Heavy Handed
Order Heavy Handed Takeout or Delivery
Heavy Handed Photos
Business Info
Heavy Handed Popular Dishes
HEAVY HANDED ATMOSPHERE
More like Heavy Handed
Recommended Reviews - Heavy Handed
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Simple menu, outdoor seating, pretty busy, great playlist & good food. Ordered a single combo & double combo, both came with a side of heavy sauce which is nice. Portion size is good. Cheeseburgers were good but only had 2 slivers of grilled onions on both, which was a bummer. However fries were well seasoned, ice cream was pretty standard in flavor but better dipped in my opinion. It was a bit chaotic at the pick up window, it's near steps so the line goes down the steps as well. As we patiently waited our turn at the pick up window, quite a bit of rude customers just push thru and stick their hand/face in front of others for pick up. Wish there was an employee to keep rude people in line. It is a busy place, you do get a good amount of food & if you're lucky you can grab a table to enjoy your meal w/a good playlist (90's '00 hip hop at the time) on a nice day.
Fave fries I've had at a burger joint in a MIN! The burger was good too-- loved the sauce and the crispiness of the burger! Parking out back for about $3 for 3 hours! Will be back! $18 for a double patty combo
Good, but I prefer vanman's in pacific beach in San Diego. The burger didn't have crispy ends like their smashburger does. The fries are okay, but nothing special. They give you a ton of fries. Would like to try the soft serve, it looked really good. If I came back I would definitely get a twisted cone dipped in the cookies & cream or the funfetti.
We were recommended this area since we were hear by and needed food. It's a more hip "Inn& Out" almost but smashed burger style. They have burgers, fries, and soft serve. A little pricey but the food was good. I got the combo but they charge you $1 for protein style which I thought was not warranted. But that's just me. Lettuce cannot be more then a bun price. The fries were crispy. Comes with a packet of sauce. I didn't end up trying the soft service since I thought It was a bit on the pricier side. Great patio to sit and people watch.
I've had their smash burgers and love them! This time we stopped by for the funnest soft serve which was yummy but definitely a bit sweet after a while. The soft serve itself is great but the funfetti dip does make it much sweeter. I think it's a great dessert to share! It's an outdoor space so it's always packed but perfect for a smashburger.
This place had a solid smash burger that was filling and the combo was a good price! The single patty was more than enough a d adding the chopped chilies just gave it that extra kick! Fries were perfect and we were given a generous amount for the combo. Service was fast and friendly when we had any questions about the menu and modifications. The vibe was also very relaxing and all outdoor seating but the weather was great for it. Perfect place for a quick bite to eat if you're craving a burger!
Cruising around Venice on my bike soaking up the sun & hippie culture. Decided to stop by Heavy Handed after hearing some buzz and my stomach grumble. Glad I did. This place was popping on a sunny day, which is always a good sign. It's got that slightly artsy, Venice vibe on the outside, but still feels laid-back and fun. The burger delivered. Soft bun, gooey melted cheese, and those crispy edges on the patty that give it that smash burger magic. Nothing overly complicated, just done right. Exactly what you want when you're hungry after riding around. They've also got tallow fries and ice cream, which makes it feel a little more fun than your standard burger stop. Overall, really solid experience. Good food, good energy, and worth a stop if you're in the area.
We checked out this spot while in the area and it was good! We tried the double and single cheeseburger. Both burgers had a soft bun and the perfect amount of cheese, pickles and sauce. The fries had a very good flavor, not too salty and a good crunch. The spot had good music playing but could definitely use more umbrellas to keep the sun and tree seeds from hitting you. Give this spot a try if you're craving a good burger!
Yum! I love this spot their burgers always hit the spot. I am such a smash burger fan and this burger is hard to beat. Also if you're in the mood for a sweet treat try their ice cream!
Quick service. Uncovered and covered outdoor seating. Food came out really quick, even though they were pretty busy. The food was really tasty and everything came out piping hot. If you love a great smash burger, then this is a great spot for you. Their special sauce seems to be their signature which comes on the burger with an extra packet serving included. Nice size portion on the side of French fries.
Unfortunately, I got food poisoned after eating here. The food was OK at best. The fries were very very saucy. A regular basket of fries is more than enough for 2 people to share. Burgers were okay. Everything was quite pricey. Even to add chilies was a few dollars extra. The soft serve was a let down. The dip was not dipped properly. The chocolate coating was not even. There was really thick areas, and then some that were barely coated in chocolate. The cookies and cream dip didn't really taste like Oreo. Just tasted sweet. There's a paid parking lot behind the store with limited spots.
