If Bubba's looks like a living relic, that's because it is. What was originally a key shop was purchased by the OG owner, Bubba Gillam converted it to an ice house before the burger concept moved from Westheimer over 40 years ago. Their claim to fame was being the first establishment to serve bison burgers along with beer before offering anything else. Once Bubba sold the place to one of his VIP customers, it's been run by the same family ever since. This is truly one of the most old school buildings one can find in the greater Galleria area. The view of highways and parking lot pot holes is admittedly somewhat depressing, but there is a certain nostalgic charm that only a place like this can capture. The seating situation is outdoor / patio only, which makes this a tough spot during warm weather days. The indoor area is reserved only for the staff, consisting of mostly young folks hustling to keep the food going. Avoid using the restrooms if possible, it's one of their roughest patches. Today, the menu is still very simple, consisting of mostly burgers and sandwiches with some fries, and miscellaneous sides like frito pies, potato salad, and onion rings. The burgers are $8.25 a patty, along with $10.25 for the bison. Their burgers are $11-16 each, which may not sound crazy nowadays, but feels pricey considering the portion. Throw in extras like bacon ($2.25), a fried egg ($1.50) chili ($2.50) etc. and it'll add up quick. Thankfully the food is consistent and tasty. Their frito pie burger ($12.25/14.25) is rarity in the HTown burger world, and I have high praise for their patty melt ($11/13). Still, I can't help but enjoy their simple, but pricey double cheeseburger ($17.50) and wolf it down with their very crispy fries. I think I could just focus on the latter and be extremely pleased. Parking can be a little wild. There are no defined areas in the gravel pit(s), and there is a massive pothole that looks like a crater. Missing the turn for this place makes it hard for anyone to turn around, so it's not inconceivable to think they've missed out on a lot of potential customers as a result. Any burger lover owes it to themselves to give Bubba's a shot at least once. While the bison burgers don't taste significantly better than the beef, their food is still worth the occasional splurge with good company on a cool weather day. read more

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The food is comfort food. Burgers were good, loved the crispness of the pickles in particular and all was tasty. Fries were well seasoned. The jalepeno potato salad had a surprising kick with wonderful crunch and creaminess. I placed my order on the website but somehow it did not transmit. They took down my order, and made it on the spot - so a bit of a wait. Vibe is ultra casual, side of westpark near highways, gravel parking lot, picnic benches. read more

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This was a damn good burger. I had this solve bookmarked for couple of years. Finally had the opportunity to go couple days ago. Ordered the mushroom Swiss burger and salad with a beef patty. The burger was delicious. The seasoning was very good and the whole patty was bursting with flavor. The buns just sunk in the beef with all the juices. The fries were excellent also. They have patio seating outdoor with cooling fans. We went around 8/830ish so wasn't that bad but I can only imagine how hot it' is, sitting around lunchtime 12-3pm. Service was ordering at counter and wait for your name to be called out. Although there were enough spots to park, but I'm sure it fills up during busy time read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Mushroom Jack Burger - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I always try to support small family run non-chain restaurants. But cant say I recommend Bubbas! Sorry to say the service was bad, food was not good overall. We are from out of town for work and have driven by Bubbas everyday for the past 19 days. We had never seen more than 2-3 cars there and rarely saw anyone seated in the patio area. There is no inside seating. We tried Bubbas on a Sunday evening. Walked in and were not greeted by staff for at-least 3-3 minutes. There was no one else at the place eating or waiting on their order. The employees were just talking in the kitchen. They all saw us at the register 5' away. We ordered and were told they had no beef patties. Only Bison available. We ordered a Hotdog, 1 Bison Burger, 2 Bison Patty Melts, 2 onion rings, 2 cups of the "Famous Chili" and chili cheese fries. When the order was ready, we received 2 patty melts, hotdog, 1 onion ring and a chili cheese fry. We were missing 2 cups of chili, 1 onion ring, and Bison Burger. They employee was confused and couldnt figure out what was missing. We did finally receive 2 cups of "famous chili" but no bison burger and onion ring. We just ate what we had and figured the rest was a loss. Ok so this "famous chili" was NOT good at all! It was 100% spice/heat with NO flavor! It had no seasoning except spice! The chili cheese fries were ruined by the chili. The Bison Patty Melts were good. The Hotdog was good also, but after all its a hotdog. I am surprised Bubbas is rated this high. Maybe tonight was a bad night, but I will never know since I wont be back and do not recommend this place. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Bison Patty Melt, cup of chili - missing onion ribgs - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

