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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a big deal around here. Being from Louisiana my experience with rodeos was somewhat limited to small 4h type events. For the HLSR the entire Reliant Center is used for three weeks to host a BBQ competition, a carnival, livestock auctions, championship rodeo events, and every night there is a concert with some pretty big names in country and pop music. To kick off the rodeo a parade of cowboys and covered wagons rides from downtown all the way to Reliant Center. I’ve lived in Houston for four years and had not had the chance to go to this gigantic ode to all things Texan until last week. A friend of mine at work had some extra tickets that he wasn’t going to be using and gave them to me. Excited for the chance to finally see what all the fuss is about, I rounded up my wife and my parents who were in town visiting. We got to ride Houston’s light rail (which for 49 weeks out of the year is almost completely pointless) which drops you off right at the front gates of the rodeo.
Immediately we were met with a barrage of food, cowboy hats, boots, and animals! The rodeo is known for its wide array of deep fried novelties. From deep fried Oreos to chicken fried bacon to funnel cakes to fried Coca Cola (it’s true), you can get almost any artery clogging fix you can imagine. I had heard from a friend that there was a place that was offering a deep fried cheeseburger. That’s right, an entire cheeseburger that is battered and fried in grease. Sound delicious? Not really. Did I want to try it? Absolutely! We walked around for about an hour in search of this deep fried white whale only to find deep fried everything else but the burger. Finally I asked someone at the info station if he could tell me where I could find it. He didn’t know so he called it in over their radio. After some staticky chatter the name “Chicken Charlie’s” came through. So off we went. When we rounded the corner, leaving the main thoroughfare of food establishments, we entered a realm of carnival stands. These are basically dolled up trailers that sell food. After an hour of searching for the deep fried cheeseburger we finally found Chicken Charlie’s. I had to admit, I was getting nervous.
There in the window, among images of deep fried avocados and corn dogs was the sign “Totally Fried White Castle” – $4.95. This is it. Apparently they are using the frozen White Castle burgers you can buy at the grocery store. No matter. After all of this anticipation I still wanted to try it. I waited in line and much to the chagrin of my wife, was finally able to place my order, “One deep fried cheeseburger, please”. The girl asked if I wanted anything to drink. “I better get a bottled water”, I responded. The wait was like watching a parade of fried foods. Plate after plate of deep fried everything was being passed through the window to rodeo goers. Finally, my plate came through. What I saw resembled a biscuit covered in fried chicken breading sitting on top of some rather weak looking fries. Loaded with a few small cups of ketchup, I found a spot to sit and dove in.
Upon my first bite I realized why no one else is selling deep fried burger… The bun retained an amazing amount of the grease. This was by far one of the worst things I’ve ever tried to eat. I quickly gulped down half of my water. The only way to get the greasy taste out of my mouth was to eat as much ketchup and fries as possible. My wife just shook her head not needing to say “I told you so”. In spite of my initial horror with this abomination… I tried another bite. Again, terrible. So only two bites in, I gave up. This was such a fantastically terrible burger experience that I had to document it.
Folks, the rodeo was a lot of fun. This burger, although disgusting, was a fun quest. After the absolute failure of filling up on deep fried Burger Tyme, we headed back into the main area and had some good barbecue, fresh potato chips, and funnel cake. I also picked up a huge bag of my personal favorite, Fresh Popped Kettle Corn! This was a great experience that I was glad to be able to bring my family to and I would not hesitate to go back to again.
Original review here
The Sticky Burger. What the heck is a sticky burger? After a long hiatus from Hubcap, I finally returned to downtown Houston and had a chance to return to one of my (and most of Houston’s) favorite burger joints, Hubcap Grill. I was pleasantly surprised to see the improvements they made since I last visited. There was a cover over the patio/alley/seating area, they installed fans to keep outside diners cool, and most importantly they had an actual menu instead of the dry erase board they were using. This menu included a few items that were new to me. Muffaletta burger, philly cheese burger, frito pie burger, and the sticky burger. I read the ingredients of the sticky burger; cheese, peanut butter, meat, and bacon… For some reason, that sounded amazing to me. When it was my turn to order I asked the lady behind the counter “Is the sticky burger good?”. “Ehh. Some people like it.” she replied. That response scared me on this first visit back so I chickened out and ordered my usual cheeseburger. It was good but for days I couldn’t stop thinking about the sticky burger. The sticky burger was sticking to my dreams like peanut butter on the roof of my mouth!
