The Habit Burger Grill
23632 El Toro Rd, Lake Forest, CA, 92630
The Habit Burger Grill Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
23632 El Toro Rd
Lake Forest, CA, 92630 - Phone (949) 206-9110
- Website https://www.habitburger.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Chris F.
Consistently my favorite burger joint.
(5)Pooch D.
I tried this place for the first time this week, and I was very excited. I ordered their Original Char Hamburger combo. When I first saw the burger I thought "Oh, nice it's a good size". I didn't think I would finish but I finished it and I was still hungry. I think the shredded lettuce made the burger bigger than it is so in my opinion it looked a little bit deceiving. To be fair, the taste was good. The fries were OK, nothing special. Overall I liked it, but if I had a choice, I would most likely go to In n Out instead.
(3)Haley V.
This is such a great place to eat a Paleo-friendly meal that is absolutely delicious and tasty. Try the double char burger, lettuce-wrapped with bacon and avocado. The sweet potato fried are good too!
(5)Patrick N.
This place has the best grilled chicken club. It's more filling than the burgers, but those are definitely good too. The chicken club has perfectly crispy toasted sourdough bread, bacon, avocado, tomato, lettuce, mayo and a juicy grilled chicken breast. The fries here a great, but the onion rings are amazing. Breaded (not battered), and fried to crunchy perfection. The chicken sandwich with fries and drink will run you about $10, so it's not cheap if you're on a budget. But the burgers are cheaper and still delicious, too.
(4)Randoll C.
I had heard of the burgers from The Habit up in Santa Barbara thru a friend but I never made it up there to try them. Over time, I forgot about them until this weekend. That was until I made it to their Lake Forest location earlier tonight for dinner. The location isn't too old and it's in a good size shopping center so there's ample parking. The place itself isn't very big inside but there's outdoor seating which can accommodate more people if it gets really busy, which is wasn't this evening. I decided to try their Swiss Mushroom Char Burger and I made it a combo - so it came with fries and a drink. As for taste, I really enjoyed the blend of flavors when I popped some peppers to mix with the cheese and mushrooms - as I tend to like my food with some kick. I won't go so far as to say that The Habit's burger is better than other places I've been to - it's different. It's good but I don't know if I'd say that it was great. I enjoyed it and I'm definitely a fan.
(4)Laina A.
I really enjoyed my double-char at The Habit. After receiving a mailed coupon circular for a "free char" or its equivalent in price, hubby and I went within a week of receiving. The Habit Burger Grill was clean, friendly staff and pretty darn speedy. I got the Original #2 Double Charburger with fries & drink for $7.20. I felt the vegetables were fresh, I said no to the grilled onions and asked for raw and got a nice crisp red onion slice. The burger meat was cooked just about perfect, not under and not over and was hot, tasty and the cheese was melted nicely. I asked for a side of thousand island, because I like it like that, and that was given free of charge. Not sure of the comparisons to In n Out, I think they are different tasting. One big bonus for me is that my fries were hot and crisp, not overcooked and are a bit thicker, so I still get some potato taste inside, unlike the aforementioned fries which I really dislike. Hubby got the BBQ Bacon Charburger and a side of onion rings. Yep you heard it hear, I had a double and the man had a single. Oink oink to me. He said both the burger and rings were good. To me it looked a bit skimpy on the bacon, but it did look crispy and not limp. I wasn't feeling the onion rings so I didn't partake. Drinks are get your own refills, they have a small condiment bar with jalapenos and chili peppers, but no pickles. Next to that are some bottles of ketchup, A-1 steak sauce, etc., salt & pepper and napkins. Some other menu items that are not burgers include salads, sandwiches and one I definitely need to come back and try, a tri-tip steak sandwich. They do have a veggie burger for you non-meat-aholics and a typical kid's meal, but great prices for under $4. One tiny thing worth mentioning, no s&p shakers on tables. You have to go get at the counter in those baby packets.
(4)Minsey L.
So The Habit opened up a block away from my house. But the line for their opening was soooo ridiculous that we ended up going to this location to avoid the wait. I was quite satisfied! The burgers are really cheap! I got a charburger and fries for just under $5. The service is really good and fast, and the food was very good too. Everything tastes like it's made out of quality ingredients, not previously frozen and microwaved. It's not as good as In-n-out, but it ranks pretty high on the list for fast food.
(4)Joseph S.
Consistently good burgers and friendly staff. Try the burger on grilled sourdough, it's great!
(4)Alexis M.
The Habit is awesome. First, the customer service is amazing. The staff treat each guest as if they were a friend rollin up to a bbq. They have lots of different options, some healthy, but the unhealthy ones are a bit tastier. They have sweet potato fries are the bomb diggity. They just give you ranch dressing. Not at an extra charge. The onion rings are to die for. Go there! Your big ol' belly will thank you!
(5)Katie B.
Definitely a favorite for their grilled chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries. I have been to this location many times and their food is always delicious. The servers are also very attentive. I have never had a problem with my food or the service at this restaurant. If I were to nit pick anything, it would be the cost of their Chicken Sandwich. Their burger prices are a ridiculously great deal...I still can't believe the $3 price of many of their burgers. Their Chicken Sandwich in comparison is definitely on the little pricier end. Won't stop me from eating there, it really is a great sandwich, but if it were $1 less, they would definitely get 5 stars from me :)
(4)Manami Y.
I had never even heard of this place until I did a search for lunch places on Yelp. And I was looking for a bunch of gift cards for a friend and when I asked her sister what her favorite restaurants/cafes were, this was one of the places. So, I was able to get my friend a gift card and try this place for the first time. I went with their chicken club sandwich. It was a hefty sandwich! The toasted sourdough bread with melted butter was yummy and went well with the fresh lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and juicy chicken breast. I'm sure I consumed more than my daily allotted calorie intake, but it was worth it! The staff was super friendly and the place itself was very clean! It's located in the same shopping plaza as Boneheads.
(4)Jennifer L.
Solid 4 stars, I came here for lunch with my mom on Friday. We both enjoyed our meals, I especially liked my veggie burger on a wheat bun with avocado and my mom was happy with her cheeseburger. Another good choice is the mushroom charburger. It's pretty easy to make the burger healthy too side they offer protein style(wrapped in lettuce) The sweet potato fries are great too and the onion rings are to die for. We shared sweet potato fries since an order is around 400 calories......(eeeekk) I appreciate how they have the calories listed on the menu so you know how much you are eating....suprisingly these burgers don't have as many calories as you think! Despite how busy they were (lunch hour between 12 and 1) they got our food out quickly and it was hot and fresh...they were constantly calling out orders. I've even to several habit locations including this one before and this one always seems busy since it's right off of el toro road in a high traffic shopping center, and the service is consistent!
(4)Hanna P.
Grilled chicken salad was okay. Chicken was juicy and portion size was decent. Not bad for a burger joint. My kids on the other hand loved the burger and the hamburger gummy at the end.
(4)Scott L.
BBQ Bacon ChzBurger without bbq sauce, great flavor, this one cooked perfectly. A lot less grease than In N Out Will be back
(4)Joseph L.
This was my first time here at the Habit. I had the cheese burger $3.45. The burger was very good (not great). All the employees where very nice and helpful. I will be back for next week, please do not tell my wife :)
(5)Al S.
I'm not going to stop looking for that "charcoal-grilled burger of my dreams"..... OK? But I've found, in Habit, a resting place where I can get a good cheese burger,fries and a drink for about what I pay at Royal Burger #6. If Habit let me choose a fresh donut from their bakery case, which I didn't see and I doubt they have... well, I might jack them up and into a 5-star review. A few years ago I went to "The Counter"..... and was amazed at how many people raved about what I thought was a tasteless and very dry excuse for a burger. At Habit, I had no false expectations. I figured on a respectable cheese burger, and that's what I got. I will add that I didn't taste the "char-grilling" that they note in their menu board. (?) I don't have a cold, so somehow I missed that. But carbon additives aside, I'd go back for another "double char-burger." Again, and as I shared somewhere else on yelp, I had an incredible Kobe burger in Vegas maybe 5 years ago. And I can't remember which strip hotel provided it. And no, it wasn't the Burger Bar at the Mandalay. I did them, and as you'll see in my review, was as un-impressed as I was with The Counter. My search will continue for the "kick-$ss" burger of my dreams.......... Hummmmmmmm.
(4)Franklin Y.
I came here at the suggestion of my friends and wasn't really expecting too much... The Good :D - Good service! - Place was clean and well organized. - The Double Charburger is more substantial than an in-n-out double double, has shredded lettuce over a big soggy piece, and has a bigger meat patty all for less than $5. Not too bad. - They have a really useful ketchup holder than you can pull out the outsides to expand it so you can use it for onion rings. The Not-So-Good D: - The fact that there was a difference of around $3 for adding fries and a drink seems outrageous. - I've still had bigger and better burgers that would also have a bigger variety of things you can put into it. Not really sure how much I like or dislike this place. Didn't really stick out above all the other hamburger places that I've been to, but honestly wasn't bad either.
(3)Jeff B.
Great Burger joint - reminds me of the way In-N-Out used to be... Realtively speaking, if you go to any of the local greasy sack joints, it will cost just about the same. Quality ingredients and attention to detail from the staff set The Habit head and shoulders above the competition. The only thing lacking is a drive thru - they miss out on a lot of my potential business simply because I don't have the time to park, go inside to wait in line etc.
(4)Julie K.
The best "no frills" burger joint. Now, I'm not going to say this is the best burger I've ever had, or to drive many miles to try this burger. It tastes like what a burger should taste like. It tastes like USA on the fourth of July and the best version of the burgers you want to grill up. It's patty, bun, cheese, and regular burger veggies. No fancy reduction sauce, no caramelized onions with cheeses you never heard of, no arugula - just straight up burger. I really appreciate that they aren't trying to be all fancy shmancy and just serve up a good ole burger. If you are a fan of mushrooms, definitely try the mushroom swiss char burger. The onion rings are no joke, although it's hard to eat more than 5 onion rings because of the the deep-fryed-cholestrol-grease factor. But yea...definitely try this place if you are in the mood for a reliable burger. It's pretty cheap too.
(4)Kent P.
I cannot express how frustrated I am with this place. I'm trying to feed my crew today for the holidays and they failed to take my order. I drove to the store to check out the vibe and make sure this is what my guys and gals wanted. I asked if they did any local business discounts or bulk discounts because I was ordering so much. They said no. No biggie. I'll just order it online. I build my entire order online and tried to check out but whoops! They don't do any orders over $50 online. Ok. Kinda weird. I call instead, like it's suggested, and it kicks me to a call center. I can barely understand what the guy is saying and the prices he's quoting doesn't match up with the online order I'm trying to place. I'm fuming at this point and I end the call. I'm a patient guy and the business I run dictates that. So I take a minute, breathe, and call again. A female picks up this time and she begins to process my order. I'm trying to order 32 Double Chars with cheese. She tells me that she can't take orders over $75. Seriously? Can't do $50 online and can't do $75 over the phone? I'm trying to give you my money folks. She apologizes and puts me on hold to ask her manager. She gets back on the horn to say "We're really busy right now, so come down to the store". An active solution would be doing two $75 orders over the phone but that option was not even presented, let alone thought about. She curbed the deal and I'm taking my business to In-N-Out. At least those folks are paid to smile. I'll be blowing this up on FB and Twitter via our corporate accounts.
(1)Dave S.
Service good and the food arrived fast and hot. Hamburger was very good. No complaints from wife or me. We could do this one again.
(4)Payam A.
Like almost everyone else in California, In-n-out was my favorite, until I tried the Charburger with cheese! Sorry old friend, but the taste of the patty, freshness of the vegetables, etc. were all better than my ol' fave. My 'used to be' vegan wife (no I do not have another one!) was happy too as they cater to vegitarians and vegans! So we could eat at a burger joint together. All at great prices too! I am not a big burger guy, so when I feel like one, I want something great, and The Habit has never disappointed! Only problem for me is when they put the half wrapped burger off the tray cover and it comes into contact with the unwashed plastic tray itself. Most other food comes in carboard or styrofoam plates. They have always replaced my burger when I've pointed that out and done so quickly, but I always think,'what a waste of a great burger' due to a little carelessness. Really like the condiments with the fresh and pickled peppers. Really great burgers and my new fave!
(5)Ghislaine V.
The BBQ bacon chat burger with cheese is to die for!! And for $5!! Can't beat the quality and the price!! Who would want to get fast food over the Habit? I highly recommend this restaurant!! And the interior decor and furnishing is nice and comfy!
(5)Ashton Z.
Came here with my aunt and Dad. Very nice place. I love their double char burger without mayo. :D
(5)Linda S.
Feed your naughty cravings monster here. So far only in CA, I long for a location to open in Vegas. So if you're in CA, have a Charburger with cheese for me :) The Charburger with cheese with grilled onions is what you gotta order here. If there was such a thing as a "healthy" tasting burger, The Habit has it. I jump up as soon as I hear my order called and my walk to the counter seems to be in slow motion :) Of course I add an order of their super crispy onion rings that hardly have any oil on them, along with some ranch...you can't eat onion rings without ranch. I also have to hit up the condiments and load up my little plastic cup with hot yellow peppers that go perfectly with my burger. The freshly shredded lettuce, the sweet grilled chopped onions, the oozing cheese and soft bun atop the perfectly charred meat patty...it's so good to be bad! Now if you want to go a lil healthy, they also offer an albacore sandwich which is pretty good with a teriyaki glaze, a veggie burger, (which I've also tried but left me wanting for my Charburger) grilled chicken sandwiches, and a variety of salads. The Habit has great shakes...and they have MALTS...including coffee flavored which may warrant another quick stop there today :) It's nice that they offer a variety of things on their menu to suit most and their prices are very reasonable. I contacted Habit recently and they tell me they are in the process of finding a place to open in Vegas. I'm in trouble.
(4)Kelley U.
$5.95 for a charburger, fries and a drink? What a deal. Pretty good burger too -- way better than fast food. Better than In-N-Out? Hmmmm. Grilled on an open flame, the burgers are tasty. Double charburger combo is only a buck more. Onion rings are really crispy and so good! I think my favorite thing there :) They have chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers, salads and kids' meals on the menu for those who do not want a hamburger. Staff is really nice here too.
(4)Ted S.
Just an okay fast food burger. Yes, better than McDonald's, but not up there with in-n-out.
(2)Drea H.
The first Habit Burger I've been to was the one on Aliso Creek Road inside the shopping center, but that was a couple months ago...and I forgot what I ate & how it tasted like...so, here's my new review while I still remember what I ate here today :) Location is inside a busy shopping center. It's right by the signal entrance so make sure you park somewhere close. They have inside and outdoor seating. I don't know if they are dog friendly, but if they are, they get bonus points. Boyfriend and I got their specials they were promoting - the green chile burger, and the green chile sandwich. It's interesting that their sandwiches are like $1.00 more expensive than their burgers..but anyways. The green chile burger was juicy & tasty. We got the sandwich on sourdough bread - it was yummy but the bread appeared to be slathered, no no, *drowned* in butter. It was a bit too much. Sandwich was falling apart too so it was challenging to eat as well. Overall, the flavors were good but I think I'll hop on over to Chipotle instead.
(3)Shane D.
This place has been getting a ton of hype lately. So when they opened one in my neighborhood, I had to check it out. Overall I like it. The burgers are very good & bigger than In-N-Out, but in my opinion not as tasty. The fries are also very good, but they are slightly over cooked for my taste. If you like McDonald's fries, you'll love these. They are super crispy and a little bigger than McD's, but I prefer mine slightly less fried than these. I think Fatburger & In-N-Out have better fries, but it really depends on how you like yours cooked. What's nice about this place is they have a bunch of other topping options, like bacon, BBQ, avocado, etc. They also have Pastrami, Albacore tuna burgers, Veggie burgers, great salads, etc. Here's the bottom line: If I want the best Pastrami sandwich I'm going to The Hat, if I want the best Veggie burger I'm going to Native Foods, if I want the best Albacore I'm going to a seafood restaurant, and if I want the best burger, I'm going to In-N-Out or The Counter. But if you need a place with all those things in one, this is a great all around option, and the prices are very good.
