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    Favorite Burger

    Houston's 9 favorite burgers to sink your teeth into

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 20, 2019 | 10:57 am

    For most of the categories in the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, we pick a winner of the year. Awarding Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, etc. suggests that certain establishments and individuals have done a little more than their peers to stand out from the pack.

    This category, however, is called Favorite Burger. The notion of a “burger of the year” is somewhat absurd; how could one burger stand out from its peers in any given year? Also, choosing the right burger for the right mood is so personal that “favorite” just feels like the more appropriate word.

    Besides, “best burger” would just lead to a lot of arguments in the comments section. We’ll get those anyway, because people just see the headline, skim the list, and rush off to pontificate about which obvious entry has been unjustly excluded. Fire away.

    Whose favorite? Our panel of judges made up of former Tastemaker Awards winners, of course. We think they eat enough burgers both to know where some of Houston’s best options can be found.

    Who will win? Find out at the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards party presented by Woodford Reserve on March 27 at Silver Street Studios. We’ll reveal the winners, sip cocktails, and dine on bites provided by the nominees. Tickets are on sale now.

    B.B. Lemon
    Like most of the dishes on the menu at this casual sibling of B&B Butchers, this burger at B.B. Lemon takes its inspiration from the classic New York restaurant J.G. Melon. It’s a very pure experience — just a grilled, 80-20 wagyu beef patty with a coating of cheddar cheese on a toasted bun. Sliced onion and pickles add crunch and acidity, but it’s really all about the delicious alchemy of good beef and gooey cheese.

    Bernie's Burger Bus
    From a bus serving burgers at Lizard’s Pub to four brick and mortar restaurants, there’s no stopping chef Justin Turner’s sophisticated burger concept. Bernie’s makes everything (except its buns) in house: all of its sauces, including ketchup, pickles, and its custom-blended beef patties. While the Detention, a double cheeseburger that uses grilled cheese sandwiches for buns, gets all the social media, no one can deny the simple pleasure of a classic Principal burger: the slow-roasted garlic tomatoes really tie the whole sandwich together.

    BuffBurger
    Husband-and-wife duo Sara and Paul “Buff” Burden have a straightforward ethos for their three restaurants. Start with great ingredients like 44 Farms beef and buns that are baked in-house. Then add thoughtful toppings like goat cheese from Pure Luck Farms, mango chutney, and espresso barbecue sauce. Sides like tater tots and non-beef options like a great fried chicken breast mean BuffBurger offers something for just about everyone.

    burger-chan
    Speaking of husband-and-wife teams, Diane and Willet Feng have created something special at their Greenway Plaza burger joint. Willet’s fine dining pedigree — he worked at Oxheart for awhile — means that every detail has been precisely tweaked for maximum deliciousness. Thin patties that get cooked on a griddle to achieve crispy edges get served on slightly sweet Sheila Partin buns and topped with creative sauces like scallion aioli and sambal mayo. Of course, the restaurant’s real genius is that diners may combine different cheese, bun, and toppings options — even the number patties — to achieve their perfect combo.

    View this post on Instagram

    Hello beautiful. #burger #greenwayplazaeats #greenwayplaza #houstonburger #greenwaycoffee

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    Aug 30, 2018 at 4:36pm PDT

    The Burger Joint
    Although its name implies that it keeps things pretty classic, The Burger Joint isn’t afraid to mix things up a bit. Chef Matthew Pak’s food truck pedigree reveals itself in options like the kimchi burger (also topped with a fried egg and garlic mayo) or the BBQ, which ups the ante on a regular bacon cheeseburger with barbecue sauce and an onion ring. Even a classic cheeseburger is solid here thanks to the hefty, six-ounce patty that oozes in exactly the right way. Soon, the restaurant’s second location in the Heights will open, which will give even more Houstonians an opportunity to experience TBJ for themselves.

    The Hay Merchant
    Chris Shepherd’s famous Cease and Desist burger utilizes a classic formula. Two patties made with beef from 44 Farms, two slices of American cheese, pickles (housemade, natch), and lettuce provide a little crunch, and a slice of tomato provides a little sweetness. The secret is in the quality of the beef and the precise ratios of each component, which allows the whole to transcend the sum of its parts.

    La Lucha
    Some parts of the menu at this Heights restaurant take inspiration from legendary Texas restaurant the San Jacinto Inn, but Ford Fry looked a little closer to his River Oaks roots for the restaurant’s burger. Named the Pharmacy burger after the Avalon Diner, the yellow paper wrapped around the burger also serves as a clue that Whataburger serves as a major inspiration. Greasy in a good way and dripping with beefy juices, this retro burger checks all the boxes.

