Hamburger Hut

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"This casual Encinitas establishment makes mighty fine burgers with charred wagyu beef patties on Hawaiian buns. In between arcade games, kids might also opt for the chicken nug standby or Jabba fries loaded with two beef patties, grilled onions, and housemade 10,000 Island dressing, finishing off with a classic soft-serve ice cream." - Helen I. Hwang

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"This Encinitas institution on Pacific Coast Highway isn’t just a burger joint. While the interior dining area is decked out in disco lights, the outdoor patio has a fire pit and live music on select nights. Go for the classic smash burger, made with Brandt beef, bundled with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and thousand island dressing in a Hawaiian buns." - Candice Woo, Helen I. Hwang

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"The cozy, family-friendly space is stocked with games and a rum-forward menu of drinks like the hurricane slushy and the Guapo with mezcal and Belizean rum with almond and lime." - Kelly Bone, Candice Woo

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"Hamburger Hut’s burgers are what you’d get if In-N-Out went upmarket. They serve craft cocktails, mocktails, and frosty adult slushies, and swap regular ground beef for 100 percent grass-fed wagyu that’s sandwiched between King’s Hawaiian sweet buns. (If you’re not in the mood for beef, the menu has a tuna or yellowtail fish burger with chili-lime tartar and fresh poke with taro chips.) They’ve got a great partially-covered outdoor patio with a fire pit and oversized games like Connect Four, which makes this a perfect spot to bring kids or just have a relaxed group meal. Plus, its location on the 101, a short distance from Moonlight Beach, makes it an ideal pre- or post-beach stop." - Ligaya Malones

Hamburger Hut - Review - Encinitas - San Diego - The Infatuation

Clark Riedel

Google

Best burger and cocktails around! The vibes here are casual and fun! They just decorated for Halloween and they went all out… can’t wait to see what they do for Christmas. The staff were accommodating and very friendly. I met Tyrone and Cheryl and will be definitely coming back just to see them again. They told me about trivia night on Wednesday’s too and definitely wanna check that out. Overall, it’s a good place for family, friends or even a first date.

Rotphannee Rose

Google

We went there on Saturday at lunchtime, and it was pretty busy. Afterwards, we wanted to walk on the nearby beach. We stopped at this shop because I really loved the Fish Hut - it was delicious, juicy, and fresh. The Jabba fries were great too, and the staff were friendly. I loved everything we ordered; it was all delicious! Thank you for making a great burgers!!

Faviola Leyva

Google

I love coming here for lunch! The burger and fish sandwich are both delicious. The cocktails are refreshing. And wow, the Caesar salad was so good with FRIED capers.

Jordyn Goffo

Google

Pros: very cute Cons: bad food and unreasonable prices Decided to pop in for a quick burger at random. Pleasantly surprised by how cute it was. Seemed like a popular place. Nice outdoor space for families in the back of the joint so it made sense at first why there was even a bit of a line to order. Quickly went downhill when a burger, fries, and a drink rang up at just over $20. My food came out, and I while I did just get a get hamburger and not a cheeseburger, it really couldn’t have been less flavorful. The burger was so dry, and so was the gf bun. The meat had no seasoning, but I was hungry so I just ended up eating it by itself. Even smothered in ketchup it wasn’t good. The fries were dried out and also had no flavor whatsoever. Even my fountain drink came out flatter than it should have been and I got it from the fountain myself. Ended up throwing most of my order away. Really not sure if they just had an off-day or off-meal since it did seem like a poplar place, but I wouldn’t go back. Bad food, bad prices.

Hayden Davis

Google

Super cute burger place! The burgers are smash burgers but tasted good. The fries are so plain and have no flavor what so ever. The staff and vibe of the place are fantastic! Also there's a full bar!

Sarah Louise

Google

I went once when they first opened and hadn't been back until now, and I have to say it's greatly improved! You used to have to order multiple mini burgers, but now 1 burger or double is good enough. The other thing was that kids ran around like wild animals before, but we sat inside this time and it was a lot better. The burgers are delicious, and those buns are tasty. We went on a cold Friday evening, there was live music which was nice and it was toasty as heck in there! Haha I doubled up jackets incase we had to sit outside, but definitely didn't need it inside. Service was friendly. We saw someone else order a tray of soft serve, so we did too because it looked cool...also yummy! I will be back again and won't wait years this time.

