Texas Burger Stops

Marlene's @ The Big Chill - Chicken Salad Sandwich

2012-01-06T15:12:00.000-06:00

Marlene's is one of those places that looks like it has been around since the beginning of time. In a good way, of course. It is nestled in an old building on The Largest Downtown Square in America. The building, at one time, housed a local soda shop, the counter still remains to this day. Coca Cola and Dr Pepper memorabilia add to the decor, as does the detailed ceiling tiles and the wooden floors.

I always go to Marlene's for one thing, the Chicken Salad sandwich (CSS). Others will tell you the French Dip is the thing to try, while others will tell you the soups are the thing. Trust me, it's all good.

When I visit Marlene's, they always greet me with a smile and a menu. I usually order a glass of water or tea and the #21, a full size chicken salad sandwich on white bread with Sun Chips. Oh, and the bread is not the stuff that Mrs. Baird's mass produces, it's homemade bread. Sliced about a half-inch thick, the bread has a nice airy look and a soft feel that really compliments the chicken salad.

Marlene loads up the sandwich with an ample amount of chicken salad, two slices of tomatoes per half and leafy green lettuce. On the plate is a pickle spear and a bag of Sun Chips (or Ruffles). When you bite into the sandwich, the chicken salad oozes out the side of the bread a bit because Marlene's doesn't just show the bread the Chicken Salad, they pile it on. I usually use the Sun Chips to scoop up the leftover chicken salad sitting on the plate when I am done with the sandwich.

If you are in the area around lunch, it's a can't miss item and a can't miss place.

Clown Burger Too - Haltom City

2012-01-03T15:55:00.002-06:00

I have read about Clown Burger Too on a couple of different blogs, but have never had the opportunity to stop by until today. I took the motorcycle for a battery-charging ride and decided to stop by for lunch.

Clown Burger Too is located on the corner of Stanley-Keller and Haltom Road, just south of the Haltom City Library. It is in the corner of a shopping center that, without it, would probably be desolate and abandoned.

When you step inside, it is reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. There are clowns parachuting in from the ceiling in every room and a corner dedicated to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis. You truly feel like you traveled back in time.

You step to the counter to place your order. The combo meals each include an order of fries and a bottle (or can) drink. You can see the grill just over the shoulder of the person taking your order, along with the prep table when it is all assembled. A single patty is 1/6 lb, so a double won't likely expand your waistline as much as a double from any other place. They do boast a 'King Burger', which is a six-patty creation. I wasn't in the mood to tackle that artery clogger today.

I ordered the single patty #1 with cheese and bacon. The counter person asked for my name and said it would be a few minutes. I looked around at the decor while I waited on my name to be called. About 10 minutes later my order arrived on a red plastic tray, the fries in a small fry 'boat' wrapped in thin white paper. The burger, too, was wrapped in a white paper. I grabbed the tray and found a spot in the adjoining room.

Two older locals were sitting there chatting, having finished their meal already. The were reminiscing about people they both knew. A couple arrived with a small baby and they noted the 2-month old's red hair. They then discussed how their hair had changed colors over their lifetime. 'Mine went from reddish brown to blonde to almost black," one fellow quipped. "Then," he continued, "it went to gray and then white and now it's mostly just went away." They both chuckled at the comment.

I unwrapped my fries and started eating them. They were mostly thin and appeared to be fresh cut. Knowing fries like this usually get cold and soggy quickly, I consumed them first.

The turned my attention to the burger. It was nicely seasoned and the vegetables seemed fresh. It was a thin patty, but it was still juicy. Usually a thin patty will tend to be a little dry. But, I could tell the fellow slinging the meat onto the grill had done it a time or two.

The two older gentlemen told the newborn baby's father that the owner had moved the business from over off Belknap some time ago. "If you had a penny for all the burgers he has cooked, you would be a rich man." His friend added "I bet he hasn't cleaned that grill since he started back in the late 50s."

While I know he was just exaggerating, most people would probably cringe at a comment like that. But as a burger lover, I know that's 50 years of seasoning you can't replicate.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: thin and crispy around the edges
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: great char around the edges
Bun: lightly toasted on the grill
Vegetables: fresh lettuce and tomatoes, chopped onions, pickles
Napkins needs: one napkin should do
Special attributes: Hole in the wall, old school place that has been around for over 50 years.
Ownership: mom and pop

Happy New Year - Upcoming changes

2012-01-03T15:09:00.000-06:00

Given my long work hours and my small geographic circle of available burger places, I plan on adding other types of items to my blog this year.

Although I do prefer a good cheeseburger over most anything, I will be commenting on other types of cuisine I find intriguing and worth trying.

Some items such as The Red Rooster from The Steele Grill, the hot wings from Neri's on the Square, Chicken Padd Thai from Sweet Basil, the chopped BBQ sandwich from Backyard BBQ (extra bark), the Aubrey Sandwich from The Last Pizza Show, the chicken salad sandwich (on homemade bread) from Marlene's and the brisket tacos from Taqueria Mexicana.

As time allows, I will cover all of these. If they have an Urbanspoon page, I will provide the link and rating as well.

Another Hole In The Wall - Newcastle, TX

2011-11-18T23:53:00.001-06:00

I have been visiting Hole In The Wall in Newcastle for some time now and have been remiss about posting a review until now.

A quick history about the name and some confusion I have with it. About 13-14 years ago there was a place in Graham called 'The Hole In The Wall', HITW for short. It was nestled in a former gas station across from the old Shawnee School (Shawnee Park). The HITW was famous for their HOG burger and would post Polaroid pictures on their restaurant wall of people who defeated it. I never attempted it, for fear it might just be the artery-clogging end of me. I don't recall the exact ingredients, but I do recall it had lots of bacon and ham piled upon a burger.

About the time the HITW in Graham was popular, a similarly-named place sprang up in Newcastle with the same type of HOG burger. I am unsure if the original HITW owner was financially involved in the Newcastle venture. If I recall correctly, the sign in Newcastle said 'Hole In The Wall 2' at one time. After the closing of the HITW in Graham, it seems 'Another' was added to the front of the HITW's name in Newcastle to differentiate the location. Perhaps a change in ownership occurred, I am unsure. All of the various web posts I have found call in the Hole In The Wall, so that is what I refer to it as now, or HITW for short.

As I stated, I have not attempted the HOG burger. In fact, with all of the visits I have made, I usually order the same thing, a mini-burger with cheese, sometimes with a side of fries. I have tried the 'Irish burger/sandwich', a burger patty on toast with fries on top, smothered in brown gravy. If I were on Death Row it would probably be on my list of things for my last meal. I figure it would give me a Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) and save the State of Texas the trouble.

The HITW is a small place that probably, comfortably, seats 30-40 people. There is a small front area that was recently added on with a couple of tables and the main dining area has about 5-6 booths, a couple of tables end-to-end and a larger round table.

