The 5 Best Old Fashioned Burgers in Houston

Champ Burger is known by many Houstonians for much more than its simple burgers. The burgers at Champ Burger are also anything but a sloppy meal. 

What first drew us to this spot was the quaint and interesting atmosphere it fosters. Outside of Champ Burger, a large red Texaco star sign towers over concrete tables with curved benches, and are shaded by bright red and white umbrellas.

The counter staff was kind and paid attention to the line of people waiting to put their orders. We noted how the staff easily started up conversations with those ahead of us in line. 

To start, though, we ordered their classic burgers, which were served on toasted sesame buns. The patties were on the verge of being too thick or too thin, but the patties were juicy enough for our tastes. 

By the way, the burgers were massive—one is enough to share, that is if you don’t have an appetite. Furthermore, all the fixings were there: perfectly sliced tomatoes, raw onions, sliced lettuce, mayonnaise, mustard, and a few too many pickles. 

We also indulged in their deliciously sinful soft-serve vanilla shake laced with Hershey’s chocolate syrup. But we didn’t like their french fries and onion rings as they were served to us cold. 

We also didn’t like their orange shake as it tasted like crushed up ice slush and hardly any orange flavor. 

Cliff’s Hamburger Grill has been drawing customers in since 1978 thanks to its delicious blend of sweet and salty burgers that goes great with the house-made fries and onion rings. 

A word of caution, though, their burgers are messy. At least, that’s what we’ve been told. 

First of all, we liked how the staff at Cliff’s Hamburger Grill were knowledgeable about the type of burgers that they serve and gave recommendations to those ahead of us in line and to us as well. 

Hence, we ended up getting one of their recommended best sellers, the Murphy burger. 

The patty itself was not overwhelmed by the flavorful seasoning, and we liked how they piled the burger high with hickory-smoked BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, grilled onions, and plenty of crispy bacon. 

We also liked their fried pickles. They were served to us steaming hot and they were crispy with a mild spicy kick. 

However, we didn’t care for their fries. We first tried their waffle fries, which were tasteless and burnt. 

While we noted how we were able to easily exchange our fries for a new type of fries, the shoestring fries we had next were crumbly and hardly edible. As far as drinks go, their fountain sodas were watery and their iced tea lacked any ounce of flavor. 

Many who’ve eaten at Cream Burger claim they serve up tasty old fashioned burgers like no other burger joint in Houston. Others boast their burgers are juicy and ginormous in portion size. 

Well, that’s what we’ve heard. On our visit to Cream Burger, they have a classic American burger joint menu with items such as burgers, hot dogs, shakes and chili cheese fries. 

Everything on the menu was reasonably priced and we liked how the person working at the counter was friendly. 

From what we noticed, many at Cream Burger were sipping on milkshakes, so we tried their pineapple shake along with a double cheeseburger and their chili cheese fries. 

While their burgers were hot and fresh off the grill, their beef patties were thin and a little under-seasoned for our tastes. The hamburger buns were blackened around the edges, providing a crisp taste to the burger. 

Despite the chili being well-seasoned, the fries were soggy. Perhaps this may have been due to the slice of American cheese they slapped on top of the fries—it was barely melted. 

The pineapple shake, on the other hand, was delicious. It contained a good amount of crushed pineapple and could be consumed without the aid of a straw or spoon. 

Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack is in a small cape house with a lot of character. At least, that’s what we’ve been told.  

Bubba’s can be difficult to get to as it is tucked away under an overpass. 

So to enter into their parking lot, you can take Westpark Drive from the 610 Loop for the quickest and easiest route. 

When we went to Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack, there were a few tables inside, but most people took advantage of the day by eating on the porch. Whether sitting outside or inside, you first have to order inside—they do bring your food out to you, though. 

We had two double burgers with beef patties, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, mustard, and a side of jalapeño potato salad. By the way, you can order your burger with any toppings like BBQ sauce, ketchup, etc. 

First, we recommend having you have a supply of napkins or paper towels on hand because the burgers at Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack are anything but easy to eat. By the way, you do need two hands to eat these burgers. 

We liked how the burgers were juicy without being greasy, with plenty of flavors from the patties mingling with the melted cheese. Despite the fact that the jalapeño potato salad had a strong dill flavor, it was still edible. 

Although the beef patties were a little salty, this may have been due to their seasonings. 

A few people have told us Hubcap Grill has a relaxed atmosphere, and well-seasoned burgers, but they come at an expensive price. 

When we went to Hubcap Grill, the atmosphere was rich in history, and the handcrafted burgers served there  only added to the experience. True to the claims, almost everything on the menu came with an expensive price tag. 

We first ordered the Viva Patty Melt, which consisted of a  beef patty, grilled onions, and Swiss cheese on toasted rye bread. Additionally, we got a side order of their “stinky fries”—perhaps it got its name from the malt vinegar and garlic used to flavor their fries. 

We also tried their classic traditional burger with bacon on the side.  As we took a bite out of our burgers, the burgers nearly dripped with juice from all the grease. 

Although Hubcap Grill may not have the healthiest of burgers, both burgers were flavorful and delicious from the blend of spices they used. We also liked the combination of their thick beefy patty with the rye bread as it was their own twist of an old fashioned burger. 

However, we did not like their “stinky fries” the vinegar overpowered the overall garlicky taste of the fries.