A week later I couldn’t take it any more so I went back. This time I confidently ordered a sticky burger and an IBC root beer (that’s kind of like milk, right?). I decided to save my heart and passed on the fries. Eager with anticipation I waited for the lady to bring out my burger. My patience paid off and out came what would soon become one of my favorite burgers. As you can see, this burger looks like a regular bacon cheese burger with no veggies. But what you can’t see is the two layers of crunchy peanut butter coating the top and bottom bun. I bit into it and the flavor was miraculous! The savory bacon, creamy cheese, and seasoned patty combined with sweet and salty peanut butter to make my taste buds sing. This seemed a lot more like eating a peanut butter sandwich than a hamburger but there was no denying that it was a bacon cheeseburger. As typical with peanut butter, the eating was slow going. The crunchy peanut butter added a wonderful texture to the burger experience. Thankfully this was not a dry burger. It was plenty juicy to keep the chewing going without becoming a chore.
I loved the sticky burger! So much, in fact, that I went back a week later and had it again. Consistently good! Consistently strange! I’m tempted to try the other odd burger choices that Hubcap offers, but I’m probably more tempted to just get another sticky burger and then take an afternoon nap.
(3 votes, average: 7.33 out of 10, ) Loading ...
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Oh holidays. The fourth of July was just around the corner. By the time most people were off of work for the holiday, I rounded up a few other coworkers who were craving a Freedom inspired Burger Tyme and decided on the great American Sam’s Deli Diner. Most of us were working near the energy corridor in West Houston which fortunately (and most importantly) is where Sam’s Deli is located. After a few carefully orchestrated emails instructing time and place we all arrived at Sam’s Deli. I did not expect to find the legendary Sam’s Deli in a strip mall. From what I understand, they have moved into this new location recently. But don’t let the outside appearance fool you. Once you cross the threshold of their glass doors, you feel like you’re in a diner world all by itself. The first thing you see is a looong counter, with signs telling you to “Place Order Here”. There were a lot of people there for lunch when we showed up. Almost every table was filled. Fortunately we knew exactly were to go thanks to the many helpful people behind the counter who were very busy taking orders, grilling burgers, making milkshakes, and calling peoples names to pick up orders. While we were waiting to place our orders we were asked many times if we would like something to drink while we waited. I thought this was great. The first thing I noticed while looking over the menu was the prices. They seemed about 5 years out of date. I’m not complaining but my lunch budget was suddenly able to get me a little more than I was used to.
My turn came and I was excited! I placed my usual, Cheeseburger, everything on it, seasoned fries, a chocolate shake (made with Bluebell ice cream), and a cup of water. Feeling adventurous, I asked the lady if I could get a fried egg on my burger. “Absolutely” was here response and I was absolutely thrilled when this all came out to less than $8! The wait gave us a good opportunity to find a place to sit. After about ten minutes or so my name was called. I sat down and beheld a pretty impressive spread. Upon my first bite one thing stood out from all of the other burgers I’ve ever eaten. It was a tender burger. I bit through it effortlessly. It was very good. The patty was fried to a juicy point that complimented all of the other ingredients. The veggies were good with the tomato standing out as being very good. The bun was fresh and soft and was toasted on the griddle just the way I like it. The seasoned fries were great! They would be more accurately described as seasoned battered fries. The milkshake while good seemed more like runny chocolate ice cream than an actual shake.
Sam’s Deli is one of the best places in Houston to get a burger. I was surprised when the other Burger Tymers told me that this was not the best burger they have had at Sam’s Deli. Is it possible to get better? Apparently so. I loved how friendly the employees were. I loved the large menu and how flexible they were with adding things that weren’t the “norm”. I didn’t love the milkshake. It was good and went well with the burger, but it was nothing more than the Bluebell Ice cream they claimed it was made of. That being said they do have somewhere around 20 different flavors so maybe I should try something other than chocolate next time, because there will be a next time. Happy Independence Day!!!!!!!!!
Texas Burger Guy
Cook’s Tour
(4 votes, average: 7.75 out of 10, ) Loading ...
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Lankford’s Grocery… If only life were like Lankford’s Grocery. I really wish that we lived somewhere that we could just walk down the street and enjoy delicious home cooking from friendly people who are also our neighbors. This is the case here. Nestled inside of some neighborhood some where in Houston, lies this time warp of a restaurant. From the outside, it looks like an old house that is being used to server food. The inside is no different. One thing you will notice aside from the sloping floor and sagging ceilings, is the festive decor for whatever holiday is most near, be it Valentines day, Easter, Christmas, St. Patrick’s day, July 4th, or tax day. This particular Burger Tyme was festive as well. A few friends from work joined me for some Tyme Travel as we were celebrating Friday, the greatest of days. We made our way over to Lankford’s early. If you’re not early to Lankford’s you are going to have a hard time finding a seat. Also, if you don’t know how to get to Lankford’s just drive around, you’ll find it. Fortunately for us, the weather was beautiful and they had some new picnic tables outside. We were greeted by our waitress who is a sweet older lady who has been there as long as I can remember. In fact almost everyone that works there has been there as long as I can remember. The menu is not terribly complicated, they have burgers, they have daily lunch specials (which are great by the way), and they have sides. Their burgers range from plain hamburger to the Soldier Burger (burger with a fried egg) to the Fireman’s Burger (more pepper’s than you can imagine) to the One and a Half Pound Wholey Cow Burger.
