Battle of the Beef

10 San Antonio chefs battle it out in fan-voted Burger Showdown

San Antonio Burger Showdown contestant entry

This burger from 2023 even looks fancy.

Photo by David L. Peché

Restaurants around San Antonio can claim to have the best burger, but nothing beats getting them all side-by-side for some science — or, uh, fan voting. Burger-lovers will get together at Burger Showdown 5.0 and choose their favorite sandwich from 10 chefs, each representing a different restaurant.

This effort was organized by online culinary series Homegrown Chef in partnership with the Flavors of Texas, a unique restaurant recommendations platform by the popular San Antonio Restaurants group on Facebook. The 10 competitors will gather at Alamo Beer on October 18, from 7-10 pm. It'll benefit Gardopia Gardens, a local nonprofit that educates on nutrition and sustainability through gardening.

This is the fifth annual event, and some past winners are returning to add to their laurels. To keep tastings manageable, they will be cooking sliders, some featuring sponsor ingredients that haven't been announced yet. For a break from the beef, Krazy Katsu will be there slinging kimchi fries, and Texas Cookie Shop will handle dessert.

San Antonio Burger Showdown contestant entry Looks like this entry used rajas for a Mexican twist.Photo by David L. Peché

Participating chefs are:

Diana Anderson of JD's Chili Parlor
Justin Bluhm of STXBBQ (Won Judge's Choice Best Burger in 2023)
Jared Cattoni of Dos Sirenos Brewing
Chef Phillip Gonyea of the popular Krazy Katsu [Update: new addition]
Brandon Peterson of Smash'd
Kaius of The Chef Kaius Xperience (Won People's Choice Best Burger in 2023)
Joseph Thadeus Martinez of Tributary (Won 2nd Place Best Burger in both categories in 2023)
Chef Andres Farias of Cavalier at the InterContinental Riverwalk Hotel
James Richard Smith of toohotfortabc
Chef Joe Rodriguez with Black Board Bar-B-Q [Update: new addition]
~~Gabe Cardenas of Built For Burgers (Cruising Kitchens)~~ [Update: dropped out]
~~Adrian Davila of Davila's BBQ~~ [Update: dropped out]
~~Brian Randolph of Dorrego's at Hotel Valencia~~ [Update: dropped out]

Chefs have not shared yet how they'll be dressing their burgers, but previous years have proved the only limit is the imagination. Past burgers have included pineapple rings, chorizo-marinated patties, an entire slice of brisket, fried cheese crisps, and much more.

San Antonio Burger Showdown contestant entry These are sliders, but with all these garnishes they'll add up to a huge feast.Photo by David L. Peché

For burger snobs, it won't just be fans deciding who brings home the bacon. A panel of judges — Alan Williams of Flavors of Texas, plus influencers San Antonio Stephanie and Joe The Lost Local — will also be putting in their two cents.

If any of these burgers have you ready to sing love songs, Alamo Beer will be hosting Irish Cowboy Productions Karaoke later in the night.

"I can't believe this is our 5th annual Burger Showdown," says Kimberly Suta, the creator of Homegrown Chef and a local food writer, in an email to CultureMap. "We're just so happy to be partnering with The Flavors of Texas (San Antonio Restaurants Group) this year and showcasing the talents of such incredible chefs who are so passionate about creating the best burger and, let me tell you, these will be some of the best burgers you'll ever eat!"

Tickets ($60) are available at theflavorsoftexas.com. An early bird discount gets attendees $5 (for a total of $55) until September 15. VIP tickets ($100) are also available, and include 30 minutes of early access at the event, a drink ticket, and a plant from Gardopia Gardens. Drinks are available for purchase for any ticket tier.

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Better Days, Same Burgers

Shuttered San Antonio burger joint stages surprising comeback

Teddy B's/Facebook

Teddy B's has made a surprise comeback.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of Teddy B's life. In October, the popular burger joint shuttered its decade-old location on Babcock Road, grieving a loss of foot traffic and rising costs. On November 20, the spot revealed a plot twist. The owners are now slinging patties at 9903 Fredericksburg Rd.

"Dear Teddy B's customers, we have good news," the restaurant posted on social media. "We are back in business...We are waiting for our new sign, but we are up and running."

The unexpected comeback is the culmination of a tumultuous year for the business. As the restaurant marked its 10-year milestone this summer, the outlook was much darker. On August 4, the restaurant took to social media to warn that closure could be imminent. A traffic decline affected Teddy B's ability to maintain its affordable price point.

The messaging worked, at least in the short term. Days later, the restaurant reported an increase in business. The marketing language was hopeful until October 13, when the restaurant abruptly announced it was closing for good.

The news of Teddy B's rebirth came just as suddenly. After a month-long social media silence, the restaurant announced it had taken over the former home of Burger Haven. The latter restaurant was little known, appearing to operate mainly as a ghost kitchen.

Assumably, burgers will be back on the menu, but it is unclear whether other favorites will be eliminated to streamline the operation. The business has not posted any revisions, and its website is down at press time.

The burger joint's comeback manifests as other shuttered legacy restaurants like The Lion and Rose and Fratello's have staged their own returns. While Teddy B's has offered no reasoning for getting back into the game, it is a testament to the resiliency of San Antonio's culinary community.

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