Places To Eat

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Dan’s Hamburgers in Austin

Avoiding fast-food burgers is high on my list of Texas road-trips do’s and dont’s. I mean, really! Since you are going to eat anyway, why not be a little more adventurous than pulling into a fast-food factory. With a smart phone in hand it has become easier than ever before to find off-the-beaten-path places to enjoy a good meal — especially a burger.
dans-hamburgersOn a recent road trip, my wife and I made it to Austin just in time for lunch. As we approached the capital city, we consulted Yelp for a list of burger joints along our route and decided to stop at Dan’s Hamburgers. The joint had a consistent four-star rating with great reviews. So, we headed to Dan’s to try one of their made-to-order burgers.

Dan’s Hamburgers was founded by Dan Junk and his wife Frances in January 1973, Prior to opening their first restaurant, Dan had honed his burger-making skills while working at another local burger joint. The first Dan’s Hamburger joint had a simple menu: a large or small burger plus fries. Dan later purchased a recipe for hand-breaded onion rings for fifty bucks — a really wise choice.

The location we visited was pretty busy. Lots of folks in the restaurant and lots of folks waiting for take-out orders. That was a good sign! I ordered a cheeseburger with a side of their hand-breaded onion rings along with a tall glass of iced tea. And then I waited anxiously for my burger.
dans-hamburgers-wholeThe burger looked and smelled great. As always, I cut it in two to look at how it was put together but also to make it easier to eat. The meat was moist and cooked to perfection. Dan’s uses only certified Angus chuck. The folks in the kitchen also prepare their lettuce, tomatoes, and onions in-house. No pre-packaged stuff.
dans-hamburgers-profileFirst bite was oh so good. As for the onion rings — a delicious testimony to Dan’s wise purchase of the hand-breaded onion ring recipe for fifty bucks. Way to go, Dan. Everything about this burger worked. Absolutely delicious! While Dan’s menu has grown significantly over the years, they have remained grounded to the thing that put them on Austin’s culinary map — the hamburger.

If you find yourself anywhere near Austin at lunchtime, make it a point to visit one of Dan’s Hamburgers locations. You won’t spend much more than you would have spent at a fast-food joint and you’ll definitely get a lot more value for your buck.

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Bill’s Burgers Wings and Things

Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country is the city of Burnet — the bluebonnet capital of Texas. Burnet is not a newcomer on the Texas map. The origins of the town date back to the mid-1800’s. The town was established in the shadows of Fort Croghan, a post established by the US government to protect settlers from Indians along the Texas frontier.
Burnet TexasOn a recent road trip through the Texas Hill Country, my wife and I arrived in Burnet just in time for lunch. Hungry for a burger, we asked the manager at our hotel for his recommendation. He told us that Burnet actually had two amazing burger joints, both of which just happened to be featured on the front page of that day’s newspaper.
Bill's BurgersAfter reading the news article we decided to head over to Bill’s Burgers Wings and Things, the local joint that had made the Texas Monthly top burger list. The restaurant is housed in a modest little building with ample parking. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was the huge menu displayed on the wall. So many great options, but I zeroed in on my favorite — the bacon cheddar burger with a side of onion rings and a cold glass of iced tea.
Bill's Burgers MenuMy burger arrived in a paper boat along with a jumble of some of the best-looking hand-dipped onion rings I’ve seen in a while. Everything looked absolutely scrumptious (a reader challenged me to use this word in my next review, so here you go). As always, I cut my burger in half to look at the strata (as if I were some kind of burger geologist). The moist hand pressed hamburger patty and fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles did indeed look scrumptious!
Bill's Burger Split ViewThe first bite generally tells it all for me. And this first bite did not disappoint. Wow! Moist and perfectly seasoned, this burger immediately impressed me. I told my wife that I would drive back to Burnet just to do this all over again. As for the onion rings, there are no words. Cheryl told me that these were the best onion rings she has ever tasted. I have to agree. They were oh so delicious.
Bill's Onion RingsBottom line: this burger definitely ranks among the top burgers I have eaten on my burger adventures in the Lone Star State — and I’ve tasted a lot of great burgers on my road trips. The onion rings are also at the top of my list. It’s experiences like these that have convinced me that eating a fast-food burger is not the best use of a buck. If you’re going to spend the money anyway, then look for a burger joint like Bill’s. You will certainly get more bang for your buck.