So our order was to be taken and what was I to get. I deviated from my usual only because you don’t get this option at most burger joints… The Soldier Burger. I love a fried egg on my cheeseburgers. It makes them messy, it makes them difficult for other people to watch, but it makes them GOOOOOD! So a soldier burger with cheese and a side of tots and a coke. I could hardly wait. While we waited we saw the tables inside and out fill up quickly. Seems like we got there just in time. Within about 10 minutes our order was on the table. This was not my first Lankford’s burger and it won’t be my last but as I bit in, all was new. Th first thing I noticed was that the paper that the burger was wrapped in was nearly transparent (usually a good indicator of how delicious a burger is going to be). The patty was big and pretty juicy. It tasted just salty enough but still had a dominant beef flavor not withstanding the cheese that was melted perfectly over the patty. This is a fried patty which I prefer to grilled. The bun was a fresh hamburger bun with poppy seeds. Though not made fresh at Lankford’s it was still an above average bun. The veggies were all fresh and delicious. Most notably the onions were fresh cut and still crisp. The tots here are my favorite tots in all of Houston! I’m not sure but I think they make them themselves. If not, the should never reveal their secret supplier of perfect tots, for my health’s sake. Now some may not like it, but the fried egg on the burger was great! It was cooked over easy so after my first bite the burger became really messy. Thankfully there was a full paper towel roll at the table.
Lankford’s Grocery is one of my favorite places for a Burger Tyme or an Any Tyme. Not only are the burgers good but their other dishes are good as well. There’s a very quaint feeling about the place that makes you feel like you’re part of the neighborhood. There burgers are a good value as well. Burger tots and a drink will run you around $7. Oh and CASH ONLY. One of the signs that Lankford’s is operating from a different era is you basically pay by the Honor system. They take your order, they bring you your food, and when you are ready to pay you go up to the counter and the find a ticket for your table but you always end up just telling them what you ordered anyway. It’s a great place!
Here’s a hint – If you like Chicken Fried Steak, go to Lankford’s on Thursday because it is their daily special and it is GREAT! I’ve heard that all of their specials are really good.
Here’s another hint – Get there early on Thursday because they will run out.
Other Reviews:
Cooks Tour
(8 votes, average: 6.63 out of 10, ) Loading ...
On a warm summer evening, my wife and I invited a few friends of ours to join us in a walk over to the Memorial Park Golf Club to have a Beck’s Prime Burger Tyme. There are many locations of this great burger place around Houston, including the tunnels downtown, but I had not yet been to this location. We brought our dog, Pearl the Australian Shepherd, along since we heard there was outside seating. After about a half mile walk or so we arrived at the golf club. Flanked on either side by a nice golf course, a driving range, and running trails, this was a very lively place for 8pm on a Thursday. We walked into Becks and were greeted by a very friendly guy behind the counter. He patiently took our order while my wife and dog found a table outside for us to sit. There are two places to order at this particular location, an inside counter and an outside window. The menu at Beck’s is pretty impressive. They have everything from Burgers to grilled chicken to steaks and milkshakes. Their burger variety is also pretty vast, from plain hamburgers, to hickory barbecue bacon burgers.
Everyone placed their orders and I placed mine for the usual cheeseburger with everything on it, a large order of fries for the table, and a lemonade (it’s summer time). I headed out to join the rest of the group and was able to enjoy the nice weather and the scene of golfers futilely trying to improve their game (I recently started playing golf and I’m terrible). After a pleasant couple of minutes our orders were ready. As you can see, the burgers at Beck’s Prime are h-u-g-e! The patty is supposedly a half pound but I think it was a bit more. They are flame grilled which I usually don’t prefer, but this patty was very juicy and flavorful. The bun was lightly toasted and fresh. The veggies were adequate but not outstanding. Obviously the focal point of this burger was the meat. The fries were very good in my opinion although a few people at the table didn’t agree. They were fresh cut and fried in grease that was maybe a little to hot making them crispy on the outside and a little underdone on the inside. Again, I liked them.
Beck’s Prime was one of the best flame grilled burger’s I’ve ever had however these are not cheap burgers. Burger, fries, and a drink will run you around $10+. Another thing to note is that I’ve eaten at four Beck’s Prime Houston location multiple times for both lunch and dinner, early and late. They have all been consistently good burgers with friendly service. While I didn’t get a milkshake for this Burger Tyme, I’ve had them before at Beck’s. It was almost too much of a good thing. Their milkshakes are great but should be treated more of as a desert to be shared rather than a drink as they are very large and thick. While all Beck’s Prime locations offer outside seating I would also have to say that the Memorial Park location is my favorite because was very peaceful out there that night. All in all, Beck’s is a great Burger Tyme.
