HOUSTON, Texas – Back in 2015, we honored Hubcap with our burger of the season award thanks to a little number called the Philly cheese steak burger.
That burger was so good we wanted more. That’s why we went to see the man as cool as Conway Twitty and the owner of Hubcap Grill, Ricky Craig.
“Around the holidays we like to do off the menu specials and burgers, and we have an awesome burger for you,” Ricky shared. “We want you to try it. It’s the tamale burger. Everybody loves tamales. It’s traditional during Christmas time. It’s one of my favorite foods. Of course, you know, I like my favorite foods but on a burger”
Once we scooted back in Santa’s workshop, better known as the kitchen, Ricky got things started on a burger that’s more like a Texan’s Christmas feast.
Rickey got things started with a patty made of beef chuck seasoned with a special Hubcap seasoning better known in these parts as burger dust. With a slab of butter sizzling on the grill, Rickey added threw the patty on to start cooking. Once the patty was cooked to buttery perfection, it was placed on a bun and topped with tamales. Red enchilada sauce was poured over the top, and cilantro, avocado, queso fresco, and mole sauce completed the tamale burger treat.
As Ricky says, “That’s Texas right there. The tamale burger, Hubcap style.”
When we sat down with our burger, we felt as though we had an entire Christmas dinner between two buns. Once it hit our mouths, our taste buds were hit with an incredible combination of flavors fitting for a Lone-Star State Christmas.
While the experience of eating this burger left us quite cheerful, we couldn’t help asking how someone could come up with this idea for a burger.
“My philosophy with everything on the burgers, if I like it, it’s going on a burger,” Rickey informed us.
Chances are, when Santa comes down the chimney, he’d rather have a tamale burger than cookies; at least, if Santa enjoys Texas cuisine.
“A lot of people say, ‘Oh, those are novelty burgers,’” Rickey said. “I’m like, ‘They’re not novelty.’ They just actually work. All the flavors blend in together.”
It’s definitely safe to say the tamale burger will spice up your holidays and is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List, Christmas edition.