The Chuckbox

I'm so glad I found this place. I came into town for a bjj competition and scoped out good food in Tempe area. Given the copious positive reviews, I decided to try it out. The wood fire smell is what immediately grabbed my attention outside and I knew I was in for a delicious meal. The packed interior also confirmed my decision. The menu is simple, straightforward. I ordered a hot and spicy chicken sandwich, double big burger, and fries. The food is cooked to order and very fresh. The chicken was perfectly cooked and flavorful. The burger was also juicy and had that amazing wood fired taste you can't get anywhere else, closest to a backyard bbq burger but way better. There is an assorment of toppings and condiments you can add. The only negative thing I can say is parking in front can be difficult, but you can find a surface lot a short walk away. Don't hesistate on trying The Chuckbox if you're looking for great burgers and sandwiches.

I think I randomly found this place looking for 4.5 stars and up near the airport. Wow, it’s amazing! They yell toward the back of the line to take your order while you queue and then track all of it by memory and tooth picks, zero order tickets, computer kiosks! By the time you get your to the grill you are gifted with a few minutes to watch the grill, magic and take in the sights, sounds, and delicious smells - then it’s all ready to go. BOOM! Everyone was really nice, friendly staff and customers, and overall a total throwback to what I remember from my childhood in the 80’s. I’d give this place 9 stars if I could it was that delicious. Cash only, so come prepared. They have an ATM if you don’t plan ahead. Sofa king good!

My nail tech told me abt this place when I told her I was going to Tempe. OMG one of my top 5 burgers in life. The flavor from the wood is AMAZING. Burger isn't salty. It stays busy but the employees are efficient and have it down to a science. Mushrooms were amazing😋🤤 Going bk before I drive bk to Vegas. Make sure you have cash

The chuck box is a legend among those that know. The food is top notch and the atmosphere is special very laid back on Sundays. However your first time there on a week day can be overwhelming very fast paced . But still all out friendly and pretty fast. The hamburgers are among the best out there and the add on's are simply the best because every step of the way your guiding your food to be excatlly as you want not pre designed NO!!! THEY OFFER THE MEAT AND BREAD ONLY YOU CHOOSE EVERYTHING ELSE. If you have never been make it a point to try. You won't be disappointed. Ps they have onion rings, fries,mushrooms too.

We had a great lunch. Super simple spot with a limited menu that is all good. We tried a few items and I was pleased with everything. The condiments and all add ons are offered up in a salad bar setting letting you build your perfect burger. We live out of town but will definitely be coming back when we pass through the area again.

If you love smoke and slow grilled, you will LOVE this place. I am a vegetarian and the smoke adds to the garden burger taste + the help your self dressings bar puts this over the top! Enjoy the line and wait of slow/fast food. Cash only.

We just happen to find the Chuckbox online. It looked 😎 so we went. The place is GREAT, we loved it. It’s FUN! You stand in line to order which was cool. The guys behind us must have been regulars and they helped us order. They just call you in line and ask what you want. Best order system ever! The gent taking the order just yells to the cook beside him. No paper just a good memory. We each had a burger and shared onion rings. You add your own condiments (see picture). Also awesome. I guess I must I must have order a unique burger so they just added extra stuff. Just fine with me. All the staff were really nice and when they found out travelled 3000 kms they said that was great. Parking - the parking is ok and free! I suggest being there between 1:15 and 3:00 PM. It may not be as busy? We were there at 1:15 on a Thursday and the lunch crowd was just clearing out. We did get a parking spot. Also there was a parking attendant. Food - burgers were top notch and the onion rings, I would go for just the onion rings! My better half thought her burger was a bit over cooked. The decor is rustic. I really like this type of place because it feels homey. The place is very clean and unlike some places they actually come around and clean the tables. One of the fun things is you get to see the cook being the master of the grill. There is also some outside seating. All in all we really liked the place. VERY IMPORTANT: CASH ONLY no EXCEPTIONS. ATM on site.

