Dedicated carnivores tend to scoff at the very idea of a veggie burger, writing off the humble vegetarian-friendly option as a cheap imitation of its meaty all-American forebearer.

But since its emergence in the latter decades of the 20th century, the veggie burger has evolved into a rather adventurous corner of the culinary world — a sort of new frontier for restaurants hoping to break new ground in the foodie scene while scoring big with the non-meat-eaters.

No two recipes are the same, as chefs search for the perfect blend of all-natural ingredients.

CultureMap has sampled dozens of varietals in the past few months, tasting everything from the standard black bean burger to inventive combinations of root vegetables and quinoa. Here are the top contenders in Houston:

Beaver's

With its Nut Burger, Beaver's has redefined the limits of how a veggie burger is supposed to behave. This is not your hippy aunt's bland Gardenburger, but a thoughtful and inspired sandwich that will lure any hamburger devotee.

As its name suggests, cashews and walnuts are folded into a simple base of soft brown rice, giving the patty a degree of fattiness that most other recipes fail to take into consideration. Oh yeah, and the shredded cheddar cheese added to the mix doesn't hurt either.

Green Seed Vegan

In addition to its array of clever raw and vegan dishes, Green Seed offers four — that's right, four — different buckwheat-based veggie burgers on fresh whole wheat buns with housemade vegan mayo.

If you're looking for a nice starting point, try the Green Seed Burger with its simple microgreens, onions and pickles. The Fungus Amongus piles on mushrooms and cheese, while the Dirty Burque and the Big Tex bring the spice. Be sure to order the sweet potato fries, which easily rank up there as some of Houston's best.

The Petrol Station

Long known for its hamburgers, the Petrol Station has taken a while to tap into the veggie market . . . but, my god, it was worth the wait.

Take a large portobello mushroom, lob off the stem and smother the underside with a pesto spread and roasted red peppers. Toss it all on Petrol's famous brioche rolls and you have yourself one of the most flavorful veggie burgers around. The fries rule too.

Tiny Boxwoods

Tiny Boxwoods' Just Beet It Burger takes the regular old black bean burger to new heights with the addition of, you guessed it, roasted beets. The cafe's amazing chipotle aioli seals the deal.

Runners-up

With its layers of South Asian spices, Buddha Burger at Pondicheri is a solid contender, especially with a side those chickpea-crusted fries. For those missing that classic messiness that only a burger can provide, definitely check out the veggie option at Smashburger.

Ruggles Green and Shepherd Park Draught House put some serious love into their veggie burgers as well.

Make the case for your own favorites by leaving a comment. The best arguments have a chance to be featured in a new story.