Howdy Burger

My bf had been telling me about the «decent» burgers here. (Decent doesn’t sound like a convincing argument to eat somewhere, does it? :P) Well, decent is about where it’s at. Considering that, I’ll be brief.
I ordered a superburger and fries for $ 7.30, including tax. The burger was A-​OK. Not my favorite, but not the worst. I appreciate their selections of different cheeses for the burgers. That’s about where my appreciation ends. The fries were very below average. They tasted as though they’d been fried in oil that was too old. As if to drive my ill feelings towards them home, the last one I bit into was so foul and funky-​textured, I had to spit it out. Blech!
The staff is definitely friendly. They have other good options on their menu (such as a, um, salad that my co-​worker ordered). That being said, there are infinitely better burgers and fries out there.

Definitely not gourmet, but freakin’ delicious when you’re in the mood for this sort of thing. I went here like 2 months ago because I happened to pass by running errands and was starving. I don’t know if it was because I was starving, but this place served me the tastiest burger I think I’ve had all year. (Although, I do not eat burgers often.) It feels sort of mom-​and-​pop but franchisey (yes, I made up that adjective) at the same time. It is clean, well ventilated, and bright with tons of windows. The floor is smooth polished concrete (which I prefer to tile in such a place and feel is much cleaner). You order at the counter, and they bring you your order on a tray when it is ready. The thick, gigantic fries served in a paper-​lined red plastic basket (a la old school Dairy Queen) are like a meal within themselves. The kitchen is open so you can see them making your food and not spitting in it or putting the patty back on after having dropped it on the floor. Yay.
The small, newly constructed strip center it’s in is kind of randomly located, but seems to be a welcome addition to a neighborhood starving for restaurants. There is a Jack In the Box on the diagonal corner and a donut shop next door, but I think that’s it for edibles for miles around. Lots of businesses/​warehouses around, so I think most of their business has to be workers at lunchtime. I have driven by before and seen it super crowded at lunchtime, which I think is a testament to it being a decent burger joint.

Okay, I hate to bash an independent, trying-​to-​make-​it-​in –the-​real-​world, small restaurant. But I’m not a fan. Not a fan at all. I have to start with me. I’m a purist, in some regard. At a burger joint. My foremost review is the patty. Theirs was akin to McDonald’s or (probably more accurate) Burger King. It was flat and ‘smushed’ and cooked-​to-​hell! It was like I went to an Italian restaurant and then ordered the burger… it seemed like an afterthought… like something that would be on the kid’s menu… the patty was terrible. One review of this place included the word «dripping»…the only way to have a dripping burger here is to overload with mayo. The fries:…I’lll give them credit for at least seeming like they cut their own fries. But then again, that’s all they seem like is julienned potatoes that were deep-​fried. And on that note, I really think they should re-​think their frying temperature… hotter oil would do it, mine came out too mushy. Then, after that, there’s no seasoning. You can leave them naked if you have an awesome french fry (okay, so not even then), but these had a mundane taste and a discrediting texture. What’s left???
Why then a 2 star rating and not a 1? Because I’m not an a$$hole; I have no other explanation.

