Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Today my work took me to Conroe, Texas and for lunch me and a coworker visited this restaurant, located at 15250 Highway 105, near Lake Conroe. I must admit that I have visited this restaurant several times in the past and I have been waiting to get back to this location to review for my blog. Five Guys is kind of like Mooyah's in the sense that you can order your food with whatever toppings you want for free. For example, traditional toppings such as tomatoes, pickles, onions, lettuce, etc., but you can also have your onions grilled, fresh jalapenos, A-1 sauce, and more. You can order your hamburger with two patties, or the little burger, with one patty. I suggest going with two patties. You also have a choice of fries, Five Guys style, with just salt, or Cajun. I suggest going with the Cajun. The patties are prepared well done and are very well seasoned. Today I ordered my usual bacon cheeseburger with two patties. As I mentioned the patties were well seasoned. The cheese melted heavenly and the bacon was crispy. The fresh jalapenos, not pickled, added some nice heat. Every time I have been here I have never left disappointed. My coworker was also impressed with his first visit to Five Guys. Everyone I have ever brought there leaves with a good impression of the restaurant. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Five Guys Burgers & Fries a 10. It is most definitely the best hamburger I've had...since Tookie's that is.

Burger Barn- Dallardsville, TX

Yesterday my work took me to Livingston, Texas and along the way, I passed this little burger joint located at 8990 FM 1276 in Dallardsville, Texas. I figured even though I had just had a burger a few days earlier, I don't normally get to this area often, so I would go ahead and have another one. This restaurant is family owned and not heavily visited, at least not when I went. I was the only one there, so that was cool. I ordered my customary bacon burger with cheese with fries. I received my food and was immediately impressed by the size of the hamburger patty. In this case, it was not a case of "Where's the beef?" it was more of a case of "Where's the bun?" The hamburger patty overwhelmed the hamburger bun. It was also so big, the patty fell apart as I was eating it. I found out later it was a full half pound patty. While I liked the size, the patty was not seasoned as well as I'd like. The cheese was good. The bacon was not crispy though. The bun was a little overtoasted for my liking. The fries were overdone as well. They don't serve fountain drinks here, cans and bottles is what they serve. As you might imagine, you're going to pay a little more here at a locally owned restaurant. It was over $10 for my meal, but I don't mind paying a little more if it helps out the little guys. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Burger Barn a 7.

Buffalo Grill & Treats

Today I visited Buffalo Grill & Treats, located at 113 N. Washington in Cleveland, Texas. I just happened upon this place while looking for somewhere to eat. I first noticed the "Fried Pies" sign and as I passed, I next noticed that the windows stated they served burgers. Being that I hadn't had a new burger in a couple of weeks, I stopped here for lunch. I had my mind set that I was going to order a buffalo burger, being that this restaurant has "Buffalo" in the name. Of course, I ordered mine with bacon and cheese. They also serve a 1/3 pound or 2/3 pound Angus beef hamburger. I'll have to order that one next time! After a small wait, I received my order. As per my usual routine, I took my picture, and then I took a small piece of the patty to ensure whether or not it's seasoned. I wasn't disappointed. It was seasoned well and the cheese melted nicely. If you've never had a buffalo burger, I would suggest you try one. You really can't tell the difference between buffalo and beef. How can you tell whether or not you got buffalo? you ask. Well, buffalo beef is much leaner than cow beef and I squeezed the burger to ensure that no juices came out. None did, so I knew I had the buffalo. It's also a healthier beef, so you can feel good about yourself afterwards. The only thing I can say negatively about the burger was that the bacon wasn't fresh and was a little tough. There was also a little too much mustard for my taste. The fries are grade school crinkles and nothing special. On the way out, I just had to get some fried pies to take home. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Buffalo Grill & Treats an 8.

Burger Tex

I will admit that I've known about Burger Tex for quite some time. The original location is in Austin, Texas and they have multiple locations in the Houston area. I have been to the Austin location, as well as the Pearland, Texas location. Today, my work took me to La Porte, Texas, which is not far from Pasadena, Texas. The restaurant is located at 6918 Spencer Highway. I ordered my standard bacon cheeseburger. After a small wait I received my food and proceeded to the fixings bar. I also spoke with one of the employees about this particular Burger Tex and found out that they are all family owned. I helped myself at the fixings bar and loaded my burger with fresh, crisp lettuce, dill pickles, and jalapenos, with some A-1 sauce to boot. The hamburger patty was well seasoned and the bacon was crispy and flavorful. Everytime I've visited one of these restaurants, I have never been disappointed. Today was no exception. I'm sure if I visit any other Burger Tex location, I won't be disappointed. The fries are nothing special, your grade school crinkle cut fries. But no matter, the burger is what makes the visit worth it. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Burger Tex a 10.