Saw this place on the Texas Bucket List this morning so thought I'd give it a try. It is called Bubba's Texas Burger Shack; been here since 1985 so why not take a little drive to go see another part of Houston. Oh my God it was about a 20 mile drive but on a Sunday afternoon not too bad of a drive since traffic was light. Never know around Houston. Be prepared when you get here because this place is an actual shack not a Shaquille. There are three picnic tables on a fairly large covered porch; 3 uncovered ones are off to the side entrance. Add the gravel parking lot to get the small town effect. Order from the porch window or inside. Pick your poison. Go inside to get the full shack effect. It's, uh, cozy. Yeah, cramped. But the fountain drinks/ice machine are there. The fountain CO2 breaks often so you might have to wait to get your drinking choice. Dr Pepper & Coke were paused for repair. Already not a good look for this place. Judge by the pix. I chose a Burger Combo; $8.25 for beef plus $3.75 for fries & drink - that's $12 plus tax. Dude rang me up for $13.80. Pay attention to your order! It took a bit for the fix. Set me back $12.99. Just beware. Burger is nicely seasoned with a secret house blend along with salt/pepper. It works! Toasted bun is small & makes the patty big. Just enough crispy veggies make this burger more than plenty to please. Piping hot burger! First to last bite just dripped with flavor. It's what I call a deliciously messy burger. Each table has plenty of napkins on a roll. You'll need them! Crispy shell on the fries & soft on the inside. Whole batch was like that & just right with the salty potato taste. This place just looks run-down, not clean, falling apart. It's not an inviting spot. Not a bad burger but for the price/fountain drink hassle and the terrible ambiance it's not worth a 2nd trip for me. A lady interviewed by TX Bucket List said her pride in America is why each burger has the USA flag toothpick on top. Well, show that pride by sprucing up this joint! Geez! read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - On top of each burger - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

Visited Bubba's Texas Burger Shack while in Houston. The atmosphere was casual with a true old-school vibe -- the kind of place where the name says it all: "Bubba" feels homemade and "shack" takes you back in time. The location, tucked under the highway, oddly adds to the character and charm. The service was friendly and easygoing. Tried the burger and fries -- the burger was basic but good, and the fries were well-seasoned and nicely crispy. Overall, a great spot for locals and worth a return visit. Saluti read more

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I've been to this location many times, but it's been years since I'd been back. If you're ever in the mood for a dive/ice house burger vibe, look no further The locations is rather peculiar as it is located directly under the highway at west park and 69. Ethereally something about it being the only thing tucked under the highway there that makes it sort of inviting and quaint The exterior is particularly inviting as it's rustic, has an order window, various patio seating, and it just looks like a good time You will order inside. Then menu is on the wall. They have a list of delicious signature burgers, but they also have classics and BYO options. They use both beef and bison for burger options. Order a side of fries or a bag of chips. They also have alcoholic and non alcoholic drink options The staff were great. Very personable, helpful, and made great small talk. The order was prepared quickly, and they passed it to me with a smile through the order window outside These burgers are tasty. They're big, they're messy, but they're very flavorful. I took mine togo, but feel free to dine on one of their shaded patios Some tips: Their credit card reader was temporarily out of order, so, they had to manually input the credit card numbers. If you're not comfortable with that, bring cash. There is a parking lot, but it can get slightly bumpy and wet as it's a gravel lot Cheers!! read more

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I ordered my # 1 favorite here togo being the Bison Hotdog with nothing on it. I don't like relish at all, don't like ketchup and only like a pinch of mustard. A good hotdog needs none of these, but that's each person's call. The bun was thick, soft and fresh. The bison dog itself was very delicious, hearty, savory and definitely not gamy or so so small you could miss it. It was crunchy, tender, soft in the middle and yet higher in volume in the middle too. It was obviously not as fatty as a beef one, but still just as awesome. If we're talking about TX only hotdog places, this one is in my top 2 for sure. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Fantastic Bison-Dog togo !!! - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ambiance under the overpass kinda feel, but looks like home. Great burgers, great staff, and consistently excellent yum. Sure it's a popular place, but don't drive past it. Make sure you get some to go. Buffalo burgers are epic. Vegas beef burgers with avocado and a fried egg are nice option too. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Walk on up to the creeky porch. Mind your stepping. - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great food but the kids working up there always get the order wrong. They always forget something. Example, they give chili and forget the cheese. Food is not very consistent. The chili can be too spicy or too watery. Same goes for the potato salad. Either way too spicy or not enough. We love the food but always, they mess up . read more

