We had such a great experience at The Counter. Our server, Spencer, truly made the visit--attentive, friendly, and just overall elevated the whole experience. We used to go to their Pasadena location, so we were a little bummed when it closed, but making the drive out to Ladera Ranch was absolutely worth it. The burgers were just as good as we remembered--maybe even better. Everything from the food to the service to the ambiance felt on point, and it honestly gave us a reason to make the trip again. Definitely a spot we'll keep coming back to. read more

I visited this location of The Counter for lunch on a weekday. It's located in a plaza with plenty of parking. The interior has several tables and a counter as well as an enormous patio. This is a full-service restaurant where you'll be seated and order taken at the table. They have burgers, sandwiches, salads, and wings on the menu. I was brightly welcomed and seated by an energetic young woman. Various people attended to me at the table during my meal. I wanted to order from their lunch specials but I really wanted a chocolate mint milkshake, which couldn't be added to any of the specials. So I additionally ordered the old-school cheeseburger and tots. The burger, according to the menu, included Tillamook cheddar, lettuce blend, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, and relish between a brioche bun. I requested no onions and the burger cooked medium. As an aside, my first encounter with The Counter was probably 20 years ago at their Santa Monica location, where they introduced a new concept: providing pencil and paper with a long list of ingredients you could check off to build your burger to your specifications. They still have those sheets at the tables here or you can, as I did, just order off the menu. The milkshake was excellent, very chocolatey with a mild mint background flavor. I actually would have liked the mint a bit stronger but it was fine. The tots were superb! Crisp and crunchy outside and soft inside. The beef of the burger was very flavorful, obviously quality meat. I kept thinking the burger was bland though. After I was finished I checked the menu descriptions on their website. I realized my burger, which didn't have onions per my request, also didn't have pickles or relish. I didn't taste any tomato either, although I think there might have been a thin slice. My mind was distracted by other things as I ate so, spaced out as I was, I didn't add up that the lack of pizazz was the lack of ingredients. I had already scarfed the entire thing down so there was no point in complaining. I've always rolled my eyes over people who eat every bite of their meal and then complain and want it comped. I wasn't going to be THAT person. Still, I wonder what happened with the burger. Despite my disappointment I still liked my lunch "okay". read more

See all

Ummm... five stars the first time I went, "meh" this past pick up experience. What's awesome? The ambiance! This is a place I would love to come dine at - from the ample outdoor space to the good vibes inside. The place is a lot larger than it looks on the outside. The food? First time.. everything was spot on. I love their shoestring fries... except on my recent visit, they were soggy and kinda cold (and I was even early to pick up my order). I like the idea of the create-your-own burgers... but even if you're getting something simple, it can get a little pricey quite quickly. I've over ever dined here twice - and was super excited to have another local dining option - but I'll have to see if there will be next time. 2026: 3/100 read more

Came on a Saturday night for dinner and the place was pretty busy. We opted to sit outside since they have a nice patio with lights. The build your own burgers are always a hit, and so are the fries. Food is 4/5. Service was not great, though. We ordered drinks and they didn't come until mid-way through the meal. We could never seem to find our waitress for anything we needed. read more

Great food and family friendly as well. Outdoor and indoor dinners available. Heaters and fireplaces at night if needed outside. Acoustic guitar entertainment outdoors. Excellent service read more

The grilled sandwich was very fresh, savory, juicy, flavorful, and delicious with barbecue sauce, cheese, and avocado. Also, the French fries were super tasty, crispy, crunchy, salty, and perfectly served with tangy ketchup, and the lemonade was really sweet and refreshing, too. Good service, nice atmosphere with upbeat music, and I had an excellent experience here today. read more

The Counter - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

See all

Never disappoints, never fail & will be back for more! Good friendly service, great food and good vibes! read more

The Counter - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

I got The Counter burger. I accidentally ordered the 1/3-pound patty--I didn't realize it until I had finished the burger. That aside, I'd say the burger I got was cooked medium, and they did a pretty good job. The whole patty was pink throughout, just as they described. I did notice that different bites had varying levels of saltiness, which I think might be due to uneven salt distribution when they seasoned it before cooking. The inside of the patty was pretty bland. If they had somehow salted the inside more evenly, I think it would've added more flavor. That said, the patty was quite juicy. I would say though the patty was on the leaner side and I would've preferred to be a bit fattier to add more flavor. Later on, I added another 1/3-pound patty to make up for not realizing they offered 1/2-pound and 1-pound options. That helped fill me up. I paired it with a side of guac, which added a nice, juicy touch to the burger. I got a salad as a side--it wasn't bad and was pretty fresh. I also shared some skinny fries. If you're into that style of fry, they're a solid choice. read more