Houston’s lack of zoning makes for some interesting neighborhoods. For instance, Howdy Burger is in one which is residential on one side of Clay Road and new warehouses on the other. Are we appealing to workers who want to cross the street to their new job?
Howdy Burger is the only tenant in its new corner strip center, catty-​corner to a Jack in the Box (JITB). I mention this since these two places are the only food stands at the intersection and, if I was the owner, I wouldn’t put my new burger location smack dab across the street from a national fast-​food chain. My value proposition had better be darn good to go up against a JITB $ 4.99 combo meal.
Décor: Think modern clean Texana. Tin cutout of stars and boots festoon the walls. Framed pictures of cows and pastoral scenes also take up space. One side has a full bank of newish bar stools and counter where you can eat while watching the traffic on Clay Road. A few tables and chairs are on the sidewalk, too. The rest of the dining room is a mix of about 4 booths and 4 tables. Spotlessly clean.
Service: Staffed by a perky gal wearing a straw cowboy hat, she took my order quickly — as I rattled off items, the other team member craned her head to hear then began to work on my meal. Both were smiling and eager to get to work. They told me that this store has been open for about 15 months.
Food: Plated on what looked like a Chinet plate, the Super Cheeseburger ($ 4.99 for a 6 ounce) came out on a pretty fluffy bun. It had fresh lettuce leaves, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and the special sauce. I opted for American cheese as my choice but you can opt for Swiss, Cheddar, pepperjack, provolone, or blue cheese. The meat patty was a thin but satisfying one with some tasty charring on the edges. It reminded me of a backyard grilled burger with its attendant satisfying flavor of Americana. Good stuff.
I upgraded to include fries and a 20 oz soda for an added $ 2.50, which seemed a bit steep. The perky server asked if I wanted to do halfsies with onion rings and fries — and I took her up on it so that I could do more Unilocal research.
The onion rings were deliciously crispy while the fries were akin to Ore Ida bagged and frozen fries. Disappointing overall since I’d expect a good charred burger to not get brought down by so-​so sides. On my way out, I asked the staff if they make either of the onion rings or the fries.
They cheerfully told me that «no, they get them out of a bag». Points for honesty and enthusiasm but they really should not be gleeful that these are straight from a bag. The proper mood is «regret».
In total, the meal cost me $ 8.62 with tax. Yikes. I’m afraid that JITB will survive by cranking out a similar meal for a couple of bucks cheaper.
But here’s a happier option for a happier meal: order just the delicious home-​like burger, skip the fries, get your drink across the street at the Texaco, and go home happy.

So my mother and sister are talking food to me as we make plans for lunch. I point to an establishment across the way and it gets the thumbs down. Not that adventurous today. To their credit. It looked shady. «Tacos» I say, «we must find tacos.» Onward!
We’re in separate cars so they follow. The child had mentioned something about a Howdy Burger earlier, but I paid it little mind. We’re almost to the tacos when my eyes widen at the sight of a cartoon cowboy, straddling a burger – enter «Howdy Burger.»
This isn’t your everyday imagery. Granted the cartoon cowboy is clothed, but this was too weird to pass up – so I made a sharp right. My sister is smiling knowingly as I get out of the vehicle. I nod and we enter.
It’s a new chain I guess? Seems to be one spotted in Deer Park by a fellow Unilocaler. It probably has their employees in Cowboy hats too, but are they all latino? Me thinks not. But if I hear otherwise I may have to drive to Deer Park.
It takes me back to Go Texan day when I was a lad. How proud I was of my boots and ten gallon, black hat and of course a bandana to complete the outfit. How completely odd I must have looked. The Howdy Burger staff looks just as jolly as I felt back in those days as they ask if they can take my order. Right-​O!
Being a lunch wagon trio, we decided diversify our orders. The Super Cheeseburger and the California Burger composed the burger portion of our meal. With onion rings. All burgers have secret sauce! Nice. They are good little burgers. 6oz to be exact. Also come in 8oz. The standout thing is their juiciness. Drippy goodness. The bread is different – also nice. Left on its own scale – these would be 3.5 burgers.
My mother ordered a Chicago dog. A good version of this beast. What was different than the real deal? Well, the bread is different. I think it could be a better bun, but still o.k. The surprise, however, is the ton of jalapeños that are stuffed into it. Savage! I like it. Very Texas! More so, very Houston! My mom, however, not a fan. But who’s review is this? Ha! Score for team Unilocal!
What gave this place a four? The cowboy hat employees. My sister and I were almost in tears. Especially juxtaposed with the ride em’ cowboy cartoon – too much! It almost made this place a five. Check em out if you’re around. Shakes made with Dreyer’s ice cream. Intriguing – I’ll definitely be back!