'Trump Burger' Gets Scathing Reviews From Food Critics: 'Bland'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A new Trump Burger restaurant that opened in Houston, Texas, this month has been panned by food critics, one reviewer describing its burgers as "consistent in blandness."
The pro-Donald Trump chain has been praised by some customers online, one saying it had "amazing food," another that its burgers were "really really good."
Newsweek contacted Trump Burger for comment on Friday outside of regular office hours via email.
Why It Matters
President Trump remains popular with Republican voters 50 percent of whom identify as part of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement according to a recent YouGov/The Economist poll.
Conservative dissatisfaction with mainstream brands has led to the launch of a series of partisan products including 'Ultra Right' beer, created in response to Bud Light's relationship with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
What To Know
On May 9, Trump Burger opened a new outlet in Houston, adding to restaurants in Bellville, Flatonia and Kemah.
The chain, founded by Lebanese immigrant Roland Beainy, is branded around Trump with its restaurants featuring pictures and cutouts of the president along with his campaign material.
Its menu includes the 8oz Trump Cheeseburger and the 16oz Trump Tower, both with fries, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and Trump Sauce.
A burger at Trump Burger restaurant, in Bellville, Texas, on April 19, 2025.
A burger at Trump Burger restaurant, in Bellville, Texas, on April 19, 2025.
RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/GETTY
A Biden Burger is also jokingly listed, which consists of "1 oz. beef, topped with tomato lettuce (not fresh) and our old buns." This satirical product is priced at $50.99 and marked as "not available for cheating reasons."
On Thursday the Houston Chronicle published a review of Trump Burger from Yi-Chin Lee, based on visits to its Houston and Kemah restaurants.
Lee said the chain's burgers were "consistent in blandness" describing one as "like one a cargo-short-wearing dad might serve when he's cosplaying a Food Network grill master once a year for a holiday picnic."
He added: "It's missing the craggy edges which tells you the meat hasn't been on a hot grill for just enough time to develop that beefy flavor. There's no trace of char or smoke. Each bite doesn't leave you wanting more because there's no juiciness, and a slice of American cheese is barely melted."
Referring to the fries, Lee said: "The regular and sweet potato fries arrived hot and crisp on the exterior, but they were either soggy inside or oversalted. I've watched the kitchen pull frozen fries from a brown bag, too. Onion rings also lacked that contrast between a well-fried exterior and tender sweetness of an allium."
However he described the First Lady Chicken Sandwich, a tribute to Melania Trump, as "better than the burger, with a nicely grilled, not-too-dry chicken breast draped with two slices of American cheese."
A review of the chain was also published on May 15 by Eater Houston, a food review website focused around the Texan city.
Author Brittany Britto Garley, who visited multiple Trump Burger branches, concluded: "The chargrilled burger patties are thick but bland, topped with a waxy cheese that lacks any memorable flavor. The fries are crisp, and the meals affordable, clocking in at around the same price as you can get a burger and fries at another, arguably better, burger joint."
People visit and dine at the Trump Burger restaurant in Bellville, Texas, on April 19, 2025.
People visit and dine at the Trump Burger restaurant in Bellville, Texas, on April 19, 2025.
RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/GETTY
Referring to the atmosphere at one outlet Garley said: "As I walked in on a recent Sunday, the tension, likely combined with our nervousness, felt palpable. Here, the vibe wasn't festive—it was stiff, uncertain, and uncomfortable, particularly for me, a woman of color. The other diners present avoided eye contact."
However the Trump Burger branch in Bellville had a positive, 4.4 stars out of five, rating on Google reviews, based on 1,509 customer ratings.
Dave Fredrick, a customer, gave five stars and wrote: "Amazing food. 10/10 will eat here again for absolute pleasure. My burger was made perfectly and so was my spouse['s] burger. I have to say it was close to being the best mushroom and Swiss I've had in a long time!!! Definitely recommend this place!!"
Maureen Guzman also gave five stars adding: "Small town patriotic vibes at Trump Cafe! It didn't disappoint. Burgers were really really good! Will go back next time we are in Bellville."
Victoria Ramos was more critical, only giving three stars out of five. She said: "My family and I visited around 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon and it was moderately busy. Definitely a novelty kind of establishment as I don't feel the need to return, but wouldn't object to another try at a later time."
In a January 2024 article for review website UponArriving, former Trump Burger customer Daniel Gillaspia said: "The veggies on the burger appeared fresh, although the patty didn't quite match my personal taste. It had a reminiscent quality of those cafeteria-style patties—not terrible, just not the kind that leaves you with amazement.
"On the flip side, the fries were a highlight, boasting a nice and crispy texture. All in all, I'd categorize the food as decent, falling in line with your typical burger joint fare."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Trump Burger will continue to expand and to what extent its fortune will be tied to the political trials and tribulations of its presidential namesake.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
31 minutes ago
- New York Post
‘60 Minutes' has history of cozy interviews and self-promotion
Beware of those who publicly declare that their stuff doesn't stink. Recently, CBS newsman and '60 Minutes' regular Scott Pelley made news and noise when he seized the close of the venerable program to deliver an appeal, threat or whatever, depending on how one heard it, to CBS News parent Paramount, as it was reportedly preparing to settle a lawsuit brought last year by President Trump over the show's very cozy interview with VP Kamala Harris during last year's presidential campaign. Pelley cited the week's resignation of '60 Minutes' executive producer, Bill Owens, adding, 'Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways. None of our stories has been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. … Bill made sure they were accurate and fair. Advertisement 'He was tough that way, but our parent company Paramount is trying to complete a merger. The Trump administration must approve it.'
