burger favorite expands
Iconic Houston burger joint serves up highly anticipated opening date for new Bellaire location
A second location of one of Houston’s most iconic burger joins opens in Bellaire next week. Lankford’s, a new location of Midtown favorite Lankford Grocery, will open Monday, May 15.
Located in the former Brisket BBQ location in the Bellaire Triangle (5208 Bissonnet St.), the new Lankford’s Bellaire will serve the same menu of comfort food and burgers as the 80-plus-year old original. That includes signature items like the Grim Burger, a bacon cheeseburger topped with mac and cheese, jalapeños, and a fried egg, and the spicy Firehouse burger as well as the weekend breakfast menu.
For Bellaire residents who’ve lost burger favorites such as Bellaire Broiler Burger and Bernie’s Burger Bus in recent years, Lankford’s imminent opening brings a new arrival with a lofty reputation that’s burnished by both its longevity and an appearance on Guy Fieri’s Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.
Lankford's Bellaire opens Monday, May 15. Lankford's Bellaire/Facebook
Owner Paul Prior and his wife Jessica took over full control of Lankford’s when Paul’s mother Eydie retired in 2021. They’re looking to build on the restaurant’s success with the new location.
One big change will be offering dinner service. The menu includes entrees such as grilled salmon, a flat iron steak, and a fried seafood platter with catfish and shrimp.
In addition, Pryor installed a 20-tap self-service draft beer wall. Diners use a wristband to activate the system, which charges by the ounce. Although similar systems are in place at establishments such as Benny Thunders, Moonshine Deck, and Roots, they’re still relatively rare in Houston.
The restaurant has a 20-tap beer wall.Courtesy of Lankford's Bellaire
“We don’t have draft beer at the original location and we really wanted to do something different at the new location,” Prior said in a statement. “I liked the concept because it reduces keg waste and gives us the opportunity to highlight and collaborate with local breweries, and it just has a cool factor that people will love.”