Houston has its hot new burgers and its crazy stunt burgers, but sometimes it's important to remember where all this fuss began: the simple holy union of good beef, a squishy bun and a few select toppings for good measure. The following institutions are keeping this time-honored tradition alive, serving Houstonians the burgers they grew up with sans the fancy frills. Some of these burgers have been around for decades and all of them have fiercely loyal followings. As always, if there's an iconic burger we've missed, do tell us in the comments.
Read MoreHouston's Most Iconic Burgers
Thirteen institutions that have sold the same winning recipe for years, and years.
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Bellaire Broiler Burger
Frolicking flames lend char-kissed character to the two quarter-pound beef patties on the Bellaire Special. Loaded up with cheese, bacon, mustard, mayo, onions, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes — it’s been satisfying locals since 1972.
Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Blakes BBQ & Burgers
Blakes' bacon cheeseburger comes dressed with mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, pickles, and bacon. It's a classic seven ounce 80/20 beef patty that may, at first, appear rather typical. But when you sink your teeth into its grill-toasted, butter glazed bun, you realize that Don Blake is a genius. Wash it down with house-made root beer.
Monday through Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Monday through Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Cliff’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers
The 6oz Murphy Burger is smothered in cheddar cheese, grilled onions, a generous helping of crispy bacon and a healthy dose of hickory-smoked BBQ sauce. The sweet and savory signature burger has earned a following since 1978 and pairs exceedingly well with the restaurant’s homemade fries and onion rings. Be forewarned, it’s splendid but sloppy.
Mon-Fri 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Mon-Fri 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Lankford's Grocery & Market
“We have nothing small, nothing healthy, and nothing fast.” So reads the disclaimer at this family-run operation in business since 1938. Fittingly, the Grim Burger piles a half pound of fresh beef with macaroni & cheese, bacon, jalapenos, more cheese, and a fried egg resting inside a locally baked bun. It's delightfully decadent and impossible to resist.
Monday - Saturday 7a.m. to 3 p.m.; Closed Sundays
Note: Accepts cash and checks only
Monday - Saturday 7a.m. to 3 p.m.; Closed Sundays
Note: Accepts cash and checks only
Southwell's Hamburger Grill
Brian Southwell’s signature style has sustained for nearly 30 years demonstrating that sometimes the basics really are best. The old-fashioned burger piles beef, mayo, mustard, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and fresh onions onto a bun — simple but scrumptious.
Someburger
This walk-up shack lends nostalgic charm to the cheeseburger here, which is made from never-frozen beef and piled with a generous layer of fresh vegetables. Get it to-go or sit at the covered picnic tables out back.
Open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mytiburger
Prepared to order, the bacon burger with cheese expertly fulfills the essentials of burger bliss: charred edges balanced with crunchy salty bacon, rich melted cheese, classic yellow mustard, and crisp lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. It’s hard to beat something with 48 years in the running and a fiercely loyal following to boot.
Sunday to Wednesday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday 10:30a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday to Wednesday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday 10:30a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Bubba's Texas Burger Shack
With a location as iconic as its contents, Bubba's Vegas Burger features Monterey Jack cheese, bacon, avocado, and a fried egg served over a buffalo or traditional beef patty. BJ’s habanero hot sauce fans the flavor factor. Add the special pickles for extra pizazz.
Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Also featured in:
Prince's Hamburgers
Prince's original cheeseburger starts with a third pound patty, which get a reprieve from ketchup thanks to a signature sauce made from fresh, whole tomatoes. The warm and savory condiment contrasts with kicky mustard, onion, pickles, and fresh tomatoes on a poppy seed bun. A Houston original since 1934.
Christian’s Tailgate Bar & Grill
The country fried bacon cheeseburger comes with bacon that's dredged in seasoned flour and dipped in boiling oil. This bacon joins fresh fried onion rings atop a thick half pound of beef and the usual cast of characters for a crispy, crunchy, cheesy off-the-charts taste experience.
Also featured in:
Stanton's City Bites
The original bacon cheeseburger brims with bacon, American cheese, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions. The secret is there is no secret. It’s just good.
Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Annie's Hamburgers
Here, the fresh half pound patty almost seems like an afterthought beneath a bountiful pile of crispy bacon. Cheese, lettuce, tomato, thick onions, and a swipe of mayo solidify what many have known for decades as crave-worthy comfort food.
Tookie's burgers
It’s worth the drive to enjoy this long-standing Texas coast creation, which incorporates bacon into the burger instead of throwing it on top. The result is thick, juicy, smoky, and unbelievable.
Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
[Photo: The Weekend Gourmet]
Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
[Photo: The Weekend Gourmet]
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