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Hamlin Pharmacy and Fountain

Long before the days of fast food chains and drive-thru lanes, folks who wanted to go out for a soda or burger had few options. One of those options was the local soda fountain — a place where a soda jerk took your order and prepared your soda or flavored drink. Few of those old-fashioned places remain, and those that do remain are definitely worth a visit.
Hamlin PharmacyHamlin Pharmacy and Fountain in Corpus Christi operates the last remaining soda fountain in the Sparkling City by the Sea. While times have changed, their old-fashioned values have remained the same. If you are looking for a nostalgic dining experience, this is the place to go. You can enjoy your meal in one of the booths or sit on a swivel stool at the counter.
Hamlin Pharmacy MenuI visited on a day when the soda fountain was packed with customers but waited for a place to sit. This is one dining experience I was not going to miss. Fortunately, a booth opened up quickly and their friendly staff promptly took our order. As usual, I order a cheeseburger, onion rings, and a tall glass of iced tea.
Hamlin Pharmacy BoothThe service was reasonably fast, but fast was the last thing I was concerned about. I wanted to enjoy my time in this place steeped in nostalgia — from the rotary public phone to the vinyl-clad booth benches. Fast food chains have trained us to eat fast and leave quickly. Not so at Hamlin Pharmacy. This is a place where you can enjoy your meal and have a conversation without feeling the need to rush off.
Hamlin Pharmacy BurgerAs for the food, it was pretty tasty. I have no complaints about my burger or the onion rings. An honest meal served up piping hot. Everything about the burger was good, including the moist bun. It was obvious this was not one of those made-in-a-hurry burgers. I enjoyed every bite. And, I really liked the slow and easy vibe of the place — a throwback to simpler times when lunch time was as much about connecting with friends as it was about enjoying a good meal.
Hamlin Pharmacy PhoneIf you find yourself in or anywhere near Corpus Christi at lunch time, swing by the soda fountain at the Hamlin Pharmacy. This is a great place to talk to your kids about old-fashioned places and old-fashioned values and the importance of using meal times as opportunities to enjoy more than your food. Because there are fewer and fewer places like this, it’s definitely worth visiting Hamlin Pharmacy and Soda Fountain.

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Padre Island Burger Company

No matter where you go in Texas, you are sure to find a burger joint nearby — not the fast food assembly line variety but one of those honest-to-goodness one-of-a-kind burger joints. On a recent trip to Corpus Christi, I made it a point to visit a burger joint on Padre Island, a place appropriately named Padre Island Burger Company.
Padre IslandPadre Island bears the distinction of being the world’s longest barrier island, stretching from Corpus Christi all the way to the southern tip of Texas. Padre Island Burger Company is comfortably nestled in what looks like a beach shack near the intersection of Park Road 22 and the road that leads to Mustang Island State Park.
Padre Island Burger CompanyThe Burger Company offers a variety of custom burgers with names like First Date, the Hangover, and the Chronic. With names like these you can’t go wrong. The burgers are made with a half-pound of ground chuck served on a delicious buttered and toasted sourdough bun. The other ingredients are up to you. I ordered a cheeseburger with corn-cob smoked bacon and a side of onion rings.
IMG_9180My kids and nephews each ordered different custom burgers — some with mushrooms, fried eggs, a Dr. Pepper based bar-b-cue sauce, and other great tasting ingredients. We all bit into our respective burgers at the same time and came to the same conclusion. These were some mighty delicious burgers. I firmly believe that a bun can either make or break a burger. We all agreed that the sourdough buns were amazing.
Padre Island Burger Company BurgerAs for the sides of onion rings and sweet potato fries, these were also really tasty. Add to that the cool vibe of the joint and we had ourselves one enjoyable dining experience. I’m glad we stopped to eat at Padre Island Burger Company. Definitely one of the better burgers I have eaten in the Lone Star State. If you are on the hunt for a great burger and find yourself anywhere near Padre Island, then you owe it to yourself to check out Padre Island Burger Company. You’ll be glad you did!

