The “best burger” in a city is a hotly contested and hard-won title for any major subway. The meat should be juicy and flavorful, but not too moist or greasy. The bun should be fluffy and buttery, but it shouldn’t detract from the meat. And the toppings should be fresh and balanced. While many restaurants claim to have the best burgers in Houston, they can’t compare to these five great burgers.
01
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Stanton City Bites
Direction
1420 Edwards St, Houston, TX 77007-6212, EE. UU.Get directions
Telephone
+1 713-227-4893
Web
Visit the website
Located in Houston’s 6th Ward near downtown, Stanton’s City Bites is the hole-in-the-wall kind of guide book. The restaurant is informal with long white tables that turn strangers into dining companions. Combine that with the wall-mounted menu and communal condiment table, and it’s the quintessential American greasy spoon.
The burgers are greasy, but in a good way, served on soft, toasted buns in paper-lined baskets. While the standard half-pound burger patty with melted cheese is reason enough to put Stanton on this list, it’s the creative burgers that set him apart. The Luke Skywalker, for example, comes topped with fried bacon, garlic sautéed spinach, and mushrooms. Holy Cow is made with five different types of cheese. And the popular Miss Piggy is so named not only for the confit bacon on top of the burger, but also for the bits of ground bacon inside the meat. Pair any of the above with an order of their Chili Cheese Fries, and you’ll want to burst into a version of “America the Beautiful.”
02
of 05
The Kills
Direction
2231 S Voss Rd, Houston, TX 77057-3800, EE. UU.Get directions
Telephone
+1 713-586-0223
Web
Visit the website
Killen’s Barbecue is hands down one of the best barbecue spots in Houston. So when the owners opened Killen’s Burgers in Pearland, it’s no surprise that it also topped the list of best burger spots.
At Killen’s, burgers are dressed in the usual way with frilly lettuce, plump tomato, thinly sliced onions, and pickles, but their burgers, like their barbecue restaurant, are all about meat. Quality 10 oz Angus Beef Patties are huge and loaded with umami. For a flavorful burger, try the jalapeño cheeseburger. The pickled jalapeño, along with the sticky American or Swiss cheese, pairs well with the flavorful meat of the burger.
The restaurant itself is decorated like an old-school diner with black-and-white checkered floors, with red chairs, and comfortable booths. Food is served in baskets with checkered paper and French fries. And, like all good diners, dessert is a milkshake with whipped cream.
03
of 05
The Hobbit Cafe
Direction
2243 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77098-3308, EE. UU.Get directions
Telephone
+1 713-526-5460
Web
Visit the website
The burgers at the Hobbit Cafe are made with ingredients so fresh and filling that they make you feel a little less guilty about enjoying a second breakfast. Instead of the standard iceberg lettuce, the burgers are topped with mixed greens. The tomato slices are thick and juicy, and the Angus beef patty is perfectly seasoned. When you order one with avocado, they put a whole avocado on the sandwich, ensuring you’ll need both hands and lots of napkins.
All of this, of course, is served among an impressive array of Lord of the Rings memorabilia that will fill your inner nerd with joy.
Tip: You have a choice of a white or wheat bun, but go for wheat. They are both sweet and fluffy, but the wheat complements the flavor of the ingredients well.
04
of 05
Wimpy Burgers
Direction
632 Polk St, Houston, TX 77002-5202, EE. UU.Get directions
Telephone
+1 713-652-0123
Wimpy’s Hamburgers is gritty in a way that can only be a really good burger. The open-air patio, shaded by the loom at the Hyatt Skyway center, gives nothing but traffic. The restaurant doesn’t have a website, but they don’t really need one. Every work day around noon, a line forms and the place fills up.
While the menu is full of traditional American fare, the burgers are the highlight. The meat patties are made fresh, generous in size, and fully loaded with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo, and mustard. The result is a great balance of flavor that is not too wet or too dry.
Continue to 5 of 5 below.
05
of 05
Rachel’s
Direction
421 San Jacinto St, Houston, TX 77002-2015, EE. UU.Get directions
Telephone
+1 832-726-3426
Web
Visit the website
Located near the downtown courthouse, this place has cheap and delicious burgers with no fuss or fuss. Like Wimpy’s, Rachel’s appears to be in charge of a basic crew, and its minimal decor means that the food is the real attraction.
The burgers are simple, tasty, and great. Pair them with some of Rachel’s thick cut onion rings, and it’s truly a feat to finish it all off. But what really tips the scale for these burgers is their price. You can get a full lunch meal (burgers, fries, and a drink) for less than $ 10.
Tip: Like most downtown locations, parking can be a challenge. Save yourself a headache by taking the train. Rachel’s is just two blocks from the Preston station on the METRORail Red Line.
