My search for the best burger in Texas has convinced me that if you are willing to drive past the fast food joints that crank out burgers faster than the speed of light, then you will find some really amazing burgers. But, you have to be intentional about looking for those out-of-the-way places that do more than slap a frozen patty on the grill. And you have to be willing to stop and check things out for yourself.
That’s exactly what a friend and I recently did while making our way to the geographic center of Texas. While driving through the small town of Brady, the town known as “The Heart of Texas,” we noticed a sign that boasted the best burgers in Texas. “Look,” I said, “that place serves the best burgers in Texas!” No hesitation — we had to check this out for ourselves. So, we drove around the courthouse in the town square and made our way back to Brady’s Restaurant.
After a morning of hiking at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, we were both hungry and ready for a hot meal. Simon, the guy who cooks the burgers, took our order. The menu above the counter described their burger as having a hunger-busting half-pound of Angus beef served on a caramelized bun with a side order of hand-cut fries. Perfect! That and a cold glass of tea completed my order.
Simon personally brought the piping hot burgers and hand-cut fries to our table. The burger was served sans condiments, something that we got to add ourselves from the condiments bar. The aroma of the burger and fries was a treat in itself. The first bite did not disappoint. Wow! The flavor of the meat and the moisture of the bun were perfect. Whatever Simon does in the kitchen to cook these burgers he does well. The last bite was as delicious as the first.
Afterward, I had the privilege of meeting Syed, the owner of Brady’s. Syed and his family have owned the restaurant for about ten years. As we talked about some of the other dishes on the menu, Syed convinced me that I should come back to try their famous chicken fried steak or all-you-can-eat catfish — dishes he claims are the best in Texas. And, of course, there is their big Cowboy Burger for those with a really huge appetite.
No pretense at Brady’s. Syed and Simon believe in their product — and after eating their burger, I believe in it, too! Stopping to eat at Brady’s was definitely a good call. It’s so easy to talk ourselves out of stopping to eat at family-owned places like this and opt instead for the more familiar brand-name places. Traveling Texas backroads has certainly changed my default setting from the familiar eateries to the more interesting places that are easy to miss. I am happy to add Brady’s to my list of favorite places to eat a burger in the Lone Star State.
Places To Eat
Filipps Restaurant in Sealy
Randy and Georgia Hinze’s life took an unexpected turn after Randy experienced problems with his heart. Unable to find employment because of his health and yet not ready to retire, Randy looked in a new direction. Filipps Bar-B-Q had just come up for sale, so he and Georgia decided to buy it and go into the restaurant business.
Filipps is located in Sealy, a small town on Interstate 10 west of Houston. A guy named Joe Filipps started the restaurant forty years ago and ran the place for thirty years. Filipps sold the restaurant to another couple who owned it for a few years. They sold it to yet another couple who eventually sold it to Randy and Georgia in 2009.
I learned about Filipps from my friend Gil Harris who also enjoys eating at these kind of off-the-beaten-path places. Gil knows that I am on a quest to find the best burgers in Texas. So, he invited me and some other friends to join him for lunch at Filipps. And I am so glad he did. Filipps is now on my list of favorite places to eat.
The restaurant sits a block off the main street in town just west of the railroad tracks. You can’t miss the small tan-colored building with the letters B B Q on the front of the building. But, don’t let the Bar-B-Q sign fool you. Randy and Georgia serve much more than Bar-B-Q. They have an amazing menu of delicious home-cooked dishes served in generous Texas-sized portions.
I was there, of course, to sample their bacon cheeseburger and onion rings. Gil ordered their hand-cut sweet potato fries with his burger. I had been waiting a month to visit Filipps and walked through the door with a big appetite. I was so hungry I could hardly wait for my burger. So, you can imagine my delight when Georgia finally delivered my meal to the table.
The burger had a half-pound of meat served on a moist bun with all of the fixings. One bite and I immediately concluded that this is one of the best burgers I have eaten in the Lone Star State — a burger with a flavor as big as Texas! Holy smoke it was good! I savored every bite as I thought about how soon I can make it back to Sealy to do this all over again.
Afterward, Randy and Georgia invited me into the kitchen to see where the burger magic happens. That’s where they shared their story with me about how they ended up running a restaurant at this season of their lives. It was immediately apparent to me how much they care about the freshness of their ingredients and refuse to compromise on quality.