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Ordered lunch from here yesterday. We had no idea it was a little roadside shack. They did not disappoint!! It was so cold but it was worth getting out the car. When you go inside the music catches your attention. The staff was enjoying themselves while cooking and preparing the food. It was truly made with love. I will go back in the near future but beware you will get sleepy after eating . Tip: they get busy around lunch so call before you head that way; especially if you have a limited break time If you get chili cheese fries be careful because the containers were topped with foil and it spilled over cutting through the bad etc on our less than 10 min drive back read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Beef Quarter Pound Hot Dog - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Everything was perfect. Bison burger was flavorful and cooked to a perfect medium. They ARE Able and willing to do rare burgers that're slimy reddish. read more

This is without a doubt one of the best burgers you will find in Houston, if not Texas or the U.S.A. Many years ago I rated the Mason Jar tops, but the Mason Jar is gone now, and there is only one Bubba's. I always get a Bison Burger on a wheat bun with eveything on it plus extra onions (I always hold the cheese) and mustard only, no mayo. Sometimes I get the double-patty bison burger if I'm really hungry. I usually also get the jalapeno potato salad - so yummy. I often get their chili too. But that burger ... supremo. read more

The food was pretty great here. And the price was amazing. I highly recommend if you are in the area. The ambiance was also pretty cool and we had dinner on their outside patio. The service was also great and the food came out super quick. Great spot all around. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Patty Melt - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Consistently well made bison bbq burgers. Been coming here for 10 years and it never disappoints. Make it a stop to eat at this quirky place underneath the freeway in Houston. Long wooden benches and tvs with sports and a double wide trailer for the restaurants. Cashier was very friendly. Ambiance is very casual. Perfect for solo or just friends. NOT a date spot. Come for the food and unique location read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Bubbas menu - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

Solid spot. Decent burgers, good fries. Want to try the potato salad next time! Order at a window and wait for order to get called out, seat yourself. Very no frills, self service. It is also pretty much a shack under a bridge. Hidden gem vibes read more

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Bubba's has been around for 40 years. Last time I ate there was probably 30 years ago. I had my first bison burger back then and it was fabulous. Their surroundings may have changed but the food quality has not. Today I took my kiddo. He had Beef Mushroom Swiss and I had the Bison Mushroom Swiss. Both were fabulous! Perfectly cooked. Nicely sized thick patty which fit the bun perfectly. Excellently seasoned with just a touch of messiness you need in a good burger. The fries were seasoned, crisp and no greasiness at all. The onion rings were not greasy either and just the perfect thickness and crispness. Colleen rang us up. You could tell it had been a busy day (we got there after the lunch crowd) but that didn't stop her from being friendly, helpful, with an awesome sense of humor which made my day. There is no indoor seating but plentiful outdoor seating. The tables were clean, the fans were going, and the paper towels plentiful. I'd go back in a heartbeat! read more

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Had high expectations from a food bloggers recommendation but ultimately was disappointed. We went with a large group (7) and go inconsistent answers/recommendation from the same employee for the same questions. There were also a few errors in our orders (I.e cheese not changed as requested, patty forgotten for a burger etc.) Had the Bison Patty Melt on rye as recommended by other Yelpers and was ultimately disappointed. Not a lot of flavour or sustenance and I left hungry. My partner had the Vegas burger and we were more impressed by the flavour and ingredients on that burger. The fries were well seasoned and yummy. Ultimately just a little disappointed and won't be returning there are other better burger places in Houston. read more

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That jalapeño potato salad? So good. Had just the right kick, spicy but not too much. I really liked that you can choose between a wheat or white bun for your burger. That's a nice little detail most places don't offer. Everything came out hot and fresh, just how it should. The seasoned fries were bomb, crispy, flavorful, no complaints. And the customer service? Super solid. Folks were friendly, chill, and made the whole experience even better. Definitely a spot I'd come back to. Real good food, real good vibes. read more

With all the hype this spot gets, I guess we just expected more? Got a double stack with bacon and fries and it was just ok. The burger search continues.. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