SmashBurger

Last night I decided to treat myself and my wife to a hamburger dinner at SmashBurger, located at 7412 FM 1960, in Humble, Texas. This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend. I checked out the menu online prior to going in order to get an idea of what they served. The first thing I noticed were the prices of the burgers. They seemed to be in line with other franchise restaurants I've visited. A little high, however, I figured the quality of the food would be worth it. After I reviewed the menu, I decided, of course, to get my usual bacon cheeseburger, however, at SmashBurger, you can create your own burger. I decided to go with chipotle bread, mustard, chipotle sauce, lettuce, jalapenos, and pickles, with a half pound patty. You can choose between a third pound or half pound. I forgot to order the bacon when I ordered my food, but the nice salesman hooked me up with some free bacon. I, in turn, returned the favor by giving him a tip. I ordered the regular french fries, even though they offer SmashFries, which is made with olive oil and rosemary. My wife decided to get the SmashFries. After a short wait, our order was brought to our table in cool metal wire baskets, even the fries. The first thing I noticed when I received my food was how huge the hamburger patty was in comparison to the bun. No case of "Where's the beef?" here! The chipotle sauce was spicy and in combination with the chipotle bread and fresh jalapenos, it was one spicy hamburger! At least I had a cool chocolate milkshake to wash that hamburger down with. The patty was seasoned enough for my liking and the bacon was fresh, hot off the grill. The cheese melted nicely and the lettuce was crisp. I didn't like their pickles though, they use kosher pickles. Their fries were nothing special either. I didn't care much for their SmashFries as well. The customer service is top notch. One thing we noticed after we left was how we smelled just like the joint. I smelled like I had been behind the grill. It reminded me of my days when I used to flip burgers. I didn't care much for that. I don't know if it was because we were sitting right across from the kitchen or if the whole restaurant smells that way. The price was about right for the quality of the food. Other than that, it was a good burger, but definitely not perfect. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give SmashBurger an 8.

Tornado Burger

I'm still working the Southwest side of Houston and today me and my coworker went to eat lunch at Tornado Burger located at 505 Murphy Road in Stafford, Texas. This restaurant was already on my list of places to visit in the Houston area and it was also recommended to me by some people. I had also previously seen their menu and I knew what was ahead for me. Of course, I went with the bacon cheeseburger, but at Tornado Burger, they also serve their burgers spicy, which means that they ground jalapeno peppers right into the meat. This reminds me of my favorite burger place that's no longer around, Tookie's, where they used to ground bacon into the meat. So, I ordered my bacon cheeseburger spicy. In addition, I made it a single meat, single cheese. I say single because they also have a double meat, double cheese combo meal. One of the things I liked about this restaurant was definitely the prices. You can order a single meat, single cheese burger with a drink and fries for less than $5. Sounds great, but what I didn't know, was that it was like having a Whataburger Jr. at Whataburger. They are small. I recommend going with the double meat, double cheese. It's a couple of bucks more, but then that means that you won't have to wash your single burger down with another single burger, like I did. Now for the burger itself, the meat was definitely seasoned well, especially with the added flavor of the jalapeno. The bacon was crispy and flavorful and the cheese melted nicely. The bun was buttered real well. What I didn't like was that the burger doesn't come with pickles, the mayo was laid on a little thick, and it was a little too greasy for my taste. The fries were freshly made and fantastic. I would definitely return to this restaurant. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Tornado Burger an 8.

Annie's Hamburgers

Today me and my coworker visited Annie's Hamburgers, located at 10821 S. Post Oak in Southwest Houston. I'm still working in that part of town and I already knew of this restaurant. I have been here three other times before today and I have never been disappointed. Today was no different. I ordered my usual bacon cheeseburger and there's hardly a wait to get your food. Annie's serves a well seasoned hamburger patty with fresh fixins. The bun was buttered nicely and the bacon, although it's precooked, is still crispy and flavorful when you order it. The french fries are always fresh and hot. I especially like their fresh squeezed lemonade. The only thing I can even consider a drawback is the price, but I don't have a problem paying for a good burger. This place is a little out of the way being that it's on S. Post Oak and unless you live in the area, or like me, working in the area, it may be a bit of a drive just to go eat here. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Annie's Hamburgers a 9.

