burger-chan — Restaurant in Houston

A Smash Hit at Burger-Chan in Houston, Texas

My wife and I were out shopping when hunger struck, and I was craving a burger. She recalled seeing Burger-Chan mentioned on social media with stellar reviews and suggested we give it a try. Who am I to pass up a great smash burger?

Upon arrival, I was surprised to find that Burger-Chan is located in the same building as the Conservatory. Parking was a bit tight, and there was a line outside the door—a promising sign of what's inside. I briefly considered checking out the Conservatory instead, but I'm glad I didn't.

Burger-Chan is only open for lunch, and we arrived about an hour before closing. The ordering process is efficient but personalized, taking about 1-2 minutes per person. You fill out an order sheet to customize your meal, or you can choose from their pre-configured options online. The protein choices are diverse: beef burger, hot dog, falafel, chicken, and fish sandwiches. They also offer turkey chili. We opted for the burgers. You have two patty options: a 2 oz smash burger or a 5 oz thicker burger, and you can stack your burgers with 1 to 4 patties. Both my wife and I chose two 2 oz smash burgers. With so many options, you could visit every day and try something new. We also ordered tater tots and fries.

After placing your order, you receive a buzzer and can choose to sit inside or outside. They offer adult beverages and milkshakes as well. When the food arrived, it was a masterpiece. The smash burgers were crispy and flavorful, with fresh, soft buns. The toppings complemented the burgers perfectly. Between the tots and fries, I preferred the fries, and the scallion aioli was absolutely garlicky and tangy—perfect as a dip for the fries or to add an extra layer of flavor to the burger.

While the wait was a bit long, the outstanding food made it worthwhile. Being open only for a few hours each day allows them to focus on delivering high-quality meals. Their commitment to fresh ingredients and a menu that emphasizes great food is a winning combination.

We can't wait to go back to try other options, sides, and shakes. I highly recommend you...

No doubt, the burger is excellent. The scallion aioli is a must and perfectly compliments the juicy burger with a good level of savory but slightly vinegary flavor without being too much. I ordered the double 5 ounce and it’s definitely sizable and filling, and unlike in other reviews, juicy and not a “healthy” burger in a good way. I’d say the burger itself may be on the level of the Stanton City Bites burger, but with a little less mess. Bacon itself was also perfect and crisp. The bun was toasted and a good compliment, though like most buns in a juicy burger, perhaps not 100% up to the task of holding the burger (not an issue).

That said, Burger-Chan has a major, major problem that will kill repeat customers.

I hate to be the person to say this, but waiting 1 hour for a burger when there aren’t even that many people is bad. I’m normally sort of understanding, but the entire restaurant was sitting there at one point with no one ordering for 10 minutes with no one getting their food and everyone getting upset. It’s somewhat confusing considering at a certain point there wasn’t even a line anymore. Service was just awfully slow without any good reason for it. I’m not exaggerating, I got there at 2 ordered 10 minutes later and got my food at 3:15, when the restaurant was technically closed.

My advice is to come during opening. My advice to the restaurant is to speed up service or limit taking orders or otherwise let customers know the wait time. You should not have an entire restaurant full with only 1 table out of 12 actually having food.

Other thoughts: Curly fries are not bad, I’d say Arby’s quality, but more crispy. Cookies are like Mcdonald’s cookies. Good, chewy, perhaps needs a little salt.

I wanted to love this place and I did love the burger, but good god, no burger is worth waiting 1...

Burger-Chan is more than just a place for "kawaii/cute" burgers. This local mom-and-pop shop, run by Rice University grads, offers a fully customizable burger experience that stands out. It’s a family-friendly spot with a kid's menu and coloring pages, plus halal options, making it a great choice if a variety of options are needed! Service is friendly and the ambience is like a lil kid’s cafeteria vibe.

The Burger: 9/10 I customized my burger with onions, pickled jalapeños, two 5 oz smash patties, aioli, onions, and tomatoes, all on a surprisingly soft sourdough bun. The flexibility in customization is a definite pro. For those who prefer a lighter option, they also offer 2 oz patties. My burger was delicious, though it was quite hefty with the thicker patties.

The Fries: 8/10 I opted for the sweet potato fries, which are served as waffle fries. They were very crunchy and addictive, disappearing from my plate quickly.

The Milkshake: 9/10 I tried the black sesame milkshake, which I highly recommend if you enjoy Oreo or peanut butter flavors. Don’t underestimate their shakes—they offer unique, bold flavors that are cleverly crafted and thoroughly enjoyable.

The Cookie: 6/10 While the cookie was perfectly fine—warm and pleasant—it didn’t stand out as much as the other items. In fact, I almost forgot I had ordered it after being impressed by the shakes.

Final Thoughts: Burger-Chan excels in providing a customizable and family-friendly dining experience with standout burgers and innovative shakes. While the cookie was average, the overall meal was delightful. Whether you're a Rice University alum or just in the area, Burger-Chan is definitely...