My continuing quest to find delicious burgers in the Lone Star State recently led me to a place recommended by a reader who lives in San Antonio. He insisted that I had to eat at Bobby J’s Old Fashion Hamburgers — a popular burger joint in Helotes, a community located on the far northwest side of San Antonio. So, when my travels took me west, I did just that. A friend and I timed our trip so that we could stop for lunch at Bobby J’s.
Folks have been eating at Helotes for quite a long time. The name Helotes is derived from the Spanish word elotes, meaning corn on the cob. Spanish explorers reported the use of corn on the cob by Apaches in the area as early as the 1700’s. By 1873, Helotes became a stagecoach stop on the Bandera Road, a place where travelers could relax and enjoy a meal.

Bobby J’s was certainly not around in those years when stage coaches traveled the Bandera Road. If it had it would have made Helotes an even more popular stop along this old stage route. Bobby J’s was the brainchild of a real estate guy named Bob Sfalos. In 2000, Sfalos fulfilled a personal dream of opening a burger joint on property that he owned. His wife thought he was crazy but joined him in this new venture to concoct a better-tasting burger.
After eating at every burger place in the area, Sfalos and his wife narrowed their favorites down to three. Then they strategized on how to improve on their favorite burgers and came up with their own secret burger formula. The rest is history. Whatever they came up with worked and soon Bobby J’s earned its own place on top of the burger joint heap. Bobby J’s is undeniably one of the most popular place to eat a burger in the greater San Antonio area.

My buddy and I arrived at Bobby J’s after the lunch crowd — or so we thought. The place had a steady stream of customers the entire time we were there. I ordered the Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Burger with a side order of onion rings and a glass of sweet tea. A lady named Benita took our order and made us feel right at home. I always appreciate friendly folks like Benita who make a dining experience all the better.
As for the burger — it arrived with jalapeños cascading out of the bun. Perfect! I cut the burger in half to reveal a perfectly cooked hand-pressed patty smothered in cheese. The first bite confirmed everything I had heard from my friend who recommended I eat at Bobby J’s. That first bite told me that this was destined to be one of my favorite burger dining experiences. And, the onion rings were the perfect companion to this meal.
Bobby J’s is definitely a burger joint I will have to visit again. I enjoyed the eclectic license-plate themed decor and absolutely loved the burger. Along with countless others who have eaten at Bobby J’s, I am glad that Bob Sfalos left the real estate business to make burgers. If you find yourself anywhere near San Antonio, set your compass to Helotes and head on over to Bobby J’s for one of the most delicious burgers in the Lone Star State.