s elite list.Thank you very much for taking time to reply to so many blogs.Please feel free to contact me at any time at the above email address. Take it from a pro you guys and girls wrote a great article.I look forward to seeing you next year as “THE BEST BURGER IN TEXAS”.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Clint, I can see why your customers are crazy about the White House Meat Market. This is one of the nicest letters I’ve received from the owner of a restaurant in all the 33 years I’ve been editing food stories at Texas Monthly. You are a true professional and a gentleman, and the next time we do this story, we will revisit White House with a clean slate. I’ll even try to go myself! Have a great weekend. Pat
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Alan says:
It’s obvious the writer has not been to Chris Madrid’s in San Antonio or there would have been a different #1. Lot’s of places have decent burgers but none compare to Chris Madrid’s. Whether you get the Tostado Burger, the Cheddar Cheesy or just a plain burger the taste is unique and delicious.
It’s a burger all Texan’s need to experience!
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Jam Sanitchat says:
Just want to thank you all for working so hard making this list. I have had so much fun trying them all and we are going on a road trip this Sunday to try some out.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:59 am
Cool, Jam. Let us know how you think the Austin area rankings stand up.Pat
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Mary says:
If you include Beck’s Prime, you lose. Crediblility that is.
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Gail says:
I read your post earlier Patricia and I hope you can stand another letter about White House Meat Market. The Meat Market is an awesome place to buy not only a hamburger but you feel like the “old days” where the guys behind the counter know your name. They sell the hamburger meat to take home and cook/grill too. Their steaks are great too. My dog loves me when I go because they sell bones for dogs. It is an all around great place. White House’s “fan club” can’t wait until you can come back next year.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I’m feeling the love for the White House Meat Market. Owner Clint Fletcher posted above, on July 31 at 5:13. He obviously cares very much about what he does, and I can see why he has so many fans. Pat
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Darren M says:
PO’s in Cypress, Tx is the BEST in NW Houston!! Burgers are juicy and the beer is cold!!!
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Wren says:
I agree on both sides about Chris Madrid’s. It is an amazing burger (I’m a cheese-aholic) but if it didn’t meet criteria then it’s not one of the best. I worked at Momak’s for nearly a year and I’m appalled that it made the Top 20. I’ve worked in many restaurants before them and the way they treat their food before it’s served is well… I wont go into detail. You could make a better burger at home. I was also very shocked to see that Longhorn Cafe off Blanco Rd inside Loop 1604 was not even on the list. Also that no one had mentioned it either. Now that’s an amazing burger for the price. I recommend trying them for your next list. Also GBG (Gourmet Burger Grill) should have surpassed Momaks by all means… I love GBG it’s worth spending the little extra. I wish I could travel and sample burgers around Texas, how do you get a bada$$ job like that?
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Wren, Gourmet Burger Grill was actually very, very close to being on the final list. We had a lot that basically tied, down around #50. I’m keeping a list for next time, and Longhorn Cafe will be on it, too. Appreciate the tips! Pat
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adam says:
Sounds like Chris Madrid’s has alot of family members or friends writing in this blog.These people sound bitter, but they’re all saying the same thing.I’ve eaten at several places on this list and at Chris Madrid’s.I have also eaten at Kincaid’s[Ft.WORTH] and White House MEAT Meat Market[Odessa].Those two deserve consideration, but sorry to say Chris Madrid’s should not be on this list. Good job Texas Monthly.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
A competing voice! Excellent. Thanks for your opinion. Pat
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Connie says:
I found this little place in Port Aransas, the Wild Horse Saloon and Grill, they had the best burgers!! They made a Jack and Coke burger that is to die for, amazing sauce, sauteed onions, onion roll. WOW! I am not sure any list is complete without that one. Hope you try it for next years list.
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Lowell Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Hey, the Wild Horse is the best! We went there last month and asked around as to where the best casual place to eat was. After three people referred us to the Wild Horse, we had to try it. It was well worth it! We ended up going back three times that weekend. Their Jack and Coke burger is fantastic. Of course, I had to order the Stampede burger since I was starving. Little did I know that all of their burgers are huge. Their prices are so cheap, that I was fooled into thinking that their meals would be skimpy. They’re Huge! My wife couldn’t believe that I got filled up.
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Skip Bradley says:
Hey Henry, great going, but you should have been #1, most likely because they miscounted a few “Hanging Chads” again.