(3)Eden O.
Some compare this place to the level of In n Out in the sense of quick serve/better quality burger and I do agree with that but for some reason I don't feel as guilty eating this burger. It didn't seem as greasy or cheesy. Granted, at In n Out I always opt for Animal Style which is the worst of the worst, but I think it is something else. Possibly the Char grilling. . . helps fat drip off? ___In n Out vs. The Habit ___ Cost: The Habit - prices are a bit cheaper here Service: Tie - both have just as chipper teens behind the counter Burger: Tie - love me some Animal Style, but prefer the non greasy patty of The Habit Fries: The Habit - In n Out fries make me feel like I have to consume them in two minutes before they become cold and tasteless, I don't care if they are more natural Menu: The Habit -they have options (chicken sandwiches, salads, onion rings, sweet potato fries, etc) Location: In n Out - (obviously) these bad boys are everywhere Hours: In n Out - The Habit closes way before bar closing times Seating: The Habit - lots more outdoor seating and less fast food feel inside . . . all in all, looks like The Habit wins, but the convenience of In n Out is huge
(4)Phoenix A.
This 5 star update is long over due. I've eaten here enough now to re-affirm that The Habit serves the best hamburger in the OC along with their french fries. I chowed here today after a nice, hunger-inducing hike and my char burger with cheese & avocado, fries, and chocolate shake beat the spot to a pulp. I also love the fact that you can get self-serve banana peppers, peppercinis, or sliced jalapenos on the side next to the ketchup dispenser. Their onion rings are pretty bomb, too, as I got to steal some off of Roo S.'s tray. I love love love this place!
(5)Sun Y.
I haven't had In N Out in a LONG time and I must say that this place is pretty good. I also recently had Five Guys Burgers and Habit is better. It's similar to In N Out and it's actually affordable. Portions are right. This over Umami burger too =P
(4)Melissa S.
This review is based on my first and only visit here (so far), during which I ate a chicken club sandwich. My friend and I made plans to meet up at Luna Grill, but neither of us had been and didn't know where it was... I'm always driving around in circles trying to find places in this shopping center. So after we both separately drove all over the shopping center looking for it, we gave up and went to The Habit. (Funny enough, as I left the parking lot after The Habit, I realized that Luna Grill was across the street, on the other side of El Toro Rd... that's for another visit, and another review.) I've never been to The Habit, and asked my friend what was good there. She referred the question to the cashier, who was very friendly and happy to answer. He said I can't go wrong with any of the burgers (of course), but if I wanted to go healthy, I could get the chicken club sandwich. I realized people came in the door after me and joined the line in back of me, so wanting to be quick, I just ordered the chicken club without really thinking about it. He told me afterward that the Santa Barbara salad is also really good, for my next visit. Then I got my chicken club... haha, I have nobody to blame but myself for not really thinking it through, but this thing isn't even remotely healthy! But it was pretty substantial, almost twice as much food as my friend's burger. Greasy, buttered toast, nice crispy fried bacon... haha. The rest was grilled chicken, avocado, lettuce, tomato and mayo, and came served in a black plastic tray alongside with a mostly decorative orange slice on a piece of lettuce. I ate it anyway without caring that it was surely worse nutritionally than a burger - who cares about healthy anyway? I'm eating fast food, of course there's no such thing as healthy! It was good... a little messy because it was so greasy. Best make sure you have a couple napkins to wipe your fingers. The Habit wouldn't be my first choice location to eat a chicken club sandwich, but I appreciate the fact that a burger joint has something a little different on its menu. I liked the toasted sourdough bread, and I felt full enough after eating just the sandwich. Good thing, since it's already 720-ish calories. My friend had been before and had the burgers, and decided to get a mushroom swiss burger today. She said it was good, but the greasiness was so powerful that she couldn't taste the mushrooms, haha. She said any of the burgers are good, but the fries here are crap. We had a lot of catching up to do, and ended up sitting at our table for 2 hours, from 6 pm to 8 pm on a Saturday night. Nice, friendly service. Nobody ever hassled us; in fact, a worker was nice enough to come by and pick up our tray of trash soon after we finished eating. There were always others in there while we were there, though I noticed that most of the tables around us were filled around 7 pm, and from there the crowds gradually dissipated. Clean restaurant, and nice contemporary pop music, never loud enough in the restaurant to make it hard to converse with your dining partner. I guess it's where you go to eat if you're too cool and trendy for like McDonald's.
(3)Mike M.
Damn good turkey burger and sweet potato fries. Friendly service, $10 lunch. Get here before noon if you can to avoid the line and find parking.
(4)Aerin L.
Better than average burger joint. Yummy tempura fried green beans!!! Chicken on sandwiches is skimpy. Overall pretty good, there is room for improvement.
(3)Matthew O.
The habit definitely lives up to its name, it is already a weekly habit at minimum. Always order your burger with cheese. I don't know why, but it totally makes the burger.
(5)Bethany K.
We LOVE the Habit. I'm a little surprised I hadn't reviewed it yet... especially considering how often we visit... and from WEST LA. Ridiculous. We had visited the Habit in Santa Barbara on a trip up/down the 1... and we honestly weren't THAT impressed. But once the Habit started franchising across Orange County, we found a newfound love/obsession with it. The service is top notch -- they're helpful, friendly, quick, even sometimes taking initiative to clean our tables and offer more. The food is excellent. I LOVE the onion rings (super crispy, oily, fatty... delicious and the perfect size at $2) and the fries are this perfect mix of crispy seasoning with potatoes. My husband loves the double char WITH AVOCADO (makes a big difference, he claims) and I usually get the Chicken Club. He LOVES the double char, but I do think the Chicken Club is growing on him :) Yum yum yum. I will say that there was a day when we were really unsatisfied--- the food just wasn't as good and they messed up our order... but we wanted to chock it up to opening the Aliso Viejo franchise and some of the workers getting transfered (or something) and the next few visits made up for it. I'm SO GLAD there aren't any TVs there either :) Just FYI.
(5)Gregory K.
Haiku burger review: Celestial bovine // Descends straight from the heavens // Into this kitchen This is hands down the best burger around. It's walk-in only (no drive-through), but the quality is much better than competitors. Habit easily beats IN-n-OUT in my book. I love all the peppers and hot sauce choices in the salad bar next to the soda fountain!
(5)Larry F.
For a chain that prides themselves on "freshness", it was disappointing to see them dumping bagged pre-processed frozen fries and onion rings in the fryer. The staff still yell in Spanish and consequently, orders are often wrong.
(2)Matt F.
Ordered 4 fries for takeout and all of them were undercooked and gross. Very disappointed.
(1)Kelly B.
This is a GREAT burger place. The salads are fantastic too. Granted, it's no substitute for In-N-Out, but it has it's own unique taste that keeps you coming back for more. The servers are excellent. Several bread choices, you can get the burgers and sandwiches lettuce wrapped, and my favorite salad is the barbecue chopped chicken salad. Go now!
(5)Stephanie P.
FYI eventhough sign on the door says 10pm closing time. This location actually closes earlier, they had their doors locked by 9:30. They should update their sign and yelp. Just saying!!!
(2)Tainted C.
This location can seem intimidating due to the crazy long lines. While waiting in line, customers as well as myself tend to scan the restaurant to find seating. Rest assure, there is a short wait ( usually by the time your done ordering ). The food is delicious and its a must to visit on a monthly or weekly basis!!
(5)Abd Al Alim T.
I thought In & Out was good but damn, this place now holds my all time favorite burger. I also love the sweet potato fries. This location was clean, customer service was awesome, and the food was mighty tasty. I Will continue to come here until I find the next best burger.
(5)Tim B.
Great Burgers! Great Value! I really wish I knew about this place sooner. I don't use the word love freely, but I can say that I LOVE Habit Burger x10000000. So juicy and full flavored, I'm getting the chills just thinking about it. If this place wasn't a good thirty minute drive from where I live, I'd probably sleep in those big black leather booths that are good for about six people. The place itself is very inviting and all the workers are super friendly. 3 bux a burger is incredible too. Little pepper bar....I went nuts and decided to chomp down like 20 peppers before my burger was even ready. Thought of it as an appetizer. Try the mushroom and swiss. you won't be disappointed. Trip tip sandwich was also good. BBQ flavored, juicy on grilled white bread. Sweet potato fries were also good with a side of ranch. :)
(4)Lynn G.
My bf is awesome. A few days ago I mentioned that I wanted to try The Habit because I have heard good things (I love cheeseburgers). Next thing I know he brings me a burger, fries, and drink. ***** 5 Stars for the boyfriend. I will have to try this place again but for the first time I would say the burger was good. Fries were good from what I could tell. We were a little disappointed that the fries and burger were cold. Not sure why is was cold. Maybe because it was a lunch time order and my bf waited a long time for the order???
(4)Shari P.
Good food at a great price. BUT most importantly they have the best customer service! Workers are available and checking if you need more ketchup or napkins and offer to throw your trash away! This was not the case at the San Clemente Habit :(
(5)Barbara G.
I've been to several Habit's this one is nearest my house - they are all consistently great - good food, service and clean all at a fair price. I want to try the albacore burger - can't find many comments on it! Fried green beans, yum, the only way to eat green beans..LOL I wish you had a drive thru! But this place is super yummy and the people are over the top nice and helpful :)
(5)Sam C.
Ok, my Habit burger review, I've now gone 7 or 8 times and what can I say, good burger. Well let's day convict entry perfect presentation. The buns are always perfectly toasted, and the fries are always perfectly crunchy. They always have a very cheerful servers and the place is always really clean. This is my new go to burger place in Lake Forest!
(5)Aaron K.
Always a quality experience. Would recommend to anyone.
(5)Rob P.
Awesome burger joint ! I finally found a good burger spot in Lake Forest. The meat was cooked well and the fries here is very good too. I like the pickles they offer next to the soda machine. The ambiance is great and hygienic. The service is awesome. I love this place. For everybody who is tired of fast food burgers, this is the real deal!
(5)Anh N.
Didn't meet the hype & doesn't quite contend with our good old In N Out. the quick: burgers fresh, juicy but an underwhelmed flavor fries adequate you won't be *unhappy here but I'd rarely consider returning they have a teriyaki burger for an alternate flavor among competitors but is still underwhelming I know it's cliche to say In N Out makes a kick ass burger that kicks the Habit but it just happens to do so in this case. I guess my buds are accustomed to that thousand island dressing. My friend sums it up best as saying the Habit's flavor is akin to Fatburger and is slightly more affordable. So if that sounds like your ballpark, go for it! The Habit is just a smidge pricier than In N Out but their burger is also larger so it works out. Fresh tasting, juicy juicy and it was a very well put together burger but none of the bites just sank in. You never took a bite out of it and said, man oh man I'm being wowed here. It didn't have... personality. The fries, no personality. It was just the sign on the storefront that had all the charm.
(2)Anthony A.
I finally tried to Sweet Potato Fries the other day. They're a bit pricey at $2.79 a pop (making the #2 combo right around $10) and I'm not sure if they're entirely worth it. I'm not one of those people who needs to have fries, so I can do without them completely. I like the idea of a sweet potato fry - something different that's also slightly healthier - but the execution left me wanting. They're pretty damn bland, to tell you the truth. Maybe they forgot to salt mine; I don't know. I was hoping they wouldn't need a ketchup bath before entering my mouth, but they did. I'd say they're worth trying, but I'm not going to make a habit (no pun intended) out of buying them.
(4)April H.
Yummy yummy in my tummy! I love this place. My favorite thing to get is the chicken sandwich. Who doesn't love avocado, chicken, lettuce and tomato all on a toasted sourdough???
(5)Carlene P.
We had the veggie burger and onion rings. It was quite good. Very clean and comfortable dining room. Average wait time. Price is on the higher side, but food was fresh and well prepared, so we were satisfied with the value.
(4)Jesse H.
I generally like it. Cheaper burgers and pretty tasty. They're customer service is very good and they're very speedy. Sort of a staple food for some of my friends.
(4)Ashley F.
Good burgers, good fries and good milkshakes. YES PLEASE! My boyfriend read about habit burger and suggested that we should try it. Upon arrival there was already long line and they have quite a few selections to choose from. I just had a regular burger with some add ons and an order of frings (fries and onion rings) and of course a strawberry chocolate shake. My mom had a veggie burger that was very good. I would recommend coming to this place just to see how it is.
(4)Stephany C.
This review is gonna be short sweet & to the point: Burger: The bacon was crisp but still chewy. And the grilled sourdough bread? AMAZING. Why do they have anything else? Fries: nothing to write home about Shake: INCREDIBLY rich, and the strawberries in it tasted fresh.
(4)Christian F.
The Habit is my favorite hamburger spot. I will now assume the identity of other hamburger places I have eaten and say why they are not my favorite. In-N-Out: I'm totally overrated. Since I'm exclusive to the West Coast I can be elitist to people I meet from the rest of the country. 5 Guys: I'm expensive. Carls Jr: I put people in sleeper holds after lunch and my new(ish) fries are terrible. McDonald's: My customers, my food, my corporate tactics. Wendy's: I am just like Carls Jr. Burger King: I am a slightly-better tasting version of McDonald's. White Castle: I am sick. Whataburger: I am completely forgettable. Rally's: I make people sit outside or in their cars. Sonic: I am just like Rally's, but worth visiting.
(5)Barclay W.
Let me start by saying that I was a vegetarian from kindergarten till my junior year of college, so pretty much my whole life. I started eating meat because I was going abroad and in most other places vegetarian life is hard. With that in mind I still am not a huge beef fan. I don't eat steak, I don't enjoy ground beef, and I usually don't like home made hamburgers unless they are smothered in something. When I crave a burger I usually go to In-N-Out. I felt like changing things up so I checked out the Habit. O MAN! I was blown away. I still love me some In-N-Out but the Habit just raised the stakes. Here is why: -Bigger menu, I mean come on the menu is far bigger then the secret menu could ever hope to be. - Great fresh taste. Still has that fresh and flavorfulness of In-N-Out. -Bigger burgers. I feel like this goes with the more options and the fresh taste. There was more burger to enjoy then In-N-Out. -Sweet potato fries. yummm. This place just found a spot in my heart, and I am not talking about a cholesterol flake. The food was amazing and the service was good. I will be back in a heart beat. ! O yea. They also have avocado! Ummm, orgasm?
(5)Cari C.
They've added fried green beans! Outstanding!!! I hope they are a permanent addition.
(5)Andre A.
One step above in n out burger
(5)Scott G.
This place is Great good burgers and fast.
(5)John C.
I ate here for lunch yesterday by myself. I have eaten at many of the habits before and I do like the menue and preparation. I had the big burger combo and it was good. I find the menu reasonable much like In-n-out. You can bring many here to eat. The shakes are very good at the Habit. It is very good to live in this area with The Habit and In-n-out so close to each other!
(4)Jamie L.
First time here, that is bomb. I had a burger was mushroom Swiss and fries. I am impressed and happy and well be back
(5)L W.
This place is seriously overrated. I got the Bacon bbq with cheese and the patty was dry and under-seasoned. There was such a lack of flavor I even questioned halfway through my burger, whether I should continue consuming these bland calories. I appreciated the amount of veggies in the burger, and the wonderful service. One of the workers offered to throw away my tray for me. One step up from Burger King.
(2)Elle C.
The burgers were attractively presented; the burgers, fries, and onion rings were good; the staff was pleasant; however, none of the items (we'd ordered) had me longing to return. So glad to have tried it, though.
(3)Tiffany D.
For Char Burger ONLY: Boo- Dry and soggy all at once. Stick with the Mushroom Swiss. That is all. (4 Stars for Mushroom Swiss)
(1)Alice L.