Each time I visit the HITW, the round table is the center stage for the locals. I usually grab a booth, order some unsweet tea and my standard mini-burger with cheese, all the way. I then have a few moments while the order is being prepared to look over the collection of deer pictures hanging on the wall around the restaurant. Every year the owner has a Biggest Buck contest. Sitting in such a small dining area, one cannot help but overhear the local gossip coming from the round table. It is usually talk of the work day that just ended or the tasks ahead of them tomorrow. Good folks breaking bread, sipping coffee, swapping stories and telling lies, not always in that order. The side of the building even boasts this is the place 'Where Hunters, Fishermen and Other Liars Meet'.

Anyway, back to the burgers.

The burgers always arrive nice and hot. I have found the small burger is more than enough to satisfy my appetite. The burger to the right was my most recent order. As you can see, the patty is medium thick and hand formed. The cheese, yellow American, has melted over the piping hot patty and formed an inseparable bond between the bun and the meat. There are ample slices of white onions, a layer of lettuce, tomatoes and pickles with a thin layer of yellow mustard on the bottom bun to complete the entree. And, remember, this is the small burger.

If you are near Newcastle, TX and looking for a burger, it's a great place to stop. The *only* drawback to the HITW is it is a smoking-allowed restaurant. And, trust me, after a meal in the small confines of the place, you *will* smell like an ashtray. I usually ride the Spyder over and fill up at the Newcastle Grocery, saving an average of 10 cents over any station in Graham, where I live. After my meal at the HITW, the ride back home rids my clothing of the cigarette smell and I can stand myself as I settle in for a few hours of television.

Don't let the smokers bother you, though, as all of their menu items can be ordered to go and they have a convenient drive-up window.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: medium thick and hand formed
Cooking style: Cooked on a flat top
Char: excellent seasoning on the grill makes for a great char across the patty
Bun: Fresh buns, appears to be toasted lightly on the grill
Vegetables: good veggies
Napkins needs: Needed a napkin
Special attributes: Smoking allowed. Where the locals gather. Biggest buck contest each deer season.
Ownership: locally owned

Rock City Burger Co - Bridgeport, TX

2011-11-01T19:43:00.000-05:00

I had a scheduled service call in Bridgeport, TX today, so I took an opportunity to grab some lunch while I was over there. I looked up local burger joints on Urbanspoon and found the Rock City Burger Company. It was sporting an 88% rating on Urbanspoon with many positive reviews, so I felt the need to visit.

Parking out front near the big green rock crawler Jeep, I noticed a covered patio area with some wood picnic tables. When the weather is nice, this would be the place to dine, I thought.

The inside of the restaurant looked somewhat industrial, with a nice black and yellow paint scheme and some shiny corrugated metal accents. There were around six booths and six tables inside with a few tables on the patio outside to serve the patrons. The windows were open and a nice breeze was blowing in.

A flat-panel TV was showing rock-crawling video clips and there were several pictures of Jeeps in various upside down and contorted positions hanging on the walls. With the name of the establishment and the rock crawling Jeep outside, I assumed it was a hobby of the owner and probably pictures of his escapades. As I found out later, it was.

I stepped to the counter and surveyed the menu on the wall. It was a chalkboard wall with the burgers, pricing and options available. I opted for the single with cheese, which the counter person begin checking off my selection on a paper menu affixed to a bag. A little like Which Wich, I thought. Exactly how I would do it, I told myself.

The reviews said to get the jalapeño bread, which I did, and the homemade chips. I opted, instead, for the onion rings and a drink. The total was a little over $10, so not your typical burger combo pricing.

I grabbed a cup and filled it up with a 75/25 mixture of unsweet and sweet tea. I noticed the small fountain had your typical sodas on tap. But, as the SNL skit said from long ago, Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Pepsi here, no Coke.

My food arrived in the paper bag where it all started at the counter. I opened the onions rings and noticed they looked like they were hand-breaded. They had a nice crust with a good amount of pepper in the batter.

I opened the burger and found it was cooked on a flat-top grill, my favorite method. It was medium thin and looked to be hand-formed. The jalapeño bun was toasted on the grill as well, but was still a little soft, not hard and crunchy. I ordered my burger with lettuce, onions, grilled onions, cheese and mayo as well as mustard. The lettuce was your standard iceberg, the raw onions were white and the cheese looked to be a shredded cheddar variety. It was so well melted between the bun and burger, I couldn't be completely certain, but it looked like a shredded cheddar cheese. Not my first choice in cheese, but nothing that would prevent me from enjoying my meal. The grilled onions were translucent, but not caramelized like I prefer.

The burger had good flavor and was still pretty juicy. The jalapeño bun was the perfect choice, still soft, but a different texture than your normal boring bun. As I looked around the room, I could see this place could get busy on Friday nights after a football game or on the weekends after a bunch of crawlers worked over the local Northwest OHV Park.

I got an opportunity to visit with Trevor, the owner of the place. He has been in business a couple of years. He seems to enjoy running the restaurant and sponsors many of the Jeep clubs.

It certainly is worth a trip. Tell Trevor you read about it here.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: medium thick and hand formed
Cooking style: Cooked on a flat top
Char: good char across the patty
Bun: Excellent bun, toasted on the grill
Vegetables: good veggies
Napkins needs: Needed a napkin (paper towel) or two
Special attributes: BYOB, Music on weekends
Ownership: locally owned

Paula's by the Lake - Graham, TX

2011-09-09T12:06:00.000-05:00

I saw an advertisement for Paula's By The Lake, a new place occupying the space where The Steele Grill was on Lake Graham. Since I am always in the mood to try some place new, I figured I would drop by on my way home one evening.

It was past 7:30 when I arrived and there was only one other person in the place. Normally, that might be a bad sign, but being the trooper I am, I went inside.

The location is nicely decorated and clean looking. They took out the glass counter and salad prep area along the wall and added extra tables. It looks like they have a private area available for dining as well.

The menu, it appears, changes daily. I happened to visit on the 'homestyle' day, so chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken and catfish were on the menu.

I noticed a chalkboard with two or three burger choices written down, so I inquired about them. I settled for the Claude Burger, named after the owner of the space, a half pound single-patty cheese burger with grilled jalapenos and bacon. I ordered a side of onion rings as well.

The cook went to work on the burger, I could hear the sizzle of the grill as he started cooking the patty. He brought out the burger and rings in a few minutes and I surveyed my meal.

The rings were cooked perfect. They were hand-dipped with a thick, crunchy batter. The burger was a medium-thick, hand-formed patty with a nice crunchy char where it made contact with the grill. It was cooked just right, enough of a sear on it to seal in the juices. I love charred mammal flesh.

I started with the rings first before moving to the burger. The jalapenos were grilled, swimming in mustard, and formed a nice layer on the bottom of the burger between the patty and the bun. The cheese melted into the patty, just the way I like it.

Overall the meal was great. The bun could have been a little more substantial, it started to fall apart before I was done, probably because it was one of the thinner buns you sometimes see.

I look forward to my next stop. I told them I would be in enough that they would name a burger after me.

If you are in the area, you should stop by. They are located at 1733 FM 3003, just this side of the Double Docks on Lake Graham.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: medium thick and hand formed
Cooking style: Cooked perfectly on a flat top
Char: good char across the patty
Bun: fresh tasting, little too thin, came apart before the burger was finished
Vegetables: good veggies
Napkins needs: I found I needed a couple
Special attributes: Lake Graham
Ownership: locally owned

Scotts Drive In - Wichita Falls, TX

2011-07-18T01:56:00.002-05:00

I have been to Scott's Drive In a few times in my life, with my most recent stop this past weekend.

