Houston has a New Burger Emperor and He’s a Classically Trained Chef and Restaurateur from California

Houston has a New Burger Emperor and He’s a Classically Trained Chef and Restaurateur from California

Pham winning the Burger Impossible episode on Chopped (photo by @theenclave.la on Instagram)

CHEF AND CO-OWNER Mike Pham of Houston’s Trill Burgers was the winner of “Burger Impossible” on a recent Chopped Food Network episode and took home $10,000. This honor came on the heels of winning the Best Burger in America competition on Good Morning America in 2022.


What inspired a fine dining chef to switch to burgers? “I’ve always had an affinity towards burgers. Growing up in Little Saigon in Southern California, prominent Vietnamese cultural influences surrounded me, and having a burger in my hand was my gateway to pure Americana. It holds sentimental real estate in my heart,” Pham tells CityBook.

Pham, no stranger to the food industry, moved to Houston this year to open Trill Burgers and is proud to call H-Town home. He and Trill Burgers partner Andy Nguyen worked on dozens of food concepts together in his native California. Pham was first introduced to additional Houston Trill Burgers partners Bun B and Nick Scurfield through Nguyen. Besides the brick-and-mortar location, there are satellite Trill Burger outposts at NRG Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium.

“After high school, I moved to Los Angeles for culinary school and pursued the kitchens there. During my time in L.A., everyone was pushing the burger envelope. It inspired me to take up the art of making burgers.” At one point in the Chopped episode, Pham said that the key to a perfect burger is balancing sweet, sour, bitter, savory and saltiness.

As for the $10K he won, Pham plans to create a youth culinary program that will assist in learning the skills to succeed in the business. “My dream has always been to help others achieve their dreams in the culinary world, especially the next generation.”

Pham travels back and forth to California for work and to visit family, but he manages to stay grounded during long hours at bustling Trill where his focus is on quality control. “I give myself the first hour of the day to workout, read, meditate, take my calls and answer emails. I believe if I have complete control of the first hour of my day, I’ll have complete control of the rest of my day.”

Pham and his wife Hali are raising three youngsters, ranging from two to six years old. When in California, he likes hiking, surfing and enjoying the outdoors, ’natch. In Houston, he’s been spending much of his leisure time scouting out the city and learning about the diverse and expansive culinary scene.

Although he’s committed to the growth of Trill Burgers, a future aspiration is to develop other concepts for Houston. “I would love to achieve a Michelin star one day.

“The love and support I have experienced here still leaves me speechless. ‘Southern Hospitality’ is a real thing, and it's alive and well in Houston,” says Pham about our city.


The Trill Burger

Pham and family

Pham in Japan

People + Places
‘Culture of Service and Accountability’ Supports Mission of Orion EMS

Gerard O’Brien, President/CEO & Founder, and Sumi Patel, Vice President

HOW DID YOU get where you are today? The EMS industry, quite literally, never stops. Our staff and units are called to serve our community every hour of every day; there are no weekends, holidays, or “days off.” Obviously, the demands of EMS are not for the faint of heart, and we have established a culture of service and accountability that is different than nearly every other organization. Our leadership team sets this culture by exhibiting their passion for this industry daily. Their tireless dedication makes a better experience for our staff when they come to work and for our patients and clients when they call on us to transport their loved ones.

Keep ReadingShow less

David Adickes and Bun B

SOME OF THE CITY'S most influential VIPs gathered at Steak 48 in River Oaks District for the annual toast to CityBook’s “Leaders & Legends,” a recurring franchise for the publication whose past honorees have including a Tony and Grammy winner, a Nobel laureate, a member of Congress, an Olympic medalist, multiple billionaire business moguls, TV stars, artists and scientists of every sort, and the city’s most glamorous and generous socialites.

Keep ReadingShow less
Parties

Tay Butler’s Lawndale installation, spring 2023

DESPITE ITS PAIN and pitfalls, there’s no denying that the pandemic inspired artists like never before. This season, one of the most ambitious public-art projects to emerge from the Covid years comes to a close.

Keep ReadingShow less
Art + Entertainment