Top 50 Burgers in Texas

Surprises and snubs for Houston on Texas Monthly's list of top 50 burgers in Texas

Killen's cheeseburger is on the Texas Monthly list.

Photo by Kimberly Park

Arguing about which restaurants serve Houston's best burgers is as much a part of life in the city as complaining about the Texans quarterback situation or double-checking that the premiums on your flood insurance are current. When an authority as well-respected as Texas Monthly selects eight Houston-area restaurants for its list of the 50 greatest burgers in Texas, people are bound to pay attention, especially since the magazine writes that its "team of 24 fearless, bordering on fanatical, eaters" sampled 367 individual burgers to compile the rankings.

As with any list of this sort, diners will find both pleasant surprises and outright, how-the-hell-did-they-leave-that-off snubs. Perhaps what's most striking is that none of the Houston burgers on Texas Monthly's 2009 list of the state's top burgers made this year's version. That means venerable Houston institutions like Becks Prime, Lankford Grocery, Max's Wine Dive, and Mockingbird Bistro no longer serve the state's best burgers.

On a more positive note, Hubcap Grill makes the coveted top five with its signature Philly Cheese Steak Burger. "There’s a special place in the hearts of burger fans for a juicy, char-y slab of ground beef topped with even more beef," the magazine writes about Hubcap's burger. "Such is the case here, with owner Ricky Craig’s redoubtable hand-formed all-chuck patties smothered in a promiscuous pile of thin-sliced ribeye soaked in a savory mayo sauce with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and bell peppers. Despite the high level of ooziness, the house-made buns form a sturdy platform for easy eating."

For his part, Craig is thrilled to be included. "I'm very humbled and honored to be included in Texas Monthly," Craig told CultureMap in a text. "I don't consider myself the best . . . just one of the best because there are so many other great burger places. Congrats to all the other burger joints who made the list. I'm thankful and blessed."

Other no-brainers on the Houston portion of the list include the Homeroom from Bernie's Burger Bus and the Original Bacon Cheeseburger from Stanton's City Bites. New restaurants also did well, with Killen's Burgers, the Burger Joint and State of Grace all earning spots. Cottonwood and Moon Tower Inn count as pleasant surprises, as does Grafittis earning an honorable mention.

While capturing 16-percent of the list is a strong showing that ties with Dallas for the most from any individual city, Texas Monthly still misses many of the city's best burgers. Diners may notice obvious omissions like Hay Merchant's Cease and Desist burger or Down House's kimchi burger. Newer establishments like Southern Goods, Hunky Dory, and Kuma Burger may also be surprised to see they've been excluded. Did the magazine forget to visit The Woodlands? Neither Fielding's Wood Grill nor Hubbell & Hudson Bistro appear on the list either.

Price certainly isn't the reason none of those places made the cut. According to the magazine, the $18 brisket burger with pork belly served at Folc in San Antonio is the best burger in Texas.

news-you-can-eat lists burgers

Goldee's and Barbs Go North

2 Michelin-recognized pitmasters cooking up Texas barbecue joint in NYC

Photo by Will Milne

Kirbee's will stay true to the menus at the two barbecue joints that came before it. (Pictured: A tray at Goldee's Bar-B-Q)

Two important restaurants in the Texas barbecue scene have spawned a new project in a less-expected locale: New York City. Barbs B Q owner Chuck Charnichart and former Goldee's Bar-B-Q partner Jonny White will open Kirbee's, a restaurant combining classic dishes from both of its progenitors, at 55 McGuinness Blvd. South in Greenpoint (a neighborhood in Brooklyn) in about four to five months, White says.

Both White and Charnichart have led two of Texas's most well-regarded barbecue joints. Located in Fort Worth, Goldee's ranked No. 1 on Texas Monthly's list of the state's 50 best barbecue restaurants in 2021 and ranked No. 3 on the 2025 list. Charnichart, who worked at Goldee's, opened Barbs B Q in Lockhart in 2023. Earlier this week, Barbs earned an impressive three-star review in the New York Times. Both restaurants hold Bib Gourmand designations in the Michelin Guide.

Eater New York broke the news on February 24, and White caught CultureMap up with some additional written details.

As Eater points out, Charnichart brings creative dishes from her Lockhart restaurant like pork ribs with lime zest, Mexican-spiced brisket, and the famous "green spaghett" made with poblanos and cilantro. White brings lauded barbecue from Fort Worth that's more fit for purists, including smoked turkey, brisket, and classic sides.

For many, Barbs B Q represents the Texas barbecue vanguard. Now New Yorkers will be in on it, too.Photo by Bryce Gilbertson

White further tells CultureMap that the menu will probably be organized into plates and trays so that guests can sample one barbecue joint or the other.

White has been in New York for seven months after selling his shares of Goldee's. He's secured a building and is working with contractors to convert it for barbecue greatness. The two pitmasters will get to work together physically soon — although White doesn't spill the beans about whether Charnichart plans to move there or just visit.

Kirbee's exterior New York Kirbee's will take over this cheerful space.Photo by Jonny White

"Chuck is one of my best friends and an amazing chef," White says. "I’m super excited for us to be working together again and we are excited to be in New York!"

One of the adjustments the duo had to make to thrive in the Big Apple is to make do with a smaller smoker setup. Instead of traditional offset smokers — the large barrels Texas foodies are used to seeing out back at their favorite barbecue joints — Kirbee's will use smoker ovens. White confirms the decision was about space, but he's hopeful the more consistent cooking process will actually be better than the Texas norm. "I think it will be interesting for people to compare," he says.

The real question for barbecue-lovers who are in it for the culture: How will New Yorkers deal with the lines?

"I think they’re used to long lines and being served to order because of Katz," White says, referring to Katz's Delicatessen, an ultra-famous New York deli since 1888 that's known for its gigantic pastrami sandwiches. But if it's not the brisket that transports Yankees to the Southwest, the Texas pitmaster looks forward to introducing them to Waco's own Big Red.

openings pitmasters barbecue