Hi-Life Burgers

Fast food restaurant · South Pasadena

Hi-Life Burgers

Fast food restaurant · South Pasadena

1

1326 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

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Highlights

This nostalgic burger joint serves up hefty old-school favorites alongside some Americanized Mexican options, with friendly service and a laid-back vibe.  

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1326 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030 Get directions

hilifeburgers.com
@hilifeburgers

$$$$$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

1326 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030 Get directions

+1 626 799 5401
hilifeburgers.com
@hilifeburgers

$$$$$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
delivery
payment credit card
Tap to pay
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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Chili cheese fries have been the same since I was in the 4th grade…

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Raquel 33

Google
This place is so good it's unfortunate that people don't know how to clean up after themselves and the entire time I was there never seen an employee come out either to clean.

G Tseng

Google
I remember in high school (I went to Beverly Hills High School) that we used to ditch classes to hang out at the local diner with my many, many friends*. We ordered a cheese burger, a chili cheese burger, and zucchini fries. Total was about $20, which is not particularly cheap, but not particular expensive either because there’s a lot of fries and the burgers are a decent size. Decent burgers, and the zucchini fries were crunchy and thin (though like all zucchini fries they can get soggy quickly-so eat them here or in the parking lot). Most importantly, this place is clean, and it is well run. Def. would come back

Angelica V (Angie)

Google
Stopped by for a quick bite and was greeted by the nicest young lady!! I want to shout out Angie, she is amazing and not just because we share a name..what phenomenal customer service skills!! It's always such a gift to start your day with pleasant interactions😁. Thank you for starting my morning right Angie

David Fuentes

Google
Always consistently good food at this place! The staff is fast, efficient and friendly! The Mexican food is a bit Americanized. Kinda like Taco Bell. I prefer to stick to the American food here! Burgers and such are spot on! They give you lots of French fries! I ordered the small fries and it was more than enough for two people! A nice clean restaurant! Prices are good for the quality you get! Kudos to the staff, chefs and owner! 🙌🏼

Karla

Google
We went there around 830 am , it was a bit busy but we didn't wait a long time to get our food. I loved the Playlist they had playing. Loved the zucchini fries. Gave us refills and a decent amount of sauces.

CynicalZealot

Google
It's a hamburger joint. You don't go in there expecting it to be a life-changing experience. But I'm glad I went, the hamburger was really good, and There wasn't loud music blasting out of the speakers.

Striker 50

Google
Fantastic burger joint! Love the traditional feel and large menu variety offered! Passed by this place since childhood and finally tried it. I am a big fan of the generous condiments offered (Ketchup, thousand islands, ranch, Bbq sauce) This is much more enjoyable than In-N-Out which is always crowded. The corner location makes it EXTREMELY easy to locate and parking is a breeze. I got the double cheeseburger, Bacon cheeseburger, Large Chili Cheese fries, and a Cherry Fanta. The Double Cheeseburger was a bit more moist than the bacon cheeseburger, but I'll give the bacon another chance in the future. The Large chili cheese fries are a generous portion I love that! I'll take these over The Hats fries anytime.

Ela Ahmady

Google
Tasty. Please Keep the burger always the same! I will come back

Hannah K.

Yelp
I loooove hilifeeeeee!! Caveat: grew up in the neighborhood and this was the go to spot so there's definitely some nostalgia tied in Food: (my staple is always the same) -cheeseburger: solid!! It tastes fresh, it's full, it's juicy, and worth it! -chili cheese fries with chili on the side and a little cup of their seasoning salt. Flip the box over for a bit to let the cheese really melt on the fries and MMM it's good!! The fries are crisp and good which are my fave kinds!! Service: -quick, easy, prompt, and consistent with the food quality! Ambiance: -it's definitely gotten more fancy in parts, made room for bigger parties and all. But still has its nearby burger joint vibe which i loooooveeee. So i love it :) well lit, fun music that's not too loud in the background, spacious enough that kids can be a little kid-like and be fine with it. Yay! I love hi life! I'll probably go back in a couple weeks- my comfort fooood

Mongo M.

