The secret recipe of Houston's House-Made veggie burger has inspired many "Almost Houston's" interpretations across the internet. Photo courtesy of chaosinthekitchen.com

If the charbroiled cheeseburger is as classically American as it gets, the veggie burger would be the nation’s unsung hero. The reality of dining out is that every vegetarian hopes to find a fresh and savory meat-free option on any menu they might encounter, but that is not always almost never the case. The veggie burger may not always be the first choice, but is guaranteed to come through for you when searching for sustenance in say, an airport, in a drive-thru or at a sporting event. But why should we penalize this hero with a “last resort” stigma because of our lack of options or poor planning? This week is about revisiting the flavors and varieties that make the veggie burger unique and timeless. Here are five exceptional places to find the most worthy of unsung heros:

Should you find yourself in a steakhouse, let’s hope it’s Houston’s. Their House-Made veggie burger has come to the rescue of so many vegetarian diners. Don’t be deceived by the Monterey Jack cheese, onions, pickles, lettuce or tomato, the magic is in the veggie patty itself.  Which is why the “secret” recipe has created quite a buzz over the internet. To say it’s worth duplicating is putting it mildly.

True Food Kitchen has taken the meatless burger concept to the next level. Here, you’ll find an array of tasty morsels so don’t skip the starters or salads. Filed under Sandwiches is the the “Banh Mi” wrap featuring spicy barbeque tofu, avocado and sesame vinaigrette or “Andy’s Favorite TLT” which of course stands for tempe, lettuce and tomato with vegenaise on whole grain bread.

Pita Jungle is a perfect example of an establishment that revels in the meatless and fans thereof. By that I mean you will be faced with choices here [insert shock and astonishment]. Whether you are in the mood for the Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger, the Veggie or the Chipotle Black Bean Burger, they serve them up fresh and hearty, minus the side of disappointment.

Zinburger, the chic wine & burger bar, offers “Clint’s Almost Famous” veggie burger. With a winning combination of quinoa, chickpeas and vegetables (and don’t forget that glass of wine), you’ll wonder why it’s not yet called Clint’s Famous veggie burger. Shhh, it’s our little secret. Don’t be shy, take advantage of the additional toppings while you’re at it.

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