Best Burgers in Houston
Houston's burger scene runs from a 1937 grocery-turned-burger-joint and walk-up windows from the 1960s to a shack under a freeway and Bun B's smash burger counter.
Where to Eat
How to eat burgers in Houston
Houston is a sprawling city, and its burger scene matches. You'll find decades-old walk-up windows and family-run counters, icehouses and bistros with cult-favorite cheeseburgers, and a busy wave of smash burger shops. The good news is that many of the best spots sit inside or just outside the 610 Loop, so you can try several styles without spending your whole day on the freeway.
Neighborhoods help you plan. Montrose has a little of everything, from late-night counters to sit-down restaurants. The East End and East Downtown (EaDo) mix old-school stands with newer smash burger shops. The Heights and Rice Military are good for casual bars and counters, and the Galleria area has some of the city's most distinctive burgers. Every spot below appears on the cards above, and you can find more in our restaurant directory.
Best burgers in Houston by style
Smash burgers
Trill Burgers, co-founded by rapper Bun B, serves a double smash burger with American cheese, pickles and grilled onions on a potato roll. Burger Bodega on Washington Avenue goes for crispy-edged double patties with its own bodega sauce. In the East End, Boo's Burgers puts a crusty smashed patty on a buttered challah bun. See more picks on our best smash burgers page, and read smash burger vs. regular burger if you're deciding between styles.
Classic and old-school
Lankford Grocery in Midtown is a former grocery store known for big, messy burgers piled with toppings. Stanton's City Bites in the First Ward makes half-pound burgers on buttery buns with themed toppings. Champ Burger in the East End is an old-fashioned walk-up with a juicy, classic cheeseburger. The Burger Joint in Montrose griddles salt-and-pepper patties and offers options like a kimchi burger. Browse more on our best classic burgers page.
Only in Houston
Bubba's Texas Burger Shack near the Galleria is known for its bison burger, with beef available too, and a patio that sits beside the Westpark Tollway. Burger-Chan, also in the Galleria area, lets you build your own burger with unusual toppings such as Spam, kimchi relish and pickled habaneros.
Chef-driven and sit-down
Nancy's Hustle in EaDo is a celebrated bistro whose double cheeseburger comes on a crisp English muffin with house pickles. The Toasted Coconut in Montrose serves a smoky double cheeseburger with bacon jam and pickled jalapeños. Eight Row Flint in the Heights is an icehouse with a simple cheeseburger on white bread, dressed with onions, pickles and mustard. For more upscale picks nationwide, see our best gourmet burgers page.
Cheap and casual
Champ Burger, Lankford Grocery and Burger Bodega are all easy, casual stops. See our full list of the best cheap burgers in Houston.
Local burger traditions
Houston's burger culture leans on longevity. Several of the city's favorite counters have been family-run for generations, and many keep the same simple formula: a griddled patty, mustard or mayo, pickles and onions. The icehouse, a Texas-style open-air bar, is another local tradition, and it's a natural place for a cheeseburger and a cold drink. Bison is a local specialty at Bubba's. For more around the state, read our best burgers in Texas roundup.
Tips for visiting
- Plan around traffic. Group stops by area, such as Montrose plus Midtown, or the East End plus EaDo.
- Check hours before you go. Some classic spots keep daytime-only hours, while others stay open late.
- Houston summers are hot and humid, so patio burgers are best in the morning, at night or in the cooler months.
- Expect lines at popular smash burger shops on weekend evenings.
- Make one at home with our classic backyard cheeseburger recipe.
- Know a Houston spot we missed? Suggest a spot.
Browse by style
Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best smash burgers, classic burger joints, cheap burgers in Houston.
FAQ
What is the best burger in Houston?
For a smash burger, try Trill Burgers or Burger Bodega. For a classic, go to Lankford Grocery or Champ Burger. For a sit-down cheeseburger, Nancy's Hustle is a local favorite.
Where can I find a cheap burger in Houston?
Champ Burger, Burger Bodega and Boo's Burgers are casual, budget-friendly options.
Where can I get a bison burger in Houston?
Bubba's Texas Burger Shack is the go-to for a bison burger, and it serves beef too.
What's the most unusual burger in Houston?
Burger-Chan's build-your-own menu, with toppings like Spam and kimchi relish, is hard to beat for variety.