(4 votes, average: 6.50 out of 10, ) Loading ...
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, my wife and I made the short drive to Richmond, TX to visit my brother and his family. He had mentioned that there was a pretty good burger near his house so we decided to give it a try. So on Crabb River Rd is a shopping center and in that shopping center is Joe’s grill. Amongst a video game store, a Chinese restaurant, and fast food pizza, Joe’s Grill stands out. We made our way in and were greeted by a guy in a do-rag who I think was Joe. He seemed pretty friendly. He was from San Francisco and talked to my sister in law about living on the west coast while we decided what to order. The menu at Joe’s Grill is pretty impressive. There was many sandwich, salad, and burger options to choose from. We were there, however, for Burger Tyme.
I place my order for a regular cheeseburger with everything on it, a side of fries and a chocolate shake. After about 10 minutes our orders were brought out to us. The spread was pretty basic and was a decent amount of food. The burger was fresh. That’s the best word I could use to describe it. The patty was thin but filled out the entire bun. The veggies were fresh and crisp. The bun itself was a plain white hamburger bun but it was very soft and held the burger together well. Overall, no one item in the burger stood out as really good but together they made for a pretty good burger. The fries were pretty crisp which is how I like them. The milkshake was a little on the icy side. It most likely was soft serve ice cream that they blend Hershey’s syrup and milk into. It wasn’t bad but it was not the best milkshake either.
Joe’s Grill was a pleasant surprise down in Richmond,TX. While I would have to say the burger is slightly above average, the variety on the menu indicated to me that there is more than just good burgers at this place. What I really liked about Joe’s Grill was how friendly “Joe” was. While we waited I noticed that a lot of the people who were coming in and placing orders or picking up orders knew the guy in the do-rag ( I think I even heard them calling him Joe). He was very friendly with all of them and even helped an old man who was taking his granddaughter to lunch to his chair. I was really impressed that he knew many of his customers well enough to joke with them, and was extra helpful to the old man.
(2 votes, average: 6.50 out of 10, ) Loading ...
Thursday came and I was craving a burger. The weather was really nice in Downtown Houston and was perfect for a Burger Tyme. One of the founding members of Burger Tyme suggested Champ Burger. It was not far from downtown so I rounded up four other Burger Tymers and headed out. We made our winding way to 304 Sampson Street between Harrisburg & Canal, south of downtown. When we arrived I noticed that Champ Burger was an outside walk up burger establishment that had a park like seating area connected to it. The manicured trees and clean sidewalk gave it quite a charming atmosphere given the surrounding warehouses and industrial buildings. Champ Burger has been around for 40+ years so I was getting a little excited for a burger that has lasted that long. The menu was full of many options including the highly touted “Texas Steak Sandwich” which is basically chicken fried steak on a bun. As good as that sounded I was here for a burger! There was a number of people coming and going at champ burger. That’s a good sign for a place that is a little off of the beaten path.
I walked up to the window and placed my order for a Champ Burger with cheese and everything on it. The Champ burger is a 1/3 lb fresh ground patty. I also ordered fries and a medium chocolate shake. Many of those I was with ordered the onion rings. We were given our numbers and were able to find a picnic table that was in a nice bit of shade. After a short while our numbers were called and we were each given our orders in individual white paper bags. I unpacked mine and beheld one of the larger burgers I’ve had. Now this was due mainly to the size of the bun. The patty filled out in the bun but at the expense of thickness. This made the patty not particularly juicy. The bun was fresh but seemed like a basic store bought burger bun. The same was for the veggies. They were fresh enough but not particularly great. Fortunately this was an instance where the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. The flavor of the burger overall was pretty good. The fried was pretty good too. My fellow Burger Tymers also really enjoyed the beer battered onion rings. The milkshake was quite good and provided a good, sweet contrast to the savory burger and fries.
Champ burger has been around for a long time. The overall experience showed me why. The service was friendly, the dining area was nice, and the food was good. Fortunately this was an instance where the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. The flavor of the burger overall was pretty good while the ingredients weren’t wonderful. The portions were huge and by the end of everyone’s meal, we all needed a nap. I think that any one near the area should definitely give Champ Burger a try.
Hint – If you like Orange cream soda, orange push-pops (ice cream treat), or dreamsicles try the Orange Milk Shake! It’s amazing!
(4 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10, ) Loading ...
