Burger Bodega, the smashburger restaurant blending classic New York bodega vibes with Houston flair, announces an After-School Kids Meal in partnership with Houston-based nonprofit Reading With A Rapper (RWAR), launching Tuesday, Dec. 16. The kids’ meal is available Tuesday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. and includes a smashburger, fries, a drink, and exclusive RWAR collectible trading cards. The partnership celebrates the launch of RWAR’s STAR Academy, an innovative six-week learning experience that merges literacy, creativity, and real-world relevance through music, media, and culture. A portion of the proceeds from each meal will go towards literacy grants for Star Academy. 

“We’re excited to partner with Reading With A Rapper on this initiative,” said Burger Bodega Founder and Chef Abbas Dhanani. “Reading With A Rapper’s mission to enhance literacy through creativity resonates with what we’re building at Burger Bodega, a space that brings people together and celebrates Houston.”

STAR Academy is a six-week experience (Grades 3rd-12th) that introduces its proven Edutainment Pedagogy and works with teachers to identify designated ELA issues through an innovative proprietary process, MAP testing, enabling the program to align music and content with each student. Classes for STAR Academy officially start in Spring 2026, with sign-ups available now through readingwitharapper.com/staracademy. 

The partnership also coincides with the STAR Academy Community Tour, featuring live performances by partnering artist BuddieRoe and interactive showcases. The full schedule and complimentary tickets are available online at readingwitharapper.com/event-list. 

“With me being from Houston and my co-founder, Douglas Johnson, being from Brooklyn, partnering with an innovative concept like Burger Bodega allowed us to celebrate both our cultures and make an impact to one community,” said RWAR co-founder and CEO Jarren Small.

The Burger Bodega Reading With A Rapper After-School Kids Meal will be available for three months. Burger Bodega is open Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. For more information, please visit burgerbodega.com or follow along on Instagram at @burgerbodegahtx.

Burger Bodega is located at 4520 Washington Ave.