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Mary says:
Beck’s Prime!!@ Are you kidding me?? Go back to square one. Silly, silly lady.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Mary, You might be interested to see Alison Cook’s blog (”Cook’s Tour”) in the Houston Chronicle. She was a skeptic, like you, so she went to Beck’s and gave two of their burgers the full-blown restaurant-reviewer treatment. Her conclusion: She remained unconvinced by the basic burger, but she dug the Bubba Burger. She wrote: “I just liked the way it sounded, with its simple addition of grated cheddar, mayo-based Prime sauce, tomato and chopped onion. I planned on inspecting it later. When I lost interest in my regulation cheddarburger, I hauled the Bubba from its sack and discovered that its restrained constellation of fixings allowed the mesquite-kissed beef flavor to shine through. And the grill guys had cooked it perfectly medium rare, so I could really appreciate the loose hand-formed texture. I polished off half of it and–true story–ate the second Bubba half cold, for breakfast the next day. I swear it was still good.”–The above a direct quote from Cook’s Tour. Check it out. — Pat
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Speedway J says:
I agree with Adam (July 23)… moved from Austin 2 years ago and hadn’t heard of any of those Austin spots. Good call though not succumbing to the over-hype of Hut’s.
Went to Alamo Springs in Luckenbach Friday – the burger on the cover is SO cover worthy.
1s to definitely consider next time:
Health Camp – Waco (35 North)
Chester’s – San Antonio (NE Loop 410)
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Gabe Terrell says:
Kincaid’s hamburgers are made from the very best U.S.D.A. choice boneless chuck available. The natural vegetarian-fed, hormone, antibiotic and preservative free beef is cut and ground fresh daily at each Kincaid’s location. The beef is then handmade into patties weighing 8 ounces each. The single largest day in Kincaid’s history (3,300 hamburgers) occurred on the Saturday after being chosen as making the “best hamburger in the U.S.A.” We strive to continually earn our “best burger” status by providing the highest quality product and the best customer service possible. Our thanks and gratitude go to our customers and our employees without whom there would be no Kincaid’s.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Dear Gabe Terrell: Judging by the entries on my blog, Kincaid’s customers are a highly loyal bunch. We have heard from them loud and clear. I appreciate your taking the time to write, and I completely believe everything you say about Kincaid’s meat and effort to provide the best customer service possible. But we will have to agree to disagree about what your customers and Texas Monthly — by whom I mean myself and the three other staff people who ate a burger there– feel is the ideal burger in terms of seasoning, cooking, and other details. Fortunately, it’s a big bodacious burger world out there and there is room for all tastes and opinions. Thanks for your thoughtful post. Best, Pat
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Chris says:
absurd Christian’s Tailgate in Houston isn’t on here.
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Mean Rachel says:
Clearly the person who was sent to cover the Gage had no idea that the truly best burger west of the Pecos exists next door to the Gage at Johnnie B’s. They hand-make their patties, butter the buns and they. are. to. die. for. Classic and delish.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Love this. We’ll check it out next time we do the story. Thanks! Pat
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horn74 says:
Curious if you went north of Lubbock at all? I’m from Dalhart and one would be hardpressed to find a better burger than “The Grill” or Perhaps the Dixie Dog In Perryton. And all too many more in the Panhandle to mention.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Well, Horn74, we did check Amarillo thoroughly (but none of its places made the top-50 list). However, we did do a special online video about the humongous burger at Arnold’s, in Amarillo. We didn’t have the man- and womanpower to send a reporter around the rest of the Panhandle, but your two tips are going in the file for future consideration. Thanks for your interest. Pat
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Jdw says:
Obviously not all places can be visited, but Loco Coyote outside of Glen Rose is a hole-in-the-wall place that unfortunately too many in the area know about and was missed in the list – probably due to the fact it’s legendary for its BBQ and portion sizes. However, they have a 1/2 lb cheeseburger on garlic-salted-buttered-grilled buns that are the absolute best I’ve ever had. I had leftovers for 2 days from it.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Awesome. I didn’t know Loco Coyote did burgers, though I had heard of the ‘cue. Pat
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Jdw says:
And to echo Danny Longoria’s sentiments from above – they too have a hamburger that is a class above the rest. However I love their brisket sausage so much that it’s hard for me to decide on which to eat.