Yelp
Best hamburger and onion rings! Only had these onion rings on Base in the military worth the drive? Go out of your way to this location!

Niki D.

Yelp
This place has always been a south Pasadena staple since I was a kid. Everything on their menu is so good! I think the prices are reasonable for what you get and everything tastes like it's been made with love. I absolutely recommend the pastrami burger it's so good!

Mike P.

Yelp
Used to eat here with my dad when I was a kid 40 years ago. Stopped in for lunch and remembered why my dad brought me here so many times. The avocado cheeseburger and fries are a must try!!!

May W.

Yelp
Great local burger place, definitely worth the value you get for the quantity. Parking: A small lot is dedicated for the burger joint, but the lines are very narrow. Practically every car takes about 2 spots because opening your car door right next to each other is tight. Turkey Burger Combo: Turkey was great to get if you want to be healthy, but nothing compares to beef. Soft patty, cut lettuce and tomatoes. Their fries portions are a lot. Definitely worth the price for the portions.

Victoria P.

Yelp
Craving a great pastrami sandwich and you happen to be in South Pasadena,head on over to Hi Life Burgers. Soft white roll, piled high with lean pastrami, pickles and mustard. So delicious! The fried zucchini, sliced thin with ranch dressing is yummy if not in the mood for French fries. This place has a cool, clean vibe which I like. Huge menu so there's something on the menu for everyone. Next time I'm in South Pasadena, I'm going to try their burger if I can keep myself from ordering another great pastrami.

Louie B.

Yelp
Best pastrami burger I've had. I got it with bacon to make it more rediculous. The staff is always pretty cool, friendly and willing to throw some yellow peppers my way.

Katherine N.

Yelp
Our first time trying this place today for lunch. Right when we parked and went in, the ambiance had that tops burger joint vibe. We shared a cheeseburger combo with onion rings and coke and it was perfect!! The girl at the register was nice to give me half refill to wash it all down. 5 stars for her service. The burger and onion rings were exactly how it should be and tasted good. Thanks Hi-Life Burgers team; well done!!

Claribel V.

Yelp
I have been coming here for many years now. It is my go to spot when I am craving a pastrami sandwich. My usual order is the kid's pastrami sandwich combo. The serving portion is huge for a kid's meal and is more than enough to feed an adult. It comes with fries and a regular drink, but I always upgrade the fries to either onion rings, fried zucchini or chili cheese fries. The upgrade fee ranges between $.80-$1.90, which I think is a good deal. The pastrami sandwich is really tasty and the bun is so soft. The chili cheese fries are also good. The onion rings and fried zucchini are mediocre. I've had better from other places. Other items I've tried that are good are their bacon cheeseburger and chicken salad. Customer service is good and your food will be ready within minutes.

Rickey S.

Yelp
Solid burger joint. I came in right before closing at 9:31pm and my food was ready within 5 minutes. Keep in mind I was the only customer in there and I was required to take the order to go. Ordered the bacon cheeseburger which was $7.98 ($8.80 after tax). Yes, it is a little pricey compared to other chain fast food places however the burger was well put together, generous amount of crispy bacon, burger not too messy and every time I took a bite I didn't want it to end. When you compare the price of the burger alone to other places as listed below, it's honestly not a bad deal. - In N Out off Atlantic: $5.65 before tax for Double Double - Lucky Boy Pasadena: $8.65 before tax for Bacon Burger Only knock on this place is the prices can get expensive for the combo. It costs $6.58 additional to upgrade from the entree to a combo (fries plus drink). In summary, I'll definitely be back to try other things on the menu :)

Tracy E.

