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Lankford Grocery and Market

MY REVIEW: Lankford makes a big, excellent burger. But these puppies deserve a better bun that needs to be toasted better than it is. The bun seems kind of cheap, but toasting top & bottom would make it hold up better to the massive amounts of things you can add (like mac & cheese, jalapenos, fried egg, etc.).

The meat seems to be good quality, but I think it would taste better and be juicer if it didn't stay on the griddle quite so long. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't necessarily overcooked, but it wasn't medium well either. I was there before the crowds, so maybe when they are real busy they might not cook it as long--don't know this was my 1st time. Won't be my last--this would be a fun place to bring out of town guests because it's such a wonderfully funky joint which has a big variety of not only many kinds of burgers, but Mexican food and CFS as well.

I had 2 burgers (Grim & Firehouse), cut them in half, tried a half of each and brought the rest home for later. I enjoy hot, spicy anything, but Firehouse had me hollering uncle! The homemade mustard sauce is a killer on a burger already loaded with jalapenos and red hot sauce. Making the mustard sauce with habaneros, that's when the white flag of surrender goes up!

Grim features bacon, jalapenos, shredded cheddar, really good homemade mac & cheese and a fried egg. One of the best, most interesting burgers ever! Put this masterpiece on a better bun that has been toasted longer, serve it medium to medium well and you have maybe the best "non-traditional" burger in Houston!

NAME: Sandy from League City
SUBMITTED: 4/10/2013   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/13
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: line was out the door some of the tables had no chairs finally got a table waited to get served ordered South of the Border there was 6 of us after a 1 hour wait they brought half the food to the table the other half came 30 minutes later when we grabbed the waitress food was good but can get a hamburger and not wait 2 hours to eat it

NAME: may go back
SUBMITTED: 2/13/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/11/12
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: We went for lunch about 1pm, still people there,but not packed. Service was good, very efficient waitress. We liked our food,but didnt Love it. Our burgers were overcooked, with no ooze factor at all. I wonder if they are better when they are really busy..manning the grill better? I don't know. The tomatoes on my burger lacked any color but a white/green Very unripe hue. Buns were fresh, but didnt seem toasted. I did like the onion rings we got, but there were only about4 whole rings; the rest were just pieces, a crumbled mess. Fries were fresh,but average frozen type.

We won't rush to go back, especially if the wait was long for this caliber of food. Much better burgers are found at La*renzo's and Barnab*s..and tons of fresh, hand-cut fries Included.

NAME: Cupcake
SUBMITTED: 1/11/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/12
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I have lived in Houston all my life. I even went to Rice University, just across 59; but I never knew this place existed until I saw it on DDD on the Food Network.

When you walk into the place, you immediately notice that the floor is not flat, and definitely not horizontal. The decor looks like an early 20th century grocery store; no surprise there.

I ordered the grim burger with onion rings, and my wife got an original with cheese. First off, the onion rings were fantastic! Some of the best I've ever had.

The burger was also fantastic. I won't eat a fried egg by itself, but on burgers, they are absolute magic. Seriously, if you've never tried it, trust me, and give it a shot. (try the Sin City burger at s*mashburger if you're not a lankford fan... it's not on the menu, but they'll make it for you). Back to the Grim... this thing is covered in cheese, with a fried egg, with pickled jalepenos, with bacon, and topped off with some of the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had. The patty was HUGE, juicy, medium-well; just perfect. I'm a big guy, and I could only eat half the burger.

Hands-down, this is one of the best burgers I've ever had. Highly recommended!

NAME: Feynman
SUBMITTED: 7/18/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Came in for a "Firehouse" burger a few days ago and was blown away. Pat and I were back in the area today and she went with the "Red, white and blue" burger, I had a double cheeseburger and we split some onion rings. Both burgers were amazing for the grilled taste, the size and the ooze factor. Great, great stuff. We both couldn't finish our burgers but we left with big smiles. Good food served by good people - Enjoy!

NAME: bbqbob
SUBMITTED: 6/15/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/13/2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Neat old hamburger joint hidden away in a neighborhood. Most of the parking is on the street. It is challenging to get a spot, every time I have been they have been packed. They have indoor and outdoor seating. I always get the firehouse burger, very messy, very hot and very tasty. The fries are always hot and crispy. Ice tea is good as well. Service has always been a little slow, hard to get a refill but the waitress are friendly.