Texas Hamburger Palace

On October 21, my work took me and a coworker to Southwest Houston. Before going out there, I did some research and discovered this restaurant was about 10 minutes from where we were working. We arrived and I knew I was in for a treat. It just looks like a burger place from the outside. Neon lights and a wood facade, amongst other things. I noticed they had a buffalo burger on the menu, but I decided not to go with it that day. I went with my usual, the bacon cheeseburger. We ordered and after a small wait, we received our food. I immediately noticed the abundance of bacon on the burger. It was abundant, but it was a little tough. Not that it mattered too much. The hamburger patty was seasoned well, as I like. The burger overall was good, but it was just an above average burger. I guess in my mind I built it up too much based on the building from outside. It was good and I'd definitely go back again, but it definitely wasn't perfect. The fries are homemade and fresh. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Texas Hamburger Palace an 8.

City Grille

Updated: December 6, 2010. This restaurant is now closed.

I haven't had much time to blog, so I need to play catch up. My work took me to Onalaska, Texas on October 16 and on the way back to Houston, I had to go through Livingston, Texas. I stopped off at a restaurant near Highway 59, located at 2201 U.S. 190, in Livingston. I ordered my customary bacon cheeseburger, of course. What's cool here is that you can choose between regular bread, jalapeno bread, and sourdough. I went with the sourdough. I didn't have a long wait, however, waiting for my food, I had to change my drink because the Diet Dr. Pepper I ordered didn't have any fizz. I switched to tea. My food arrived and I began eating. The hamburger patty wasn't seasoned as well as I would've liked, but was juicy and good nonetheless. It was also plentiful as it overflowed the bread. My choice of bread was great as sourdough is starting to grow on me. The bacon was crispy and tasty. The fries were also good, but nothing to scream about. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give City Grille an 8.

Burger Boy

Today my work took me to Conroe, Texas and I tried a restaurant that I've seen and passed a few times. I decided since I was working rather close to Burger Boy, located at 217 E. Davis, I would go there. This little hole in the wall is just that. It serves all kinds of food other than just hamburgers. But of course, I went with my usual bacon cheeseburger and fries. I received my food and began eating. I immediately noticed how the burger, while seasoned enough, was nothing spectacular. In my opinion, it was just a burger. The bacon was a little tough and the fries were nothing special either. It was basically just a meal. The prices were pretty reasonable though. Also, I hope you enjoy eating with flies because they were flying all around. There's really not much more to add to this burger. It was just an average burger and there was nothing special about it. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Burger Boy a 7.

Chris Madrid's Nachos and Burgers

My modem has not been functional lately, so I haven't been able to post my review of Chris Madrid's, located at 1900 Blanco Rd., San Antonio, Texas. I visited this location on September 28 with two of my best friends before the big Metallica concert. This seemed to be a pretty popular choice as there were other fellow concertgoers there that day. My wife previously brought me here a long while ago, but that was before I had my blog and I don't quite remember my experience, so I had to visit this burger joint again. I'm glad I did. I ordered my customary bacon cheeseburger, here called the Porky's Delight w/ Cheddar and fries. After a small wait, I received my food and began eating. The first bite was heaven as this restaurant has gotten it right and served me a well seasoned hamburger patty. This is what I've been waiting for since I started the blog. A burger I didn't have to add any seasoning. The patty was cooked well and very juicy. The Cheddar cheese as you can see from the picture was so abundant that it was overflowing. The bacon was nice and crispy. The only drawback I can think of was that the homemade fries didn't have any salt, but the hamburger was so good, I didn't care. Texas Monthly's August 2009 edition of the 50 best hamburgers in the state didn't even rank Chris Madrid's. I'm real surprised that they didn't even rank them, considering I also had what they considered was the #2 burger in the state, the Counterburger at Counter Cafe, in Austin, Texas. I thought Chris Madrid's bacon cheeseburger was a lot better than the supposed #2 burger in the state. I always kind of thought they were a little skewed to Austin since they're located there. Just goes to show that burgers and people's thoughts on them are all a matter of opinion. As far as my grade, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Chris Madrid's a 10, which makes it The Perfect Burger. I wonder how many there are? I'll keep eating and trying to find out!

