Jack's Hamburgers
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
49 Reviews for Jack's Hamburgers
It's cheap and tasty. I usually come here on the way to a movie, and no matter how crowded it is, food always comes pretty quickly. I like the chili burger. The fries aren't special. The main problem with the place is that the hours are really stupid. I can't tell you what they are except that they're open on Fridays around 6pm for sure.
I thought this place was pretty fucking good. The service was good I had no problems with that, prices were reasonable. The fries were fresh and crispy. The burgers, although they weren't anything out of the norm, were flavorful and juicy. The only thing that sucks is that you aren't allowed to use a credit or debit card. CASH ONLY.
Who gives a fuck if teenagers hang around here and shit, does that fucking matter? No, because you are here to eat and it's conveniently located right near downtown. And boo hoo that you're ugly dog isn't allowed inside, its not your house so you shouldn't bitch about that.
Ok I have to agree with D.J's review down below.
I am shocked to see so many good review of this place. First of all don't be fooled that you see so many people at this old school burger joint. The burgers are not anything special and you will probably have a stomach ache after.
It is a very dog UNfriendly place. I mean your seating is outside and yet if you even come with in a few feet of the place they yell at you and have signs posted all over the place. Then there is the problem that it is crawling with teenagers most of the time who are running all around.
The worst part is the service. I am so use to wonderful people who work in santa cruz that these peoples blaiten rudeness is really shocking. i have been there twice and promise I will never go back. i don't need to be treated that way as a customer.
BEST BURGER'S EVER! Super cheap and so satisfying! Totally worth waiting in line. Super fresh, local ingredients. Also try the Monterey Chicken Sandwich and the fries are awesome with the homemade ranch sauce!!! I always feel like Jack's - it's just too bad it's not open 24/7!!!
Who cares that they don't take credit cards or that they have funky hours - these burgers are by far the best in town! The tri-tip and monterey special are also FANTASTIC! The service is always incredibly friendly and accomidating, which isn't what you find at most Santa Cruz restaurants. There may be a line but believe me it is WELL worth the wait!!!!
I use to walk by the this burger shack and always find it CLOSED for some strange reason, and when i do see it opened, there will always be very long lines for the burger. So I figured, this has to be some good burgers.
I guess I expected too much and got just an okay burger. I went here twice just to confirm it. Okay burgers that are pricey. I just got a normal burger, so maybe thats the flaw. But i have to admit, the service is pretty good. Makes you feel really welcomed here.
Not a lot of places to sit or hang out.
fours stars only cause they dont take credit cards and that one day that i happened to be downtown and really was craving a jacks burger, their awesome fries and a nice cold coke, i couldnt get it cause i didnt have cash!! oh and also cause they have some really funky business hours. i still dont honestly know when they are opened and when they close.
their burgers are soooo good. i considered jacks the in and out of santa cruz. burgers were freshly made and decent sized while their fries were crispy/soggy enough to satisfied your taste buds. i really like their deal too. i think its between 3:30-4:30 when you can buy one cheeseburger basket and get the second one half off. the place is affordable (somewhat for better quality burgers than a fast food joint ). my friends and i went there a couple of times. i usually got my food to go cause the place was packed and we had no place to sit on inside or outside.
will we go again: ya for their deal and if i still lived in sc.
Came here one day with some friends, and wanted to sit outside because it was a nice day but it was pretty full outside so we had to eat indoors. This place serves what looks to be an average burger for average prices( I didn't order a burger but my friends said it was good). I had the teriyaki steak sandwich with chili cheese fries. The sandwich was okay, the steak was tender and there were caramelized onions were tasty. The chili fries were a little below average, a slice of american cheese and what tasted like canned chili with frozen fries from a bag.
What I liked was that they offered dijon mustard, and that they are close to the parking lots.
- The service seemed pretty nice, the cooks brought out the burgers for my friends even though they were supposed to go pick it up.
-Prices were about average for a burger place.
Overall 3 stars.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this place and their food. I've ordered a variety of different style burgers from here along with some hots dogs and fries. I enjoy it very much for the simplicity of their service and food. If you want a classic burger that's not too huge, go here--if you're looking for some fancy stuff, go elsewhere. Their burgers are tasty, and aren't huge "six dollar burgers" so you don't feel fat after you eat it. Fries are made very well--not too crispy yet not too soggy, and they leave the potato skins on!
Pricing can be slightly steep if you don't come in here for the lunch specials, but even then, it's not terrible. Service is fairly quick but they do get really crowded since they are open for very limited hours. The atmosphere is also very cool and the aesthetics of this little burger shack give it a very lively feel.
