Grandpa's Burger Haven

This place is a blast from the past, I don’t know any other way to describe it. It’s a takeout only, burger stand. They have two options for type of beef, which is the only thing that makes this place slightly confusing. They have hamburgers, and steak burgers. The steak burgers cost more because they use a more expensive cut of beef. My advice would be to go as simple as possible. Too many toppings can mess up the ratio of this burger. I’d recommend double steak with cheese, add onions. I’ve had the normal hamburger with two added toppings and it wasn’t a great experience. 4.5* rounded to 5

Absolutely fabulous old school burger! Truly a throwback experience and in not just the atmosphere (take out only, 80s style menu board, PA system, simple menu) but also old school in quality! Meaning EXTREMELY good quality for the price! Definitely recommend the cheese and bacon on the steak burger. The small was bigger than a modern big Mac and twice as tasty. We are totally coming back soon and getting the small double steak with cheese and bacon! I may even get fries for the first time in years since this place looks like they actually make GOOD fries. 11/10 would recommend 🍔

Update to owners response. My colleague and I were at this location just before noon on Friday June 21, 2024. The response to this review does not deny anything specific, nor address the facts given in the review, and just says to go away you're not worth it. I hope anyone considering spending money here understands their value in their customers. The information in this review is 100% true and accurate. I use to love this place. The staff is always rude, but I always overlooked it. They act like you're bothering them while keeping them in business. But after I ordered a large double with specifically no cheese which was correct on the reciept, and I brought it back and it was remade using the same bottom bun which had cheese on the bread, pickels and onions, I just took it home and gave it to the dogs. I removed the pickels and onions of course. Now I am very picky when it comes to food, it's almost like a mental illness, but after this experience I will just take my money elsewhere. I also watched the kitchen like a hawk and the double meat with the cheese in the middle that I got did not go in the trash. It was just left on the counter while they finished with my 3/4 of a new sandwhich for me, and then I left before seeing what was actually done with it. Someone else probably got it. And I am sure it's a health code violation as well. GROSS!

A simple, unassuming burger stand, with burgers that are simply done, but done simply good with their skillet-seared, home-styled burger that has crispy edges and just the familiar basics that still comes together just right and keeps it manageable. If you want more burger than bun, get at least the double. The onion rings were amazing, and probably the best I've had anywhere, extra crispy with just a hint of sweetness in the breading. The whole place is a time wrap throwback to the old-time carhops. There is only outdoor seating, though it seemed most got their food to go or ate in the car, and when they call for your food you can hear them from pretty much anywhere around their lot. Oct 2023

When they say it's a LARGE burger they mean it, OK? So I walk in to the standing room only lobby and there are already three people ahead of me. Orders go out first, and then you place your order in. No seating or dining area, everything is to go. They have a handy burger size chart that you ignore at your own peril. I am a hungry man who likes a big lunch so I got the large double cheeseburger. I get back to the office, take the picture you see before you, and have a fantastic meal. Thin, crispy, fresh patties, fresh lettuce, juicy tomato, cheese, and that's all you need. More burger than bun, but in a good way. This is an old-school burger and it's delicious. It's ten bucks we'll spent. It's a confident burger, and I appreciate that. No frills needed. Will be back again. Thanks!

Exactly what I'm looking for in a fast food style burger. The smashed beef patties are perfectly crispy, toppings plentiful and fresh, and everything put together carefully with even distribution. Perfection. Onion rings are also fantastic and shakes are delicious.

Huge burger! Really great service. Could use more seasoning!

Absolute gem. Fantastic smash burgers, my favorite in denver by far. I get the steakburger on the big bun. Amazing location, a real old school burger shop. The malts are great, as are the fries and onion rings. I cannot praise them enough. Tipping is not an option if you pay by card, so bring cash if you plan to tip.

