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    For The Win

    3.9 (314 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order For The Win Takeout or Delivery

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    FOR THE WIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - For The Win

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    Miori I.

    We visited For The Win for Father's Day burgers, hoping for a better experience than last time. Service has improved slightly, but the initial greeting was barely noticeable. Signs directed us to order beer at the cashier, only to find out their taps were down, leaving just two canned option; neither appealing to us. That should have been our cue to go. We placed our food order at the kiosk and waited on uncomfortable bar stools in an uninviting space lacking both decor and warmth. By the time our food arrived, regret had already set in. On the plus side, the food was served hot and looked good. The brussels and sweet potato fries were decent, but the double burgers were just okay. One highlight: staff put on the World Cup match at our request, which was appreciated. Overall, though, I keep wanting to love this place, but it doesn't live up to expectations. Not sure I'll be back.

    Entrance signage
    Benedict P.

    Highly recommend this place here in Alhambra Main Street. First time eating here and it was quite delicious! Indeed the best smash burgers in LA. Service was fast and efficient. You order at the self kiosk machine then pay and wait for your order to arrive. It took about less than 10 minutes because it wasn't a packed house, and that was good. The ambience here was quite nice. Same seating arrangement compared to the previous burger place here. There is just no self-serve soda fountain. All of the drinks are in cans or bottles and no refills. But overall, this place was five out of five for me. And would highly recommend this place to anyone interested on trying the best smash in LA.

    Seating
    Ally Y.

    One of the best burgers I've had in a very long time if ever. You walk in order from the tablet and find a seat. They even have a counter top to eat at while your order gets made. The service is great because you order and do your thing while the chef does his and all is well. (For the "bad service" comments I don't think good service needs to be "extra happy" when customers come in. True service means they put their soul into what they do and that's this place simplicity at its finest a real burger joint with real people) keep it 100 Smashed Burger: it's a simple honest burger. It's the pinnacle of cheese burger with molten cheese and grilled onion. Expect third degree burns on your tongue if you don't wait a bit. But that's the best part when have you sat down and had a hot cheeseburger NEVER! Until here shoutout to the chef for perfecting such greatness. We added fries and a soda I wish I got the cheese fries because they looked so good. But that's for next time. (Price $10 a burger)($3extra for a double) well worth This place is legit W burgers

    Fries
    April V.

    The burgers are good but not a big fan of the sauce. Fries are nicely salted. Bought the fry's sauce & it's like an In-N-Out spread sauce packet. I didn't really like it & it tastes like it has some types of mustard or horseradish or strong oil Not sure if I was overcharged or the prices increased The service was fast though

    Entrance
    Hannah S.

    Always on the lookout for a great burger and have heard a lot about For The Win, but my experience here was a bit disappointing. The burgers are cooked nicely and the cheese is good - but their fry sauce is overwhelmingly sweet, they charge an additional price for everything apart from the buns and meat, the vibes are uninviting, and the staff don't seem to want to have anything to do with the customers.  We were meeting up with my SIL/MIL and were all craving burgers so we came here for our family dinner. The decor is minimalist, bare bones, and quite sterile - definitely not an inviting place to linger. There are giant order screens instead of registers at the counter and the staff are hiding back in the kitchen and constantly seemed busy and overwhelmed even when we needed help (we were the only customers). We eventually figured out our issues on our own and got our food ordered with no help from anyone. We ordered three single cheese burgers and one double with some loaded fries, water bottles and a chocolate shake - almost cost $80! If you want lettuce and tomato or even pickles - extra charge. Pretty much nickel and dime you for anything other than the meat and cheese lol. And forget about water cups - there aren't any water stations or anything so you're forced to get bottled water (yay more microplastics). The food took a while to prepare and when it came out, our shake was missing. I asked the staff about it and he seemed very annoyed - but I eventually got it.  The burgers were cooked decently - the meat and cheese have decent flavors but again, I was not a fan of how sweet their fry sauce was - it was overwhelming on both the burgers and the fries. I also asked for two extra sides of the sauce as I wasn't sure what to expect and they charge extra for that too ($3 for two sauces) lol. It's definitely not made in house - it came in pre packaged plastic like giant ketchup packets. Definitely wouldn't get this again. The fries were pretty good and the chocolate shake was nice - those were the wins of our experience. I was also taken aback that the self-order kiosk asks you for a tip - you self order, pick up your order yourself when they put it on the counter so you take it back to your table yourself, AND clean up after yourself - which is totally fine but what would we need to tip for?  The location is great - in the main core of the cute little downtown Alhambra area near the movie theater. Parking is easy in the garages nearby. The food isn't bad and I would come again if it wasn't so impersonal and expensive, but unfortunately based on this first experience I doubt we'll be back - definitely preferred it when it was Grill Em All.