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Lanny says:
Echoing Lowells comments, the Wild Horse Grill in Port A is amazing. I have been to a couple of the places on the list and I agree completely with their inclusion, but I love when a place makes everything from scratch. We had the Onion Chip and Peppercorn burger which was great. A great burger with their own version of onion rings on top of the burger. I cant imagine it not being included on next years list.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 8th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Stop! You’re making me hungry. Pat
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HC says:
Being forced to grow up in Northeast Texas, I hardly ever give it any props, but their burgers are something to talk about, and the area seems to have been left off of the list. I live in Austin now and can’t find a burger better than East Texas Burger Co. in Mineola. But I am looking forward to trying your suggestions around Texas and especially in Austin!
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steve says:
Everyone should try Chapps Cafe in and around Arlington. I believe they have 9 locations! Great food and serves Nolan Ryan’s All Natural Beef! Best Burger I have eaten in Arlington!
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Paul Schweizer says:
Suggestion for future consideration: Beckley Brewhouse, 1111 N. Beckley Avenue, Oak Cliff, Dallas 75203 – http://www.beckleybrewhouse.com. Unbelievably great dining!
The burger’s seasoning and meat quality, with toppings customized, set the “Beckley Burger” apart from all others. A bonus are the exceptional sweet potato fries.
The only two drawbacks are (i) no toasted buns and (ii) no milkshakes or malts.
I have managed to get a seat at The Grape tomorrow and am looking forward to the experience.
PAS
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 9th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
PAS: It’s incredible you got a seat on short notice; their business has increased five- or tenfold. Do a post on how it was, if you don’t mind. (I had a mini version the other night at an event we had there, and I thought the regular-size version works better: the ratios of meat to cheese to bun are better.) Pat
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PAS Reply:
August 9th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Pat –
Technically, I didn’t have a reservation, but the hostess assured me yesterday after I strongly indicated my desire to try out the burger, that I would be able to eat in the bar area without a reservation. (I am not sure that this will always be allowed.) I had a very comfortable table and terrific service.
Anyway, the burger was indeed exceptional – great smokey ground meat cooked to order (medium rare), crisp and fresh fries, and great garnishes – especially the pickles. My only mild criticisms might be that the cheese slice not be so thick or perhaps be slightly more melted and that a little more seasoning be added to the meat.
Whatever the case, the Classic Cheeseburger at The Grape was outstanding, well worth the extra effort/special visit. Thanks for the lead.
Still, Beckley Brewhouse’s built-to-order well-seasoned burgers would be solid competition for The Grape, and the bison chili cheese burger at the Chapman Chile Kitchen on Carroll Avenue in Dallas would be another strong contender worthy of future consideration.
Finally, in Glen Rose, you must try the cheeseburger at Taylor’s Turn and Burn (on the west side Hwy 67 just south of the Paluxy River) – unbelievable! – and Loco Coyote (also near Glen Rose) offers a cheeseburger that is delicious and large enough to easily feed four people, leaving leftovers.
Best – PAS
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CRS says:
I was surprised that The Loon (Dallas) was not on the 50 best burger list. I have personally been seeking out the best burger in Dallas over the last 3 years and, for my money, the Loon has the best burger…hands down. The reason it is so good is simple, burger architecture. When you order a burger, you are paying for expertise in the construction. You shouldn’t have to put the burger together yourself, as I noticed in the picture in the magazine, the #1 burger at The Grape is served with the lettuce and tomato etc on the side. Unacceptable. The Loonburger is perfectly constructed and maintains its integrity throughout. Further, the meat flavor is delicious and consistent. The Loon has the best burger in Texas.
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Patricia Sharpe says:
CRS: There are so many great burgers we didn’t have a chance to try (or the story would have been two years in the making). I’m putting the Loon on my list to check next time I’m in town. Appreciate the suggestion. Pat
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ant says:
herds is he best
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David says:
Snuffer’s? Gross. This list really sucks. The contributors clearly don’t live in Dallas.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
David: Concerning the staff members who did the Dallas checking for us: One lives in Dallas, one in Austin. The initial tips came almost entirely from people in Dallas. I’m sure that there are other good burgers in the city, but we did check about 15 to 20 of them. If you have favorites, by all means reply and give us your suggestions. Thanks for your post. Pat
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Regan says:
I know that you put forth a lot of effort compiling the list, thanks for that! The next time you are in Fort Worth I recommend the M & O. They have the best burgers, are the nicest folks, and you can check out the museum packed with memorabilia.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Thanks for that note, Regan: M&O was actually pretty close to being on the final list, but we had others we liked a little better. I agree it is a fun place, and I love the museum. Pat
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julyfargo says:
Next year….White House Meat Market, Odessa,Texas! See ya there!