NAME: sagebrushpilot
SUBMITTED: 4/7/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2011
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: My boss took me here a few weeks ago. I had heard of it, but hadn't had a chance to make it out to try one of the burgers. All of the hype is for real. I really can't think of another burger in the Houston area that is better. The former S*hrimp Hut in the Kemah/Seabrook area had really awesome burgers, but that was over 10 years ago when you could get one of those. I had a cheeseburger with tater tots. The cheeseburger was really messy which is a definite plus. The meat tasted fresh (not frozen) and the buns were toasted. The tots might have been frozen, but it's not the main focus of the meal in my opinion.

The location is very interesting, and the history behind the business is very interesting. Lots of changes have occurred in the neighborhood in the past 70 years. The floor of the building is so uneven it's ridiculously funny, I don't think it's been leveled in decades. The interior decoration makes one feel as though they've been transported back a few decades which is a neat thing, almost like a very small roadhouse from the '50s. Also, they have Lone Star Beer and most importantly Pabst Blue Ribbon in bottles which is a tremendously rare thing in Houston eating establishments. Cheers!

NAME: Tim H
SUBMITTED: 12/1/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: November 2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I loved this place. It was perfect for my husband, son, and myself to sit outside and eat. My son (2 yrs old) loved being entertained by the birds as we ate. The burger with the habenero sauce and jalepenos proved to be too hot for my husband. And in all 7 years we have been together I have never seen anything be to spicy for him. He was sweating and couldn't finish it. We will be back, soon I hope, but he will not get the same burger again. He said it was too hot/spicy to enjoy.

I had a regular cheeseburger and we shared fries and onion rings. Everything was great and fresh. It was a great time and the scenery was great, typical heights atmosphere. Love it! The parking was limited but worth it.

NAME: vbelunek
SUBMITTED: 10/7/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: month
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I went to Langfords on Friday afternoon at 2pm - the place was PACKED! Not a table available - so we sat at the bar, the staff was so nice and friendly. I had the cheeseburger - it was huge - nice and juicy, bun was soft - fries were good too! I loved the atmosphere - good ole burger joint! A burger isn't good unless its running down your chin! LOL :) The only thing I would recommend at this place is some good old fashioned CHOCOLATE SHAKES/MALTS! Then it would be perfect!

NAME: Kim S
SUBMITTED: 9/20/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Wow! This was my first visit and I was impressed. This place puts out a huge, awesome burger! Their tator tots were exceptional. The toppings (bacon, pickles etc) were generous. Yeah, a little messy but that's how I like em.. Place was empty at 2:45 PM on a Friday and closes at 3 PM. The place hasn't been decorated since it opened in 1937. The family works at the restaurant still which is a plus. The downside is YOU MUST BRING CASH-no credit card machine. Wish they also made milkshakes and wish they were opened later!! Service was great and we definitely will come back!

NAME: 2010home
SUBMITTED: 8/20/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/20/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I visited during lunch to try their (now famous) burger with cheese and bacon. The burger was huge and tasted good, but I tend not to like a very messy burger. This burger was impossible to eat without all of the toppings falling out. It was tasty, but I would not rate it as one of the best in Houston.

For a side dish, I tried the onion rings. They were cut very thick which was a plus, but they were so greasy - to the point where oil would ooze out when I took a bite. My fiance tried the "Tex Mex" (fried jalapeno and onion strips). I enjoyed those much more than my onion rings.

I may be back to try some other items on the menu. As for the burger, I found it average.

NAME: Houstonian
SUBMITTED: 8/16/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: August 2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I am not sure what all the TO-DO is about. Just an average hamburger. Nothing special! Really S*omeburger on 11 St has a much better burger!

Just because DDD spotlights a place doesn't make IT TRUE!

NAME: JC
SUBMITTED: 6/12/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: June 6, 2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: What was Guy from DDD thinking about when he did a story on this place. Much ado about nothing. Yes the burger was BIG...but also tasteless. The onion rings and fries taste like they are frozen not fresh. The place was packed and dirty. I guess all the hype on the Food Network Channel really slammed them with business.

I will keep looking for the perfect burger...but not at this place.

NAME: Mamma Mia
SUBMITTED: 6/9/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: June 9, 2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Bruce R: Iwas thinking the same thing. If they put a veggie burger on the menu, the hamburger gods might destroy the place. I have never had a burger here that wasn't great.

NAME: Ralph W.
SUBMITTED: 6/8/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: May 2010
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: First, to the reviewer who wants them to add a vegetarian item, don't go to Lankford's. It's a hamburger restaurant. Hamburgers are made from meat. It would be an embarrassment for Lankford's to serve a veggie burger and would tarnish their menu.

Anyway, I had the Firehouse Burger. The sauce was terrible. The spice was nice but there was way too much yellow mustard in it. French's mustard and habaneros in a blender. Yuck. And the meat was dry.

NAME: Bruce R
SUBMITTED: 5/30/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 05/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

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