My wife and I were in Wichita Falls picking up some things we couldn't find locally in Graham. We were driving down Old Jacksboro Highway heading toward Southwest Parkway and passed Scott's. We had been discussing where to grab a late lunch when I saw Scott's. We turned around and parked under the awning and begin to peruse the menu.

I zoned in on the Big Scottie Burger dead center of the menu, a double meat, double cheese burger. I also opted for the small order of onion rings and a large Root Beer. More on the root beer later.

My wife, Kathleen, chose a hot dog with mustard, onions and relish, a small order of rings and a cherry limeade.

It was late in the day, that time just after lunch, but before dinner, so the place was pretty quiet. A pickup sat under the awning near us, no occupants inside. While we were waiting on our order, two gentleman came from the front of the building and drove away in the pickup. I assume they have an inside dining area, but I didn't investigate further. We were soaking up the cold AC in the car and didn't want to step into the 100°F+ weather, so inside dining didn't appeal to us at the time.

The carhop delivered two white bags and two drinks, totaling $14.77. We provided him a decent tip with the cash payment and starting opening up the bags and dispersing the contents.

The onion rings were on top, so I started eating them first. They had plenty of packaged ketchup in the bag, but I tossed it aside. I usually only eat Whataburger ketchup, the taste is very unique and I enjoy it best.

The small rings order contained about five good-sized onion rings. They could have been made on site, but they might have been frozen as well. They were tasty in either case. I took a sip of my drink and was immediately disappointed in the taste. I don't think they filter their water, so there was a slight aftertaste that I didn't care for.

I finished my rings and looked over at Kathy's meal. She was eating a hot dog that had been cooked on the grill. It looked very good. If I were to order the hot dog, I would probably opt for two, as they were a bit small in size.

When I unwrapped the burger, it was a thing of beauty. The American cheese was melting into the patties, creating that wonderful taste I crave. From the first bite to the last, I was evaluating it against all of the other burgers I have eaten. This one clearly ranked up there high on the list.

The burger was cooked just right, still full of juice, not dry like the one I tried at Mary's recently. In fact, this one made me update my list, pushing Sac-A-Burger out of the top five. Scott's easily pushed into the number two spot. Overall the burger was the star of the meal.

The only drawback from the experience was the drink. If they were going for a sandbass-tasting root beer, they had it spot on.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: thin and hand formed
Cooking style: Cooked perfectly on a flat top
Char: good char across the patties
Bun: fresh tasting, a perfect compliment to the burger
Vegetables: good veggies
Napkins needs: I found I needed a couple
Special attributes: A Wichita Falls landmark for over 50 years
Ownership: locally owned

Mary's Cafe - Strawn, TX

2011-07-07T02:08:00.002-05:00

While out on weekend service call at Possum Kingdom Lake, recently, my wife and I decided to drop by Mary's Cafe in Strawn, TX to see what all of the hubbub was about. For years, I had heard of Mary's and their famous Chicken Fried Steak (CFS). Not only had former colleagues and friends told me about Mary's, it was also featured on an episode of Texas Country Reporter (Show #1143 - Best of TCR Volume 2, Show #2) with Bob Phillips, one of my favorite Sunday shows. So, we headed down highway 16 to grab some lunch.

Strawn is a small town a few miles off of I-20 pretty much in the middle of nowhere. If you are traveling down I-20 between Thurber and Ranger, jump on State Highway 16 headed North and you will find it.

It was only a short ride from our service call, so we arrived around lunchtime. A good size crowd was gathering inside, so the hostess ushered us to the back room. It was a bit dark in there, lit mainly by the glowing neon beer signs that adorned the room. Once our eyes adjusted to the reduced lumens, I scanned the menu.

I have heard of the CFS here for years, but never had the opportunity to visit and try it, so I was looking forward to that. I was tempted by the burger, since I have made it a point to try a burger almost ever where I can. When my wife, Kathy, decided to order the small CFS, I opted for the burger, figuring she would have some available for me to sample. I was curious about the comment on the menu about the burgers taking extra long to cook, but not curious enough to ask about it. That should have tipped me off to the burger size.


The 1.25 lb burger at Mary's Cafe

Kathy's CFS arrived in a short time. Even though she ordered the small one, it pretty much took up the entire plate. The waitress came around the corner carrying a hubcap of meat stuffed between two buns. I belted out a comment I shouldn't repeat here when it came into view. My first thought, good thing I didn't order fries too.

I begin to attack the burger and immediately noticed the patty, while very large and hard to bite into, was pretty dry from being cooked so long. The flavor was good, the veggies were fresh and the bun was soft, but the well-done consistency really took away from the overall experience. I proceeded to break it down using a knife to create bite-sized pieces for a more manageable eating experience.

Kathy cut off a portion of her CFS and put it on my plate. I coated it with peppery gravy and gave it a taste. I had made the wrong decision. The CFS was amazing.

After about 10-15 minutes, I had eaten just about half of it when I decided I needed a take-home box. There was no way I was not going to be able to finish this monster here. Rarely do I bring home a 'doggie bag', but this big 'un was a little too much beef for one meal, even for a big boy like me.

I probably won't order the burger again at Mary's. It wasn't bad, just a little too cooked for my palate. I usually live by my own rule on things like this: stick with the specialty of the house. I should have listened to myself, but my love of burgers won out.

Oh, well, it was still a nice drive to Strawn, a cool place to have lunch and definitely a place to go back to in the future. For a chicken fried steak, that is.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: monstrous
Cooking style: grilled to death on a flat top
Char: good char across the patty
Bun: fresh tasting, falls apart under the weight of the patty
Vegetables: good veggies
Napkins needs: cooked to well to have any juice left
Special attributes: really good Chicken Fried Steak
Ownership: appears to be locally owned

Circle K Drive-In - Olney, TX

2011-06-16T19:08:00.000-05:00

I had a recent opportunity to stop in Olney, TX for a quick dinner before visiting my brother, who was in the Olney Hamilton Hospital for the night.

As I drove through town, the usual fast food and chain places caught my eye, but I was hoping to find something with a little local flavor. I drove past the Circle K Drive-In and decided that was the place to try, so I turned the motorcycle around and pulled up near the door.

Circle K Drive-In (Olney, TX)

When I walked in the door, I felt like I stepped back in time about 30 years. The little cafe was rather small and looks to have been around for a long time. It had 10 tables around the small dining area with a total seating capacity of about 30 people. There were painted saw blades hanging on the wall around the restaurant, just the kind of thing I would expect from a place like this.

The two whiteboards on the wall indicated what appeared to be specials that might not be on the everyday menu. They listed everything from egg salad sandwiches to chocolate pie, including steak fingers baskets and BBQ sandwiches. Being a burger junkie, I knew I had to order one up.

Since it was really hot outside, I didn't have a large appetite, so I ordered up a small cheeseburger and some onion rings with a glass of iced tea. The tea really hit the spot after being out in the 107°F weather on the motorcycle.