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Chris Kyle says:
How could your reviewer possibly neglect to rank Chris Madrid’s, easily the best burgers in South Texas and possibly the State. For the record I have never even heard of at least two of the San Antonio listings. From the comments I see that I am not alone.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
I know Chris Madrid’s is a favorite, and as I’ve said before, it was close to making it. There were a lot of burger places with nearly identical scores at the end of the list. If you’ve not heard of two of the other places, you might want to check them out. You could be pleasantly surprised. Thanks for being interested enough to comment. Pat
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Joe says:
It seems as if you guys just went to the local newspapers and got a list of their “best of” advertisers awards and sampled those establishments.Next time you’re in Kerrville eat a Brown’s burger,it’s the real deal.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Hey, Joe: Here’s how we did the research: We sent out an email blast to friends, staff, and reviewers statewide. We checked stories published in other publications–no ads. The final list we came up with had 225 recommended places, and we visited more than 250 by the time it was all over. I’m sorry nobody recommended Brown’s in Kerrville, but we’ll check it for sure the next time we do the story. Thanks for the tip. Pat
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Michael Alanis Reply:
August 15th, 2009 at 7:09 am
Did you guys try out Hurb’s Burgers in Corpus Christi?
Is there a final list from #1 to #250 that we can see?
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Spanky's says:
There are some shitty burgers on this list.
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RD says:
Grapge Hamburger from Hell!
Went to your try the “#1 Best Burger” at The Grapge this past Sunday, 8/9/09. Not only was not the best burger I have enjoyed, it was truly the worst burger I have had in Dallas in 33 years. It was a glob of tastless, blood dripping, raw, gound meat. The order was for Medium Well.
To add insult to injury, when I asked the hostess to remove the plate, her response was ” I don’t do that”. And of couse The Grape did not remove the $12.00 hamburger from Hell off our bill
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Stephanie Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
You ordered it medium well–’nuff said
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I second that emotion. Pat
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Bill Bandy says:
I know that TM has a big job covering our state, but there is a lot of Texas outside of I-35. I will stack Amarillo’s own Coyote Bluff Cafe, Burger from Hell, up against any other burger on this list. You folks venture outside of Austin sometime and give it a try. Man vs Food thought is was great.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 10:31 am
The Burger from Hell! The name alone makes it worth checking. Pat
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Barry says:
I’m with Joe on those Brown’s burgers.I’ve been eating with those folks since the 60’s and they jusy keep getting better.
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poryorick says:
From personal experience, Casino’s Amarillo and Buffalo both beat a number of your top 50, so immediately there’s a loss of credibility. Then I see Mighty Fine. Case closed.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I’m thinking that Casino has a lot of friends, and there must be a good reason. It was definitely close to being on our list. Maybe we didn’t get it on its best day. Pat
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Mark says:
Pat,
Speaking for those of us in Far West Texas (El Paso) thanks for including Roscoe’s Burger Inn on your Top 50 list. But Toro Burger Bar? Puhleeze! It’s El Paso’s version of Kincaids – overrated. I tried the green chili cheeseburger there…meh. And speaking of Kincaids, I ate there when I was in Ft. Worth a couple of years ago and was NOT impressed! Between your list and the recommendations of the folks commenting, I’ll be checking out some of the burger joints in San Antonio and D/FW the next time I hit the road.
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smoke says:
Like several others, I have experienced Beck’s Prime here in Houston, and my experience was unremarkable. Based on your pointing out the review on chron.com I will go and try the Bubba Burger. Burger Fresh is next up on the list. Always looking for a traditional great burger.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I think it’s key to get the Prime Sauce, that’s my personal opinion. And be sure your burger is cooked no more than medium. Hope it’s as good when you visit as it was when I did. Thanks for your note. Pat
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Stephanie says:
Kudos to Fred’s and Lankford!
No great burgers in the Valley? I’d love to discover a good one within driving distance. Lee’s Pharmacy North in McAllen is the only contender I’ve had down here (best greasy spoon burger), but not sure how it would compete with these heavy hitters.
