Tommy’s Hamburgers — Fort Worth’s Beloved Family-Owned Burger Institution, Serving Hand-Formed Patties Made with 100% All-Natural Nolan Ryan Beef Across Three Cowtown Locations Since 1983
Some of the best Fort Worth stories start humbly, and Tommy’s Hamburgers is one of the city’s favorites. Back in 1983, Tommy and Glenda Smith opened a Texaco gas station and convenience store off Loop 820 near Lake Worth, and Glenda — armed with a pancake griddle and a talent for feeding people — started cooking short-order fare for Lockheed Martin workers at lunch and high school students after school. Four decades later, what began on that humble flat-top has grown into three beloved Fort Worth locations and a legacy as one of the most consistently satisfying neighborhood burger joints in Tarrant County. For the past decade, the star ingredient has been hand-formed all-beef patties made exclusively with 100% all-natural beef from Goodstock by Nolan Ryan — the Hall of Fame pitcher turned Texas rancher whose commitment to raising quality cattle without hormones or antibiotics aligns perfectly with Tommy’s longtime dedication to doing things right. As owner Kelly Smith puts it: carrying on the family business means maintaining the same hometown feel her parents started, and that warmth is palpable at every location.
Every burger at Tommy’s is made fresh to order — seasoned simply and cooked to the customer’s preference — and served with fresh-cut toppings on a soft bun alongside house-made fresh-cut fries and hand-battered onion rings that regulars describe as among the best in the city. The menu also features a Green Chile Goat Cheese Burger and a Cheddar Burger among the highlights, plus sandwiches, fish, chicken strips, cheese fries, and a bunless burger salad for the low-carb crowd. Beer and wine are available at all three locations, and Tommy’s Burgers + Brews on Mall Circle takes things further with 20 craft beers on tap, weekly Pint Nights in partnership with local breweries, and a bar that seats 10–12 guests for happy hour in a beautifully designed space with a living succulent wood wall. The Judges’ Choice Burger Award at the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival 2023 confirms what regulars have known for years — Tommy’s is the real deal.
Tommy’s operates three Fort Worth locations: the original at 5228 Camp Bowie Blvd. (817-569-1111), Tommy’s Hamburger Grill & Patio at 2455 Forest Park Blvd. near TCU (817-920-1776), and Tommy’s Burgers + Brews at 1736 Mall Circle in Ridgmar (817-759-9088). All three are open Monday through Wednesday and Sunday from 11am to 8pm, and Thursday through Saturday from 11am to 9pm. Dine-in, curbside pickup, takeout, and DoorDash delivery are all available. Whether you’re a first-timer or a decades-long devotee, Tommy’s Hamburgers delivers the kind of honest, satisfying, no-pretense burger that Fort Worth has been proud to call its own since 1983. For more of the city’s best burgers and neighborhood dining, explore the Fort Worth restaurant guide on Selling the Fort.
