In 2025, Griff’s Hamburgers was temporarily closed for about a month between September and October to make way for some remodeling. Despite the subtle facelift, the San Antonio burger joint continues to keep its prices affordable for folks on the Southside, just like it has for the last 63 years.
The funny thing about Griff’s is how it manages to feel like a one-of-a-kind restaurant seemingly frozen in time, but in reality, it belongs to a larger chain that was founded in Wichita, Kansas. For this week’s Budget Bites, I took a trip to the local Griff’s to see what’s cooking at the long-running burger spot.
When I arrived at Griff’s, it was a few minutes after noon, but luckily, there wasn’t a line yet. You could tell the business has undergone some improvements, but it maintained its retro charm, especially when you consider the A-frame steeple that remains atop the building. Inside, the walls were white aside from a few areas accented by exposed brick, and there was plenty of seating in the dining area.
The Griff’s menu still hangs behind the order counter, and right off the bat, I knew I was going with the classic No. 1 Combo, which includes the double giant cheeseburger, fries and a drink for $10.49. Other combos were around the same prices or lower, but for two patties with cheese in between each layer, the #1 Combo was bound to give me everything I wanted.
After ordering, I received my large Diet Coke and headed to one of the booths to await the rest of my order. Almost as soon as I sat down, my order was called out, so I retrieved a red tray that contained my burger and fries. It was then that the lunch rush started to fill the building, with customers entering from multiple doors on different sides of the restaurant.
First, I went for some fries; Griff’s keeps them simple with light salt and a shoestring cut. Then it was burger time. This double-stacked sandwich had plenty of fresh lettuce, layers of gooey cheese, two substantial patties and a thick toasted bun. It was almost too big to tame, but I brought my appetite with me this time. In no more than 10 minutes, I downed the full meal.
I’m not saying anything revolutionary by praising Griff’s Hamburgers for delivering a quality burger combo at an affordable rate, but it bears repeating. It’s absolutely justified that the room fills up in the afternoon, and I imagine the drive-thru line goes wild come dinner time. If Griff’s wasn’t a go-to before, it certainly will be added to the rotation.
Find it: 2418 Pleasanton Road, San Antonio, TX 78221