I enthusiastically second the vote for Neighborhood Services. Their burgers are AMAZING. I dropped a bite of meatball that my husband handed me on the ground and almost cried and wouldn’t let him give me another “because I didn’t deserve it”–that’s how regretful I was to waste any of their delicious ground/chopped meats. But expect to take a hit for being elitist on this selection… readers obviously take offense to expensive cafes being ranked over beloved holes in the wall.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Yeah, I’ve noticed that about championing expensive cafes. But there’s room for a little of everything. BTW, I feel your pain about the bite of meatball–couldn’t you have invoked the five-second rule? Pat
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Jud Harris says:
Re: Austin’s burgers… Why no Hill’s Cafe? Overcooked? Unripe tomatoes? We always order it medium-rare because that gets you medium.) Hill’s is a testament to the power of the bun. We tried Cover 3’s and found it to taste overly salty and charred, but we loved the fried. We’re headed to the Counter Cafe today – hopefully it’ll displace Hill’s, otherwise our desire to eat through this list will wane. Thanks for this list, nonetheless!
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 14th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Good luck getting into Counter–we hear it’s been SRO since the story came out. Glad you’re enjoying the list and I appreciate the nod toward Hill’s and the tip on how to order. Pat
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David says:
No doubt a thankless job, searching out all those burgers and, granted, we down here in the Rio Grande Valley are a long way from Austin but the border really is the Rio Grande River and not the Nueces River and we do have a few good places to eat. Burgerwise try Big Daddy’s in Brownsville. It’s the best burger in town and probably the best in the Valley. It’s a simple burger, the #3, with bacon and cheese and cut the pretense. The veggies are fresh and tasty and the fries are cut in the joint. Just a good place to eat.
David
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Tina says:
Thanks I need to go and try out some of those terrific burgers.
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Tina (Mommy's Kitchen) says:
There are a lot of great local spots. umm now I am hungry.
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Jarrod says:
Surprised the Charcoaler has not been mentioned. I’m 23 from George West but I’ve been all over Texas and El Paso’s Charcoaler burger was the best I ever ate.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 14th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Jarrod: I will say that a lot of burgers scored identically and we had to make tough decisions on those at the end of the list. I think the Charcoaler may have been in that category. Just because it didn’t make the top fifty doesn’t mean it was “bad.” It means it had a lot of competition. Pat
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Garrett W says:
In East Texas try Jucy’s in Longview. They are awesome.
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Daniel says:
Great article! As a San Antonio native, I have to agree with TM’s decision to keep Chris Madrid’s off the list. I have found them to be sloppy, over-cooked, and over-seasoned.
I would like to shout out to Timbo’s in San Antonio (Previously of Little Hipps), for their burgers as well as a awesome grilled chucked sandwich.
Additionally, I was very happy to see The Cove and Fatty’s both on the list. In my opinion, Fatty’s has the best burger in San Antonio, and The Cove has an incredible bison burger, using all locally grown, organic meat.
If your team ever needs an additional taste tester, let me know!
Thanks for a great article.
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Daniel Reply:
August 14th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Sorry, grilled chucked sandwich should read, “grilled chicken sandwich”. Damn iPhone corrective text!
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
August 15th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Wow. You may be the only person in San Antonio who’s not mad at us about Chris Madrid’s failing to make our list! Appreciate your post. Pat
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Stan says:
My wife and I went to Fredericksburg and could not wait to go to the Alamo Springs Cafe. Because of some posts, we expected to be waited on by the meanest wait staff in Texas.
We arrived at about 1:30 on a Thursday and did not experience the long lines that others have mentioned. Because of some posts, we had steeled ourselves to be treated rudely or slighted in some way. Our waitress, Amanda came over and she was friendly, humorous and engaging.
I asked about the cafe’s reputation for tough wait staff and she laughed and said that “That’s ——. She rolls her eyes a lot”. I kept telling Amanda that she seemed quite cheerful and friendly until my wife indicated that I had said enough.
If you expect to be met by two attractive girls in slinky black outfits behind a reservation desk and handed a toy flying saucer beeper, then skip this place.
About the burger. I have not tried the forty-nine other Texas Monthly burgers on the list but this burger was better than my Aunt Edna’s burger. Which leaves me with the problem of “more perfect than perfect”.
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Pat Sharpe says:
Stan, I’m sure Amanda enjoyed having you as a customer! Im glad they weren’t swamped–I’ve worried a lot about the waiting lines the story has created–we don’t want to destroy our favorite burger joints. Counteproductive, to say the least. Pat
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William says:
Gotta say that this a tough list to put together. That being said, I live in Austin and consider myself pretty discerning and a number of your top 50 burgers from here shouldn’t be on the list.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
William: Thanks for being civil, even though you don’t agree with everything! If you have a couple of favorites, I’m saving string for the next time we do this (I should live so long). Pat
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BurgerMan says:
Reading this article made me think of the Herd Burgers in Jacksboro– you guys must try next time. They have a taste all their own.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Other people suggested Herd’s, too. Sorry we didn’t get there. Pat
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BurgerMan says:
Patricia
Another thought– several years ago TM did a similar feature and Woody’s beer joint in Mineral Wells made the list– been years since I have been through there–are they still serving Burgers?