B Z

Google

This place is a hidden gem!! The food and drinks are AMAZING! Highly recommend to check out :)

Sara Lawson

Google

The burgers are delicious. A quality smash burger that is super crispy. The fries were so so, not quite hot enough. A friend had the fish sandwich and that was super bland - do not recommend. Sitting outside was great! Dog friendly. Full bar. Will be back!

Alisa M.

Yelp

Hurray for Hamburger Hut. It's a simple place that only has a few things on the menu but has a full bar. You either approach the outside window and order, then find a seat or sit at the bar. They also have a nice outdoor patio which would be fun in warmer weather. My husband ordered the double and I ordered the plain. My burger was only $6.99. That's almost as cheap as a fast food burger but way better. It tasted exactly what I was hoping for. And the fries are skinny which is the way I prefer them. Great service and the turnaround was very quick. Very interesting cocktail selections too. Definitely will be back.

Kaloni S.

Yelp

This was my first time trying this place and I was pleasantly surprised! As I drove by, I thought it was super tiny with limited seating but once I walked in I was shocked at how spacious the place is. There's both inside and outside seating and it's pet and kid friendly. There's a cute little fire pit and little area of games to keep the kids occupied. Parking was easy to find in the lot and along the Main Street. Service was very quick and all the servers were welcoming and friendly. It got super crowded during lunch time. The food was delicious! I definitely recommend giving this place a try if you're in the area. Food review: Jabba fries: (5/5) Soo yummy! It's similar to in n out animal fries but flavors are a tad different. The serving is huge and filling. Definitely worth trying if you're with a group! Single hut burger: (4.5/5) I was craving a delicious juicy simple hamburger and this did not disappoint. Ask for grilled onions if you're into it, otherwise they'll come regular shmegular in the burger. Yacht club: (4/5) This cocktail was very refreshing! Not super strong and the flavors blended well together. Spicy cucumber margarita: (4/5) This was super refreshing! We got tajin on the rim. The bartender made the drinks perfectly. We actually ended up ordering 2!

Maria A.

Yelp

I absolutely love this place from the food to the Christmas decorations and the amazing customer service. We really enjoyed the entire experience so much we came back the next day. The first night I had the single hut with bacon and it was so tasty the next day I had the double hut with bacon and I think I'll go back today just thinking of the flavor. My family and I are visiting from Houston so I have to get it all in before I go back to no Hamburger Hut. They had live music indoors which was so nice and enjoyable. The back open space was perfect for the kids to play and enjoy as well. As much as I enjoyed the food, and the ambiance I have to say my favorite was their bartender Sammy. He's a true mixologist, the drinks are absolutely amazing! Sammy made us some lavender gimlets and old fashion that were just on point, so delicious. The following night we had to go back and Sammy surprised us with spicy gimlets and he did not disappoint!!! Sammy and all the staff provided such an unforgettable experience for my family and myself that we will forever remember and appreciate. Thank you for being so welcoming and great! Definitely going back every time we come visit!

Patrick H.

Yelp

I was surprised at how good the food is here. The double Hut burger had two perfectly cooked smash patties and just the right amount of sauce, onion, tomato and lettuce. The fries were also quite tasty. I wish their iced tea was as good as the food. It comes from the soda fountain and fresh brewed would be much better. The music volume in the dining room was a little loud, but hey, when the weather is nice you can dine outside in the patio area.

Christine L.

Yelp

So when I looked at the menu and saw people getting their food served I said out loud "soooo it's like in and out?" like a knockoff? And then I got my food and thought HOLY CRAP THIS IS AMAZING. Everything about this was right. Especially the nuggets. THESE ARE THE BEST NUGGETS IVE HAD IN MY LIFE. *read as yelling I'll be back. for nuggets, a single cheeseburger and fries.

Brian K.

Yelp

We wanted a hamburger and ended up here. Glad we did. The service was friendly and fast and the inside was still decorated for Christmas & really charming. The burger and fries were delicious. We split an order of fries and it was plenty. Beer was cold too. A+!

