Who doesn’t love a great burger? And who doesn’t love a great burger made with locally sourced, certified organic grass-fed beef? (Or a great veggie burger, if that doesn’t do it for you?)
Pono Burger opened in May 2013 and has been getting rave reviews ever since. Pono Burger is located at 829 Broadway Street, approximately one mile away from the famed Santa Monica Pier, in the Quonset Hut — a historic landmark from the World War II era made of prefabricated metal.
Pono Burger’s interior design reflects the rustic and industrialized style of the building’s materials with modern pops of color and soft textures in both the indoor and outdoor seating areas.
Pono means ‘to do things the right way’ or with integrity and is a philosophy that is reflected in the menu, starting with the ingredients. Chef Windy ‘Makani’ Gerardi has partnered with purveyors and small farmers who care about the food they grow — from the family-owned ranch in Mount Shasta that provides the certified organic grass-fed beef to the local farmer who grows the organic, non-GMO potatoes for the hand cut fries — and then carefully crafts each burger to order.
Pono means 'to do things the right way' and is a philosophy that is reflected in the menu.Click To TweetIn addition to the regular menu, Chef Makani also has seasonal creations. If you hurry, you can probably still enjoy one of the burgers from her summer menu:
- The Sassy Wahine: with housemade wasabi mayo, pickled ginger, organic avocado, housemade okinawan sweet potato chips, organic pea shoots, and housemade sesame ponzu dressing
- The Hua (Fruit) Burger: with coarse chopped pistachio nuts, Cypress Grove Purple Haze chèvre cheese with lavender and wild fennel pollen, organic arugula, and homemade aioli
- The Palahu (Turkey) Burger: featuring Shelton’s organic turkey, asian slaw, organic avocado, organic pea shoots, housemade almond ginger sauce, and housemade wonton chips
- The Kuawa Crunch: with one year Hook cheddar, housemade organic russet potato chips, housemade cole slaw, and housemade spicy guava rum sauce
Each beef burger is made with an organic, grass-fed beef patty on a Brioche bun and can be topped with organic grilled mushrooms, wood roasted organic Anaheim chilies, caramelized organic onions, Niman Ranch bacon, and seasonal organic California avocado as well as artisanal cheeses ($1 each) from Andrew’s Cheese Shop in Santa Monica.
Rounding out the menu are hand-cut fries made with organic, non-GMO Russet and sweet potatoes served with a housemade aioli, a seasonal organic salad and a rotating selection of milkshakes made with Straus Family Creamery ice cream.
Pono Burger is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11:00AM to 9:00PM and Thursday through Saturday from 11:00AM to 10:00PM. Free underground parking is available. Be sure to check out their Facebook page. You can also follow @PonoBurger on Twitter and on Instagram.
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