Cafe Michael Burger - Galveston

After a long day at the beach, we were starving and found ourselves searching for a place to eat around 9 PM. Luckily, we stumbled upon Cafe Michael and decided to give it a try. The manager was accommodating and allowed us to place our orders even though it was closing time—what a score! The food was excellent; everyone was thrilled with their burgers, and the fries were absolutely fantastic! We ended up with an extra burger by mistake, and when we returned it to the manager, he promptly refunded us for it—thank you, Rob! Every single employee at the restaurant was friendly and cheerful, making our experience even better. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be returning!

This restaurant brought back some great memories for me. I used to visit here as a child in the 80s with my parents after spending a day at the beach, when it was called Maxi Burger. The concept hasn’t changed much, and the food is just as good as I remember. You can enjoy a lovely view of the gulf as you look through the sand dunes and salt grass. Walking on the sandy wooden floor, you can grab a cold German beer and gaze at the ocean while you wait for your meal. They offer a variety of delicious options, including burgers, bratwurst, fried shrimp, fish tacos, and more.

I am forever on the quest for a good burger. Anytime I visit a new city, I scour yelp in search of that cities great burgers. Cafe Michael Burger was suggested by many people so off we went. The restaurant is located across the road from the beach, but has beach views. The patio had garage doors which were open and allowed the nice sea breeze to blow into the restaurant. We placed our order and grabbed a beer from their large cooler. The restaurant is very casual. The tables are plastic with plastic chairs which gave it a cool, laid back feeling. The burgers were large and the patties hand formed. I enjoyed the burger, but I wasn't blown away. The fries were also just OK. We tried both the standard and curly fries with the curly being the better of the two. I'm not sure it was just an off day, but I didn't find the burger to be anything special. Cash only, but there is an ATM inside.

We always wanted to try the burgers, but the place never seems to be open. Well we were finally in luck. Cute place. Obviously a very beachy vibe. You place your order at the counter and called out when it is ready to pick up. The gentlemen at the register taking our order was not friendly at all. We had the campeche burger, Chicken strips and wienerschnitzel. Nothing to rave about. The burger was okay and the wienerschnitzel was very dry. We thought the food was overpriced (but so are many restaurants on the island) especially for a self serve type of establishment.

You walk in, place your order at the counter on the right, and they provide a buzzer that vibrates, lights up, and even announces when your order is ready. Quite fancy! The place can get busy, so I recommend arriving early or being prepared for a wait. The burgers are made fresh to order, and I’ve never been disappointed with any I’ve had here. My personal favorite is the Galvez, which is a fantastic guacamole burger. The fries are also excellent—don’t miss out on the spicy Cajun fries, which are reminiscent of fried pickle chips. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever ordered anything other than a burger here... stick to what they’re famous for! On this visit, we arrived shortly after they opened at 11 AM and were the second customers in line. The first was a local couple already enjoying a beer. Very relaxed vibe—truly a salt life experience! They used to be cash only, but now they accept credit cards. Just a heads-up: their seasonal hours can vary, so always call ahead if you’re visiting during the winter months. During our visit, they mentioned they would be closed in January, and they’ve closed before Christmas in the past, so it’s always good to confirm. Although it’s not a table service establishment, the staff is friendly and it has a nice local feel—definitely not a chain. Brittany at the front was especially nice; she took our order, checked in on us afterward, and was cleaning up tables and managing other tasks. Rob, who was also helping out, was great too. And let’s give a shoutout to Thomas in the back, who consistently does an excellent job cooking delicious food! This spot is always a must-visit for our family whenever we're in Galveston. A classic that has stood the test of time!