I went to In&Out the day before, and was in this plaza the next day for lunch. We didn't know what to eat until we smelled a delicious smell after we got out of our car. Since we didn't have our heart set on anything in particular, we just followed our noses to the Habit! Very clean, not too many people that you feel claustrophobic, and there's seating without having to hover and snatch a seat once it's open. Ordered the Habit Combo (hamburger, fries + drink) and an extra hamburger to share. This came out to be $9. Food came out FAST. Like... 2 mins after we ordered. Amazing. They also have a lemon/peperoncini bar which I helped myself to the peps to go with my burger. Visually, they looked really tasty. After the first bite, whoaaa, super toasted bun, and well-seasoned meat. Chilled lettuce and caramelized onions. *drooool* It was just a bunch of filled mouths going "mm! mm..mmm!" with head-nodding after that. Fries were OK, I'd like it better if it was crisper. Next time I'll try the Sweet Potato Fries. Definitely a good alternative to In&Out if you don't feel like waiting. Prices are only slightly higher, but still a great deal for the taste. These don't have the thousand island + ketchup sauce if your heart is set on that but I'd come back again to try some other items.
(4)Jennifer C.
This Habit has particularly great customer service. It doesn't matter if you come in at 8:00 in the morning or 8:00 at night, they always have the biggest smiles on their faces. Granted, it does suck that it costs a lot to add a drink and fries, but that's not in their control. Clean, fast and friendly service, and in a lovely center. Definitely go here if you want a quick bite to eat!
(5)Michelle M.
Me: Where should I go for lunch today? Co Worker: Duuuuuuude, The Habit is tastyyyyyyy. Me: What is the hype with The Habit? Co Worker: It's the BEST burger ever. *drool* Me: How is it THAT good? Co Worker: It just is. Go try it already. It's even better than In N Out. Literally. And that is what convinced me to try The Habit today. Yes, I'm well aware that I'm easy to persuade. But, I'm cute while being persuaded, so it's all good. I'm a tough person to convince what a 'good' burger is. Being a SoCal Native and all, I've grown up on Mexican food and Burger Joints and I was a bit weary hearing the hype of this place. And since it is compared to In N Out, I had high standards going in. Ordered the Charburger with Fries and a Drink. Burger was good. Not the BEST burger around, but definitely better than most burger places and has it's own distinct taste. Fries were tasty and cooked just right. I think they were my fave fries around. What makes this burger joint stand alone compared to most burger joints is that they actually have a Veggie Pattie option for all you Vegetarians. Hell yes!! You've won me over in that respect, dearest Habit. If I had known about this said Veggie Pattie, I would have made it in sooner rather than later. Service was also wonderful in this place too. I was asked twice how my meal was and was called "ma'am" at least six times. How nice!! I'll be coming back to The Habit one of these days. Until then, happy eating!
(4)Jim H.
Let's be clear. If I could eat only 1 food for the rest of my life, it would be cheeseburgers. I've eaten cheesburgers in 20 different states and on 2 different continents. I have one minimum requirement for my burgers, they have to be fresh hamburger. I won't eat a burger from a place that uses frozen meat. Well, maybe by accident, but never twice. Fatburger used to be the top of the line, but their quality has been declining the last 5 years or so. The Habit makes the best standard Cheeseburger you can get in Orange County. It's not some fancy-shmancy $12 fruit-basket job from somewhere like the Counter or 25 Degrees, althought those places are very tasty and have their place. No, The Habit is as delicious as it is affordable. If I had to compare it to any other burger place, the closest would be Duane's Ono Char-Burger on Kuai. The beef is fresh and cooked to order, the onions are grilled, the lettuce shredded. Just perfect. The fries are also very good. Perfectly crispy and just salty enough. There's a reason I have 12 check-ins at this place. Oh yeah, the malts are great.
(5)Justin B.
Pros: Burgers are pretty good Cons: Fries are just okay Went here with some co-workers the other day and it was pretty good. The prices are pretty affordable. You can get a whole combo (i.e. burger, fries, and a drink) all for around $6 - $7. I ended up ordering the "double charburger" combo which is just a burger with everything with two beef patties. The fries, however, are just okay. Again, not mind-blowing, but if you're craving some affordable burgers and fries, the Habit is a pretty good deal.
(3)Andrew B.
Stopped by for lunch today. Food was pretty good. I had the BBQ Bacon Char and fries, and the person with me ordered a milkshake. Everything was great. It's a bit crowded at lunch time, though, so plan to either wait around for a table or take it to-go.
(4)Pillin L.
In my books, better than In-and-Out. Perfectly portioned and seasoned burgers. Onion rings are delicious as well. I'm usually not a fan of breaded onion rings, I'm a batter kind-of-girl, but their breaded rings are pretty damn good. Definitely a good, cheap place to go for lunch. They have a very nice outdoor patio. Perfect to enjoy our lunch and hear the sounds of El Toro Blvd. During lunch, they may seem super busy but the turn around rate is quick. You'll get your food and have time to enjoy it and go back to work with plenty of time.
(4)Amir H.
Let's get started with their Charburgers. They are certainly delicious and have great flavor, but their basic Charburger can easily be replicated at home. However, their grilled chicken club is unbelievably delicious. I got it on toasted sourdough, and mine had the usual suspects of a club sandwich from a restaurant. Only this time, it was served with tender grilled chicken, creamy and fresh avocado, and crisp bacon unlike other sit-down establishments that try and fail this feat (looking at you Ruby's and Red Robin). I firmly believe it was the BEST chicken sandwich I have ever had, and taking the last bite was a blissful experience I can't wait to relive. I have to tip it to the Habit for using such fresh ingredients. I think if I crave a Charburger next time, I will be sure to add extra ingredients since everything looks and tastes so fresh. That is, if I can convince myself not to order the chicken club. That isn't completely fair, since I've also tried their onion rings and their BBQ chicken salad. The onion rings are seriously battered perfectly. Crunchy, a bit flaky, and not soggy at all. They know how to fry here, as their french fries are also awesome. As for the BBQ chicken salad, it was super fresh, came with a serving size of BBQ sauce that was just right, and even had surprise bacon in it! Lastly, I have to give the Habit a shout out for their friendly service. Merely asking for a side of ranch makes you feel like royalty, and I will be coming back to the Habit often to partake in the awesomeness of their chicken club sandwich on toasted sourdough.
(5)JP A.
Double Char with wheat buns and no pickles - WINNING. The fries are just as good. I've entered and left happy with every visit.
(5)Keegan C.
Great place to grab a lettuce wrapped burger and sweet potato fries! The service here is exceptional and you can't beat the price. It has the convenience of a fast food place but the quality of a gourmet burger joint. I follow a pretty strict paleo diet (no bread, dairy or processed carbohydrates) and it can be hard to find a quick bite to eat but this place nails it. I'll go here every time over In N Out. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)Mickey P.
First time here and brought the fam. Very friendly staff, clean, and atmosphere is accommodating for young children. We tried their char burgers and they were good. Fries were good as well. I look forward to trying other things on the menu; especially their tri-tip. Will say that I still like my in-n-out animal style and will see if they have something comparable. I like that they aren't as crowded as in-n-out but again they don't have a drive through. Will be going back to test so more.
(4)Kristen H.
I'm usually found here before I head across the street for a massage so about once a month. The counter crew is always pleasant, smiling, informative and quick. I like the buzzers instead of listening for your number to be yelled out, which can be tough to hear over the noise of a full house. They get a bonus for originality in their menu, even if I typically go with my stand by #2 Double Char w/ cheese and bacon only. Includes fries and medium drink for $7.20. The burgers aren't those measly patties you find at McDs or BK or the like, but they aren't restaurant thick either. The Double Char probably has a bit more meat than the Double Double down the street. Cheese always nicely melted, and bacon that is actually cooked right! (Add bacon at the places named above and you get this greasy, limp piece of fat that tastes like nothing. Blah!) The fries are really good! I like skinny fries and medium fries, and these are a perfect combination of both. Tasty, crunchy on the outside, spongy on the inside, yumm! So there you have it. #2 Double Char gets 4 stars. Other items look good, so maybe one day I'll shock myself and order something different. Salads, chicken sandwiches, and a tri-tip sandwich that has been highly recommended. Onion rings and even sweet potato fries! One day.
(4)Michelle K.
I'm most definitely a fan and I wish there was one closer to me. I ventured out here because I was in training and my coworker had been talking up this place. We finally decided to venture over and the line was almost out the door! Had the charburger and it was SO GOOD!!! Tasty and perfectly cooked. The only thing that needs work is the fries. I wasn't very impressed. They were slightly overcooked. But I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The only bad thing is that there isn't much indoor seating and it was effing cold outside. Prices are reasonable for ballers on a budget and their menu is pretty diverse. If I'm ever in the area again I'm definitely stopping by and maybe trying the chicken club sandwich.
(4)Julie S.
Anytime I get the craving for a burger, this is the place!! Great service, great food. I like to get the BBQ Bacon Charburger and their onion rings and french fries are really good too (ask for some ranch to go with). A friend of mine also raves about their fresh Albacore Tuna Sandwich and Sweet Potato Fries. They keep it clean and tidy, and their staff is always helpful and ready to get you what you need.
(4)Josh S.
I don't know, lots of average reviews for the Habit. I have been 3 times and beyond happy with my meal all 3 times. I love this place and will come back regularly. I won't compare to In-N-Out because there is no point. The Habit does have bacon though which is fantastic. And onion rings (a top 5 onion ring) and damn good ranch dressing. So good. Prices are fairly affordable too. You can get a double bacon cheese charburger, onion rings and drink for under $10. Is that INO prices, no, but like I said, bacon and o-rings! Great, fast service here too. Restaurant always clean with a pleasant and oddly happy staff. No joke. Big fan.
(5)Bryant N.
I went here before a rehearsal in Lake Forest and I am so glad that this place is one of the firsts that popped up when I searched "burgers." I got their Mushroom Swiss burger with Avocado (add $1) and man, it was delicious! They also have their condiments/toppings bar, which has jalepenos, chilis, tabasco and cholula (as well as other things). If you know me, I am a slave to jalapenos, chilis, and hot sauce! So adding that to the burger made it extra awesome. What also really impressed me was that the cashier was incredibly friendly; there was nothing that was scripted with our interaction. I guess their cashiers also double as runners, because he was walking around after a few minutes, asking if each and every customer needed any napkins/sauces/refills, etc. TALK ABOUT SERVICE! The Habit, you have some awesome employees and delicious burgers. Keep it up!!
(5)jonathan s.
Good meal, good burger, great onion rings, good price. Onion rings definitely should be ordered instead of the fries. Had the double char burger and it was a good burger that I would get again. Similar style burger to 5 guys but I prefer the Habit.
(4)Sofia A.
About the same price as In n Out, but better. Burgers are bigger and taste more fresh. Onion rings and fries are served piping hot. A lot cleaner, and larger than most In n Outs.
(5)Cliff C.
Everyone's got their favorite burger joint. My own go-to is Fatburger. Nothing like meat seared on a flat top to lock in the juices. Turns out The Habit is a decent second. I got the Double Charburger, which, despite its horrible carcinogenic name, was pretty good. Two patties grilled over open flame with little bits of blackened charness topped with a couple slices of cheese and the usual works. The Habit's thing is caramelized onions, but I suppose they'd throw on raw slices if you prefer. I also got a couple slices of bacon on my burger which put it over the top. The bacon was surprisingly good. Thick sliced and great flavor. But honestly, you could put bacon on blackened shoe leather and I'd eat it. The onion rings were really good, too. My only bitch is that the cheese was an extra 50 cents and the bacon was 75 cents. I don't mind paying extra for bacon but c'mon -- it's processed American cheese for crissakes. The margins on that stuff must be at least 90%. All in all, good burger and onion rings. It's a little over priced so I'll always prefer good ol' Fatburger (who often offers money-saving coupons).
(4)Candice K.
Wow. I really cannot believe how many people in the world (okay, maybe just in California) actually consider In-N-Out to be the measuring stick for ANYTHING other than garbage. Well, to each their own taste buds, I suppose. As far as The Habit goes, it's all right. I'd liken it to Fatburger but slightly more flavorful. I ordered the following for my partner and myself: - two BBQ Bacon Charburgers, each with an extra patty - onion rings - fries My evaluation: - patties are on the thinner side, which is a negative in my book (I probably should've gotten two extra patties for each burger, but every extra patty costs $1.25) - if you get the BBQ Bacon Charburger, bypass the pointless vegetables please (they only water down the burger) - onion rings are okay, though I've had better - fries are fries (which is more than I could ever say for In-N-Out's disgusting version of "fries") The food wasn't that impressive, but it wasn't by any means bad. Plus, the cashiers were friendly and offered me a big thing of ranch without me even having to ask. I still think that it's slightly overpriced for the amount of food you get (compared to joints like Paul's Place). I wouldn't mind coming back, though.
(3)Jayson O.
What a pleasant surprise amongst a sea of numerous O.C. burger franchises. Habit Burger of Lake Forest catches you off guard, as from the outside it just seems to be another strip mall eatery, and while being just another hamburger place at its core, its "charburgers" are indeed unique. The combo's are very competitively priced and should make the larger fast food chains blush with embarrassment. I really do prescribe to the theory that 'less is more', and the limited menu of Habit Burger makes for a quality product. They start by grinding their own beef daily for their "charburger's" and cook them over an open flame. Their simplistic take on the burger virtually guarantees it's taste. You can add cheese, bacon, avocado to the stock caramelized onions, tomato, pickle, mayo, and lettuce. They also have authentic fries and onion rings that taste perfectly fresh with the right amount of crisp to them. Some of the best onion rings I've had in ages. Want a shake or a malt? They have those too. Hand made from 'real' ice cream including flavors like mocha and coffee in addition the traditional ones. They also have a few sandwiches as well: pastrami, turkey, chicken, tri-tip, albacore, and chicken club. All fresh and very reasonably priced. This location has a small patio area, although it does butt up against the strip mall entrance which is a busy street. Inside, the lines are clean and the place is bright, somewhat reminiscent of an "In-N-out", but yet somehow feels a tad more relaxed and soothing. Overall the place was clean, and while the line can get deep at times it moves pretty fast unlike a 5 Guys Burger. It's been a few days now since a group of us went, and we are all still talking favorably about our food. How often do you do that about a fast food joint? 'Nuff said.
(4)Adrian K.
I always seem to get excellent service from the moment I walk in the door, to the moment I exit. The food is consistently delicious, even though I try something different every time. The Chicken Club on French Roll was amazing today! Will definitely keep coming back!
(4)Hosam K.
Never heard of this place so I was like let's give it a chance! And i'm so glad that I did!! I asked her to point out some of the famous ordered that people usually get and she was very helpful (i'm so bad at remembering names, sorry!). The burger was amazing! Talk about quality! The dining room is very clean, the kitchen as well! Friendly staff and willing help you out! I'll be back for sure since it's a walking distance from my place! :)
(5)Peter N.
I noticed that I have mostly 5 stars for my reviews... I guess I am either easy to please (food-wise) or that I just pick awesome food places to eat. Every time I eat here, it's always delicious. I tried the charred burger, double charred, mushroom burger, and the Santa Barbara Burger--they're all effin' fantastic. You can't go wrong with these high-quality burgers. And they're cheap for what you get (between $3 to $6). Nice looking place and marvelous dining room. Fantastic, friendly employees. Great food. Yep, that's automatically 5 stars. Yeah... I'm probably easy to please.
(5)Kelly O.
Bummed, I love the Habit, but the last 3 times the order has been wrong each time. I asked for a char burger on sourdough, they made it and added avocado I didnt ask for (and which I am allergic to, throat closes up). The second time, I asked for the same thing, double char with sourdough. Got home and it was a teryaki chicken sandwich on sourdough bread. The third time, we ordered 2 orders of fries, only got one. We checked the receipts and every time the receipt was right, the order we got was wrong. It's frustrating to get your order wrong, but I get it, it's busy. Three times in a row is not being busy, it's a pattern, so we will be going to in and out burger for a while
(2)G G.
Always good food. I really appreciate the online easy-to-understand allergen menu. Friendly staff and clean dining area. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is I think they overcharge for avocado. Because of allergy issues I remove 3 items they would normally put on the chicken sandwich but then they charge me an additional $1.25 for a few slices of avocado.
(4)Brian M.
