This was one of my favorite postings yet. I had to go to a dozen mom-n-pop restaurants in West Comal County to try their hamburgers, and I may have missed a place or two. It took me about four months to hit every one of them and I never got tired of hamburgers in the process. (Yes English teachers, I used the word "got". )
West Comal County, my home for 20 years, sits at the crossroads of US281 and TX46 and is a great place to live if you love burgers. If you're local, you probably already have a preference, and if you're passing through, then you need to stop at one of these places. Those of you who live in San Antonio and have a hankering for a really good hamburger, drive north on US-281 to try out one of these restaurants.
Tug has just opened her place on the west side of US-281 north of the Guadalupe River . Tug is the cook and owner of the newest restaurant in West Comal County. This place is one of the few places I know that serve Orange Crush Soda.
Here is her double Angus cheeseburger. Since the paddy was six ounces, I ordered a double and I had trouble getting my mouth around the burger. Here, six ounces must mean six ounces cooked. Most places it's six ounces raw. Angus beef has a really great flavor.
Big River Grill on US-281
Big River Grill has only been opened a few months and I nearly missed it. This grill is just north of the Guadalupe River, also on the west side of US-281.
They serve the burger stabbed so you can half it if you want. It looks like the burger is bleeding cheese after being stabbed. Love the way that cheese just oozes down the side of the burger. This burger reminds me of those served at the old Frost Tops. If you're below 50, you probably don't know what a Frost Top is.
If you're traveling north on US-281, turn west on TX-46 to get to Honey Creek Restaurant. The cook is a friendly guy who also serves as the manager.
See that high-stacked burger. This place has awesome barbecue as well. And that will be another post.
Mike's in the Village on FM-1863
Mike's in the Village is a gourmet bistro and wine bar located in downtown Bulverde. Take the US-281 exit at TX-1863 and travel west on Bulverde Road through town. Watch out for the speed limits. It drops to 20 mph as you approach the turn off to Mike's. The restaurant is located behind an EXXON station on the right.
Here it is … the gourmet prime-rib burger. Mike takes the trimmings off the prime rib roast and the tenderloin, and grinds the meat for his hamburgers (but he doesn't call them hamburgers). He serves his prime-rib burgers on toasted ciabatta bun with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Mayo and/or mustard are served on the side at your request. This is probably the first and last time I order one of these. Don't get me wrong, it was as GREAT as it sounds, but there are so many delicate recurring entrées and specials there that I know I'll never have another Mike's wondrous burger experience again.
Specht's Store Restaurant & Saloon
Specht's Store is one of the oldest establishments in West Comal County and is a backwoods trip to get to. The best way is to exit US-281 at FM-1863 and go west on Bulverde Road until you get to crossroad in downtown Bulverde. Turn left on Bulverde Lane at the crossroad and drive until the street dead-ends. Take a right on Obst Road at the dead end. That road will take you on a windy ride to Specht's. Note: Specht's is only open from Friday to Sunday.
The burger is handmade and I ordered the bacon-cheeseburger. See the mess of bacon the burger comes with. And all fried crisp. The french fries come with the skins. You can opt for sweet-potato fries for an additional charge.
The Blue Moon was located just to the east of US-281 on TX-306. If you are traveling north from San Antonio, you will pass the overpass at TX-46, then cross the Guadalupe River. When you come to the first stop light north of the Guadalupe River, you have found TX-306. But sadly, they closed before I could make this post. The main reason I have this blog is to help the little guys stay in business.
If you liked a grilled taste to your burger, Blue Moon was the place to go. This was their cheese- burger.
Spring Branch Grocery on US-281
The Spring Branch Grocery Store is a part of history in West Comal County. Probably one of the oldest buildings outside of the City of Bulverde. It's conveniently located on the east side of US-281 just north of FM-311. Inside the grocery is a grill which cooks up both burgers and pizzas. I come for the burger.
For those of you who are my age, this place has recaptured the 1950s taste to the hamburger. You won't find this flavor in any national chain. For those of you who are younger, the Spring Branch Grocery is a must stop for a hamburger ... just so you'll know what that 50s taste is. See the irregular shape to the burger. That means the paddies are hand made at the store. Get a side order of onion sticks with your hamburger.
Outlaw Food Truck @ Max's Bar on US-281
To find the Outlaw Foodtruck, you must fine Max's first. Max's is on US-281 just a few miles north of TX-46, but in the southbound lane. Max's is one of those modern sports bars with no kitchen. They job out their food to a food truck company. Max's has experimented with several food trucks but found their customers liked the Outlaw the best.
The Outlaw Foodtruck is now permanently located next to Max's and provides a variety of bar food from burgers to tacos to hot wings, and more.
But the burgers are the reason we're here today. This is their standard burger, the Outlaw Burger which is a bacon cheeseburger and homemade barbecue sauce along with mustard, pickles, and fried onions on a grilled potato bun. Note: the bacon is thick and crisp. My friend Chip ordered this one and really liked it. I'll try it next time.
El Hefe Burger was the special of the day. This is a bacon cheeseburger with tomato topped with a fried egg on a potato bun. Never had fried egg on a burger before. Yes, I liked it. The burger spreads include cilantro ranch and green salsa. This special will make your mouth burn. And please ask for lots of napkins.
My Place Bar & Grill on US-281
My Place is conveniently located on the northbound lane of US-281 just above Cibolo Creek. This restaurant is the southernmost of all of the Comal hamburger joints. If I still worked in San Antonio, My Place would be a great stop for dinner with my wife before returning to our place. It's never crowded when I'm there which tells me this is a place yet to be discovered by most of Comal County residents.
Their burgers are huge, and you can taste the beef. Each burger is a half pound of Angus beef, and the fixings make the difference. Above is the Deluxemburger which comes with mushrooms, bacon, swiss cheese. My Place also serves the traditional burger, cheese burger, and bacon cheese burger, as well as a mushroom burger and a chili burger. Look at those steak fries.
Shade Tree Saloon on US-281
Farther north on US-281 set back from the road is a former bikers bar called the Shade-Tree Saloon. Bikers still frequent the place as does the rest of West Comal County. The food is great here.
This one is my favorite: the Jalapeno Jack Burger. There are chunks of jalapenos cooked into the burgers. And if that's not enough, the burger is topped with a slice of jalapeno-jack cheese. Oh, by the way, the Shade Tree has a traditional burger as well.
Here is their signature burger -- the Blue Cheese Bison Burger. My friend Walli from Bali ordered it and loved it. So my recommendation is based on his. I'll get it on my next visit. p.s. Walli had the jalapenos added.
Don't forget an order of their onion rings while you're there. Look how crisp they're cooked.
Texas 46 Bar & Grill on TX-46
Texas 46 has been a mainstay on the West Comal County landscape. It's located two miles east of where TX-46 intersects with US-281. Texas 46 has been here ever since I moved to the area 20 years ago.
This is my favorite burger there: the 46 Special, a burger covered with Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, and green chillies. They also serve a cheeseburger lunch special on Mondays and Fridays. In addition, the menu includes bacon cheeseburger, mushroom burger, bean burger, and chili-cheese burger. Next time, I have to try the chili-cheese burger.
Antler Cafe on TX-46
The Antler Cafe is located next door on TX-46 east. It's one of the oldest restaurants in the area, but recently relocated from their US-281 location when the property changed hands. Luckily for the locals, the current location came open when the Antler had to move.