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
It was open as of November of last year. Pat
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Allie says:
How can you not have the Burger House in Dallas on here? The fact that it’s not illegitimizes this entire list for me.
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Joseph A. Fernandez says:
We tried Toro Burger in El Paso and were not very impressed. We went on a Saturday evening around 9:30PM. The restaurant was about 1/3 full. We place our order to go, which was was 5 hamburgers and 5 orders of fries. That was it. No drinks. We waited 45 minutes for our order and were charged almost $55 dollars! So much for that. We will never go there again. Give me Fuddruckers any day.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
So sorry it was inconsistent. We had two writers visit and on their visits, the burgers were great. I regret it didn’t live up to our rave. Yes, Fuddrucker’s does a great job. We didn’t list it because it was a national chain, but it did originate in Texas. Pat
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Benny Vargas says:
My wife and I went to the Alamo springs cafe past weekend. We thought the burger was fantastic! We loved the idea of self serve beer while you wait on your food. Next time anyone goes try the fried avocado appetizer, it was the best. By the way it was a 5 hour drive from Beaumont to get there. It was well worth the trip.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Whew! I’m so relieved when a place works out after a five-hour drive. I have heard from other people that the poor Alamo Springs Cafe is slammed most of the time these days. I hope we haven’t destroyed it! Pat
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Jimmie says:
Give me a double Whataburger any day of the week.
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George G says:
In Granbury, Grumps’ Double Meat Double Cheese is twice as good as their regular cheeseburger which is twice as good as any other burger in North Texas
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Small Town Texas Burgers says:
Really, this is the list? Did Texas Monthly even get off the beaten path? What a lame list … Not saying that the burgers listed here are unworthy, but seriously.
Do you even go to places that are outside of a 50 mile radius of Austin or that you can’t fly to via Southwest Airlines?
The best burgers are in hole-in-the-wall joints peppered throughtout the state’s small towns. 2 of the best burger joints in North Texas are Heard’s and Hole in the Wall, in Jacksboro and Newcastle, respectively.
Texas Monthly seems to only do stories and features centered around the largest cities and metro areas. The vast majority of Texas is untapped by the Texas Monthly editorial staff!
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Patricia Sharpe says:
Hi, “Small Town Texas Burgers,” I appreciate the sentiment. However, little cities and towns make up a respectable 24 percent of our total (12 out of 50): Fredericksburg, Marathon, Conroe, Bryan, San Angelo, Tomball, Wichita Falls, Jefferson, Bastrop, Kerrville, Ellinger, and Port Aransas. Yes, it’s true we did deliberately focus on bigger cities, because that’s where the vast majority of our readers live. We don’t neglect small towns, however–far from it. Did you see our December 2008 cover story on the “Top 40 Small-Town Cafes in Texas”? Every one of those was in a town smaller than 25,000. Also, the vast majority of our 50 best barbecue joints, in June 2008, were located in small towns. Thanks for your post. Pat
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Kellie says:
I was disappointed to see Chris Madrid’s in San Antonio and Phil’s Ice House in Austin absent from this list.
However, I’ve had burgers at Counter Cafe in Austin and Roadhouse in Bastrop since the artcile came out. I’m also a frequent diner at Mighty Fine. Those are some tasty burgers for sure – even if I’m not sure I’d rank them in the same order. If nothing else, we discovered the Counter Cafe. We’d never been there, but we’ll certainly be back to this very “Austin” establishment to sample menu items other than the burger.
While I might not agree 100% with the opinions of the contributors at Texas Monthly, I salute them for making a great list and taking a great amount of abuse from burger connoisseurs across the state.
I’m sure my family will make many road trips and take lots of detours to sample as many burgers on this list as possible. That will result in lots of calories, debate, but most of all, family fun!
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
August 24th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Hey, Kellie. Thanks for the compliment. The rankings were tough to do. It happened more than once that, say, four or five burgers would end up with the exact same score, and we had to arbitrarily decide which one got to be #30 and which one got to be #35. So take the ratings as a general guide rather than something numerically precise. We are talking about food, not rocket science! Pat
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Mark Norman says:
Thanks for the list. It can’t be perfect, but does give us a chance to try some new places. Did you try Bob’s Better Burger in Midland? We would go there anytime we were there.