Amazing burgers, classic old school type of joint. Fries are super crispy and yummy. I've only had the cheeseburgers, regular size and the big size. The big one really is large! I have yet to try the chicken sandwiches or the steakburgers, so we will see! Shakes are A1

I have this problem that I'm immediately a fanboy of any business that's...well...been in business for a long time. Grandpa's Burger Haven has been a Denver mainstay since the 1960's. It's an old school burger joint doing it their way or the highway. And who doesn't admire that? Now there are a few rules when you come here. The words "modern" or "contemporary" or "21st century" are nowhere to be found. The burgers are gigantic, roughly the size of a large donut like an apple fritter. They have regular hamburgers or steakburgers, and they're available in different sizes. From the outside looking in, you'll notice this is a burger stand not a sit down restaurant. There is ZERO seating. These burgers are meant to be enjoyed in your car like the drive thrus of yesteryear. You can try to wait until you're home to dive in, but the greasy smell of that brown bag will force you to dive in. I burnt my mouth devouring those onion rings. Man, these were delicious! Crunchy, well seasoned and piping hot. I love a good onion ring and these were damn tasty. I couldn't believe the size of the large cheeseburger. The burger and bun are the size of your face. All burgers come with mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. You might like your burgers differently, but I, in fact, love the simplicity of these old school burger flavors. Definitely on #TeamMustard in this house. It's a behemoth to eat. It won't blow your mind, but to me it was properly cooked and dressed. I liked it! For those who love those big, big buns, Grandpa's Burger Haven has you covered. Love it or hate it, they've been in business longer than half of the population has been alive. And to me, you have to respect places that have stood the test of time.

We've passed this place for 17 years and tonight we finally stopped. Why did it take so long? Afraid of disappointment, shady federal spot, yadayada. Grandpa did NOT DISAPPOINT!!!! We got the double small cheeseburgers and omg tasty, perfect proportions and crispy edges to the patty- delightful surprising! Oh man and the onion rings- do not miss out!! At a point as we were devouring in the car- the hubs and I looked at each other and said we would totally bring Anthony Bourdain here at 1am and make sure to get the double large burger- the smalls were almost too much to Finish and the size of the large is bigger than your face!! Next to try- orange shake and chicken fried steak burger!!! We will be back.

The most old school burger joint in Denver? Maybe. Nothing fancy and just like you want it from a walk up burger spot. This place has been here forever and probably will outlive most of Denver residents.

Service isn't the best. Food is not worth it. Way too expensive for the quality. Burgers and fries. Fries over cooked, breed toasted so much it crumbles and the meet is burnt like charcoal.

I cannot visit Denver without visiting Grandpas!! I was just in Denver for about a week and went 3 times!!! If you have never had a Grandpas burger, you should definitely have 1, or several!! I highly recommend a double meat cheese! Their onion rings are great, I always dip them in ranch!!! Try a shake while you're at it, for the full experience!!!

Boy was I surprised when I ate here. I assumed it wouldn't measure up to all the hype, but honestly this place is one of the best treasures in Denver. It's the epitome of a classic hole in the wall burger joint. The burgers melt in your mouth, the onion rings were addictive. I'm now obsessed! The chocolate shake and corn dogs were also superbly yummy! I can easily see how this is a local favorite. A MUST TRY.

After trying to rip me off for more than $12. The fat cook got involved and proceeded to try and rip me off again. He threw my order at me at told me to leave. They would not give me a detailed receipt nor would they explain why they double charged me for sodas and shakes DO NOT AND I REPEAT LET THESE BULLIES RIP YOU OFF!! Terrible terrible customer service

This place is a true hidden gem!!!!! I will be making this trip from Aurora all the time now!!!!!

I seen this on TikTok and we had to try it. We order a large hamburger, a small hamburger with fries and a chocolate milkshake. The hamburgers we really good and the fries were okay. The milkshake was good but couldn't drink it right away. The customer service wasn't really great but she was in her 70-80 so I can't really complain.

The burger was ok .. The fries were disgusting and cold . I also ordered the onion rings- they were saturated in grease . No place to sit other than tables right next to the on coming traffic on Federal. I would never come back

This is an old-school burger place, but in the best of ways. Their large burger is seriously large, and pairs great with their onion rings. The only downside is that there is no seating, so you will need to eat in your car or take your food to-go.