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The Burger Barn

In my ongoing quest to enjoy the most delicious burgers in Texas, I not only look for the joints with favorable reviews but quite often with interesting names. So, when I learned about The Burger Barn in Rosenberg I had to give it a try. I like the name. Burger Barn is just a simple and honest name that conjures up visions of good homestyle cooking.
Burger BarnThe Burger Barn has four locations in Texas, including Rosenberg. They promise diners more food, more taste, more service, and an always fresh experience. More is definitely good — especially when it comes to burgers. So, I called my friend Brad and his boys and asked them to join me on this culinary road trip to The Burger Barn.
Burger Barn MenuThe Burger Barn offers an amazing selection of 25 burgers. As for me, I ordered burger number six, the Bacon Cheddar Barn Burger. This burger boasts a fresh patty made of 100% beef, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, red onions and mayo on a toasted bun. And, of course, I ordered a side of onion rings and a glass of iced tea.
Burger Barn BurgerBrad and the boys ordered burgers, brisket, onion rings, and fried pickles. There was no  danger of a food shortage at our table. The burgers arrived piping hot and wrapped in gingham paper. The aroma of the burgers was inviting and the onion rings looked amazing. The Burger Barn definitely delivered on its promise of more. These burgers were a handful.
Burger Barn DrewThe first bite was all it took to convince me that The Burger Barn also delivered on its promise of  more taste and fresh ingredients. The bacon, by the way, was really good. Everything about this burger worked perfectly to deliver more taste. And the onion rings were mighty delicious, too. No regrets about making the drive to Rosenberg. As for Brad and his boys, they each gave a thumbs up to the whole experience.
Brad and BoysWhether you are on road trip or just looking for a place near you to eat a good burger, be adventurous and be intentional. Don’t be afraid to break away from the fast food chains to try something different. Pull over and check out those burger joints with interesting names. If you do so, you will make some delicious discoveries. There is no question in my mind that the best burgers on the planet are right here in the Lone Star State.

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Billy Bob’s Hamburgers

The folks who call Hondo home are convinced they live smack-dab in the middle of God’s Country. They love their little slice of heaven and frown upon any who drive through town like the devil. Thus their unusual Welcome sign that has cautioned motorists since 1930: “This is God’s Country. Please don’t drive through it like hell.” And they mean it!
Billy Bob's HamburgersThe Hondo Welcome sign is likely the most photographed site in town and the catalyst for many a conversation among folks passing through town. There is, however, something else to talk about when it comes to Hondo, and that is Billy Bob’s Hamburgers — a local burger joint that has been serving up some of the tastiest burgers in Medina County since 1990.
Billy Bob's InteriorSome friends and I decided to give Billy Bob’s a try on our way back to Katy from a week of adventuring on the Devils River. To say we were hungry would be an understatement. We had burned enough calories to justify eating any burger on the menu. And there are quite few offerings on Billy Bob’s menu.
Billy Bob's Menu
One of my buddies and I decided to order the Giant Heart Attack burger with two sides of beer-battered onion rings and a tall glass of tea. This enormous burger boasts one pound of meat, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, mayo, mustard, and ketchup. When the burger arrived at our table I could understand how it got its name. This thing was huge!
Billy Bob's Giant Heart AttackKnowing this would be a big burger, I asked to have it cut in half. There is something beautiful about cutting a big old burger in half and appreciating the layers of goodness — kind of like a geologist looking at the strata of a west Texas hillside. Four layers of meat, all the fixings, and a moist bun. This was burger geology at its best.
Billy Bob's Burger in HandAs for the first bite — amazing! Billy Bob’s lived up to its “nothin’ but excellent” motto. This was one exceptionally good burger. The onion rings were also delicious, a good balance of crispness covering perfectly moist onions on the inside. The entire meal was satisfying. Billy Bob’s has certainly earned a top ranking on my list of great burgers in the Lone Star State.
Billy Bob's CounterIf you love a good burger, look beyond the fast food joints to discover places like Billy Bob’s. We are fortunate to have so many places to eat great burgers in Texas. Life is too short to waste our lunch hours eating at fast food chains. I prefer the better and more adventurous options of eating at places like Billy Bob’s. And, honestly, I think you will, too.