I used to live near one that started in Santa Barbara. I don't eat hamburgers or tri tip steak sandwiches much but I remember the good old days with fries or great onion rings with friendly service and those free yellow chilis you can get. And tons of catsup with Tabasco sauce. A must try.
(5)Lauren B.
Good, well priced food, with amazing customer service! Karise helped me out. She was extremely nice and attentive. The fries were awesome, not too salty, and the chicken BBQ salad was refreshing. My boyfriend had the double char bacon cheese burger and wanted to go get another (we had time restraints unfortunately). Happy to have found a tasty, quick burger!
(5)Sandy M.
Order your burger the way you want it. The burgers are grilled to perfection (NOT charred to death). Great sides like sweet potato fries and fried green beans. Yes, those are awesome!. Eat inside or out. The patio is a great place for larger groups. This is a great place for families, friends, casual business lunch. Open for lunch and dinner. The restaurant is located in a re-developed "fancy" strip mall, on one of the main roads in town. The staff are friendly and helpful. They have great suggestions if you aren't familiar with the menu choices.
(4)Scott A.
As far as burger chains go, it's 1.In-N-Out 2.Five Guys 3. The Habit This burgers are really good but there fries are very bland. Everyone raves about the sweet potato fries but I don't like sweet potato.
(4)Ash Z.
Whenever I'm in the mood for a burger, the hubby and I tend to disagree on what place makes the best burger. Where as I am more of a burger on brioche he is an in n out. This place is a good middle point for the both of us. The fries are always good and service here is awesome. Pick up orders have always been done on time.
(4)Scherry B.
Love love love love this place !!! I think they put something in the burgers that make you crave them! Perfect burgers , perfect fries and perfect shakes.
(5)Jeanie H.
Been going to get burgers at the Habit for years! Was really excited when they opened one by my house. Fresh made-to-order burgers. My favorite is the Terry burger on sourdough with everything on it. Sweet, savory, and juicy. Get it with a side of crunchy onion rings or fries. Can't go wrong with anything you order at this place. Usually crowed with a line to the door at lunch but it moves fairly quickly. Plenty of seating outside as well as long as it's not too hot and you don't mind the pigeons. Outdoor seating is great too if you want to bring your dog to hang while you eat. TiP: There's an additional fee for the Terry sauce unless you ask for it when you pick up your food, not when you order.
(5)Bryan W.
Second trip to The Habit yesterday. The french fries were nuked to a burned brownish red color, bread was dry and had a hard crust, lettuce was shredded (first visit had fresh leaf lettuce)... and maybe it's just me, but it seemed like I received a different veggie patty. While the girl at the cashier was friendly, her coworker seemed pained when asked for a side of BBQ sauce. I suppose I will give them another shot further on, but if a future visit is more of the same it will be my final visit.
(2)Thomas H.
10000000000x better than any other burger spot, excluding NONE! I'll slap u if u think otherwise! Lol
(5)Tammy L.
Hubby and I finally made it to The Habit Burger Grill last night when neither he nor I had an opinions on what we wanted for dinner. He took advantage of my indifference and suggested The Habit. Although burgers aren't typically on the top of my list of favorite foods, I have to say The Habit was pretty darn tasty. Not surprisingly, the burgers here brought up In N Out and Shake Shack (for those of you who have been to NY) comparisons. I have to say: The flavor on the burger patty was better than In N Out's. (Shake Shack still #1.) I did miss the "spread" that In N Out uses but the mayo/ketchup/pickles and grilled onions combo on the charburger did a fine job of making me forget a little. Hubby and I both got our burgers lettuce wrapped. We also ordered the Veggie Burger (lettuce wrapped), the Santa Barbara Cobb and tempura green beans. Salad: There's something just so comforting about shredded lettuce in a salad. It prevents you from having to eat a salad with a knife or shove a huge leaf of iceberg into your piehole. The salad was a little on the small side but the chicken and bacon in it were really delicious. Veggie Burger: Not my favorite. I felt like it was a little "pasty" inside but it was still pretty decent as far as veggie patties go. Tempura Green Beans: What a treat! They were very lightly battered and not greasy at all. Perfect with some Cholula-spiked Ranch. Experience with service was limited given the format of the restaurant but everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful.
(4)Minh T.
Came here with my colleague for a quick bite. I got the cheeseburger. My friend got a chardouble with onion rings. My friend's chardouble came with Swiss cheese, mine came with American cheese. I didn't know there were other options. The menu doesn't list different types of cheeses for you to choose from, and the cashier didn't present the different options to me at all. I said "one cheeseburger please" and she just put my order through as "cheeseburger." No question of "which cheese would you prefer?" I went to ask someone at the register later what the different cheese options are since I wanted to know for next time; they are: american, swiss, and bleu cheese. If I had known I could have bleu cheese in my burger instead of american, I totally would have gone for that and probably added bacon. The meat patty itself is flavorful and the burger fixings are all fresh and good. I also really like that they have a bar full of different chilis and different sauces. I grabbed enough jalapenos to eat one slice per bite to console myself about the cheese. They also have those very spicy small bright chilis and pepperoncinis, which I grabbed a bunch of too.
(2)Henry V.
If I could give it zero stars. I would. Terrible service ridiculous and disappointed. I've been a customer for a very long time. Looks like I'm gona have to go to in n out from now on =/
(1)G V.
Had a hankerin' for a great cheeseburger so we tried the Habit...pretty good. Ordered two #1 combos to get a basic flavor. Maybe their double cheeseburger might have a better meat/cheese/bun ratio. Onion rings were awwwwesome with the ranch dressing! Fries were good. Beverage selection was good. Beef juices floweth so grab extra napkins. Patio is great for pets...and curious pigeons, lol. Comfy booths. Cost was under $17.
(4)Joyce D.
It's like a classier version of Carls Jr. and no drive thru! I can see why it's called "The Habit" because it can become a habit to want quality burgers at reasonable prices minus the drive thru and all that grease! Came here for lunch and I love this location because it has great outdoor seating to people watch and to enjoy the SoCal sun. Being that it was my first time here, I decided to get the Original Charburger with fries. My friend got the Mushroom Charburger with half and half (say this and you'll get half fries and half onion rings as your sides!). She gladly shared the onion rings which were crispy and very tasty. Best part was that the fries and onion rings were not oily! Anyway, the Charburger tastes similar to Carl's Jr.'s Famous Superstar but healthier and not as greasy. The lettuce and tomatoes that accompanied my burger were crisp and fresh! Yum! I really enjoyed my burger and did not feel guilty indulging in my oh so healthy meal! The customer service is great! The staff are really nice and chill. They checked in with us to see how our meal was and if we needed anything else. I really like the idea of having spicy extras such as jalapeños, banana peppers and other spices for you to get as you wish! Will definitely have to make eating here a habit!
(4)John P.
The best burgers in Lake Forest and surrounding cities. Even better than In-N-Out. Even better than Fuddruckers across the street. The fries are way better than 5-Guys and In-N-Out. More like McDonalds, you just get way better hamburgers than McD's. I have been here approximately 10 times and always just great burgers. Last night, I thought my wife had ordered some onion rings and they weren't on the tray or on the bill. My wife said she changed her mind and didn't order them so I told them to cancel the order they put in for me. The manager said well, it's too late and you will get them anyway, FREE!!. When she brought them to the table, I asked if there was anyway I could pay for them and she said "Absolutely not!!!" What customer service. I will always be back to this store for hamburgers. Great food and great customer service. I am a customer for life. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY AT THE HABIT!!!!
(5)Dana D.
So good and you can't beat the price. There is one in Torrance and was so glad to find out there is one in Lake Forest, right around the corner. I always get the bacon cheeseburger, so yummy. I would put their burger against a more expensive one ( the counter) and it would be The Habit all day long. Craps now I'm craving a The Habit burger.
(5)Mimi S.
I got an intestinal infection after eating at this location.....hmmmm.....makes me wonder. I have eaten at other Habit Burgers and never had a problem. However, at this location I ate and wound up at the hospital throwing up. Doctor said it was what I ate that gave me the intestinal infection and it was the only meal I had that day. I kept going in and out of the hospital for 3 weeks. My boyfriend ate here the same day, he got a stomach ache but did not wind up in the hospital....except to hold my hand.
(1)Dean H.
Can't see what all the fuss is about. Fries were bland, burger was ok.
(3)M S.
Lots of great choices to pick off their menu. My favorites include the charburgers (the mushroom char and the original), the albacore tuna filet (I get it rare and double filet) and the pastrami. The fries are very good. The vanilla shake is awesome. Even the $1 cones are good. The people who work here are extremely friendy. Always making sure you have a great experience.
(5)Nelson T.
Came here once with a co-worker and I have to say I enjoyed the food and overall experience. Even though they are located at a busy place service was quick and friendly. The interior had plenty of seating or you can eat your food outside. Most items on the menu was under $10 so its very affordable. I just got the doulbe with everything on it and I have to say it was pretty good. The fries were also well made and I prefer them over In N Out fries but the burger isn't at In N Out level though.
(4)Carla Lee H.
I love this place!! One of the few burger spots that "caters" to vegetarians!!! I think a veggie burger with all the fixings here is less than $5!! (I'm happy to not be gouged because I don't want to eat meat....) I also got the fried green beans. Deeelicious and totally like bar food. Tasted better than fries (even though I realized later that they actually aren't THAT much better for you - lol). Still a nice change from french fries and I am glad that they offer it on the menu. This location also has an outdoor patio (awesome) and the service was good. I got there before the lunch rush, but I could totally see this place being crowded and no fun. Also, the girl at the counter taking my order didn't blink an eye at my special order and everything came out just as I requested....aaahhhh! Overall: I will be back - but it will be a toss up - should I get the green beans or the onion rings next time???
(5)Judie K.
Good fast food burger. Sandwiches are great too. Love the tempura green beans. Always clean with good non alcoholic drinks.
(4)Joshua S.
I'm probably one of the few people that will tell you this place serves a better burger than In-N-Out. Honestly everything always tastes so fresh. I love the teriyaki charburger with avocado and bacon added to it. My only complaint is about the kitchen staff. They've forgotten to put avocado on my burger (which they charge extra for) multiple times. Customer service is always great though. After the third or fourth time it happened, they gave me coupons for free burgers which was really cool.
(4)Morgan C.
Everyone is always so friendly here! The veggie teriyaki wrapped in lettuce is so yummy!
(5)Delaney M.
I really love this place their charburger are so freakin good! What I really love about habit is there's always some really sweet girl that takes my order they're never rude if you haven't gone I would definitely recommend it
(5)Anthony L.
First time and it was good. Tasty chicken sandwich. Only problem the chicken was so thin felt like I was eating only bread. Could of been a five star but because of that I gave it a three.
(3)E B.
So I am a burger fiend. It's hard to find a burger I don't like, unless we're talking about drive-thru's then I can name a few. This location has never given me a wrong order but occasionally I've received burnt onion rings. HOWEVER, they always fix the problem when addressed, & I don't fear my complaint will result in defiled returns.
(4)Carl B.
Finally tried charburger. Excellent flavor and good sweet potato fries. A second tier to in and out but still yummy.
(4)Dominick K.
The Habit stands out amongst burger joints that's for sure. Their Teriyaki Char is one of my favorite burgers out there. The ahi poke salad is out of this world too. Would recommend this place to any burger enthusiasts.
(5)Tu-Quyen P.
The tri tip sandwich is my favorite with either teriyaki or BBQ. Add sweet potato fries and this is my go-to burger place for a casual dinner. It is the top burger chain for a reason!
(4)Sanaz S.
This was my first time at this location. Also my first time here since becoming vegetarian. I ordered the Ahi Burger & Onion Rings..both were sooo good. Fresh, good quality, right in line w Habit yumminess. Also-the cashier was really friendly & nice despite being super busy. Will definitely be back!
(5)Heidi s.
Took my son to lunch on a Saturday and it was pretty busy. Service was quick and informative. I had the regular char combo and my son had the double. The burgers and fries were very good. We will be back.
(4)Jose V.
Never fails to impress me! The service was great! Went in during lunch time and it was really busy so we thought we would have to wait a long time but no that was not the case our food was out in about 5 minutes! Our food was perfect! There was a young lady walking around the lobby greeting everyone asking how our meal was which was very nice! She came by again and offered to refill our drinks!! That was a super nice touch! I wish i would have gotten her name! Thanks so much for the wonderful service and awesome food!
(5)Dominico A.
I'll follow up with a review on the food, but as for service and experience I can give nothing more than this single lonely star. This was my first time ever going to a Habit restaurant. I just read that this company is poised to be the next major burger concept in America. If the cashier at the front station is just as unwelcoming as the one I encountered and the restaurant is as dirty and unkempt as was on my visit, this chain stands no chance. Seriously... Your cashier has a attitude problem and none of your management is present to notice what's going on. **** follow up about the food**** "There is no substitute for quality" is printed on their bag.... This statement is true with regard to food, but not for The Habit. I'm pretty sure I have diabetes after drinking their housemade fruit drink. Both burgers my wife and I ordered were flat... One note... No seasoning and a total let down. Spend all the money you want on marketing, but poor service and lackluster food will not keep this restaurant alive given such strict competition in the market place.
(1)Angie D.
The Habit, I was skeptic as I love burgers and I'd been frequenting In-N-Out for years, but it is spectacular in its own right! The Habit's burgers are fresh, I love that they have shredded lettuce, patty is cooked to a good doneness and they are always consistent with their taste. My go-to is the Charburger with cheese and I recently discovered you can have half-onion rings & half-fries! And extra bonus cause they provide you with a nice side of ranch for free! With cheaper prices than fast-food chains, I don't see why I would I would ever order a burger from McDonald's, Carl's, or any of those sort of places! I've completely integrated The Habit into my burger line-up!
(4)Kelly H.
I love there charbroiled burgers here particular their Santa Barbara burger. I love the avocado in it, so yummy! Their Santa Barbara salad is also equally as good. Last but not least they have delicious sweet potato fries here. They are a healthier choice to regular fries and so tasty .
(5)Danielle S.
Will go here when too lazy to go to in n out. Super tasty cheeseburger and i love that it's charbroiled! Great prices and not too long of a wait. Bad parking but thats okay. A lot of outdoor seating which is nice. Free ranch!
(4)Chuck L.
I'm not really into burger places anymore, but I was really surpised when I took my first bite of my BBQ Bacon Charburger. The burger was juicy with a slight char. It was delicious! It helped that I had one of my close friends and his fiance with me hanging out, but even with the good company, great decently priced food made my night. For those folks looking for a drive-thru, there isn't one, but it's a kind of burger you want to sit and eat fresh!
(4)Amanda A.
Met here for an OC Javascript meetup. It's one of my favorite burger places and the manager Cesar was really friendly! Nice to find a spot to do a little homework and eat a burger!
(5)Tina L.
Tried the basic cheese burger and my meat kind of too dry. Price is not too bad for all meal.
(3)Marco M.
Great burgers and fries. The double char burger with everything on it is excellent, especially if you add mushrooms.
(5)Sophearith K.
The finish burger came out looking really good. It was nice and neat something you would see in a commercial. The burger here is great, it is good as In-n-Out. They have thick fries which was fresh and hot. I will definitely come here again.
(4)Krystle P.
I definitely like this burger joint. Good food for a good price. I got a burger and onion rings for $4.71. The burger patty is a good size and has good flavor. The burger reminds me of one you would find in a hole in the wall type of joint. Shredded lettuce, mayo, pickle, and grilled onions (which they are kind of skimpy on). All in all, I like it better than 5 guys, but wouldn't compare it to In n Out. By the way, the onion rings were delish!
(4)NeedFood F.
Love this place, I always get the bacon double cheeseburger, so aweeesome My burger is always the way I like it, fries are super hot and crispy. If I have enough room left over, I even get a ice cream for a dolla lol The people are always nice and help you with anything you need. I will always go back :)
(5)Carrie U.
