As the lights flick on for lunch hour at Catie’s Pies, the kitchen comes alive with sizzling pans and rising steam — all in preparation for one of the most unexpected burgers in Abilene.
Owner Caitilin Wallace is serving up the “Big Poppa,” a hamburger-inspired hand pie stuffed
with ground beef, fire-roasted jalapeños, roasted garlic cream cheese, and bacon. It’s a creative twist that often catches customers off guard.
“I’ll bring them the burger pie and they’ll say, ‘I ordered the burger,’ and I’ll say, ‘Yep, this is it,’”
Wallace said. “They give me a weird face, and then they say it was good — just not what they expected.”
signature burger this year.
Wallace and her team are among seven downtown restaurants competing in the third annual Abilene Burger Brawl, an event hosted by the Downtown Abilene Initiative. The goal is simple: draw people downtown during one of the slowest times of year for local businesses — the post-holiday winter slump.
Participants are encouraged to visit each location, try the signature burgers, and vote for their favorite.
“It’s been really fun seeing people go to the other restaurants and kind of become their own little food critics,” Wallace said.
Cameron Sloan, Talent and Emerging Business Specialist with the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, says getting involved has never been easier.
“You can go to any participating location or come to the Chamber or Convention and Visitors Bureau and pick up a Burger Brawl card,” Sloan said. “It’s a punch card, sort of like a passport. Once you’ve tried the burgers, you turn it in and vote on your favorite.”
Past winners The Ice House returned this year with another bold creation: a wagyu beef patty topped with applewood-smoked bacon, house strawberry jam, peanut butter, and pepper jack cheese on a potato bun.
General Manager Brent Terry says the Burger Brawl has helped offset what is typically a slow season.
“Everyone says January is one of the slowest times of the year, but we haven’t really seen that,” Terry said. “The Burger Brawl boosts downtown eateries, plus we promote live music and try to put out a good product.”
Grain Theory, the two-time reigning champion for most burgers sold, is aiming for a third consecutive title — but they’re also chasing Best Burger honors.
“We’ve won most burgers sold two years in a row, and we’re hoping for the third,” said Rani Burk, Grain Theory’s events, engagement, and marketing manager. “But we’re also going for best burger — double hardware.”
Their entry this year is a jalapeño ranch burger built for spice lovers, featuring crispy jalapeños, jalapeño ranch dressing, and jalapeño cheese.
Abilene resident Caela sampled the burger with her husband and immediately approved.
“It’s delicious,” she said. “It’s a little spicy — crispy jalapeños, jalapeño ranch, jalapeño cheese. For us, it’s perfect.”
The couple has made Burger Brawl a yearly tradition, traveling around town to support participating restaurants.
“It’s a neat thing for Abilene,” Caela said. “We like supporting the different restaurants that take part.”
Grain Theory has also felt the economic boost from the event.
“Abilene is growing every day with Dyess and the AI center, and growth to the south,” Burk said.
“Bringing people downtown during an already slow time is huge for us, so we love being a part of it.”
Burger Brawl punch cards are due by Monday, February 16 at 5 p.m. Details on participating locations, pricing, and burger descriptions can be found at downtownabi.com.