Yelp
My mom & I went for lunch today. We have been coming for years & this place never disappoints. We shared an order of delicious French fries & a pastrami sandwich. The food was delicious and very hot & fresh. The counter service workers were very polite and friendly. The lunch cost along with a small soda & water was $23.50. The restaurant was very comfortable & they clearly had the air on which made this 90 degree day enjoyable & comfortable. This is by far the best place to get your pastrami at. I tip my "Hat" at this place rather than any other place that others may recommend.

Raymond V.

Yelp
Some of the staff is extremely rude, and we always face significant resistance when making simple modifications to our food. Additionally, I noticed that the phone line is busy because they leave it off the hook.

Janet K.

Yelp
This spot is either hit or miss~ sometimes it's delicious and sometimes the fries are either soggy which is a no no! The portions are decent. They have indoor and outdoor sitting. The food comes out quick and the service are usual fast food service~ not to expect so much grab and go~ But one thing that's always delicious and is always consistent is their ranch sauce! Ha!

Rod M.

Yelp
Was in Pasadena visiting my brother when I rolled by this little gem of a fast casual quality burger joint. Not too crowded at lunch seems most orders are to go or pick up and still about half way packed to capacity. Dine indoors or if you prefer, dine Al fresco as they have ample seating outside. I ordered a basic cheeseburger combo that comes with a huge serving of next to perfect fries. Can't expect hand cut fresh potatoes with the volume of buisness they do but I'm very happy with the texture and flavor of these delicious crispy potato sticks. They don't season them much so the flavor of the potato is the star of the show as it should be. Same with my cheeseburger, frozen patty I'm guessing but still tastes like fresh ground beef. Nice fluffy yet durable bun that won't fall apart on you. Think in and out only better. Bigger burger, way better fries and no giant line to cope with. I don't know if this is the only restaurant they have but it would be great to have one in the Valley, no doubt it would be a hit there as well. So if you're in the area and want to try one of the tastiest burger & more joints in so cal, please give it a try. Hopefully they will expand and we all can have a break from long lines and thin patties and fries that are just plain weird. Big fan of those guys but not worth the wait. This place actually would be worth the wait but no need, took total of 7 minutes from order to serve. Great job chefs and front of the house. Oh, almost forgot, they have horchata and some very nice lemonade so you don't need to have a coke to smile when you come here to eat. You will be smiling the moment you take a bite of the burger or fries and I imagine the rest of the menu is just as good. Until the next time, signing out time. Stop, order and thank me later.

Brianna T.

Yelp
My husband went to hi life last night 11/9 after working a 14 hour day.. he just wanted some food. We live in the area so he decided to stop by... it was near closing and the worker saw him walking up the stairs and SPRINTED TO LOCK THE DOOR.. as the employees behind him gave him eye contact. So rude and unprofessional. My husband being an understanding guy could have just been communicated with that they were ABOUT to close and he would have been fine. But he didn't. It angered my husband enough to call them and the employee who answered the phone still had no apology and was rude. All he said was it wasn't me, it was someone else. We will no longer be supporting hi life. Horrible service.

Jake M.

Yelp
This place always keeps you waiting for no reason, even when you call ahead. 5 people in the front working too, Pay attention y'all. The food is.. food.

Robert K.

Yelp
Disappointed I used to eat here 25 years ago. There was nothing about my lunch today that would bring me back. The patty melt was greasy I asked for light butter. The zucchini was limp and the ranch was runny. Even though I ordered to eat in everything was wrapped in 4 layers. I used to like this place.

Sage L.

Yelp
Amazing breakfast burritos and service. If you get fries definitely add the seasoning at the self serve part of the counter!!! So good!!! And very fast.

Lawrence F.

Yelp
Fantastic, no-nonsense classic cheeseburger served with a ton of fries. Great, clean old school feel inside too. One of my favourite burgers around.

Mari M.