Good giant burger for the price. Unfortunately it's takeout only. Shakes and onion rings are good as well.

I really wanted to like this place because I love burger places like this that are small and have been around forever, but after trying Grandpa's I'm not quite sure WHY it's been around forever. The menu was small and concentrated but that's fine. Everything is cooked to order so expect to wait 10 to 15 minutes to get your food. I got the triple cheeseburger plain, as I always do, and when it arrived, it looked great. It was properly cooked. It looked appetizing. I took a bite and... it was almost completely flavorless. The meat had no discernible flavor, nor did the cheese. The bun had a slight bit of flavor, so it wasn't quite as tasteless as the offerings at Five Guys, but still, if I'm going to eat a burger I want it to have some type of flavor. it's as if they had never heard of seasonings when they prepared and cooked the patties. I'm not sure if it's just Denver that likes completely flavorless burgers as you can get similar flavorless offerings from the Cherry Cricket and Snarfburger. But for me, I want a plain burger to taste like something, and there are many burger places in town where you can find them. Perhaps if toppings are your thing, they might be worth a recommendation, but if you like your burgers plain, as I do, you'd best go elsewhere; I suggest Lucy's. I will say the employees were very friendly, and the service was wonderful, so I have absolutely no issues there.

Horrible customer service. Burger under cooked. I spent my money and literally was verbally assaulted and treated like I was a nuisance. This is not the same place it used to be. If I could give less than one star I would. I pulled up and supported this business and was disappointed. Denver what are we coming to? I won't be surprised if this place is on the news for something negative in the months to come. Take your money elsewhere if you work hard for it.

This place is a staple to Denver as the original large hamburger joint. Buns are toasted, meat is perfect thickness. Prices include tax so no fussing what the price is. Fries are trash but hamburger is a winner.

Grandpa's does the one thing my grandpa (rest his soul) didn't - make an amazing burger. Like my grandpa, Grandpa's doesn't chase the trends like the city-folk restaurants with string lights and neon signs on a grass wall; they know they're better done old-school and they back it up. You order, you don't get hit with a tip screen, & you pay a reasonable price. You wait, get your order, and go in the car and stuff it down. Might even take a picture because of how large the burgers are. But one thing is certain - you won't forget it. Thanks, Grandpa.

Great place for a good burger and shake!

Grandpa's is a Denver classic. We treat ourselves to the health abomination once a month and I hope they stay in business forever. Would be cool to add seating or a drive through one day though. Zero frills. PHENOMENAL buns. I like the small double-- large is too much for me and a single patty isn't enough meat. Skip the fries but don't skip the shake!

Good retro burger joint. The patties are very thin so recommend at least the double. Fries were okay, onion rings were very crispy. The milkshakes were amazing!

Average burgers. Not as good as I thought it would be. Kinda sloppy with nasty tomato slices in it. For the price they charge, you could easily find a better burger elsewhere for a better price.

Pleasantly surprised by this place! The burgers and onion rings were really good! Onion rings were some of the best we've had in Denver. Their burgers are tasty, simple, and huge. We'll definitely go back - it's like an old school, throwback burger joint.

This has got to be the slowest place in Denver. Once you place your order you will wait at least 30 to 45 minutes for your food. (I waited 40 minutes for a burger and fries.) They can't seem to handle even a small "rush" without falling behind. Don't even think of coming here if you don't have an hour to spare. First and last time here. The food isn't worth the wait.

One of the best burgers I've had in the mile high so far. Made to order; fresh ingredients and much more. Will be a go to spot for me for sure

I have wanted to try this burger spot for a while and finally did, but I was pretty disappointed. Pretty small on the inside. An order and go with a few picnic tables available to sit down. The bun was so dry and hard it felt more like old bread than toasted on the grill, the hamburger patties are smashed so thin they become crispy, and transparent and you can see the condiments showing through the meat. The French fries were not bad but needed salt! Super sad experience.

