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Burger Lab & Co.
A chef in black gloves placing the sesame seed top bun onto a freshly built burger
Exp. No. 001 — Smash Burger Lab

Engineered Flavor.
Perfectly Smashed.

San Clemente's freshly smashed burger lab. Fresh, never-frozen beef, seared to a crispy crust — right here on Avenida Pico.

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4.9 on Google•Walk-ins welcome•Free parking

4.9 on Google

Rated by locals

Fresh, Never Frozen

Smashed to order

Family Owned

San Clemente born

Ready in ~10 Min

Hot off the griddle

Fresh beef being smashed flat on a hot griddle to create a crispy crust

100%

Fresh Beef

Method 01

The Griddle
Effect

We press fresh, never-frozen beef into a hot, searing griddle. All that contact makes the beef itself do the work — fats caramelize, edges crisp, and the flavor concentrates into every bite. Nothing hidden behind it, nothing stretched to taste like more.

01

Fresh Beef

Ground, never frozen.

02

Hot Griddle

Searing cast-iron heat.

03

Crispy Crust

The Lab signature.

Field Notes

Fan Favorites

The experiments our regulars keep re-running. Tap any one to see the full ingredient list.

Full Menu
Classic American cheeseburger with fries in a basket
B1

Original Burger

Single / Double

See ingredients
Burger with crispy bacon close up on a dark background
B4

BBQ Burger

Bacon • Onion Rings

See ingredients
Smash burger with cheddar and caramelized onions served with fries
B5

The Truffler

Truffle Aioli • Mushrooms

See ingredients
Smash burgers with melted cheese and sauces
B3

Baja Burger

Avocado • Jalapeños

See ingredients
Shoestring fries tossed with garlic and fresh herbs
S1

Garlic Fries

Garlic • Herbs

See ingredients
Crispy sweet potato fries with sea salt and ketchup on a plate
S3

Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy • Sweet

See ingredients
Cookies and cream milkshake topped with whipped cream, cookie crumbs and a whole cookie
H4

Oreo Shake

Cookies & Cream

See ingredients
Two plant-based burgers loaded with fresh greens
B8Vegetarian

Veggie Lab

Plant-Based

See ingredients

Peer Reviewed

Why Locals Love Us

From surfers to families to keto regulars — here's what keeps San Clemente coming back.

Fresh Ingredients

Never-frozen beef and produce prepped every day.

Fair Prices

Most guests spend $10–$20 per person. Kids meals are a steal.

Spotlessly Clean

Dining room, patio and restrooms kept spotless.

Friendly Staff

Family-run hospitality — we know our regulars by name.

Kid-Friendly

Kids meals, booths and a patio built for family lunches.

Great After the Beach

Minutes from the pier — the perfect post-surf refuel.

Exp. No. 00X — Delivery

Order for
Delivery or Pickup

Same burgers, same fries, sent straight to your door — or order ahead and pick it up at the counter.

01

DoorDash

Delivery to your door

02

Uber Eats

Delivery on demand

03

Grubhub

Delivery or pickup

Prefer to order by phone? Call (949) 728-0606

Lab Results

4.9 Stars.
Real Reviews.

4.9 / 5
"Best burgers in San Clemente hands down. Delicious, fresh and super fair pricing. The restaurant and bathroom are super clean and the staff is friendly. The shake was great, my BBQ burger was amazing & my wife loved the truffle aioli sauce. Can't wait to come back!"
GGuadalupe S.
"I got the double mushroom and Swiss burger, and a peanut butter shake with Oreos in it… probably the best mushroom Swiss burger I've ever had (and that's my favorite type of burger)! The shake was amazing!"
KKaden L.
"The burgers were so good! We got the BBQ burger and the Bacon burger. Both had such crispy yummy bacon. The produce is so fresh… If you're debating coming just do it!"
EEmily N.
"This is a gem! I would say it's the best smash burger in SOC. Inexpensive and tasty."
RRobert R.
"Delicious food, 10/10 burgers and fries, everything served fresh! Hands down one of the best smash burgers I've tasted. Also the prices are very affordable. Must try!!"
KKelvin A.
"Excellent service and food… Everything was super fresh. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Definitely worth checking out this family owned business!"
AAmy H.
"Solid burger spot for post-beach. Garlic fries were amazing. Well priced kids meals."
JJay C.
"Ladies that work here tear up the grill, food comes fast and is always fresh. Smash burgers are crispy and perfectly cooked."
SSarah H.
"We had delicious, flavorful, lettuce-wrapped burgers… We are on a strict keto diet. The staff checked ingredients to help us decide what to order."
SSandy P.
"Wonderful burgers! Great milkshakes! Great for the kids / family. Easy parking, nice service, and lots of seating."
CCory T.
"Best burger I've had in a while at a very reasonable price!"
JJane E.
"The spicy jalapeño burger is the best."
JJonathan E.
"The new best burger in San Clemente. Shakes are huge and delicious."
BBrock P.

Swipe for more →

Find the Lab

Come Say Hi

806 Avenida Pico

San Clemente, CA 92673

Hours

  • Sunday – Thursday11am – 9pm
  • Friday – Saturday11am – 10pm

Hours subject to change

Get Directions Call Us

Ask the Lab

Got a Question?
We've Got Answers.

Dietary restrictions, allergies, large orders, kids' parties — send us a note and a real human from the lab will get back to you. You can also join our fan list for first dibs on new experiments.

(949) 728-0606 806 Avenida Pico, San Clemente

We'll get back within one business day

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