# HEAVY HANDED > Heavy Handed is a casual American burger spot on Main Street in Santa Monica, CA, known for its obsessive approach to the craft smash burger. The kitchen uses ground short rib beef for an ideal balance of meat and marbled fat, pressing and searing each patty to achieve what they call Maillardian perfection. Slow-cooked caramelized onions, house-made bread and butter pickles, and a signature sweet and tangy heavy sauce round out every bite. Fries are cooked in beef tallow for a golden, crispy finish, and the soft serve ice cream draws just as much praise. The industrial-casual outdoor setup on Main Street suits everything from a solo lunch to a group hangout. ## Key facts - **URL**: https://frankiapp.com/business/heavy-handed-32213 - **Type**: Restaurants - **Cuisine**: American - **Location**: Santa Monica, CA - **Address**: 2912 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405, US - **Phone**: 14247448455 - **Website**: https://heavyhanded.la/about - **Menu**: https://heavyhanded.la/menu#portfolio - **Price range**: $$$$ - **Coordinates**: 33.99911, -118.48107 - **Claimed**: unclaimed - **Vibes**: Casual, Industrial ## About Heavy Handed is a casual American burger spot on Main Street in Santa Monica, CA, known for its obsessive approach to the craft smash burger. The kitchen uses ground short rib beef for an ideal balance of meat and marbled fat, pressing and searing each patty to achieve what they call Maillardian perfection. Slow-cooked caramelized onions, house-made bread and butter pickles, and a signature sweet and tangy heavy sauce round out every bite. Fries are cooked in beef tallow for a golden, crispy finish, and the soft serve ice cream draws just as much praise. The industrial-casual outdoor setup on Main Street suits everything from a solo lunch to a group hangout. ## Hours - Monday: 11:30am - 7pm - Tuesday: 11:30am - 7pm - Wednesday: 11:30am - 7pm - Thursday: 11:30am - 7pm - Friday: 11:30am - 7pm - Saturday: 11:30am - 7pm - Sunday: 11:30am - 9pm ## Highlights - **Short rib smash burger** — Ground short rib beef is pressed and seared for a rich, perfectly marbled patty. - **Beef tallow fries** — Fries cooked in beef tallow come out golden, light, and crispy every time. - **Soft serve ice cream** — Vanilla and chocolate swirl soft serve, with fun toppings like funfetti, rounds out the meal. - **Outdoor patio vibes** — The casual industrial outdoor seating on Main Street is a favorite local gathering spot. ## Amenities - Credit Card - Happy Hour - Outdoor Seating - Delivery - Take Out - Wheelchair Friendly - Health Score - TV ## FAQ ### Where is Heavy Handed located? Heavy Handed is located at 2912 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405. ### What are Heavy Handed's hours? Heavy Handed is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM, and on Sunday from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM. ### What type of food does Heavy Handed serve? Heavy Handed specializes in craft smash burgers made with ground short rib beef, pressed and seared to order. Every burger comes with slow-cooked caramelized onions, American cheese, house-made bread and butter pickles, and the restaurant's signature sweet and tangy heavy sauce on a lightly toasted, buttered bun. The menu also features beef tallow fries and soft serve ice cream. ### What are the most popular items at Heavy Handed? The smash burger is the standout, with diners consistently praising the short rib patty and house heavy sauce. The heavy fries, smothered in meat, sauce, and sweet pickles, are a crowd favorite worth upgrading to. The vanilla and chocolate swirl soft serve, including a chocolate-dipped cone option and funfetti topping, draws nearly as much praise as the burgers themselves. ### What is Franki? Franki is a restaurant discovery app that helps you find great places to eat through real video reviews from actual diners. You can browse reviews, photos, and videos of Heavy Handed on Franki, and earn cash back when you dine there. Download Franki on the App Store or Google Play to start exploring. ### How much