Enjoy it!
With so many reviews (mostly good, some bad) I had to try this place since I'm just chilling in downtown SC. After eating so much food already, I decided to try something light, I ordered a cup of chili =)
I like chili.
Thick, hot, beefy. This is chili!
While it wasn't the best chili I've had, its still better, bigger, and cheaper than most places I know.
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SHITTY. That's right, S-H-I-T-T-Y. Just because you are pretty much the only burger place in town, doesn't necessarily mean you have good burgers, and definitely doesn't mean you are NICE to your customers. The woman or women I think own this place, were the biggest bitches to me ever when I was waiting for my food to be ready from THEIR restaurant, just because I had my dog. What was I supposed to do - tie it up to a tree at the church across the street so it could hang out with the bums?
On top of that, anyone that serves a chicken sandwich that is a ground up patty, basically like a big chicken mcnugget, has absolutely no regard for their customers. Their fries are good, but their burgers are average, and they think they are the shit when they really aren't. They're a big fish in a small pond, and if they opened "The Counter" here they'd be swallowed up like a tadpole.
WE NEED A GOOD BURGER PLACE IN SANTA CRUZ - THIS ISN"T IT.
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The best burgers in Santa Cruz! Way better than Betty's Burgers.
3 1/2 stars really ... but I just don't know what all the fuzz is about.
I mean, the burger was pretty yummy and decently priced but for all the hype, i've certainly have had better burgers and their hours really bug me.
I'll go back again if im in the downtown area but if you want a realllllyy good burger and fries go to Cole's BBQ
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I would really love to drop the five-star-rating on Jack's...really. As far as the food is concerned, you're talking about the best burgers in the county. The only gripe I have is the weird hours. I never know when they're open. Some days they close at like 2pm or something...maybe it just seems like that. I don't know. It makes no sense to me.
If I were Jack, or the owner who took that name, I would definitely stay open much longer. How much money could you make, staying open until 8? Let me think...twice as much. Maybe it's one of those tax shelters for mafia operations that accidentally make great food, but it makes no sense to me. Additionally, anybody who's been to party in downtown Santa Cruz knows if there was a place like Jack's open after the bars close, they would make a killing. Seriously, STAY OPEN LATER!!
On the good notes, they always serve the well seasoned beef burgers with hot crispy fries. I mean, I don't need much more than that. Go to Jack's if you can figure out when they're open.
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If I could only eat one thing before I died, it would be a bacon cheeseburger basket from Jacks. Their burgers are the best in town and the fries are perfect.
If you're going make sure you have cash, they don't take cards. Also, they close early, so it's a lunch place, not for dinner. But they do have a happy hour, I think it's from 3:30 to 4:30, where if you order one cheesburger basket you get the second one for half price.
If you come at lunch hour, there will be a line and tables will be full, but it's well worth the wait!
I love Jack's burgers, but their fries need work. Twice, I've gotten fries that had a strange, metallic, fishy smell. How bizarre! I don't know why that would happen, but it gives me the willies. The people are nice, though, and the burgers are deelish. And you gotta love a place that serves up a mean grilled-cheese sandwich!
= SERVICE =
(-) tiny private parking lot -- not fun finding other spots in the area either
(-) I can never remember their short & weird business hours -- big turnoff
(-) self-seating, not much service after you order
(-) your order name is called out on a microphone, but every time I find it hard to understand if my order is done due to the heavily accented workers
= TASTE =
* hamburgers and fries * (+) not necessarily spectacular but very satisfying
= AMBIANCE =
(+) outdoor seating is not too big -- Santa Cruz weather is usually pretty nice
(-) indoor seating is not too big -- plain setup, but expected from a simple burger joint
= PRESENTATION =
(+) menu: choices are not bad
(-) you get your burger how you would expect it -- nothing fancy
= VALUE =
(+) there are some good "happy hour" deals
(+) the whole experience based on my scale is overall negative, but if you are looking for a tasty burger at a local joint with an affordable price, this is the place to be -- there are not many burger places better as well as burger places in general to go in Santa Cruz
score: 2, 4, 3, 3, 3
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A damn good greasy burger joint and they have the best burgers and fries in town. I only wish they were open past 4pm on weekdays.
I'm tempted to give Jacks another star but I don't think I'm going to. This is one of the many times that I wish I could give half stars out. I was irked that I couldn't pay with a card here but that may also be because I had stopped into the falafel house and they have a ten buck minimum for card purchases. Bummer.
