One of the best parts about traveling is going to restaurants you can’t find anywhere else, although sometimes you just want a good burger. Why not spring for both? When you’re in Waco, Texas, the burger is absolute royalty, and the following four restaurants will have your inner hungry cowboy whistling a happy tune all while washing down the meal with a good craft beer.
Twisted Root Burger Co.
Image via Flickr by sandrafdzh
This restaurant is the king of all Texas burger joints. Created by Jason Boso and Quincy Hart, the first location opened in Dallas in 2009. It was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” with Guy Fieri and has since grown to 19 locations across Texas, including Waco. It features build-your-own burgers with exotic meats and toppings and house favorites such as The Spicy Goat, The Kevin Bacon, Vegabond, and In the Buff.
George’s Restaurant and Bar
A long-standing tradition in Waco, George’s started out as Harry B’s in 1930 and has changed hands many times since. But the one item that has remained the same is the quality and the variety of the foods served at this establishment. The menu is vast, spanning much more than American food. However, as far as burgers go, The Crybaby, The Black and Bleu, and The George seem to be house favorites. Go ahead and pair one with a Pride of the House cocktail for a fancy finish.
Cricket’s Draft House and Grill
Cricket’s holds the top spot for its unusual burgers and toned-down atmosphere. Unlike the places with fancier locations, this joint feels like a place you can really relax, watch a game with your friends, and play a round of pool in, even if you want a little something extra to your food — which is where the burgers begin.
The Brisket Burger, The Habanero Burger, and the Peanut Butter and Bacon Burger are the favorites on the menu, although others do seem to be added here and there, such as the Pimento Burger, which has been featured on the company’s Instagram account.
Bubba’s 33
This burger joint is the classic, all-American place on this list. Bubba’s 33 is a restaurant where all members of the family can dine or a group of friends can hang out in the bar and watch the game.
Created by the founder of Texas Roadhouse, Kent Taylor, this place bursts with American pride, going so far as to include the year Prohibition ended in the name of the restaurant. The menu has much more than sandwich-style fare, but the burgers take pride of place here. Bubba’s Bacon Burger, Aloha Burger, and Sunshine Burger are a few of the mouth-watering offerings available.
Bringing on the Bacon
Whether it’s a classic American-style burger you’re craving, or a fancy burger you’ll take a picture of and post to your Instagram account to show your friends, Waco has enough places for you to fill up before you mosey on back to your hotel for a well-earned snooze.
