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10 Can’t-Miss Houston Burgers

A photo of Red logo
by Lauren McDowell
Updated October 21, 2021

There’s little in life more enjoyable than a well-made burger. Whether it’s memories associated with childhood summers and a fry-milkshake combo, or a meat-loving Texan reveling in a perfectly cooked half-pound of the finest ground chuck patty, there’s a reason that burgers continue to grace the menus at restaurants across the dining spectrum.

In a city as large and diverse as Houston, the best burgers represent a range of techniques, styles, and price points. From simple but perfectly cooked classic beef options, to wild game versions and creative internationally-inspired flavor combinations, these are the burgers that should be on every Houstonian’s bucket list.

4.8 (1455)
$30 and under
Seafood
Heights / Washington

Ford Fry, the chef-owner of La Lucha, grew up like many Houstonians: with a fondness for burgers from local favorites Whataburger and Avalon Diner. That inspiration led to a modern favorite at La Lucha called the pharmacy burger, beloved for its simplicity and depth of flavor. The ingredients are spare: beef, cheese, pickles, onions, mustard, lettuce, and tomato, wrapped in a crispy yellow paper like a gift. In her burger column in the Houston Chronicle, food critic Alison Cook gave it an “A plus plus,” writing, “This one broke the darn scale.”

Top review
DonVIP
Dined on Apr 16, 2025
Excellent food, drinks and service. Fried chicken, biscuits, grilled shrimp and deviled eggs were especially good.

Ford Fry, the chef-owner of La Lucha, grew up like many Houstonians: with a fondness for burgers from local favorites Whataburger and Avalon Diner. That inspiration led to a modern favorite at La Lucha called the pharmacy burger, beloved for its simplicity and depth of flavor. The ingredients are spare: beef, cheese, pickles, onions, mustard, lettuce, and tomato, wrapped in a crispy yellow paper like a gift. In her burger column in the Houston Chronicle, food critic Alison Cook gave it an “A plus plus,” writing, “This one broke the darn scale.”

Top review
DonVIP
Dined on Apr 16, 2025
Excellent food, drinks and service. Fried chicken, biscuits, grilled shrimp and deviled eggs were especially good.
4.6 (1915)
$31 to $50
French
Heights / Washington

This family-owned Heights bistro features French classics with distinct elements drawn from chef Manuel Pucha’s Ecuadorian heritage. The spicy lamb burger is just one example of the creative ways the two cuisines come together in a winning combination. Pucha grew up eating lamb in Ecuador but had his first lamb burger in New York City in the early ’90s. His version at the bistro includes a spiced lamb patty, mint Greek yogurt aioli, pickled red onion, French feta, harissa sauce, and a side of Maison frites.

Top review
SamVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Lovely dinner and drinks. Food was good...empanadas, escargot, bouillabaisse and lamb shank all highly recommended. Drinks were good too. I asked them to make us rye sidecars and they were quite good. Michael did an excellent job serving us as well.

This family-owned Heights bistro features French classics with distinct elements drawn from chef Manuel Pucha’s Ecuadorian heritage. The spicy lamb burger is just one example of the creative ways the two cuisines come together in a winning combination. Pucha grew up eating lamb in Ecuador but had his first lamb burger in New York City in the early ’90s. His version at the bistro includes a spiced lamb patty, mint Greek yogurt aioli, pickled red onion, French feta, harissa sauce, and a side of Maison frites.

Top review
SamVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Lovely dinner and drinks. Food was good...empanadas, escargot, bouillabaisse and lamb shank all highly recommended. Drinks were good too. I asked them to make us rye sidecars and they were quite good. Michael did an excellent job serving us as well.
4.6 (940)
$31 to $50
American
Westside

Liberty Kitchen might be known for its seafood dishes, but the burger options are a celebration-worthy reason to book a table. The truffle cheeseburger features Wagyu beef topped with truffle cheese, foie gras aioli, oyster mushrooms, and arugula. Add a black sesame seed-covered bun from Slow Dough to the equation, and it’s almost too pretty to eat — almost.

Top review
Dionndra
Dined 1 day ago
Food, delish! From the deviled eggs to the crab balls to the lobster bites... the apps were good. Lunch was good too!! I had the shrimp and crab salad, whereas my friends had different things like the pasta, lobster roll and chicken sliders. Good ambiance as well!

Liberty Kitchen might be known for its seafood dishes, but the burger options are a celebration-worthy reason to book a table. The truffle cheeseburger features Wagyu beef topped with truffle cheese, foie gras aioli, oyster mushrooms, and arugula. Add a black sesame seed-covered bun from Slow Dough to the equation, and it’s almost too pretty to eat — almost.