Counter Cafe

I continued my hamburger tour through Austin, Texas today and had lunch with an old friend. He had no idea about my blog and yesterday when we set up lunch, he suggested we go to a burger joint that I introduced him to when I lived in Austin. I agreed and we went to meet up at the burger joint. He got there first and discovered that it was closed today. I told him I could suggest another place I wanted to try, having my August 2009 issue of Texas Monthly Magazine ranking the Top 50 hamburgers in the state. I suggested we go to Counter Cafe, located at 626 N. Lamar. He agreed and we were off. We arrived and got lucky and found parking in the small parking lot. We put our name on the list and had a very short wait. The building is real small and only accomodates approximately 25-30 people. We got a good seat at the counter right in front of the grill. I say good because you can see the cooks making all the food, the drawback is that you feel the heat from the grill. We both ended up ordering the Counter Burger with bacon and fries. Texas Monthly ranked the Counter Burger number 2 on its list, so I had to order it. We received our food and began eating. The first thing I noticed was how different the meat's consistency was. It was leaner and tender. Come to find out that they use fresh Niman beef, which just means that it's organic and doesn't have fillers. No fillers and also no salt or pepper. Anyone that reads my blog with regularity knows that for me, my hamburger patty has to be seasoned well. The patty was cooked medium well, which I like and was very juicy. The cheese melted fantastic and the bacon was very crispy. The bread was delicious and sweet. The lettuce is also organic and called bibb. The fries were freshly made and hand cut. Aside from the patty not being seasoned, the only other thing I can complain about was the price tag. The burger by itself was $9 and adding bacon tacked on another $3. The burger was good, but in my opinion, was not $9 good. I think though that you're paying for the Niman beef, since it's not the kind of beef you can buy at your local grocery store. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give the Counter Burger at Counter Cafe, an 8.

Casino el Camino

I went to Austin, Texas this weekend to take in a UT football game against the UTEP Miners with one of my good friends. I decided that everyday I was there I would try to have a hamburger since I don't get to Austin much. I remembered watching the Food Network show "Diners, Dive Ins, and Dives" and they visited this restaurant. I decided that I would have to visit this place since it was on the show. I mean, how could I not? So I told my friend beforehand that after the game, we'll walk down to 6th Street and check this place out. So, yesterday, after the UT game, we walked down to 6th Street and visited Casino el Camino, located at 517 E. 6th Street. This place is mostly a bar that also serves food and must be ordered not only separately, but paid for separately. You can however, start a tab at the bar and have the food added on, so it's not a problem. I already knew before walking in what I was going to eat, having watched the show, and for the first time, it was not a bacon cheeseburger. The TV show profiled a burger called the Amarillo burger, which is made with roasted serrano chiles, jalapeno jack cheese, and chipotle mayonnaise. So I went to the burger counter and ordered my Amarillo burger with fries. You can also order other U.S. city named hamburgers, as well as other items. The menu and the chefs tell you in advance that it's going to be a bit of a wait, considering their burgers are 3/4 pound! Being an amateur chef myself, I would expect a thick 3/4 pound patty to take a while, which, being in Austin, is quite alright as you can sit in the bar and take in the ambience and people watch. Also, being that it was a hot day, the cool a/c and cold beer made the wait pleasurable. Finally, our burgers were ready and I picked them up at the counter. Taking my picture was a bit of a challenge since the bar was dark and I couldn't see my food. After several attempts though, I was finally able to snap a pic. The hamburger patty was indeed thick and is made by hand fresh. The menu says that the patty is made medium, unless you request it otherwise. My burger, however, I think was left on the grill too long and was made more well done. It was definitely not medium and had a bit of a charred taste to it. I could also tell it was well done because the patty was dry. I had to add salt and pepper, as the patty was not seasoned at all. As you might imagine, the peppers, cheese, and mayo, all together, made it one spicy burger! But with a cold beer by your side, it's all worth it. You will still, however, sweat a bit. The fries, at least my fries, were less than good. They're supposed to be fresh and hand cut. Well, they definitely are hand cut, but I don't think mine were fresh. I think they had been sitting there a while, because they were a tad cool and they were hard. I've never had that experience with hand cut fries before. I could also tell they weren't fresh, because there was no oil or grease on them, as if they had just come out of the fryer. I don't know if it was just my order or if it's like that all the time, I tend to think it was just mine. Next time I go, I'm going to get my usual bacon cheeseburger, which is what my friend had, the Chicago burger. For this visit, I'll take a few points off for the patty not being seasoned and the fries being bad, but i'll add a few points for the ambience and the overall experience. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Casino el Camino a 7.

