The wait for the opening of Trill Burgers has almost come to an end. Although Bun B and his partners aren’t quite ready to open to the public yet, they hosted a select group of friends, family, and VIPs for a sneak peek of the concept’s first brick and mortar location.

Held Thursday, June 1, the invite-only preview drew a who’s who of Houston sports stars, musicians, and other celebs for their first taste of the restaurant’s signature OG Burger that’s made with two smashed beef patties that are topped with Trill Sauce, pickles, caramelized onions, and American cheese and served on a potato bun. The restaurant will also serve a vegan OG burger with vegan cheese and vegan mayonnaise as well as single and triple-patty burgers, seasoned fries, and Dr Pepper.

The OG Burger.Photo by Mark Champion

“I have to say seeing people in the building eating burgers for the first time put a smile on all our faces. We’re almost there,” Bun B tells CultureMap. “It’s a great feeling. Once we have all these dots connected and all these Ts crossed, it’s going to be amazing to tell people they can come and have a burger.”

Among the attendees who joined the Trill OG for the sneak peek were fellow Houston hip hop luminaries Slim Thug and Willie D of the Geto Boys. Slim shared this sneak peek with his 1.7 million Instagram followers.

Texans legend Andre Johnson and former Rockets star Mario Ellie represented the sports world. Other notable names in attendance included artists Jorge "Jorgey" Casanova and Alex "Donkeeboy" Roman; musicians Rich O’Toole, Le$, and Kam Franklin; broadcaster Lance Zierlein; and chef Ryan Lachaine (Riel).

Photo by Mark Champion

Bun B and Willie D.

“The burger was great. Best one I’ve had yet,” Lachaine tells CultureMap. “I’m excited to have Bun and Trill Burgers in the neighborhood.”

Trill Burgers announced in December that it had claimed the former James Coney Island space at 3607 S. Shepherd Dr. for its first brick and mortar location. The building has received a number of upgrades to transform it into Trill Burgers, including bright yellow paint and an Instagram-worthy “Keep It Trill” neon sign.

When the restaurant opens, it should draw big crowds. Trill Burgers has earned wide acclaim since Bun B, restaurateur Andy Nguyen, and Houston publicist Nick Scurfield introduced it at the 2021 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. In 2022, Good Morning America named it America’s “Ultimate Burger Spot.”

Earlier this year, a panel of media judges recognized it with a coveted Gold Buckle Foodie Award at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.