My food arrived in a timely manner. The burger looked like the standard quarter-pounder, with a thin patty and the small-style hamburger bun. The onion rings didn't appear to be made in house, but they were cooked correctly and tasted great.

As I ate my dinner, I could hear and see the locals discussing events of their day. I could imagine the stories these walls have heard over the years.

The waitress offered up a refill on my tea and I finished up my meal. Closing time was rapidly approaching and the place was beginning to empty rather quickly. I tipped the waitress and left. As I was leaving the cook came out of the kitchen with a great-looking taco salad and sat down with one of the locals for a well-deserved meal and break from the heat of the kitchen.

Next time, I gotta give that taco salad a try.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: thin, appeared to be preformed patty
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: good char across the patty
Bun: fresh tasting, probably Mrs. Baird's small hamburger bun
Vegetables: good veggies
Napkins needs: Needed a few, nice and juicy
Special attributes: homemade desserts
Ownership: appears to be locally owned

Big Daddy's Ship Store - Lake Grapevine, TX

2011-06-01T00:29:00.002-05:00

Over the recent Memorial Day the wife and I decided to find a place to eat lakeside. I called up Urban Spoon and found Big Daddy's Ship Store on Lake Grapevine.

When I saw their menu offered burgers, I knew it was a place I would have to try. I also figured a place on the lake might have some fish and chips, something I was craving at the moment. I was somewhat disappointed when I asked what type of fish they offered and found it to be catfish. The trend of Texas restaurants offering catfish as the only choice for fish and chips annoys me, but that's another post, another day.

Joe Tucker

The menu is pretty large, so there were a lot of choices. I chose the Little John, a single patty 'burger' topped with fries, chili, cheese, onions and jalapenos. The Big Daddy, a double-meat version, seemed a bit excessive. My wife, Kathy, choose a cheeseburger. All burgers come with fries or chips. Kathy opted for onion rings.

A sign on the wall read 'We make good food, not fast food', so I expected a wait. We went outside and choose one of the resin picnic tables on the large dock. They had music piping through the speakers, everything from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Britney Spears. A one-man band was setting up and would begin playing just as we were leaving.

After about 20 minutes I begin to wonder if they had forgotten our order, but the cashier assured me it was coming right up.

The food arrived a few minutes later. My order was piled high with crisp, thin fries dusted with a hint of season salt, chili (no beans), cheese, onions and jalapenos. The patty, lightly seasoned and cooked well done, was sitting on top of a hamburger bottom that had been cooked a short time on the grill. It did not include the top bun. Good thing, I didn't need it anyway.

Kathy's food was cooked the same and included the standard things that make up a good cheese burger, fresh lettuce and tomatoes, a slice of a American cheese and onions. We were caught up in conversation and didn't realize they delivered fries instead of onion rings. Oh well, maybe next time.

Overall the food was good, the music was enjoyable and the atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for. I can see myself coming back again next time I have a desire to sit by the water and grab a burger.

Even though I didn't get to enjoy the entertainment, as we left before he got cranked up, I seeded the tip jar on the way out.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: medium thick, ~~not handmade~~ handmade, never frozen, according to the owner, and cooked just right
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: good char across the patty
Bun: cooked on the grill (not toasty)
Vegetables: onions and jalapenos were great
Napkins needs: needed a fork for this one
Special attributes: chili was great. Eating on the water was the reason for seeking the place out
Ownership: local owner

Chapp's Cafe - North Richland Hills

2011-04-10T20:09:00.018-05:00

My wife and I visited Chapp's Cafe in North Richland Hills, TX recently. I am a big fan of Chapp's Baby Burger and cajun fries, a quarter pound patty on a soft, fresh bun.

Chapp's has recently introduced fried onion and jalapeno strings as an appetizer. I ordered up a Baby Chapp's burger, loaded all the way with grilled and raw onions, mustard and mayo with American Cheese.

My wife, Kathleen, ordered up a Baby Chapp's, sans fries. We ordered up some of the fried onion and jalapeno strings and shared them. A quick note, the appetizer does not come with any dipping sauce, so you must purchase a side of ranch if you so desire something to dip them in.

The picture to the right shows what my ordered looked like when it arrived.

Chapp's appears to serve up Nolan Ryan's All Natural Beef (shown by the toothpick flag planted in the center of the bun). The burger was very good, the bun was toasted inside, but soft and fresh on the outside. The patty was cooked just right and yielded enough juice to require a couple of napkins to clean up.

Chapp's is one of the better local chains. I have been to several of their locations across the Metroplex and each of them have been consistently good.

If you get a chance, stop by, you won't be disappointed.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: thin, not handmade but cooked just right
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: good char around the edge of the patty
Bun: cooked on the grill (not toasty), fresh tasting, might be made in house
Vegetables: the veggies were fresh. I enjoyed the options of grilled and raw onions
Napkins needs: One or two will do
Special attributes: cajun fries are worth the trip alone
Ownership: local chain

Say it isn't so!

2011-04-08T11:38:00.004-05:00

I was back in Jacksboro this week and when I drove by The Kwik Stop, I was horrified to find it had burned the Friday before. I was just there a few days earlier and had a great burger.

The Jacksboro newspaper has the story here. In case it disappears, the long and short of it is the people who saw the fire report it started around the back of the building near the air conditioner, so it was possibly an electrical issue that caused the building's destruction.

The Kwik Stop - Jacksboro

2011-03-28T17:32:00.004-05:00

I recently visited The Kwik Stop in Jacksboro, TX when I was in town for a computer-related service call. It was about lunch time, so I stopped in The Kwik Stop for a burger. I recall seeing a comment on their outdoor sign touting their burgers and BBQ, so I had to give it a try.

When I went inside there were a few people already waiting on their food. I stepped up to a window that looked in on the grill. The cook, a young lady, asked what I wanted. I ordered the standard cheeseburger, all the way.

After about 10 minutes she came out of the kitchen and delivered my burger in a paper 'basket' like you see fries and hotdogs in occasionally. The burger was wrapped in thin paper and you could see the grease starting to opaque the paper. This was going to be a good burger, I thought. I didn't bother ordering fries or any sides, the burger looked large enough to accommodate my appetite.

As I ate my lunch, I listened in to the cook banter about with the customers ordering their lunch. This is the kind of place you come back to again, I told myself. And it was populated by locals, always a good sign.

The burger was great. It was very juicy and had me using up several napkins to keep the goodness from dripping down my arm and off my face. I paid up and went to work, thinking I would have to stop by next time I was in town. And, to think, I thought the only good burger joint in Jacksboro was Herd's.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: appears to be hand formed, medium thick and cooked perfectly
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: good char across the patty
Bun: cooked on the grill (not toasty), fresh tasting
Vegetables: the veggies were fresh
Napkins needs: I needed several. It was juicy and 'messy'
Special attributes: can't wait to try the BBQ
Ownership: looks to be a single location, local owner

Bullfrog Grill - Lake Worth

2008-10-31T20:58:00.013-05:00

I have driven by the Bullfrog BBQ Grill many, many times and have wanted to stop, but never seemed to have the opportunity to do so until tonight.

