by A PACIFIC BEACH Three well-known burger restaurants are located within walking distance of each other on Garnet Avenue and Cass Street in Pacific Beach, so if you’re talking about burgers, you can simply walk the walk. It’s a cornucopia of hamburgers.
Carnivorous desires for grilled meat should be satiated by Smash and Stack, The Food Box, and For The Win for fans of ground beef.
Located at 956 Garnet Ave., a few doors west of The Food Box, a Mexican burger restaurant that has been operating since 2023 at 978 Garnet Ave., Smash and Stack is well-known for its crispy-edged smash burgers and space alien-themed design. Across the street from Steak & Fries, at 1037 Garnet Ave., is another popular burger joint, For The Win, located in Los Angeles. All of these is a part of the expanding Garnet Avenue burger block.
There are plenty of other restaurants that could satisfy your appetite should your mood swing in between the burger shops. These include Dave’s Hot Chicken, PB Oriental, Fillipi’s Pizza, Big Jim’s Roast Beef next to Square Pizza on Cass Street, Spill the Beans Coffee, and Bagels on the corner. However, this is about toasted, buttery buns, oozing cheeses, and seared meats.
Stack and smash
Thanks to its outrageous, flavor-packed burgers, this restaurant, which started off as a modest food truck, soon became well-known and even had a small cult following. Joel Bautista, the owner and head chef, is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of Barcelona with a stellar resume that includes Michelin-starred kitchens in New York and Europe. Although it may seem surprising, his path from fine food to smash burgers has been a conscious labor of love. Bautista’s goal is straightforward: apply the methods of gourmet dining to something as approachable and fulfilling as a well-prepared burger.
Smash and Stack is maintaining a high energy level while growing its menu and establishing a community gathering place in its first physical location in PB. Strong, chef-driven flavors from a Michelin-trained background are layered over fresh, never frozen beef that has been expertly mashed to create a crispy edge and juicy core in every burger.
In addition to burgers, there are changing specials, milkshakes, and loaded space fries to keep things interesting.
We’re a lighthearted, naughty company that enjoys working with our PB neighbors and hosting gatherings that unite people over delicious cuisine, Bautista said.
The restaurant is open from noon to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from noon to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. On Mondays and Tuesdays, it is closed. Give 858-203-3890 a call.
FOR THE WIN
The restaurant, a well-known smash burger micro-chain with its headquarters in Los Angeles, launched in Pacific Beach in early July. Outside of greater Los Angeles, it is the first For the Win. With a selection of primarily popular burgers, French fries, and sides, the San Diego menu is similar to that of Los Angeles.
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With a single three-ounce patty that is smashed on the grill and grilled until the edges are crispy, the iconic smash burger takes center stage. The patty is served with or without cheese and has a layer of pickles, grilled onions, and For The Win’s famous fry sauce on top before being sandwiched inside a Martin’s potato bun. Burgers come with two or three patties, and they can be customized to include bacon, tomato, lettuce, and jalapenos for a small fee.
French fries that are thin and crispy, sweet potato fries, or loaded fries with grilled onions, two slices of melted American cheese, and house fry sauce are among the sides. Another well-liked side dish is Brussels sprouts, which are drenched in balsamic vinegar after being deep-fried in beef tallow for taste. Milkshakes and brownies are desserts. Vegetarians can order a grilled cheese sandwich.
Because of need, the Win came into being. During pandemic lockdowns, Santos Uy, the chef-owner of Papilles Bistro, a French restaurant next to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, witnessed a decline in sales. He gradually altered the idea and introduced a new name and menu: For The Win, a phrase that suggests quality, because he had always intended to serve hamburgers. Ronald Yu, Yu’s brother and business partner from San Diego, works directly at the Pacific Beach facility.
According to Ronald Uy, For The Win has expanded from one restaurant to ten outlets across Los Angeles in just five years. I was immediately on board when my brother asked me to extend For The Win into the San Diego market. Our relaxed atmosphere and straightforward menu of smash burgers and fries have been well accepted in this wonderful city.
Daily hours for For The Win are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Give 858-900-2002 a call.The Food Box’s fiery Spurgeon burger. (Image courtesy of The Food Box/Juan Martinez)
THE BOX OF FOOD
This eatery, which was established in 2013 in Monterrey, Mexico, serves burgers with a vibrant and tasty Mexican flair.
The owner and manager of the Pacific Beach branch, Jorge de la Vega, stated that our founder, Juan Angel Martinez, had a dream of creating the most delicious, distinctive, and tastiest burgers in town.
According to De la Vega, that dream has come true. The Food Box has competed in Formula One races, launched a burger into space, and made appearances on Shark Tank Mexico since it opened. In Mexico, the brand now operates over ten sites.
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The Food Box delivers delicious gourmet hamburguesas with a unique combination of ingredients at affordable pricing, and it’s marketed as much more than just a burger. The company’s iconic takeaway box is the source of the restaurant’s moniker.
The Food Box offers six classic burgers Lewis, Calvin, Spurgeon (spicy), King James (mild), Spurgeon Infit (spicy) and Billy Cheese on its menu, along with a churro bowl dessert, a chipotle dressing, and sides including a couple of different varieties of fries, onion rings and a salad. Three chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders are also available on the menu.
According to de la Vega, “my business partner is a chef who uses science to create the ideal balance of salty, sweet, spicy, and crunchy flavors in all of our burgers.” Additionally, we produce all of our own burger patties and sauce. Everything is produced from scratch and is fresh.
Regarding the increasing competition among the local eateries, de la Vega stated that Pacific Beach is vibrant and flavorful.
The rivals are cordial. We extend a warm welcome to all visitors. Perhaps we’re all doing a good job. Many burger joints are opening up here. If they have a good offering and people like it it s good for everyone.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sunday. Call 858-352-6095.