Jacks has a plague of high school kids that swarm around it like flies on open trash cans on a hot day. Ugh, they're loud and obnoxious and don't ever stop talking and my GOD when did I get so old?? Still, it's just, ew. Their burgers are really good though. I think if you tried, you could find a better burger in town but for what you're paying, they do hit the spot. The best thing I think about Jack's is their fries. For lack of a better word, they're perfect. Just the right thickness, not charbroiled or too soggy, just perfect.
And though there can be a long wait, they make them burgers quick in there. There must have been 12 people ahead of me when I got there and I got my burger in like 6 minutes maybe. Not bad Jack, not bad. I don't come here too often but you could do worse than going to Jacks for a quick and cheap lunch
-1 Star for Cash Only. Come on guys.
-0.5 Stars for a gristle-y turkey-burger.
-0.5 Stars for charging extra for ranch sauce.
My first experience with Jack's hamburgers was decent. I won't say it was great, cause, well, it wasn't. It was OK as far as burger joints go. I've definitely had better turkey burgers in my day, and while I didn't try the hamburger, I'm guessing it was comparable in taste and quality. The three stars remaining are attributed to the fact that there is most likely noplace with as tasty a burger within walking distance of downtown. Even hindquarter didn't have a burger on their menu. Hmph.
Lunch for two cost us about 13 bucks including fries and drinks; not bad, but not a steal for a burger place, either.
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The burger I had at Jack's was great (though I don't recall them ever asking me what kind of cheese I want, as some have said). What I was really impressed with were the fries, though: crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, they were the best I've had in a while.
They're only really open for lunch, closing at 4pm most days. They have a great deal where you can buy one burger basket and get another at half price, but only between 3-4pm. Who eats in the middle of the afternoon? Um... my friend and I did the other day, and we were both satisified for under $10. Not bad at all.
Jack's had some great burgers. The lettuce was always crispy, the bread toasted just perfectly and the tomatoes juicy and dripping of juice. I used to go to Jacks' for their buy one gt one deals. That was later in the afternoon. But, they were so worth the wait. The price is right and their fries are huge. There isn't anything like a burger with some melted american cheese on it. Another plus, it's always clean and the people who work there are always so friendly.
I'm with Brandon, Best Cheeseburger in Santa Cruz! The frys are awesome as well if you like them crisy with a soft, silky center! Buy a cheeseburger basket and get the second 1/2 price after 3pm. The only bummer are the hours - they close I think at 4 M-Th, 8 on F &Sat and closed on Sunday, which is usually the day when a Jacks burger is all that would hit the spot - oh well.
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What I wouldn't give for a cheesburger basket right now. I loooooove Jack's. Back in the days of being incredibly broke, Jack's was where I went to treat myself on pay day. They have the best burgers in Santa Cruz, and great thick fries to dip in ranch. If you're counting your pennies, paper clips and lint, they have a deal (hopefully still?) where you can get a hot dog and soda for $1.95. Damnit, I'm hungry now.
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mmm, one of the best veggie burgers I've had in awhile. The fries are perfection, crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle, and all for under 5 dollars!
This was perhaps my best find for the night, because sometimes, you just need a burger.
If you're not in the mood for a burger try their egg salad sandwich, yummy-yummy! I love pairing it with their awesome fries and a chocolate shake.
The only downside to this great little hamburger place is little parking and being able to find a seat is not always guaranteed. But that's okay because you can always get your food to go!
Really great smoky flavored hamburgers. Fries are crispy. But my favorite thing is the scraped ice that comes in the drinks. It is one of the few restaurants in town that has that kind of ice and I'm kind of an ice freak!
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Tri Tip fridays are the best. Order it -mayo +jack +onions and it's really the tastiest way to work towards a heart attack.
The veggie burgers are also surprisingly good, if you just don't feel like beef that day.
Sit on the patio during lunch and you're bound to see a car nearly hit a pedestrian at least once.
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purveyors of poorly prepared pabulum.
but it sure looks like it'd be good --a real burger joint! corner location, outdoor tables, service through a window... how could they not know what a burger's supposed to be?
i tried the bacon hamburger. the bacon was hard and burnt; not halfway between greasy and crispy as it should be. the lack of flavor complemented the tasteless meat, bread and condiments, rounding out an entirely regrettable meal.
why do so many restaurants fail to surmount even the most basic obstacles in cooking tasty food? are those who compare what they eat to what they've eaten before such a minute minority of our population?
mediocrity surrounds me.
