big win for bun b

Houston hip-hop king Bun B's Trill Burgers crowned best in nation on Good Morning America

Bun B Trill Burgers Good morning America tiki Barber

Bun B and Tiki Barber display the trophy.

Courtesy of Scurfield Group

Bun B is a big winner. The Houston hip-hop legend's smash burger concept Trill Burgers won the title of Good Morning America's Ultimate Burger Spot along with a $10,000 cash prize.

“It’s so surreal that it doesn’t make sense,” Bun B said in a statement. “To be in Times Square having won the best burger in America live on Good Morning America, it’s not even in the realm of things that we would have imagined for this brand. We just wanted to put in hard work and be justified for what we did, and today we got the ultimate validation. I can’t wait to bring this burger to America.”

Trill Burgers served its OG Trill Burger, a double-patty cheeseburger with onions on a Martin’s potato roll. "For 30 years, I've put the flavors in your ear. Now I'm putting the flavor in your mouth with the OG Trill Burger," Bun B said during the broadcast.

Three members of a five judge panel — ESPN personality Jalen Rose, celebrity chef Gina Neely, and WWE wrestler Titus O’Neil — selected Trill Burgers as the winner over competitors from Miami, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Both Rose and O'Neil cited the thin patty construction as influencing their votes, while Neely noted the way the caramelized onions and signature Trill sauce boosted the burger's overall flavor.

Trill Burgers earned its spot in the finals by besting Houston cult-favorite Burger-Chan on Tuesday morning. Currently a pop-up, Trill Burgers, a concept developed by Bun B in partnership with restaurateur Andy Nguyen and publicist Nick Scurfield, is looking for a permanent location in Houston.

Next up, Trill Burgers will serve at Rock The Bells music festival on August 6 in Queens, New York. Its next Houston pop-up will be announced soon.

Watch the segment below:

burgers celebrities awards

flying into Houston

Chopped champion's Indian-spiced fried chicken joint opens in Midtown

One of Houston’s most dynamic chefs has unveiled his take on fried chicken. Pok Pok Po is now open in Midtown.

Located at 3201 Louisiana, the restaurant is the latest concept from chef and Chopped champion Jassi Bindra and business partners Surpreet and Preet Paul Singh, the trio behind Indian fine dining restaurant Amrina in The Woodlands. Bindra’s fried chicken recipe uses a gluten-free flour and starch batter that’s seasoned with Indian Kashmiri red chili powder along with other herbs and spices. It’s pressure cooked to ensure the meat stays both juicy and crispy.

The certified halal chicken is available as strips, sandwiches (made with thigh meat), and chicken breast bites.Those looking for a heartier meal, can get their chicken served on top of sidewinder fries or in the “Rice & Shine,” which includes basmati rice and Bindra’s “Desi kimchi.” Beverage options include Akra, an American-style lager that’s brewed in India, cannabis-infused drinks from 8th Wonder and non-alcoholic options such as sodas and a mango lassi.

“At Pok Pok Po, we’re creating something that’s not just a meal but an experience,” Bindra said in a statement. “We’ve taken everything people love about fried chicken and given it a twist with bold, gluten-free recipes and flavors that truly speak to the diversity of Houston.”

While most counter service restaurants are designed primarily for to-go, Pok Pok Po’s 55-seat dining room caters to those who want to enjoy their meals. It features banquette seating and a white-and-black motif that will also be present at Bol, the restaurant’s sister concept that’s opening soon.

The two restaurants occupy part of the former Artisans space. Medium Rare, an affordable steak frites restaurant from Washington, D.C., recently opened next to Bol and Pok Pok Po.

Courtesy of Pok Pok Po

Pok Pok Po is now open in Midtown.

news-you-can-eat openings pok pok po