Houston’s burger wars are getting a new combatant. Killer Burger, the Portland-born fast-casual chain known for its over-the-top Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon burger and stacked bacon creations, is set to open its first Houston storefront in Sawyer Heights next month. The spot is moving into the former Southwell’s Hamburger Grill space on Taylor Street and will pour the brand’s usual mix of burgers, fries and beers on tap. Ahead of opening day, the chain is dangling a promotion that it says could leave one local with “burgers for a year.”
Where and when
The chain’s locations page lists May 6, 2026, as the grand opening date for the Sawyer Heights restaurant at 1909 Taylor Street, Suite A. That timeline, along with the sweepstakes sign-up for the “burgers for a year” giveaway, appears on the company’s Houston page, according to Killer Burger.
Portland roots and Texas push
Founded in Portland in 2010, Killer Burger has grown to more than two dozen units and started its Texas play with openings in San Antonio in 2024. The Sawyer Heights announcement was first reported locally, with company leaders calling Texas the brand’s “launchpad” for growth in the South and Midwest, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Renovation and local permitting
Plans for the Sawyer Heights buildout show the new restaurant will convert roughly 2,500 square feet and undergo an estimated $400,000 interior renovation, with construction slated to begin in February and wrap in May. Those details appear in state permitting records and local coverage, according to Community Impact.
Licensing and beer
Public notices filed under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code show BCL Burgers Sawyer Heights, LLC, doing business as Killer Burger, has applied for a Wine and Malt Retail Dealer’s On‑Premise Permit for the Taylor Street address. The filing signals that beer will be available on tap. The notice lists Brian Leardon as manager for the applicant and identifies the business at 1909 Taylor St., Suite A, according to Daily Court Review.
Menu and opening promotions
The menu leans heavily on stacked bacon burgers in three sizes — pint, original and double — with signature options like the Classic, topped with bacon, tomato and cheese, and the Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon sandwich. Recent reporting notes a “Burgers for a Year” contest tied to the Houston opening, according to the Houston Chronicle. The brand’s site lays out the entry deadlines and drawing date for that promotion, according to Killer Burger.
Why it matters
Company executives say the Sawyer Heights restaurant is meant to deepen Killer Burger’s Texas foothold while adding jobs and one more burger player to the Heights dining mix. In a company release, founder Thomas “TJ” Southard called Texas the chain’s launchpad for southern expansion, and CEO Adam Sanders described the state as “rich with opportunity,” according to GlobeNewswire.