Yelp
This place has really bad customer service. 2 weeks ago on a Thursday I invited my parents to breakfast at this place and it wasn't even 12pm. They told my husband they didn't serve breakfast after 12pm so we left. I go in there today having invited my parents to breakfast again and thought I was good because it was 11:30am and they tell me that they stop serving breakfast at 11am. I explained to them that this was the second time this had happend and each time they gave us different information. They didnt even make an effort to try and rectify the problem. In most places lunch starts at 12pm. I am not sure if they train or inform their employees of hours or proper customer service but its very unfortunate that they can't get it together. Maybe that explains the yelp score they have.

Joe T.

Yelp
Well second time trying this spot and going to be my regular spot for breakfast burrito . The young lady who assisted me was awesome and sweet even suggested to try one of their breakfast combos next time. Definitely the burrito was delicious and the service was excellent and fast.

Mary C.

Yelp
You come here for certain things, and not for others. I like that they will make your fries as crispy as you ask for them; I also enjoy the seasoning salt to shake on your fries, as well. It's a no-frills kind of place, and you get what you pay for. It serves its purpose, and they actually give you easy ice in your drink when you ask, lol.

Liz H.

Yelp
Breakfast is good & the pastrami burger compares to the Hat. Guy Fieri recommended it! The chilaquiles you can have red (not spicy) or green with a lil kick. Add chicken breast and you will enjoy! The service is good always consistent

Veronica A.

Yelp
I love the food here, but I'm going to take away one star for the constant loud music playing. After the COVID remodel, it's difficult to sit outside because the music playing is just too loud!

Lauren C.

Yelp
I really love this burger spot, everything I've tried has been extremely good and reasonably priced. You can order chili cheese fries with avocado slices on top, 10/10 and not on their menu but I highly recommend. I really enjoy their Greek chicken salad also, it is different from most and so good. The Greek salad has the following in it, spring mix, feta, black olives, half of an avocado (different but in a good way), pita bread cut into 4 slices, and hot chicken breast with a green dressing. The chicken breast is in a separate container so it won't ruin the spring mix. I recommend ordering a side of ranch so you can mix the ranch and the green dressing together, so yum.

Gabriel L.

Yelp
I got introduced to this place by a friend who lives down the street. Their burgers are great! I've also had their breakfast burritos. Awesome as well!!! I'm definitely a fan of this place!!

James I.

Yelp
I sometimes return to Hi Life because things are good. Part of town is easy to get to and park. The place is clean inside and out. There are condiments and utensils and they are always organized and never messy. The people know what they are doing and are good at it. The menu is diverse, we go either breakfast or lunch. The food has proven to always be good, made and presented nicely, with a lot of yum. Our favorite items are a breakfast burrito, the pastrami burger, and the fries are really well made.

Hector P.

Yelp
Bacon Cheese Burger is the bomb!!!! Tastes great!!!! Large French Fries order enough for two!!!! Price is just right for me!!!!!

Stevo O.

Yelp
Located near the South Pasadena Middle School is Hi Life Burgers, which has probably the most ethnically diverse menu I've seen. There is probably everything a teenager would want for either lunch or breakfast, easily within walking distance of the school. I was hunting for the best taquitos at a fast food restaurant and found fairly decent taquitos which were hefty with a nice guacamole dip. The staff there is so friendly and even asked if I wanted salsa with the taquitos as well, something I've never tried. I would recommend the food here for quick service and wholesomeness. While not the best taquitos I've had, it is certainly filling and worth the cost.

Natalie V.

Yelp
Quick turnaround, decent price and large portions. This place is not the worst but it's not the best pricing for the quality. I ordered a cheeseburger and small fries however the fries had zero salt or seasoning. I was impressed by how many fries they give, it's definitely the perfect amount for 2-3 people to share. My cheeseburger was decent but if I returned I would opt to try something else.

AJ T.

Yelp
The kind of food you would expect from a hamburger stand. Those who grew up in South Pasa, this is their home away from home. I think burgers are their draw. They are good. It's a got an edge on Lucky Boys burger down the road on Arroyo. But it's still personal preference.