    Rodeo Goat
    Houston has enough quality burger options that a restaurant from DFW wouldn’t seem to have much hope of breaking through, but Rodeo Goat has been luring diners to EaDo since it opened last year. Credit goes to the creative toppings that enhance the patties made from high-quality beef from 44 Farms that are ground in house. Candied bacon, grilled peaches, caramelized onions, arugula, and jalapeno jam sound like they’d be a clash of flavors, but darn it if the Sugar Burger doesn’t nail its sweet and spicy combo. A beef and chorizo patty topped with avocado, pico de gallo, a fried egg, and more makes the Chaca Oaxaca one of the menu’s standout options. An extensive selection of craft beer — fitting for a sister concept to craft beer bar The Flying Sauce — an expansive patio, and good potato chips help round out the experience.

    Shake Shack
    Haters gonna hate, but Shake Shack has become a global phenomenon for lots of good reason. Inspired by classic roadside burgers, the basic combo of a squishy, slightly sweet potato bun with good beef (a custom mixture developed with legendary New York butcher Pat LaFrieda), American cheese, and ShackSauce (Thousand Island, more or less) proves essentially impossible to resist. Best of all, they’re petite enough that eating one is more of a snack than a meal, making it the perfect way to satisfy an afternoon burger craving without spoiling one’s appetite for dinner.

    The kimchi burger at The Burger Joint.

    The Burger Joint kimchi burger
      
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    The kimchi burger at The Burger Joint.
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    4 fresh new restaurants now open in suburban Houston

    Brianna Griff
    May 8, 2025 | 4:30 pm
    Next Level Lounge at Fogo de Chão  in Katy
    Courtesy of Fogo de Chão
    Katy's Fogo de Chão features the restaurant's Next Level Lounge.

    Everyone knows how quickly Houston’s ‘burbs are growing — and that includes the dining scene. From Katy to Stafford, Pearland to Webster, new restaurants are popping up all over. Whether you’re craving grilled meats carved tableside or a stack of pillowy pancakes, these fresh spots have something for every appetite.

    Fogo de Chão
    Katy just scored its first Fogo de Chão, making it the fifth Houston-area location for the popular Brazilian steakhouse. Diners can feast on the endless parade of grilled meat and seafood that servers slice tableside, or enjoy all-day happy hour at Bar Fogo. The new location also marks the Houston-area debut of Fogo's Next Level Lounge concept, billed as a sleek whiskey and bourbon hideaway. Located at 222 West Grand Parkway South, Fogo is open Monday - Thursday from 11:30 am–10 pm, Friday until 10:30 pm, Saturday from 11 am–10:30 pm, and Sunday from 11 am–9 pm.

    Hash Kitchen
    It’s brunch all day, every day at Hash Kitchen’s new Webster outpost, joining its sister spot in Pearland. The lively location dishes out plates of tamale eggs Benedict, pineapple upside-down pancakes, and birria-loaded scramblers. It’s always a party with an extensive drink menu featuring a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar with more than 50 toppings, plus a live DJ spinning tunes on weekends. Hash Kitchen is located at 1065 W Bay Area Boulevard, Suite 170, in Webster, and is open Monday-Friday from 7 am-2 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 7 am-3 pm.

    Via 313
    Pearland is now home to a slice of Motor City with the opening of Via 313 in the Silverlake Business Park. The Austin-based pizzeria serves up Detroit-style rectangular pies with crispy edges and focaccia-like dough, plus vegan and gluten-free options. Try The Jalapeño Poppa with bacon, whipped cream cheese, jalapeños, and Sriracha hot honey, or go for The Cadillac — a sweet-and-savory combo of prosciutto, gorgonzola, fig preserves, and balsamic glaze. This is Via’s fourth Houston-area location and can be found at 9250 Broadway St., Suite 190. Hours are Monday - Thursday from 11 am–10 pm, Friday and Saturday until 11 pm, and Sunday from 11 am–9 pm.

    Hopdoddy Burger Bar
    Hop on over to Stafford’s The Grid for a bite at Austin-based Hopdoddy Burger Bar. Highlights include the Cadillac Burger — a half-pound wagyu beef patty topped with steakhouse bacon and truffle aioli — plus veggie options, gluten-free buns, loaded Brussels sprouts, salads, and boozy milkshakes. The chef-crafted “Burger of the Month” keeps the menu fresh. The Stafford spot joins Hopdoddy’s nine other Houston-area locations and is decked out with custom neon signs and vibrant artwork. Located at 12333 Southwest Freeway, Suite 300, it’s open Sunday - Thursday, 11 am-10 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 11 am-11 pm.

    Next Level Lounge at Fogo de Ch\u00e3o  in Katy
      

    Courtesy of Fogo de Chão

    Katy's Fogo de Chão features the restaurant's Next Level Lounge.

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    New Houston pizzeria serves up slices and vintage vibes in the East End

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