Habit Burger & Grill

Unlike Rocky's smash burgers with their craft-beer-and-Bears-memorabilia vibe or La Huasteca's slow-cooked birria specialty, Habit is a fast-food chain doing one thing well: consistent, flame-kissed burgers that taste better than they have any right to at this price point. The char is real—not painted on with liquid smoke—and the whole operation is built for speed without sacrificing the fundamentals. Order at the window, take it down to the boardwalk, and try not to let the burger juice leak all over your lap (fair warning: it will).

The **Charburger** is the anchor—beef patty with actual grill marks, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, and a sauce that keeps things interesting without being complicated. The **Santa Barbara Char** adds avocado and cheese for an extra couple bucks. If you're coming off a surf session and need protein that isn't fish, the **teriyaki charburger** works—grilled pineapple, teriyaki glaze, nothing revolutionary but executed cleanly. The surprise standout, according to regulars, is the **tempura green beans**—crispy, not greasy, better than they need to be.

Service is friendly and patient, even when the line backs up. Download the app if you're going to make this a regular stop—deals pop up often enough to matter. Parking on Grand is easier than trying to find a spot on Garnet, and the outdoor seating works if you don't mind eating next to the street. It's not a destination, but it's a reliable fallback when you need something fast, hot, and charbroiled without the sit-down commitment.