25 Best Burgers in San Antonio

Tex-Mex or traditional Texan barbecue may be the first type of food that comes to mind when you think of San Antonio, but the city actually has an incredible selection of burger joints as well. Many restaurants pride themselves on doing an excellent job with the classics like chili cheeseburgers and mushroom Swiss burgers, but you'll also find a number of places serving gourmet options and burgers with the Tex-Mex twist you'd expect. There's something for everyone here, whether you're searching for a tiny mom-and-pop shop or a more upscale dining experience. Photo: Lukas Gojda/Fotolia

Located right downtown, The Esquire Tavern is a historical watering hole that boasts the longest wooden bar top in Texas. It was opened on the very day that Prohibition came to an end, making it the oldest bar on the San Antonio Riverwalk.

The burger menu includes options like a classic bacon cheeseburger, a lamb burger with herbed feta cream, and an organic bison burger, while salads, sandwiches, and a variety of Tex-Mex dishes are also available. The restaurant hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including concerts, parade viewings, and holiday parties. Read more

155 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205, Phone: 210-222-2521 Photo: The Esquire Tavern

Housed inside a classic Airstream trailer, Attaboy Burgers is a unique burger joint parked outside the music venue Paper Tiger. The burgers are made from scratch using hand-ground meat and the buns are baked fresh every day. The menu is quite small, but you can always expect to see a special burger of the day alongside the usual offerings.

All burgers come with either regular or sweet potato fries and a veggie burger is also available. The restaurant offers catering for special events and will even bring the Airstream trailer directly to the venue to make serving guests as easy as possible.

2410 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212, Phone: 210-601-5353 Photo: Attaboy

Created to appeal to both dining and bar customers, 54th Street offers a wide range of delicious American food served in an eclectic, retro-inspired atmosphere with plenty of family-friendly charm.

The restaurant is known for its famous fire-grilled Mile High Burgers, but the menu boasts more than 150 items in total, including an excellent selection of salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, seafood, and grilled meats. Most of the food is made from scratch daily, and vegetarian and gluten-free items are available. Diners looking for exceptional value can take advantage of the restaurant's special three-course dinner for two.

7735 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78245, Phone: 210-681-5454 Photo: 54th Street Grill & Bar

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Known for its traditional Texan-style burgers, Armadillos prides itself on friendly, attentive service and delicious, filling food. Hamburgers range from a third of a pound to 3 pounds in size and guests can choose from a wide range of sides that include classic french fries, tater tots, onion rings, chili cheese fries, and bacon cheese fries.

Other food options are available as well, including starters, salads, sandwiches, a small selection of meat entrees, and a special children's menu. The restaurant also has a large private event space that can be rented out for everything from birthday parties to big game nights. More Things to Do in San Antonio

1423 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212, Phone: 210-226-7556 Photo: Armadillos Texas Style Burgers

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Locally owned and operated, Babe's Old Fashioned Hamburgers offers great food in a family-friendly atmosphere. The restaurant is proud to say that all its food is as fresh as possible and everything is made from scratch onsite. In addition to its famous hamburgers, the restaurant also offers appetizers, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and a variety of chicken dishes.

If you're feeling hungry, choose from a wide range of side dishes that include french fries, fried jalapeño rings, cheese sticks, fried pickles, grilled onions, fried mushrooms, and onion rings. A children's menu is available and all children's meals include french fries and a drink.

9207 Huebner Rd, San Antonio, TX 78240, Phone: 210-561-2222 Photo: Babe's Old Fashioned Hamburgers

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Biff Buzby's is an all-American restaurant that serves classic comfort foods in a unique space with a vintage airplane theme. The menu offers a wide range of dishes, including appetizers, salads, hot dogs, grilled sandwiches, and the 100% beef burgers that the restaurant is known for.

Guests who can eat the 3-pound Red Baron in under 30 minutes will get their picture on the wall, while anyone who can finish the 4-pound Hindenburger in less than 45 minutes will eat for free. There is also a busy event calendar, including the popular Cruisin' Night every Friday evening in the summer.

12702 Toepperwein Rd, Live Oak, TX 78233, Phone: 210-590-2040 Photo: Biff Buzby's

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Big Bob's Burgers has received many awards over the years and it's still a local favorite. A wide variety of hamburgers is available, but the restaurant is best known for its 50/50 Burger, which is half beef chuck and half bacon.

Items like bacon, chili, and grilled onions can be added to any burger, and sides include fries, onion rings, tater tots, and a deep-fried Twinkie. The menu also includes appetizers, a veggie burger, and several salads. Outside, a large patio can seat up to 100 people and live music is played here every weekend.

447 W Hildebrand Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212, Phone: 210-734-2627 Photo: Big Bob's Burgers

Known for its laidback atmosphere and freshly cooked food, Big'z Burger Joint is a family-friendly restaurant with a full bar. The restaurant specializes in burgers, all of which are 100% Angus beef and served with dill pickle chips on the side. Optional sides include french fries, onion rings, sweet potato fries, and chili cheese fries.