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a guy from bridgeport,TX says:
herds is the single most best hambeurger in texas nothing else compares
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Mark says:
Momac’s in SA is a good spot and great burger, but Beefy’s is better (North SA)
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Mikey says:
White House Meat Market is awesome! I’ve been eating their burgers as part of Operation Get Swole, and my bench press has gone up over 100 lbs. in the past 3 months. Great protein there!
I feel like a a brand new man since I have discovered the White House Meat Market.
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Dear New Man: Can’t argue with results! (I noticed you didn’t say how much your weight had gone up . . . . ).
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Anne says:
Did you try Johnny B’s in Southlake? It is a great burger!
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 11:44 am
I am sorry to say we did not try it, but it’s on the list for the next burger round-up. Pat
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So Sad says:
Goff’s in Dallas should have made the list. Not to mention Health Camp (Waco)…
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Cecilia Balli says:
Genuine question: Do we not have any good burgers in south Texas?
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Dave says:
The followiong comment applies to most periodicals and web surveys that publish lists of good things: they do not publish them in a list, sorted by city or state, depending on the survey, thus making it difficult to have that list in hand while travelling to cities/states and easily finding the “good things” in areas one might be travelling in.
Can you sort the hamburger list by city for your readership?
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Patricia Sharpe Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
There is a map! Go to the home page, texasmonthly.com, click on Food. on the left there should be a line for Best Burgers. Click on that and on the next page, click on Map It. Pat
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Rick says:
Just echoing prior posts…Wild Horse Saloon in Port Aransas has the best burgers! Worth the trip to island alone.
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sam says:
Cant believe MoMacs made the list everybody around here goes for the atmosphere and puts up with the quality.The best burger in San Antonio is the Texas burger from Beefy’s Backyard just north of city limits.Cant believe they didnt make this list along with c. madrids
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Jeff says:
Add me to the list of San Antonio resident’s that does not care for Chris Madrids. Tried it twice and really didn’t see what all the hoopla was about. While I’m at it, Big’z and Longhorn are overrated as well. Too bad we can’t get In-N-Out!
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Monty says:
I’ve read TM for years now. The fact that they have such articles like this makes them a gem.
I only wish I could get around and try everything on their food list articles. Alas, I live here in southwestern NM.
For those who do venture to central NM, please visit the Buckhorn in San Antonio, NM. Their green chile cheeseburger recently beat Bobby Flays’s version on his show “Throwdown”.
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Any burger that beats Bobby Flay’s burger has got to be awesome! Pat
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Stephen says:
I am going to eat these 50 burgers! Not sure how long it will take, but I know it will be fun. I will be taking road trips with the family and the camper to get it done. I will keep track on my blog!
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Pat Sharpe Reply:
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Onward! Please add a post every time you try one, if you feel like it. Pat
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Matt says:
Well i like the list and hate the list…First I am in Ft. Worth and I must say I hate Kincaids burgers (its a meatball on bread?). I also hate that a hamburger sold a few hours once a week won??? Bet any of these places could beat the grape if they did not mass make burgers and only spent a couple hours once a week on something diffeent than the regular menu??? Love Dutch’s and the Love Shack and yes they are better than Kincaids! What I would like to see is a list of every place Texas Monthly tried, to see what was missed and to quiet those griping their place did not make it…I am sure some were missed but I know the places with a reputation were probably tried.
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Pat Sharpe says:
Hi, Matt: Well, we did try more than 200 places. And we made a concerted effort to visit all the ones with a reputation. I’d have to query all the reviewers to get the names, and I’m not sure they still have their travel notes handy. But I appreciate the idea. (I’m not sure it would quell the griping, though. I think it would just change to, ‘So, what was wrong with [fill in reader's favorite burger]?!”) Pat
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B. Happy says:
Hey everyone, we are in Texas, one of the bigest meat eating states in the country, it would take thousands of people to taste every burger every year. We need to let go of our ego’s and try some of these places that we have’nt tried. I thank the tasting staff at Texas Monthly and I look forward to trying some of the burgers I have’nt had the pleasure of tasting yet. Be well and happy.