I’m glad I came to check this place out. This place has a pretty cool old vibe. Their hamburgers are pretty good. They have a “toppings bar” that you get your hamburger and then you go over there to pick whatever toppings you want. That’s kind of cool. I like the concept of this restaurant. All of the employees that I encountered are what I look for when going to a restaurant. This place is right by the campus of Arizona State University, so there is a lot of college student traffic. But, that doesn’t take away from this place. I definitely recommend this place.

Best grilled burger in Tempe And fix your own condiment bar Fast service .... Always parking space and plenty of tables

This is a Tempe MUST while you are in town. I went this last weekend and it was full of new ASU grads and their families. Great to see all of that Maroon and Gold! The burgers and fries are always made fresh. You can't beat that the smokey and juicy burgers cooked over the charcoal girl. This is a cash only establishment but there is an ATM inside. Go to The Chuck Box next time you are in Tempe and of course Go Devils!

Amazing Burgers. Very fresh meat. Very confusing and chaotic self service system. Little pricy when you consider burger, side and a drink.

The Chuckbox in Tempe makes great burgers at affordable prices. It's rustic simple and fun. The process: coming and get in the line up. Place your order and the meat patties are grill in front of your over mesquite charcoal. Once done, grab your place and any side and head to the cashier. They only take cash. Customize your burger at a counter with an assortment of vegetables and condiments. Fine a seat inside or outside. We had the Big Little One with sides of onion rings, Chuckbox potatoes, beer battered mushrooms and Old Fashioned Draft Root Beer. We enjoyed it all. Would come back next time when we are in town.

Quality/Quantity - Simple menu done well. Also made fresh to order. And fairly quickly, especially for made to order food. The Big One - burgers, we got two of these. The Little One - burger, I was surprised that my daughter ordered this...? As she is usually a bigger eater than me. We also got the zucchini, mushroom, and onion rings. All of which was good and made fresh to order. Atmosphere - Small local business. Not the most comfortable seating, see both indoor and outdoor pictures. This also helped with quick/fast turn around for the few tables they have. The two restrooms outside could use a remodel. Very small parking lot; we walked. Service - Counter service. Self service drinks and condiment bar, see pictures. Also bus your own tables. Complimentary self service water. Price - $42, cash only. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1972.

Let me just start by welcoming you to the chick box, where every bite is a masterpiece! These burgers are crafted with juicy, top-quality beef, perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection, served on fresh, toasted sesame bun with the perfect crunch, cooked right in front of your eyes! Customize your burger with gourmet toppings like smoky bacon, creamy guacamole, and a variety of cheeses. Paired with crispy, golden fries and refreshing drinks, my personal favorite was the Barq's cream soda. Each meal is a flavor-packed experience you won't forget. Whether you're a classic cheeseburger lover or looking to try something new, this is the ultimate destination for burger enthusiasts. The onion rings are crisped to perfection. Very intimate location, but an amazing experience. This is cash only.

Such a nostalgic Tempe spot! Be prepared with cash as they do not accept cards. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and my husband ordered the double big one. I love that you get you watch your food being prepared-- it's like hibachi but burger edition. Flavors were amazing and they have a toppings bar where you can add lettuce, tomato, etc. my only regret is not getting onion rings!

Nostalgic, classic, and delicious. Simple charcoal burgers at their best. They also have chicken sandwiches. You have to get their onion rings and zuchinni fries. Build your own burger with all the sauces and sides after you get your food. Cash only!

Small little spot! Hole in the wall vibes!! Don't look like much from outside, but the food is amazing. Everything we had was delicious. Everything tasted so fresh they make the burgers right in front of you. Not many places do their burgers, charbroiled you can taste the difference!!! One of the best burgers I've ever tasted!! The people here are so friendly and on top of their game since it was our first time they did amazing and helped us with our food.! I highly recommend this spot. I can't wait to go back to Arizona to eat here again.