It was getting late on Monday night and my wife and I had not eaten yet. We decided to run our wonderful Australian Shepherd around Memorial Park in Houston, TX and by the time we were done we were too tired to cook. I suggested we try out Little Big’s based on a few recommendations from some people at work. She thought that was a good idea so we cleaned up an headed to the corner of Montrose and Westheimer. There amidst the other brightly lit signs in the area stood a large black and white sign of a giant hamburger being lifted by a little man. It was night time and the weather was amazing! It was cool, not humid, and there was a slight breeze. Fortunately, Little’s Big’s has a very large outdoor patio with plenty of picnic tables and a TV that had the Bulls v Celtics game on. Another good sign was that the place was busy, even at 9pm. I was really getting excited. We made our way inside and got in line. The food menu was simple. 3oz Sliders… Beef, Chicken, or Mushroom…. with or without cheese…. “4 minute fries”. That’s was it. You order their sliders typically in threes but you can get them individually too. Their drink menu was much, much larger. Fortunately for our decision making time and my wallet, we don’t drink, so we ordered a soft drink and chocolate shake.
I placed my order for a trio of all beef sliders and “four minute fries”. We were given a number and found ourselves a picnic table outside. Did I mention how nice the weather was? The Little Big’s employee who brought everyone their food was basically running from table to table bring out everyone’s orders. It was interesting to watch because she was busing the tables at the same time without delaying bringing out the orders. It was pretty impressive. She brought our orders out it was a sight for hungry eyes! A whole row of cute, little burgers. Before I could enjoy them, however, I took them over to the toppings bar where I added lettuce, small slices of tomato, ketchup, and mustard. The patties, though small, were very juicy and tasty! Every burger comes with sauteed onions which were especially good. The buns were a yeast bun similar to a dinner roll. They were soft and nicely chewy. Though these burgers are small, three 3oz patties is more than 1/2 lb and was plenty to fill me up. The fries were very good too. They were hand cut and fried to a nice crisp. The Milkshake was also one of the best I’ve ever had. It was a “fluffy” milkshake, if that makes sense. It wasn’t to heavy or thick.
Little Big’s was great! All the elements combined that night to make it one of my favorite Burger Tymes! It helped that I was really hungry, it helped that the weather in Houston was AMAZING! It helped that the NBA playoff game was an Overtime, Nail biter. But what helped it the most was that these little burgers were really good! I definitely will be returning and bringing more Burger Tymers with me.
Hint – When ordering your trio of sliders, you can mix them up and get one of each kind, beef, chicken, and mushroom! and get a milkshake!
(3 votes, average: 6.67 out of 10, ) Loading ...
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Stanton’s City Bites came upon a few recommendations. One of my co-workers interned with the owner’s daughter. I tried to gather the usual group from work to join in on this Burger Tyme. Unfortunately only two could come. When I google mapped the location the street view only showed a house with a sign saying Stanton’s. It didn’t quite make sense but I figured google can’t be wrong… right? So anyway, the three of us drove down Washington Ave, out of downtown to Houston St. Sure enough, the house from google street view came into sight. I parked right in front and we made our way in. It was surely a sight to behold. This hearkened to an era past where corner groceries were more common than the nearby Target. They had just about every beverage you could imagine and more snackfood than an eight year old could hope to eat. To the right of the entrance was what appeared to be the deli. We were greeted by a nice guy named Kyle who helped us put in our order. Stanton’s menu is rather impressive. They had a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, and daily specials from which to choose. I also noticed that they had the distinguished honor of being voted the best burger in Houston for 2005 and 2006. This looked more and more promising. While we mulled over the choices to be made, there was a constant stream of people picking up phoned in orders. There were signs all around stating that the burger was “worth the wait”. Another thing that became apparent was the lack of seating. We inquired if there was anywhere to sit and eat. We were politely told “Not currently”. Maybe they have plans to add a table or two.
So I placed my order for a cheeseburger with everything on it and tots. Now, I was informed that all burgers come with bacon. I asked for them to hold the bacon because I generally don’t care for bacon on my cheeseburgers. I then began the wait. After about twenty minutes our order was ready and we selected our drinks, paid, and made our way to find somewhere to eat our Stanton’s burgers. After a short drive back to downtown, we found some seating at Jones Plaza and delved in. My anticipation level for this burger was pretty high. It looked good, it smelled good, and after my first bite, it tasted good too. The patty was nice an thick, 1/2 lb. It was very juicy, but not messy. The veggies were exceptionally good. The lettuce was not your run of the mill iceberg but a nice dark green lettuce that was fresh. The tomatoes and onions were also nice and fresh. The bread could have been better. It wasn’t that the bun wasn’t fresh but it was the buns were toasted in a toaster as opposed to toasted on the griddle. This gave the bun a slightly crunchy and dry texture. The tots were good. I tend to choose tots over fries when given an option.