Top review
Dionndra
Dined 1 day ago
Food, delish! From the deviled eggs to the crab balls to the lobster bites... the apps were good. Lunch was good too!! I had the shrimp and crab salad, whereas my friends had different things like the pasta, lobster roll and chicken sliders. Good ambiance as well!
4.6 (1025)
$30 and under
American
Heights / Washington

It’s no surprise to fans of restaurateur Benjamin Berg that this throwback version of a New York City diner makes killer burgers. As the owner and proprietor of a butcher shop and steakhouse, lots of attention is paid to B.B. Lemon’s burger patties, made with Texas Wagyu beef sourced from local farmers. Though all of the burgers are top-notch, the diner’s patty melt is the stuff that beef dreams are made of, with melted Swiss cheese and caramelized onions nestled between toasted deli bread.

Top review
ValVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Perfect backyard ambiance for Easter brunch. Friendly staff and delectable drinks

It’s no surprise to fans of restaurateur Benjamin Berg that this throwback version of a New York City diner makes killer burgers. As the owner and proprietor of a butcher shop and steakhouse, lots of attention is paid to B.B. Lemon’s burger patties, made with Texas Wagyu beef sourced from local farmers. Though all of the burgers are top-notch, the diner’s patty melt is the stuff that beef dreams are made of, with melted Swiss cheese and caramelized onions nestled between toasted deli bread.

Top review
ValVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Perfect backyard ambiance for Easter brunch. Friendly staff and delectable drinks
4.8 (4415)
$31 to $50
American
Upper Kirby / Shepherd Corridor

Where’s the beef? It’s not missed at Grace’s, where fans of hard-to-find seafood patties can enjoy a shrimp burger. The restaurant, named after local restaurateur Johnny Carabba’s grandmother, offers up Southern-style comfort food that’s simple but flavorful. Made with locally sourced Gulf shrimp, the juicy patty is topped with Thousand Island dressing and bread and butter pickles on a pretzel bun.

Top review
Lisa
Dined 4 days ago
Food and service was perfect for a work lunch celebration.

Where’s the beef? It’s not missed at Grace’s, where fans of hard-to-find seafood patties can enjoy a shrimp burger. The restaurant, named after local restaurateur Johnny Carabba’s grandmother, offers up Southern-style comfort food that’s simple but flavorful. Made with locally sourced Gulf shrimp, the juicy patty is topped with Thousand Island dressing and bread and butter pickles on a pretzel bun.

Top review
Lisa
Dined 4 days ago
Food and service was perfect for a work lunch celebration.
4.9 (711)
$31 to $50
Mexican / Southwestern
Downtown

This family-owned Mexican and Southwestern restaurant is known for its emphasis on seafood and Texas-sourced wild game, including one species of antelope, the nilgai, from Broken Arrow Ranch. The nilgai’s fine-grained meat with a delicate game flavor plays the central role in one of the city’s most unique offerings: the B.W. burger, made with a half-pound of nilgai and topped with peppered bacon and Monterey Jack cheese.

Top review
MaryVIP
Dined 3 days ago
perfect place for a lunch meeting, service is always top notch. Food and drinks were fantastic.

This family-owned Mexican and Southwestern restaurant is known for its emphasis on seafood and Texas-sourced wild game, including one species of antelope, the nilgai, from Broken Arrow Ranch. The nilgai’s fine-grained meat with a delicate game flavor plays the central role in one of the city’s most unique offerings: the B.W. burger, made with a half-pound of nilgai and topped with peppered bacon and Monterey Jack cheese.

Top review
MaryVIP
Dined 3 days ago
perfect place for a lunch meeting, service is always top notch. Food and drinks were fantastic.
4.4 (151)
$31 to $50
Indian
Montrose

Creative takes on Indian and Texan food are central to this neighborhood restaurant, and that extends to the burgers. Case in point: the spicy Himalayan Heat burger, a juicy half-pound beef patty made with a blend of Indian spices and topped with mozzarella cheese, grilled onions, jalapeños, grilled tomato, and a proprietary sauce that packs a punch. Those looking for less fiery and non-beef burgers will appreciate the wealth of available options, all made with local ingredients on Slow Dough buns.

Top review
Giselaquyalla
Dined on Jun 29, 2024
The food was delicious! My favorite was the Masala fries...perfect for a Friday night splurge. Our service was superb!

Creative takes on Indian and Texan food are central to this neighborhood restaurant, and that extends to the burgers. Case in point: the spicy Himalayan Heat burger, a juicy half-pound beef patty made with a blend of Indian spices and topped with mozzarella cheese, grilled onions, jalapeños, grilled tomato, and a proprietary sauce that packs a punch. Those looking for less fiery and non-beef burgers will appreciate the wealth of available options, all made with local ingredients on Slow Dough buns.

