Burger Showdown 7.0
About this Event
San Antonio's Juiciest Night Returns!
Tickets are now available for the most epic burger battle in South Texas!
Homegrown Chef's "Burger Showdown" is back for its 7th year, bringing together some of San Antonio's most talented chefs for one unforgettable night of burgers, community and friendly (yet fierce) competition.
Join us on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Cherrity Bar as ten culinary heavyweights go head-to-head in pursuit of burger glory. This tasty event for a cause (TBD) has become one of San Antonio's most anticipated culinary events, where creativity, technique and pure burger passion collide.
This isn't your average food event. Guests get to try each burger from every competing chef, French fries made by the Modern Chili Queen herself - Chef Diana Anderson, sweet treats, and access to beer and cocktails, along with the chance to vote for their favorite burger of the night.
Please Note: Cherrity Bar will have beer, cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Drinks are not included with ticket admission.
❤️ Beneficiary
This year's beneficiary is the nonprofit arm of favorite local eatery, Comfort Cafe —SerenityStar Recovery — which provides a safe, sober & spiritual environment for families to recover from their addictions. SerenityStar Recovery is based here in Bexar County, and the program is available to anyone who struggles with addiction, not limited to those who work in the culinary/hospitality industry.To learn more about the program, please visit their website at www.serenitystar.org
💖 Sponsors
HeartBrand Beef
Texas-raised and renowned for exceptional marbling, tenderness and rich flavor, HeartBrand Certified Akaushi Beef® brings one of the world’s most prized Wagyu breeds from ranch to table.
Food Related
A premier specialty food purveyor connecting chefs with exceptional ingredients from around the world, Food Related is a go-to resource for quality, variety and culinary inspiration.
Unifresh Produce and Specialty Foods
Rooted in San Antonio, this family-owned company supplies premium produce and specialty foods to many of the city’s favorite restaurants and culinary leaders, with a passion for freshness, quality and exceptional service.
Cherrity Bar – Host Venue
A beloved San Antonio gathering place where great food, cocktails and community come together, Cherrity Bar pairs a laid-back indoor-outdoor setting with a unique mission of giving back to local charities.
*Interested in sponsoring one of San Antonio's premier culinary events? Please contact us for sponsorship opportunities.
🍔 Competing Chefs
(Listed Alphabetically)
Chef Stephannie Beyers
Mexico Ceaty
The Mexican Burger
Housemade concha bun with cochinita pibil, refried beans, pickled red onions and habanero.
Chef Joseph Casanova
The Local Void
2025 People's Choice Best Burger Winner
Mark of the Beast
Cold-smoked bison & venison and boar & bacon patties layered with smoked goat cheese, fermented pickles, smoked tomato-truffle jam, arugula & radicchio and black garlic beef tallow aioli on a Black Hole bun made with activated charcoal and Pumpkinator Stout.
Chef Jared Cattoni
Dos Sirenos Brewing
Reuben St-St-Stuttered Burger
Cold-smoked pastrami brisket patty topped with hot Gruyère mustard Mornay, kimchi kraut and 1000 Sirens sauce on a sesame-seed pumpernickel bun.
Chef Leo Davila
Esencia at The St. Anthony Hotel
TBA
Chef Phillip Gonyea
Krazy Katsu
2025 Overall Runner-Up
Big Red Yokozuna Burger
This is their take on the San Antonio tradition of barbacoa and Big Red with a Krazy Katsu twist. Includes: Big Red slider bun, HeartBrand Certified Akaushi Beef® patty, housemade barbacoa, melted Oaxaca cheese, yuzu-lime crema, crispy onions, daikon microgreens, micro cilantro, furikake and fresh lime.
Chef Anthony "Nene" Hernandez
Private Chef
2025 Judges' Choice Best Burger Winner
La Madrina Reyna Burger
HeartBrand Certified Akaushi Beef® patty, blanco queso Americano, crisped sausage & mesquite pod jam, smoked chimichurri aioli, on a butter toasted brioche bun. Chef's play on a classic Mexican burger highlighting a little south Texas flair by using Mertz sausage sourced from Westside San Anto, and mesquite wood from our tio's backyard.
Chef Erica Rodriguez
Cuba 1918
La Quintana Frita Burger
A Cuban-inspired burger with a subtle San Antonio edge —seasoned HeartBrand Certified Akaushi Beef®, pork and chorizo frita is layered with melted Oaxaca cheese, bright mojo-pickled red onions, fresh-fried shoestring potatoes, and a tangy guava-chipotle ketchup on a toasted garlic mojo potato bun, garnished with a crisp plantain chip.
Chef Michael Urbano
Cappy's
Cappy’s Famous "Felix" Bean Burger
Goodstock by Nolan Ryan beef layered with black bean purée, Longhorn cheddar, chili cheese Fritos, smoked tomato salsa, guacamole and a marinated jalapeño toreado on a housemade brioche bun.
Chef Jerrel Williams
Shepherd of the Hills
The Je Ju Burger
A Korean-inspired burger — slow-braised ribeye chuck roast and brisket, marinated in soy, teriyaki, honey, mirin and gochujang, deepened with garlic paste and Coke. Layered with house-made kimchi, a bold Bulgogi BBQ sauce, and finished with an orange crispy sushi rice crisp for crunch and citrus lift. All of it lands on a tangzhong brioche bun so soft it melts before the first bite. Bold. Fermented. Unapologetically Korean.
🏆 Awards
Four chefs will take home bragging rights this year.
People's Choice Best Burger
Determined by guest voting.
Judges' Choice Best Burger
Selected by our expert judging panel.
Overall Runner-Up
Based on combined scoring across categories.
Kids' Favorite Burger
Selected by our youngest and most enthusiastic burger expert.
👨⚖️ Meet the Judges
David Elder
Award-winning food writer, television personality, and last year's Burger Showdown judge.
Chef Kaius
Two-time People's Choice Best Burger winner and one of San Antonio's most creative culinary talents.
Mike Dubya
Creator of "As Seen in SA" and one of the city's most recognizable food personalities.
Liam Garcia
Returning as judge for the Kids' Favorite Burger category after helping launch the award in 2025.
🍔✨ VIP Tickets
Want the ultimate Burger Showdown experience?
VIP guests receive:
• Early entry at 6:00 p.m.
• First access to all burgers
• One complimentary beer
• Three voting tokens to support your favorite chefs
VIP tickets are limited and expected to sell out.
🍟 What to Expect
• More burgers than you can eat!
• French fries
• Dessert
• Guest voting
• Culinary camaraderie & community
• Bragging rights for the winning chefs
Whether you're a burger purist or an adventurous foodie, you'll experience some of the most creative burgers being served anywhere in Texas on this one-night-only!
❤️ Why It Matters
Burger Showdown was created to celebrate San Antonio's culinary community while giving back to causes that make a difference.
Every ticket purchased helps support our annual charitable mission while showcasing the incredible chefs who make San Antonio one of the nation's most exciting food cities.
Our 2026 beneficiary announcement is coming soon.
🎟 Don't Miss Out
From classic smash burgers to wildly inventive creations, Burger Showdown 7.0 promises another unforgettable evening of food, fun, and fierce competition.
Tickets are expected to sell quickly.
Gather your friends, bring your appetite, and prepare to crown San Antonio's next burger champion.
Refund Policy
All ticket sales are final.
In the rare event of an act of God or other unforeseen circumstance requiring the event to be postponed, tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date.
If you are unable to attend the rescheduled event, your ticket price will be refunded minus Eventbrite processing fees.
Questions?
Email: [email protected]
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 59.75 to USD 117.51
