Heavy Handed

This smashburger pop-up dates back to the early days of the pandemic, when owners Max Miller and Danny Gordon first began selling short rib smashburgers in the driveway of Gordon’s Mar Vista home. Now, Heavy Handed has gone fully brick-and-mortar on Santa Monica’s Main Street, where lines form daily for the pair’s juicy short rib patties topped with American cheese, beef tallow fries (no breaks for vegetarians here) and Straus Creamery chocolate and vanilla swirls. Newer, much larger locations in Studio City and Silver Lake have brought smashburger excellence to the Valley and the Eastside, plus more seating and the same craft beers on tap.

Time Out tip: Park in the inexpensive public lots behind Main Street if you‘re visiting the original location.