Om nom nom. There are a few reasons this place is more packed than any other restaurant in this shopping center. It is because the food is delicious, the prices are reasonable, the service is great, and the restaurant is clean! I usually get a regular cheeseburger with pineapple. The meat is always cooked perfectly and seasoned well. The bread is soft and of an appropriate size. The vegetables are ready to eat (no green tomatoes) and fresh. Don't be afraid to ask for weird combinations of ingredients on your burger. They are very accommodating.
(4)Jessica P.
I go here sometimes after my workout for a chicken salad. Reasonably priced and very tasty. The girl who takes me order (i think her name is Karise) is so nice and energetic and has great customer service skills. This is the only Habit i go to.
(5)Nawfal A.
I asked for BBQ chicken salad. The lettuce was old, dry and not fresh. Test of salad was miserable. Never ask for salad there.
(1)Bobby K.
Moved to Cali for a bit. And I always love a good burger place. Apparantly this is a common chain restaurant here so I figured I tried it. Got a double char burger with cheese. The burger was ok. Nothing to really stands out from it. The service was quick and good The fries were good The price is very similar to five guys.
(3)Steve L.
I was a solid In-n-Out guy until I tried the Habit. I guess 5-Guys is a bit better but the price point is noticeably higher. I can't wait to go back.
(4)James P.
I got the lettuce wrap char burger with the side salad. The meat patty seemed a little overcooked and dry. It became very small and it was hard to taste since the meat to lettuce ratio was not proportional. Their service is good considering that it is a quick serve restaurant. The ingredients seem fresh and I love the bar that is filled with peppers and lemons which serve as great condiments for the burger and salad. I tried their fries as well, however the portion seems to be a little skimpy.
(3)Kaveh S.
I have tried this burger just once but it is by far the best burger I have had for many years. The price is comparable to in-n-out and the quality is far superior to it. Btw I still like in-n-out a lot!
(5)Jackie C.
SOOO YUMMY! I am on a 5 star roll. By the way, I hate in-n-out elitists because honestly, in-n-out isn't all that great. So anyway I got the regular burger with sweet potato fries. Both were ABSOLUTELY delicious. The fries were probably the crispiest and best seasoned sweet potato fries I have ever had, without being dry in the middle. The onion rings are also to die for, perfectly crispy as well. They do sides right here. The burger is a little small compared to similar places, but the bun is toasted and the meat perfectly cooked! So no complaints. This is definitely on my top 5 burger joint list. Avoid the patio area though...those pigeons poop all over it!
(5)Loola T.
Came here to eat with the family. Staff is great and Gary the guy taking orders is super friendly. Always love to see people who work that's happy!
(5)Daniel L.
Doesn't beat in-n-out. Doesn't matter what I eat here, it will never beat in n out. Now, if they were to offer me some money, it might be a different story. They make decent burgers, but I'd take in-n-out over the Habit anyday.
(3)Sukhraj B.
A friend and I were nearby meeting up for coffee and during our random conversation, the subject of burgers came up. I was craving In-n-Out and she said she had a better suggestion. Oh really? I was intrigued. That suggestion just happened to be right across from where we were. Awesome. I didn't really want to drive anywhere else anyway. This is an average sized location with plenty of seating. We both ordered the char burger combo and awaited our burgers - eager to see if they'd be better than the infamous In-n-Out. And dare I say, they were! The bun is lightly toasted, the char burger patty is meatier and juicier, and it's a pure indulgent treat. I'm in love. All they need is a version of animal style fries and I'll be hooked for life. It's about a buck or so more than In-n-Out but overall the experience is worth it.
(4)Paul A.
This place is tasty and the line moves fast, seems to be about 7$ a person. I came today with a few guys from work and we had a great time. Bacon cheese double char=delicious
(4)Mommy H.
Every time :-) They just make good burgers. You can taste the meat is grilled. Yummy! Fries and onion rings are good. Added bonus... The ranch dressing is yummy with the onion rings.
(5)Ed L.
Juicy delicious burgers, made fresh, reasonably priced ~ no wonder it's one of the popular burger joints in Lake Forest. I'll defintely be back for more. Maybe a pastrami sandwich next time?
(4)Hannah E.
Even though I suspect I will never truly like a fast food burger, I keep trying. I think Smashburger and Fatburger come the closest to serving something that doesn't just always remind me of a greyish-brown tasteless hockey puck on a bun. The Habit's toppings (grilled onions, plus the usual: lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes) tried, but they just couldn't make it okay that the beef part of the burger may as well have been cardboard. Yeah yeah, I know they're not allowed to cook it any less than (what I consider) burnt to a crisp, but there are some places that manage to retain the flavor of the beef better than others even with that limitation, and the Habit isn't one of them. I also ordered Swiss cheese and got American - yuck. The fries were fair. Definitely better than In-N-Out's, but then again, whose fries aren't? They're pretty thick cut, not as crispy as I like mine, but not soggy either. I don't know. I'd rather spend $5 on pretty much anything else.
(2)Christine K.
The tri-tip sandwich on sourdough melts in your mouth, it's my favorite to get here. Onion rings add extra flavor & texture your bite... Yumm!! We came here once before near closing time 9:40pm after a long & tiring mock trial competition, we were the only people in the store, employees cleaned up ready to close, still we got good service and of course good food too. It's an excellent place to rely on when you're starving.
(4)Rachan S.
my new favorite burger spot!! i cannot find any reason to not like this place. its fast, its convenient, its good, its satisfying, and its cheap. i ordered the char burger $2.95, lettuce wrap teriyaki burger $3.25, and french fries $1.85. i love how they'll let me do the lettuce wrap thingy coz i really like lettuce wrap burger. my order came within five minutes or less. the burger was very fresh and juicy. the meat in the teriyaki burger is very tender and flavorful. the meat in the char burger is slightly bland and dry. french fries taste like your typical fries. i personally prefer this place over in-n-out coz they have more selection and variety. my brother said that he likes the burger in in-n-out more coz it taste fresher. but he still likes this place and we are planning to try the tri tip burger and fish or chicken burger. dinner for two came out to be $8.69 and its not easy to find such a deal like this when living in OC.
(5)Lorraine K.
The mushroom swiss char burger is so good! I always get that with a side of onion rings. The ingredients taste very fresh and never too oily. One thing that struck me is how good the service is. Every time I go there the employees seem to go out of their way to be polite and helpful. That boggles my mind since the food is relatively inexpensive.
(5)Vaan S.
What can I say, a good burger meal for two adults and a kids meal for under $20 is golden when you need something decent and fast (but not too fast) and it doesn't break the bank. On top of that it tastes good too! We got the basic double char meal. Good stuff!!
(5)FeedMe A.
I give this place 5 stars because its my all time favorite burger joint, well next to the smash burger.. lol Anywho, I loveeee this place! I always and I mean ALWAYS get the teriyaki char burger!! I've been to this place probably 50 times, I know hehe lard butt.. so what its delish!! You know you got it bad when all the cooks recognize you walking in when its your 3rd time eating there in a week!! The staff is super friendly and this place is always packed!!
(5)David L.
Tasty moderately priced burgers.
(4)Jill C.
I was on my way home from San Diego, this was in a beautiful shopping plaza and my friends got salads. Being a carnivore, I got a char burger with cheese and split an order of sweet potato fries with my friend, both were delicious and I have no complaints! The bathroom at this location was also nice and clean as well. This is the third Habit I've ever visited, and I must say that they're very consistent in their quality! I would recommend this restaurant. Order a char with cheese! And when I'm craving for something AMAZING, their strawberry malt is out of this world. It is hands down, my favorite malt in this world (so far)!
(4)Trina D.
I like the Habit. It will never replace In'N'Out in my heart but I like what they have on their menu. They have shakes, malts, burgers, salads, tri-tip sandwiches, seared tuna sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, fries, sweet potato fries, and onion rings. That's a lot of variety that should satisfy any picky eater in your party. The BFF and I ordered the charburger with extra bacon, avocado, cheese, sans mayo, fries, a tri-tip sandwich, chocolate malt and a soda. We had ordered ample amounts of food. I was really happy that the burger had caramelized onions on it. I also appreciated that the lettuce on the burger and sandwich was shredded romaine. It gives it a little more class in my book. I like that they have chili peppers, peppercinis, and sliced jalapenos in a self-service pepper bar. They also offer steak sauce, Tabasco, and ketchup in the condiment area. The restaurant is clean and the service is friendly. We left feeling stuffed. I'm really glad that there's one opening up near my house though. That way I don't have to drive as far.
(4)Ed S.
I can see how Mimi S. Got sick! I too got a stomach Ache after eating here, the burger was good but something was in it that did'nt work, I think someone needs a lesson on sanatation! I also noticed a few things that have gone sideways since I've been coming here. The lid for the Tea dispencer was laying in the back, exposing the tea to whatever, the front doors have seen better days and the restrooms were dirty and smelled! By the way the ression is over, plasic tip cups on the counter shouts my boss does'nt pay me enough!! Be awhile before we come back, then I'll do a walk thru before I order.
(1)Jason L.
The Habit Burger I have to give you props! You are right across the street from Fuddruckers. That is a very risky business move but worth it. You a different kind of Burger Joint and I'm glad I gave you a chance. The Habit is better than In-n-out. It's not the same type of place. In-n-out is good with a limited menu, but if anyone tells you it's amazing don't believe them. The Habit is flame broiled, just think of Carl's Jr but more fresh tasting and not nasty. This place has a variety of custom burgers and sandwiches. You can take a date here and she can order a fish sandwich. I think it Ahi Tuna but I'm not sure. I will need to try it next time. My friend recommended it to me and she doesn't even like fish, but she likes the way the sandwich tastes. I guess it's that good. I had a burger and fries. The fries where a bit salty but everything else was pretty taste and not super greasy like Fatburger. The pricing is fair around the as the price of a high end mcdonalds burger combo or a SixDollar Burger at Carl's. The Habit is better than Johnny Rockets. From one burgerlover to another, you should try this place. Fuddruckers will always have my heart but if I want somthing fresh and different. I choose The Habit. Thank you Yelp for making me a part of the Class of 2013 Yelp Elites. I will make you proud. Thank you to my Yelp fans and readers. You guys are awesome! This is going to be a good year. Happy Yelp Year! And write more.
(4)Kayla L.
Across the street from Fuddruckers and bringing in a crowd of people who are used to eating at INO for cheeseburgers, they are doing something right. This place is pretty packed and I see more and more people catching on to this place. The prices are right for the portions. I would order and eat there because the food does tend to get a little cold by the time you get home. Customer service is great here. TH is better than INO, INO is better than Five Guys.
(4)TheBaron B.
Excellent burgers that you can actually taste the meat. Value priced fries and onion rings seal the deal.
(4)Manali K.
Gets the job done for a sandwich! Pretty good, not excellent. The grilled cheeses seem to come out the best. The chicken club is okay, it would be better with crunchier sourdough, it was a bit soggy on the bottom. The prices are great for the burgers - between 2-5 bucks! Bathrooms are nice and clean, staff is friendly. Its a good place, nothing crazy amazing though. I can probably live without it
(3)Sara J.
Aaaaamaazzzing ... don't eat like this often but if I do it's here for lunch ! && they're all super friendly! My bf and I were in HB saw a Habit in Beach Blvd went in, stood in line observing the atmosphere and decided we missed our Habit we always go to in Laguna Hills/Lake Forest . ..hopped in the truck and happily drove over there to eat
(5)Brian F.
This parking lot is so contested that I wont even go here. Then once you get to the door you find a line so long it's out the door and it's not even lunch or dinner time. Even if you were to order there's no place to sit and eat the food. I don't even think the burgers are anything special. The only thing worth getting is the chicken club but it's not worth my time dealing with the horrible parking or long lines or no place to sit to even eat here.
(3)Pauline L.
Many people will read this and be shocked. I believe this place is better than In'N'Out. Hands down. The flavors of the original Charburger were absolutely delicious. Not too greasy, immensely tasty even without added cheese. Chopped pieces of sauteed or grilled onions. Nice slice of tomato. Chopped green lettuce (rather than flavorless and nutritionless iceburg lettuce used by In N Out). Crisp fries. Absolutely delicious. And really cheap too. I also had the malt mocha shake. Downed the whole thing, very tasty, but didn't really taste any malt. Kinda bummed, but the mocha taste was good. And the bite of my sister's albacore tuna sandwich was so tasty too. They used a real, fresh steak of albacore tuna! Definitely coming back here more often. it's fun inside, smells delicious, tastes phenomenal.
(5)Michal B.
Reminded tonight why I never come here. Habit is decent but doesn't offer cheddar cheese-only Swiss or American. Bleh! They also don't have chipotle ranch to go with the sweet potato fries. This is why I choose Smash burger over Habit any day of the week. Plus Smash's burgers and fries are 10x better. But in a pinch, the Habit will do.
(3)George C.
The Habit always does it right. The burger is char grilled and tasty. Had the onion rings with a shake also. Always good food and for just about $9.00. Try the place; it's worthy!
(4)Irene Y.
A very quick and relatively tasty place to grab a burger if you're in the mood. You place your order at the front and then wait about 10-15 min for them to make it. This location has both indoor and outdoor seating. All the sandwiches and salads are about $6-7. I've tried the tri-tip sandwich, BBQ chicken salad (very mediocre) and the bacon chicken sandwich. Surprisingly I've never actually tried the burger! Fries don't come with the sandwich so we usually order a side for the table.
(4)Mory T.
The food was fantastic, so tasty, fair price. Loved the place, clean & cozy.
(4)Denise S.
Delicious Pastrami Sandwich & best onion rings ever!
(5)Rohlin A.
The wife and I had a coupon for a free charburger, so we decided to save some money and grab some burgers at The Habit last night. Our timing couldn't have been better, there was practically no line when we entered the restaurant, but the line quickly started forming once we had ordered our food. My wife ordered the #2 Double Charburger combo and ordered the BBQ Bacon Charburger and Onion Rings. You handed a buzzer with your receipt, we were off to find a table and get drinks. Our order came up very quickly, but it took me a minute to actually enjoy my food because I needed to locate a plastic knife for my wife which was behind the counter. Plastic ware should be moved from behind counter for easier accessibility. Didn't particularly like the salt and pepper packets either, some shakers on the tables would be a nice touch. The burgers themselves were good. One problem I did notice is the patty to bun ratio is a little off because I have a large bite radius (read: I have a big mouth) and I missed burger with my first bite. I don't know what happened there, but you should never bite into a burger and miss meat. I do find their burgers to be on the small side (the same problem I have with In-N-Out), so it could just be me. There are plenty of fresh veggies on the burgers, the BBQ sauce on my burger was good (although it was somewhat masked by the mayo) and the bacon was thoroughly cooked. The fries were decent and the onion rings were definitely some the better I have had for a fast food type establishment. The service is efficient and the order was up very quickly. The meal only came to $11.64, but we received a charburger credit toward our meal with the coupon (the meal probably would have been around $15), not sure it is worth the price. I have my favorite fast food burger places and just don't think I will be putting The Habit among them. One small additional note: The outside area is dog friendly so your four legged friends can dine with you.
(3)Jonathan K.
I've got a bad habit and it's called the Double Charburger. In an industry already overrun with run-of-the-mill hamburger joints and fast food assembly lines, The Habit stands out for its vehement stance on quality. Each burger is handmade from 100% freshly ground, locally raised beef. The food is cooked to order and there is a distinct taste from the freshly grilled, flame-licked meat. Compared to In-N-Out and Fatburger, two other local favorites, The Habit is definitely a step up. Don't be discouraged by the potential lunch time crowd. The lines may be long, but they move swiftly as the restaurant has mastered the art of getting their beloved burgers quickly into the hands of hungry customers. On a personal note, I love the boldness of the restaurant for proudly posting the caloric content of its items in plain sight on the menu. Trust me, you won't be doing your health any good by eating here regularly, but if you are going to treat yourself to some artery-busting goodness, you should do so informed and unabashed.
(3)Jay S.
The rating is based on value rather than the food itself. The burger, fries were very good. The onion rings were ordinary. The burger patty was thin and small so the beef was "lost" within the bun, lettuce, cheese and onions. I would not go back.