Yankee's Tavern & Grill

Today, my work took me to the sprawling metropolis of Iola, Texas. Along the way, I passed by a biker bar called Yankee's Tavern & Grill, located at 10328 FM 244 in Carlos, Texas, and having been there before, I decided to stop by for lunch. I ordered my usual bacon cheeseburger and fries. I stopped by early, so there was not that long of a wait. Here, they serve a thick, fresh 1/2 pound patty, that even though it's not seasoned enough to my liking, the tradeoff is how juicy it is and tender it is. The cheese melted nicely on top and the bacon was crisp. Today, the mustard was spread a little too thick, but the A-1 Steak Sauce available counteracted the strong mustard taste. The bread was nothing special, not homemade, my guess is it's store bought, but when the patty is thick and juicy as it is, all you need is something around the patty to hold on to. The same could be said about the fries, nothing special; I didn't even finish them. They were also a little pricey. The patty here, however, overshadows everything else and makes it well worth the trip. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Yankee's Tavern & Grill an 8.

Mooyah Burgers and Fries

Today my work took me to the most southern part of Harris County, right across the county line from Pearland. I Googled burger places in Pearland before heading down there and discovered a new place I had never heard of, Mooyah Burgers and Fries. This is a franchise based in the Dallas, Texas area and they have three locations in the Houston area. When I took a look at their menu online, I discovered that they have a similar layout and menu as another burger franchise that I really like that I haven't yet reviewed. So, I already had an expectation that this burger joint would be good. Well, I wasn't disappointed. I went with my supervisor and I ordered my customary bacon cheeseburger. Here, they call it a Mooyah Burger, which is made with 2 all beef patties that are never frozen. The bacon and cheese were extra, $0.60 each. All the other fixings are free. And boy, they have many fixings to choose from. You can select from the standard tomatoes, onion, lettuce, etc., as well as jalapenos, Mooyah Special Sauce, BBQ sauce, and other toppings. I went with jalapenos and A1 Steak Sauce to go with lettuce, mustard, mayo, and pickles. After a short wait, we received our food and I was immediately impressed with the size of the burger and how the cheese was all nice and melted on the patties. The patties were very well seasoned and juicy. The bacon was nice and crispy. The A1 and mustard blended together well and gave the burger a nice flavor. I didn't care for their pickles, as you can see from the photo, they used bread and butter pickles and I prefer dill pickles. The only other thing that I didn't like about the burger was the fact that they put lettuce on the burger that was wet. My burger got soggy after a while, and not the good kind of soggy when grease is being squeezed out of the burger, but water was being squeezed from the lettuce. The french fries were good and you get quite a bit when you order the regular size, which feeds 1-2 people. They're homemade and are freshly cut. Too bad I don't live closer to Mooyah's, I'd be in there at least twice a month. I'll have to settle for whenever I can get there. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Mooyah Burger and Fries a 9.

Burgers, Fries, n Things

Today my work took me to the 610/Cullen area of Houston. I did some research before I went down there to see what burger establishments were in the area. I decided to go with a close restaurant and I visited Burgers, Fries, n Things located at 8525 Scott St. I Googled the business and was able to see a picture of the building. I immediately got excited as the picture indicated it was a hole-in-the-wall/greasy spoon type place. When I arrived, my excitement was affirmed as the building is indeed a shack. It doesn't even have anywhere to sit and eat, I had to eat in my car. So, I figured the food must be good. Then, when I saw the prices, my heart skipped a beat because you can get a bacon cheeseburger basket, WITH fries AND a drink for only $5.05! Well, the proverbial saying, "You get what you pay for," really applies to this place. Sorry to say that the hamburger patty, although well seasoned, as you can see from the picture, was extremely thin and dry as a bone. It also seemed to almost be fried. The bacon was tough and did not seem as it was just made, more like it had been sitting there for a while. The old school crinkle cut fries were decent, even if they had been left in the frier too long. Their menu is varied, from pork chops to fried catfish, and I'm guessing there are better things to eat here since there was quite a few people waiting for food. In a pinch, I guess I would eat here again, but there are probably better hamburger choices in the area. I would've rather spent a little more and have gotten a better burger. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Burgers, Fries, n Things a 4.

