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I have been coming to Chris Madrid's for several years (even went to high school with his daughter) and have nothing bad to say about it. The lines can get crazy during lunch time, but I think that's a good sign. The staff here is so used to the busy-ness that they are so efficient and able to get the line down quickly. As for atmosphere here, not anything to write home about. There are several picnic tables outside on the patio and the inside tables are definitely not for show.
The food is always great. I am a fan of the Tostada Burger. Refried beans and chips on a burger? Genious. The burgers are available in two sizes, regular and macho. I'll admit to getting a macho size just for the leftovers. The fries are great, too, but with a burger that good it seems a shame to fill up on fries.
If the mere word "cheddar" makes you salivate, then I've got a place--and a burger--for you. Chris Madrid's is a burger joint I've hear people rave about for quite a while. We finally decided to give it a try as part of our search for the best San Antonio burger (Five Guys and Chester's were in the lead). When we got to Chris Madrid's, we looked at the building and thought, Really? This is it? Hm.... Okay, so it wasn't very impressive.
But we learned not to judge a burger by the building façade. Once inside Chris Madrid's, you realize the place is actually quite large. We ordered and moved through the line toward the huge, open eating area, which kind of reminded me of a refurbished barn meets warehouse, both of which it might have actually been at one point. A few minutes after ordering, our number popped up on the board and we grabbed our food.
Which leads me to one, very important word: cheddar. Cheddar, cheddar, everywhere. On the meat, on the bun and on the wax paper the burger came on. Cheddar on my hands and on my chin and, ultimately, in my belly. I admit it, I ordered the cheddar burger, but I still wasn't expecting quite that much cheese! I'm not sure if it was the cheddar or the meat, but my burger was pretty greasy. Drip factor aside, the burger was very good and quite large. We split an order of fried and I crammed in as much of my burger as I could manage.
Sigh. I left absolutely stuffed full. Chris Madrid's certainly has an appeal to it that you don't find everywhere. Cheese lovers unite!
If you're in the mood for cheese, with a side of beef, Chris Madrid's is definitely the place to go. The tostada burger is sooo good. Refried beans, tostada chips, cheese, with salsa added on top. Definitely worth the struggle to find parking and seating.
The only negative thing I have to say about Chris Madrid's is that the beef patty itself really isn't much to write home about. When I've eaten there, it's always been really thin crumbly, for a lack of a better word.
But taste over beauty, I suppose.
My husband and I took a friend to Chris Madrid's tonight. My husband had heard about the place from a couple of buddies at school, and was intent on trying it out.
So, we went and ordered 2 Tostada Burgers (refried beans, cheese, tostada chips), and our friend ordered the jalapeno cheeseburger.
Our friend was a little disappointed that his burger wasn't spicy enough, but hubby & I loved our Tostada Burgers. It was a great mix of flavors & textures.
They both finished theirs, but I had about 1/3rd left, so I'll be getting another taste of Madrid's tomorrow for lunch. :)
The fries were a little greasy/soggy, but I like them that way. I know most people prefer a nice crisp fry, though.
The salsa was great, but had a little too much kick for me (I'm not huge on spices) so I ate my Tostada Burger without it.
I would definitely bring friends here in the future, and definitely will be visiting for more! Not the healthiest burger, but for an occasional outing, it's well worth it.
Their tea was delicious, too.
I would definitely recommend the Tostada Burger for a great flavor. You could taste everything. It was perfect when combined, but nothing overwhelmed anything else. I could still taste them as individual parts, including the great spices of the hamburger meat itself.
P.S. Not sure if it's available all the time, but when we went, there was actually a security personnel in the parking lot, who helped us to find available parking quickly. So, while parking is scarce, it was quite helpful to speak with someone who knew where the availability was.
Say CHEESE!! If you are a cheese fanatic like myself this is the place for you. The burger comes a heaping of cheese and a slight hint of beef and is excellent. The patty is thin but still a larger portion than what you get at most places. If cheese is not your thing they do offer other burger selections. The downside is the place is usually crowded and table space is hot commodity. Definitely worth a try if your in the mood for a burger.