Hands down the best Hamburgers in LA. The burgers are meaty and fresh, and they serve copious amounts of french fries that are cooked in tallow. Huge plus!
Hit it again. Ordered a Double Cheese Regular Fry and a Cookies N Crème Cone with Chocolate. The service was friendly and professional. Had my Ice Cream as I waited (that was delish) and soon after my order came up hot and ready to go. It was a lively atmosphere with plenty of people coming and going. My food tapped all markers and was a satisfying bite all the way round. I am a fan and surely appreciate the professional service and great flavor of the Fries and Burgers. Gratitude and give thanks Heavy Handed Staff and Cooks for the well roundedness of your offerings and will surely be back soon.
When I crave a burger, THIS is exactly what I need! This place has hands-down some of the best smash burgers I've ever tasted. I thought I knew what a true smash burger was, but this spot completely changed my understanding of what it should be. The burger was fresh, hot, perfectly smashed, and packed with flavor. Everything tasted like it had just come straight off the grill--because it basically had! The service was fast and efficient, and there are tables right out front of the establishment, which made it easy to sit back and enjoy our meal. And as if the burger wasn't enough, we grabbed a soft-serve ice cream cone for the walk back to the car. It was the perfect stop after a day of shopping, and I left genuinely impressed. I've never had a smash burger quite like this one. I already know that any time I'm back in California, I'll be making another stop here. Truly a 10/10 experience! read more
27 days ago
Very good burgers! The sear and flavor were very good. The burgers come with caramelized onions, american cheese, house made pickles and heavy sauce. The combo of caramelized onion, heavy sauce and the sear of the patty is delicious. The fries were also very good and most of them were crispy. I will say, photos I saw before hand had my expectations pretty high. Although, the fries didn't meet expectations they were still really good. If you are near a Heavy Handed location don't contemplate, just go. You won't be disappointed. read more
1 month ago
Simple menu, outdoor seating, pretty busy, great playlist & good food. Ordered a single combo & double combo, both came with a side of heavy sauce which is nice. Portion size is good. Cheeseburgers were good but only had 2 slivers of grilled onions on both, which was a bummer. However fries were well seasoned, ice cream was pretty standard in flavor but better dipped in my opinion. It was a bit chaotic at the pick up window, it's near steps so the line goes down the steps as well. As we patiently waited our turn at the pick up window, quite a bit of rude customers just push thru and stick their hand/face in front of others for pick up. Wish there was an employee to keep rude people in line. It is a busy place, you do get a good amount of food & if you're lucky you can grab a table to enjoy your meal w/a good playlist (90's '00 hip hop at the time) on a nice day. read more
Good, but I prefer vanman's in pacific beach in San Diego. The burger didn't have crispy ends like their smashburger does. The fries are okay, but nothing special. They give you a ton of fries. Would like to try the soft serve, it looked really good. If I came back I would definitely get a twisted cone dipped in the cookies & cream or the funfetti. read more
We were recommended this area since we were hear by and needed food. It's a more hip "Inn& Out" almost but smashed burger style. They have burgers, fries, and soft serve. A little pricey but the food was good. I got the combo but they charge you $1 for protein style which I thought was not warranted. But that's just me. Lettuce cannot be more then a bun price. The fries were crispy. Comes with a packet of sauce. I didn't end up trying the soft service since I thought It was a bit on the pricier side. Great patio to sit and people watch. read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
I've had their smash burgers and love them! This time we stopped by for the funnest soft serve which was yummy but definitely a bit sweet after a while. The soft serve itself is great but the funfetti dip does make it much sweeter. I think it's a great dessert to share! It's an outdoor space so it's always packed but perfect for a smashburger. read more
5 days ago
3 months ago
This place had a solid smash burger that was filling and the combo was a good price! The single patty was more than enough a d adding the chopped chilies just gave it that extra kick! Fries were perfect and we were given a generous amount for the combo. Service was fast and friendly when we had any questions about the menu and modifications. The vibe was also very relaxing and all outdoor seating but the weather was great for it. Perfect place for a quick bite to eat if you're craving a burger! read more
