SAN ANTONIO – In a state known for barbecue, chili (with no beans, duh), tamales, kolaches and, of course, breakfast tacos, the hamburger still ranks among the most egalitarian of foods in Texas.
It can be dressed up or down, from gourmet restaurants to food trucks to backyards. It can be confoundingly expensive or sold for a dollar. Adorned with foliage or bare-boned.
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It's also a deeply personal food. Everyone has their favorite, which they'll fiercely defend as the pillar by which all other burgers are judged.
All of which makes trying to rank America's best hamburgers that much more of an exercise in Sisyphean futility. No matter where you rank one, you're bound to anger the masses who believe their town's -- their neighborhood's -- burger is best.
Food and drink lifestyle site Thrillist tried, though, ranking the top 100 hamburgers in the U.S. The author claimed to have flown, driven or otherwise traveled across the country, sampling offerings from sea to shining sea.
Texas nabbed nine spots on the list -- nearly a 10th of the total. Dallas pulled five, Austin two, Houston one and Seabrook, on the coast near Galveston, another one.
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The author did not, however, visit San Antonio -- a grave error, as he would have had to contend with the Cheddar Cheezy at Chris Madrid's; the Working Man at Burger Boy; the Bean and Frito burger at the legendary Bracken Cafe or any one of the dozens of other hamburgers this city does really well.
Even the ghost of Texas Monthly's No. 1-ranked Brisket Burger With Pork Belly at the dearly-departed Folc is enough to merit rank, as is literally anything on Whataburger's stalwart -- yet curiously ephemeral -- menu.
Oh well. His loss.
At any rate, here's the nine places in Texas Thrillist DID visit, along with their rank:
73. THE NO. 5 SPECIAL - Keller's Drive-In, DALLAS, TEXAS
72. BACON CHEESEBURGER - Neighborhood Services, DALLAS, TEXAS
64. CHEESEBURGER - Remedy, DALLAS, TEXAS
61. THE ROYALE WITH CHEESE - Justine's Brasserie, AUSTIN, TEXAS
56. DO IT MURPH STYLE - Off-Site Kitchen, DALLAS, TEXAS
36. CHEESEBURGER WITH GRILLED ONIONS - Hubcap Grill, HOUSTON, TEXAS
31. PLANCHA BURGER - Launderette, AUSTIN, TEXAS
21. CHEESEBURGER WITH AMERICAN AND GRILLED ONIONS - Tookie's Hamburgers & More, SEABROOK, TEXAS
6. THE OZERSKY BURGER - Knife Dallas, DALLAS, TEXAS
And to see the full list of all 100 burgers in America, click HERE.
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