Stanton’s City Bites was an interesting Burger Tyme. It had a few unexpected surprises. The lack of seating gave us the option to make our dining experience as nice as we were willing to drive to. The wait gave me plenty of time to browse the many drink options they had. To my surprise they had something I had never seen before. “Tall Boy” versions of popular soft drinks. The price was not bad. Total for burger, fries, and a tall boy was about $7. I enjoyed bringing a few people there but was glad we did not have our usual larger group as we would have had trouble finding somewhere for all of us to eat. With a little planning, Stanton’s can be a great alternative to typical burger outings.
Hint- If you like soft drinks and you like brown paper bags, Stanton’s has you covered with their large selection of sof t drinks. As a bonus, all drinks are packed in a brown paper bag.
(6 votes, average: 6.83 out of 10, ) Loading ...
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Cheeburger Cheeburger, though hard to say, has been a favorite of my parent’s in Baton Rouge, LA for the past few years. I took a few days off of work for Easter so my wife and I made the 5 hour drive to stay in Baton Rouge for the holiday. Our first night here I rounded up a few willing family members and headed out for my second Burger Tyme in as many days. Cheeburger is a 50′s diner themed burger chain that allows people to customize their orders to an almost obscene amount. From the dozens of burger combinations to the 78 different shake options, an unprepared customer has a lot of decisions to make. When we arrived we were greeted by the milkshake “bar” were the milkshake orders are filled. Cheeburger Cheeburger prides itself on their delicious milkshakes of which I’ve heard good things but we are here for the burgers. There is a disclaimer on the menu stating that orders are cooked fresh when you order and that you can expect to wait about 15 minutes while they prepare your burger. I’m OK with that. I can wait for a good burger. This place is more of your typical sit-down restaurant with a waiter who takes your order as opposed to most burger joints where you wait in line, place your order, and then find a place to sit. Once I opened the menu and viewed the list of options for the burger, I knew I had my work cut out for me.
Given the plethora of options I was not intimidated. I managed to order my usual 1/3rd lb cheeseburger with what I consider typical toppings; lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and American cheese. Fries come separate at Cheeburger. We ordered a large basket to split for the table of four. True to their word, we waited about fifteen minutes and our burgers were delivered to our table. The patty was very thick and juicy. It was made of fresh ground beef and was adequately flavorful. The cheese was nicely melted over the patty. The veggies were OK but were unevenly spread on the burger. The bun, I thought, was good. It was soft and slightly chewy (in a good way). One problem I had was that the bottom bun was slightly soggy which in my mind makes the initial bites unpleasant. Once I bit in I was delighted by the combinations of all the flavors as they worked together well however they all began to slide around and juices were running down my arm. I guess what I’m saying is, this is a good but messy burger. Fortunately they provide each table with an entire roll of napkins! The fries were exceptionally good. They were fresh cut and fried to a nice crisp.
I’ve had Cheeburger a few times before but this was the first time I went with the goal of finding great burgers! As I previously mentioned, this is a favorite of my parents and I can see why. Everyone that came with us was pleased with their burger orders of various combinations. Some had onion rings and honey mustard, while another had Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces on their burger. We ordered shakes too but I’d have to say that for the cost, skip the shakes unless you want a dessert. They are thick and not really drinkable while you’re eating your burger. Another thing to note is that Cheeburger Cheeburger was one of the more costly Burger Tymes. While the burger and fries were very good, the burger, fry, and regular drink combo is going to run you about $10 or more.
Here’s a hint – if you like onion rings but want fries too, you can order “frings” which is a basket of half fries and half rings.
(3 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10, ) Loading ...
Today is one of those days where I get excited over the possibility to try a new burger. A co-worker of mine suggested a few days ago that we give Sparkle’s a try as he had heard that they have won the prestigious award of Best Milkshake in Houston. So today a few of us made the journey south of downtown Houston to Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot. Our first reaction when we arrived was “Wait, is that it?” This is Burger Tyme’s first experience with a burger stand. This stand has a lot of character. There were painted signs all around the bright blue building and the crowd of people waiting for their orders told me that this place did not need the bells and whistles of typical burger joints (A/C, inside dining, etc). I was surprised to see that they did accept credit cards as well as take phone orders. Seating is limited to the picnic tables out front and fortunately for us the weather was perfect for outside dining. There was a nice mixture of customers, ranging from police officers, to office professionals, to construction workers, and neighborhood locals. We waited in line and were able to place our order. The menu had many favorites including one of my personal favorites, Chicken ‘n Waffles.
