Savvy Picks

Burgers

Thirteen South Coast burgers locals send each other to, from a $4.50 walk-up cheeseburger to a $24.50 grass-fed plate, with what to order, what it costs and whether fries come with it.

  • 13 picks
  • 17 locations
  • 5 towns
  • Updated November 3, 2026

The same names come up every time someone asks for a burger around here, and a brewery has topped the list for years. Here are thirteen, in order of how often they were recommended, each checked against its own menu.

  1. Third Window Brewing

    Wagyu smash burgers at a brewery.

    Two Wagyu patties from the family's Fess Parker ranch, smashed Oklahoma-style with thin onions, with house pickles on the side.

    OrderThe Original Smashed Cheeseburger. $10.70 in Santa Barbara, $9.95 in Carpinteria.

    TipFries are a separate order, $5 or $7. Santa Barbara fries them in peanut oil and Carpinteria in beef tallow. The kitchen closes at 8 most nights.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on thirdwindowbrewing.com (opens in a new tab)

  2. The Win~Dow

    A $4.50 cheeseburger.

    A walk-up window with flat-top burgers, grilled onions, American cheese, pickles and house sauce.

    OrderDouble Cheeseburger. $7.75. Fries are $4.25.

    TipOpen 11 am to 10 pm weekdays and from 9 on weekends. A 3% surcharge goes on every bill; the menu says it's optional and they'll take it off if you ask.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on thewin-dow.la (opens in a new tab)

  3. Chubbies Hamburgers

    Double patties, double cheese.

    Two third-pound patties with cheese, and shakes in vanilla, strawberry or chocolate.

    OrderThe Chubbie Combo, with fries and a soda. $11.75. The burger alone is $7.50.

    TipOpen 11 am to 8 pm daily. For online orders, bring the card you paid with and your driver's license.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on chubbieshamburgers.com (opens in a new tab)

  4. Dang Burger

    Grass-fed smash burgers, tallow fries.

    Three-ounce patties of grass-fed beef on a Martin's bun, sharing a space with Sunburst Wine Bar.

    OrderDouble Dang: two patties, American cheese, griddled onion, lettuce, tomato, pickles and sauce. $13.

    TipClosed Tuesdays; noon to 8:30 pm otherwise. Fries are $4 or $6, and the black-bean Veggie Dang can be made vegan.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on dangburger.com (opens in a new tab)

  5. Mesa Burger

    Fries included.

    Angus and chuck ground fresh every day, cooked medium on a local brioche bun, and named after the neighborhoods.

    OrderMontecito Burger: grilled onions and mushrooms, goat cheese, arugula, one onion ring and truffle aioli. $17.

    TipOpen 11 am to 8 pm, 8:30 Friday and Saturday. Dogs are fine on the patio. The house Mesa Burger is $15.25.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on mesaburger.com (opens in a new tab)

  6. Honor Bar

    Two seats at a time.

    A small Montecito bar from the Hillstone group. The burger is fresh-ground chuck with cheddar, tomato and coleslaw, cooked to order.

    OrderHonor Burger. $23 on the to-go menu.

    TipWalk-ins only, parties of two or fewer, cards only. Open 11 am to 9 pm daily.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on honorbar.com (opens in a new tab)

  7. Yellow Belly

    Burger and a beer, $15 on Wednesdays.

    Quarter-pound Angus burgers on brioche with fries or salad, and a weekly special.

    OrderThe Royale with Cheese: bacon-onion jam, American cheese, house dill pickles, 1000 Island and mustard. $16.95.

    TipOpens at 4 pm on weekdays and noon on Saturdays; closed Sundays. Happy hour is 4 to 6, Monday to Thursday, and all day Saturday. Any burger can go to a half pound for $2.50.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on yellowbellytap.com (opens in a new tab)

  8. Santa Barbara Biergarten

    Smash burgers in the Funk Zone.

    Quarter-pound Wagyu smash burgers on Martin's potato rolls, next to sausages, schnitzel and wood-fired pizza.

    OrderSmatty: special sauce, grilled onions and American cheese. $13.95.

    TipOpen from 11 am daily, until 11 Thursday to Saturday. Fries are a separate basket, $6.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on sbbiergarten.com (opens in a new tab)

  9. The Nugget

    Fried in tallow.

    A bar and grill with three shops. Burgers come with fries, salad or slaw.

    OrderCrunch Burger: grilled tomato and onions, Swiss and tomato relish on a crispy English muffin. $19.

    TipWeekend brunch from 10 in Summerland and Goleta. Carpinteria is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. No reservations.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on nuggetbarandgrill.com (opens in a new tab)

  10. The Brewhouse

    Monday is Smash Night.

    Brews its own beer in seven-barrel batches. Burgers come with a side, from fries to garlic mashed potatoes.

    OrderBrewhouse Burger: American cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and pickle. $16, or $19 with a house pint.

    TipHappy hour, Tuesday to Sunday 4 to 6, has a $10 smashburger (dine-in). On Monday Smash Nights the burgers go until they sell out. Takes reservations.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on sbbrewhouse.com (opens in a new tab)

  11. Bossie's Kitchen

    The $24.50 burger.

    An 8-ounce grass-fed burger with bacon, manchego, balsamic onions and garlic aïoli, fries included.

    Order8oz Grass-fed Grilled Burger. $24.50.

    TipClosed Mondays and Tuesdays. Lunch 11:30 to 2, dinner from 5. Everything is cooked to order, so plan on about 75 minutes for a table of two to four. Dogs welcome on the patio.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on bossieskitchen.com (opens in a new tab)

  12. Finney's Crafthouse

    A5 Wagyu for $18.

    A Southern California sports bar group with a long burger list, from a $10 smashburger to bison and Japanese A5 Wagyu.

    OrderA5 Wagyu Burger: pepper jack, bacon, crispy onions, steak sauce and mustard aioli. $18.

    TipFries and tots are extra, $4 or $8. Happy hour 3 to 5 on weekdays. You can join the waitlist online.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on finneyscrafthouse.com (opens in a new tab)

  13. On the Alley

    Harbor counter, Goleta has more.

    Burgers come with house-made potato chips. The harbor counter keeps one burger; Goleta has five, including a double Wagyu smash.

    OrderAlley Burger at the harbor: a third of a pound with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and pickle. $11.25.

    TipFries or tots are about $3 more. The harbor counter has communal benches outside and welcomes pets.

    Checked Nov 3, 2026 on onthealley.com (opens in a new tab)

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