Chris Madrid's is definitely my favorite burger joint. Why? Because the burgers are tasty, the beef is delicious, the cheese is delicious, the vegetables are fresh and the buns are very good. Now the nachos are amazing!!
One thing I did not like was the frozen margarita, it was not good, but I don't go there for that I just so happened to want one that day.
Parking is better now than before.
Con: long lines at peak times.
Overall a good place to eat definitely on my top five!
Food - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Atmosphere - 3/5
Best Dish: Tostada Burger
One of the most popular spots in San Antonio, this place offers great food and the service is quick considering the line is usually out the door during lunchtime. The famous tostada burger includes homemade refried beans, tostada chips, onions, cheddar cheese, and the beef patty all rolled into one. As you can imagine, there is an explosion of wonderful flavors and juices in your mouth when you are chomping down on one of these bad boys.
One of the best burgers I've had so far. It's a pretty popular joint is TX, known for the Macho size burgers. Always had the Porky burger and nachos and they always deliver. Expect long lines and parking issues. They also have an outdoor dining area for those cooler months
It's a San Antonio experience.
I think Tycoon Flats has probably done a better job of perfecting their style of burgers, but Chris Madrid has to be visited at least once if you've never had it.
Bring an appetite, the fries are huge, the burger is huge, the macho burger is huger, and weight watchers are not allowed. Expect lots of cheese and grease, and expect it to be glorious.
First off.. anything that is NOT tex-mex deserves an automatic 1 star. Add 1 more star for cheese that looks like goverment free cheese yet tastes pretty good. Add 1 star for puting tortia chips in a the tostada burder. Add 1 star for selling a Chris Madrid t-shirt that was translated in Japanese..Overall, order the Tostada burger, it will be best decision you make.. And the Nachos are over-rated..
This "legendary" burger joint is not for me.
I've tried a few times thinking it couldn't be as bad as I remembered. If you like to get your weeks worth of grease at one sitting, go for it.
The fries were tasteless and swimming in grease. The burger was almost equally as greasy and also rather tasteless. Ordering brings back the good old days of standing in the school cafeteria.
Parking sucks, even though they've added more.
The place is ALWAYS crowded so they have their fans, I'm just not one of them.
- Good,cheap, greasy, and whole lotta cheese.
- Can get busy on nights and weekends; parking can be challenging during peak hours.
- order/pay line could benefit from a relocation.
- I don't think I saw anything healthy on the menu ;-)
Yay! I'm a HUGE fan.
4.83 please.
I often think about the Tostada Burger (meat, cheese, beans and tortilla chips).
I finally went here with a friend after hearing about it for awhile. We went on a Friday around 12:45 p.m. We waited about 10minutes in line and about 10-15min for the food. I do like the restaurant space and the area that it's in. Funky older area.
I ordered the regular cheeseburger and my friend ordered the Macho Cheeze. Yikes! But he's a big boy. We also got a basket of fries.
The Burger:
1. Meat: my least favorite part of the burger. It is seasoned well but they are of the thinking of flattening your patty! There weren't any juices left in the burger and it was kind of mediocre. I guess i'm a thick patty kind of girl.
2. Cheese: nothing special, just American here
3. Fixin's: I ordered it the way they make it, w/ everything. The problem w/ their onions and tomatoes is that they dice the toppings. So while you're eating it, a lot of the onions/tomatoes fall out of the burger. Ringed items wouldn't do that.
4. Bun; nicely toasted - pretty solid
Overall, it was an ok burger but I probably won't be going back there.
I guess in SA people really like their burgers thin?
At least at chester's I can order the burger cooked medium.
A recent weekend found us in San Antonio for a convention, and over the years we've learned that as lovely as the Riverwalk may be, it's not the place for serious food. So we ventured out to Chris Madrid's, the legendary nacho and burger joint.
We arrived around 7 on a Saturday night, and parking was nowhere to be found. We circled the restaurant a couple of times, and swooped in when a space appeared.
Entering the building, we were impressed by the cross-section of humanity enjoying the cool March evening. We headed to the counter and waited in a short line while perusing the menu.