Connie E.

Yelp
First time customers, went on 4/3 and my husband loved what he ordered which was the patty melt so good. Pastrami sandwich was awful. I give them a 0 star for the pastrami sandwich: I was craving a pastrami, so I checked out the Yelp reviews and someone said that the pastrami meat is very dry. I thought well I'll try it out for myself and sure enough it was really dry almost like it was old meat, really disappointing. I would not order it again, and for $13 I think HL should do better. They should try eating a sandwich to see how awful it is. It's not that difficult to find good moist meat. We will be going back since the customer service was really great, lots of seating, a nice ambiance, clean, and I heard the burritos are good, we'll find out.

Malinalli L.

Yelp
I love their grilled buffalo chicken sandwich, with fries. If you order ahead they have your food in less than 10 min. I order once there to eat and it was pretty quick service. Make staff are friendly but the young girl that takes orders is pretty much angry. No smile no welcome no customer service.!

April C.

Yelp
I really wanted to like this place since it's close to my work but I was sadly disappointed with the food. I ordered a bean and cheese burrito and it fell apart after I took the first bite. There was not enough cheese in my burrito and it was cold. I tried to save the burrito with the house salsa but unfortunately that didn't work either. The salsa didn't have flavor and was not spicy at all. At least the employees were nice and the prices were reasonable. I think maybe next time I'll try a burger in hopes that'll be better/:.

Angie R.

Yelp
When it comes to breakfast it is always a hit or miss with this place. I usually order one sausage breakfast burrito with easy cheese and a bacon or ham breakfast burrito. Although the portions are nice for the price of the burrito. I will say depending on the time of day it can either be a decent burrito or can really be disappointing. In the early mornings when they open they have hash browns in the burrito which are always great and flavorful, but at 11:30 they begin to put fries in the burritos which at times taste stale. As though they had reheated them too much that the fries are no longer soft, but crunchy. A few times the ends of the fries have stabbed the roof of my mouth or near my tooth which would make me lose my appetite considering that I do not want to be stabbed again by my burrito. The cheese sometimes is only at one end of the burrito which becomes the only thing you can taste. I think it would be better if they melted the cheese on the tortilla as they cook what it going inside the burrito so the cheese coats the whole burrito instead of it being only on one end. For the bacon burritos I suggest asking for an crispy bacon because the fat on the bacon can make it hard to swallow if you are not a fan of fatty bacon. I prefer crispy almost blacken bacon. For the ham I suggest asking them to chop the ham more since it looks like they are cooking deli meat for the ham burrito. Sausage is the only burrito that I do not have anything to complain about. If you are in a rush during the morning I suggest calling your order ahead of time because once you get there it will 9/10 be ready for pick up. Now the reason for the 3 stars is because the past four or five times it has been rather hard to get any of my burritos right. I had order 1 easy cheese burrito with sausage and it looked like there was extra cheese. 2 with sausage, no egg; 2 bacon burritos. All four burritos had an abundance of cheese which was off putting. The team I had bought them for ended up throwing them away.

Andy C.

Yelp
Solid fast food eatery featuring burritos, burgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken strips, and breakfast. Great for onion rings, chili cheese fries, and zucchini fries. Plenty of parking in the lot and street. They've got a website app to place your order, in addition to taking phone and walk up orders. The menu hasn't changed in 30 years. I'm hoping they add a vegetarian burger patty one day.

S C.

Yelp
We've been coming here for YEARS. Great burgers & everyone is usually very pleasant, helpful, & nice. BUT... today we placed a phone order for pick up and Stanley took our order. This is the first time I've ever encountered someone at Hi Life that was absolutely rude. I was still speaking and he hung up. All it takes is for 1 employee to really leave a bad impression & Stanley seems to be doing that quite well. The food is delicious & fresh, but that can all not matter if the customer service is horrible. Why would I continue to order from here if there are plenty more places to order from? And we have to drive about 20 mins out to get there. So it's not even very close to us.