(2)Joa K.
just another burger joint. i still like in n' out the best. one thing i really liked is the carmelized onions in the charburger. i dunno if it's cuz this is a new store opening but a ton of fries came with the meal. too much if you ask me, seems wasteful! nice indoor and outdoor seating. decent value. self serve peppercinis and jalepenos!
(3)Ashley S.
My expectations may have been too high. Everyone said this place has the best burgers, and while their food is good, it was average to me. The workers are nice, and the long line goes by fast. Note for allergies: I am slightly allergic to tree nuts and I seemed to have a problem with the food here.
(3)Elissa N.
Everybody who knows me will tell you that "Ellie hates burgers" Yeah...that girl must have left the city! LOVE habit burger! Its so tasty and with the avocado? I am definitely happy with burgers. Its chargrilled to perfection! Forget about all the other places and come here!
(5)Stephen K.
Great grilled chicken sandwiches! Nice service. Price is relatively good. Just what we were looking for on an evening when we didn't want to cook, and didn't want to spend $$$ on dinner.
(4)Cherie T.
the burger is good for the price you're paying. is it the best? i dont think so. but i do like their menu selection. The onion rings were alright. i think i like their fries more than their onion rings. and you can't really compare this burger with in-n-out. it's not the same.
(3)Brandon S.
Fantastic burgers and you have to try their shakes
(5)Jeff W.
I'm a fan of this burger joint. I don't go around saying things like "This is so much better than In-N-Out" because it isn't like In-N-Out. It's not like other burger places. It's good at doing what it does. I always get the Charburger or Double Char if I'm really hungry. I almost always get onion rings to go along with it. I really love their rings. They always come out really crispy and I think they double dip them when they fry them up. I like how they also offer pepperonis to snack on while you wait for your order to come up. Sometimes it's the little things that make the difference. Consistent over most locations so just go to one and try it out. A great little joint from the Santa Barbara area.
(4)Jackie W.
Totally tasty burgers for totally awesome prices! You can get a burger combo meal here for $7, which will cost more than ten at most non-fast food burger joints. I got my charburger with bacon a night ago, and I'm literally craving one right now. Fresh lettuce and tomato, crispy bacon, juicy patty... I'm not usually a burger fan since most places overdo 'em by adding too much of something or it's just plain gross such as fast food, but The Habit has what I want, which is a simple hamburger, and does it perfect! There are many other items on the menu that I should try, but secretly, I think I'll stick to the charburger with bacon since I rarely get my burger fix satisfied!
(5)H W.
I love The Habit. They have hamburgers like you would make at home. There are many other option available, but it is hard to get off their burgers. I like the ability to order a salad instead of fries. The staff is always friendly and it is a good thing that they are always busy because it shows they are doing something right!
(5)Steve C.
These burgers are GREAT. I had a vegy burger that was probably the best one I've ever had. I was hungry and so I added a salad and it was not wimpy in size, but it was $3+ A large drink, the Vegy Burger and the large side salad was $11. If you just had the burger + fries + small drink it would be under $10. It is stupid to compare this restaurant to In & Out becaue they prepare custom-made burgers and the atmosphere inside the restaurant is better than a fast food joint.
(5)Jaclyn S.
After finally trying the Habit today after hearing about it forever, I'm kind of underwhelmed. It was good for a quick, cheap lunch, but nothing too amazing. So there's the obvious comparison to In-n-out as many have told me, but In-n-out is WAY better. It's a cheaper, better burger, and the fries are much better there. Anyway, nothing was bad about this place, but the whole time I just kept thinking how I should've gone to the In-n-out down the street instead. One plus is that they give you a little beeper that vibrates when your food is ready instead of just constantly hearing names or numbers yelled out. I had the Charburger, which was alright. The one good thing was that you can tell the difference in how it's cooked because you can definitely taste the smoky flavor, which was cool. Burger was about $2.50, but they asked if I wanted to add cheese, which I didn't check the receipt, but I'm guessing they charged me extra for cause of course I want cheese! They use American, but also offer Swiss luckily cause American cheese is gross, bleh. My overall opinion, try it if you will. Good for a quick bite, but honestly, just go to In-n-out instead!
(3)Danielle G.
This was my first time to The Habit at this location. I have been to The Habit in Orange and it was much much better than this Lake Forest location. The reason I gave it 2 stars was because the quality and presentation of the food was poor. I personally had a vege burger which was decent but nothing special. I also ordered a side ceasar salad which was soggy with too much dressing. My boyfriend had a cheeseburger and even though he said it was OK tasting, the burger looked like a MacDonalds burger. It was also soggy and the lettuce was clearly from a package and not fresh. The buns were not toasted and did not taste fresh. For the most part, the staff was very friendly but the cooks looked like they had better things to do and the food that they were presenting was below standard. I would eat at The Habit again but definately not this location.
(2)K_ W.
The Santa Barb salad is a must! Eat here frequently and can not get enough of the salad or the chicken club sandwich on a wheat bun! YUM!!! Fries are very good, side of ranch is great! Burgers are not my fav, but any chicken meal here is to die for!
(4)Yvonne D.
OMG! How long has this been here? Why have I been going to Fuddruckers across the street...JUST KIDDING. But for reals, this place is really good. I'm glad my friends brought me here. The line looked pretty long (almost out the door on a Friday night around 8pm) but it moved quickly. There is plenty of seating inside and outside the restaurant. The food is prepared quickly but with great quality. My bun-less burger came with a ton of lettuce (unlike In-N-Out where there was barely 2 piece wrapped around the patty.) I still wouldn't put this in the same league (or category) with In-N-Out. It's more of a 5-Guys because you order at the counter and it's not a drive through.
(4)Danny C.
I'll try and be nice here. The is just another run of the mill burger place. I had the tuna sandwich because the choice of burgers wasn't great. The sandwich was OK. Fries were decent. No big deal. Ummm not much to say. In the words of a wise woman, "I was underwhelmed". If you want real great burgers, good atmosphere, and truly ton's of choices on how to prepare your burger try The Counter in Irvine.
(1)Sher R.
Nice change from the regular fast food burger joints. The place was clean and the staff were really friendly and helpful; I mean really friendly. I ordered the chicken sandwich and a side of sweet potato fries. The food was good. My chicken sandwich was really great as were the fries. We ate on the patio which is a good size and the tables are nicely spaced. I'll definitely be back when I'm looking for some fast food.
(4)Matthew M.
the lady goes here and orders a grilled cheese, Caesar salad and a milk shake. grilled cheese is pretty sad. then again it's on the kids menu and their little fingers don't yelp yet so I'm onto you HABIT! The Caesar salad though is damn good. Fresh, cold, plenty of flavorful dressing and the croutons are nice. Surprising hit. Milk shake was good as well. You can tell this isn't your cheap ol' milkshake processed out of that goo that's frozen. Well done once again Habit! But step it up for the children; they are our future leaders!
(4)Debbie M.
Good for the price but the patties are small and thin. Fries are okay. Still prefer 5 Guys.
(3)Nick M.
The 180th review of this location won't be wordy. And for some reason it's only 4-stars...not for 'good reason', mind you*; The Habit Burger Grill is damn near the most consistent burger-spot in California. Fresher than fresh, all of their sandwiches, salads, sides, shakes & malts are delicious. *Oh yeah; not a five-star spot 'cause I forget to say 'no whipped cream' and THEY presume it belongs there (w/o fail!!!!!**). Granted, I've only ordered somethin' like that twice, but c'mon. Please take a page from the book of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf so there's no unpleasant surprise.
(4)Justin S.
Great burger joint. If you're a fan of fuddruckers then you have to check this place out. 4 stars cause fuddruckers is still my favorite spot
(4)Brad T.
Great restaurant - the only other times I've eaten at The Habit was when I used to go to UCSB. I guess the location I used to go to on Hollister is the original location. The menu has expanded since I used to go there in the late 90's. They now have chicken, fish, and tri-tip. I still get the burgers though. My wife likes the ahi sandwich. I'd take The Habit over In & Out any day. The burgers are better, IMO, and the menu is more extensive. Cashiers are just as friendly as In & Out, which is a little overkill, IMO. Last visit there, we took one of our dogs (Yorkie), and I held her while we ordered. I got a double cheeseburger with bacon (who cares about healthy eating and cholesterol anyway), and the wife got the ahi tuna sandwich. The cashier gave us a water cup for the dog. We ate outside and the wait for the food was a little long, but not totally unreasonable. The meat patties here are much thicker than In & Out, so unless you're very hungry, I'd recommend a single patty burger. I suppose I'll never learn, becuase I keep ordering the double when I come here. Even better, they'll actually cook your meat the way you want it - medium rare - check! Luckily we didn't get any fries, becuase we would have been too full to finish, although the fries here are great if you want some. The ahi tuna sandwich is delicious - it has some sort of a wasabi mayo. Quite a steal for around $5. Great lunch while we were getting the wifey's car smogged (see my review on Auto Check Center in Irvine). BTW - this place is dog friendly. There were two other dogs in the outside seating area and a couple of people came to say hi to our Yorkie. Bella kept yapping at people and no one really seemed to mind. We'll be back for sure.
(4)Bill P.
Amazing, just an amazing Albacore sandwich. I got it on grilled sourdough as suggested by the gal behind the counter. it was so good and fresh, They use a fillet of Albacore not like chunk canned junk. OK what the heck I got the sweet potato fries as well....they were good. I wish we had one of these closer to home I would be a regular. Good Job I can see this place as being a habit !!!
(5)Nick M.
The habit is my type of fast food burger joint. I love charbroiled burgers and they make some tasty ones. They have great prices too!
(4)Steven K.
I like to keep it simple... and so does the habit. Every visit is quick and easy and I get to enjoy the BEST burger in town. Everyone who works there is nice as can be and for the price it can't be beat. My combo- Veggieburger with sweet potato fries. Fine.
(4)Colette A.
Love, love, love this place! During the week, my husband and I come here for lunch sometimes to get away from work for a bit. We love the burgers and fries but because we are trying to eat better in general, we end up getting the chicken salads with the house dressing a lot. They are super tasty as well! The service is great and everyone seems really nice and accommodating there. Eat the salads with house dressing! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Monique H.
This place is SUPAH DUPAH Good!! After a very long day at Disneyland, we were drivin home and decided to pull over to grab a burger, low & behold we stumble upon this place and it was a Magnificent find!! The joint was super clean, and super nice! We were greeted by a chipper young lady , we told her we aint from these parts and what does she recommend. I had a burger and fries, the kid had the same and the bf went all crazy with a Double burger combo. They got Rings, Great Fries and even Sweet Potato fries! The rings were super yummy and I liked there fries! but the burgers were remarkable, you can taste that Charboiled flavor and that was the best part! Its like your typical LA Astro/Tommy Burger joints, just a lil more classy and a lil less greasy! Price wise, it was on point too. Cheap and Good - Definatly will go back there next time we are in the OC!!
(4)Sherry H.
Just love their burgers
(4)George U.
First time I had the Habit Burger was during lunch. I was told it was an In and Out, but with pineapples. That's all I'm going to write, because that was pretty much what I thought of the place. It was fantastic.
(4)L B.
This place would get 5 stars if the wait wasn't so long! BUT I understand this is no McDonald's so I am willing to wait for their yummy food! Nobody on yelp really reviewed the chicken, so I will.. The chicken Cesar salad is awesome! Just be sure to get it with the dressing on the side, it's really nice to see a beautiful green pile of fresh lettuce with a full, warm chicken breast just laying on top of it. It's so good I don't think I'll ever get the burger again!
(4)Lex C.
The burgers are pretty flavorful but somewhat chewy. This suggest the quality of the meat is good but the cooking process is not. They don't use a charbroiled conveyor which is both good and bad. Good because the conveyor seems to produce a more consistent product and bad because it would feel too much like fast food. Maybe they should use a conveyor if the burgers are going to come out chewy. Perhaps too much fat and other juices dripped away during the cooking process...I dunno. The question is whether the food is 1 dollar better than in-n-out since that is the basic cost difference? I do like the use of a pager when order is ready rather than blasting over the PA system. However, you have to ask "should I wash my hands after I hand them back the pager?" All in all, I like the atmosphere and the unlimited spicy pepper bar. I think people like this place because it's what the fast food burger chains used to do 20 years ago. Back then, fast food just meant the food arrived quickly. It didn't used to imply that the quality was sub-par.
(3)Mona V.
I like getting the Chicken club on sourdough. Tastes really good. My son likes getting the Tri-tip sandwich. Food is always fresh and prepared consistently well.
(5)Virginia S.
I LOVE HABIT! It might even be one of my favorite burger joints right now. It's fast, great tasting, and a great value. A few things I love: Burgers are always yummy Burgers come standard with grilled onions Love their #1 Charburger (Burger, fries & drink for $5.95) They have Frings (1/2 Fries, 1/2 Onion Rings) Fries are always perfectly crisp They offer a generous portion of ranch at no extra cost Always friendly service Very quick turnaround on the line (when they're busy) Very quick turnaround on your food, once you've ordered TIP:If you go during peak hours (like lunch), the line moves fast so don't get discouraged. Also, they crank out your food faster than you can find a seat sometimes.
(4)Jenn R.
Good food! I would definitely go back when I'm craving a burger.
(4)Mayumi N.
I went here with my boyfriend. We had heard about it from couple friends and some family that we had to try it. We didn't get what the rave was about. So we finally went. And i really have to admit that this place is really good for burgers. I'm not super picky with my burgers but i have my moments on what i really like and what i dont. and i really enjoyed it and so did my bf . He said that this is his new favorite burger place.
(4)Kressler N.
A winner in my book...but not THE winner. =) I really, really have to love a burger to specifically go out to a restaurant and eat one. I would normally not choose a burger at a restaurant or even a drive-through fast food place unless it is really good. In-n-Out is my favorite...obviously since it's all they serve, I go there for a burger but everyone talks about other burgers that are better, which brought me to The Habit. I must admit, I do like The Habit. The restaurant itself is very clean...their menu has more choices for the burgers (hooray for adding bacon!), choices other than burgers and they have onion rings & sweet potato fries in addition to regular fries. I love bacon so I love the option to have it. The burger patty itself is meatier than In-n-Out but I didn't find it as flavorful. The fries were a bit thicker than the thin shoestrings I like but the sweet potato fries were very good and the onion rings were also tasty (although just a tad too salty). I know everyone does the comparison thing...but I just like In-n-Out better. To support The Habit though, I find it a close 2nd and beats out Five Guys any day!! =)
(4)RF G.
The "new" Habit Burger in Lake Forest is a great alternative to In N Out and Fuddruckers, for you burger lovers. The Burger is not too far away from an In N Out burger, perhaps a slight step up in quality.... and naturally price. The ambience is good, I like the outdoor patio on warmer days. Service is very good, servers are usually very friendly. It won't be long before we visit The Habit again. Minus 1 star for indoor sitting layout which could be a bit better.
(4)Patrick B.
I gave this place two tries. The first time I got the Charburger in the "low carb" lettuce. I'm not on a diet, I just like lettuce. The flavors were decent but I wanted a juicy burger but what I got was juice. Seriously, all over my, all over my clothes, desk, shoes. I'm not a messy eater, this thing was just gross. So I gave it another try today. Ordered the Teriyake Charburger... same results. The thing was a constantly flowing mess. Had the salad, it was a normal fast food salad. Had the onion rings, they were decent but half of them were done to a golden crisp and the other half was a pale yellow. Had the sweet fries and I've had better. For $3.25 it wasn't a huge disappointment but I'd rather be at In-And-Out, or just skip the fast food burger and wait for Karl Strauss. Love their burgers.
(2)Michael C.
It's a solid burger, not too much to be excited about although it's mechanically well put together. The burger is clearly fresh, and the burger has a good texture. There's a good crunch to every bite, owed to the crisp sesame seed bun, which I really appreciate. A lot of places (what's up, Five Guys) can't seem to get this right. But unfortunately texture isn't everything. There isn't much taste from the burgers aside from your meat, cheese, lettuce, and bun. Still, it was pretty satisfying. The fries are pretty similar - they're fresh and look great but taste simply fine. Onion rings looked pretty good, so I'll probably grab those if I end up here next time. I'm rating this three stars, as this is an alright burger. But given the location of The Habit, I'm not sure why I would come here too often. In-N-Out is right down the street and Fuddruckers is a short walk away. That said, it's certainly worth trying if you're curious.