Following the advice of some regulars, we ordered a Cheddar Cheezy, macho. For those who've not been to CM's, macho is the keyword for a half-pound burger.
Chris Madrid's builds a very unique burger. The half-pound patty is not thick, but it is very wide; the size of a medium-sized pancake. It drapes across the bun on all sides, and is covered with a thick, oozy layer of cheddar cheese.
We like an oozing burger as much as anyone, but this, my friends, is too much. There's no way to really grip the burger without fondling all the cheesy, meaty goodness. We think the quarter-pound, non-macho version is the way to go, even if you're very hungry.
This is also the first burger we've found that has way too much cheese. There was over a quarter pound of cheddar, and we ended up discarding about half of it in order to get the cheese/meat ratio where it needed to be, and then folding the patty to make it (mostly) fit on the bun. This was way too much work; we'd rather have the kitchen deliver a more finished product.
Once we reengineered the burger for good handling, we ended up with an above-average cheeseburger that we really enjoyed. The thin patty was griddled well throughout, and gently seasoned with salt and pepper. Ooze remained, and it combined with the cheddar cheese to form a mass of molten goodness. The bun was beautifully griddled to a buttery crispness, and the veggies were plentiful, crisp, and fresh.
So how does this burger rate compared to the best in Houston? Pretty well, but it wouldn't crack the Top Five.
For our money, Houston is still the best burger town in Texas, and thus in the world.
Good greasy food. Quick service, but the lines to order can become long. Lots of beer choices. Great outdoor patio.
I agree with the person who said it was overrated.
It used to be so much better, I don't know what happened.
I would much rather eat at Chester's (even WITHOUT the poppy seed bun!!)
The BEST hangover food. Tostada burger rules- it's a huge cheeseburger with beans and tortilla chips. Greasy fries, mmmmm. You won't be able to move for the rest of the day, but it is so worth it.
Burgers and fries are good, but it's a "tourist trap"
Huh?
I have been hearing about Chris Madrid's in San Antonio for years. So, after moving here it was one of the first places we tried. Talk about disappointment. I am not sure how they ever got a good reputation. This place sucks.
The burger's were so thin that they were falling apart and they did not taste all that great. I would prefer a fast food burger to the burgers at this place.
The atmosphere was really odd as well. We walked in and had to walk through the restaurant to the line in the back to order. We sat at a cafeteria style table to eat.
Yuck!
A-OK is exactly what Chris Madrid's is-- nothing more, nothing less.
The cheddar cheesy is good... I like that the patty and cheese are hanging out the sides of the bun--- that's always a good time!
But come on-- what is up with the fries... burning them so we can say they're homemade? Same with the nachos... the tostada tastes a little too toasty.
Oh yeah, and you have to wait in a single file line for like 30 minutes before you can even order your burger. Then it takes about another 10-15 for your order to be done and you gotta walk all the way back up to the front to pick up your order and to get refill if you run outta drink.
Of course, walking to the front is actually more like finding your way through a maze... the seating situation in this place is awful and because it gets so packed, everyone is just standing around in the few spaces that are open.
So overrated. There are better places out there.
I'd been talking up Chris Madrid's to my husband for so long that today was really embarrassing for me. I'm sad to say that either I came on a really off day, or the home of the Macho is just coasting on its reputation.
While the bun was fresh and good, with that sweet smell of bread rising from it; while the onions were flavorful and sweet and the lettuce crisp; while the cheddar cheese was copious and oozing off the sides of the sides of the burger, the patty itself was -
and I use this word sparingly -
Meh.
The meat is the centerpiece of the burger, and this was strictly mediocre. It was the Walmart of beef. It was something I would have found at home on a Wendy's burger. It was dry and crumbly and uninteresting. It was a houseguest who wants to show you his vacation slides.
The beef _used_ to be flavorful and not greasy, but with enough fat in it (and enough heat applied to it) to make a brown crust on the surface of the patty, adding to the already-rich flavor.
Today it was a grey, lifeless lump that sullied my sandwich.
