pizza snob nightmares

These 3 restaurants serve up the beefiest cheeseburger pizza in Houston

Yes, that's a sesame seed crust.

Courtesy of Love Buzz Pizza Pub

A recent review by Houston Chronicle critic Alison Cook has food-obsessed Houstonians buzzing over cheeseburger pizza. The James Beard Award-winning food critic experienced pizza mega chain Domino’s for the first time via its recently introduced cheeseburger pizza.

For the uninitiated, cheeseburger pizza combines toppings that arouse the ire of pizza snobs. Ground beef is a must, of course, as are cheese (typically cheddar) and onions. The best examples go a step farther with additional toppings such as pickles, bacon, and even mustard, which adds a pleasant tanginess to the experience. Domino’s spin on the style gets topped with cheddar, onions, tomatoes, and a “ketchup-mustard sauce.”

While the review might have been Cook’s first experience with a Domino’s pie — not a huge surprise for someone who describes herself as “highly and somewhat annoyingly particular about pizza” — the chain enjoys a certain elevated status among in-the-know foodies as the most-acceptable national pizza option. Superstar chef David Chang devoted part of an episode of his Netflix series Ugly Delicious to sharing his affection for the restaurant, going so far as to accompany a driver on a day’s worth of deliveries.

With independent restaurants struggling due to restrictions designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, the question emerged on social media as to whether locally owned options exist for satisfying a cheeseburger pizza craving. After all, the success of chain restaurants like Domino’s during the pandemic has been widely reported.

In the spirit of our attempt to guide J.J. Watt to Houston's best Italian restaurants (and away from Olive Garden), we thought it might be helpful to find local options as an alternative to Domino's.

Sadly, it is somewhat difficult to find local pizzerias that serve cheeseburger pizza. None of the Best Pizza nominees in the 2020 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards serve the dish. Those restaurants include old school favorites Brother’s and Romano's as well as relatively newer options like Pizaro’s, Rosie Cannonball, and BOH Pasta & Pizzeria. Even places with a certain sense of humor about pizza — Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company, for example — tend towards flavors that are more explicitly Texan, either by adding carnitas or barbecue brisket.

Thankfully, at least three locally owned pizza joints do serve cheeseburger pizza. Without further ado, here they are:

Gotham Pizza
The Midtown pizzeria known for its oversized slices keeps things simple with its cheeseburger pizza. Ground beef, mozzarella, cheddar, and onions are the only toppings. Get it as a slice, in round pies from 12 to a massive 30-inches, or as a deep dish Sicilian. In-house and third party delivery available. 713-659-2222

Love Buzz Pizza Pub
The Montrose restaurant known for its late night hours not only tops its Hamburglar with ground beef, cheese, bacon, onions, pickles, and mustard it also adds sesame seeds to the crust. Usually available in both 12 or 16-inch pies, the Hamburglar is the restaurant's featured pizza of the week, which drops the price to $17 for a 16-inch or $4 for a slice (through Sunday, November 22).

Love Buzz recently introduced in-house delivery for Montrose (77006 and 77019 only). Third party delivery is available elsewhere. 713-521-2899

Rudyard’s
Chef Anthony Calleo established his pizza skills on the Pi Pizza food truck, and he brings those experiences to the popular Montrose bar and restaurant. Available as a deep-dish, Detroit-style pie, the Rudyard’s Hamburglar features seasoned beef, brick cheese, and bacon that’s topped with lettuce, onions, pickles, and “house secret sauce.” Order online for pickup or via third party apps for delivery. 713-521-0521

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what's new at Julep

Southern-inspired Houston cocktail den ranks No. 84 on North America best bars list

Courtesy of Julep

Julep is North America's No. 84 best bar.

Houston’s only bar to win a national James Beard Award is once again basking in the international spotlight. Julep has been ranked No. 84 on the extended list of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026.

The ranking marks Julep’s first appearance on the list since 2022, when it ranked No. 46. Last year, Bandista, the speakeasy-style cocktail bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, ranked No. 59. The only other Texas bar on the list is Austin’s Nickel City, which ranked No. 96.

“Julep takes its Southern heritage seriously,” its entry on the 50 Best website reads. “American whiskey and warm hospitality form the backbone of the bar's operation and identity, together with house cocktails that lean into herbal flavours. Make sure to venture beyond its trio of namesake concoctions into the selection of house creations, such as its guava-infused vesper.”

Founded by bartender Alba Huerta in 2014, Julep pays homage to Southern cocktail traditions. In addition to its spot on the best bars list, it earned a James Beard Award in 2022 for Outstanding Bar Program.

“This recognition reflects years of focused work, strong leadership, and a team committed to doing things with intention every single day,” Huerta said in a statement. “Launching our spring menus in both the Main Bar and The Parlor is especially exciting. The creativity in house is at an all-time high, and the drinks are not only technically strong, they are incredibly delicious. It feels like a moment where everything is coming together, and that energy is something we’re excited to share with our community through experiences like Chef’s Cut.”

As Huerta noted in her statement, Julep isn’t resting on its laurels. In November, Huerta transformed an event space/storage area into The Parlor, a separate bar within Julep that serves drinks made with advanced techniques such as clarification, carbonation, and other culinary-driven processes. For spring, The Parlor has introduced new cocktails such as La Fresa, a carbonated cocktail made with tequila, house made strawberry soda, and a chile de árbol tincture, and the Silk & Oak, made with butter fat-washed rum and bourbon, activated yeast, shiitake mushroom, maple, and Angostura bitters.

On Wednesdays, Julep hosts its Chef’s Cut pop-up, where local chefs create special dishes to pair with the bar’s cocktails. A portion of proceeds from the night’s featured food items benefit the Southern Smoke Foundation, the Houston-based nonprofit that provides emergency assistance and access to mental health services to hospitality workers.

Future participants include Top Chef contestant and pitmaster Michelle Wallace on April 8, CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Rising Star Chef of the Year winner Lucas McKinney of Josephine’s on April 15, Anthony Anderson of Sophie on April 22, and Anitra Broussard, formerly of Riel, on April 29. Blood Bros. BBQ co-owner Robin Wong serves as resident DJ for the Chef’s Cut series.

“Chef’s Cut is about creating a space where culinary talent and cocktail innovation come together in a way that feels both intentional and approachable,” said Huerta. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate our peers, support one another, and work with a great cause — Southern Smoke.”

Courtesy of Julep

Julep is North America's No. 84 best bar.

awards lists cocktails julep