(3)Edison T.
Had the albacore tuna sandwich, it was very well cooked. Patty had a lot of juice and the tar tar complimented it very well. Sweet potato fries were good, nothing special, but good.
(3)Robert T.
at first it was three stars? and now it moved up to four after the PASTRAMI ON SOURDOUGH. WHICH IS NOW MY FAVORTIE Ok the good thing is the burgers are not very big and the bad thing is the burgers are not very big, BUT decent price especially for the area and type of establishment which is very nice, very clean and in a great area Tried the BBQ BACON DOUBLE CHAR and is it was just a bacon cheese burger? couldn't even taste the BBQ? It was ok and needs more cheese on it? but i would order it again. Tried the TUNA BURGER and found not much flavor? Even though it came with teriyaki and tarter sauce i couldn't taste either of them in the burger? It was ok, Tried the FRIES AND ONION RINGS, fries were good nice and crispy, but the onion rings were too small and over battered which sucked cause I usually love onion rings, Tried the TRI TIP BURGER, and it didnt have enough meat and the tri tip was more like steak and not tri tip but whatever? it needed more meat and it was a little tuff, but it was ok? i wouldnt order it again. I recommend you always get a double patty because their patties are thin and one is not enough meat and also get the sourdough bun because it adds flavor
(4)Mike M.
This is my very favorite quick meal spot. Clean and delicious food with a fair selection of choices. I had the Tri Tip sandwich with an order of onion rings. Delicious was the optimal word for everyone of the Habit's. I have in the past devoured a burger or two along with fries. Try one of the low carb burgers, much akin to a Carls low carb burger. Same great burger, just minus the bun. My son got one of the salads with chicken. Looked great he wolfed it down so fast.
(5)Jenna S.
This place rivals in and out. It's cheap, yet the food is fresh and really good. I had the teriyaki charburger and fries. Loved it! Definitely will be going back. Also the place is clean, family friendly and the staff is really nice.
(5)Aziz M.
Ok, so this one is long over due. The Habit is absolutely my favorite place for burgers in the OC. The top 3 for me are Habit, In-n-Out and TK....with Five Guys not too far behind. So you can see that the Habit had to beat out a good handful of burgers to be my favorite. Here's why: I usually get the double char with cheese...fantastic. The right size burger patties, always cooked just right, perfect amount of cheese. The buns are toasted perfectly, and the onions grilled to perfection..the veggies are perfect as well. Additionally, love the fries (both regular and sweet potatoe althought the latter need more salt)....and dont forget their awesome onion rings. They also have a great tri-tip steak sandwich.,.....and lastly I love the fact that they have yellow peppers at the condiment counter...winning.
(5)Bara T.
What happened? I loved The Habit for its double char with cheese, because the meat patties are large and flavorful. This time, haven't been in like 2 months, something HAS CHANGED. Not good at all. A double char with cheese used to cost me about $6.50 without fries or drink. Now the double char with cheese is $4.55. Hmmm..... when the burger came, I saw why. They reduced the price, reduced the size of the beef patties (they are now the same size as In n Out), and whoever cooked the patties pressed their spatula on the burgers, squeezing every last drop of the flavor out onto the grill -- resulting in DEAD DRIED FLAVORLESS burgers. The quality of the meat is downgraded. I spoke with someone who looked like the store manager, and he said the meat was exactly the same, the patties were always that size. Those of you who've dined at The Habit when it first opened will know what I'm talking about. The quality is no longer there. Boo hoo hoo :-(
(2)cecilia w.
I like it better than in-n-out! There, I said it. Things that make me betray my long-time favorite burger is the flavor and quality. It comes standard with a lot more condiments but those are always removable. More cheese selections, which I love. I feel the patties are a bit thicker too, and more crunchy. Plenty of patio seating so I can bring my fido here for a special treat. -LOVE- (from me) and -luuuuwoooov (this is from my dog)
(4)Jim T.
Went back to The Habit and had a Charburger #1.... COLD FRIES! I sat and waited for my freshly prepared burger and what did I get for my wait? COLD FRIES! It was 5:30 PM. I looked at the crew, and I noticed some personnel changes. These people would fit right in at Jack-in-the-Box, or Burger King, where they cook things and let them sit under a heat lamp for hours. Yecch! If I have to wait 5-10 minutes for my burger and fries, at LEAST have the decency of timing the fries so that they are at least warm! Also, I decided to have cheese and was disappointed in the cheese, which was very, very salty. It ruined my burger. I am no longer a fan of this The Habit. (fume!)
(2)Mike S.
In-N-Out, Five Guys, White Castle, the Habit, and more - the burger turf war that is afoot in our country would make any peace-sign flipping person blush. Sometimes its good to be caught in the thick of the battlefield when the artillery bombarding you is a tasty fast-food burger. Having dined at the Habit for the first time recently, I was quick to try my favorite standby: BBQ bacon cheeseburger (or 'char' as they would call it). What I enjoyed about the Habit was the careful assembly of the burger. As you bite down, you work your way first through the fresh crispy toasted bun, down through the thick, crispy bacon covered in BBQ sauce and laced with grilled onions, straight into the lean, yet juicy patty, and rounded out with some shredded lettuce and mayo before sealing the deal with another crispy bun end. As far as the texture and consistency is concerned, it makes for a fresh, enjoyable experience. When I think of the foil-wrapped, soggy burger I had recently at Five Guys, this one felt like it was prepared with the sort of thoughtfulness I'd find myself applying to a burger fresh off my own grill. In my opinion, the quality of the burger was comparable to In-N-Out, but with just a bit more menu variety, it gets my vote. They have other variations of their 'char,' including a teriyaki style (next on my list...). If you are not feeling a burger, they offer salads and some sandwiches, which is certainly nice to have options. Fries, onion rings, and sweet potato fries round off your side selections - so there is a little something for everyone. Whether the Habit is better than its comparable warring forces is a matter of personal preference, but I enjoyed my meal and would certainly pick it over In-N-Out or Five Guys, for the menu selection and the quality, respectively.
(4)Burrito M.
Not bad...The price is right, the atmosphere is good (inside - clean, bright, updated, w/ loud rock music, outside - great patio area for those sunny days), service is quick and efficient. This place got lots of comparisons to In N Out on yelp, but to me, it's not really a fair comparison, because In N Out is straight up fast food, albeit higher quality than the norm (McDonald's I'm talking about YOU!), but the Habit is more like a Chipotle or Corner Bakery, not fast food, but not a proper sit down restaurant either. In any case, let me get to the important stuff - the food. I ordered a burger w/ avocado and a side of onion rings and fries. What I liked about my burger was the soft fresh bun, and big chunks of real avocado. What I didn't like was that my beef patty was overcooked to the point of dry, and the fries/rings seemed like they were frozen. I would probably come back at some point, but I definitely wouldn't put it on my regular restaurant rotation.
(3)Rebecca C.
Tuna burger, why have I not known about you before?! This is my new favourite burger place besides In-n-Out. Obviously I am a great fan of the Tuna burger, but the chicken and tri-tip sandwiches are no slouch either. And I just love eating the fries with the ranch dressing! I think this is a Santa Barbara burger chain that has expanded to OC. I have tried any of the salads yet, but that's next to do on my list..... as long as I can make myself stop ordering the tuna burger every time I go there!
(4)Madam T B.
Nice atmosphere, very friendly and VERY clean. Great tasting burgers and salads!! Must go again soon
(4)Johnny C.
One of my all time favorites burger Joints. I eat here almost everyday. Yummy!
(5)Roger B.
Excellent burgers and fries! This place is always busy and sometimes the line is out the door at dinner time. I go here about once per week. My recommendation is to just order the regular single or double char combo (comes with fries), and get a lot of ketchup. I apply ketchup from the paper cups onto my burger before every bite, and it's excellent. The fries are great when dipped generously in ketchup. Five stars for the single or double char combo (with ketchup!). I'm a big hamburger lover. I've been to many hamburger places and I know a good burger when I eat one. The Habit hamburgers are very good. Although it's not the best I've ever had, which would be gourmet burgers, like The Counter, Fuddruckers, and others, The Habit is a very good burger and I highly recommend it. (random fact: hamburgers get their name because they were invented in Hamburg, Germany)
(5)war c.
as good or better than In n out. Cheaper too. Onion rings were excellent. Reminded me of the bloomin onion at outback. Went here for buddy's new job celebration. I had the teriyaki burger. Lots of juice and flavor. Very good size burger considering the amazingly cheap price. A++ would eat again.
(5)Jeannie C.
I am definitely a fan of The Habit. Before it opened in Lake Forest, I had heard great things about it but at that time, a burger is a burger, how good can it be...well, let me just tell you, I am addicted. First off, the service is friendly and efficient. The first bite into the burger was an explosion of charbroiled taste of the meat, the freshness of the lettuce where you can hear that crunch, tomatoes, pickles and grilled onions that came to one bite of goodness. The nice ratio of meat, bun,veggies, and grilled onions all came together as one of the best burger I have ever eaten. You can't just go to the Habit and get the burger, you need to have the onion rings and fries. The onion rings are lightly battered, crispy and not overly greasy. The fries are thick, crispy and lightly salted. I don't eat red meat often but there are certain places such as the Habit that makes me crave for it over and over again. Hubby and I are already thinking about when is the next time we are going back.
(5)Sid A.
Came here with friends, was very excited to try this place out. It was recommended by one of my friends who is a burger aficionado. While the food was good, it wasn't outstanding in any particular way. I had the charburger with cheese and bacon, and it was only average. The one to try is the Albacore Tuna Sandwich. My gf tried this and I ended up eating most of it, absolutely delicious and quite the surprise! The sweet potato fries were also very average, so to sum up, just go for the Albacore Sandwich and enjoy!
(3)Robert P.
As a native Southern Californian, I'm about to commit blasphemy by stating that I found The Habit's burgers to be tastier and nicer than In-n-Out. Not to take away from So Cal's famous burger chain which holds its own obviously, but something about the way the burger is prepared at The Habit brings it a notch above that other chain. For one the bread isn't as sweet and spongy as it is at In-n-Out. By default, The Habit grills their onions, without having to resort to some underground code to get grilled onions at the other place. The burgers are cooked on a bbq style grill and not a flat grill surface like they do at the other place. The char taste really comes through on the burger, and they cook it just right, enough to leave it juicy to the bite. I accompanied the burger with onion rings which were also good. They don't fall apart when you bite into them and the integrity of the onion stays intact. The staff was friendly and courteous on a not so busy Thursday. For a fast food type of place, pretty dang good. If you're into burgers, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
(5)Lillian B.
Ok lets start with the part that will get the boos.... The habit is better than in n out. Now here is why.... The hamburgers: The habit has a verity of different types of hamburgers and toppings. Selections or cheese, bacon and avocado. The meat it tasty and juicy and thick. The buns are well toasted. The spreads are flavorful. Fries are thick and crispy and taste amazing. The shakes are creamy and delicious. Besides the above items they also have sandwiches and salads. I totally recommend this place. I feel that the entire meal surpasses in n out.
(4)Sean W.
I just don't get all of the hype surrounding this chain. It's good, don't get me wrong. But it's just so ordinary. So non-descript. So indistinguishable from 90% of the burgers out there. There is nothing that separates this burger from the competition or makes it unique. Start with an average supermarket-like sesame seed bun. Add mayonnaise (just plain mayonnaise), shredded lettuce, a slice of tomato, and caramelized onions. All surrounding a fairly average patty- cooked well done and not very juicy. The fries were just ok as well- nice and crispy, but again, with little character to separate them from the fries you would get served in any diner in the country. Onion rings were nice and salty, crispy, but HEAVILY breaded, which detracted from the onion (which should be the star of the show, right?). While The Habit is a step above the Carl's Jr.'s, and Wendy's of the world, it is definitely not as good as In-n-out, Five Guys, or even the Fuddruckers right across the street from this location.
(3)Scott E.
Burgers ... mmm ... burgers. If there is such a thing as "American Food" its a hamburger and fries. Arteries harden, bloodways are constricted, and taste buds revel. I had read many reviews of The Habit and my father and I were excited. I mean really, really excited. You have to understand that my father and I live for food, albeit different kinds of food. He loves breads and I love meats. In the union of those two foods we find hamburger. My father and I visited The Habit on a BEAUTIFUL Southern California day. The perfect day for a hamburger, fry, and, dare I do it, milkshake. At the door we were greeted by a line, a long line, a long, long line. We took it as a good sign. We waited to place our order. We continued waiting. We waited a little bit more. We ... waited .... more. AH!! Ordering time!! Double Char, everything on it and avocados, french fries, and a chocolate malt please. Just under $20 for my dad and I, a little steep, but after everything I'd read .... worth it. My father and I took a seat outside under some shade and enjoyed the wonder of Southern Cal weather. Soon our food arrived; the excitement was palpable. We prepared ourselves with a prayer and then dove into our burgers. The word "disappointment" does not adequately describe the feeling. It would be like going to Disneyland as an 8 year old for the first time, only to find that the only rides open are Small World and the Steam Boat. It isn't the end of the world, but it might as well be. The burgers, which were fresh, were overcooked and a little dry from it. Bummer. The lettuce crisp but the tomatoes weren't good. Bummer. The avocado was wonderful along with the onions, but the Bun was just average. Bummer. The fries were just there, neither good nor bad. You guessed it ... bummer. The chocolate malt was incredible. YEAH!! Just the right amount of chocolate and malt. Overall the food in no way was bad, it just wasn't good. If I'm paying $20 bucks for two people to eat a hamburger I want to be blown away. I could have eaten at Fuddruckers across the street for the same price, had one of the finest hamburger buns on the planet and drowned myself in warm plastic squirty cheese. Ugh ... thats a mental image I didn't want. So, the food is 3 stars and price drags er down a star.
(2)Amy K.
Not bad! Tasty, simple burger. This is a no frills joint, but the meat is good, as well as the sides. What else could you ask for?
(3)April C.
Very generic. Crappy service.
(1)Phil M.
When it come to a burger place this is like many others. Though this one isn't really fast food so I won't compare them with fast food in that aspect. The burgers are actually quite good. They definitely taste like they came off your own grill, maybe a little more cooked than normal. It it at least worth a try if anything. Their fries aren't that amazing though, nothing really special about them. This place is unfortunately a little small for a restaurant. They are pretty quick, but I think for a real restaurant they should be a little better than just having a good burger. That being said, I will more than likely be back to eat here again at some point.
(3)Dru C.
After my first time trying Habit burgers, you can definitely call me a fan. It's probably a good thing that this location is still a bit "far" from my house, or I'd be chomping on Habit burgers way too often. I put "far" in quotation marks because my wife always makes fun of me because I think driving to south OC is still far from Irvine. Hey, you still have to deal with traffic! Anyway, I love the charbroiled grilled flavor from the beef patty. You can't help but think of BK's Whopper flavor, but way better. I had the CharBurger with no cheese and no mayo, and I thought the burger was still nice and juicy with tons of flavor. Lettuce was crisp, the tomato slice was fresh, and the bun was soft. Of course, I did add some jalapenos and peppercini's, so that's where a bit of the spicy kick came into play. Prices were fair, I thought. I'm not overly picky on fries, I mean at the end of the day it's still fried potatoes and terribly unhealthy. But I did like Habit's fries, which gave a good crunch on the outside, yet still tender inside (also somewhat similar to BK). We also tried their onion rings, for good measure. It was good, not heavily battered or greasy at all. Be sure to ask for their ranch sauce on the side, which comes in a big enough plastic container for maximum onion ring dipping. Love the details. Service was extremely toothy and friendly, almost to the point of almost TOO friendly. The employees made an effort to ask everyone in each booth if there's anything else they need, which was great. We'll see if this continues as time goes on. It's tough to compare Habit to In-N-Out, as I think the food is just a different taste overall. The Habit sort of reminds me of a more refined version of TK Burgers, if you will. But it's been a while since I've been to TK's, so I could be wrong. At any rate, I'll be back for more.