Trevor T.

Yelp

A high end version of In&Out. Grabbed ToGo tonight. Really phenomenal smash burgers and the fries are way better than In&Out. The buns are Hawaiian and sweet. The meat is cooked well done and smashed so crispy. My wife ordered the fish burger which she didn't like as much as the burger. Every time we get food here it is a hit. Cherry on top is the staff is super friendly. The location has parking and a Hawaiian backyard theme.

Nell C.

Yelp

Our first visit to Hamburger Hut and it exceeded our expectations! We rode our bicycles and there was plenty of bike racks. I loved ordering outside. Host was very friendly. We enjoyed the fish hut and hamburger hut with a side of fries. Delicious! The Coconino Colada was the best mocktail drink! Great selection of beers. Ambiance was very clean and spacious!

Katie S.

Yelp

First thing to love about this place is how kid friendly it is. They've got an outdoor setup that is perfect for kids to move around in while not being an entire disruption to the restaurant. Second is the food. We tried the burger, fries, chicken sandwich, fish sandwich, and cocktails. Everything was terrific. To add to it, they've got their own small parking lot and the staff were lovely. We'll be back!

Brenna A.

Yelp

Stopped in while walking nearby and figured we could get a quick bite and hadn't looked up the place in advance. We ordered at the walk up counter and I got a plant based burger and my partner got the standard burger. They were more expensive than fast food but better than restaurant pricing. Both were SO good. They were simple but absolutely hit the spot, with buttery buns and lots of sauce. The indoor ambiance was cute and diner-y, but we took advantage of dining in the sun on the porch out back. I think this place was a converted old house, and it has such cozy vibes. The servers were so friendly and welcoming. We finished off with soft serve cones to take on the go on our walk. I saw that this place also has trivia which would be fun to come back to!

Paul L.

Yelp

Delicious food more than a just Hamburgers and the Jabba fries are must, I live down in Chula Vista but wouldn't hesitate to make the drive again just for the ambience and food they had old school movies on the tv and pac man it was fun and delicious visit

Mai W.

Yelp

Kid approved. Adult approved. Burgers, bar, Pac-Man, what more can you ask from a place?!? This place was slammin' on a Sunday. It was the place TO BE with the fam. We luckily got a table rather quickly after ordering at the counter. Menu was simple. The one thing I was I saw that was listed on the white board was the chicken nuggets that my 4 year old was asking for, luckily the cheeseburger paid off well for them. Great cocktail list to choose from. Burgers were smashed in between the sweetness of a Hawaiian bun. I almost wished I got a double burger after I was done. Looking forward to making this a regular spot of ours!

Dawn G.

Yelp

So good. Food is fresh and the cocktails are amazing! Recommend the yacht club and racquet club. And I'm not really even a cocktail person but these aren't overly sweet. The burgers great but so is the Jabba fries if you feel like less bread.

Analisa S.

Yelp

I'd been wanting to try Hamburger Hut for a while and I was not disappointed! We ordered a single & double hut, side of fries & a soft serve which were all delicious. I absolutely loved all the Christmas decor for the holidays and the staff were extremely friendly! I can't wait to come back and try one of their signature cocktails.

Vanessa V.

Yelp

Hamburger hut is a very California-esque spot complete with a surf hut feel and friendly staff. Really good burgers and fries for the price too! They also have a bar with a variety of beer and cocktail options, and the indoor and outdoor spaces ensure it's never too crowded. I tried the chicken nugs most recently, and I have to say I didn't love them, they almost had a vegan chicken taste and I didn't care for the thousand island sauce (which usually I do like that dressing!). I will say there's slight inconsistencies in the food each time I go, but hey I've been quite a few times anyways because it's still a solid, fun spot that's perfect for a cheeseburger craving. I'd also love to try the chicken and fish sandwiches in the future!

Jeremy A.

