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"I grew up literally down the street from Monk's, and have been coming here since I was too short to see over the counter. For me, Monk's is…" read more »
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I always thought that the stuff I made at home would be too ridiculous to be accepted by mainstream america. Oh how wrong I am. The old cliche that bacon makes everything better might just be getting trumped by the underrated sausage link. Yes, the sausage link. And this sir, is the Shack Burger. Perhaps the question is not "why" they put a sausage link on their signature burger, perhaps the question is why everyone else does not. I'm even contemplating suggesting to the Dodgers that they top the Dodger Dog with a hot link. Maybe then I wouldn't feel ripped of with paying $8 for a hotdog.
The Shack has great beer specials for the local teams, $5-6 pitchers for Dodgers, Lakers. You get a lot of local Playa folks in there and general beach people as well. I'm not a big karaoke fan so I only come in for the sports. I liked the smoking patio, when I used to smoke. They only have 1 TV there though. They take cards, which is good. But, don't make the mistake of accusing them of not giving you back your CC when you close your tab. They give it right back to you when you open it. That's a good thing at the end of the nite when you're drinking out of the pitcher.
Don't you hate it when you eat something that looks and tastes so darn good but makes you feel like crap afterward? That's how I feel every time I eat a Shack burger. As they all say, it's a heart attack in a bun. The meat topped with melted cheese and sausage can't be beat. It gets into your psyche and doesn't take NO for an answer. Damn you, Shack burger. Darn you to hell!
I enjoy watching Laker games at this dive bar because pitchers of Bud Light are only $5. And since I don't have any friends who live in the area, all of that beer goes straight to my stomach. The karaoke is a cool addition to the bar but I can also live without it. For the most part all of the workers are polite except for this one wannabe cool guy who once wasn't paying much attention to me when I was the only one in line. He basically stood there like a dumb ass trying to make an ugly friend of his laugh but honestly looked pathetic. Is this how young children spit game nowadays? LOL.
Other than that, The Shack is definitely a place to visit on sport nights and on regular nights too. The bartenders are great and attentive. Tables are cleared quite often. And you get a comfortable beachy feeling there, maybe because the beach is literally about 50 yards away, but you know what I mean. Score!
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so, my buddy Mike and I decided to swing by here at about 7:30PM or so on a Thursday.... we had never been, but had heard good things.... Laker game on the tube, and about a dozen or so people scattered around the place with a couple of 'em at the bar...
...after standing around for almost 15 minutes leaning up against the bar waiting for the bartender to actually look at us, we finally got up and left... no beer for us i guess....
... as a bartender myself, i would hope that if i ignored new customers like they did, that they too would walk out disappointed.... i mean, i can understand if it was busy or something, but it wasn't....
...with several other "watering holes" within walking distance, i will NOT be coming back to the Shack....... WEAK....
I've been coming here since I was a youngin' so this place brings back a ton of memories. I get the same thing every time I come here, a shack burger with cheese. I love this burger! I think the sausage sets it off.
The parking is not great, it has a super tiny lot and depending on when you come street parking may be scarce. The building itself is definitely a hole in the wall but usually that's where you get some of the best food right?
Anyway, my only issue is that once I was overcharged and didn't realize it until I looked at my online bank statement. I called about it and whoever answered the phone didn't seem the slightest bit interested. That situation was never resolved (and since it wasn't that much I didn't pursue it). I ate here yesterday and made sure to keep my receipt. I even checked my checking account using my phone to see what was charged right after I used my debit card, and sure enough I was over charged again. The charge is still pending so I'll be sure to keep an eye on it once it clears. That may be too much info but I just thought I'd mention it.
You have to remember it's called, "The Shack." If you want a casual place to watch the game or meet the guys, this is it. It's not fast food, so don't expect a quick meal. Lounge, and depending on who's working, you may get a funny story or a delish seasonal drink. And if there is a game on, you can find a $6 pitcher of beer!!! The patio is awesome; you can smoke, eat and drink outside, yay!
I'm not feelin' it. It's not the same. I remember coming here way back when and man the burger, the link, the sandwich - it used to put you in a food coma.
Now all you wish is to be in is a coma so you can forget the disappointment. The burger patties are small and over cooked, the wait for your food is crazy long and the place is a dive. It was packed but I don't know why.
Next time? Nah, too many other burger places.
They have an extensive menu for being a dive bar.
The Shack burger definitely clogs your arteries while you're eating it because it's a meat patty with a sausage on top.