On my way to my weekend job, masquerading every weekend, and most appropriately on this night, Halloween, as the PC Doctor, I stopped by.

The Bullfrog is housed in what looks like an old Dairy Queen-style place, complete with drive-thru ordering. They have inside 'non smoking' seating. They also have a patio area out front that looks like it is *the* place to be on a rocking night. One would assume it is also known as 'the smoking section'.

The Bullfrog is biker friendly and I have seen dozens of choppers and custom bikes out front on my various trips past it. And, owning a bike and traveling to places like this, I know how rowdy it can get. Tonight wasn't your typical Friday night, I would assume, since it was Halloween and the Texas Motor Speedway, a few miles up the road, was hosting a big race weekend.

When I walked in the overwhelming smell of BBQ almost tempted me to give it a try. If they could bottle that smell, I would buy it. I ordered up a bacon cheeseburger, sort of my gauge for all burger joints. I got it just the way it comes, all the veggies, mustard and mayo.

I opted for the potato salad instead of fries or rings. Doing my research on the address and mapping it, I found a few reviewers that raved about the rings. I probably should have tried them too, but the potato salad looked too tempting.

Taking my glass of tea, I strolled outside and waited on the burger. They had some nice blues playing over the speakers on the patio. A most interesting conversation was also occurring among the clients there, so I sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere.

My burger arrived quick enough and I surveyed the package. It was at least a half-pounder, medium thick and the patty looked to be hand formed and very fresh. It didn't appear to be a Bubba-burger or something like that, but I suppose it could have been.

It was cooked perfect, not too done, a little char from the flat top and still juicy.

The veggies were fresh looking, with nice red tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and coarsely-chopped white onions. It is rare to find RED tomatoes, these days, so I was glad I didn't leave them off like I normally do. The cheese, a single slice of American held the bacon in place. The bacon was cooked well, not burnt like I prefer it, but not squealing when I chomped into it, either.

I worked on the potato salad first. It was my favorite kind, the same kind you find at most BBQ joints, soft and mustardy. I know that's not a word, but it describes it best. You know the kind, boil and mash up some potatoes, toss in some onion and pickle drown it all in mustard with a little mayo to smooth it out and it's done.

I probably should have ate the potato salad in moderation instead of devouring it first because it wasn't able to finish the burger. I normally opt for the smaller quarter-pound burgers, but I didn't see that as an option. Sure enough, about half-way through the burger, I was stuffed. Like a Thankgiving turkey stuffed. It was a shame too, because I really enjoyed the burger. But, since I was driving and wouldn't be near a fridge for a few hours, I didn't put it in a to-go box, but instead, pushed the basket away, finished my tea and got a refill for the road.

Walking back inside for the tea refill, the 'cue sure smelled good, though. I have to stop back by and try it next time.

The Bullfrog BBQ Grill is located at 6700 Azle Ave in Lake Worth, TX just north of Highway 199.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: appears to be hand formed, medium thick and cooked perfectly
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: good char across the patty
Bun: cooked on the grill (not toasty), fresh tasting, I am guessing a Mrs Baird's bun
Vegetables: the veggies were fresh. I prefer sliced onions, but the coarsely-chopped ones were a suitable replacement
Napkins needs: I only needed one. It was juicy, but not 'messy'
Special attributes: can't wait to try the BBQ, appears to be their specialty
Ownership: looks to be a single location, local owner

Five Guys Burgers and Fries - Southlake

2008-09-10T23:20:00.017-05:00

When I read RJG's blog and found out the new Five Guys was open in Southlake, I had to give it a try.

The wife and I drove up there and wandered around Southlake Town Square [STS] for a couple of minutes before finding it. As RJG's blog post said, it is right near Rockfish, but this was our first real trip to STS.

We walked in and it was reminiscent of the locations I have been in around Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA. It's pretty much no frills. There are big boxes of peanuts around with nice paper containers inside scoop out a bunch and take to your table. The decor is red and white and looks clean and bright.

The person at the register greeted us and asked what we wanted. I immediately saw the Cajun fries and knew I needed an order of those. I also ordered up a cheeseburger with grilled onions, mayo and jalapeno's. I had forgotten the 15 toppings they have to choose from, so I was caught a bit off guard when asked what I wanted on it.

Kathy ordered up a hot dog with mustard, relish and onions, the way she likes them. She opted for the regular fries instead of the Cajun ones.

I inquired how long they had been open and the person at the register told me three weeks.

We paid up and found a table. I grabbed a paper 'fry' container full of peanuts and a spare one for the shells. There were spent peanut shells all over, but I figured I could clean up after myself and it was better than just tossing them on the floor.

Our order was done pretty quickly, about 7-8 minutes from the time we placed it. There were a few people in there when we arrived, but it wasn't crowded like the places in the DC Metro area. They have always been packed when I go. I suspect this one will gain a nice following as well.

The order came in the standard brown paper sack with the fries in the Styrofoam cup, overflowing into the bottom of the bag and leaving little ‘clear spots’ from the grease. It reminded me of one of my favorite Simpson’s phrases ‘…if you rub it on a piece of paper and it turns clear, it’s your window to weight gain…’.

I delved into the fries and they were hot. I didn’t immediately notice the Cajun taste, so I inquired if Kathy’s fries were Cajun. She hadn’t tried one yet, so I reached over and grabbed one and sure enough found the Cajun seasoning I was looking for. I switched ‘bags’ with her and starting eating them. The seasoning wasn’t as strong as I expected, but I ate most of them anyway.

Kathy was eating her hot dog, but was a little disappointed in the bun. It was ‘raw’ according to her, meaning it wasn’t toasty like it had been cooked on the grill. Other than that, she seemed happy with the meal.

I opened up my burger, which was wrapped in a tinfoil-like wrapper and found it was still rather hot, a testament to them ‘cooking to order’. The two patties were nicely formed, on the thin side and had some nice char throughout. The bun was bit ‘thin’ too. This is an actual welcome relief to the large, thick buns some places serve. It was grilled, but not too long, as there was no ‘crunch’ that one expects from a grilled toasty bun.

The jalapeno’s were very fresh and had quite the bite. The grilled onions were a nice touch too, few burger joints offer this without asking and I almost always forget to ask.

I finished the burger and tried to finish the fries, but there was too much food. I should have opted for the small burger instead of the large.

Overall I was quite pleased and can’t wait to go back. This is one of my favorite chains and I hope they put one downtown Fort Worth so I can eat one for lunch on occasion without having to drive to Southlake.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: appears to be hand formed, thin and cooked perfectly
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: good char across the patty
Bun: cooked on the grill (not toasty), thin and fresh tasting
Vegetables: the jalapeno’s were great and the grilled onions perfect. Next time I try some real veggies
Napkins needs: you will need a few. I burned through three
Special attributes: all they make are burgers, dogs, grilled cheese and fries
Ownership: chain

SoDo Grill - Fort Worth

2008-08-14T21:56:00.010-05:00

The SoDo Grill is located on Houston Street in South Downtown Fort Worth (hence the SoDo name).

I have been many times, but the old building it is in lacks what I would call an adequate air-conditioning system, so it gets a bit warmer in there than I care to endure in these hot Texas summers. It's not unbearable, don't get me wrong, but it could be cooler. The owners realize it's an issue and have fans blowing, which help greatly.