Yelp

Dope spot. We were surprised this burger spot service cocktails and pretty good cocktails I might add. My wife and I stumbled across this spot just walking on coast highway 101. From a distance you could see the smoke coming out of the chimney from cooking burgers. To me, that's like a mosquito following the dazzling light. We followed the "light" and it was well worth it! The spot is deceivingly bigger than it looks from the outside. The bartenders were super chill and made us cocktails based on our taste buds. At last call we ordered a burger and fries and they were pretty good. I enjoyed the burger most. I'm a sucker for burgers and cocktails so next time we're in town, we'll be stopping by again. Cheers to good times at Hamburger Hut!

Cum S.

Yelp

Food is delicious, service is fast, bar is well stocked. It's on the pricier side for a burger joint but the uptick in quality from the standard is noticeable, it's well worth the extra 5 bucks. The "hut" itself has a warm vibe, with a large outdoor area outback complete with picnic tables and condiment service stations. An easy recommendation to anyone who loves smash burgers.

Liz L.

Yelp

Great place to meet up with friends or for families with kids. Just had a nice lunch there with three generations of family. Something for everyone. They were putting up Christmas decor which added to the festive atmosphere. Brant beef they served the BEST. They have their own parking lot so added bonus! We will be back!

Jim G.

Yelp

Ordered at 630p. got our food at 730p. Place was SLAMMED. One bartender... Great dude. Food was worth the wait. Kinda pricey...gluten free options . Jim

Michelle F.

Yelp

Visited HH for burgers on a Saturday afternoon for burgers. First time eating at HH. The space is smaller with both high tables closer to the bar/counter, longer tables for families and stools with high tables in the actual dining room. The service was fast and efficient. It can get a bit loud with the larger parties- so be aware. Surprisingly, not too loud overall. THE FOOD: the burgers were delicious! I ordered the single hut with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. It's served on a Hawaiian bun making it extra yummy. Delicious burger with the perfect thin, smashed, charred patty. My goodness!! Can we make the Single Hut Burger at Hamburger Hut the standard for a good American cheeseburger?! Move over In and Out, Shack burger and all other small burgers of America. Hamburger Hut is making delicious amazing burgers, and I'm into it!

David S.

Yelp

Staying in the hotel down the street. Walked over for dinner after a long day of work. Quick service, friendly people. Got my food to go and had a beer while I waited. Got the food back to the hotel and it was still hot and delicious. Great double burger and fries. Will come again when in the area.

Teresa G.

Yelp

Service and good was excellent My only thing you only have two fire pits and we went out to use the fire pit and the owners were at one and saw customers there, but didn't give their spot for the customer

Peter I.

Yelp

New spot for us. Great bar space for a happy hour maybe. Fun vibe, nice easy service. Went basic burger and guess what???? The tomatoes were red and juicy. Off the grill burger was hot and delish and the bun worthy of another visit. Maybe a Hawaiian bun? Fries huge and crispy (i would ask for a side of 1000 island to dip.) All in all a really nice experience. Go back again soon!

Kerry L.

Yelp

Lenae made this entire experience . She was attentive, fun, and inclusive to all at the bar top. She took our food order and made our drink orders personalized based on preference. Good spot to meet friends, or bring the kids! Thank you lenae for making our first time here fun!

Lily J.

Yelp

Burgers! This place has crispy burgers. The ambiance is casual and kid friendly. The back patio is open air and has lots of birds enjoying the leftovers I liked the burger. It was crispy and had a good flavor. I like raw onions and pickles, but you can order it however you like.

Jp P.

Yelp

Best burger I have had in SOCAL since moving here from Chicago a decade ago. Cool little place & staff was pleasant. Burger is always consistently great.

Jay C.

Yelp

The food was great! The service was fantastic The staff was friendly and accommodating

Pamela F.

Yelp

I liked so many things about this place. We were there last night around 6:30 and it was packed. Service was really good, delicious beer, fun atmosphere especially the Christmas decorations. The fries were good - hot and flavorful. Most parts of the burger were very good except the meat which was dry and burned and cold. Not cooked like a good smashburger but bitter and a bummer. I think if your name is hamburger hut and burgers are the majority of your menu you should do it well or even decently. Very disappointed and frankly embarrassed because we brought out of town guests and of course we expected it to be yummy.

Lai M.

