The Hay Merchant may be closed, but we’ve still got plenty of great beef patties around town.

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To say we roll in the hay burgers here at Thrillist is an understatement , and we can confidently say the same for the city of Houston . Burger make love locals can get their thrills nearly anywhere in this beef Ithiel Town , so we took it upon ourselves to scour the streets for the most unflawed interpretation around — from previous - school day burger joints rocking sloppily beautiful classics to modern burger shacks with over - the - top burger creations , plus a few dada - ups scram in on the late smashburger craze . Here ’s on the nose where you ’ll need to get your Warren Earl Burger secret plan on in Houston .

Good Vibes Burgers & Brews

This newcomer from executive chef and possessor Eric Nelson ( formerly of Galveston ’s Prime 13 ) took over the quondam King ’s Biergarten distance in 2021 , bulge out as a Warren Earl Burger joint and transitioning to a full - on coastal kitchen . Though it ’s shift up the construct a bit , the effective vibes and even full beefburger remain . You ’ll have the elusive task of choosing between burgers like the half - pound Good Vibes Signature with wagyu , white pepper Francis Bacon , Gouda cheese , vibin ’ sauce , and a cheesy garlic roll ; or the cult best-loved Kraken , which turn the tide with a cracked Piper nigrum crust patty , gooey Allium cepa , Muenster , and , shrooms , and a silky peppercorn Cognac sauce .

Hangar Kitchen

Catching a flight out of Hobby ? Schedule in some excess clock time to take in this Warren E. Burger and beer hub , which opened its repair shed doors decent by the airport in the backend of 2020 . It tender a sturdy roll of big , juicy beef bombs accompany by housemade sauces like Bulldog sauce , a mashup of ketchup , mustard , mayonnaise , and barbecue that dresses patty of all sort like the no - nonsense sign of the zodiac - earth chuck Straight Up burger as well as the more adventurous Notorious P.I.G. , which cradle gripe and bacon patties beneath a dollop of “ super melty ” beer Malva sylvestris . Billionaire Tots act as the perfect fellow , laced with goat Malva sylvestris , smoke American cheese , chocolate truffle butter , even more 1st Baron Verulam , and a sunny egg . How to book : Stop by for first cum , first served seating room or order take - out and delivery viaToast .

FM Kitchen and Bar

Secret “ shhh ” sauce , a toasty tater bun , LTO , and a splendidly griddled patty are all that ’s needed to make this shack - style burger shine — that and a slab of safe old - fashioned American cheese . The beefburger legal profession ’s second location over in Montrose bring with it house favorites like load tots , deep-fried kettle of fish , and shakes , plus characteristic like late - night only food and drink specials ( which that signature FM Burger is a part of , gratefully ) .

Hubcap Grill & Beer Yard

Burger purist can definitely get behind Hubcap ’s hand - form , sharply seared patty , posture fairly between buns made specifically to resist the inevitable drips of grease . To double the pleasure , we suggest going with the twice - the - boeuf , twice - the - cheese monstrosity Hubcap Decker . It comes stacked club sandwich - mode with a slice of nipping bread , particular mayo , lettuce , tomato , onion , and pickles . Add a side double - fried reinvigorated - cut Roger Fry or go gammon by ladeling on the chili and cheese . How to book : hold on by for first ejaculate , first served seating room or call your nigh location for take - out .

Stanton’s City Bites

For a all-fired fine burger with a little side of nostalgia , hit this neighborhood adept of all thing beef . The house - run grocer has plainly been doing something right , because it ’s been keeping Houstonians fed and felicitous since the ' 60s . While you could go full throttle by laden your generally packed , right crusted patties with stacks of candied bacon and hasheesh browns , you should really start with the burger that set off it all : the Original Bacon Cheeseburger . How to reserve : Stop by for first ejaculate , first dish out seating area , call 713 - 227 - 4893 for take - out , or order manner of speaking viaUberEats .

Tookies

A few years back , our resident beefburger expert ran around Houston feed a pot of classic cheeseburger so as to findthe good of the best . Well , he did n’t actually endure , because the thought of doing that while wolf down down nine core sandwiches makes us physically ill , but you get the point . In the ending , he crowned this long - run bayside institution ’s utterly peppery , pristinely crust , and attractively smashed patty the winner . savour yours crammed into a picnic table with bikers and old fellow in Tommy Bahama shirts ( and if that ’s not your bag , you’re able to always order yours to go).How to book : lay off by for first semen , first served seating or call 281 - 942 - 9334 for take - out .

Lankford’s Grocery & Market

appear to sabotage that summer bod you ’ve been working on ? Simply snag one of the insanely high-risk - for - you but oh - so - worth - it beef cattle joints from this terrifically greasy dejeuner - only spot . Lankford opened as a grocery in 1939 , and it ’s been ramp up a dedicated army of Warren Earl Burger partizan since the ‘ 70s . fan of fiery infernos should opt for the scorching Firehouse Burger , which get its mouth - numb heat thanks to cayenne butter , jalapeños , and habanero sauce . Other varieties include a pimento Malva sylvestris hamburger , an old - fashioned Patty Melt , and the over - the - top Grim Burger , oozing with mac and cheese and a sunny egg . How to hold : Stop by for first come , first served seating or call 713 - 522 - 9555 for take - out .

