daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
It had been over a month since my last burger, so I got excited when Mariko suggested we hit up Hopdoddy. But once I saw the menu, that hot chicken sandwich caught my eye and I couldn’t resist. We ended up splitting our sandwiches, so I still got my burger fix in. However, the chicken sandwich won this time! 😋
I had the afternoon free, so I hopped on the Kishin Line for a solo trip to Himeji. First up was some shopping, then a burger at Brisk Stand. Mariko and I had walked by this place before, and after reading a few reviews about the beef being on the sinewy side, I figured I’d try it for myself. The burger was tasty, though I do prefer my ground beef with fewer chewy bits. The fries were crispy and good, but there weren’t many of them, so overall a solid burger, just a bit pricey for the portion.
After lunch I wandered over to Kōko-en, the garden right next to Himeji Castle, and wow, I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. It’s split into several distinct gardens, each one with its own personality, and I was especially taken with the ponds and streams full of huge koi. Admission was only ¥400, so there’s really no excuse to skip it if you’re already visiting the castle. I’ve seen the castle itself before, so I’m saving that return trip for another day.
After an hour and a half at Kōko-en, I wandered back toward the station and stumbled onto Last One Himeji, a fantastic little craft beer spot. I tried a flight of local brews and ended up chatting with the proprietress and one of the regulars. They were so warm and funny, and it turned into good practice for everyone, my Japanese, their English, and a handy little translator device whenever we got stuck. They also serve taco rice and wild boar tacos, so I already know I’m coming back with Mariko to try those. 🍺
What a great day in Himeji. I really do love this city, and Hyogo in general. 🏯
Tonight Bay and I ordered burgers. We usually hit up In-N-Out, but this time we went with P. Terry’s, a local chain here in the Austin area. I really like their burgers, and honestly their fries edge out In-N-Out’s for me. 🍔 Not that I have anything against In-N-Out’s fries either. I like those too. Just a slight nod to P. Terry’s on that front. 😄
Mariko and Bay are heading off to Japan for a long visit, and before they left, Bay made one important request. Burgers. Happy to oblige! I thought I did a pretty solid job with mine, as pictured below, but let’s be honest. Mariko’s burger assembly skills are on another level.
Today a friend and I took a trip up to Waco to check out the motorcycles at Barger’s All Sports. There were so many cool machines, but one tiny bike completely stole the show. The CF Moto Papio looked like something straight out of Mario Kart. I could not stop thinking about how fun it would be to race around on those little bikes.
After that, we headed over to Health Camp for burgers. I ordered the Double Health Burger and wow, it was incredible. It easily landed a spot in my top ten burgers of all time.
From there we stopped by Ride Now Powersports in Georgetown for a little more browsing before heading back home. The weather was sunny and warm, so I took my beloved motorcycle out for a ride to Sunset Deck. The view out there is always beautiful, and the stretch of gravel road on the way makes the ride even more fun.
I came across a post in the Austin Motorcycling subreddit called “100 mile burger,” where riders share their favorite burger spots that are just far enough away to make the ride feel like an adventure. I saved a handful of recommendations and decided to check one off my list today.
The ride out to Tex Miller’s in Cameron took about an hour and a half, winding through Hutto and Taylor. I’d been that way a couple of months back, so I already knew it would be a good route.
Tex Miller’s is a cozy, family-run spot serving up tasty smashed burgers. I went for the bacon cheeseburger, and it did not disappoint – juicy, flavorful, and just the right amount of messy. Paired with an ice-cold root beer, it was the perfect reward after cruising through the Texas heat with temps pushing into the 90s.
Dinner with the family at HopSaint Brewing Company. Sometimes, you just have to go with the burger – and this one was absolutely delicious!