The Grilled Cheese from the kid's menu was so good! The bread wasn't greasy but toasted and it comes with fries. Excellent deal.
It took some time to get our food but I think it's because they have one small grill and we had 10 people in our group. But all the workers for so friendly! I will definitely come back again after playing a game of volleyball at the beach.
Descent Burger, Cold Bud.
We stopped by to grab a quick bite on our way to Manhattan beach, I was always intrigued by the place.
Well, a dive bar, down to earth, very nice people, lay back, good service.
The burger and the fries were very good, the bud was very cold.
What else can you ask or expect from The Shack?
Nothing! they do a great job.
I recommend it, if you don't very high expectations from a dive bar.
Great Shack burger with sausage on top although it means I have to eat no meat for the next following days! The spicy sausage, Angels vs. Yankees game and comfortably dressed-down beach town local crowd were all really good! A date of less than $20 to keep the passion going on a frivolous night! I enjoy eating in a bar without ordering a beer! You don't have to go to OC even if you don't want any urbanity!
I'm going to start this review by expressing a few regrets:
1) I'd never been to The Shack, and I got there right before the kitchen closed. I wasn't hungry until about 5 minutes after they turned off the kitchen lights. And what made me hungry? The pictures and articles all over the walls praising the Shack burger. What is a Shack burger, you ask? A hamburger with a louisiana hot link on top. Damnit!
2) I'd never been to The Shack, and I went on a Friday night. And what is special about Friday night, you ask? Karaoke. While watching others do karaoke can be semi-entertaining, I can't participate... let's just say that there's a reason why I play instruments. I can't sing. I can't talk. The only thing about me is the way that I walk. For real... Phil Collins actually had one thing right. One thing. I actually worked up the liquid courage to break out (hey, the karaoke guy had Tool songs), but the line was 21 songs long in front of me... and I wasn't going to listen to girls singing country songs for that long.
So yeah, if you're looking for a chill dive bar, this is a spot to consider if you're in the area. No pool tables or anything, unfortunately, but if divey and cheap beer is your search, this is right up your alley. $6 pitchers? Sold. Crazy older drunk people and younger frat guys? Yep. Stupid sorority girls singing country songs? Check. I hate country. So I won't be back on a karaoke night, but I will go back for the burger. And then I'll leave, and go to a dive bar that has a pool table.
So I'm going to give 3 stars, and here's why. If you're looking for cheap beers by the beach, this is a good spot. If you want an indoor/outdoor atmosphere where you can smoke (in my case cigars), you're golden. If you want a singles spot, forget about it. If you want a place that has food for post-beer (assuming you get there/get hungry in time) then this fulfills.
I had to get some good spicy buffalo wings, so I came here with my buddy.
This drunk guy bothered us for a while (which was annoying) at the bar counter, but after he's gone, we had a great time.
Nothing beats good/spicy jumbo wings (see the photos), washing down with ice cold beers... :)
This is a local dive, just like Poopdeck in Hermosa, haha... ;)
I have been to the one in Hawaii (Hawaii Kai) a couple of times with my local friends and was told… Read more »
One of the girls makes these awesome ice cream & berry mixed drinks. Sweetheart. Pub quiz on Tuesday nights. The bathroom was really nice, so I'm not sure what one of the chicks earlier was talking about. Maybe she was last there 5 years ago. Too bad I missed out on the stripping though, sounds hot!
Their pineapple burger is honestly the most amazing thing I've ever put in my mouth. I like the divey feel of the place, I'm into it.
I have only been here for lunch/early dinner sort of things, so I can't comment on their bar portion of business.
Before I moved it was a major haunt of ours... the food was quite underrated, and if we needed a distraction there were quite a few games.
Well, I've heard some horror stories about this place. Including overhearing some local guys in Playa talking about how they'd make up dishes after hours and punk other co-workers by stripping down (these were guys, which isn't hot) and cooking. I haven't even gotten fries since then. Granted this was 5 or more years ago (wow, time flies) I just can't imagine much has changed. The tables outside are near rotting and almost always consistently sticky with beer residue that is eating away at the shellacking on the tabletops. The bathrooms are...well... I'd recommend squatting OVER the seat.
Apparently it gets pretty rowdy for sports games and if you're into cheap beer and greasy food, this could very well be your place.
The service couldn't be worse. They're rude ( as I think Joan S. mentioned) and have no idea what "customer service" means. I'm not really one to give 1 star but I can do it legitimately, knowing that I've given this place more chances that it deserves.
