Best Burgers

The 9 best burgers in Austin vie for Tastemaker honor

This year, our Tastemaker Awards include the Best Burger category.

Burgers are a staple of the Austin food scene, and we're celebrating the classic dish with a special category in our 2017 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Take a bite out of the Best Burger nominees — the winner will be revealed at our big event on April 19.

Casino el Camino Bar & Grill
Everyone loves this Sixth Street burger joint. Three-quarters of a pound of juicy Angus beef with your choice of toppings — including chili and cheese, if you’re feeling it — and piles of crispy fries make this meal a hearty indulgence. The eclectic atmosphere and full bar will keep you entertained while you wait for your food.

Central Standard
The burger at this South Congress Hotel restaurant has been recognized by Texas Monthly as one of the best in the state. On a brioche bun sits a thick patty with cremini mushroom butter, cheddar, and peppered bacon, served with thick-cut house fries.

Contigo
Contigo channels ranch vibes, so ordering the burger is a no-brainer. A juicy patty and house-cured bacon is accompanied by the standard lettuce, tomato, and pickles on a house-made challah bun smeared with aioli. It may be simple, but that allows the flavors of the fresh ingredients to stand out.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar
The line outside any Hopdoddy location is a pretty strong indicator the homegrown chain is doing something right. They pride themselves on fresh ingredients and humanely raised beef, which they craft into burgers that explode on the palate. From the Magic Shroom (mushrooms and goat cheese) to the Primetime (brie, caramelized onions, arugula, and truffle aioli), there's something for everyone.

Jeffrey's
With dry-aged prime Wagyu serving as the patty, the meat alone will knock your socks off. It's cooked medium rare, which allows the rich flavor of the high-quality beef to shine. The flavors of cambozola, caramelized onion, and caper mayo create a mind-blowing burger experience.

Nau's Enfied Drug
The burgers at Nau's are straightforward and classic, transporting you back to the 1950s. The made-to-order burger is topped with the essential lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo, and the bun is grilled on both sides to add a nice crunch.

P. Terry's
Another no-fuss option, P. Terry's takes delight in serving fresh, natural ingredients. All-natural beef, locally sourced produce, and a touch of special sauce make their burgers simple but delicious — and 14 Austin-area locations make it just as convenient.

Parkside
An uncomplicated burger structure allows the flavors of this beefy Texas patty to take center stage. The Parkside cheeseburger (which can be found on the bar menu) is served with garlic fries and, at just $7 during happy hour, it's a can't-miss deal.

Swift's Attic
Big Ass Burger Night is every Monday at Swift's Attic, and each week features a different themed dish. You may not know what to expect, but it's guaranteed to be tasty. Past creations have featured everything from taco to cordon bleu flavors — and when they say "big ass," they mean it.

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Buy tickets now to the Tastemaker Awards on April 19 at Bullock Texas State History Museum. Learn more about the event here.

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Back to the Plow

Homey Austin jam and bake shop closing and returning to farmers market

Confituras/Instagram

Confituras Little Kitchen is closing its brick-and-mortar store, but feeling optimistic about the future.

A famers market find is returning to its natural environment after six years in a brick-and-mortar location. Confituras Little Kitchen, which specializes in locally sourced preserves, is closing its jam and biscuit shop after service on Sunday, December 22. However, it will continue selling goods at the Barton Creek Farmers Market and via retailers.

Confituras announced the change in a newsletter to its customers in December. The letter called the news "bittersweet."

"Although the brick and mortar will no longer be, the good news is that this will be a fresh new start for us – we are bursting with energy and creativity at the thought of being back out in the community where it all started for confituras," it said.

The kitchen is closing because the lease is up, and the team has decided to "give up the chase." The newsletter emphasized the ups-and-downs of business over the past several years — ones that were chaotic for just about any business, let alone a small, fairly niche food operation.

"So much has happened since we decided to open a brick + mortar – a wonderful kickstarter fundraiser, THE PANDEMIC, the AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, and an ever growing city," the letter says. "We tried so very hard but never really got our footing. We know we are not alone, many small business are in the same boat. We renewed our lease during the pandemic because we were hopeful we could make it work - the changing times had other ideas."

Finally, it shared how customers could keep enjoying Confituras creations:

The Barton Creek Farmers Market is open at 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
A list on confituras.net compiles retailers including Royal Blue Grocery, Farmhouse Delivery, and Antonelli's Cheese Shop.
Jam share and Table22 subscription customers will have more instructions coming soon about picking up their goods in January at the same space, 2129 Goodrich Ave.
Customers may also reach out to inquire about continuing to order meals directly.

The kitchen also hosted frequent events and workshops, but the letter did not address this aspect of the business.

A shorter message shared on Instagram has inspired 63 comments so far, five days later. Customers eulogized the shop for its community feel and providing a sense of regularity during the height of the pandemic thanks to weekend pick-ups.