Friendly service. Takes your order as he is prepping things. Small well oiled machines a business. Burgers were great (we had 5 different ones) and the sides were da bomb. Crispy deep fried mushrooms, jalapeno poppers, onion rings, and fries...YUM! Topping bar with all the burger fixins plus ranch for the fries. Prices are great too! The location is small and busy, but worth it!

The service is great and fast an the place looks cool from inside it reminds me of a family bbq

Excellent burger. I love a good charbroiled burger and this place nailed it. I love that you have the toppings bar as well. The sides are large enough to share. Seating is open and it does get crowded that's because it's the bees knees ! Cash only and legit one of the best burgers I've had here in AZ. It's a must!

Vibe is very casual, cash only. Completely nailed the taste of a backyard burger in the summer. A very nostalgic taste, and highly recommend.

If you're a fan of open, flame-grilled burgers, The Chuck Box is a must-visit. This cozy spot may be small, but it packs a big punch when it comes to delivering some of the best burgers in town. The moment you walk in, you're greeted by the sizzling sound of burgers cooking fresh off the grill, and the aroma is nothing short of mouth-watering. One of the features at The Chuckbox is their condiment bar. It's a burger lover's dream, allowing you to customize your burger to your exact liking. The onion rings are #fire--double-fried to perfection, resulting in an irresistibly crispy texture that pairs wonderfully with the juicy burgers. The staff here are genuinely friendly and add to the welcoming atmosphere. Despite the small space, they manage to keep things moving smoothly, even during the busy lunch and dinner hours. However, because of the limited seating, be prepared to sit outside if the place gets crowded. For two people, you can expect to spend around $20-$30, which is a great deal considering the quality of the food and the overall experience. PS - place is cash only!! Although, there is an ATM on site if needed.

I came across a list of the best burgers in each state. For Arizona, The Chuck Box was listed as the state's best. Before we went to AZ, I asked our son-in-law if he had ever been there. After all, it's been in business for 40 years. Even though he grew up in the area, he had never heard of it. When I mentioned seeing it on the best burger list, he was interested in trying it. First of all, I want to mention that it is cash only. They do have an ATM on site if you need cash. We were all eager to try the burgers. Ordering works this way --- upon entering, you get in a cafeteria-like line. Then you give your order to the person making the food. They cook their burgers on a grill where mesquite is used. Yes, it all smelled good. We all gave our orders. Once you do that, you can't advance in the line until your burger gets handed to you. While we were waiting, a woman who was ahead of us in line with her family, started waxing poetic about the burgers saying they were the best they've ever had. Plus, she talked about how clean they kept the kitchen area (we concurred with that). She also mentioned how nice the staff was and one person had been working there for 40 years (Yes, the staff was nice). Things get somewhat complicated once you get your burger. If you order a side like onion rings or fries, no one tells you to just grab a serving as you move along the line. Thus, my husband didn't grab his onion rings but was charged for them. Drinks are self serve. How were the burgers? Sorry to say but they weren't that good. They are thin and we all commented how they were dried out with little flavor. That said, the onion rings (which I shared with my husband) were actually quite good. The batter clung to then quite well and they were crunchy with good flavor. The dining area is rustic --- wooden tables and (if I recall correctly) stools. We felt a bit cramped. In the end, we spent over $80 to feed 6 of us. Trust me...there are better burgers in AZ.

Great burgers that are a great size! A stones throw from ASU so it can definitely get busy and crowded inside. Try it out!

Love these delicious burgers! Have tried several times to eat here but there was always a line! Finally got a chance to experience these BIG burgers and surprisingly the line moves fast! Definitely got stuck in the smoke from the grill after I ordered...just do what I did and stand super close to the person in front of you and strike up a conversation! I got the great Big 1/2 pounder with some of the onion rings and I'm not afraid to say it, but I finished every bite! I don't want to leave anything behind! I love being able to put my own toppings on as well! Looking forward to my next visit!

This is one of the best burgers I've ever tried, obviously service is not going to be like a restaurant is more like burger stand. This place is been here since the 60s multiple generations of parents and sons and it becomes something to of tradition to families. The ambience is really cool it reminds you of the old western times. Amazing place if you have the chance to come please do.

