Burger Showdown 6.0

San Antonio, fire up your appetite—because the Burger Showdown is back and bigger than ever! On Friday, October 10, the grills will be sizzling at Cherrity Bar as 12 of the Alamo City’s top chefs go head-to-head in the ultimate burger battle—all to benefit Mercy Chefs and their vital flood relief efforts in Kerrville.

If you’ve never been, this isn’t just another foodie event. This is one of the coolest culinary throwdowns in Texas, where bold creativity meets serious grill skills and a searing passion to be the best—and you get to taste it all! That includes all the burger sliders you can eat, decadent French fries from JD's Chili Parlor's Chef Diana Anderson and Texas Cookie Shop's incredible cookies for dessert. Did we mention, we'll also have Karaoke that night, brought to you by KJ Tammy Cruz.

Please Note: Cherrity Bar will have an array of beer, cocktails and more available for purchase the night of the event. Drinks are not includes with your ticket purchase.

💖 This Year’s Sponsors:

This year’s Burger Showdown is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, including Food Related, Texas Cookie Shop, and our incredible host venue, Cherrity Bar. Their commitment to San Antonio’s culinary community helps make this one of the city’s most anticipated—and most delicious—events of the year. Additional sponsors will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

🍔 This Year’s Competitors (in alphabetical order) & Their Mind Blowing Burgers:

Chef Justin Bluhm – STXBBQ

Blackberry Bacon Cheesecake Slider: Mesquite-grilled Akaushi patty topped with smoked cream cheese and macerated blackberry sauce, served on a brioche bun with arugula, prosciutto bacon, and candied chilies.

Chef Ernie Bradley – Cherrity Bar

The “I Blue Myself” Burger: Ground brisket patty with miso garlic shiitake mushrooms, creamy blue cheese, and pancetta, all nestled in a soft bun.

Chef Jared Cattoni – Dos Sirenos Brewing

Pomegranate Al Pastor Burger: Pomegranate sticky-glazed pork patty al pastor, layered with pineapple pepper jam, shishito flameado, micro cilantro, all on a sesame seed bun.

Chef Joseph Casanova – Bandit BBQ & Burgers

Bandit Prime Brisket Burger: Mesquite-smoked Angus beef patty on a locally-made sweet sourdough bun, loaded with Bandit Prime chopped brisket, white American cheese, mayo, Signature Spicy Grandad’s Sauce, red onions, and house-made pickles.

Chef Marlen Davila – San Antonio Zoo

Texas Firecracker: Juicy patty made from house-smoked brisket and spiced bacon, crowned with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, fiery jalapeño-pineapple pickle, tangy red onion, and a rich garlic aioli on a toasted bun.

Chef Guidon Degollado – Cuba 1918

Meet the Cuban Frita: A juicy smash patty of seasoned ground pork and beef, layered with melty Swiss cheese, tender roasted pork, sweet grilled onions, crispy shoestring fries, and finished with a zesty housemade Cuban red sauce on a toasted round bun.

Chef Francisco Estrada – Naco

La Chilanga Smash: Smashed burger layered with chilaquiles in a creamy cheese jalapeño sauce.

Chef Greg Ferris – Bobbie’s Cafe

Biscuits & Glory: Grilled butter biscuit stacked with a beef and country sausage patty, crispy fried green tomato, maple candied bacon, and a runny over-easy egg. Crowned with a scoop of pimento grits, drizzled with hot honey, and finished with white pepper gravy.

Chef Jona Helmy – Sahara Samurai’s

Kefta SLamb Burger w/ Chili Crisp Aioli: A perfect mix of lamb and beef seasoned with Shobu spice blend, chopped garlic, peppers, and Japanese tare, topped with medium cheddar cheese, house pickles, thin-sliced onions, and chili crisp aioli, served on a toasted milk bun.

Chef Anthony “Nene” Hernandez – Milpa

Me Vale Verde: Beef and pork chorizo verde smash patty with nopale ranchero, whipped requesón, and limón aioli on a toasted potato roll.

Chef Kaius – The Chef Kaius Xperience

The Bad Bunny XP (inspired by the team's trip to Puerto Rico this past summer): Grilled chuck blend burger topped with smoked and braised oxtail, guava peach marmalade, queso de freír, and papitas, all on a grilled potato bun.

Chef Jeanette Perez – Chef Brian West Inc.

The Burger, Bee 🐝: Blended patty of Applewood bacon, beef, and sharp white cheddar, topped with caramelized onions, homemade pickles, chef's signature BeeBeeQueen Sauce, and bibb lettuce, on a custom bun that’s the lovechild of Japanese milk bread and brioche.

🍔✨VIP Tickets

With a VIP ticket, you’ll kick off the night in style! Enjoy early entry at 6:00 p.m.—a full 30 minutes before the crowd—to get first dibs on those chef-crafted burgers. You’ll also receive one beer of your choice, a swag bag loaded with goodies, and three voting tokens to cast your ballot for the chefs who wow your taste buds. It’s the ultimate way to savor every bite while supporting a great cause!

🍟 What’s New in 2025

Kids’ Burger Category – This year, we're adding a fourth award by request. Burger Showdown founder Kimberly Suta’s beloved cousin, Liam Garcia—a budding food enthusiast and cook—has requested to sponsor an award for “Kids’ Favorite Burger.”

Texas Cookie Shop is back to sweeten the night with over-the-top treats.

Returning sponsors from last year are keeping the energy high and the flavors flowing.

❤️ Why It Matters

This year's event from Burger Showdown 2025 go directly to Mercy Chefs, a nonprofit dedicated to serving hot, chef-prepared meals to those in crisis. This year’s focus: supporting flood relief efforts in Kerrville.

🎟 Don’t Miss Out

From smoky, char-grilled classics to wildly inventive flavor bombs, you’ll sample it all while mingling with San Antonio’s best culinary talent. Tickets will go fast—because when the city’s burger masters gather under one roof, you know it’s going to be a night to remember. Also note that Early Bird Tickets are currently available, as well as VIP Tickets. Early bird tickets will only be available until September 1, 2025.

Refund Policy

All ticket sales are final, and no refunds will be issued. In the rare case of an act of God or other unforeseen circumstance that forces the event to be postponed, the event will be rescheduled. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled date, your ticket will be reimbursed minus Eventbrite fees.

Questions?

Email [email protected].

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Cherrity Bar, 302 Montana Street, San Antonio, United States