The Counter - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

See all

While running errands in the area, we decided to have dinner locally. We pulled into the parking of several restaurants and they were closed (on a holiday Monday?) so we drove around the shopping center looking for a good restaurant. We were so happy seeing The Counter open. It was a bit early for dinner so there weren't a lot of people in the restaurant. Great! The restaurant was full by the time we left though. Hubby ordered the classic cheeseburger, medium. The burger was nice & juicy but it was a more on the rare side though, not medium. I had the honey Dijon grilled chicken sandwich with the tater tots. It was delicious. Mango margarita was really good, spicy and strong. They gave it to us as Happy Hour price and definitely didn't cheat on the alcohol. We had Tammy as our server and she was wonderful. Super nice and quick at getting us what we need. We will be back! read more

See all

The Counter is always a nice spot to sit outside and enjoy a burger. I really like the sheet where I can select my size and type of burger meat, all my different toppings, and whether I want it on a bun, in a lettuce wrap or on a salad. This time I was craving salad so I went with the burger salad. I covered it in all kinds of fun toppings, and then used some of the garlic aïoli on the side to dip it in. It was huge, and I had enough for lunch the next day too. For my side, I always go with the tater tots, as they make me feel like a kid. We will be back when we're in the area, and we need a bite. read more

The Counter - The Counter Burger - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

See all

Food- AMAZING! Customer service- DOUBLE AMAZING! Cleanliness- AMAZING! My husband and my kids love coming here. It always hits the spot and the staff there understand their demographic VERY well. This place never disappoints. They make it so easy to order whatever you want and the shakes there are so yummy and so are the adult beverages. We have a favorite server/bartender for sure but I can't for the life of me remember his name lol anyway he's got longer brown hair and a mustache and is tall and always wears a hat. He's the best server there and always has a positive vibe/attitude. Thank you for always making our experience a great one! read more

Enjoyable outside seating and the very best burgers anywhere . I DO NOT appreciate you telling me how many characters my review REQUIRES!

I am updating my review to five stars because of the proactive way in which my concerns and recommendations were addressed. I really appreciate it Dennis the manager taking the time to not only call and email me but also to make changes to the website and also to the Doordash menu so that now there is the option to order a homemade veggie burger when you "build your own burger " that was so thoughtful and the type of customer experience that makes me want to be a repeat customer. I just am so grateful and cannot thank Dennis enough!!! So thoughtful of him!!! Now I can make counter burger, one of my starred places on DoorDash!! read more

The Counter - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

This was our first time dining here. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich with a side salad. The chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I would have loved the hot sauce to pack a bit more of a punch, but the flavors were great! The side salad was fresh and balanced out the richness of the sandwich nicely. Our server was incredibly sweet and attentive, making us feel welcomed and well taken care of throughout the meal. All in all, it was a great experience from start to finish. read more

The Counter - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

Delicious food and great service we came for happy hour the ambiance is nice for a casual meal outside

Lunch specials are great! Good service, great hamburger, chicken sandwich and French fries plus drink. read more

The Counter in Ladera is one of the few casual spots to go with your family where there is something for everybody. I am obsessed with the beautiful outdoor seating. The ambiance is perfect, casual, and fun. They also have events that make it fun, family friendly, and the service is amazing. Also, who can go wrong with building your own burgers and sides. I love that there is a salad option for the burgers in case you're feeling like something lighter. It is always a family favorite. read more

I've been here a dozen or so times, and service & food have alway been good, but it's been a minute. Based on my experience tonight, and the other recent reviews, quality has gone downhill for sure. Tonight: Host seemed untrained and unprepared for a slight crowd, but we got a table right away. We had a group of 5, he offered us a regular 4 seater table and said "you can grab a spare chair for your 5th"... I laughed it off and joked to group that afterwards I'll help at the bar or kitchen - boy was I right. 15 minutes of sitting around, no one came by with menus or to take orders (yes I actually knew the time, because my phone said how long ago I parked). I had to get back up and ask for menus and after a server brought us menus she said she'd "find out" who is serving us... but it ended up being her... don't you have predetermined areas? After order was placed, food took forever, at least 30ish minutes. Somehow all fries were cold, like they had been sitting. Both the sweet potato and regular. My burger was ordered "medium well" and it came out still mooing. No way - I had to send it back. The server said "uhhhhh should they regrill or remake?" I said, "well it'll probably take longer to take it all apart to regrill, plus probably should not put plated food back on your kitchen grill so I would say remake" Really?!? lol! The second attempt was much better and tasted good. The side of chili was really good. Or maybe I was just starving. read more

The Counter - Severely undercooked "medium well" burger. - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

Delicious food. Loved the jalapeño sauce that came with the burger. Will definitely order again read more

The Counter - Patty Melt - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

See all

The burger had good flavor but was cold unfortunately. They were really busy but at the very least, I expect warm food. I may or may not go here again. TBD. read more