This place use to be so great I went there today and I got really ridiculous that's all bread no meat way to go to mess up a Colorado trademark I would not recommend this to anybody

I really slept on this place all this time and was really missing out. First off they are handling the pandemic with their setup well. You go in order get a number and wait in your car. They call it from a loud speaker and you go pick it up inside. Fantastic Second the food here is great. The corndogs are delicious, the hamburgers taste great and the large is a crazy size. The steak burger has a fantastic flavor. I really have only good things to say as nothing disappointed me. For the experience I suggest trying a large burger for the heck of it. They are a size on another level it's pretty crazy. I will be trying the fried chicken sandwich next time for sure. Highly recommend.

Grandpa's has been a favorite for about fifty years for me. Order the classic BIG burger, fries and a drink for a complete dining delight.

I asked for no pickles and add bacon to my burger. I got 4 nasty pickles which dogged the bun! What if I was allergic? Is it that hard to listen? Chilli cheese fries were good, not spectacular, just good.

Not so good in confirming an order, I asked for a double steak burger without cheese and I got home with a double steak that has cheese, so I starved for the night, I do not like writing reviews but I am not going waste my time ever going there. Good luck and enjoy.

Picky eaters of the world unite! How could I not leave a review? Grandpa's is a super quaint little burger stop that I wish I lived so much closer to! The burgers are super run of the mill but nonetheless tasty. And their bigger sized one really is big. For about $12 total I definitely got my fill! I think the only thing I wasn't big on was the fries. And that's not that they were bad I think I'm just used to the super salty fries you'd typically get from a chain fast food place so I would definitely try them if you're alright with adding your own salt! If anything this just made me want to try their onion rings next time! For such a mom and pop type burger place they definitely have a good amount of people willing to wait for their food! This is a really cute place and I would for sure check it out if you're in the mood for a good old classic burger.

I was so-so on this old-school burger stand until I tried the Philly cheesesteak. Okay - that's worth five stars to me. Really delicious! The shakes are excellent; the onion rings are excellent. The fries are okay - best when really hot, of course. The burgers are... okay. The steak burgers are better. Two patties are definitely strongly suggested. I should probably try the double steak cheeseburger with jalapeños - that sounds good - but the cheesesteak is so good, I don't know when I'll vary my order.

Okay, I'm embarrassed to admit, I ate the whole damn thing, BUT, I felt it really important to leave a review based on the lack of stars given to this quaint local business. I'm sorry I didn't take more photos of my food, I was flippin' starving. I did, however, capture the enormity that WAS the Double Meat Cheeseburger. I devoured it. Anyone that speaks ill of the flatness of the patty knows nothing of cooking fresh beef on a flat grill top. Those little crispy edges are what I live for. I almost went back for a second burger later in the evening, but the business had closed--thank goodness because I'm not sure I'd have fit in my jeans the next day if I had two of these monstrosities of a burger in one day.

Huge great tasting smash burgers the size of your head! The shakes and onion rings were great as well! Service was good. Food was made to order and fresh. Just be ready to eat your food in the car or take it to the house because it's a no frills burger stand:)

Really good cheap hamburgers (regular and Large!), hot sandwiches, steakburgers, fries, etc. You know the place- an old greasy spoon, no interior dining hamburger joint! Know that going in, and this place rocks. The kind of place where you know they've grilled burgers on that same grill for decades. Burgers have that great char taste on them. Just good stuff!!

Can't go wrong here, front end blue eyed lady always nice to me foods always quick too!

BEST onion rings I've had since I moved to Denver. The burgers were great with those thin patties like Freddie's. The a hake machine was down but I did devour a meal with a large fruit punch. Eight months pregnant and I gove it a 10/10.

Covid-19 review. Ahhhhh Grandpas, I used to come here during high school in the 90s! I was so glad to see its still open and nothing has changed!! While visiting Denver I wanted to get ONLY local food and Grandpas is legendary! The little abuelita taking the orders in the window had her mask on and they offered hand sanitizer on the counter. Signs were posted to keep 6 ft apart and to wait outside for your number to be called. I ordered 2 large burgers and a banana shake to go to share with my folks. They also, hadn't been to grandpas in a long time, my mom loved her banana shake! The burger is a burger, is it the best burger ever? Naw, but its NOT BAD at all. You get all the fixings on it and they don't skimp. Please be sure to visit this old local spot to keep them and their family in business. Slow down on Feds, and turn in to Gramps!