Cruising around Venice on my bike soaking up the sun & hippie culture. Decided to stop by Heavy Handed after hearing some buzz and my stomach grumble. Glad I did. This place was popping on a sunny day, which is always a good sign. It's got that slightly artsy, Venice vibe on the outside, but still feels laid-back and fun. The burger delivered. Soft bun, gooey melted cheese, and those crispy edges on the patty that give it that smash burger magic. Nothing overly complicated, just done right. Exactly what you want when you're hungry after riding around. They've also got tallow fries and ice cream, which makes it feel a little more fun than your standard burger stop. Overall, really solid experience. Good food, good energy, and worth a stop if you're in the area. read more
We checked out this spot while in the area and it was good! We tried the double and single cheeseburger. Both burgers had a soft bun and the perfect amount of cheese, pickles and sauce. The fries had a very good flavor, not too salty and a good crunch. The spot had good music playing but could definitely use more umbrellas to keep the sun and tree seeds from hitting you. Give this spot a try if you're craving a good burger! read more
4 months ago
Yum! I love this spot their burgers always hit the spot. I am such a smash burger fan and this burger is hard to beat. Also if you're in the mood for a sweet treat try their ice cream! read more
Quick service. Uncovered and covered outdoor seating. Food came out really quick, even though they were pretty busy. The food was really tasty and everything came out piping hot. If you love a great smash burger, then this is a great spot for you. Their special sauce seems to be their signature which comes on the burger with an extra packet serving included. Nice size portion on the side of French fries. read more
Unfortunately, I got food poisoned after eating here. The food was OK at best. The fries were very very saucy. A regular basket of fries is more than enough for 2 people to share. Burgers were okay. Everything was quite pricey. Even to add chilies was a few dollars extra. The soft serve was a let down. The dip was not dipped properly. The chocolate coating was not even. There was really thick areas, and then some that were barely coated in chocolate. The cookies and cream dip didn't really taste like Oreo. Just tasted sweet. There's a paid parking lot behind the store with limited spots. read more
Hit it again. Ordered a Double Cheese Regular Fry and a Cookies N Crème Cone with Chocolate. The service was friendly and professional. Had my Ice Cream as I waited (that was delish) and soon after my order came up hot and ready to go. It was a lively atmosphere with plenty of people coming and going. My food tapped all markers and was a satisfying bite all the way round. I am a fan and surely appreciate the professional service and great flavor of the Fries and Burgers. Gratitude and give thanks Heavy Handed Staff and Cooks for the well roundedness of your offerings and will surely be back soon. read more
Located on Main Street, Heavy Handed often lands on "best burger" lists--but it didn't live up to the hype for me. I ordered the single cheeseburger with regular fries. The portion of fries was massive--way too many--but quantity didn't make up for the lack of flavor. The burger itself was just okay. The heavy sauce and over-seasoning masked the short rib blend, and I couldn't really taste the beef at all. Flavor overall was lacking, and while the in-house sauce is interesting, it's overpowering and runny . Service was also just okay. The front cashier seemed distracted and not particularly friendly. The space was clean, though. When people have to talk up the soft serve instead of the burger, that's a miss. Overall, it felt like an overpriced hipster burger spot--nowhere near the quality of In-N-Out, HiHo, or Yellow Paper, and not worth a return visit. read more
3 days ago
11 days ago
2 months ago
1 year ago
This is tough ... basing this on my personal taste (of course.) My perspective is the cheeseburger was too sweet. It had caramelized onion and sweet pickles. I tasted more sweet than savory, for sure. On that note, I couldn't taste the beef patty at all. Probably not enough salt, or the sugar overpowered the salt, masking the flavor of the beef. The fries were so-so. Flavor was lacking there too. The only thing I loved was the vanilla soft serve. Now that was probably the best soft serve I've had yet. The vibe of the place is really cool, open, laid back and beach-chill. I'd return for the ice cream. read more
It's a burger stand in between Santa Monica and Venice. Food was hot, but it lacked a lot of flavor. The meat patty had a nice texture, and edges, fries were okay they were just generic. Heavy handed sauce that was okay too again lacked flavor. Soft serve was good I was just expecting the cookies and cream dip to have more flavor, like be a little sweeter at least. The soda fountain is also watered down. Heavy homeless population for those that get bugged by that. A tweaker was sitting across from us but again that doesn't bother me maybe for others, and only street parking. Only outside tables. Personally wouldn't go back. read more
3 months ago
Really glad I found this place as its been awhile since have had a really solid hamburger. Service is fast - they buzz you when ready. Dig the outdoor seating too and the vibe is fine. read more
