30 Absolute Best Burgers In Houston

According to the Houston Chronicle, H-Town is known as one of the best food cities in the U.S., so it's no surprise there are hundreds of places to grab a delicious burger. And while you could just as easily fire up the grill and make your own at home, there's something special about eating one from a restaurant. The quality of the beef you get combined with the establishment's house-made sauce, seasoning mix, or pickles just really makes it so much better, despite the cost and the time you take to drive there.

That said, every eatery has its unique selection of offerings, making it especially hard to decide where to go and which burger to order once you get there. To help, we've made a definitive list of some of the best burgers you can find in Houston, according to locals. Note that these options are not restricted to burger-specific restaurants; you'd be surprised to see quite a few great picks from establishments that don't even consider burgers the main offering.

If you're looking for something with a slight kick, pick up the Lone Star from JLB Eatery. It's a traditional BBQ bacon burger but has the addition of grilled onions, jalapeños, mayo, and tomatoes.

You can also customize it, so feel free to add or remove toppings as you see fit. However, there's no denying that, as it stands, the menu item is practically perfect. It's also a pretty decent-sized portion, enough to satisfy you before you even touch the side (we recommend the tater tots).

For something with a little more spice, try The Snakebite from Backyard Grill. The burger is loaded with fresh jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, "snakebite" mayo, guacamole, lettuce, and tomato. All these ingredients are served on a savory jalapeño bun with a side of fries or chips.

While it sounds like this particular menu item has a big kick, it's actually pretty mild for what it is, so even those with a lower spice tolerance can enjoy it. It's also a pretty decent size, so know you'll leave the restaurant feeling satisfied.

The Llano Poblano offers a slightly stronger kick than the aforementioned Snakebite burger, thanks to Hopdoddy's addition of a fresh, seared poblano pepper and chipotle aioli. But beyond that, visitors will appreciate the delicious taste of the grass-fed beef, steakhouse bacon, and house-made bun either gluten-free or not.

Complete your meal with the restaurant's popular parmesan truffle fries, served with truffle aioli (the side comes in a large bowl, so definitely bring a friend). And if you need to tamper down the spice from the burger, you'll have to try the Oreo cookies n' cream custard-based shake.

Hippo Burgers may be a local chain, but its main staples taste like they should be a well-kept secret, which is why some visitors refer to it as Humble's hole-in-the-wall. You can't go wrong with a classic bacon cheeseburger from the establishment.

It comes with all the toppings you'd expect, which is sometimes best if you're looking for some familiarity. If you want to add a bit more to your meal, locals recommend the Cajun fries.

This Kimchi burger has that fusion flavor you've been missing. In addition to the standard toppings and its namesake ingredient, it has a freshly ground Korean BBQ Angus beef patty, fried egg, cheddar, and house-made garlic mayo.

It's honestly hard to stop at just one bite — the meat has that perfect umami taste when combined with the other sweet, spicy, and salty flavors. If you want to offset the slight kick from the kimchi, we recommend getting a side of sweet potato fries.

The Chaca Oaxaca comprises a blended beef and chorizo patty, avocado, pico de gallo, fried egg, queso fresco, and tabasco mayo — all served on a warm, toasted bun. If you're searching for a delicious and unique burger that gives you a taste of Southwest Mexico, this is it. The menu item doesn't come with any sides, but visitors recommend the shareable cheese fries if you need more substance with your meal.

The Philly Cheesesteak at Hubcap Grill has the traditional beef patty but also includes thin-sliced rib-eye steak, grilled onion, and bell peppers and is topped with Swiss and the restaurant's house-made mayo. It's everything we love about the classic sandwich in burger format. Patrons say the burger goes great with a side of Hubcap Grill's jalapeño hushpuppies, but you also can't go wrong with the fried cheese curds and fries.

This option at this Houston restaurant isn't just a menu item — it's a lifestyle. Regulars note that no matter what kind of burger you order and the toppings you add, it's best to always get it spicy. The difference isn't just in the heat level — the flavor drastically changes. You can tell from the spices: According to the establishment, garlic, onion, jalapeño, and a variety of other seasonings are grounded in the meat, so you get a savory mouthful with every single bite.

All the burgers from Sparkle's Hamburger Spot are incredibly well-seasoned (which is why it's featured on our list), so you really can't go wrong with any of its staple menu items. But if it's your first time here, we recommend getting the bacon cheeseburger, which comes with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, and mustard. It's simple, yes, but its flavor is out of this world.

Note that if you don't call in your order ahead of time, the wait can be a little on the longer side, and parking might be hard to find. The burgers here are definitely worth the extra effort.

Ask any patron of Monkey's Tail what one of their favorite menu items is from the bar, and they'll likely say the Chango Burger. It's another of the simpler options on our list, but we love it for its consistency. With this offering, you always know what to expect: a smashed single or double beef patty (your choice) with cheese, chopped onions, relish, and a Valentina mayo dressing to give it some spice — all served on a sesame bun.

Bison is a little leaner and contains a few more health benefits than traditional beef, so it's no surprise that a burger offering this type of meat has made it onto our list. Bubba's Texas Burger Shack specializes in buffalo burgers, but patrons highly recommend the bison option for its clean, non-greasy, and fresh flavor, regardless of the type of toppings and condiments you want on it.

If you need an introduction to this beef alternative, try the bison cheeseburger first. You can select your preference for a single or double patty and whether you want American, Monterey Jack, or cheddar cheese.

Few places do bar food as well as Star Sailor — and, no surprise, a popular menu item is its smashburger. It's complete with cheese, chopped onion, pickles, the house Stellar Sauce, and it is served on a toasted sesame bun. Patrons have the option to add an extra beef patty if the original 3-ounce isn't enough, as well as bacon, and it comes with a serving of crunchy, wavy chips.

If you're really hungry, we double dare you to try Killen's Double Cheese Burger. It's stacked with twice the meat, cheese, pickles, onions, and special house sauce that you would get with a standard cheeseburger. Although it looks intimidating, customers say its delicious taste is undeniable, so we recommend bringing a friend to share if needed. However, after one bite, you may not want to anymore.

Simple is sometimes the best way to go, which is the case for the Old Fashioned Hamburger at Lankford's. Although it just has your basic toppings of lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mayo, and mustard, there's something about the classic taste of the combination that keeps bringing locals back.

Visitors recommend adding bacon to elevate it even more. And if you feel like you're missing the cheese, Lankford's lets you customize your burger that way, too, but you can always opt for the bacon cheeseburger as an alternative. Either way, we recommend starting with the basic old-fashioned to see where the full flavor originates.

The Juicy Lucy features a ½-pound well-seasoned beef patty stuffed with Colby Jack and blue cheese. And, honestly, it's this combination that really makes the burger so tasty. Outside of this, you can customize your preferred toppings, like adding mushrooms or a fried egg, though both are pretty popular add-ons among visitors. If you prefer a less-cheesy variety, we recommend the Blue Oinker, which is somewhat similar to the Juicy Lucy but takes out the Colby Jack and keeps the blue cheese crumbles on top of the patty rather than inside.