The hamburger is one of America’s great contributions to Western cuisine. Several towns lay claim to the birthplace of the burger, but any red-blooded Texan will claim “Uncle” Fletcher Davis in Athens, Texas, as the inventor.
Davis had a cafe on the courthouse square where he sold all-beef patties between two slices of homemade bread in the late 1880s, and as the legend goes, he went nationwide at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.
As the argument continues over the origin of hamburgers, so do the disputes about who makes the best burgers. That’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Here are three hamburger joints worth the drive.
The Canyon City Grill (14601 FM 306, Canyon Lake) near the dam north of New Braunfels is a family operation offering big juicy burgers with a milkshake and fries. The menu is extensive enough to meet all appetites; they even have ice cream cups with bacon sprinkles for your four-legged co-pilot. The country roads in all directions are some of the prettiest in the Hill Country.
The Andice General Store (6500 FM 970, Georgetown) has been a not-very-well-kept secret for at least a decade. Their Green Chili Cheeseburger is simply old-fashioned goodness. You’ll find the burger joint/convenience store in downtown Andice while driving the back roads of Williamson County about 2 miles east of Highway 183 at the junction of FM 970 and FM 2338.
The Castell General Store (19522 W. RR 152, Llano) is another hidden gem in the Hill Country. They only serve burgers on Fridays and Saturdays. The burgers aren’t fancy, which makes them more special. The sandwiches are big, juicy, and flavorful, and it’s a nice drive out there. Stop at one of the crossings on the Llano River and take a cool dip before sitting down under the big shade trees with a messy burger and a cold Shiner.
1,761st in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere: Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/daily/travel.
This article appears in July 4 • 2025.
