Put These Longtime Favorites on Your Houston Burger Bucket List

Hubcap Grill

• Location: Various; original at 1111 Prairie St., Downtown
• Since: 2008
• The order: Hubcap Decker, fries, $12.65
• Also get: Beefy Philly Cheese Steak Burger with peppers, $10.99
• Decor: Coca-Cola and Tootsie Roll signs
• What else to know: Cash-only, with an onsite ATM

Lankford Grocery

• Location: 88 Dennis St., Montrose
• Since: 1939
• The order: Old Fashion Hamburger, side of onion rings, $9.99
• Also get: Chili dog with homemade chili, plus cheese and red onions, $3.79
• Decor: Timeworn stools, tables, and booths
• What else to know: Another cash-only place, Lankford also serves dynamite old-fashioned breakfasts

Cream Burger

• Location: 3481 Elgin St., Third Ward
• Since: 1961
• The order: Small cheeseburger and a large chocolate shake, $4.80
• Also get: Cheesy, meaty Frito Pie, $2
• Decor: Hand-painted sign
• What else to know: Cash-only

Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack

• Location: 5230 Westpark Drive, Gulfton
• Since: 1985
• The order: Vegas Burger with buffalo meat, side of jalapeño potato salad, $15.25
• Also get: A cup of buffalo chili, $5
• Decor: Bumper stickers; photos of longtime patrons
• What else to know: Owner Richard Reed wrote a sci-fi novel, Distance Ancient Sky

MytiBurger

• Location: 2211 W. 43th St., Oak Forest
• Since: 1967
• The order: Mytiburger with fries, medium drink, and large banana shake, $10.25
• Also get: Plenty, like the fried jalapeño spears known as Texas toothpicks ($2.55), and corn dogs ($1.80)
• Decor: Checkerboard floors, old photos
• What else to know: When you order, you’ll get a playing card, not a number. “Ace of spades, order up!”

Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot

• Location: 1515 Emancipation Ave., Third Ward
• Since: 2006
• The order: Jalapeño cheeseburger with small side of chili-cheese fries, $10.50
• Also get: Loaded baked potato, $4.50
• Decor: Seating at an area called “Sparkle’s Chill Spot”
• What else to know: Call ahead, as orders can take up to 45 minutes, especially the baked potatoes.

Stanton’s City Bites

• Location: 1420 Edwards St., Washington Avenue
• Since: 1961
• The order: Classic burger with Cajun spice fries, $9.50
• Also get: Fried-egg-topped, fried-pickle-filled Cowboy Brunch burger with side of egg rolls, $13
• Decor: Long diner counter; neon beer signs
• What else to know: A painting on the wall honors “the patron saint of burgers,” late owner Arthur Fong

Published in the The Bayou City's Best Burgers and Beer issue of Houstonia Mag.