My company was hosting a belated Memorial Day luncheon in the office and what's more American than Burgers! Luckily Bubba's is right down the street from our office! We had Bubba's Cater our lunch last year and the food was great so we figured let's do it again this year! I called the restaurant to get a quote for 65 burgers and the host who picked up asked to put me on hold because she needed to talk to the GM. The GM Leo picked up the phone and took my order for 65 burgers (cheese burgers and regular burgers) with an additional 10 plain beef patties on the side. They did it catering style so we could "build your own burger" at the office. On the day of- I had to add a bean burger and a salad because I found out there were 2 individuals who were vegan & vegetarian and Leo was super accommodating to add those orders last minute. The only downer was that the salad dressing did not make it with the salad so the individual who got the salad did not have any dressing with their salad. When we came to pick up the food at 11:20AM, (arrived 10 minutes early) the kitchen was still prepping the food. We waited in my car until 11:35AM when they came out with all the trays of food and condiments. I waited another 5-10 minutes for the buns to be done toasting and brought out to my car and everything was set. Overall the food was delicious and even though we missed the salad dressing, everyone still enjoyed everything! one thing I would change is probably asking for the cheese to be left on the side because everyone loved the patties that had the cheese on it already. We were left with all the patties that didn't have cheese on it so next time, definitely asking for the cheese to be on the side so others can add cheese if they wanted to. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Trays of food! - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've driven past this place 100s of times, since my wife had a business thing I thought I'd give it a try. Bad idea I drove there and arrived at 645pm. There were several cars in the lot but didn't appear crowded. I went inside and was told they were busy and weren't taking any more orders. Wow. It says they're open till 9pm. Wasted my gas for nothing. I was forced by yelp to leave a star but since I got no food they don't deserve the star. read more

A simple burger is all you need. Who cares about all the other stuff? I ordered a patty melt. It was a decent size. Order it on rye for sure. So tasty. We liked it the best of the three we ordered. The onion rings were whole ones. Perfect crisp. The fries with the chili cheese was great. Loveddd the kick of the chili. I want to go back for the Frito pie now. Overall the service was decent. They have a pick up window outside. Decent wait time. The space overall wasn't anything to write home about. I'm sure not in the Texas summer would likely work better. No a/c. But fans. read more

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Super Friendly service. Food is soo worth the price fills you up. Not to mention the Bison burgers have a super rich flavor and juicy bread is even nice and fluffy. Absolutely must stop by! read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Bison Burgers with extra cheese avocado , French Fries Onion Rings, - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Amazing burgers and hot dogs!! Loved eating outside at the picnic tables. The employees were all very nice. This is definitely our new burger place!! read more

The nastiest frozen burger patty ever. The burger lacked taste/ seasoning. I requested it to be smashed and let's say the cook didn't get the message. I was looking for real beef and that's not what I got. This isn't the cleanest place on the inside but I still have it a try. I would give them a zero if it were an option. read more

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This is by far the absolute worst bbq I've ever had. I can't believe it's in business but it was completely empty. Please go away so I'll never tricked out of $15 again for a brisket poboy that went firstly into the trash can read more

It's ok not too good not too bad? I was bit disappointed as this burger joint has been around for a long time. Their patty is thin, consider double and ask to taste chilli before adding onto your fries. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Bison burger & chilli cheese fries - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

You will eat a great ol' fashioned burger here. Forget shake shack, McD or other crappy burger chains. This place has top tasting bison or beef burgers. Order the onion rings and they will make you cry of how good they are. If you visit Houston, you need to eat at this landmark. This is a hole-in-the-wall place, so if you raise your pinky when you drink a cup of coffee, this is not for you. The service is as expected of this type of venue. They were quick to serve and that is all that matters. I highly recommend!!! read more

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The last unique old burger dive in Houston I can still give high marks to. Bellaire Broiler burger is gone. Langford opened a second store and I couldn't get behind it. Gave it three chances, maybe I need to try again. The original I couldn't give above 3 or 4 starts. Buffalo with American cheese and grilled onions is my jam. Potato salad has always been fantastic. Served and stays cold in mini steyerfoam cup. The fact that it has dodged imminent domain for the last 30 years and is still strong, means it must be god's will that this place continues to serve burgers. If you liked Kay's Lounge, Blacos, Gilleys....now all gone, you will like this place. True Texas burgers from a bygone era. read more