Best burger in AZ, nice staff clean restaurant Cutest little setting near ASU.

Honestly, I cannot believe it took me 10 years to check The Chuck Box off my AZ food card. I even use to work RIGHT next door, constantly smelling the greasy deliciousness. It seems like a right of passage in Tempe - located right in between Campus and basically DT Tempe this little hole in the wall is a great spot. It's very rustic, wooden shack type vibes. The outdoor patio sports log stumps as seats, not the most comfortable, but fit the bill! The inside had seating and it's counter style, made to order. The menu is straightforward featuring various size of burgers and a few specialty ones, with a large self serve topping area, featuring all the classics. This is no gourmet burger shop, this is picnic, classic, served on paper plates food. They have tasty fries and other fried sides such as jalapeno poppers - DELISH - onion rings and also have chicken tenders for those who are not burger people. They have a couple basic beers, by the bottle and pitcher and all the prices are about as cheap as you could get today! 1/2 Burger is about 8 dollars with small upcharge for cheese. this place is BOPPING, in no way did I ever expect such a crowd. The line was long and the place does get packed, but it moved relatively speedy and you get your burgers before you pay and sit down. The parking lot is also pretty tight and packed, so something to expect. They also have two small restrooms. it's a great spot for a group or quickish bite!

Get ready for an experience! The Chuck Box has been around since 1972 and they cook over an open mesquite fire. Warning, this place is cash only! They do have an ATM available inside the restaurant, but it's better to come prepared with cash in hand. There is limited seating inside, but honestly, it's part of the charm of this place. When temperatures are more agreeable, there are some tables to sit at outside of the restaurant. It is very rustic inside, and you stand in line and order at the counter. It reminds me a lot of the Seinfeld episode The Soup Nazi. Don't worry, the line moves pretty fast. Of course they serve up fantastic tasting burgers and recently I decided to go for the hot and spicy chicken breast sandwich. It was phenomenal. There is a condiments bar so you are able to dress your burger or chicken sandwich however you would like. If you're visiting Arizona State University or Tempe Arizona for the first time, you definitely should check this place out.

The food was quite expensive for three persons. We ordered three burgers and two sides and a 16oz beer and large drink. I dislike the items being sold separately like the fries, onion rings, and burgers and drink. On top of that tax was $3. I wish they could get there prices right when paying. I didn't appreciate the up charge price on two of the big burgers. They took two extra dollars from me when the menu states the burger to be $8.35 each but I charged more. The man at the till with the mustache and deep voice talked reluctantly rude but tried to make it seem okay but it wasn't. Other than that it's a nice place to watch food be made in front of you. And wait in line to receive order. There is a food bar for burger toppings and condiments. The place is very nice and calm. Not loud. No music. Just smell like burgers.

Flew in from Vegas for Innings fest 2024 and had The Chuck Box bookmarked on Yelp as a place to check out. I was staying nearby and my Hotel had a full kitchen and provided breakfast daily, so I almost did not have a reason to go to Chuck Box, other than me being an omnivore, luckily one day before the festival I stopped in to Starbucks for a coffee and as I exited I noticed an older looking wooden house and saw the name Chuck Box on the exterior. Excited, I checked my pockets and had cash on hand, rare occurrence for me these days, so I took that as a sign and went in, as you enter you see a table full of condiments (reminded me of a salad bar) from, mayo, jalapeños, pickles, ketchup, etc, just about anything you can think of adding to a burger. The interior itself is fairly small, maybe 10-12 tables from my quick glance around the restaurant, but there is also seating outside. The line can get quite long but I can see why, the burgers and food are cooked to order over a charcoal flame, the food was on point as well as the price, check it out and bring cash!

Greatest burger of all time. Skip the ketchup, mustard or any other condiments. These burgers come off the grill with all the flavor they need. My highest recommendation.