The Counter - Create Your Own Burger - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

See all

Visited on Wednesday, 4/30/25, with my daughter. We arrived shortly after 7 PM and were warmly greeted by a gentleman who told us we could sit wherever we liked. We chose a table outside, and he mentioned he'd bring us menus shortly. A waitress came by and took our drink orders promptly, but more than 20 minutes passed without anyone returning with menus. My daughter eventually looked up the menu online out of frustration. When the waitress came back to take our order, we explained we had been waiting for about 25 minutes for menus. She was very kind, sincerely apologetic, and quickly brought them over. My daughter ordered the honey Dijon chicken sandwich, I ordered the Counter Burger cooked medium, and we shared the sweet sriracha Brussels sprouts. Thankfully, the food came out fairly quickly and looked great at first glance. However, I was disappointed to find my burger was cooked medium rare instead of medium. While everything tasted delicious, the incorrect preparation detracted from the overall experience. Given that it was a quiet midweek evening, there didn't seem to be a clear reason for the lack of attentiveness and the kitchen misstep. As a former General Manager of a similar-style restaurant, my daughter wasn't impressed. Unfortunately, this was our first visit to The Counter, and neither of us left feeling particularly satisfied. read more

See all

A nice spot for a quick burger! Service was good, the Manager Felix is a great guy, burger was fresh and delicious! Would recommend! Especially the tots! read more

My wife and I enjoy a good burger from time to time. The Counter used to be a place we could count on for a great burger. No more. We have visited the location in Ladera Ranch for the last time. Was it the Residue (chocolate?) on my frosty beer mug?. Was it the moldy onion in the cole slaw? Was it the couple next to us feeding their dog on the table? This place is a dump, don't waste your effort here. read more

Food poisoning!!! My Mother got food poisoning and had to go to ER for fluids/treatment! She ordered a build your own burger! Called to let them know but they were aloof and did not want to be bothered.Will not be back read more

Really glad this place opened up. For some reason this shopping plaza just cannot keep a restaurant open at this spot. However, the Counter is always a solid choice. Great burgers and side dishes although at a premium price. But if you're looking for a high quality burger with customizable options, this is definitely the place. Also one of the few places that serves tater tots as a side! Absolutely unhealthy but worth the calorie/cholesterol splurge every now and then read more

Tons of options to create your own burger. It was fun filling the paper out. Most custom burger places have only a few options. There was also live music on the patio when I went on a Friday evening. read more

The Counter - Create Your Own Burger - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

The bartender was very nice. Tatar tots were good. Buffalo burger was overcooked and cold. Would maybe go back. Most likely not.

Located in the Southmost corner of the Mercantile East Shopping Center of Ladera Ranch can find The Counter which is of the ever growing number of gourmet burger offerings. The ambience is usually pretty busy especially during game days as people will be setting up shop both inside and the even larger outside patio area. The service is better dining in than taking out as the former was solid but the latter was waiting around for a long while waiting for someone to actually come up and assist and even then there was a general confusion as how best to locate the order. As for the food the tater tots could use more seasoning but had a nice crunch, the sweet potato fries were better, and the custom burger was properly cooked and the ingredients/condiments were all fresh and made for a well balanced and assembled item. Price point is about on par with the competition but if they can find a more efficient way of handling the takeout aspect would be a more appealing option. read more

See all

My family and I have eaten a few times at the Counter in Ladera Ranch, and we always enjoy the delicious burgers and shakes. I appreciated the server explaining how they cook their beef for the burgers, and that a "medium well" is actually more like "medium rare" in most places. Odd...but OK and she was right. I ordered medium well and it was pink in the center and not cold - they way I like it. I would have given more stars except for the fact that the staff was very anxious to shut down for the night. We finished our meal around 8:00 on a Sunday evening. Mind you, the restaurant is open until 9:00 pm! We should have still had an hour to sit together and socialize, but by 8:05 the team was stacking the chairs on the empty tables, turning off the TVs (we were watching Sunday Night Football), and seemed to rush us through paying the bill. Granted, no one else was in the restaurant, but they were still open for another 45 minutes...who's to say another customer wasn't going to come in? It felt a little offputting and like we were inconveniencing the team working that night. read more

Our first time at the Counter last night and had a great experience! Rochelle was the bartender and made an awesome Mango Margarita and some good food suggestions. She was great and the food was awesome. We'll definitely be back! read more

Good burgers! We like that there are some redesigned meals/burgers, but you can also choose to design your own burger. We enjoy the food here. The seating is mostly outdoors, so not great if it's super hot or chilly (they do have some heaters). Patio has TVs, if you want to watch the game. Service is ok. The staff is very nice, but sometimes it seems like they need more help. And a few times we have had to wait a long time for someone to acknowledge us when we first walked in. We've eaten here several times and have enjoyed it, so we continue to come back. read more