I placed my usual order of a cheeseburger with everything on it. At sparkle you have the option of fries, curly fries, and onion rings. I opted for the curly fries. I went with the regular coke instead of a milkshake with my meal (I got one after I ate) because I typically don’t like milkshakes with meals. This was by far the least expensive excursion for Burger Tyme. Burger, fries, and a drink came to about six bucks. You can’t beat that! One thing to note at Sparkle’s is that you are going to wait. They receive a lot of phone orders so even though there may only be 3 people at the stand waiting, they could have eight other orders that were phoned in before yours. It’s not a bad thing but just be prepared to wait for your food. While I waited, I enjoyed the wonderful aromas that were emanating from this burger stand. After about twenty minutes of anticipation my order was ready. I eagerly opened the box and was greeted by a very appetizing sight. The burger looked very promising. The cheese was perfectly melted over the fried patty. The patty itself was hand formed and was thicker in the middle than most burgers I’ve had. It could stand to be a little more seasoned as the patty just tasted like ground beef. That’s not a bad thing but there was no uniqueness to the flavor. The vegetables were merely adequate. The lettuce and onions were in small bits and tended to fall out of the burger. The bun was toasted but was a little on the dry side. Overall, the burger was good and for $3 was amazing. The curly fries on the other hand were $2 and all I got was what you see in the picture. For 2/3rds the cost of the burger I expected a little more
Sparkle’s Burger Stop amounts to one great Burger Tyme experience. As long as the weather is nice and you have time to wait you can get a good burger for a great price. While I wouldn’t put this as one of the best burgers I would say this is one of the best places I’ve been and would like to try some other menu items. One thing to note was the GREAT!!!! Milkshakes! As I mentioned previously, I did not get a milkshake until after I ate my burger. The others who came with me stated that the milkshake matched up perfectly with the burger and made it much more enjoyable. After I had my milkshake I determined that on my next visit to Sparkle’s I will have a milkshake with my burger.
Here’s a hint – Call ahead. If you don’t have time to wait as long as we did, you can call ahead and your order can be ready when you get there.
(10 votes, average: 9.00 out of 10, ) Loading ...
In late 2007 a friend of mine was working as technical support for voting some precincts in Harris County in Houston, TX. His day consisted of a lot of driving around from precinct to precinct. Around lunch time he gave me a call asking if I wanted to join him for the “best burger” in Houston. To this I replied “Absolutely!” He took me to the original Christian’s location on Washington Ave off of I-10. I’ve passed by this place many times before but mistook it for a storage shed for the construction site next door. This was due to the building being made mostly of corrugated tin. If it wasn’t for the full parking lot and line of people almost out the door, I would have been worried for my lunch’s sake. The menu at Christian’s is fairly straightforward. You have a few choices of burgers 1/3lb, 1/2lb, or full 1lb. I ordered my usual 1/3rd lb with cheese with every thing on it. Another thing to note is that at Christian’s you have to wait. That’s not a bad thing just something to expect. If they are really busy the wait can be around twenty minutes. Christian’s does a good job of managing expectations though. You are given a number and get to quietly sit as your anticipation builds as the number gets closer and closer to yours. My number was finally announced over the nearly indiscernible speaker.
I ordered the 1/3rdlb combo with cheese which included either fries or onion rings, and a drink. I went with the fries and got a root beer. When my burger arrived all of my expectations were met. The burger was tightly wrapped in deli paper. I find that a good indicator of how good a burger is going to be is by how clear the paper is that wraps the burger. This paper was almost see through. MMmmmm…. The 1/3rdlb patty seemed more like a half pound and is probably one of the best seasoned patties I’ve had. It is also extremely juicy but not extremely messy. I still needed a napkin after every bite though. The bun is buttered and toasted adding an excellent texture and flavor to the burger. The whole package comes together with the veggies. The fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles added to many positives for this burger.
When I was first brought to Christian’s, I was promised the “Best Burger in Houston”. Christian’s has held that award in many different polls over the past few years and in my opinion deservedly so. While some burgers have good and bad components, Christian’s is one of the few that I’ve had that consistently is a great all around burger! For me, each bite is the perfect burger. It’s the combination of all of the ingredients that makes this burger so enjoyable. I’ve since been back to Christian’s more times than I can can count and have brought many friends, co-workers, and family to try this great burger. The consensus has been that is is one of the best burger’s in Houston and maybe America!!
Hint – If you like Onion Rings, Christian’s has some of the best. If you can’t decide on whether to get onion rings or french fries with your burger just ask for “half and half” and you’ll get both!
Check out other reiviews of Christisian’s here:
(10 votes, average: 8.30 out of 10, ) Loading ...