Yelp

Great little stop for a grab and go or dine-in the burgers are delicious and beer is great. Service was good ambient pretty chilled vibe and good beer options will come back again.

Teagan T.

Yelp

Not so sure about this place-- I'm pretty positive we came on an off day. Got here within the hour of opening and sooooooo hungryyyyy. The bartenders have a very Cheers in the modern age kind of vegan vibe. This is Encinitas-- it's a lifestyle choice not a diet- duh. Big ol' letters of cocktail in red on white background written by the side and hamburgers on the front. Great beer on tap selections and perfect setup for a smooth and echoable hammered before noon. The food does seem to take a while to come but it's highly possible they just were unexpectedly short staffed that day. There's different 'lifestyle' choices for any kind of eater. Got to try their spinach salad with beet spirals-- solid salad with plentiful topping and dressing. Nothing to build a shrine over but good enough for the clean plate club. And if you're a chub-tub of lard like me you'd love the loaded fries. Like animal style but I feel better with the impossible patty. The fries are a cross between in n out and Mac Donald's. Thin and long but crispy and straight. Very solid burger and beer joint. If I rode a Harley and had a girl on the back of my bike rocking her weathered tooth-- this is totally my kind of hut. There's also a pac-man machine!! Talk about fun I want to spend without anyone around. Nerd out with my cork off. Overall-- we had a ton of fun here and two bathrooms available-- outdoor seating- covered and uncovered. Plenty of dog owners and lovers. Good amount of parking in by the side of the building.

Gary H.

Yelp

All four of my kids say this place is 5 stars. I agree. The service was friendly and helpful. Nice safe clean with hip music. The food was excellent and plenty of it. The double was probably too much for me but still delicious. Fries were good and the special fries called jabba fries were excellent. My only suggestion on the latter is to chop up the burger. Great experience here. We will be coming back. Oh, and they have soft serve ice cream cones!!

Gary G.

Yelp

Order two "fish sandwiches" 2 fries& 2 cokes with my wife. 60 bucks!!!!!! The fries were charge separately. The food was just alright, but definitely not worth $60, the fish sandwich was Ono, pan fried with Cajon spice. It was so dry it was hard to swallow and the fries were cold. Don't go here they gouge you!

Bethany T.

Yelp

Love this place. Bartenders are amazing. Would really love a double check on the Friday night music choice (off key acoustic barn chic). Would love anything else. (He was great- just not on a Friday night out). Thank you.

John R.

Yelp

If you're looking for a great burger a place that has a great vibe and good service - this is it. This was my second visit and it was consistent with my first visit. I road bike with a group and on our rides we pass by the Hamburger Hut. Our pledge was to eat here after we finished a dual century ride - it was a worthy reward....

Linda P.

Yelp

Being newcomers to Hamburger Hut, we read the reviews of friends like Peter I. and we were convinced that it was a place we would like. Tim got a double and I got a single and we shared fries. We got a Hurricane as the icing on the cake. WOW! Everything was superb This is a highly recommended addition to any burger lover's list.

Lionel V.

Yelp

I order 3 patties hut burger - Incredible The guapo satisfies my thirst Service is professional And ambiance is super casual

Rick L.

Yelp

We had the double burger and fries and a fountain drink. $20 each. The burger, bun, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion ratio was spot on. The fries were very good. The interior is beachy comfortable as you can see in many of the pictures for the Hut. But, let's talk tipping. You order before going in. Mama Hut flips the screen for tipping and it defaults to 25%. Or $10. I chose to custom tip. Mama Hut replies, "Anything is a blessing" or something to that effect. What did service consist of? A 20' walk from the counter to the table with our order that is served on an 1/8th sheet hotel pan. That's it. For that, the screen defaults to a $10 tip. The place was busy and the servers are making similar 20 to 40 foot trips to deliver food every 2 minutes. 30 trips at $10 per trip = $300 per hour plus whatever base pay is involved. You get your own drink. Your own condiment (ketchup and or a couple of chilis) and you bus your table. I watched several tables turn and the diners did such a good job busing their tables, that they didn't even get wiped down. $300 per hour? Idk how they split the tips, but this is absolutely ridiculous. Why they don't call numbers like In-n-out is beyond me.