Three star reviews are lame... I get it... I also know everything costs more now, but I don't have to like it or accept it. So this review is less about the service or quality of the food. Those are what earned the 2 stars. This is more of a warning on purchasing to-go sauces for your fries or burgers. I wanted anyone ordering to understand what you are paying for... and it's not a lot. When ordering to-go food just know if you want enough sauces for your burgers, to dip fries in, etc... you'll need to order a lot. At $0.50 it's not a lot of money individually, but for the portion size you get for that $0.50 you may need to order 10... so now your paying almost $5 in sauces. Just a warning read more

The Counter - Small sauce portion to charge customers for... visual comparison to a small regular spoon. So barely a teaspoon of sauce. - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

See all

We've been here three times in total. The first two visits were about a 7/10, but today was a 1/10. To start, we waited 15 minutes just to meet our server. We ordered sodas, which took another 20 minutes to arrive, and the food took an additional 20 minutes. My son's burger was raw, and the server never checked on us once. The bottom bun was soggy and inedible, and the staff was completely unwilling to fix anything, and had very poor attitudes.. The restaurant wasn't even full. Horrible experience -- we will never go back. read more

This is a terrific place to eat. Due to my unique diet, I have gotten the "create your own" burger and it has always been correct! The the service is always very good to. I am very glad we found this great burger place. read more

We ate at the Ladera Ranch location for the first time Saturday night and had a wonderful experience. We sat on the lovely patio under amble shade. The menu offers many choices for burgers sandwiches and salads, with an option for creating your own preferences. Husband had a traditional burger and said it was the best burger he's eaten in a very long time. I choose to build my own salad adding mahi as protein. It was delicious tender tasty and cooked perfectly I wish I had taken notice of our waitstaff's names. One was training a young woman with such patience and kindness. The same way he interacted with us. He was attentive and friendly and the trio of them made our experience even better We will be back. Even though we vehemently refrain from chains this felt more like a small establishment. read more

Disappointing experience. Ordered the build your own burger, and half the toppings I ordered did not make it onto the burger. Service was quite slow and when I asked the server questions about the menu, she did not know the answer. Burger places are a dime a dozen in Orange County, so if burgers are the main offering on your menu, you really need to knock it out of the park. My wife's burger came out just the way she ordered it, but in her words, it was "just okay". read more

I believe in supporting local businesses, but this place is making it difficult. I've dined in the restaurant a couple of times and it was fine. The problems arise when you order food for delivery, such as doordash. We've ordered from here at least a dozen times since The Counter opened in Ladera Ranch. The first year I made excuses for them when items were wrong or missing - "They're a new business, they have new staff in training, they're going through growing pains." The second year the issues continued - "They probably need just a little more time." Now that the restaurant is in its third year things should be running much more smoothly, but unfortunately it seems like nothing has improved. Items are still missing and/or incorrect on almost every order. If you order for delivery the one thing that they'll mess up 90% of the time is leaving out the sauce. They won't put sauce on the burger (and perhaps that's because they don't want the bun to get soggy during delivery). That's fine, but then the sauce should be included on the side. However, there's no sauce at all - none on the burger and none on the side. I've even tried ordering and paying for extra sauces to trick them into actually including some sauce with my order. Nope, they still won't include any sauce with the order. It's an odd way to scam an extra profit out of the customers. I imagine them in the back room wringing their hands and plotting like evil geniuses, "If we don't give them any sauce we can profit an extra 5 cents per burger! We'll be billionaires in no time!" So tonight again no sauce and also no bacon on the bacon cheeseburger. My suggestion to you, Counter owners and management, would be to have a staff member double check and fix the orders before they go out. Actually caring a little bit about the customer's orders and getting them right can go a long way in the restaurant business, FYI. read more

This was my second time here, the first time I went for lunch and this time for dinner. I must say it's a lot more packed than the previous restaurant. To start we ordered some drinks, they were out of most all the white wines so I ordered something I didn't particularly love. The food was amazing portioned nicely and the sides were nice so you can share. The sauces to dip in are yummy too, but they charge .50 per dip so beware, I don't put much on my burger and prefer it on the side . It's best to eat outside when it's nice out but if you request to watch a specific sport they don't change it even if others are not watching tv, our waitress didn't know where the remote was? Overall this place is pretty good and we will return. read more

The Counter - Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California

I had a great first meal at the Counter, and have been here 4 times since. Rochelle is an amazing bartender. The atmosphere is very welcoming and relaxing. read more

Food was Great, Service was great, ambiance was lovely! The chili is so tasty, so were the sweet potato fries and I did a build your own burger which was tasty too! I would come back read more

The Counter - Burgers Near Me - Ladera Ranch, California