Griff’s Hamburgers, a San Antonio institution since 1963, continues to serve up classic burgers and shakes to generations of South Side residents. The restaurant, which opened on Pleasanton Road over 59 years ago, has become a home of sorts to many in the community.
A Legacy of Flavor and Nostalgia
General manager Marcelino Leon, who has been at the helm since 2003, recalls stories from long-time customers who remember visiting Griff’s in the 1960s. ‘They’d come here and get burgers for 15 cents,’ Leon said. ‘Two bags of them.’ These customers, now grandparents, would take the food to go and head to a drive-in theater, creating memories that have lasted a lifetime.
Today, Griff’s remains a popular destination, with a menu that includes classic burgers, shakes, and fries, as well as newer items like steak finger baskets and BBQ bacon cheeseburgers. The restaurant’s best-seller is the No. 1 combo, a double giant cheeseburger with fries and a drink for $10.69.
A Commitment to Quality and Cleanliness
Leon attributes Griff’s sustained popularity to its focus on flavor, pricing, and cleanliness. The restaurant has undergone multiple renovations, including a recent kitchen modernization that cost over $1 million. ‘When we reopened, we did two times more business than before we closed,’ Leon said. ‘People will come in and can’t see the new kitchen. But they taste the difference.’ Griff’s has also received recognition for its cleanliness, earning three Blue Plate Awards from News 4 San Antonio for perfect or near-perfect health inspection scores.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