    Ashley H.

    Alright burger place. Service was minimal and there were kiosk stations upfront to order on. Meal itself wasn't bad (a little on the salty side) but I was pretty surprised on how small their cheeseburger was being $8+. Asked staff for water cups which was denied. Overheard another patron after ask and also denied as well.

    Double Cheeseburger & Fries
    Talmadge M.

    An old friend and I like to get around and see what our local independent restaurants are offering and this day we chose, For The Win (Alhambra). The location is located in a main business area with ample free parking nearby. Josh greeted and welcomed us, he recommended the double for a first-timer. It had great char flavors and everything came together well.

    Our already today. 2 double cheeseburger, dirty fries, and Brussels
    Ann Q.

    We had a really great first time experience today! There was only one gentleman working today and he greeted everyone that came in! I told him it was our first time here and he warmly helped us out at the register. Explained what the burgers come with and sides options. We opted for 2 double cheeseburgers no add ons, and all fixings. Order of Brussels and dirty fries. OMG if I was younger I would throw down the burgers and fries so quick!!! The dirty fries had tons of grilled onions and their fry sauce. There was an option to add bacon bits but we decided against it since we were expecting our meal to be heavy already. I absolutely loved the dirty fries!!! It was an elevated more gourmet version of in n out animal fries. The smash burgers were made very well, nice char and crispy beef edges! Cheese fully melted, generous sauce, pickles n onions all in some sweet and soft toasted brioche buns! The buns were similar to Hawaiian bread. I had to eat with a fork and knife, I had already fumbled and dirtied my dress with the Brussels! Brussels I think we're just deep fried, I don't think there was any sauce or toppings on it yet the Brussels were not overly bitter. I was hoping they were going to help with offsetting the heaviness of the overall meal, but because it too was fried in beef tallow, everything ate overall super heavy and very rich. These aren't cheap, you are paying for quality and you will get quality foods! Despite the price I felt like it was worth it. I would definitely add veggies on my next visit and and and!!! I found out coconut Co is going to be their neighbor soon!!! It would be a perfect pairing to get a coconut drink to pair with my burger!!! I'm so excited for them to open!!! Man... Definitely get the dirty fries!!! I'm drooling just thinking about it! BYOB, there is no fountain drinks here only canned and bottled drinks. No ice no water refill station.

    Cheeseburger
    Austin B.

    tl;dr the excellent, McDonald's-esque fries can't make up for the average smashburger; the expensive food isn't worth the premium Following the COVID-era smashburger trend, For the Win is a pandemic-borne pop-up from the mind of former fine-dining chef Santos Uy. Originally operating out of his Bib Gourmand-designated Papilles Bistro, FTW has since established multiple dedicated brick-and-mortar locations across Greater Los Angeles. While many burger aficionados lament that the quality has declined with the expansion, FTW remains routinely ranked among LA's top smashburgers. The relatively recent Alhambra outpost is located by the movie theater at the busy intersection of Garfield and Main. The interior decoration is pretty barebones. The concrete floors are polished, and the whitewashed walls have only orange-and-blue, FTW-specific decals. Up front, a handful of wooden tables are pressed up against a teal-upholstered booth. Further back, a diner-style counter peers directly into the open kitchen. The hum of the industrial refrigerator and sizzle from the grill overpower the low din of chatter. I originally was drawn to FTW for their lunch special: a cheeseburger, fries, and a drink for $9.99. Within about 10 minutes, I was presented with a cafeteria tray of food. The piping hot cheeseburger was mostly forgettable, from the flimsy potato roll bun, to the handful of snappy pickles, to the not-quite-juicy-and-not-quite-crispy patty, to FTW's overly sweet Thousand Island-adjacent fry sauce. The shoestring fries were a superior McDonald's dupe: excellently crispy, and the portion was the perfect size for sharing. The staff were friendly, and I was pleased to see my burger being cooked to order. Although I have never tried FTW during the pre-expansion days, I've confirmed during a return visit that the Alhambra location is middling as far as smash burgers go. Ultimately, the burgers are no more satisfying than a solid In-N-Out Double Double, but double the price; as such, I don't expect myself ever paying them a return visit.

    Tiffany T.

    One of my favorite smash burgers! The burgers are incredibly flavorful, and you really get those perfectly crispy edges. The servers are always super friendly and quick with my orders. There's convenient parking nearby in the garage behind the movie theater or next to Dollar Tree.

    Triple smash with loaded fries and a chocolate shake. Better go for a walk after!
    Colin O.

    Sweet and simple, this is a great burger. Everything is cooked fresh and the staff always make an effort to welcome their customers. Not cheap by any stretch but the taste is worth it. Love their food!