I can't help but notice all these people talking about how bad the food is, but then giving it 3 Stars. I think thats moooooore than generous.
So they do karaoke on Friday nights starting at 10:15 pm!!! I don't know why it's exactly 10:15 pm but then again it's The Shack. The people who partake in karaoke are either locals/regulars who take it REAL SERIOUSLY or goofball drunk people who sing the man part of the "Time of My Life" duet from Dirty Dancing (ie: me). But it was SOOOOOOOOO FUN!! Everyone gets into it, especially the dude who runs the show. And even the people who work there get into it. And their kitchen is open late, I think we got chicken tenders at like 10:45 or 11 pm?? And they were FREAKING DELICIOUS but it could've been because we were drunk, who knows.
Anyway there was NO wait, basically like 2 or 3 people MAX will be on the list before you, and they have a large selection of songs... I mean my friend sang Kelly Clarkson but I also heard that "Zombie, Zombie" song. So later in the night we went to Backstage and their karaoke list was already closed; they told us you have to get there by 9 pm to get your name on the list at all!! Insane. So, we went BACK to the SHACK.
Again, I have to insist that THE SHACK RULES!!!
One thing I did notice that I hadn't before is that there is a younger crowd after midnight. We were guessing, LMU students? Doesn't matter, everyone is cool and they particularly enjoyed the Dirty Dancing song.
BEST BAR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!
$6 pitchers, apparently, are not only during Lakers…
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Three stars for the food, but four stars for just how friendly people are here. I got the shack burger which was basically a cheeseburger with hot links in it which was pretty good. The bartender was a real nice guy and came over and chatted us up (we were there around 3 PM so not many people there) which made the experience nice. The person I was with got a mojito which you wouldn't expect to be very good at a bar like this but it was pretty strong and well made.
For a greasy dive bar, the kid's menu grilled cheese wasn't greasy at all. In fact, I don't even think they used any butter on the bread. It was like toasted bread with 2 slices of American cheese. And you get fries.
I went here for the first time the other day. I wasn't hungry enough for a burger, but I hope to try one when I return. During sporting events you can get pitchers of Bud Light for $6 (not that I'm a fan of Bud Light, but $6 is $6).
The only bad thing was the girl in the kitchen screaming into the microphone "Come get your burger NOW!" Ow! Dude! I need that eardrum.
If what you are looking for is impressive decor, a nicely laid out table, and a dining experience that will leave your taste buds screaming encore...wait why would you go to a place called "The Shack" for that?
I love me some dive - that's a fact.
This is the perfect combination of surf/beach and dive bar. Stick to the drinks if you're not into dive food. Dive food: food you can make at home that might actually taste better. I'm not that adventurous so I pass on the burgers - the drinks however are made decently and are reasonably priced. Even more so if you're a brao, in which case you can go apeshit on the bud light and miller. YEAH BRAO!
Buds - take a walk if you need to pee and there's a line (not that I condone that sort of public indecency)
Babes - you're SOL but if you're really nice you might be able to convince a guy to guard the door while you use our facilities (it's a dive bar - I can't imagine the men's room would be any worse than the ladies)
Oooooh yeah...karaoke on a big screen tv! Sing your favorite Bro Hymn or belt out a Heartbreaker and the dudes will abide.
I like the Shack, but it is more a place you go for a basic burger, sandwich, beer, etc. Not a culinary dining experience.
It is what it is. A dive bar with food.
really underrated for its burgers...try the double shack...it might be a burger you can only have once a year but what a burger...and the staff is always so nice and willing to just have a good time with you...definitely a must stop and just a few feet away from the beach!
This place has filled my tummy many a time. Cheap, quick, dive for a burger beer and not a bad place to watch a ballgame and have a pitcher .The burgers are tasty and The Shack provides a variety of different choices. The Shack Burger comes with sausage - a favorite...My burger of choice is the Kelsey burger (real messy). I've done it and so has Joan S. do you need to know anything else?!
Check it out and get back to me...
The love shack.
This Shack has a much more lively vibe than the others. It has two great classic video games in the far corner. The burgers are tasty. I get the turkey burger and it's always great.
The outside area is small, but gets the job done. I suggest heading here after the beach or for a fun lowkey night out. Ride your bike there.
Don't half step. Get the turkey burger.
Holy crap what a dive! 3 and a half stars!
I breezed in here around 4pm today, happened to be passing by and starving. This was my first visit, although I have driven past countless times, more than a zillion.