Top review
Giselaquyalla
Dined on Jun 29, 2024
The food was delicious! My favorite was the Masala fries...perfect for a Friday night splurge. Our service was superb!
4.6 (549)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Montrose

A smashburger done right is deceptively hard to achieve, but Roost has perfected the key component: a patty with crispy edges, just the right amount of seasoning, and a juicy interior. Though the menu at this neighborhood restaurant changes frequently, the burger — made with 44 Farms beef, house pickles, thin onions, provolone, and mustard aioli — is a mainstay.

Top review
Grant
Dined 2 days ago
The food was awesome as usual and because we were early it was happy hour and the noise level was very low. We need to come here more often.

A smashburger done right is deceptively hard to achieve, but Roost has perfected the key component: a patty with crispy edges, just the right amount of seasoning, and a juicy interior. Though the menu at this neighborhood restaurant changes frequently, the burger — made with 44 Farms beef, house pickles, thin onions, provolone, and mustard aioli — is a mainstay.

Top review
Grant
Dined 2 days ago
The food was awesome as usual and because we were early it was happy hour and the noise level was very low. We need to come here more often.
4.4 (70)
$30 and under
American
Heights / Washington

Houstonians are always on the lookout for a truly tasty roadside-style burger—the kind you can enjoy in the car, bopping along to the radio with the windows down, without a care in the world. FM Kitchen & Bar’s signature FM Burger, available with one or two 4-ounce patties, is the kind of perfectly executed example that draws folks from all over town when they need to scratch that itch. Made with fresh ground beef — a combination of chuck, brisket, and steak — American cheese, red onion, lettuce, and a tangy proprietary “shhh sauce,” the burger is completed with a classic, lightly toasted Martin’s potato roll. Vegetarians and those eschewing red meat can sub a vegan Impossible Burger patty for the beef.

Top review
Technofile
Dined on Sep 9, 2023
My group enjoyed our visit to FM Kitchen. The food is good and the cocktail menu is solid. Our server gave us great recommendations and we had a great time.

Houstonians are always on the lookout for a truly tasty roadside-style burger—the kind you can enjoy in the car, bopping along to the radio with the windows down, without a care in the world. FM Kitchen & Bar’s signature FM Burger, available with one or two 4-ounce patties, is the kind of perfectly executed example that draws folks from all over town when they need to scratch that itch. Made with fresh ground beef — a combination of chuck, brisket, and steak — American cheese, red onion, lettuce, and a tangy proprietary “shhh sauce,” the burger is completed with a classic, lightly toasted Martin’s potato roll. Vegetarians and those eschewing red meat can sub a vegan Impossible Burger patty for the beef.

Top review
Technofile
Dined on Sep 9, 2023
My group enjoyed our visit to FM Kitchen. The food is good and the cocktail menu is solid. Our server gave us great recommendations and we had a great time.
4.2 (701)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Upper Kirby / Shepherd Corridor

Though there are a few burgers on the menu at Upper Kirby Bistro — including a vegan house-made bean burger — the smokehouse bistro burger is undeniably the go-to option for a hungry lunch crowd. In addition to a thick beef patty, the accoutrements provide a satisfying texture (crunchy onion ring and Applewood maple bacon — check!), along with flavor, thanks to white cheddar cheese, bread and butter pickles, tomato, and house-made aioli.

Top review
Beheirra
Dined on Apr 12, 2025
Black owned businesses done right! Food was divine! Service was amazing I mean suggestions were to the T and the food was 5 star for taste! Pleasantly surprised given that it’s 5 spots in one but can’t wait till we go again! Free entertainment next door. It was a pleasant way to spend our anniversary and we actually got a free yummy bread pudding dessert! Way to go Upper Kirby/Five Central y’all did that!!

Though there are a few burgers on the menu at Upper Kirby Bistro — including a vegan house-made bean burger — the smokehouse bistro burger is undeniably the go-to option for a hungry lunch crowd. In addition to a thick beef patty, the accoutrements provide a satisfying texture (crunchy onion ring and Applewood maple bacon — check!), along with flavor, thanks to white cheddar cheese, bread and butter pickles, tomato, and house-made aioli.

Top review
Beheirra
Dined on Apr 12, 2025
Black owned businesses done right! Food was divine! Service was amazing I mean suggestions were to the T and the food was 5 star for taste! Pleasantly surprised given that it’s 5 spots in one but can’t wait till we go again! Free entertainment next door. It was a pleasant way to spend our anniversary and we actually got a free yummy bread pudding dessert! Way to go Upper Kirby/Five Central y’all did that!!
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