You can always count on chef Aaron Bludorn to deliver decadence and deliciousness, and his restaurant’s expansive menu of French-inspired classics features one of the juiciest burgers in H-Town. Bludorn’s dry-aged beef burger is made wantonly juicy thanks to a blend of aged cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and Dijonnaise. The patty is then nestled in a sesame seed bun. If you walk in for brunch, add an egg. Bludorn’s other restaurant, Navy Blue, also serves a dry-aged beef burger for brunch, this one accented by raclette, pork belly, and horseradish.

The brainchild of Houston food influencer Abbas Dhanani, Burger Bodega started as a series of pop-ups before segueing into a brick-and-mortar in fall 2022. The Washington Avenue smashburger sensation’s double smashburger is a crispy-edged delight with American cheese, grilled onions, pickles and Bodega sauce, all situated on a potato bun. While lines can be long, it's worth all the hype. Plus, Burger Bodega excels with its toppings and unparalleled atmosphere, sporting kitschy design flourishes that make it look like a New York City bodega. It’s a great spot to scarf down a double smashburger—or two. The chopped cheese is another standout.

If you’re looking for a burger that meets all your expectations, sometimes you just have to build it yourself, and there’s no better place to do that than Burger-chan. Diane and Willet Feng’s burger joint in the Galleria area features 2-ounce or 5-ounce patties served on either sweet sourdough, brioche, rye bread, lettuce, or bunless. Burger-chan’s toppings—like sambal mayo, Thousand Island, soy Serrano peppers, and pickled habaneros—will help satisfy your inner burger artist.

After half a decade of pop-ups, chef Joseph Boudreaux has finally settled into a brick-and-mortar with Boo's Burgers in the East End. The OG Burger checks all the boxes when it comes to crafting a perfectly loaded, juicy bite. The smashburger is finished with crispy edges, melted cheese, fresh toppings, and a tangy sauce. Don't forget to make it a combo to pair with hot fries and a bottled fizzy drink (Houstonia recommends the pineapple soda). 

For a mix of comfort and value, Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge has you covered with its smashburger deal. Drop by the Montrose bar before 7 pm and you can grab a burger and fries for only $7. The patty itself is a flavorful trio of brisket, short rib, and chuck, topped with onions, pickles, and a zesty house sauce. It’s a grown-up take on the Happy Meal—delicious, a little indulgent, and bound to get a bit messy in the best way.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more storied Houston burger joint than Lankford’s, which sits at the literal intersection of Montrose, Fourth Ward, and Midtown. The decades-old business has captured the hearts of generations of Houstonians and has made quite a name for itself, even earning an appearance on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. While we don’t recommend getting Fieri’s frosted tips, we do recommend pretty much all the burgers at Lankford’s. The pimento cheeseburger is our preferred choice, but the Houston burger featuring thick slabs of brisket is a close second. 

This Ford Fry establishment might change its menu often, but the Classic H-Town Pharmacy Burger is a mainstay, and for good reason. La Lucha’s beefy handheld comes with the standard toppings (cheese, pickles, onions, mustard, lettuce, and tomato), and it’s wrapped up nicely so you won’t make too much of a mess while eating it. Make it a spread with a side of the oysters and a platter of fried chicken. 

While Moon Tower Inn is known for its substantial draft beer selection, we mainly visit the East End “sudworks” for the food. It’s no surprise that the menu here looks like it was cooked up late at night in a stoner’s kitchen. The business gets its name from cult classic Dazed and Confused, and appropriately features a Cheech burger, topped with chèvre, roasted poblanos, bacon and sambal mayo, and the Chong (sunny-side egg, bacon, cheddar, Swiss, Creole mustard, and pickled jalapeños). Another go-to is the Willie, a greasy bomb of flavor featuring a hamburger patty topped with griddled ham, chipotle pimento cheese, and roasted jalapeño coleslaw.

While Burger Bodega is known for iconic collaborations and fusion burgers, this Miami-based chain deserves some of the rave, too. Pincho offers the ultimate Latin twist on the esteemed American classic with its Toston burger. In lieu of a bun, diners are treated to a satisfying slab of meat, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and a creamy cilantro sauce on two large fried plantains. 

EaDo burger destination Rodeo Goat has one of the largest burger menus in the city, with 15 well-conceptualized varieties to choose from. The Marvin Zindler, featuring applewood smoked bacon, jalapeños, and pickle chutney, is a total delight, but the best mash-up might be the whiskey burger: The salty-sweet patty comes topped with whiskey cheddar, candied bacon, blackberry compote, and bourbon mustard.

Stanton’s City Bites knows a thing or two about making burgers, which makes sense considering the grocery-store-turned-restaurant was founded in 1961. From the Holy Cow to the Miss Piggie, there are several burgers here that will strike your fancy. Try the Luke Skyburger—a beef patty layered with deep-fried bacon, garlic-sautéed spinach, grilled mushrooms, and provolone.

No Houston burger restaurant has attracted more national attention than rapper Bun B’s Trill Burgers (duh). The smashburger hot spot has become a sensation through its pop-ups across the country, and it was even named the nation’s best burger by ABC’s Good Morning America. In June 2023, Trill Burgers opened its first brick-and-mortar in Montrose, in the former home of a James Coney Island, and has since opened in Spring, too. Grab the OG Burger, an extra-crispy marvel topped with pickles, caramelized onions, American cheese, and Bun B’s super-secret Trill sauce.

It’s hard to find a pop-up in Houston that hustles harder than Umbrella Fellas. Founded in 2016 by Chito Perez, the hot-dog-and-burger-dispensing dive bar staple can be found throughout the week at places like Axelrad, Little Dipper Bar, Grand Prize Bar, and Bad Astronaut Brewing. Beneath its famous red-and- yellow-striped umbrella, Perez cooks up some of the most perfect burgers in the city. A standout on the menu is the Chito burger, a beef patty topped with bacon, gorgonzola, and cranberry, served on a buttered challah bun. Take the flavor up a notch: add a fried egg.