The Chuck Box 6455 E Southern Ave Mesa, AZ January 05, 2024 Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Portion size: 5/5 Visit description: Dine-in order, Came to Chuck Box one of our valley favorites for a great burger. Food: We got 2 little one's and 2 orders of fried zucchini with drinks. Service: Customer service was great especially for how busy it was atleast 15 people in line when we showed up, food was ready in less than 20 minutes and the food quality was top tier, very fresh food along with condiments bar. All the food is prepared to order nothing is ready that's was a plus.

This place was old school but it was perfect! Great service and great food!! Totally recommend!

Chuck Box. What a spot, bring cash. Prepare to wait for a moment during busy times as everything is cooked right in front of you at the location. Great food and you can put anything you want on your burger once it's served to you. Tons of options for food and drinks. We really enjoyed going here and the burgers are reasonably priced and quality!

Does it get overweight status due to its longstanding place in the community? Absolutely. But that doesn't detract from a solid burger, a quirky/memorable experience, and a valuable spot to add to the rich tapestry that is downtown Tempe.

This is a great burger! Straight forward burger cooked on mesquite with nice char marks (without being burnt). You stand in a line and basically tell your order to the person there, they stick toothpicks in the bun so the guy cooking knows what to make and when you get up to the front of the line you pickup your food. We got two little ones and one big one along with a side of beer battered zucchini. The fun thing about getting a big one is that when you get up to get your food and the person says "you got a big one?" You can confidently say "Yes. Yes I do." There's a condiment bar to add all your toppings. We all thoroughly enjoyed our burgers, they're really a step above anywhere I can think of. The beer battered zucchini was excellent as well. I got a 16 oz beer as well which was good. Overall an amazing burger that somehow doesn't sit heavy in your stomach.

Got the Tijuana torpedo and onion rings. Burger was juice and onion rings were crispy. Burger is cooked in front of you as you wait. Great experience!

Classic Tempe burger joint. The charbroiled burgers are perfect, and the beer is ice cold. Cash only, there is a ATM inside. Don't mind the line, it moves quickly and it's worth the wait

Definitely a cool place to go. Burgers were fantastic atmosphere was good. Just a cool little place

Eh. It was on a couple travel guides, I think because how long it's been around, but truthfully it was just ok. The patty was thin and onion rings were not memorable. There's a ton of other places to eat on this street alone - would recommend going elsewhere.

The food, services ambiance and the price all awesome. Great relaxing place and the services are fast..

So this was a fun experience but it's a one and done for me. The food was excellent. The prices were good. Watching your food be made is always a treat. The staff was so nice and friendly. How they do all those orders so quickly is amazing. It was a good burger, but nothing out of this world. The spot was crowded. It's obviously a popular place to eat. I am not a fan of the toppings bar. Just everyone touching it- ya no. (But I'm a little bit of a germaphobe) Also it is CASH ONLY.

The ambience is the best thing about this place a very close second are the awesome burgers. The service is top-notch great place to eat.

Love the burgers and love the service here. This will always be one of our go-to's. Some people may complain about the size of the building or seating availability, but that's what I like about it. It's small, clean, and always delicious.

How have we not been here yet??? The Chuck Box has been on my Yelp list for a long time, and we finally ventured in on a Saturday evening. The line was really long, and we relied on other customers to let us know what we needed to do - stand in one line to order, then move to another line to get your food. Although unconventional, this method was HIGHLY effective. We didn't wait too long at all, and the line was constantly moving. The burgers were fantastic - I had a bacon cheeseburger with cheddar cheese. I loved every bite. The fries were also delicious. My husband opted for the double big one and fried mushrooms. The mushrooms were not my vibe - they were fried perfectly to a crisp but lacked flavor. The building itself is really old and not clean at all. Maybe it's cleaner during a less busy period of the day. We ate outside, the only place we could find a table. The toppings bar is also in the center, where the line wraps around, so you have to wiggle your way in to get whatever toppings and condiments you want. The staff did a good job replenishing, and I could see plenty of ice underneath to make sure the toppings/condiments didn't go bad, but the other customers were so friggen messy. Have some common courtesy, people!