A children's menu is available, offering options like a burger, chicken strips, and a grilled cheese sandwich. The restaurant also offers a private party barn that can be rented out for events ranging from rehearsal dinners to birthday parties and holiday gatherings.

2305 North Loop 1604 W, San Antonio, TX 78248, Phone: 210-408-2029 Photo: Big'z Burger Joint

Opened in 2000, Bobby J's Old Fashion Hamburgers began as a quest to create the best burger imaginable. Burgers come in a third of a pound and a half pound sizes and are always made from 100% American beef. All burgers are made to order using a secret technique that the owners believe set them apart from the competition.

Other house specialties include the homemade chili and the fried hot dog as well as and a number of poultry, seafood, and vegetarian options. Guests can dine outdoors on the patio and live music is played on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.

13247 Bandera Rd, Helotes, TX 78023, Phone: 210-695-4941 Photo: Bobby J's Old Fashion Hamburgers

Family owned and operated, Burger Boy offers exactly what you'd expect from a classic mom-and-pop burger joint. Regular burgers come in three sizes and specialty burgers include an egg burger and a barbecue Cajun burger.

In addition to burgers, the menu also offers sandwiches, hot dogs, Tex-Mex options, salads, and several Korean items. Although Burger Boy is a fast-food restaurant, everything is prepared fresh to order. If you don't want to wait for your food to be made, you can call in your order and have it ready for pick-up when you arrive.

2323 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212, Phone: 210-735-1955 Photo: Burger Boy

Cheesy Jane's is a retro-style diner that serves classic American fare like burgers, milkshakes, and hand-battered onion rings. The menu also offers salads and sandwiches and children can choose from affordable options like a quarter-pound burger, chicken tenders, and a grilled cheese sandwich.

In addition to the restaurant's original permanent location, it also has several mobile food trucks that roam around San Antonio offering a smaller menu of burgers, shakes, and fries. Cheesy Jane's also provides catering and one of the mobile trucks can be rented out for birthday parties and other special events if booked in advance.

4200 Broadway St, San Antonio, TX 78209, Phone: 210-826-0800

More San Antonio ideas: wedding venues, hotels, Italian restaurants, romantic restaurants, weather Photo: Cheesy Jane's

Open since 1977, Chris Madrid's has become an integral part of the San Antonio community over the years. This quaintly decorated restaurant offers full bar service and prides itself on both its exceptional customer service and its high-quality food.

The salsa, pico de gallo, and refried beans are made fresh by hand every day and the restaurant's special is the Tostada Burger, which is topped with chips, onions, melted cheddar cheese, refried beans, and salsa. Of course, several other burger options are available, as are nachos, french fries, and two types of chalupas.

1900 Blanco Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201, Phone: 210-735-3552 Photo: Chris Madrid's

Chunky's Burgers is a family-friendly burger joint that serves up classic American fare in a welcoming environment. In addition to an excellent selection of half-pound burgers, the menu includes a good number of starters and sandwiches.

The restaurant is also known for its famous "4 Horseman" challenge, which gives contestants 25 minutes to eat a burger containing fresh jalapeño, serrano, and ghost peppers as well as a habanero sauce. A large patio gives guests the chance to dine outdoors if they wish and live music is sometimes played here on the weekends.

4602 Callaghan Rd, San Antonio, TX 78228, Phone: 210-433-9960 Photo: Chunky's Burgers

The Longhorn Cafe started out as a humble taco stand during the 1950s and over the years has become one of San Antonio's favorite burger joints. The menu offers a wide range of appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and meat entrees and there is a good selection of items on the kid's menu.

Children can have fun at the arcades, sandpits, and play areas, while adults can enjoy a beer or a bit of live music out on the patio. Lunch specials are offered every week from Monday to Friday and a private party room can be rented out for special events.

17625 Blanco Rd, San Antonio, TX 78232, Phone: 210-492-0301 Photo: Longhorn Cafe

Sam’s Burger Joint is open every day for lunch and dinner, serving up classic American comfort food at reasonable prices. All of the burgers are served on special branded buns and range in size from quarter pound to a pound.

Guests can choose from sides like waffle fries, onion rings, tater tots, and sweet potato fries and other menu options include sandwiches, salads, and nachos. The restaurant is also known for being one of San Antonio's premier live music venues and tickets for these events can be purchased either online or at the door.

330 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215, Phone: 210-223-2830 Photo: Sam's Burger Joint

Big Lou's Burgers & BBQ serves up freshly made burgers and traditional Texas barbecue in a family-friendly environment. The menu offers classic burgers like a bacon burger, a chili cheeseburger, and a mushroom Swiss burger, and all of the barbecue items are slow smoked daily with mesquite and pecan.

Other offerings include appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and hot dogs. Family meal deals are also available and the various combos can feed between 4 and 10 people. The most unique option here is the Super Big Lou Burger, a giant 12-pound burger that's big enough for 8 to 10 people to share.

