Listed chronologically by opening date, here’s a look at the longstanding Houston eateries that have been dishing out burgers and fries for decades. Note that several of the burger joints listed below have been in business longer than half a century.
Clearly, these long-standing locales get it right -- from simply scrumptious, made-to-order burgers to crisp golden fries, there’s something delicious at each of these iconic Houston institutions.
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Prince’s Hamburgers (1932)
Houston history: Doug Prince opened his first burger joint in Dallas in 1929. Soon after, he relocated to Houston to build his burger empire. He opened his first Houston restaurant in a former Weber’s Root Beer stand on Main Street and went on to open an additional 20-something drive-ins and restaurants. Though the chain expanded to other cities like San Antonio and Beaumont, the bulk of the restaurants remained concentrated in the Houston area. Prince’s Hamburgers closed its last Houston location at 3425 Ella Blvd. at the beginning of 2018 due to issues resulting from Hurricane Harvey. In October 2020, the iconic restaurant was revivedat a new location inside the clubhouse at the Sharpstown Park Golf Course. View the menu here.
Location: Prince’s Hamburgers is located at the Sharpstown Golf Park at 6600 Harbor Town Drive.
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Lankford’s Grocery & Market (1937)
Houston history: Lankford’s Grocery & Market opened in 1937 and continues to operate out of its original location -- a converted garage -- located in Midtown at 88 Dennis St. Initially opened as a fruit stand, Lankford’s grew into a grocery store before evolving into its current iterations as a burger joint in the eighties. Third-generation family members operate the longstanding establishment to this day. The beloved, off-the-beaten-path burger joint routinely appears on “best of” lists and Lankford’s menu sums up the eatery best, stating it serves “nothing small, nothing healthy, and nothing fast. We never give you a check but that does not mean it’s free. You pay at the register as you leave. If you do not have 30 minutes to spend, you should try us another day. WE have great food, but it’s not fast food. Everything is made to order just like you like it!” View the menu here.
Location: Lankford’s Grocery & Market is located in Midtown at 88 Dennis Street.
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Someburger (1955)
Houston history: One of the last remaining old Heights eateries, this iconic Houston institution is a downhome dive serving no-frills burgers, fries and hand-dipped shakes and malts since 1955. View the menu here.
Location: Someburger currently operates at 745 E 11th Street in Houston’s Heights area.
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Stanton’s City Bites (1961)
Houston history: Opened in 1961, Stanton’s City Bites began as a family-run grocery store. Over the years, it evolved into a burger joint, which currently operates at 1420 Edwards Street. View the menu here.
Location: Stanton’s City Bites is located at 1420 Edwards Street.
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Cream Burger (1961)
Houston history: This family-run stand began slinging burgers in Houston’s Third Ward back in 1961. View the menu here.
Location: Cream Burger is located at 3481 Elgin Street in Houston’s Third Ward.
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Poppa Burger (1963)
Houston history: This hidden gem is located on North Main Street near University of Houston Downtown. Opened in 1963, the longstanding stalwart is a relic of an era long since past. The old-fashioned stand serves its no-nonsense burgers, fries, corn dogs, tacos and ice cream cones 24/7, 365 days a year. View the menu here.
Location: Poppa Burger is located at 1622 North Main Street.
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Champ Burger (1963)
Houston history: Open since 1962, this Houston gem claims it’s the home of the original “Texas Size Steak Sandwich.”
“Burger aficionados attest to the mouth watering, real beef burger served by Champ Burger,” the eatery boasts on its Facebook page. “Our loyal customers come from all areas of Houston to taste a little bit of “burger heaven”. Some say Champ Burger is one of Houston’s Best Kept Secrets.” View the menu here.
Location: Champ Burger is located in Houston’s Second Ward at 304 Sampson Street.
Mytiburger (1967)
Houston history: MytiBurger has been serving Space City the “mytiest Texas-style burgers, fries, homemade onion rings” since 1967. Mytiburger’s website sums up the eatery best: “If you’ve been by, you already know our burger is Myti’r than... just about any joint in town. And, if you haven’t been by, bless your hungry heart... We open at 10:30am.” Other menu items of note include burritos, chili dogs and stuffed jalapenos. View the menu here.
Location: Mytiburger is located at 2211 W 43rd Street in northwest Houston.
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Burger Park (1968)
Houston History: This bare-bones burger stand has been serving its patties, sandwiches and slush drinks since 1968. View the menu here.
Location: Burger Park is located at 6704 Martin Luther King Boulevard in south Houston.
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Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack (1985)
Houston history: Located underneath the Westpark Tollway in Houston’s Galleria/Uptown area, Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack boasts it’s served more than one million burgers since it opened back in 1985. Bubba’s keeps things simple, serving its small assortment of bison and beef burgers with chips. Don’t expect any fries here. Other menu highlights include Frito pie, bison chili and jalapeno potato salad. View the menu here.
Location: Bubba’s Texas Burger Shack is located at 5230 Westpark Drive, underneath the Westpark Tollway in Houston’s Galleria/Uptown area.
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Don’t see your favorite old-fashioned burger joint listed here? Share your recommendations in the comments below!