Who's the burger king? Dallas whups Austin in Top 50 Burgers list

It's a big moment for burger lovers: For the second time in seven years, Texas Monthly has just published its list of the 50 greatest hamburgers in the state.

It's a huge moment for burger lovers in Dallas: Big D has eight burgers in the top 50, (including one in the top five!) plus an honorable mention. It's a rip-roaring showing.  Austin has just six in the top 50, including one in the top five. Throw in Fort Worth (with its own burger in the top five), and the DFW-Austin whupping is even more extreme: 13-6. Let's be honest and call that a shellacking. Dallas kicks burger butt, tying with Houston, which also has six in the top 50 and one in the top five.

Texas Monthly ranks those top five burgers in order. It awards the pimento cheeseburger at Knife the No. 4 spot,  while the L.U.S.T. Burger at the Bearded Lady in Fort Worth — featured on the August cover of the magazine — claims bronze, the No. 3 position. The Philly Cheese Steak Burger at the Original Hubcap Grill in Houston is No. 5, Congress Burger at Second Bar + Kitchen in Austin is No. 2, and the winner, the very best burger in the entire state of Texas according to Texas Monthly, is the Brisket Burger with Pork Belly at Folc restaurant in San Antonio.

The rest of the Dallas burgers recognized on the list are as follows: HMF Burger at Blues Burgers; Bacon and Egg Burger at Kenny's Burger Joint in Plano; Chillerno Burger at Liberty Burger; Cheeseburger with Bacon and Grilled Jalapenos at Maple and Motor; Rose Burger at Mr. Mesero; Do It Murph-Style at Off-Site Kitchen; Rapscallion Burger at Rapscallion. Honorable mention: Classic Cheeseburger at the Grape, which was number one burger on Texas Monthly's 2009 list.)

Fort Worth's winners: the Vaquero at Dutch's; Fredburger at Fred's Texas Cafe; Cafe Burger at Press Cafe; Telluride at Rodeo Goat. Honorable mention: Bar B-Q Burger at Charley's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers.

It's an impressive list, to be sure, even if I don't always agree with it. In my December 2014 review of Mesero (Mr. Mesero's sister restaurant), I called the Roseburger (served at both) "a likable hamburger — double patty, iceberg lettuce, melted cheese, fluffy bun," and left it at that. I've enjoyed but never been wowed by the candidates at Kenny's Burger Joint. The last burger I had at Maple and Motor disappointed, as did the one I had at Knife (not the pimento cheeseburger).

Here's where I did agree: I have enjoyed the Chillerno Burger at Liberty Burger, and the place made my 2014 list of The Best in DFW Burgers.  And I've always loved the burgers at Off-Site Kitchen; the Green Chile and Bacon Burger made my list, too; it was also the star of my review of the place when it moved to Trinity Groves in 2015.

It's a rip-roaring showing. A shellacking. Dallas kicked burger butt.

Meanwhile, I must confess, I haven't had every one of the D-FW burgers on the list, including Rapscallion's, though the burger at its sister restaurant, Boulevardier, did make my 2014 list. And I've never been to Blues Burgers or the Bearded Lady. (I know — shame on me! Must get there soon!)

OK, gotta run now. That's right — I'm suddenly in dire need of a burger. Congratulations to all the winners. Even the ones in Austin.