Heavy Handed is up to three local locations now, but this was the OG spot in Santa Monica's popular Main Street strip In my personal opinion, to properly judge a smashburger you must get a double and so that's my go to at Heavy Handed. Solid burgers with the magic in their special sauce and fries which are equally special thanks to being fried in beef tallow. They actually have a great craft beer list at this location full of good local brews. Pair that with their awesome sidewalk seating and you could easily chill out with a laptop & people watching for an afternoon with good eats & food. Plus from 4-6pm it's happy hour with $1 off suds, score! Alternatively to the aforementioned sidewalk seating, you could also choose to sit in their bright and colorful little dining patio area. It's fun and cute, with two families there wilding out while my friend and I dined today. Plus, they have a big TV outside. Bonus: The ice cream is HUGE and they do dips on the cones. With not just chocolate, butterscotch and strawberry dips but cookies and cream!? What in tarnation! The ice cream cones are a big hidden bonus of Heavy Handed! read more
1 year ago
May 25 & June 10, 2025 | Santa Monica | Friends & I discovered Heavy Handed while on Main Street! What a tasty burger/grilled cheese find! Grilled Cheese: Yum! I enjoyed the perfectly grilled butter- toasted potato bun, cheese and loved the grilled onions! Yum! The grilled cheese is very flavorful, as well as memorable! I believe the sauce really adds that something special too! Swirl Ice Cream: A delicious combo of vanilla and chocolate! Easily shareable, as it's plenty of ice-cream! Vibe: Loved the music here, very upbeat... And they played 2Pac; perfect!! I enjoyed the colorful & interesting wall art! Overall: I will definitely return, especially for the grilled cheese & upbeat vibe! read more
What We Ordered: -1 Double Combo $18 -1 Double $12 -Dipped Ice Cream Cone After spending the day at the beach, we wanted a late lunch and decided on Heavy Handed for smash burgers and ice cream. In my opinion, they serve some of the better smash burgers in LA. The homemade pickles and crispy smash patties are great. I enjoyed the sweet bun, though my wife thought it was a bit salty. My son loved the fries! The dipped ice cream cones were okay; the soft serve was basic, but I appreciated the various dipping options. The service was excellent, especially Stephen, who was very helpful. I would definitely return for the smash burgers. read more
My friend and I were in the Santa Monica area and wanted to try and find a spot we've never been to to eat. Heavy Handed was a top-rated spot, so we checked it out on a Sunday afternoon. You have to pay to park in the back, of course, but it wasn't too bad. You can either take out or eat on the front patio--we ate on the patio. We each got a single smashburger combo. For 15 dollars (includes fries and a drink), I didn't think it was bad for LA pricing. We were super surprised! The burger was flavorful and we also received a side of sauce (it was kind of like thousand island but better) for the fries. We also grabbed some soft serve to go and it was FIRE. Will definitely come back when I'm in the area. read more
1 month ago
1 year ago
SO SO GOOD. The fries are ehh? They're good and crispy but to be in beef tallow, I expected more flavor? But that may be a me issue! As for the burgers, TO DIE FOR. Also, their set up is SO cool? I really enjoyed eating there! They only have one bathroom stall though and they're busy so the line does get rather long! Otherwise, we were very happy here! Will definitely be back! read more
Heavy Handed is legit. Delicious burgers with awesome cheese, lacy smashed patties and unctuous sauce. The vibes are chill as you'll walk up to the window, order and take a buzzer to an outdoor table. See menu photo for prices (Combo double burger @ $18) they are well worth it! Next time I'll try the soft serve too as I hear it's great. read more
8 months ago
Great smash burgers and easy casual dinner spot! I always get the double with fries and don't forget a side of the sauce! read more
3 months ago
My experience was very great, good customer service. Loved that the workers can recommend any good items. Travelled about 2hrs 30mins and decided to try they amazing burgers right by the Santa Monica beach highly recommend!! Simple yet soooo flavorful :) read more
9 months ago
Double burgers on deck! Flavor on point, the buns are juicy, the pickles are flavorful and the sauce that comes along was delicious. Went with a friend Friday afternoon, sat in the seats across the sidewalk and loved every minute of it. Service was nice. Off the street don't expect anything nice. Just a quick bite to eat. read more
Page 1 of 18
More info about Heavy Handed
2912 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Directions
(818) 299-0326
Call Now
Visit Website
https://heavyhanded.la
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Heavy Handed Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Heavy Handed
Is this place open on Thanksgiving or any other holidays?
I don't know. Call them to confirm as I haven't been there lately.
Do you guys have a gluten free bun option? Are your fries at least cooked on their own if no?
Do you guys ever use lettuce or tomatoes? I'm thinking not but wanted to confirm. Thanks.
no lettuce or tomatoes.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
26 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
1 year ago
11 months ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