So there is no table service, you gotta order at a specified area and carry the food where ever you want. The guy at the 'order here' area was counting money with his back to me, and ignored me. His boss walked by (the owner?) and got me all set with my order. He might have called the money counter kid a donkey, not sure. (jk)
Anyways, I sat in the bar waiting for my name to be called. There were some bikers, some guys in painter's uniforms, a couple of wimmen....everybody sucking down pitchers of beer in the afternoon. I wondered what the hell I was doing there and if I should even eat the food I ordered.
Soon my name was called REAL LOUD. SEVERAL TIMES. Dang that donkey kid.
I went on the front patio with my Swiss & Shroom Burger. Two guys were smoking there and drinking beer.
That burger made up for all the crap thus far.
It was just like an old-time hamburger cruisin' drive-in burger.
It was on a very unhealthy white bun, as soft as cotton candy. On the bottom was yellow mustard mixed with chopped raw onion. On top was lettuce, mayo, tomato, Swiss cheese, mushroooms, I think a pickle. $6.50.
There was not much meat in the burger so next time I'll double the meat for $1.75.
The menu offers such items as Fire in the Hole, with chili & onion, and like a dozen other burger choices. Then there are dogs, wings, appetizers, kids' meals, and various sandwiches. And salads. And daily specials. All are creative.
I could eat a chili dog right now, God help me.
So I looked for a to go menu as I was leaving, but the basket was empty. Donkey kid's boss saw me looking confused....again....and asked me, "For God's sake now what do you want?" Hahaha it was hilarious. He found a menu for me and gave me a good laugh.
That and the burger made my day.
Good burger, nothing special. Fries are your average steak fries, they were good. We had the wings as well, they were much better than expected. The wings are the kind with the drum and wing connected so you have to pull them apart. Definetely a dive bar and we went on a Sunday night. Many drunk regulars sit around the bar, not the best place for kids.
This joint's a consummate dive bar, right down to the barely functioning men's restroom. I like it.
Amenities:
A surprisingly good jukebox. (Fairly current indie hits mixed in with the usual classic rock that really rocks.)
An above average burger. (I can see why it once beat In and Out in a Best Burger poll.)
If you're at loose ends in Playa Del Ray and dive bars are your thing, I wouldn' t hesitate to recommend a visit.
I agree with the "dive" comments. The food is is cheap greasy and it fills you up. Its nothing I am going to go out of my way for. I hit this place on the way back from surfing El Porto.
However, they do have good drink specials Lakers, Dodgers and other sports. Like 6 bucks a pitcher good for the domestic stuff. Unfortunately its so far away from my place that I have to drive here. :(
Definitely a dive, cheap beer and a cute friendly bartender. Grabbed a beer and potato skins with a friend. Potato skins were okay. Video games as well.
Just a great local dive bar, makes you feel like you belong.
Haven't tried the burgers yet. Will have to next time and update my review.
Burger #40: meh meh meh.
just another burger with a sausage on it. the sausage always trumps the burger on flavor. even trying the burger alone yielded little burger flavor.
i was encouraged by the idea of a day outside riding bikes, so i got on my bike a went outside. about a 4-5 mile ride from my house, i was there in no time. they had some bike parking out front that i used to lock up my bike. inside you order at the counter and wait for your name to be called. i got the shack cheese burger, 1/4lb patty with a split sausage on it. 10 minutes later my name is called. i make my way back to a seat and enter burgerville. meh meh meh, is all i thought. my new burger mantra for par burgers.
so again, meh. if you crave a burger with sausage go to hinano's at the end of washington, they do it a bit better.
A dive bar with typical bar quality food. We got a burger and a chicken sandwich. The chicken sandwich ($7) took forever to make and all it had in it was chicken, piece of iceberg lettuce, slice of tomato on a bun. I definitely should've just made this at home.
I heard a lot about this place from friends but I don't think it lives up to any of the quasi-hype I heard. Also, I know it's a dive bar but the place was dirty and empty except for a few sketchy looking college-aged kids staring us down. I don't think I'll be coming back for their "night life". This definitely isn't my kind of place but I don't want to knock it too much because I feel like some people could really like this scene.
It's really close to my house and also the beach so I like the location. We walked here after a nice stroll along the beach. That was probably the nicest part of our trip here.
I've been seriously thinking about giving up red meat. Then, today for lunch, I went to the Shack.
Their "Shack Burger" has sausage on top of the burger. Yes, adding meat as if it were just another condiment. Brilliant. So, that whole giving up red meat thing. I totally failed. But failure has never tasted so good.
