BUN B’S TRILL BURGERS MAY HAVE STARTED OFF as just a few small pop-ups in Houston, but it has now become a nationally known burger brand. A collaboration between Bun B; Nick Scurfield, and Andy Nguyen of Afters Ice Cream and Dough and Arrow, just got some national screen time this week (more on that later). As Houstonians, we couldn’t be more proud.
The OG Trill Burger, made with 44 Farms beef, Trill Sauce and pickles on a Martin’s Potato Rolls bun, has been seen everywhere. In recent months, the growing brand has made appearances at music festivals such as Coachella and Rolling Loud, with celebrities ranging from David Hasselhoff, Black Thought, DJ Drama and Three Six Mafia serving as taste testers. Further, houstonia announced in April that the pop-up burger joint and its signature burger would be a part of Bored and Hungrythe first-of-its-kind NFT-themed restaurant in Long Beach, Calif.
The meteoric rise of the concept has yet to slow down, and Trill Burgers’ latest feat, advancing to the finals of Good Morning America’s โUnited States of Burgersโ competition, can be added to their extensive resume.
The competition was held Tuesday at Saint Arnold Brewing Companywhere the uber-trill Smashburger brand beat out local competition burger chan. The celebrity panel of judges included Bravo’s Top Chef Season 18 star and restaurateur-chef Dawn Burrell, ABC 13โฒs Chauncy Glover and former Houston Texans Pro Bowler Johnathan Joseph, with the signature Trill Burger winning by a unanimous vote.
In a statement, Bun B expressed his pride in being able to represent Houston in the burger competition. โI put this city on my back ever since we started UGK, and I am going to continue to carry it culturally, not just in music, but now in food. Let’s go, baby.โ
What’s up next, you ask? According to a release, Bun B and Trill Burgers Chef Mike Pham will appear live on GMA again this Friday in New York, competing for the superior title of best burger in America against finalists from other major cities like Atlanta, Philadelphia and Miami.
โWe couldn’t be more proud to represent the city of Houston on GMA in NYC,โ Bun B tells houstonia. โThis is an amazing opportunity to show the world what Trill Burgers is capable of.โ
On Friday, Trill Burgers took home the title of Best Burgers in America. The competition, held in New York City’s Times Square, hosted major city finalists Lucky’s Last Chance of Philadelphia, the Companion of Atlanta and Babe’s Meat & Counter of Miami for the national title of best burgers in America.
The final celebrity panel of judges included celebrity chef Gina Neely, NFL star Tiki Barber, NBA star Jalen Rose, WWE wrestler Titus O’Neil and ABC’s Sam Champion. Trill Burgers received three out of five votes from Neely, Rose and O’Neil to bring home the Golden Burger Trophy.
โIt’s so surreal that it doesn’t make sense,โ Bun B said minutes after the show. โTo be in Times Square having won the best burger in America live on Good Morning America, it’s not even in the realm of things that we would have imagined for this brand. We just wanted to put in hard work and be justified for what we did, and today we got the ultimate validation. I can’t wait to bring this burger to America.โ
According to a release, Trill Burgers has no intention of slowing down. Trill Burgers’ next stop will be the Rock the Bells music in Queens, NY in August. Trill Burgers will announce its next Houston pop-up soon, with a brick-and-mortar location in Houston soon to come.