does it cost to eat at Heavy Handed? Heavy Handed is priced at the upscale casual end of the spectrum, typically around $30 to $50 per person. Reviewers note the price point is on the higher side, but consistently describe the quality as well worth it. ### Does Heavy Handed have outdoor seating? Yes, Heavy Handed offers outdoor seating only, with a casual industrial patio on Main Street. The setting suits solo visits, group hangouts, and evenings out on Main Street in equal measure. ### Does Heavy Handed have a rewards program? Yes, Heavy Handed has its own app where you can place orders and earn reward points on every purchase. You can download it to make ordering your next burger even easier. ### How can I contact Heavy Handed or find their menu? You can reach Heavy Handed by phone at (424) 744-8455 or browse the full menu at heavyhanded.la/menu. You can also follow them on Instagram at @heavyhanded.la or on Facebook to stay up to date on specials and new offerings. ## Reviews ### user_713653355 — 5.0/5 · Mar 25, 2023 A yummy spot with a great patio vibe. Their smash burger is like no other. The perfect meal paired with a night out on main street. ### hannahbarton — 4.8/5 · Sep 30, 2023 Ok, this is the only burger that gives In-N-Out a run for it’s money. Kinda pricey but seriously incredible. For sure upgrade to the heavy fries smothered with meat, sauce, and sweet pickles. Also not shown but definitely worth it is the soft serve vanilla and chocolate swirl ice cream. We went here 3 times last week and regretted nothing. They serve beer too! ### eatingaround — 3.4/5 · Sep 9, 2023 ### toriirod — 5.0/5 · Oct 6, 2024 Santa Monica Smash Burger! ### worldfoodie — 5.0/5 · Feb 4, 2026 Ordered the soft serve swirl ice cream with funfetti to eat while I waited for burger. Love the single with extra pickles and sauce. Great local hangout on Main St. ### navy_eats — 5.0/5 · Feb 16, 2025 The best burger on Main Street Santa Monica! ### skyler — 5.0/5 · Mar 23, 2025 This burger shop has really good high-quality meat and I really enjoyed the ingredients that came with it as well. I got the protein style and the lettuce was super crunchy, which was spectacular for any protein burger, lover, and the tomatoes were nice and juicy and the cheese was very cheesy. ### emilyle — 4.3/5 · May 18, 2025 The line can get pretty long at times but this was very good, quick and easy! Outdoor seatings only. ### navy_eats — 5.0/5 · May 14, 2025 Great burgers and soft serve!! ### user_427646352 — 5.0/5 · Jul 9, 2025 Come along with me to try a new soft serve ice cream shop ## Nearby - [Layla Bagels](https://frankiapp.com/business/layla-bagels-35999) — American · $$$$ - 1614 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405, United States, Santa Monica, CA 90405, US - [Kafe K](https://frankiapp.com/business/kafe-k-21603) — American · $$ - 2209 Main St B , Santa Monica, CA 90405, US - [Birdie G’s](https://frankiapp.com/business/birdie-g-s-21280) — American - 2421 Michigan Ave (at Cloverfield Blvd), Santa Monica, CA 90404, US - [La La Land Kind Cafe](https://frankiapp.com/business/la-la-land-kind-cafe-14304) — Coffee Shop · $$$$ - 1426 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403, US - [Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee 1](https://frankiapp.com/business/sidecar-doughnuts-coffee-1-9210) — Donut Shop · $$$$ - 631 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401, US - [Trader Joe's](https://frankiapp.com/business/trader-joe-s-129979) — General Entertainment · $$$$ - 2300 Wilshire Blvd Ste 101, Santa Monica, CA 90403, US - [Dunkin'](https://frankiapp.com/business/dunkin-754593) — Coffee Shop · $$$$ - 1132 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401 - [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - Santa Monica](https://frankiapp.com/business/the-coffee-bean-tea-leaf-santa-monica-121842) — Coffee Shop · $$$$ - 2021 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 103E, Santa Monica, CA 90404, US --- View full profile, photos, videos, and reviews on Franki: https://frankiapp.com/business/heavy-handed-32213