What an amazing place to eat a charcoal flame grilled burger. There's very little wait time. There's every condiment available that you can think of. You get free refills. There's lots of add ons available from green chiles, jalapeños, mushrooms and much more. The staff is super friendly and takes pride in maintaining the tables clean. Before you eat a burger come try the Chuckbox. The chicken strips are my son's favorite.

Was excited to try out this place since I saw it on other platforms. You walk in and you can smell the burgers cooking. Then we placed our order I had the great big one with 3 sides onion rings, fried zucchini and battered mushrooms. I'll speak about the food. They have a condiment bar, which is nice because you can create a monster burger if wanted but the only veggie one that was a miss, was the lettuce chopped to thick and it was kinda browning. It literally falls off the burger. The burger was really good can't complain. But all the sides tasted like the oil was old & burnt. This giving it a bad taste. But the mushrooms were the best of three. The dining room was clean but extremely smoky. The place is a bit warm for this time of year. My rating for the 3 stars is because I enjoyed the burger. Now for the bad they definitely needed to work on their manners, while eating, you can hear their conversations and way too many F BOMBS were dropped. Then you have employees who man the stations on their cell phones and no washing of hands or switching gloves. The concept is great, the burgers are good but I recommend takeout and to watch the line cooks for sanitary practices. This establishment only takes CASH and they do have an ATM onsite.

The absolute biggest burger you've ever seen in Tempe along University. Chuck Box. you wouldn't need anything else if you had a burger craving and didn't want to go to Jack in The box or Chick-fil-A

Beef burgers over charcoal fire, need I say more? The patties are a bite overcooked to my liking but still recommend this place. Do bring cash since it's cash only.

Best burger EVER! No, really. I've had a lot of burgers all over the world (yeah, really) and THIS IS IT! Did I mention that the chicken sandwich is also the best I've ever had? (My wife let me try hers). VERY reasonable prices. Be warned, cash only.

The Chuck Box is a no-frills burger place that *works*. You enter on one side of the building and fall in line, where they take your order and cook your burger right in front of you. Toppings are self-service at a bar in the middle of the restaurant. These burgers were flavorful, filling, and reasonably priced! I would surely come back to fulfill my next burger craving.

My husband has been ranting about this place so it was fitting that he brought me to try it this visit to AZ. I had the Guacamole Bacon Burger and my husband had the Tijuana Torpedo burger with green chiles and pepper jack cheese. It took me a minute to take in how the restaurant works...place your order at the front, watch while they make your order on the grill (pretty impressive how the man grilling kept all of the food moving!). Then you pay - they are a cash only business - and then there is a food bar with toppings you can add to your burger. Think the typical items - lettuce, tomato, pickles, peppers, etc. You'll also find condiments for your fries, onion rings, or fried zucchini if you decide to go that route. There is limited seating at the very rustic, cozy, restaurant. The burger was delicious and I can see why this is one of my husband's favorites when we come to town.

It's a decent burger, yes. But don't believe the "top 10 in phoenix" lists. Not even top 20. I totally get this place is ranked so high due to nostalgia, but objectively speaking, the burger is nothing special and not worth an out of the way pilgrimage. Picture a burger king whopper from the 90's. That's exactly what to expect.

Friday lunch scene - it was kinda what I expected! Smokey, crowded , 1970's looking, kinda dumpy overall. The food was just ok, will not return !

While in Tempe I figured I'd check out a local staple. What I didn't know was how busy they get on Fridays for lunch! The line moved quickly and I was able to figure out the system they had in place. Everyone that worked there was so friendly and patient. Our burgers and hot dogs were delicious. Made me nostalgic for a family cookout!

Haven't been here in probably 20 years and it's still the same great food. One of the best burgers in AZ. Flame grilled big but thin patties so they cook quick while you are in line watching them cooked. Very adorable, but they only take cash FYI. Rustic old school vibes and is perfect for lunch