Kristoff F.

Yelp
Being a few blocks from my house, this is a great spot for just about anything. I grew up eating the Lucky Boy breakfast burrito in Pasadena but I will say the sausage breakfast burrito at Hi Life competes and may even be better than Lucky Boy. Don't come at me lol! Just a personal opinion. A great South Pas staple for your greasy cravings!

Marilu M.

Yelp
Very good burgers! Breakfast burritos are delicious! They renovated and it looks much nicer. Service can stand to be better but it's not bad.

Davon P.

Yelp
Been coming here for years! Definitely recommend the breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes and turkey burger!

Adrian B.

Yelp
Not much to say. Service was okay. Place did look nice especially at night. The food wasn't great for us. But they do give a large portion of fries and the Oreo shake was amazing.

Kelli K.

Yelp
Best fries and ranch dressing. Burgers are good and the carne asada burrito is pretty hefty

Adriano B.

Yelp
really good food and a good portion. def need to come back and get a milkshake, they look good.

Karina C.

Yelp
We are regulars here, but have decided to say goodbye. Red head cashier is too rude and quality of food is not consistent. We always loved the breakfast burritos, but not today. It was sooo small and inside the burrito wasn't the same. Obviously there have been changes in your kitchen. When you guys get this fixed, we might come back. Please tell the red head to pay more attention their customers instead of her phone. She obviously doesn't want to be there. The other girls are very nice.

Alicia C.

Yelp
We've always passed by this location and finally decided to try it on a random Friday night. The food was okay but it is a bit pricy for what it was especially when you consider quality. A double cheeseburger sets you back $7 and the grilled chicken breast sandwich $9 something. The portion of the double cheeseburger was about 1.5 that on an in n out one for comparison However, we will not be coming back again because of the customer service. The cashier (red hair, falsies) that was helping us was rude and didn't respond to any thank yous or other formalities. We do not expect a conversation or for them to go out of their way but the least they could do is acknowledge questions and be cordial. However, she was borderline condescending and made it very uncomfortable. When I asked for a plastic bag for the food and said thank you she barely responded and just dropped the bag in front of us. They could have the best food but the lack of service will surely lead to their demise.

Lisa T.

Yelp
Facebook lead me here to try the chili cheese fries! I have never been here and it got me curious to try it out. I love love love chili cheese fries! I ended up ordering the large chili cheese fries and I enjoy it. The small and large order cost wasn't much different so go for the large. H life chili and cheese remind me of tops burger. The only difference is that H life has regular size fries! I like that it came with two kinds of cheese. It was good! Glad I got to find a new place and I will be back for more!

Mia W.

Yelp
Best cheese burger and chicken salad ever. Staple of south pas. Must try for a hearty lunch or dinner. The breakfast burritos looks so good. Will be back to try

Kristina M.

Yelp
Pros: Massive, delicious burgers that could easily be shared amongst two people. Delicious breakfast burritos with layers of potatoes, egg, meat, and cheese. The sausages in here tasted better quality than some of the breakfast burritos out there. The tortillas were not stale like a lot of diners serving breakfast burritos. Also, it's all day cuz a breakfast burrito craving knows no limit. Hearty, wonderfully goopy chili cheese fries with a satisfying greasy feel. Monstrous sized onion rings. Classy diner vibes but with a nice, clean and shiny upkeep. Easy parking. Calling in my order and picking it up is such a breeze! Food is also reasonably priced. Cons: If you order a breakfast burrito later in the day, they can't do hash browns but you can sub fries - which is still satisfying! So not really a big con. Overall: Craving burgers, fries, onion rings, breakfast burritos? Enjoy a good ol diner type of feel? Hungry in the South Pasadena area? This place is a must try!

Lana L.

Yelp
Food is always great! Friendly staff and always clean we e been going to this place since my brother was little