Arlene A.

Yelp

Super cute spot. We went during holidays and it was decorated with Holiday spirit. The burgers were very tasty. Service was good.

Nicole D.

Yelp

Well the outside just begs you to come in. I was a little surprised but they do have vegetarian patties! I got a little too excited and ordered the Jabba hut fries and it was a LOT of food. I was a little underwhelmed by the temperature of the food but it was a fun experience. Great outdoor patio. It is an order at the counter sort of place so there wasn't really "service" but everyone that worked there has a smile on their face.

Addy W.

Yelp

I've been meaning to try this place and finally went last night. It was all decked out for the holidays, which was super cute. I ordered the fish burger and it was delicious! Definitely glad I was finally able to check this place out. I will be back soon.

Chandler B.

Yelp

I've been in a handful of times now and it's well overdue that I write a review, specifically for the bartender that has been there each time I go (his name is Sam) as I typically only like to sit at the bar if it's open. Sam has been so accommodating and helpful each time I come and bring a friend from out of town with drink recommendations. The drinks he makes are always so tasty and anytime he makes something unique based upon what we like base wise, they always turn out great. Can't wait to take more of my out of towners to my new favorite neighborhood bar in a neighborhood I've lived in for most of my life.

Garrett W.

Yelp

Hamburger Hut was amazing! Smash burgers brought the flavor and grilled onions really sweeten the deal. Loved the location and beach themed ambiance. The cocktails were great and beer was cold.

Kristin L.

Yelp

Delicious burgers with a fun vibe. You order at the counter, get a number and go try to snag a seat. Even if it is busy, just wait a few min and inevitably a table will open up. It is a smaller space though, so you may have to wait a bit if you have a big group. The burgers themselves were fresh and juicy, and the produce (lettuce, tomatoes) were also fresh and tasty. What makes this place different and fun is not only do they serve beer, but also cocktails from their full bar. The decor is retro, so the vibe is fun too.

J L.

Yelp

Wow! What a burger!! Drool... so good! I'm not from here and yelp recommended this place so I was pretty impressed. Had an awesome draft beer at the bar and service was fantastic also!

Foodie F.

Yelp

I wanted to try this spot for a while. Finally had the chance and it did not disappoint!! Everyone ordered something different from the chicken nuggets to the burger, to the kids simple burger and fries. Everything was delicious, great food! I will come back with and without my kids so I can enjoy the full bar and live bands!! Overall the cutest spot in town, I was so impressed!

Joseph T.

Yelp

Went back today and it was just as good as the first time. This time I got the Double Hut! We decided to sit outside because it was beautiful out! Nice patio with covered seating. Beers were good. Service was friendly and patient. I actually managed to hold back my craving long enough to take a picture this time! Thanks again!

Sandy A.

Yelp

Good burger. Bad fries- and I mean really bad fries. It's a smash burger that's fresh with fresh toppings and great pickles. But on the other side are the horrible fries that aren't worth getting. If you don't eat them within 30 seconds they get cold and taste really bad, like a shoe. These are not fresh, I imagine frozen and just taste old. No flavor. I think they need to find another source because they are that bad. My first batch I returned because I thought they had been sitting out for too long. The second "fresh" batch wasn't any better. Disappointed because burgers and fries go together! The ambiance is great. It's really a cute place and it's clean. They have a nice bar area with tiki drinks and as I watched them come out they looked really good. Decent parking. My suggestion, go for the burger and the tiki drinks- skip the fries. I'd like to try one of their drinks so I'll likely come back - I just hope they resource their fry vendor so that the fries are as fresh as the burger. Get the double because there isn't that much meat. Hmm for the price. Service was good, everyone was friendly- it's a great location too if you are driving along the coast..

Christina V.

Yelp

The absolute best!!!! Tasty food, great drinks, full bar and ambiance is spot on!!! Went there during the holidays and the Hut was decorated far beyond Christmas tree lane! Awesome job! Cozy burgers by the fire!

David K.

Yelp

Great burger. Good vibes. Fast service. Will be back for more. Also fries are really good.

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