Harvey Washbangers

Today my work took me to the Bryan/College Station area and I met up with a coworker to introduce him to Harvey Washbangers, located at 1802 Texas Avenue South in College Station. This is another place that I've previously visited and had to visit again for the blog. There are other places in the Bryan/College Station area that I want to try in the future, but today was Harvey's day. We arrived and ordered our food. Of course, I ordered my customary bacon cheeseburger, or as they're called at Harvey's, a Banger Burger. After a small wait we received our food. The burger looked good and I was looking forward to consuming it. The patty was thick, about a half pound, and was seasoned lightly. The bacon added good flavor. The cheese melted nicely. The fries are fantastic and are seasoned with a little bit of chili powder. Something that could be improved are the fountain drinks. I've ordered soda twice before and each time the soda was flat, today was no exception. I went with tea instead. It must be noted, however, that if soft drinks are not up your alley, you can have a beer. I would much rather have had a beer with my burger, but being on the job, I can't! Bummer. It should also be noted that if you get any food on your clothes while eating there, that's ok, because right next door is a laundromat. Nice. Were it not for the soda though, this burger joint might have gotten a perfect 10. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Harvey Washbangers a 9.

Burger World

Today I visited Burger World, located at 600 Kenrick Drive in Houston, Texas. This restaurant is located minutes from my office and have eaten here a few times, however, this is the first time I've eaten here since I started this blog. I always get the burger here and it has never disappointed. Today was no exception. Since I didn't pay for lunch today, I splurged a little bit and got my customary bacon cheeseburger. Normally I just get a cheeseburger basket for $5.99, but again, since I wasn't paying, I got the bacon added for $1.50 more. If you've never been here, it might be a little bit of an acquired taste, especially if you don't like dives. I personally prefer dives over your big chain restaurants, if I can help it. The burgers here are grilled, but they don't have that "Burger King" aftertaste, which you might find at other grilled burger joints. The patty is seasoned well and the cheese melted completely. As you can see from the picture, the bacon was generous and was very crispy. The fries are big and fill you up. They come seasoned with a little bit of chili powder, which adds a nice kick. The only thing, in my opinion, that could be improved is the selection of fountain drinks, as well as the taste. A little flat. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Burger World an 8.

Prince's Hamburgers

Today I visited Prince's Hamburgers, the location at 11460 Fuqua #100 in Houston, Texas. There are multiple locations in the Houston area and my work took me to the Southeast part of town, so I ate here. Prince's Hamburgers has been around for 75 years, so you know they're doing something right. Their reputation precedes them and I was looking forward to eating here since I never have before. This location had a giant menu on the wall and upon entering the restaurant I looked it over and must've stood there at least 10 minutes deciding what to get. There were so many choices. I also had to look at the regular sized menu to get more detail on the different burgers. After another five minutes reading over the menu I decided to go with the 1/2 pound Charbroiler burger instead of the 1/3 pound Old Timer. There's also Prince's Original burger, as well as different burger platters. As you can see, there are many choices to choose from. As per my usual, I went with the bacon cheeseburger and here they allow you to do a combo side, fries AND onion rings for only $1.50. So, we're off to a good start. After a small wait, my food was ready and was I impressed when I picked it up. The first thing I noticed was the black poppy seed bun, as well as the nice big onion rings to go with my fries. The burger looked nice and big. Today, the burger tasted just as good as it looked. The patty was well seasoned and juicy. Juice was being squeezed out of the patty with each bite that after a while the bottom bun became soggy. In this case, I enjoyed the bun getting soggy. The bacon was extra crispy and was the best I've had yet. I thoroughly enjoyed this meal and overall was one of the better hamburger dining experiences I've had in a while. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Prince's Hamburgers a 9.

Rickey's Restaurant

UPDATE: September 15, 2009- this restaurant is now closed.