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Hubcap Grill is one of those places that came along unexpectedly, for me at least. I had seen it a few times in downtown Houston and always thought to myself “I should check that place out”. It wasn’t until it was voted the best burger in Houston in 2008 that I was motivated to break out of my routine of eating Christian’s Totem (review to come) every week with the Burger Tymers from work. On our first excursion nine people walked with me about 6 blocks to Prairie and San Jacinto to try out Hubcap for the first time. When you first walk up to Hubcap you can see it is a bit unnassuming. “Burgers and Fries” is what the sign says. The full tables on the sidewalk and in the side alley renamed “New-Orleans Style Patio” would say that it is worth the wait in that line that was out the door. Oh, and when you finally get to the door, there is a reminder that it is “CASH ONLY” at hubcap. There is an ATM inside in case of an emergency or if a co-worker doesn’t owe you a lunch.
The menu was much more than I expected. There were all kinds of burgers with interesting names : The Hubcap Decker, The Quadruple Bi-pass, Muffaletta Burger. So for my first venture I ordered the regular cheeseburger with everything on it, a side of regular fries (you have two options; regular or sweet potatoe), and a bottled IBC Root beer. I love bottled soft drinks, by the way. The wait wasn’t as long as I expected considering the number of people who ordered in front of me and boy was it worth it. This was one of the most unique and delicious burgers I’ve had in a while. To start with, the buns are ciabatta-ish and made by Hubcap. The burger comes out with grill marks on the top and bottom of the bun giving just the right amount of crisp. The meat is seasoned well and is very juicy. The cheese was perfectly melted over the patty and the vegetables were good. This was a big cheeseburger, but nothing could prepare me for the Hubcap Decker (pictured on the left). Two patties between two buns and a peice of texas toast in the middle and american cheese on the top half and monterrey jack on the bottom. It also had the Hubcap Special Sauce which was very good. It was a daunting burger but I’m glad I was convinced to give it a try. Every mouthful (and it was full) was a burger lover’s dream. The fries were fresh cut and fairly good but in my opinion could stand to stay in the grease a minute or two longer. They tended to be a bit soft. I like a crispy, crunchy fry. An entire meal came to about $8 which is par for the course of fine burger tyming.
My first experience at Hubcap was good… So good, in fact, that myself along with some of the original nine easily convinced a total of twenty co-workers (not exaggerating) to return to Hubcap the very next day. That was the day I tried the hubcap decker. It was a good lunch but a sleepy afternoon. I have since returned to Hubcap many times with both co-workers, family, and friends and it has consistently been an outstanding burger and the people are friendly. This burger is definitely one of the best in Houston!
Here’s a hint – get the cheeseburger with everything on it and add the special sauce…
Check out the review of Hubcap Grill’s Sticky Burger here
(8 votes, average: 6.50 out of 10, ) Loading ...
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I was first introduced to Five Guys by a friend in Washington, DC where some of the first Five Guys were opened. My wife an I ate at one of the original five guys in Alexandria, VA and for a “chain” burger it was darn good! I think the secret to their success is the simplicity of the menu. I realize that I’m not going out on a limb by saying that but good burgers are simple burgers and they have it down. One detail I liked that was unique to this chain was the cork board that displayed customer “art”. There was a stack of 3″X5″ index cards and some pencils for customers to write notes, draw pictures, or whatever else you can do with fifteen square inches of real estate. My wife and I found that along with the boxes of roasted peanuts it was a good way to pass the time while we waited for our order.
The menu is short. Burgers and Dogs. I ordered my usual Cheeseburger but ran into a hiccup when I said everything on it. At Five Guys you have a list of around sixteen items and condiments you can put on your burger. I had to specify lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, grilled onions, mustard, mayo, and ketchup. The burger itself was made from very good ingredients. The patties (that’s right, there were two) were hand formed and the toppings were fresh. This is a fried burger but I actually prefer a fried burger to a grilled one because they tend to be juicier. This burger had just the right amount of grease and juiciness though it became a little hard to manage towards the last few bites.The bun (or as I like to call them, bread gloves) was also a notable component to the whole Five Guys experience. It was soft and a little chewy (in a good way) and held everything together pretty well. The fries are a big selling point in my book. My wife and I split an single order of Cajun fries. To our surprise a single order means a brown lunch bag full of fries. The cajun seasoning was different at first but matched really well with the ketchup and the burger. After my wife and I ate at the one in Alexandria I tried it at the one in Georgetown and most recently in Houston, TX. The burgers were consistently good.
An item that I found to be both good and bad was the variety of toppings and condiments you can add to your burger. While the menu is simple, the condiment selection can really get complicated for the unprepared. I tend to freeze up in moments like this because I’m afraid that I may pick something like barbecue sauce or green peppers and essentially ruin a perfectly good burger. While I applaud Five Guys’ commitment to the customers’ unique tastes, I’m fearful that people who aren’t the most burger savvy may choose a topping(s) that would make an exceptional burger just OK or even bad. But hey, it’s worked for them so far. For a “chain” burger this one probably tops my list.