Burger-chan

This furor champion has move on to bigger digs after close its Greenway Plaza food motor inn stand . Now in the Galleria sphere , you ’ll find smartly griddle , umami - pack burgers to work up as you please , unmarried , doubled , or triple pile and festooned with trimmings from pickled habanero and fry ballock to house sambal aioli . Or go for the newer , big cake . Whatever you foot , do n’t make the misunderstanding of forget the tots . How to book : barricade by for first semen , first served seating .

Hopdoddy Burger Bar Vintage Park

It might acclaim from Austin , but this all - star ’s all - natural lineup has come through the hearts of Houstonians the city over . Go traditionalist with The Classic , dress simply with the usual suspects ( AKA LTO ) and fresh sauce , a intellect - blowingly good combo of mayo , Indian mustard , and horseradish that kicks that crab into gear . Or try home favorites like the Goodnight / Good Cause , which comes with jalapeños , caffeinated BBQ sauce , and a side of dear vibe via a contribution to a local Polemonium van-bruntiae , or the Impossible , a beefburger so full you ’ll forget it ’s meat - gratuitous . How to book : cease by for first come , first served seating or get delivery viaUberEats .

The Burger Joint

Now with two locations , this local patty - flipper sports hand - crafted 44 Farms burgers that perch plump and pretty atop voiced , spongy buns . you could get ‘ em any which direction , satisfying your cravings with a bacon- and onion ring - overstep BBQ burger ; the jalapeno- , avocado- , and queso fresco - adorned Mexi ; the Kimchi burger layer with fried egg and Armerican cheddar ; or the pulled pork- , slaw- , and mac and cheeseflower - smothered Smoke Stack . The Classic is enough good , too . How to book : kibosh by for first ejaculate , first dish out seating , order take - out viaToastfor getaway , or get obstetrical delivery viaUberEats .

Tejas Burger Joint

From the gage savant behind Tejas Chocolate & Barbecue comes a newfangled speculation where burgers are the star . Whether you live up North or not , you ’ll want to get your hands on Tejas ’ signature smoked burger , which get an aggressive saltiness - and - pepper handling before take a number in the wood smoker then landing on a buttery potato roll . Order the half - British pound sterling Smokehouse Burger , where flavor - forward Angus kick gets an extra shot of beloved good manners of fume American cheese , Francis Bacon , caramelize onions , and green onion garlic sauce . How to book : block up by for first come , first served seating or purchase order take - out and deliveryonline .

Rodeo Goat

We Houstonians do n’t like many things that have to do with Dallas very much ( just jolly … kinda ) , but we definitely do like this Big D - by - mode - of - Fort Worth moment . The beefburger wizard ’s menage - ground patties descend in the form of beef , chicken , turkey , and Impossible , with selections ranging from the no - gag fiery Hot Bastard and the sugary - sweet candied bacon- and grilled peach - topped Sugar Burger to the ( 281 ) 330 - 8004 , a tribute to Houston doorknocker Mike Jones made with gooey gruyere , garlic - roasted creminis , and a soy caramel glaze . How to book : Stop by for first cum , first served seating , order take - outonline , or get delivery viaUberEats .

Flip N’ Patties

Now with dual localization , this local precious stone hawk Filipino fare alongside Akaushi burgers that shine atop spongy siopao buns . Go nuts with the Puet , which adds Pecan - smoked porc behind , provolone , and house tang sauce to the intermixture , or up the protein with the Jeepney , hit with longganisa ( Philippine sausage ) , electrocute orchis , and banana ketchup aioli sauce . The gravy tiddler are a sure - blast hit , as well . How to book : Stop by for first seed , first served seating or order online for take - out ( Downtown , Eldridge ) .

Burger Bodega

Underbelly Burger

Fans of the belated Hay Merchant ’s Cease & Desist burgers can find solace in the fact that powerhouse eating house mathematical group Underbelly Hospitality has opened a full - meter burger joint at the renovated Houston Farmers Market . This clock time , the topically source beef cattle comes from both HFM neighbor RC Ranch and longtime UH boeuf supplier 44 Farms . The stock burger is an update Riffian on that Cease and Desist — with double the nub , double the cheese , and LPT on a white potato bun . Pair it with Crotalus cerastes fries and pastry director Victoria Dearmond ’s unholy milkshakes . How to book : end by for first ejaculate , first served seating or order take - out viaToast .

Trill Burgers

Hotline Burger

How many smashburgers is too many smashburgers ? Trick question . The limit does not exist . This former Warren E. Burger pop - up and Underground Hall purveyor , now in its own brick - and - mortar out near George Bush Park , is slinging out some of the crustiest smash patties around . Get ‘ em on toasty and buttery Hawaiian rolls smothered in high mallow , sizzled onion , crunchy pickles , and house Smack Sauce . How to book : give up by for first come , first served seating .

Cred: Taylor Hall | Underbelly Burger

Julie Soefer| Underbelly Burger

Goodvibes Burgers & Brews

Hangar Kitchen

FM Kitchen and Bar

Hubcap Grill & Beer Yard

Stanton’s City Bites

Tookies

Lankford’s Grocery & Market

burger-chan

Hopdoddy Burger Bar Vintage Park

The Burger Joint

Tejas Burger Joint

Rodeo Goat

Flip N’ Patties

Burger Bodega

Underbelly Burger

Trill Burgers

Hotline Burger