Oh yes, Houston's food scene isn't truly diverse without its own greasy burger shack. Under a tollway? Even better. Eat your burger on the porch as you look out across the road at the Micro Center, peak Houston. I got the Famous Patty Melt, very solid beef patty, with all the toppings you love: grilled onions, grilled cheese, and some jalapenos. Personally, I don't think the rye hit the spot for me, next time I'd opt for a regular bun (I hope they can toast that!). Restrooms are definitely what I'd expect from a shack, just a FYI. It's a normal toilet but the space is a small. At least it's not an outhouse. While the Shack has a very solid burger, the pricing is a bit high considering the location, the value isn't just quite there, Whataburger and In-And-Out are still in the running for when I'm hankering for a burger. Drunk me? See you at the shack! read more

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I've been here twice now and I love it! My first time I built my own and got a double bacon burger with a side of fries. It was amazing! My second time I decided to try their patty melt and chili cheese fries and to say the least it was amazing again! Everything was so flavorful and the fries were perfectly seasoned and crispy. I always drove past it and thought how interesting it was placed right by all the freeways but I get it you cannot get rid of such a great burger spot. The vibes were great, they have plenty of out door seating with tvs and you can always take your food to go if it's too hot. Service was good and helpful. Living so close to this spot is definitely dangerous because I will be back. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Our Famous Patty Melt - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Our burger club decided to try this place, we had all been there but not in years. The place has changed. Several types were tried, including bison. The general opinion was...blah nothing special. I have no opinion on the burger, after fifteen minutes and several people who ordered after me were served my order was finally announced as ready. One bite is all it took, ICE COLD bacon and a stone cold burger. In a tiny shack somehow my order just sat I guess but I just wasn't waiting for a fresh one when the whole group was already finished eating. Needless to say we won't be visiting again. read more

Super friendly staff! Delicious Joe's Tea! Seasoned fries on point! However, that Bison burger, sucks! Never again! ...

The fries are well seasoned, and were the highlight of the visit. The single patty for the bison burger was huge - at least 8 ounces which was very filling. The bison burger was similar to a homemade burger so if you're looking for something straightforward and simple then this is it. I would not recommend the grilled cheese sandwich since it's on a hamburger bun but on the positive side it was LOADED with cheese. read more

Seems like this place has gone downhill. It's very dirty inside and they do not serve their black bean burgers anymore. Which is fine but they should really just cross it off the menu at least. Also when I got my drink out of the fridge it was stuck to the fridge with some sort of sticky residue. The service was okay, the young lady at the front wasn't friendly but wasn't rude either. Just seemed like she didn't want to be there. read more

UPDATE: I neglected to consider the tip I added. I hope that went to Bubba's. Also, I have been refunded the difference in the price for the menu items comparing Bubba's pricing and GrubHub's mark up. Buyer BEWARE! See my photo. I went through Yelp to connect to Bubba's Website. There were TWO Order buttons to use. I chose the long one at the very bottom of the screen. I then chose TakeOut (not Delivery.). That button goes through GrubHub. When the Bubba's staff was confused when we arrived to pick up our Take-Out (That had a @GrubHub sticker sealing the bag,) he suggested we order through Bubba's website. Thought I had. My @GrubHub paid for order was $40. FORTY! When I tapped the correct Order button (a smaller button slightly obscured,) my order should have been $26 dollars! GrubHub stole $13 from me. THIRTEEN. read more

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I had high expectations for this place. Ordered the regular burger with no tomato and a bowl of chili. The chili was great. The burger was not. The tomato was left on, which I can deal with, but the meat had zero flavor. It didn't even have salt on the meat. If not for the chili this would be a one star rating. read more

Bubba's has been in business for a long time considering all of the new hype with smashburgers in Houston. For them to still be around, meant I had to check them out! They have plenty of covered outdoor, picnic bench-style seating, however there is not any seating inside the restaurant. The restaurant name is true to what it is as the inside is just a simple burger shack. You order at the counter and they call your order out when it's ready. I ordered the Houston Burger with bison. I enjoyed the crisp bacon with the melty American cheese. Overall, it was good. I wouldn't call it the best, but it was a decently flavored burger. read more

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack - Houston Bison Burger - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

It's not convenient, elegant, or hip but Bubba's Texas Burger Shack delivers burgers cooked "low and slow" with their custom chili/paprika-based dry rub, and prices are totally reasonable in addition to very chill, friendly, understanding staff. I do not like eating under a freeway with the constant noise but I like the rough tables and congenial atmosphere, so I always go back, and have never had a bad experience. read more