Today I visited Rickey's Restaurant located at 828 S. Robb St. in Trinity, Texas. This restaurant recently opened in Trinity, however, they had previously been in business in Huntsville, Texas. I knew I would be in Trinity for work the previous day and I did some research on the internet to find out if Trinity had any burger joints. I found a couple and decided on Rickey's. I checked out their website and looked over their menu. I was glad to see they had burgers on the menu and of course decided I would dine there the following day. I arrived and was immediately greeted and seated. I ordered my usual bacon cheeseburger, with what they called fried potatoes, and after a small wait, it arrived. The burger was not much to look at upon receiving it, and I hoped that it at least tasted better than it looked. I took my first bite and found that the patty was seasoned well enough that I didn't have to add any salt or pepper. That's always good. The bacon was crispy and flavorful. The fried potatoes, which are just potato wedges, were well seasoned with salt and pepper and were the highlight of the meal. Overall, the burger, while not much too look at, was actually pretty flavorful, but mostly just average. The service was real good and the employees were real nice. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Rickey's Restaurant a 7.

CJ's Grill

Today I met my wife for lunch and visited CJ's Grill, located at 399 Sawdust in Spring, Texas. The first thing we noticed upon walking in was the smell of smoke. It wasn't overwhelming, but more of a lingering smell. The smell goes away after a while once you get used to it though. The menus are located at the tables and after sitting down I noticed that CJ's considers their food to be "gourmet junk food." I immediately thought, "That means it's expensive." As per my usual, I ordered the burger with bacon and cheese. Unfortunately, because it's a "gourmet" restaurant, there's no basket or combo here. I ordered the 1/3 pound burger for $6.25. Adding cheese and bacon added another $1.50. An order of fries or onion rings will set you back another $1.95. I thought about ordering the 1/2 pound burger for $7.25, but with the extra cost of the bacon and cheese, I couldn't see spending almost $10 for a burger, not including fries, not having tried it before. After a small wait we received our food and dug in. I fixed my burger the way I like it and when I picked it up, the bread on the bottom was soggy. I don't know if it was soggy due to the juciness of the burger or whether it was because the burger was sitting on a lettuce leaf. The meat at CJ's is grilled and you can taste it. It reminds me kind of like Burger King because it had that same grilled taste. The patty to my taste buds was not seasoned enough, all I could taste was the grill. The bacon was real good, nice and crispy. The cheese melted just right. Normally, I like homemade fries, but for some reason I didn't particularly like the homemade fries as CJ's. I didn't even finish them. As a matter of fact, I didn't even finish my burger. I don't know if it was because the bread was soggy, the place was smoky, I wasn't hungry enough, or it was a nice sized burger. Considering it was only a 1/3 pound burger, I'm glad I didn't get the 1/2 pound burger. It was actually a pretty big burger. Overall though, I'd have to say that if it wasn't for the smoky smell, the wet bread, the fact that it tasted kind of like a Burger King burger, and I don't really care for Burger King, and the fact that I couldn't finish it, and I ALWAYS finish my burgers, this place might have rated higher. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give CJ's Grill a 6.

3B's Burgers and Beer

I visited this location on July 23. It is located at 466 Rayford in Spring, Texas. I had previously tried this location over a year ago and hadn't been back because it didn't make an impression on me. I decided to give it another shot after starting this blog. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger basket and a side of fries. That alone set me back almost $9.50. Strike 1. I went with a coworker at lunchtime so the wait was normal for the lunch hour. We received our food and after taking my customary picture, I began eating. The first thing I noticed was how there was absolutely NO seasoning on the meat! Strike 2. Maybe they don't season their meat in order for the customers to season the meat the way they like it. Maybe they season it lightly, but with my taste buds, I couldn't taste it. Whatever the reason may be, if I have to season my own hamburger patty, chances are I won't end up liking the burger. Well, that's what happened here. I kept having to add salt and pepper to my burger with almost every bite. The burger itself was nothing special. The bacon was a little tough as well. The fries, if you want to call them that, were, for a lack of a better word, pathetic. There was little to no salt on them and had to add salt to the fries also. In addition, they were somewhat brown as if they were left in the fryer too long, but not quite burned. Strike 3. If I had to choose again, I would've spent the extra $1.60 and got the onion rings. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be making another trip here, as my prior experience remained true. Add the fact of a high price for the burger to the fact that burger was not that special, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give 3B's Burgers and Beer a 5.

