Magazine lists San Antonio burger as best in Texas

Specialty burger at Folc tops Texas Monthly's ‘50 Greatest Burgers in Texas'

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio is not just a taco town anymore. Texas Monthly ranked the brisket burger with pork belly at Folc as the best burger in the state.

Only the top five in the magazine's "50 Greatest Burgers in Texas" list were ranked. The other 45 entries, including four others from San Antonio restaurants, were listed by city.

"It's pretty simple and straightforward," said Folc chef and co-owner Luis Colon about his burger. "I think people tend to really like that. It's not too much frills to it."

The tasters for the magazine loved it, calling it a "near salacious experience." The slice of pork belly, which brings the $11 burger up to $18, seemed to provide the edge it needed to take the top spot on the list.

"It's a little overwhelming," Colon said. "It's a big state. It's just a burger.”

It's not just a burger anymore, though. It's the best burger in Texas. With that title, it was all anyone was ordering at Folc as the lunch rush was in full swing Wednesday.

"How do I even go about this?" Jeff Milberger asked as he eyed the burger.

Milberger, a Kerrville resident, said he had been planning to come into San Antonio when he saw the list in Texas Monthly.

"And I said, 'You know what? I'm going to make some time for this,'" he said.

Burgers at Cured, Zinc Bistro & Bar, Rebelle and T.J.'s Hamburgers also made the top 50 list, though they weren't ranked. The Norteno Burger at Pollos Asados Los Nortenos received an honorable mention.

Their appearance seemed to help at some of the restaurants. Sitting at T.J.'s, Suzanne Martinez was visiting the spot for the first time.

"When I read that in the Texas Monthly, I figured I've lived here all my life and I've never been here, so it's time I go."

Having the top burger in the state means more than just having access to good grub. It means city pride.

"It's about time the world started finding more out about us," said Edward Garcia III, a Folc patron.

Being No. 1 also means San Antonio beat out its neighbor to the north. The Congress Burger at Second Bar + Kitchen in Austin took the second-highest spot on the list.

Sorry, Austin. It looks as if breakfast tacos and burgers are both a San Antonio thing.


About the Author:

Garrett Brnger is a reporter with KSAT 12.