I have tried a number of items on the menu, including the Monster Taco's, the Sante Fe Chicken and Charlie's Chicken Strips. The food is good.

My friend Samson is going back to India next week and he loves the SoDo, so I had to go with him one more time before he leaves. I don't know why, but I haven't ever eaten the burger there. I finally tried it a few days ago and it was pretty good. Not Herd's good, but good.

It is a 1/2 lb burger served up on an untoasted sesame seed bun. The bun looks like it's from Mrs. Baird's (a legendary Fort Worth bakery) and that is fine with me.

It comes with your choice of Pepper Fries, Crinkle Cut Fries or a side salad. I chose the Pepper Fries this time, although I have tried the side salad with the vinaigrette and it's greatness. I still don't know where the 'Pepper' comes from in the Pepper Fries name, as they are neither spicy hot nor pepper-soaked. They were a little too plain for my tastes, but they were acceptable fries, something no burger should be without.

The burger arrived quickly. It was hot, served open-faced with nice red onions, a slice of red tomato, hamburger dill pickles and some green iceburg lettuce. Everything looked great.

There was a hint of mayo on one side and I might have detected a bit of a horseradish taste to it, although it was very mild. I had covered the burger in mustard, so with all of the flavors from the veggies and the condiments, my taste buds might have been misled.

Overall the burger was good, but it was a bit more than I usually eat. I normally go for the 1/4 lb or junior burgers. This one, at a 1/2 lb, was too much for lunch and I ended up leaving some of it, along with some of the fries, on the plate.

If you are near downtown at lunchtime, I recommend the SoDo. It's good food.

SoDo Grill
911 Houston St.
Fort Worth, TX
817-877-3939

Patty Size and Style: medium thick, appears to be hand formed
Cooking style: appears to be a flat top
Char: some char
Bun: soft, fresh and untoasted with sesame seeds
Vegetables: 'hamburger' dill pickles, green iceberg lettuce, nice red tomato
Napkins needs: one napkin should do
Special attributes: the crawfish burrito is a local favorite, the old building is pretty cool and it's downtown, baby!
Ownership: appears to be locally owned, non chain

The Big Fry - Springtown

2008-08-13T23:13:00.000-05:00

As I was headed back to the house from the lake house this weekend, we passed by The Big Fry in Springtown and decided to stop. It was late on Sunday night and there wasn't much else open.

When we pulled up to the drive-thru menu, I realized they had a large menu of burgers.

I am glad we stopped.

Kathy and I ordered up a #3 with bacon. It was a combo meal with a single-meat burger, fries and a drink.

We waited in line for a long, long time. It was probably 20 minutes from order to delivery. That's the only thing I could notate as being bad about the dining experience.

The burgers were fairly large with a nice fresh bun. It *looked* homemade, but it probably wasn't. It was really fresh, though. It almost looked like a potato hamburger bun, but I am not sure.

The vegetables were also fresh and plentiful. In fact, it had a nice red tomato, nice green iceberg lettuce that was cut up in large (but not too large) sections and a nice piece of onion.

The patty looked to be hand-formed and it was thin and cooked perfectly on the flat top, leaving it just still juicy without the need for several napkins.

The french fries were small, hand-cut fries with a lot of salt. They weren't crisp like they had been double-fried, so I ate them first to avoid having to eat cold, limp fries after the burger.

I can recommend this place and hope to get a chance to stop by again when I can try some of the other options on the menu.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: thin, hand formed
Cooking style: cooked on a flat top
Char: some char grill
Bun: soft, fresh and untoasted
Vegetables: fresh red tomatoes, nice green iceberg lettuce
Napkins needs: one napkin should do
Special attributes: thin, fresh-cut fries, nice and salty
Ownership: appears to be locally owned, non chain

Coming Soon - Chapps, The Malt Shop, Peace Burgers and the HITW2!

2008-07-11T18:08:00.003-05:00

I have more reviews lined up that will be coming soon. They are:

Peace Burgers, Grapevine
Hole in the Wall 2, Newcastle
The Malt Shop, Weatherford
Chapps Cafe, North Richland Hills

Stay tuned for the reviews!

A moment of silence is in order.....

2008-06-28T23:49:00.000-05:00

I was just reading the Startlegram and ran across this article. It seems my most favorite burger joint in the world, Herd's, is being handed over to the son, Danny.

We knew it was coming, discussing it back in April, but it is still a shock.

I look forward to the day I can swing by and grab another one to see if Danny has watched over Claude long enough to pick up the 'art' of making the 'best burgers on the planet (or anywhere else)'.

Congrats, Claude. Our hat's off to you.

I made every effort to get there as often as I could. It boggles my mind that you have cooked up over 2 million burgers. That's a lot of beef!

Main Street Cafe, Keller

2008-06-18T19:31:00.009-05:00

I dropped by the Main Street Cafe in Keller today for a quick lunch on my way to an eye doctor's appointment.

The menu is full of choices, but I honed in on the burger selection first thing, like I always do. I noticed the burgers were 1/2 lb and were served up with tomato, lettuce and pickles. No mention of onions, which I didn't realize until I had started eating the burger. I ordered it up, sans tomatoes, with mustard instead of mayo and decided to leave the fries that accompanied it instead of spending the extra ^$1.00 for onion rings.

First things first, this burger is 'flame broiled' like they do at Burger King. I am not a fan of the charbroiled/flame broiled burgers, they just taste too fake to me. Now, toss me a burger on a real charcoal or propane grill and that's a different story.

I normally ask if they are grilled or flame broiled and if the latter, I pass. Today, I didn't. And, that was my undoing.

When Kimberley, my waitress, brought out the open-faced plate, she noted there didn't appear to be any mustard on the bun. I lifted the patty and discovered a small dime-size patch of mustard (and mayo that I didn't order) underneath. She fetched a squirt bottle of French's Yellow Mustard and I proceeded to add some of the mustard to try and tone down the 'flame broiled' taste.

Since I was pressed for time to make my appointment and I couldn't dare send the burger back because I don't like flame broiled, I went to work on it. As soon as I added the mustard, I noticed the majority of the lettuce on the burger was the white, thick, sometimes hard outer 'leaves' that are most closely attached to the stem. I tossed that aside, leaving just a small bit of lettuce.

With no tomatoes because of the salmonella scare, the burger was basically meat, a few pickles, a sprig of slightly green iceberg lettuce and bread with a thin slice of swiss on top. As I bit into it, the taste of the flame-broiled patty was quite strong. I opened the bun and tossed on some House Recipe ketchup. That made things much more palatable.

The bun was fresh, but was not toasted. The fries were crispy on the outside, but still were soft inside, making for a nice difference in textures. The fries were a saving grace to an otherwise disappointing burger experience.