So it is better than the chains, but really I must have awful luck because when I tried it the hamberger just didn't have any flavor, taste and anything that made me wow it. The fries were fine, the place is a bit outdated and small, but the outside has tables you can sit at and enjoy the sunshine. It has awful hours, not open on Sundays, which is stupid because all the people are out on the weekends in SC. For how much I've heard about this place, I just don't feel it. Maybe it was just that day though, oh and I 'm no burger snob.
The best burger in town, but I don't know if that says much. I'm a mostly vegetarian, so my menu selection is drastically reduced for a place like this. However, the entertaining atmosphere, friends who love it, and fact that one of the people working here knows my name (how long does it take for that to happen?) keeps me coming back. The veggie burgers are good, and even better with jack cheese and grilled onions.
Yeah, that's right, they'll grill the onions if you ask nicely. Give it a try!
Good burgers. Crispy fries.
I liked that there was a buy one get one half off deal from like 3 PM to 4:30 PM, because my friends and I got there right at 3 and we were starving, as well as poor college students.
Their entrance is right next to where you order and the inside is kind of small. I really didn't appreciate that some kids just cut in front of us like we weren't even there as we were all standing in the doorway waiting, but that's not really this establishment's fault. The nerve of people these days.
I'll definitely come back though. My friend's chili cheese burgers looked awesome (it's nice that they provide tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles without charge for that burger).
LOVE their chicken burgers (only on certain days) and on Wednesdays they do a 2 for 1 deal. Pretty affordable, especially for SC.
They fired my friend for taking a day off work, so this rating is not for the business itself, just for the mouthwateringoodness of their burgers. :)
If you happen to get there on the second Tuesday of each month, between the hours of 2:15 and 2:30, you'll enjoy a pretty damn good burger for the money. If you come any other time, you'll have to make do with an overpriced burger at 99 Bottles 'cuz Jack ain't open.
I think Jack's has for sure the best burgers in town. Crispy lettuce, good meat and you can have your choice of cheesed. I am a plebe that loves American cheese. I get annoyed when my choices are, "hand woven guatamalan yak cheese with cilantro? or Venetian otter Jack with little marshmallows?" I want good old American Cheese Dammit. And you can sit outside, super duper bonus. Friendly fast service and clean inside and out.
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I love the vintage, dressed-down vibe here as well as the outdoor seating and extremely reasonable pricepoints. They do the fare you associate with fast food, but cook it after you order it and thus you should avoid this place if you are trying to get food in a hurry. Best french fries in town and a darn good burger as well as a decent ranch chicken sandwhich. I'm partial to getting a double bacon cheeseburger (if you're going to order it, might as well go all the way) and bringing my own avacado to smear on- but you pretty much can't go wrong. Note that they close before dark on most nights, and offer a two for one on the basket (sandwich) as the day winds down.
Pure burger goodness. Is it a shame they aren't open seven days a week! Be forwarned no plastic is accepted as payment there. I love their bacon cheeseburger-- my guy friends always go for the chili burgers and fries (heart attack in a box). They get three stars however for the prices.
+1 for Jack's and his burger baskets. Mmmm plenty of lettuce, and the bun doesn't outweigh the meat. Yummy.
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Every Wednesday at 1 p.m., a group of frighteningly intelligent and slightly malevolent systems administrators meet at Jack's in Santa Cruz. Confirmed carnivores (except for Austin), they come not only for the carnal pleasures of a hamburger in the afternoon--but also the show. A parade of tow trucks roars down Lincoln Street and files into the parking lot behind Logos. Their mission is to remove every tardy parked car that stands between the asphalt and the efficient set up of the Santa Cruz Farmers' Market. Your wheels come up, it costs $90 to get them back on the ground. They make you pay in cash. You don't have it on you--your car ends up on Swift Street. Meanwhile. the guys eat. They reminisce about hobbled Hondas. They laugh. But mostly they wait. Because while these workers appreciate the proletarian sight of an Expedition being hauled off equal in the eyes of the hook to the Datsun proceeding it up Cedar, what they want is drama. It's always best when the truck is caught in the end act. The running. The screaming. The frantic bargaining. Finally the tears ... mmmmm .... dessert.
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I lived just up the block from Jacks for my last year of college and they were a big part of the end of my 8 year run with vegetarianism. The burgers are classically good (nothing fancy, just burger). I agree that the fries aren't great, but I'm not really a thick fry kind of girl so it's hard for me to say.
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