Honey Bee Ham & Deli

I visited this location on June 25. It's located at 1418 N. Loop 336 W #1 in Conroe, Texas. I had the burger basket with cheese and bacon. Here, it's called a Bubba burger. The meat was seasoned just right. The fixins, pickles and lettuce, no onion or tomato here, were excellent. The fries are real good too, they're the seasoned kind. The bacon was also just right. But what makes this place are the choices of bread. You can choose white, wheat, or jalapeno bread. I usually stick with white or wheat. This is a real good burger and if you go later in the afternoon, you can get 2 for $9.99. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Honey Bee Ham & Deli an 8.

Cruz'n Cafe

UPDATE: As of September 30, 2009, this restaurant is now closed.

I visited this location on June 27. It's located at 19790 IH-45 in Spring, Texas. I have previously visited this location and discovered the bacon cheeseburger was pretty good. This time though, I went with the buffalo burger. This is only the second time I've ever had a buffalo burger. The first time being at Bubba's Texas Burger Shack. If you've never had a buffalo burger and wondered what it was like, well, it is different than beef, as you might imagine. There is a slight difference in taste, but you can't really tell. The buffalo meat is leaner, therefore, there is not much juciness and somewhat dry. It is a healthier meat for you though. As the case is with buffalo meat, the price is higher than beef, but the tradeoff is worth it. With that being said, the buffalo burger at Cruz'n Cafe was better than I had expectations for. I had cheese with mine and went with mashed potatoes instead of french fries. The meat was seasoned well and the cheese added a nice flavor. The mashed potatoes, however, left something to be desired. I think next time I'll stick with the fries. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Cruz'n Cafe's buffalo burger a 7.

Vernon's Kuntry BBQ

I visited this location on June 29. It's located at 5000 W. Davis in Conroe, Texas. I had the burger basket with cheese and bacon. Just an FYI...I tend to primarily get the bacon burger with cheese. Anyway, considering this is a bbq joint, I didn't have high hopes of getting a good burger. While I didn't get a good burger, I at least got a decent burger. I probably won't go back there to get a burger on my own, meaning, if I was with someone I probably would, but if I had to choose, I wouldn't go back. The meat was not seasoned to my liking, I had to add salt and pepper. Not that that's a bad thing, I'm sure there are some people that like their burgers that way, but for me, it has to be seasoned. The bacon was a little tough too. The fries here are actually pretty good. A little cajun style. I didn't see a buffalo burger option. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Vernon's Kuntry BBQ a 6.

Big'z Burger Joint

Update: The August 2009 issue of Texas Monthly Magazine ranked the Famous No. 1 burger here number 21 of the Top 50 burgers in the state.

I visited this place with my wife on July 5. It's located at 2303 N. Loop 1604 in San Antonio, Texas. I had the double meat burger with cheese and bacon. Let me tell you, that was a lot of meat! I had trouble putting it down at the end! The meat is seasoned pretty well. I didn't have to add any salt or pepper. The meat was nice and juicy and the bacon was crispy. My wife went with the double meat burger with pico de gallo. She enjoyed her burger as well. The fries are plentiful and one order is good enough for two people. They serve them in a cone here. No buffalo burger here, but you can order your burger "dirty." They add a fried egg to your burger. I'll have to say, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give Big'z Burger Joint a 9, which nearly makes it The Perfect Burger.

McKenzie's Burgers and Fries

This is the last place I visited on July 14. It's located at 1700 11th Street in Huntsville, Texas. I had the burger basket with cheese and bacon. This burger joint is located next door to a bbq joint and has been in my experience, you get a burger at a bbq joint and it's usually not that good. What do you expect I guess, it's a bbq joint. Well, at McKenzie's the burger here is pretty good. Actually, it's the best burger I've had at a bbq joint. The meat is seasoned pretty well and for me, the meat has to be seasoned well. Not overly seasoned, but it can't be bland either. The bacon was a little tough, but overall the burger was good. They have a fixins line so you can fix your burger just the way you like it. The fries here are good too, homemade. They also have some Tony Chachere's seasoning you can add to the fries, or your burger, which adds some spice. If you feel adventurous, you can go with the buffalo burger. I didn't try the buffalo burger this time around, but next time I will. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being The Perfect Burger, I give McKenzie's Burgers and Fries a 7.