To be fair, the burgers are still better than 99% of the joints in Austin, but that's like saying that the androgynous "Pat" movie was a little better than Pauly Shore's latest flick.
To make things worse, my fries were underdone and soggy, and not in a good way. If there is one.
Greasy, hangover eats of the Tex-Mex gods. Here's how I do it: head over with your partner in crime from the night before, order a small/regular fries 'extra crispy', (plenty enough for 2 or even 3) and plan to split the Tostada Bean cheeseburger. Pile on some pico de gallo (check the salsa bar, they also have vinegar for dipping the fries) before cutting in half and devouring. I enjoy looking into the eyes of my compadre/madre as we savor and share the first bite of this decadent treat.
If you're really hungry just get your own regular sized burger (which is plenty big) instead of sharing. Anybody can get a burger anywhere but you can only get the best bean burger in the world at Chris Madrid's.
Don't bother with the macho, the proportions aren't right, even if you are having a pig-out a trois.
Chris Madrid's is pretty cool. The burgers and prices are pretty good and for a place that has limited parking area, it has a decent amount of seating areas inside.
If you decide to order the macho burger, make sure to bring plenty of people to help you out with it! That thing's huge!
Off the subject real quick: what's up with the name on this listing??? I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that 'Chris' and 'Madrid' were switched. Lol
It took us a while to get here with all the road work and construction (reminded me of downtown Austin) but the twists and turns were worth the food! Hungry after a lacrosse game double header we staggered in and lined up to place our order.
The Nacho Burger was amazing--a hamburger with refried beans (hey--extra protein!), chips, cheese and salsa (nachos--get it?) and all the trimmings. The meat was juicy, perfectly cooked and delicious served on a warm bun. Unlike a previous reviewer my fries were great and there were lots of 'em! Unless you're "Mad Dog" the 300 pound guy who runs the conditioning program for the UT football team--do not order the Macho burger--seriously. It can feed a family of four.
There is a full bar and the atmosphere is "festive casual" with locals, families, and big groups. The tables are large so you most likely will share a table which is sometimes fun and...sometimes not.
This place is good. Their burgers are good, and not pricey at all. The fries are nothing special. Oh and if you love cheese, you'll love these burgers. Cheese was oozing out of my burger and i had to flop it over the top of the bun to eat it properly.
One of the 3 best burger joints in town! Chris recently paved and enlarged the parking lot so there's no excuse not to give it a try if you're not a fan already.
Great burgers, fries, rings and outdoor patio.
This is the most overrated burger joint I have ever been to.
After living in SA for almost 2 years and having never tried it, me and a friend decided to check it out. I went for the macho and was surprised with the paper-thin patty that didn't have anything special about it.
I am in pursuit of the ultimate burger; this is a tough quest. I want good and great; I want quality and sea salt! Chris Madrid's is good but it is not great. i adore sea salt to properly give your burger more flavour and good quality beef in a burger
Chris Madrid's burger are well cooked; you ask for well done and you get what orderered. the authentic environment helps to make your experience unique. but i was not taken away with anything in particular. I need the wow factor and while the food was good it was not great. the fries were disappointed; they were not crispy.
Best burger in SA. Eat the macho chalupa burger. If on northside go to big Z.
My burger was great! I got the Cheddar Cheezy and it was delicious. There was yummy Cheddar goodness melting off the ends of the burger. The fries were decent. I do think that it's kind of strange to walk all the way to the back but I LOVE that they've got a burger with real Cheddar cheese. Now if they could just melt some of that cheese on those fries! Yum-my!
Let's just say we had a poor overall experience which endured long after we left and leave it at that, shall we?
Chris Madrid's does not live up to the hype. People talk about this place like their burgers are the best in town and nothing compares to them. I was so disappointed on my first (and definitely last) visit. I had their jalapeno burger and there was nothing exciting about it. The taste of the meat was bland and the bun was just a plain-ol bun. I would have rather had a quarter-pounder (and enjoy it!) than Chris Madrid's mediocre burgers. I still do not understand why this place was packed.
low expectation is often the key to happiness. do not expect great service. do not expect great atmosphere. do not expect the highest quality freshest ingredients from a local organic farmer.
if you're cool with a big fat greasy burger and jalapeños out of a jar, then this joint might be right up your alley. we got burgers, fries, and nachos. the nachos on their own are pretty weak - but c'mon - you come here for a burger, right?? throw those nachos on top of your super cheesey burger and i think you're on to something. sounds weird, i know... but give it a shot. with low expectations.