Randy and Georgia are passionate about what they are doing. They treat every customer like family. Within minutes of meeting them I felt as though I had known them for years. Although their food is unquestionably delicious, their restaurant works because they care deeply about their customers. They offer what you will never get at a fast food place — warm hospitality and the kind of home-cooked food that keeps you coming back.
Filipps is indeed off-the-beaten path, unless you live in Sealy. But it is definitely a place worth visiting if you are ever anywhere near this small town. The restaurant is open between the hours of 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Stop by Filipps if you are in the area — and tell them I sent you. You’ll be glad you did and you won’t go away hungry!
Back Street Cafe
It’s no secret that I enjoy a good homestyle burger — the kind that you find only in the not-fast-food places tucked away off the beaten path. One thing I know for sure is that you have to be intentional about seeking out eateries that cook delicious burgers, fries, and onion rings. But, if you can navigate past the alluring songs of the fast food sirens, I promise you that you can find a better burger off the beaten path.
In my ongoing search for the most delicious burgers in the Lone Star State, I came across the Back Street Cafe this week. This cafe is located in Sinton, Texas, the county seat of San Patricio County and a popular destination stop for antique shoppers. Sinton is an easy 28-mile drive north of Corpus Christi and can be reached via US highways 77 and 181.
I arrived at the Back Street Cafe for a late lunch while traveling from South Texas to Katy along Highway 77. My smartphone guided me from the highway to the cafe on the corner of South Rachel Avenue and East Borden Street. The ample cafe occupies a building that was previously a pharmacy. The entrance is indeed on the back street — on East Borden.
My first impression was the cleanliness of the place and the small-town-friendliness of the staff. While the cafe offers a variety of delicious home-cooked meal options, I was there for one reason and one reason only — to try one of their hamburgers. I chose the cheeseburger served on a sourdough bun and an order of french fries.
To my surprise, my waitress invited me to enjoy their complimentary bean bar while I waited for my burger. She didn’t have to ask twice. A small bowl of hot pinto beans sprinkled with fresh onions and a piece of cornbread was the perfect appetizer.
As for the burger — well, all I can say is that I hit the jackpot, again! The lettuce and tomatoes were fresh, the meat was hot, and the bun was amazing. As I have said before, a bun can make or break a burger. The sourdough bun was fresh and beyond delicious. And the generous portion of french fries were hot and perfectly crispy. Add a glass of really cold iced tea and I was in burger heaven.
I’m glad that I found the Back Street Cafe and will return the next time I am anywhere near Sinton. Eating a delicious burger is one thing, but enjoying a burger at a place where the wait staff is attentive and friendly makes it an even more enjoyable experience. I hope that you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Back Street Cafe. They are open Monday through Friday only from 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM. That’s more than enough time to eat and enjoy one of their delicious burgers!
Texas Star Cafe
A friend introduced me to the Texas Star Cafe a few years ago — and I am glad he did! Located on FM 1094 in New Ulm, this small town cafe is big on delicious home cooked meals offered in Texas-sized portions. On my first visit I sampled their chicken fried steak. “Order the small one,” my friend advised, “or you won’t be able to eat it all.” He was right!
On my most recent visit I tried one of their hamburgers for the first time. For whatever reason, I have been on a quest to find the best burgers in Texas this year. So, I wanted to try one of the many burgers on the menu at the Texas Star. Figuring out what to order was easy. I ordered the Jalapeño Bacon Cheeseburger with a side of their homemade onion rings and a tall glass of iced tea.
As soon as the burger arrived at my table I knew I had made the right choice. I could tell just by looking at it — a half-pound of meat covered with crispy bacon, cheese, and a generous helping of jalapeños. Step one was to cut the burger in half just to make it easier to eat it. The first bite confirmed that I had indeed made the right choice.
One of the key ingredients to a great burger (at least in my humble opinion) is the bun. The bun should serve as more than just parentheses around the meat. I have sampled some tasty burgers only to be disappointed by the bread. Not so at the Texas Star! The buns were expertly prepared, perfectly moist, and enhanced the flavor of the burger.
As for the onion rings — definitely some of the best I have ever had. Absolutely delicious! I could have easily made a meal of nothing but onion rings and iced tea. So, the bottom line is, I thoroughly enjoyed my jalapeño bacon cheeseburger and onion rings.
I can’t wait to visit again to sample one of the other burger selections at the Texas Star Cafe. And, I can’t wait to discover other places along Texas back roads on my quest to find and enjoy the best burgers in the Lone Star State. I welcome your suggestions on great burger joints.
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