The winner of our best burger poll is all about beef, cheese and tradition
There’s a certain comfort in a burger that doesn’t try too hard. No fancy sauces or trendy toppings, just beef, cheese and the kind of simplicity that’s stood the test of time.
That’s what Fort Worth readers said they love most about Kincaid’s Hamburgers, the winner of the Star-Telegram’s 2025 Best Burger poll.
For nearly eight decades, Kincaid’s has done things the same way: fresh Black Angus beef, hand-cut vegetables and burgers made to order.
In a city full of competition, that consistency earned Kincaid’s more than 100 votes and reaffirmed its place as a Fort Worth staple.
“We’ve been around for 79 years, and we’re just really blessed that people still keep coming,” said co-owner Jonathan Gentry, who runs the restaurant alongside his brother Christian. “If it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t be here.”
So what makes Kincaid’s stand out among Fort Worth’s crowded burger scene? Here’s what to know.
What makes Kincaid’s burgers different?
Kincaid’s legacy started in 1946 as a grocery store on Camp Bowie Boulevard, where butcher O. R. Gentry began grilling leftover beef trimmings on a small griddle for customers.
The smell caught on, and soon, burgers became the main attraction. Nearly 80 years later, that same philosophy of keeping things simple still defines the restaurant’s approach.
“We grind our meat and make our own patties every day,” Jonathan Gentry said. “We use top-quality ingredients, cut our own vegetables and try to cook every burger to order, just putting the same attention and care that’s been passed down through three generations.”
That attention to detail is what’s made Kincaid’s a Fort Worth favorite for generations. Each burger is hand-packed with crisp lettuce, tomato, pickles and just a swipe of mustard — nothing unnecessary, nothing pretentious.
What are the most popular items on the menu?
While every Kincaid’s regular has their go-to order, Gentry said one thing stays consistent: “The classic cheeseburger and onion rings are our home run.”
The onion rings, cut and battered fresh in-house each morning, have become a sidekick as beloved as the burger itself. Add in a hand-spun Blue Bell milkshake and you’ve got a meal that’s been perfected across decades.
Gentry’s personal favorite is “a bacon cheeseburger with onion rings and a chocolate milkshake,” he said with a laugh. “You can’t go wrong with that.”
Why Fort Worth still loves Kincaid’s
Part of Kincaid’s charm is that it feels more like a neighborhood gathering spot than a restaurant.
The communal tables invite strangers to sit side by side, and the familiar hum of conversation fills the room no matter the hour.
“This place is for friends to meet and eat,” Gentry said. “We’ve got big tables so families and coworkers can sit together, but you’ll often meet a new friend just sitting across the way. Everybody’s welcome here.”
That sense of community, paired with nostalgia and quality, is what keeps customers loyal after all these years. Even as new burger joints pop up across the city, Kincaid’s remains steady, familiar and proudly old-school.
“We love Fort Worth, it’s the best city in the world,” Gentry said. “This has been our home for 79 years, and we just want to keep continuing that legacy for many more to come.”
From a grocery store with a single griddle to a five-location institution, Kincaid’s has earned its place in Fort Worth’s story not through flash or reinvention, but through faithfulness to what works.
For those who haven’t stopped by yet, Gentry has one message: “Come hungry and come ready to make a friend. We’ll take care of the rest.”