4 stars cause they shoot you straight. no surprises here. they don't skimp on quantity.
I first heard of Chris Madrid's when I was working in Michigan. Was at dinner with a couple colleagues who discovered they had both worked in San Antonio in the past. They were talking food and one of them mentioned Chris Madrid's. When they realized they had both eaten there they both jumped up, started pointing at each other and whelping, high-fiving each other, etc. I think they even bumped chests.
So was it that good to warrant such a reaction? Well, I don't know that any restaurant could make me behave that way. But the tostada burger was unique and definitely very very good. It had nacho chips in it, which gave it a nice crunch. I was only in SA for one night and I'm glad I made the trip from Riverwalk to try it (only a 10 min drive).
Bought a Chris Madrid's t-shirt in Japanese too. The lady I bought it from said her brother (the owner?) had been to Japan and so goes the shirt.
Whenever I come home to San Antone, Chris Madrid's is my very first stop. There are burgers piled high with refried beans, nachos to-die-for, chalupas, great french fries, and tons of t-shirts to take home-- one is even in Japanese. Go figure!
This institution has been servin' folks for decades, and my cousin even had her wedding brunch here. This is a family favorite, and great for the whole family.
LOVE the food at this place! just got back from there, i had an old-fashioned hamburger - they pile on the chedder, the bread is super soft and the meat is juicy - perfect! the fries are a little greasy, i've had better, but the burger makes up for it! the only problem w/ this place is its popularity - it's hard to get a table. if it weren't hard to get a table i'd be here every week, the hamburgers are about as good as they get!
Ummmmm.....Burgers......
I'm a San Antonio native, but believe it or not, I just recently made my first trip to Chris Madrid's. It was everything I was hoping for and more.
I was forewarned not to order my burger "macho" which means, loosely translated, "a big-ass burger." I ordered their regular cheeseburger, and lo and behold, it was also quite large. Everything about the burger was perfect. It was juicy, flavorful, and satisfying. My group ordered some fries and onion rings, and even though we were completely stuffed, it was the most satisfying overeating experience I can remember.
The atmosphere is a little rowdy, but not in a bad way. The place is delightfully (and no doubt intentionally) tacky, and the seat yourself environment lends itself to large groups.
Chris Madrid's. The almighty Chris Madrid's. Methinks not. This is the MOST OVERRATED burger joint in San Antonio that serves up some of the most flavorless meat pucks I have ever eaten. Their claim to worldwide fame is questionable. The reason Chris Madrid's wins best burger by the San Antonio Current and S.A. Express News virtually every year is for two reasons. First, San Antonions like to vote, perpetually, within their comfort zone. If you disagree, can you explain why Pizza Hut and Sea Island continually win "Best Pizza" and "Best Seafood?" Gimme a break, people. Second, the largest demographic living in San Antonio favors extremely well-done meat and gobs of cheese (I will leave it at that). I can name five burger joints better than Chris Madrid's off the top of my head, in order, for any out-of-towners or San Antonians interested in a better burger. Those burger restaurants are as follows: #1 Bunsen Burgers, #2 La Tuna, #3 Casbeers, #4 Five Guys, and #5 Gourmet Burger Grill. Note that these burger joints have reasonably priced burgers, not a $20 jobbie from Morton's. Also of note is that Casbeers was virtually located right across the street from Chris Madrids' for years (they recently moved to S. Alamo) and they never got any props. Chris Madrid's is way overrated!
hmmmm tostada burger....hmmmmm
San Antonio, TX
Category: Burgers
San Antonio, TX
Category: Tex-Mex
San Antonio, TX
Category: Mexican
San Antonio, TX
Category: American (Traditional)
San Antonio, TX
Category: Burgers
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