Yummm! This place is so amazing, I visited twice in 4 days while visiting Denver. I'm so thankful to the internet for leading me to Grandpa's Burger Haven. The fresh, thin burger patty and smooth, perfect bun are the base for what is one of the best burgers I've had in my life! Definitely up there with all the classics - In N' Out, Five Guys, Shake Shack--Grandpa's Burger Haven can truly hold its own. Their onion rings are INCREDIBLE! They're huge, have the perfect amount of crunchy batter, and feel like a meal on their own. I loved their fries, and the fact that they included salt packets for us to salt at our own discretion. We did end up eating in our car since there's nowhere to sit, but that was half the fun. If you're lucky enough to live in the area, you should DEFINITELY try them out! I know I'll be back next time in town.

The guy in the front is very rude rushes u throu everything I tried to order a combo but told me no pissed off I didn't know it's says on there menu they have combos how was I supposed to know that the menu was 5 years old

Funnily enough a 2-star review led me to this place... Whenever I get the chance, I love finding small local burger places in towns. The thing about it that I like so much about it is that you feel like real people have worked at, eaten at, and heard of these places. It's a local place in history, kept open by hard work. Hamburgers don't make you rich, so you know they do it out of family, friends, or a community pride. Anyway, as I was looking through Yelp I saw Grandpa's-- the reviewers didn't think it was an all-star place, so I decided to read why. A particular 2-star review caught my eye. The first thing it said was, "I've been coming here for 40 years!!" I know they were disgruntled by something, but I couldn't help but immediately be intrigued. "This place has been open for 40 years?!" I thought. I had to try it! Very cute little spot, has a turn off of Federal that feels a bit like the area grew up around it. You order at the window, everything is pretty simple, customer service was pleasant and personal. You get your food and you're off. The burgers were just lovely. Fresh, tasty, and exactly what I was looking for out of a cheeseburger. You did great, Grandpa's! All the other small burger places out there would be proud.

Love love love this no nonsense delicious old fashioned homemade burger! I cut the large burger in 1/2 and have two generous servings for two people OR two meals

Solid burger joint. Got to at least do a double if you go large. The large single is ridiculous, as it is a thin patty stretched inside a huge bun. Small triple or large double is solid choice. Fries are not terrible. Drink situation is wanting.

Can finally say I've tried just about everything on the menu. Classic American eatery with the best burgers and shakes around. I've lived nearby for some time and haven't found any where else like it. An absolute staple on federal blvd. Long live grandpa's.

This is a good place to go and mix up your burger routine. It has a "throw-back-cali-vibe" and an appropriately experienced staff. I suggest getting a large double, "extra everything", add mayo, and bacon. The patties are thin so skipping one might leave your burger a bit dry. Meals comes hot in a paper bag to-go because there isn't really seating. Support your local grandpa, folks!

Good place to get a large smash burger like sandwich. The burger is crispy and good. The service is mediocre.

Love Grandpas!!! Have been going there for years and I have not found a better hamburger

I was totally surprised by the food. I will definitely be back. The burgers are HUGE and come with all the condiments and toppings! Fries and Onion Rings are served in one size but they are both generous portions. Local favorite and worth the visit!

Classic Dive,incredibly beautiful simple burgers but tastes out of this!!

Iconic and old? Yes. That's about all they got going. Get ready to eat in your car. I tried this place because I love burgers and it had decent reviews. There burgers and prices are definitely a cruel joke. I was hoping for something different and special. You won't find it here unfortunately. You can pretty much get the exact same burger at the 'Hamburger stand" up the street or McDonalds. People, class up your decision on where you're going to grab a burger, because this isn't the place. (See photos). Be prepared to ask for your condiments ahead of time, because all you get in the bag is a burger and fries. No napkins, salt, Ketchup. ETC... I'm really scratching my head at this place.