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Uncle Barney’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers

My burger adventures have led me to some of the best burger joints in the Lone Star State. One thing is certain, there is no shortage of places to eat really delicious burgers in Texas. On a recent road trip from Carrizo Springs to Katy, I reached San Antonio at noon and decided to stop at Uncle Barney’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers.
Uncle Barney's SignI was glad to pull in to a full parking lot — always a good endorsement for an eatery. When I got out of my truck, the fragrant aroma of meat on a grill greeted me and quickened my steps. I arrived hungry and ready to try a new burger. Walking past the windows and catching a glimpse of folks chowing down on healthy-sized burgers got me even more excited about this place.
Uncle Barney's EntranceUncle Barney’s Burgers shares a building with the Hungry Farmer Steakhouse, their sister restaurant. According to a sign, Uncle Barney’s grinds their meat daily from the cuttings of steaks from the Hungry Farmer next door. And, to make matters really interesting, their hamburger patties are Texas-shaped.
Uncle Barney's RefillI knew exactly what I wanted when I walked up to the counter to place my order — a bacon cheeseburger with a side of onion rings along with a glass of tea. I’m glad I ordered the tea because tea refills are free. According to a sign at the counter, all other refills will cost you a quarter.
Uncle Barney's InteriorMy burger arrived complete with onion rings in a paper-lined basket. Everything about this burger looked inviting. All of the ingredients were fresh. The meat was cooked to my liking. The bun was nice and warm. As for the first bite — very tasty. The only problem I had was trying to compress the burger enough to bite into it. But, somehow I managed to do a lot of damage to this burger.
Uncle Barney's BurgerI’m not sure how much the Texas-shaped patty weighed but it was a significant about of meat. In fact, for the first time on my burger adventures, I am embarrassed to say that I was not able to finish this burger. It was just a little more food than I could handle on this particular day. I hated to leave any portion of a burger this good on the table but I had no choice. I was stuffed!
Uncle Barney's Burger in HandI’m glad I stopped at Uncle Barney’s and recommend it without hesitation. The restaurant was clean and the food was delicious. Eating a burger at a place like this definitely beats eating a burger at any fast food chain any day of the week. The next time you head out on a Texas road trip, keep your eyes open to interesting places to grab a bite and live adventurously.

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Peppers Burgers and More

One of the best things about wandering down Texas backroads is discovering new places to eat a burger. On a recent day trip to take photos of windmills and railroad tracks, my friend Doyle and I found ourselves in Eagle Lake at high noon. And we were mighty hungry when we drove into this small community whose presence on Texas maps dates back as far as 1821.

Eagle Lake is located on Highway 90A east of the Colorado River and fifty miles southwest of Houston in southeast Colorado County. Folks believe the town was named by two of Stephen F. Austin’s scouts. When one of them killed an eagle on the lake, he called the water Laguna del Águila, which is translated Eagle Lake.
Peppers Burgers and MoreWhen we drove into town I asked Siri, my faithful smart phone concierge, to retrieve a list of burger joints in town. Peppers Burgers and Fries seemed the most interesting so that is where we headed. On our first pass we missed the restaurant entirely. So, we turned around and drove a bit slower and almost missed it a second time.
Peppers in Eagle LakePeppers is housed in a modest little building on Main Street. The only sign is out in front of the building. The young lady at the counter told us that they’ve only been around for about a year. We ordered our meal at the counter and then sat and sipped cold iced tea while we waited for our food in the small but very clean dining area.
Peppers Burger CloseupI ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger Combo and opted for fries rather than the side of okra offered with the meal. The service was reasonably fast. My burger arrived complete with a generous portion of slender fries. All of the ingredients were crispy fresh and held in place by a hot butter grilled bun.
Peppers Burger in HandAs for my first bite — it was good. What I held in my hands was not some fancy gourmet inspired city burger. This was just an honest small town burger. No pretense. Just the basic burger ingredients that worked together well to make a good homestyle burger. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed my burger and certainly felt that I got my money’s worth.
Peppers InteriorThere are not a lot of burger options in Eagle Lake. If I lived in town I would make it a point to eat at Peppers on a regular basis. And, as their sign says, they offer burgers — and more. If my travels take me through Eagle Lake again in the future, I will be sure to stop and sample some of the other things on the menu. And, if you ever find yourself in their neighborhood, stop by Peppers and give them a try. I think you’ll be glad you did.