The Hill
33 minutes ago
- The Hill
Ernst doubles down on Medicaid comment with sarcastic video ‘apology'
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) doubled down on a recent quip about Medicaid in a Saturday post on her Instagram story. 'Hello, everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall,' Ernst said in the clip, with a sarcastic tone. On Friday, the Iowa Republican was jeered after brushing aside life or death concerns about cuts to Medicaid, a public health insurance program for low income families and individuals with disabilities. 'See I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member, when a woman who was extremely distraught, screamed out from the back corner of the auditorium, people are going to die,' Ernst said Saturday. 'And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth. So I apologize, and I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well,' she continued. The Iowa lawmaker then encouraged viewers who want to see 'eternal and everlasting life' to 'embrace' Jesus Christ. During her Friday event in Butler, Iowa, Ernst promised that Republicans would 'protect' social services for the most vulnerable. She suggested that those who work and have opportunity for benefits elsewhere 'receive those benefits elsewhere' and leave taxpayer dollars for those eligible for Medicaid. Under the current GOP-House passed spending bill, millions would lose access to healthcare if passed by the Senate. 'Children will get hurt. Women will get hurt. Older Americans who rely on Medicaid for nursing home care and for home care will get hurt. People with disabilities who rely on Medicaid to survive will get hurt,' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said during the debate on the bill, according to Politico. 'Hospitals in your districts will close. Nursing homes will shut down. And people will die. That's not hype. That's not hyperbole. That's not a hypothetical,' he added. Every Democrat who voted in the House, voted against the bill. Some Senate Republicans have pledged to make some edits to the legislation, objecting to changes to Medicaid, the proposed phaseout of clean energy incentives and an increase in the federal debt.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Spike in steel tariffs could imperil Trump promise of lower grocery prices
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum could hit Americans in an unexpected place: grocery aisles. The announcement Friday of a staggering 50% levy on those imports stoked fear that big-ticket purchases from cars to washing machines to houses could see major price increases. But those metals are so ubiquitous in packaging, they're likely to pack a punch across consumer products from soup to nuts. 'Rising grocery prices would be part of the ripple effects,' says Usha Haley, an expert on trade and professor at Wichita State University, who added that the tariffs could raise costs across industries and further strain ties with allies 'without aiding a long-term U.S. manufacturing revival.' Trump's return to the White House has come with an unrivaled barrage of tariffs, with levies threatened, added and, often, taken away, in such a whiplash-inducing frenzy it's hard to keep up. He insisted the latest tariff hike was necessary to 'even further secure the steel industry in the U.S.' That promise, though, could be at odds with his pledge to reduce food costs. Rising grocery prices, Trump has said, were among the biggest reasons voters swung his way. A look around a supermarket makes clear how many products could be impacted by new taxes on steel and aluminum, from beer and soda to dog food to can after can of beans, fruit, tomato paste and more. 'It plays into the hands of China and other foreign canned food producers, which are more than happy to undercut American farmers and food producers,' insists Can Manufacturers Institute president Robert Budway. 'Doubling the steel tariff will further increase the cost of canned goods at the grocery store.' Budway says production by domestic tin mill steel producers, whose products are used in cans, have dramatically decreased in recent years, making manufacturers reliant on imported materials. When those prices go up, he says, 'the cost is levied upon millions of American families.' Food companies were already warily assessing the administration's tariffs before the latest hike, which Trump said would go into effect on Wednesday. The Campbell Co., whose soup cans are a staple for millions of Americans, has said it was working to mitigate the impact of tariffs but may be forced to raise prices. ConAgra Brands, which puts everything from cans of Reddi-Whip to cooking sprays like Pam on supermarket shelves, likewise has pointed to the impact steel and aluminum tariffs have. 'We can't get all of our materials from the US because there's no supply,' ConAgra CFO David Marberger said at a recent Goldman Sachs conference on global staples. Beyond the obvious products — canned foods like tuna, chicken broth and cranberry sauce — economists warn of a spillover effect that tariffs can have on a gamut of items. If the cost to build a store or buy a truck to haul food rise, the prices of products may follow. Most Americans will never buy a tractor, but Babak Hafezi, who runs a global consulting firm and teaches international business at American University, says a price spike in such a big-ticket item vital to food production will spill down to all sorts of other items. 'If a John Deere tractor costs 25% more, consumers pay the price for that,' Hafezi says. 'This trickles down the economy and impacts every aspect of the economy. Some of the trickling is immediate and others are slower to manifest themselves. But yes, prices will increase and choices will decrease.' Trump appeared before a crowd of cheering steelworkers to unveil the new tariffs at a rally outside Pittsburgh. In a statement, David McCall, president of the United Steelworkers International union, called tariffs 'a valuable tool in balancing the scales' but 'wider reforms of our global trading system" are needed. It may be harder to gauge the weight of tariffs on, say, a can of chickpeas versus that of a new car, but consumers are likely to see myriad indirect costs from the levies, says Andreas Waldkirch, an economics professor at Colby College who teaches a class on international trade. 'Anybody who's directly connected to the steel industry, they're going to benefit. It's just coming at a very high cost,' Waldkirch says. 'You may get a few more steel jobs. But all these indirect costs mean you then destroy jobs elsewhere. If you were to add that all in, you come up with a pretty large negative loss.' ___ Matt Sedensky can be reached at msedensky@ and Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