    Happy to be at our favorite smashburger in Alhambra!
    Greg W.

    I wanted to post an update. About 2 weeks after the review we went back. We walked up to the front and asked the grill master if they are buttering and/or grilling the buns. The answer was unfortunately "sorry no", so we decided not to eat there. Michael, I hope this changes back but until it does, we won't be returning. This might work for the normal buns but not for the gluten free buns. Because of this, I can't give them four stars any longer.

    Fries

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    2 years ago

    First time here!! Soooo good and the customer service is great! They have you put in the order yourself, fast and easy.

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    1 year ago

    Food poisoning and unfriendly staff who wouldn't even say hello, what a bummer experience and ruined my day

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    1 year ago

    Supposed to be open till 10, but closed at 9:35. Lazy! And we drove far to get here. Update your hours (unless you don't want business?)

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    2 years ago

    Thick and tasty burgers. Great dining area and it was clean. Would definitely come back for the fries and burgers.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    This is the best smashed burger we've tried in La hands down. Their fries service and meat is to die for

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Really great burgers, meat tasted high quality and the cheese was nicely melted. Service was nice. Looking forward to next time.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    It's fresh & juicy burger. Fresh meat as well. Crews are friendly & experience. Reasonable price.

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    10 months ago

    burger was good the fries where a little salty for me over all I enjoyed the burger I wish they were able to have the milk shakes

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    2 years ago

    New place worth trying out. Came here early on recommendation. Interior looks great. Highly recommend.

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    2 years ago

    Best smash burger ever! I will be back and get other things as well! Great ambiance great vibes

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    2 years ago

    Great burgers and great service. Restaurant has tons of seating and space. Very clean.

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    2 years ago

    Great hamburgers, fries and Brussels! Hamburger meat was delicious and my mom and I love the Brussels! Fries are crunchy too!

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    2 years ago

    Amazing food to try if it's your first time! Food was amazing and service was amazing! The atmosphere brings back to the high school days!

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    2 years ago

    Good food. Reasonably priced. My son enjoyed it. Place is clean. Will come back again.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Delicious smashburgers! Best I've had so far. Tried it first in DTLA. So glad they opened one here in Alhambra too.

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    2 years ago

    Looks descent. Will give another review after trying it. A large open space. Open kitchen

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    2 years ago

    My favorite smash burger EVER. I tried it in LA but so farrr, glad they came to SG! Finally get to eat my favorite burger near home!!

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    Page 5 of 8

    Ask the Community - For The Win

    Hey! Just wondering any follow up on the question regarding a nut allergy?

    Just wondering, for a nut allergy, is there any concern?

    Llppp

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.4(106 reviews)
    1.7 mi
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    I was so excited to eat this again I forgot to take pictures both times I went back (back-to-back)…read more I want to update my review to 4.6/5! Genuinely so yummy!! Still not in love with the parking situation but I got the food for takeout both times. It's easier to park at the top during non peak hours (weekdays) or after 8 pm in the plaza. Th first time I went back, I got the combo for 2 (2 sandwiches, 2 chicken gizzard skewers, 6 wings, 2 sodas, and fries), a taiwanese sausage, and an extra chicken sandwich for 3 people. This was so much food and all of it was so good. I will say the Taiwanese sausage was a little small but it was sweet and decent. I probably won't get it again though because I expected it to be a little bigger for the price and it was a little hard. The chicken sandwiches were delicious and super big. The patties themselves were well seasoned (both spicy and non spicy) and huge (sticking out the bun)! The wings were also nice and crunchy. The skewers were also pretty yummy to eat as well. I will say I still don't love the fries as they aren't that seasoned. I even order extra cumin ($.75) and for them to add it to the fries, but they were still pretty plain. I wish they made shake fries or seasoned them better. The second time I went it was already 11 pm and I was happy to see they were opened so late. It's nice to see something opened after 9pm in the SGV. I ordered popcorn chicken, fries, and a sandwich that came out fairly quickly. The popcorn chicken was yummy per usually and my sibling enjoyed the sandwich. I also got regular fries with my free points and although they had pepper seasoning, it was still plain. The fries also weren't that crunchy so I won't order fries from here again. I think they're just not that good here but the chicken is still a go to. Overall, I usually have pleasant experiences at Macho burger and I'm slowly becoming a regular!