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Dog and Pony Grill

Searching for the best burgers in Texas is an enjoyable part of my adventuring in the Lone Star State. I have discovered that there are no shortages of places to find delicious burgers. I have visited some burger joints at the recommendation of friends, others because I read about them in some publication, and occasionally I just ask Siri to find me burger joints close to me as I wander down highways and byways.
Dog and Pony ExteriorWhile recently traveling from Katy to Big Bend Ranch State Park, I asked Siri to find me burger joints near San Antonio. Siri produced her usual list of fast food burger places as well as other options. That’s how I learned about the Dog and Pony Grill in Boerne. To be honest, my buddy and I decided to try this place just because we found the name so interesting. Google maps did the rest of the work and guided us to the parking lot.
Dog and Pony InteriorWe arrived a bit early for lunch but with enough of an appetite to eat a healthy-sized burger. At the recommendation of the young lady at the counter, I ordered the Bodacious Boerne Cheddar Burger, listed as “Our Favorite Burger” on the menu. This burger comes with a healthy one-third pound of pure beef and is topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mustard and mayo. A side order of onion rings and a cold cup of sweet tea completed my order.

When I started writing about burgers on my blog I decided that if I did not have anything good to say about a burger I just would not write about it. So, I am writing about the Bodacious Boerne Cheddar Burger because it definitely outclassed a lot of burgers I have eaten and because it was pretty doggone tasty. Wow! I mean it was a really good burger.
Dog and Pony BurgerEverything about his burger worked well, from the amazing bun to the delicious cooked-to-perfection patty. And the onion rings were pretty good, too. After taking my last bite, I took a deep satisfying breath and determined that this is a place I want to visit again. And it’s a place I highly recommend to anyone passing through the area. In fact, it’s worth taking a detour to go to the Dog and Pony Grill if you are anywhere near this part of the state.
Dog and Pony Grill VanThe Dog and Pony Grill offers a lot more than their tasty burgers on their menu. The joint has a cool and comfortable vibe — the kind of place where you can have a good time with family and friends. The next time you find yourself near Boerne, set your map app to get you to the Dog and Pony in time for lunch. You won’t be disappointed!

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Marco’s Burgers and Fries

Every road trip is an opportunity for me to continue my search for the best burgers in the Lone Star State. That means I stop and eat at a lot of burger joints. And just about the time I think that I can’t possibly find a better burger, it happens. I find a better burger!
IMG_8398On a recent road trip to the Rio Grande Valley, I visited Marco’s Burgers and Fries in my hometown of Mission. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made on my burger quest. Lots of places serve varieties of burgers distinguished by creative combinations of this or that added to a burger. Marco’s Burgers, however, takes the burger experience beyond the ordinary.
Marco's Burgers FlyerMarco Suarez, the owner of Marco’s Burgers, has done more than just add stuff to the basic buns and meat that make up a burger. Marco went to the heart of the matter — the meat! He figured that if you want to make a better burger you have to get the meat right. So, Marco decided to take ribeye and grind it daily. He offers his customers mouth-watering burger patties made of 100% fresh ground ribeye with nothing added to the meat.
Marco's MenuWhen I arrived at Marco’s Burgers located at 2507 East Griffin Parkway between Mission and McAllen, the first thing I noticed was how clean the place was. The young lady behind the counter offered a welcoming greeting and took the time to explain the various options on the menu. I am partial to bacon cheeseburgers so that is what I ordered, along with a side of onion rings and sweet tea.
Marco's Burger in HandMy first bite confirmed what I had hoped — that this was going to be one delicious burger. And, indeed it was. Adding bacon and cheese or anything else to a burger is ok. But the ground ribeye meat made everything about this burger stand out. The meat was lean, moist, full of flavor, and cooked to perfection. This burger puts to shame any burger made with a hockey puck patty pulled out of the freezer and tossed on a grill.
Marco's Sweet Potato FriesIn addition to onion rings, I sampled the sweet potato fries and regular cut fries. Both were delicious but I believe that I will order sweet potato fries on my next visit. These were really tasty. And, I have already made up my mind to go beyond my normal bacon cheeseburger on my next visit. Marco’s offers several tempting combinations of their ground ribeye burgers.
Marco's Burger CounterI visited another highly-rated burger joint in the Valley on this road trip. But, I have to say that I found that experience somewhat disappointing and have placed that burger on my list of places I will not blog about. Thankfully, Marco’s Burgers and Fries redeemed this road trip in regard to my search for a memorable burger experience. It’s no wonder that Marco’s Burgers was awarded Best Burgers in Texas on the Fall 2013 season of The Texas Bucket List.
Marco's Burgers ExteriorIf you happen to live in South Texas or just wander in that direction, I hope you will take the time to visit Marco’s Burgers and Fries. I am confident that you will come away more than satisfied by this burger that gets it right in every category. Thank you Marco and staff for a delicious and memorable dining experience. I hope to return again the next time I am in the neighborhood.