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Matt M. says:
Houstonian here that has done some traveling in this state for sure! I agree with many of these burgers but I have to say after a business meeting in Beaumont that 1) The Hamburger Depot is totally legit. Pure Awesomeness. Missing the list 2) Tommy’s Ft. Worth 3) Kincaids FW 4) Christian’s Tailgate/ Houston. Oh and what’s wrong with putting Whataburger on the list? Corpus Christi, TX and possibly best fast food burger out there.
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Eating The Road says:
I loved the Coyote Bluff Cafe!
http://eatingtheroad.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/coyote-bluff-cafe/
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steve e. says:
anybody out there miss Rose’s in Dallas?
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Liz says:
The Grape definitely has a decent burger given the competition out there, but i would expect a lot more from a #1-rated burger to be honest. [Then again, I am not one of the easiest critics to please I'll admit...I'm judging on probably a much stricter scale than those who were casting the ballets for #1.]
My burger was cooked perfectly–medium, with juices dripping from all sides off of each & every bite I took. It was the ideal size for a burger, [10 oz] presented on a soft, warm pain au lait bun abundantly slathered with dijonaise. The actual taste of the meat, however, was as bland and flavorless as could be I thought. (This didn’t much surprise me though because I typically do not eat conventional beef. When I asked the waitress what kind of meat it was and where it was from, she said it was ground chuck. That’s most likely code for conventional beef laced w/ hormones, antibiotics, and believe it or not the possibility of an ammonia filler added to the ground beef to kill any bacteria that’s spread from cattle that are primarily fed a corn diet. These cattle develop E-coli in their stomachs since they are supposed to eat grass, not corn.) ewwww….so already I was concerned about eating the meat, but I still HAD to try #1, no? I was freaked out by the bacon as well due to the conventional practices of raising pork and the antibiotics that were most likely packed in each slice, but (shrugs, tries to put out of mind) …here’s to #1—CHOMP!! Twas a tasty combo for sure of sweet, soft bun, melted cheddar, the juiciness of a perfectly cooked burger and dijonaise minus the flavorless beef-the meat literally had ZERO FLAVOR!! (again, what else would one expect from conventional beef really?) QUITE lacking I thought for a #1-rated burger I’d say. The bacon (besides already having failed in my opinion due to being most likely conventionally raised pork (read: “contaminated with antibiotics and who knows what else”) was also much skinnier per slice, less peppered, & less meaty than i’d imagined. I’m not quite sure how/why the fries receive such continuously raving reviews because I didn’t find anything about them particularly fabulous or out of the norm. They were average-sized steak cut with a slight-attempt at a crispy outside it seemed without actually having a crispy exterior. Ketchup was provided for your dipping pleasure. No special seasoning or flavor that I noted. (Again, I tried to put my initial bias-against them aside, since most likely they’re conventionally grown so they’re most likely hosed w/ pesticides & absorb all of these pesticides in the contaminated land that they’re grown in.)
OH!!! the PICKLES!!!! how could I have forgotten??? their small, thick pickle chips had A LOT of right going on. They appeared to be homemade bread and butter pickles that were packed w/ flavor, were slightly softer than expected-zero crunch, but they were perfect for what they were. sweet, tangy, and bursting with flavor…kind of melted into your mouth in an explosion of homemade bread and butter pickle goodness. yummm…..
In any case, needless to say, kudos to The Grape for the flavor combos used–if the beef was better quality and had organic ingredients been used, i think I would have been in burger heaven. But because of the ingredients that they’re using and more specifically NOT using, I will not be back to The Grape for another #1.
Hopefully this review is helpful to at least one.
~Ciao my fellow foodies. Cheers to your tastebuds and cheers to your health! =)
-Liz
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Christy says:
Not being a native Texan, I’m so excited to try out this list, and some of the others mentioned, as I travel the state. I don’t if any places in Corpus were part of the 250, but Padre Island Burger Company serves up some mighty fine burgers – give them a try for the next list!
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Bobby says:
I agree with the hundreds of other folks from San Antonio about you’re stiffing Chris Madrid’s. How can you judge a burger by the meat alone?!! It’s the flavor of the entire burger that is important. That’s what is so unique about burgers. It’s the way the taste of ENTIRE combination of ingredients suits your palate. If you leave out that thick layer of cheese on those burgers, you have missed the point entirely. No burger that I have ever tried compares to the Tostada burger with the pico de gallo and salsa on top. Bad! Bad! Texas Monthly, NO BISCUIT!!!
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Pat Sharpe says:
Bobby, I have to say that is a pretty darn funny post. You get the award for best laugh of the day. “No biscuit” indeed. –Pat
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