Will I go back again? Sure, but it won't be for a burger.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: medium thick, hand formed
Cooking style: appears to be flame broiled/char broiled
Char: some char from the flame broiling
Bun: soft, fresh and untoasted
Vegetables: 'hamburger' dill pickles, disappointing iceberg lettuce
Napkins needs: one napkin should do
Special attributes: their menu is rather extensive. Their 'hot brown' seemed to be in favor by others around me
Ownership: appears to be locally owned, non chain

Burgers and Billiards - Graham

2008-05-03T15:46:00.015-05:00

Burgers and Billard's took my idea (great burger joint with an entertainment area) and turned it into a place I love to visit and miss dearly on Sunday when I am looking for a burger fix and the doors are shut.

If you are gonna stop by for a burger here, you better do it during a normal lunch or dinner time hours. I have called up there at 1:45 pm on Saturday to order a burger and been told by 'Bucket' that she's turned off the grill because it was slow today and I would have to wait until dinner.

That's the type of place she runs. If the local teenagers get a little unruly, she is quick to usher them out the door or get them back in line. Her boisterous voice carries over the jukebox playing in the corner, warning those who get a little rambunctious to tone it down a notch.

My first venture there was with my friend Chris. He and I stopped by for lunch. No need to vocalize what he wanted, Bucket knew his order and was waiting on mine. I followed his lead and ordered up the Jr Burger Combo. Although it has been a while back, it seems like the cost was about ^$4 for the 1/4 lb burger, fries and a drink. I think they might have gone up on the price a little bit now, but it is still well within reason.

Even though the Jr burger is the smaller bun and patty, I left feeling satisfied with the portion. It was so good, in fact, I was back in there the next day ordering up another combo for dinner.

I stumbled upon my favorite burger there sometime later, the Captain's Mate. It was at the insistence of my friend David Bryan. He and the family stopped by BnB one Saturday evening and he tried one and it was 'ggoooooooodddd'. When David talks about food like that, it has to be tried.

The worst part for me, however, was they weren't open on Sunday and I wouldn't be back in Graham for another week. That was a long week thinking about that burger. Like a dog who goes looking for a bone he buried, I navigated right to BnB the next Saturday and ordered up a burger.

The Captain's Mate (or, my choice, the smaller Mini Captain's Mate) is a half-pound burger with swiss cheese and shaved ham on top. It's my choice of 'drug' when I need a burger fix at the BnB.

For all of the burgers served at BnB, the patty starts off being hand formed every day by the staff. And, the final product shows the attention to detail. The patty is slightly thick and it comes out cooked perfectly on the flat top grill. They get just a bit of crust on the meat, indicative of a nice, hot, seasoned grill.

The burgers are always made fresh to order and the combo meal is well in line with your budget. In fact, I have told Bucket on more than one occasion she could raise the price a bit and not hurt herself. My comments were purely selfish. I would rather pay a few cents more and know they will be around for the long haul than save a few pennies and watch them go out of business because they can't pay the bills.

There are several great things on the menu at BnB besides the Captain's Mate. I have found the patty melt to be a nice alternative to the typical burger. It is served on Texas Toast and is a nice change of pace to the normal burger bun.

One more thing I can't rave about enough are the onion rings. This is another recommendation from David. The rings look to be hand battered and made on-site. The final product looks more like an 'onion loaf' when they arrive at your table. They look like they are sort of piled into the deep fryer on top of each other. Hanging on for dear life in the hot boiling grease, these tender, battered onions cling to each other as if vowing they will all go down together. The result is an 'onion ring clump' that borders on spectacular. Toss on a little 'hot salt' they have on each table while they are still moist from the grease and you have some kicked-up rings that are worth raving about.

Burgers and Billards can be found at 1222 Hwy 16 South, Graham, TX. Their phone number is 940-521-0113. They are tucked in off the road a bit, right next to the What-A-Burger, so you have to look kinda close to see them.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: hand formed, medium thick patty
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: good char throughout the patty
Bun: grilled bun
Vegetables: fresh veggies
Napkins needs: one napkin should do
Special attributes: Stop in for a few games of pool after a good burger
Ownership: locally owned, non chain

Kuntry Kitchen - Graham

2008-04-26T13:46:00.011-05:00

The Kuntry Kitchen is a 'new' old place that recently moved to a new 'old' place. Yes, that's confusing, but maybe I can sort it out as we go.

Kuntry Kitchen is currently located in the old Hole In The Wall location at 934 Elm Street. The new owner, Mike, moved it down there after the building he was in on 4th Street was sold to The Cracker Town Cafe (review coming soon).

That covers the new 'old' place portion of today's lesson. Now for the 'new' old place portion, let me explain. Mike and his wife, Tina, purchased the Old Town Cafe from Billy and Laura just after they moved from their little nine-table place at 1021 4th Street to the much larger location in the old Layfield's building at the corner of 4th and Virginia.

The building owner, as I understand it, sold the building to The Cracker Town Cafe people, leaving Mike and Tina scrambling to find a place. They moved into the old Hole In The Wall location over the weekend, changed the name to Kuntry Kitchen, and appear to be doing very well.

Having tried the burgers when it was the Old Town Cafe and now as the Kuntry Kitchen, I can tell you the quality hasn't faltered. I enjoyed Laura's cooking and Mike and Tina have continued that tradition of good food at a reasonable price.

I recently dropped by on the motorcycle and ordered up a bacon cheeseburger, fries and iced tea. The burger arrived in a timely manner and was cooked to order. The bacon was ~~crisp~~ burnt, just the way I love it.

The veggies were fresh, although I am not a fan of iceberg lettuce. I find it bland and boring and prefer something a little greener, perhaps some romaine, field greens or spinach. A vegan friend of mine called iceberg, 'crunchy water', since it has almost no nutritional value.

One would be hard pressed to fault any burger joint in Texas for serving iceberg lettuce, it's the staple of burger joints all over. It would be nice, however, to begin a movement to replace that 'crunchy water' with something that is a little better for you, nutritionally. I mean, if you are gonna clog your arteries up with a greasy burger, at least try to offset it with some green veggies.

You know, like Al Gore offsets his enormous electric bills and carbon footprint for his mansion by buying up carbon credits.

Here's how to find the Kuntry Kitchen:

Kuntry Kitchen
934 Elm Street
Graham, TX 76450

Here at Texas Burger Stops, we rate the burger places on the following attributes:

Patty Size and Style: slightly thick patty, appears to be hand made
Cooking style: grilled on a flattop
Char: decent amount of charring to give it that slight crunchiness I enjoy
Bun: fresh bun, toasted
Vegetables: good veggies, iceberg lettuce
Napkins needs: one napkin should suffice
Special attributes: on-site, working owners who listen to the customers and want to serve the best food possible. The hamburger steak is another favorite on the menu
Ownership: locally owned, non chain

Sac-A-Burgers - Mabank

2008-04-20T15:40:00.015-05:00

I had the pleasure of stopping by the Sac-A-Burgers recently while on the way home from my cousin Lee's funeral. I don't want to downplay the sadness I felt attending the funeral. We will miss you Lee. You were a great man, a wonderful father and an inspiration to 'live life' if ever there was one.

I stopped to get some fuel at the local gas station and asked where the best burger in town was. Both cashier's rang out in unison, 'Sac-A-Burger'. So, I had to try it. I asked for directions and proceeded to seek out this place.