    Chicken was very crispy and juicy. Massive burger/sandwich for $10-$11 and they use brioche buns…read more My friends and I ordered online and the food was ready when we arrived. Spicy chicken sandwich and burger, popcorn chicken highly recommended I think I wasn't used to the style of chicken tenders. I'm used to it looking like big fat pieces but it was more skinny and it comes with different flavors too Clean and there were tables to eat inside Nice atmosphere

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    Pharo's Burgers

    Pharo's Burgers

    4.0(622 reviews)
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    Today, my dad and I ordered the Turkey Patty Melt, onion Rings and root beers. They were very juicy…read moreand tasted really good. The people here are really nice. The restaurant is clean and the atmosphere is really nice.

    I have been to Pharo's twice. The first time, I ordered the bacon cheeseburger special. I added…read morebacon to the burger and upgraded the side to fried mushrooms. The bacon cheeseburger was really good. The patty had great flavor, the bun was soft, the bacon was crispy, and the veggies were fresh and crisp. The fried mushrooms were delicious too. The batter was so crispy. On my second, and most recent, visit, I ordered their teriyaki plate. Although it's not on the menu, I asked for half chicken and half beef. The plate comes with white rice and a simple green salad with Thousand Island dressing. While the teriyaki had good flavor, I didn't really enjoy it. I was expecting the meat to be thinly sliced, but instead it was cut into large cubes. If you like bigger chunks of meat in your teriyaki, you'll probably enjoy theirs. The prices were pretty steep for a short-order restaurant. The teriyaki plate was $15.99 plus tax. I also ordered my boyfriend a bacon cheeseburger combo, which was $16.99 plus tax. The combo comes with a small drink. For the price, I think they should at least offer a medium-sized drink. They do offer refills, though. Customer service was good. Everyone was welcoming and friendly.

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    It's been a few years since I've been here. Met a former coworker for lunch, we used to come here…read morefor lunch all the time. Now there's a bar in here which there wasn't when we used to come. Ordered a just a regular cheeseburger with grilled onions and lettuce, cheese fries and a side of ranch and a soda came to $26. They charged $4 for small cup size of soda. The cheese fries were very good although for seven dollars the portion was a bit on the small side. The burger is served on four Hawaiian rolls and I cut it in quarters and ate one piece and brought the rest home. It was really good. My friend had a sausage and he said it was good. You walk up to the counter to order she was quite nice but other than that really not a lot of interaction with employee employees

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    THE FREIBURGER¨ - white american cheese, fries, haus slaw, fried egg, mayo

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    Bun-N Burger

    Bun-N Burger

    3.9(345 reviews)
    0.7 mi
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    Terrific change of place among all the Asian food in the SGV!…read more This is an old school place -- no frills -- no fancy hipster twist m. Just old school menu with great food. I can't gatekeep this any longer. Extensive menu of Mexican and diner food. Reasonable prices and delicious execution! I had the steak and eggs for $13.95 and I can't think of another place with this place. I was afraid that the steak would come out dry but it was tender and yummy. I really enjoyed it with perfect easy over eggs and fruit. My friend really enjoyed her chicken enchiladas. Service was good! The only downsides are cash only and they close at 3 daily. Otherwise be sure to visit!

    There's not a lot of places left like this. So I felt compelled to give my most honest and complete…read moreupdate review for this place in the hope that more people come and support this really dope establishment. First off, go to your local diner. Wherever it is. Entrepreneurship is the spirit and blood I think of big this beautiful place we live in. At its core, I believe it exist in places like your local diner. But I'm gonna get off my soapbox. As long as I've been a patron of this restaurant, it has been the same family running it and that is probably on the higher side of maybe 20 years. This restaurants food is authentic both on the Mexican side as well as the American side. Their flavors are consistent and a great value on the portion side as well. Ok the food: breakfast The pancakes are a must. Just really good. Try them. The omelets are top notch. Bacon, Broccoli and Swiss don't miss. Whichever side you choose whether potato or cottage cheese and a slice of tomato with an English muffin (you're welcome) are solid choices. The Bun N Burger special omelet is also a great choice. Steak chunks, onions, peppers, guacamole and cheese. Yeah, that. I do no peppers and extra onions myself. Delicious. Chilaquiles (the red) with steak and two fried eggs. A big ole plate of buenos días. Machaca is also in the rotation here for me. With extra salsa on the side. Highly enjoyable. Chile verde, fried eggs with rice and beans. Big yes. Side of bacon here is a low key must btw. Breakfast burritos on point too. But that's usually a to go thing for me. Burgers: Their burger special is the best burger deal locally. Go find out. I love their patty melt with their waffle fries on the side. They include a pickle slice too. Classic. The shakes here are a made in the metal cup the old school way and brought to you in the metal cup as well. My favorite way to have them. I could go on but I've said enough. Lovely family running a great restaurant. You could say ima fan.

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    Bun-N Burger - Interior, close to closing

    Interior, close to closing

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    Inside

    For The Win - burgers - Updated September 2026

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