2014 S WW White Rd, San Antonio, TX 78222, Phone: 210-359-8015 Photo: Big Lou's Burgers & BBQ

Known for its retro decor style and delicious American comfort food, Candy's Old Fashion Burgers offers eat-in, take-out, and delivery. If you're looking for a burger, choose from options like an Old Fashion Cheeseburger, a jalapeño cheddar burger, and a double meat and cheese burger.

There is also a variety of seafood and chicken platters as well as a good selection of salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and sides. Beverages include soda, lemonade, and iced tea and in classic diner style, the dessert menu features ice cream floats. Customers who are in a hurry can order ahead on the website.

115 S Flores St, San Antonio, TX 78204, Phone: 210-222-9659 Photo: Candy’s Old Fashion Burgers

Located on the San Antonio Riverwalk, Charlie Wants a Burger is a lively sports bar with a dog-friendly patio. Full bar service is available and the menu offers a wide variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, hot dogs, and tacos.

Brave diners can take on the restaurant's 2-pound burger challenge; winners eat for free and receive a complimentary T-shirt. The restaurant also hosts a variety of special events, including all-you-can-eat buffets on big game days, parade viewings, and weekend brunch buffets.

223 Losoya St, San Antonio, TX 78205, Phone: 210-227-0864 Photo: Charlie Wants a Burger

In 1947, Frontier Burger was born out of G. “Jim” Hasslocher's desire to create the perfect charcoal-broiled hamburgers. He used only the finest ingredients to make his burgers and this same attention to quality can be found in the Frontier Burger restaurant of today.

The original Frontier Burger contains two patties topped with cheese and the restaurant's special Frontier sauce, but other options, such as a bacon cheeseburger and a patty melt burger on Texas toast, are also available. If you're looking for something other than a burger, the menu also offers salads, chicken sandwiches, chili, onion rings, and french fries.

838 NE Interstate 410 Loop, San Antonio, TX 78209, Phone: 210-932-8040 Photo: Frontier Burger

Family owned and operated, Hawx Burger Bar & Electro Lounge specializes in handcrafted gourmet burgers. Everything on the menu is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and even the sauces and aiolis are made in-house.

The menu offers an excellent selection of wings, beer-battered appetizers, and burgers, including a lean turkey burger and a veggie burger as well as more traditional options. Guests can choose from either regular fries or Asiago truffle fries. Beverages include homemade lemonade, milkshakes, and craft soda and there is also a good selection of draft beer and unique cocktails. The restaurant is open until late 7 days a week.

2603 Vance Jackson Rd, San Antonio, TX 78213, Phone: 210-320-4299 Photo: Hawx Burger Bar & Electro Lounge

Mark's Outing is the official sponsor of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and has been serving delicious homemade burgers since 2005. All burgers are made to order and range in size from 8 ounces to 3 pounds.

Complimentary beans are served with every order and the menu also includes appetizers and sides like beer-battered onion rings and chili fries. There is a small selection of salads, sandwiches, and hot dogs as well as a kid's menu that offers burgers, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets. Lunch specials are offered every day between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

1624 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205, Phone: 210-299-8110 Photo: Mark's Outing

Located on a 10,000-square-foot sports turf field, MoMak's Backyard Malts & Burgers was designed with the whole family in mind. There is a fenced-in area where children can play and the kid's menu includes mini burgers and dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. Seven areas are available for parties, which can be reserved for groups of 25 or more people.

Guests can choose from delicious burger options like a Gorgonzola bacon avocado burger, a Tex-Mex burger, and a loaded bacon and cheese burger. A veggie burger is also available, as are a wide range of sandwich choices.

13838 Jones Maltsberger Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247, Phone: 210-481-3600 Photo: MoMak's Backyard Malts & Burgers

San Antonio Burger Co. is an informal burger joint that provides hearty food and a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. The menu offers a wide variety of burgers, including classics like a mushroom Swiss burger and a chili cheeseburger as well as more unique options like a cheeseburger topped with fried pickles.

A salmon burger, turkey burger, veggie burger, and lean bison burger are also available for those looking for a healthier option. Other menu highlights include classic milkshakes, chicken wings, and an excellent selection of hot sandwiches, while the children's menu offers items such as cheeseburgers, corn dogs, and mini chicken tenders.

8440 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78229, Phone: 210-949-0303 Photo: San Antonio Burger

Located in the city's San Antonio district, the Texas Hamburger Company has been serving authentic Texan hamburgers since it opened in 1989. The restaurant offers a wide variety of burgers, including a bacon hamburger, a fried egg green chili cheeseburger, and the Garden Burger for anyone who wants a non-meat option.

Anyone who's not interested in a burger can choose from one of the many salads, sandwiches, and meat entrees. Sides include french fries, tater tots, onion rings, fried mushrooms, and fried sweet potatoes, while old-fashioned milkshakes and malts are available if you're in the mood for something sweet.

9010 Huebner Rd, San Antonio, TX 78240, Phone: 210-699-1189 Photo: Texas Hamburger Company