When I arrived it was on the 'outskirts' of town. It has a drive thru that seemed to get a good portion of business. I went inside to find a small place with about 12-13 booths, a jukebox, two pools tables, three video games and several quarter-hungry sticker machines that you know keep the youngsters busy.

I ordered up the bacon cheeseburger, a side of seasoned fries and a medium iced tea. The total was just over $5, a bargain compared to the prices in places like Dallas and Fort Worth. Oh yeah, it was a cash only place, another sign of a good hole-in-the-wall joint ala Herd's.

I found a place to sit and noticed a few locals looking me over. I was dressed decently, having just attended the funeral. I quickly ignored the glances. I figured with the place off the beaten path they might not see many strangers stop by.

The locals didn't make me feel uncomfortable in the least. Perhaps it is like when a person from Texas goes up North and everyone turns around the moment they open their mouth to speak as that wonderful Texas drawl spills out. Perhaps they could sense I was from the Metroplex. I don't think I look like a 'city slicker' and I certainly don't talk like one.

One attribute I could do without, and I find this to be true in several small town places, is the building is not smoke-free. It wasn't thick with smoke like you would find in a casino, bar or bingo parlor, but a few people were lighting up. If everyone chose to do so, it could easily get difficult to breath in a small place like this without some form of smoke-eater running.

My burger arrived quickly. It was a thin burger, appeared to be hand formed with a lack of char I like to usually find on thin burgers. It was no doubt cooked on a flat top, no char-broiled burger here.

The bacon was crisp, the chopped iceberg lettuce was fresh and the red onions were a nice touch. The patty was a bit smaller than the bun, but not out of proportion. The bun was toasted, it would appear, probably on the grill. Overall the burger was cooked well, not dry from too much time on the grill and not raw so that I would be concerned about E Coli or Salmonella.

I bit into it and found it to be piping hot and quite tasty. I quickly consumed it and the perfectly cooked seasoned fries and washed it down with some very good iced tea. That meal just hit the spot. I finished it off with a scoop of my favorite ice cream in the world, Blue Bell Banana Nut. I can almost never find this flavor, but they had it by the scoop here for 89^¢.

On my way out I noticed the menu on the wall was quite extensive, this wasn't just a burger and fries establishment. If I find myself in Mabank again, hopefully under better circumstances, I can see myself stopping by for another burger or working my way through the menu.

Here's the info on where to find Sac-A-Burger:

Sac-A-Burger
624 W Mason St
Mabank, TX 75147

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: Thin, appears to be hand formed
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: No significant charring
Bun: toasted, probably on the grill
Vegetables: fresh veggies, red onions
Napkins needs: one napkin should do
Special attributes: Cash only
Ownership: Looks to be locally owned

Skinny's - Weatherford

2008-04-11T21:55:00.012-05:00

Whenever I am passing through Weatherford and the stomach is telling me it's time to eat, I immediately seek out Skinny's over on the west side of town.

Skinny's is officially located at 504 Palo Pinto Street and they have a rather decent web site at http://skinnyshamburgers.com/.

The night I stopped and snapped the picture in the top right corner it was late and we had the family pooch with us, so we sat outside on the large deck and enjoyed a great burger.

I ordered a burger with cheese (8 oz) and Kathleen ordered a Mini Skinny (4 oz) with cheese. The burgers arrived quickly and were nice and hot. The bun was grilled, but fresh, indicated by the tear I made it in while trying to manipulate it so I could snap a decent picture.

It is refreshing to find a nice place open late (11 am - 9 pm, daily) that maintains a good menu to choose from. Skinny's isn't just about burgers, they have many other items, but it's always the burger that brings me in. Well, that and the 'Skinny Fries'.

I could dedicate an entire post just describing the 'Skinny Fries'. Imagine a basket of piping hot fries intertwined and interlaced with fresh fried onions and jalapeños . Toss me a packet of ranch dressing and a basket of 'Skinny Fries' and I can make a meal of them. My mouth waters just thinking about them.

Next time you are driving through Weatherford and the tummy is growling, give Skinny's a try.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: Medium thick and it looks to be hand formed
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: Some char throughout, indicative of a good seasoned grill
Bun: Fresh and toasted
Vegetables: Thick sliced onions, average tomatoes and iceberg lettuce, dill pickles
Napkins needs: one napkin should do
Special attributes: The jalapeno and onion-laced fries 'Skinny's Fries' are worth the trip alone
Ownership: locally owned, single location from what I can tell

Herd's Burgers - Jacksboro

2008-04-05T20:30:00.003-05:00

Herd's is one of those places you have to know about to find. It's so small and quaint, if you aren't looking, you will drive right by. And, what a mistake that would be.

Herd's has been a staple in Jacksboro, TX for almost a century. It is currently run by Claude Herd, a 3rd generation owner. Danny Herd (Claude's son) will soon be taking it over and vows to continue the family tradition. They are open Tues thru Saturday from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.

The uniqueness of Herd's Burger is how they are made. Claude has a bucket in a small freezer to his left, in which he places a plastic bag full of fresh ground beef. He reaches inside and transfers a large mound of beef on the left side of the small grill. When an order is made, he reaches into the mound with his spatula, peels off a section and flattens it on the grill, forming a patty, much like he has done thousands and thousands of times.

With the skill of a Benihana chef, he moves the patty across the grill, his years of experience making him keenly aware of the 'sweet spots' that allow the grill to perfect each burger.

As the orders are vocalized to him from the small counter less than 10 feet away, he moves each burger into place and carefully places a bun on top to become one with the still cooking patty.

When Claude deems the burgers are ready, he passes the assembled unit down the line for the vegetables to be applied and whatever condiments have been requested. After that the burger is wrapped in a paper wrapper, a toothpick poked through it and into the brown paper bag it goes off to one of the dozens of people waiting outside.

Herd's is located in Jacksboro, Texas (see link and physical address below):
Herd's Burgers
400 N Main
Jacksboro, TX 76458

Herd's has developed quite a following and is discussed in the following forum:

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20897

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

Patty Size and Style: Spatula made, thin and crispy around the edges
Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
Char: great char around the edges
Bun: toasted on top of the patty on the grill
Vegetables: fresh lettuce and tomatoes, chopped onions, 'hamburger' dill pickles
Napkins needs: one napkin should do
Special attributes: all they make is burgers, only take cash and you have to be prepared to wait during lunch
Ownership: mom and pop

Rating Process

2008-03-29T18:35:00.000-05:00

Here at Texas Burger Stops, we rate the burger places on the following attributes:

Patty Size and Style (thick or thin patty, hand made or preformed)
Cooking style (flattop or char-broiled)
Char (Is the cooking surface hot enough or seasoned enough to sear the flavor in)
Bun (grilled/toasted or not)
Vegetables (fresh and good quality)
Napkins needs (is it juicy enough you need several napkins)
Special attributes (what makes this place stand out above the crowd)
Ownership (is it a chain or a mom and pop shop)

Each review will include as much detail in each area as possible so you can get a good idea of what to expect as you visit each place.

We will also attempt to review the 'house special' at each location, that one item on the menu that makes it stand out above the rest.

Sit back, relax and journey with us across the Lone Star State as we seek out good burgers, wherever they may be.