Pre-us volume...2. Post-us volume...a bijillion. I'm sorry but when is it more appropriate to be a little loud on a Saturday night at 10:30 then in a bar. Not a church. Not a hospital. Not a church in a hospital, but at a beach bar. So, my friends and I enter and the locals, who appear to have logged some hours here, looked at us as though we were sporting "Hitler Rocks" t-shirts or something. We found some seats, drinks and continued our festive night. After the crowd and bartender found us entertaining enough, the comfort level rose, the drinks poured and the laughter was released. People seem to rant and rave and rant about the Shacklicious burger they serve. (Hell, I didn't even know they served food.)
Note: This is the smallest bar in Los Angeles. And if I'm tooling around on my bike and in the area, I'll stop by again for a coldy.
The reviews for this place are ri-diculous. "Overpriced domestic light beer." OK, you are an idiot for ordering it when they have imported beer on tap. "Cheap wine." You have got to be kidding me. You go to the fucking SHACK and expect to have a wine experience. "I had to order my drink in one place and my food at another place." Jesus H. The fucking place is called the SHACK and these people are reviewing the joint as if it is supposed to be a classy establishment. I try not to get angered by these things, but sometimes it is just too much.
The Shack is a unique burger joint. The Shack Burgers are fucking good, and so are the fries. The beer on tap is great, and it is in a great location for a mellow weekend afternoon lunch. It's sort of a sports bar, and you are supposed to relax, have a beer and a burger, and watch a game. Lighten up. This place is good.
To be honest, the Shack's burgers aren't that amazing-- they're good, but not THAT good. That is, save for the glory that is the Shackburger. One burger + cheese + a Louisiana hot link on top. I don't eat there that often, but when I do, that's what I get (with fries and a draft Sierra Nevada). It's fantastic.
Decor is beach-bar, though the patio out front is nice. Karaoke tends to be on the gruesome side (lots of over-tanned cougars turn up on Friday night looking for hapless LMU students-- or so it's been the two times I've showed up for it).
Sometimes I find myself craving a Shack Burger slathered with spicy Beaver mustard, with a side of deliciously greasy Onion Rings, washed down with a pitcher of ice cold suds. It's a beautiful thing.
Curiously, I've always thought that the Shack was like a Plumber's Convention...you know, ten miles of pipe and nowhere to lay it....until my former boss met his girlfriend here...so hope springs eternal.
By the way, this is the real Shack, not the one on Wilshire.
Fridays? rofl... there's about 100 other burger spots that will kill any corporate burger smut that comes out on TV. lol...
You want a dive bar burger? this is where you come, it's far from a dive though, it's not FRIDAY or TGIF or Applebees, this is bar/burger establishment that's known for the Shackburger, call it what you will, the beauty of these burgers can only be experienced by eating it.
This spot isn't for everyone, pehaps some yall should go back pay $20 for a crap burger in Hollywood. You sport tatts? You ride a chopper? You drink beer before noon have burgers for breakfast, The shack is your spot, don't listen to LA yuppies, they are full of crap.
Any person who loves good food, will experience it for themselves.
There are days when I want a triple bypass with a side of coronary. On those days I would head to the The Shack after work. One, it's open after 3rd shift gets off; two, it's a great place to get grub and beer. Two patties, cheese, guac, and sausage on a bun for the meal, a large onion rings and a diet coke (hey 200 calories saved is 200 calories). It's a short drive from LAX so that makes it convenient, and you can sit there with your burger and hear the planes take off... I think the sprinkling of jet fuel and exhaust makes the food extra tasty.
slow service, good burgers (a la red robins), comfy seats and descent bar. Chill place to eat after a day at the beach. Burgers are a bit pricey... between $6.50-8.00. Fries and drinks are ordered separately. No trashcans... so you just leave ur food on the table.
I wouldnt drive more than 15 minutes for this place... but they do have descent burgers. Try their Famous Shack Burger (which is pretty much a burger, cheese, and sausages.. but it's pretty good). yeah... that's it.
Yes, the shack burger is good. very good. BUT, what you need to do is go on Fridays, for the Hoyt's peppersteak sandwich. Holy cow! Best under $10 meat/cheese/bread combination EVER! Killer onion rings too.
addendum: just tried the hot wings. easily in my top 5.
Eggnog Shake/ Japanese Ahi…
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Get "Happy" in the Lobby…
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Neighborhood: Playa Del Rey
Category: Sports Bars
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: Burgers
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: Watches
Neighborhood: Playa Del Rey
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Playa Del Rey
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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