(4)Joshua M.
I'm a big Habit fan. Perhaps even a habitual fan. Anyhow this location is not in my normal area, but we stopped off after work one night to get a burger and it was excellent- which I expected.
(5)Alex P.
It seems inevitable that whenever a new burger joint pops up, this question will be posed - is it as good as In 'N Out? I suppose it's a legitimate question to ask seeing as how for us Californians, the standard of the fast food burger has been set quite high. I mean, not only is INO really tasty but it's also a great deal. Can anyone complain when you can get a double double with fries and a drink for around $6.00? I know I can't. INO is the shiz! Anyway, I should probably actually get to reviewing Habit Burger huh? This is a nice little burger joint. It's clean and the staff is very friendly. I even got a little heart drawn around my order number! Nice little touch. As for the burger, it's a solid burger. It's juicy and beefy and definitely doesn't have that crappy fast food burger taste. It tastes more like a burger that you would get at a good backyard BBQ when the host knows what they're doing. Also, the fries were very good, actually, they were cooked to perfection. Crispy on the outside and still moist on the inside, they were delicious. Would I say that this place is as good as INO? I'm not saying. What I will say is that it is a bit more expensive than INO but I'll definitely be back.
(4)David v.
The Habit has something a lot of other burger joints just don't get... cooked to order (on a grill or flat top) and fresh ingredients. There are only a few fast food places that make your burger without using pre-cooked patties and those that do tend to be more expensive. The Habit wins on both accounts... it tastes good and its inexpensive. Ordered the combo #2 comes with a double char, I added bacon (for an additional cost), and then piled on the jalapenos from the condiments they provide. It was pretty freaking tasty. The burger was a lot better than In-n-Out in my opinion.... the burger and the patty itself is much much larger than a double double, but more importantly, it tasted a lot better. With a very large side of fries and a drink, your looking at about $15 for two people at lunch. Totally worth it! I will be back!
(4)Danielle F.
Surprisingly good and surprisingly cheap. Like you could spend more on a combo at Carl's Jr. cheap. I could see this place eventually attracting a cult-like In-n-out style following. It's way better in my opinion. I had the teriyaki burger and it was messy and delightful. I'm going back....and soon.
(4)Michelle S.
Habit Burger is currently my favorite burger joint. The use high quality meat and veggies and all the burgers are prepared perfectly. I'm a returning customers and had tried many of the items on their menu. The albacore tuna sandwich and mushroom swiss char burger are both super delicious. This place is actually better than in and out. I forgot to mention, the service was excellent as well!
(4)Cathy L.
Very delicious! Better than in and out for sure. Wonderful fries!
(4)Peter B.
After all the reviews, I was excited to go the The Habit for a real burger treat... a double burger and fries. I went for lunch and it did take about ten minutes for the food to be ready. I did not have a problem with the the time since it is a busy place. I left disappointed since I have gone expecting a really fabulous burger! The burger was ok but not different than what you get at a number of different places.
(3)Patrick H.
Pretty good burgers. I got the Double Char w/ Bacon Lettuce Wrapped. Great quality ingredients and one of the healthiest burgers out there.
(4)Sharon H.
I don't think I will ever go back to In-N-Out for a burger ever again! The burgers were surprisingly bigger than In-N-Out and definitely a lot tastier too. Each bite was just a mouthful of juicy meaty and cheesy goodness. The bacon I got with my burger was super crispy and it was also thick cut. I couldn't ask for anything more! The onion rings are a must have as well!
(4)Kelly T.
This place is pretty good, but it's nothing to crap your pants over. The burgers are good, but they aren't mind-blowing or anything. Fries are okay, onion rings with ranch are pretty good. The worst part about this place is the music they insist on blasting at a super high volume. I mean LOUD. The name and look of the place suggest that maybe they should be playing the Beach Boys or some cool surf guitar stuff, but instead we had to endure crap songs like "Foolish Games" by Jewel and "My Favorite Mistake" by Sheryl Crow. My husband jokingly said "Maybe they're sponsoring Lillith Fair..." I would come back here if other people wanted to go, and I appreciate the fact that they have salads and sandwiches as well. But if I want an awesome burger, this wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)Roger C.
Whenever I try a new burger place, I always compare the quality and price with In-n-Out. First time trying Habit, I walked in there without any expectation. The service was fast, the menu was simple with a few salad choices for people not looking to stuff down a burger. I ordered a double char burger and some sweet potato fries. I liked the burger, the quality is on par with in-n-out, except the lettuce were shredded instead the whole piece. A size of double char is comparable to a double double. but, the price is a couple of dollars higher. I recommend this place to anyone that is looking for a burger place and also a salad to go with it.
(4)Patricia F.
Get the mushroom avocado burger.... WOW. I hate to say this, but I actually prefer the Habit over In-n-Out.
(4)Harrison K.
Another choice to replace your usual fast-food burger. Things at the Habit are done with just a bit more care than the average Carl's or Jack. I see people comparing this to In-N-Out, I don't think it stands on the same level as them, but to each his own. The fries, frozen and fried with a little more care. Same goes with onion rings. The burger itself, I had the double charburger, was just ok. Nothing great, two decent patties cooked to well, mayo, chopped lettuce, grilled onions, fresh tomatoes. Buns, remind me of Costco sesame multi-huge pack stuff. Could use a good toasting on the grill with a bit of butter to give it some more character. For the money, it's a decent burger I say, and definitely a stand-in for other fast-food fare. If I had to choose between Carl's or The Habit, the choice would easily be The Habit. I believe they could do a lot better with their menu if they just tweaked a few things. As mentioned before, toasting buns, using fresh patties cooked to medium, coming up with a few unique spreads. The little things always makes the difference. Will I return? Perhaps, if I'm in the area, and in need of a quick, decent burger.
(3)Stephen W.
I went here recently for lunch. I had the veggie burger. Overall, I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. The service was nice, the prices weren't too expensive, but the food just wasn't THAT good, hence the 3 stars. I liked that I could put whatever I wanted on the burger, and the fries were pretty good as well. The burger itself was really heavy though. It weighed me down afterwards. Will I eat here again? Yes. Am I dying to return to this place the next time I need a burger? No. Again, just sort of in the middle for me. I think I will probably go back just to get a second opinion. There seems to be a lot of people that like this place, so maybe I just had a bad experience. Or maybe their veggie burger just isn't that good. Also, the atmosphere isn't good. The layout is bad and I could hardly get anywhere because there were people standing everywhere. Definitely better to take out than to dine in.
(3)Ryan M.
Booooooo!!!! Charburger with cheese and bacon, sweet potato fries and a mr. pibb. The only thing they got right in my order was the mr. Pibb (hint: I filled the cup myself). Burger was ok once I used a fry to scrape the mayo off, it's supposed to be spread not drenched. Bacon was good but I suppose if you messed up bacon, your restaurant would be laughed out of this great bacon eating country that is the US of A. Burger had too much mayo. No. Burger was covered in mayo. No. Burger was soaked in mayo. No. My mayo sandwich had burger in it. The sweet potato fries were the best cold fries I have ever eaten, if that makes The Habit feel better about the product they put out. Shakes looked good but I didn't try them since my cold fries, mayo sandwich and best two 16oz. cups of Mr. pibb I have ever filled came out to around $12.
(2)Val H.
This place has amazing food! Today was my first time at The Habit, I decided to go with my coworkers who have been raving about this place for weeks. Where should I start... when I first walked in I noticed that the atmosphere is super clean and friendly. Not too much room for indoor seating (at least not during lunch hour) but there is a lot of covered outdoor seating. Service: The staff is young and extremely friendly - asking how your day is going, where you work, & lots of smiles. (They actually seem to be interested). Not only that, I had two employees come up to me while I was eating to see if there was anything else I needed and to take my food away when I was done. **yay** Food: Delicious! I see that a lot of people are comparing them to In-N-Out (which isn't a bad thing) but The Habit provides more condiments for your hamburger and they also have yummy salads & sandwiches. And as for the fries... better than In-N-Out in my opinion. Aside from munching off my coworkers plates, I ordered a Veggie Burger on wheat bread topped with cheese, cucumbers, avocado, sprouts, and lettuce. It was bomb!! ( another one up on In-N-Out for making veggie burgers). I can't wait to eat here again next week. Downside: ... a little pricey. I paid $8.50 for one veggie burger and a small drink . But it was well worth it and I will continue to go back :)
(5)Bryan H.
* Cheap.. something like $5.99 for a Hamburger w/ Fries & drink * Onion rings are crispy circles of delight, add touch of tabasco to tingle the taste buds! * They don't charge for ranch to dip your fries in. +++ * Can't decide between fries/onion rings? They'll honor a half and half order!!! * Outside and inside seating * Fast and friendly service * Complimentary condiments include some of my favs including A1, Tabasco, Jalapenos, etc. * They have regular Minute Made Lemonade and unsweetened iced tea which equates to a quick and thirst quenching Arnold Palmer.
(5)Lord J.
After hearing/reading about this place in other locations, my curiosity brought me here... The layout provides booth seating and hi-chairs & hi-table dining. Surprising is the lack of just sitting at a counter and chowing down. The decor mimics the surf decorum of the early sixties, not the sort you find at Wahoo's. The music must have been controlled by whoever is running the place at the particular time, since there was no surf style music i.e. Beach Boys, but your basic Top 40 Pop that was not blaring that bad. Sitting under the speaker and using my handy-dandy Droid app, the music was playing under 35 Db's. The calling over the intercom is somewhat annoying, maybe they should place call numbers at the tables (hint-hint). The staff was polite, but with a line of people waiting to place their orders and give you cash (or debit), you would think someone would bother to open up another register. Come on Mr./Ms. Manager-on-duty, you're really empowered to make those type of decisions and get it done. I ordered the #1 Charburger that included drinks and fries $5.95 (with tax it's under $6.50). The burger was not bad, no mind blowing either. It's a well made burger that hit the spot. The generous portion of fries were the medium-cut type (thicker than In-n-Out or your usual fast food joints, but thinner than the fries at Fatburger) and crispy. They had the usual ketchup condiments, but also malt vinegar, pepperoncinis, and jalapenos. Fountain drinks were the usual, but I like real lemonade, not the Minute Maid stuff. Overall, a good burger place, but not the best on my soon to be expanding review list. Default rank: #2
(3)Anne M.
Not bad at all. I would definitely eat here again. I was a little disappointed in the lack of selection and prices though. Kind of reminded me of Red Robin or Islands minus the waiters and large menus. I had the teriyaki chicken sandwich and really enjoyed the soft french roll. The teriyaki sauce is good, lots of flavor but not sickeningly sweet. My boyfriend had a double teriyaki burger which he said was similar to an In-N-Out burger but with pineapple and teriyaki sauce. Our meal was about $19, which I think is a bit much for what is really fast food. Otherwise, I would have been a bit more impressed.
(3)R L.
so so so so so good. always is!
(5)Michelle K.
Best burgers we've had in the area so far, not counting In N Out. The fries are awesome, too. Nice little outside patio.
(4)Sam K.
Great Burgers! That's it. Nuff said. Just go.
(5)Charles P.
I've been here several times, and found both the food and service to be good. But it was after the second one that both my friend and I came down with a case of food poisoning. We both ordered the same combo and had major symptoms within an hour, and going for the next two days+. My bad review isn't for the food poisoning, as much as it is for the assistance The Habit's management gave. I contacted them a few days after the visit and was told management from the corporate office would call. Nothing. I tried leaving email on the main web site. No response. You can easily dismiss one person coming down with symptoms, but two on the same visit with the same items? It's obvious The Habit's staff don't care beyond making a sale. -------------------- A follow up to my experience. I eventually spoke with a rep at the corporate office. I was connected with the store manager, but he failed to return the call as promised. Eventually, after almost a year, I was given coupons for free burgers....at a different location. I have no idea if they ever addressed the food poisoning issue, but a simple google search will bring up quite a few results. I have since tried a different location, and the burger was good. Might be best to avoid the chicken.
(1)Mallory K.
This was the best cheeseburger I've had IN MY LIFE. Better than In-N-Out, better than a family barbeque, and better than any $12 restaurant burger I've ever had. The meat was perfectly seasoned, with the exact amount of leanness I prefer, and the most amazing texture. The cheese melted all over it to make the most juicy, satisfying little bites of heaven. It was delectable. My boyfriend didn't seem as enthralled with his burger, and at the end of the meal I tried a bite of his and it was very peppery, like perhaps they peppered the grilled onions and put them on his burger before mixing them around on the grill. Usually if a place messes up my boyfriend's meal, it's ruined for me. It's very important to me that he enjoys his food. This time it didn't matter so much. This place still gets five stars. I am almost glad this place is 2 hours from my house, because if I lived closer I would eat here everyday and I would eventually die of a heartattack, holding one of their cheeseburgers, with a big stupid grin on my face. Eat here! It's amazing. Oh and their malts are to die for. I reccomend chocolate. Other factors: all excellent. Their service was very quick, their staff friendly, dining room clean as a whistle, and even ample parking. I'm going to look this place up right now and see if it's a chain. If it is not, it really should be. Someone invest in this place and bring one to San Diego!
(5)Del C.
A burger, a burger, a burger is not. There are definitely really great burgers and then there are definitely stinkers. The Habit's burgers fall right in between. The really great burgers [In-N-Out, Memphis Cafe, believe-it-or-not Steer Inn in Santa Ana] have that special quality about them. The real stinkers [all other fast food places] don't. The Habit's burgers are really reasonably priced and their burgers are OK. They're not the greatest burgers, but I would say they are relatively good. The fries aren't that special though. Had the regular "Char" burger with cheese and that's what I got. Nothing more and nothing less as far as taste. I can't believe that's all I have to say about this place. OK spot for a burger, but definitely have had better.
(3)Parmida R.
Ok so I was in the area and really hungry! I used my magic app(Yelp!) to find a burger place with good reviews. I found out about this place. I wanted to get the charburger bur decided to try their new sandwich, the mushroom Swiss burger... It was quiet tasty. You could tell that all the ingredients are fresh. I also got the sweet potato fries which was good too but I would have liked it more if they gave chipotle sauce with it. I would def come back to this place to try other sandwiches!
(5)Claudia M.
Was brought here at the urging of a couple of friends. I have to say I'm a fan. I liked the food, the ambiance was great and welcoming. I think it's a dangerous place to be around though because my goodness the calories! Amazing food, will go back to eat there on occasion (calorie permitting!)
(4)Gerson G.
I had seen this place open some time ago and saw a line longer then the street it was on, i figured it must have been free food or something, but I decided to try it for lunch with my co worker Man Bear Pig, so we both ordered, he got the double char with cheese and sweet patato fries and i ordered the singel char with bacon's and fries and damn it was such a good burger. The burger was normal serving size and had fresh romain letuce, fresh tomatoe and fresh pickles with grilled onions and a nice hunk of melted american cheese and bacon's on top, when i bit into it it was like a dream come true and Man Bear and i both agreed, not as good as In n out but still damn good. i suggest everyone get off there butts and try Habit Burger and may it not become a Habit cause im getting pretty fat lol...
(5)Kathy Y.
I'm a fan! It's a good solid burger joint. The teriyaki burger is yummy. Haven't tried anything else - why mess with a good thing? We usually go with a few people so each person gets an order of fries, onion rings or sweet potato fries so we can all share. Our toddler enjoys her little kid's meal with a Juicy Juice box. The downside is that you may have to split up if you go with a big group of friends, especially if it gets busy.
(4)Hoang T.
This place just opened by work. First off, the onion rings are pretty awesome. I had the char burger with swiss cheese and that was pretty good but nothing amazing. Its got more substance than in n out burger which is what you can basically compare to. Burgers are pretty pricey. Its worth coming back if you want to come chill. Fries are also just decent.
(3)Lizzy S.
I love this place. It's not the normal fast food joint. I've been here twice and both times the burgers were big and juicy. It is also pretty cheap for what you order. I havent tried anything besides the Regular char burger and the mushroom swiss (which was bomb diggity) In and out HAS LOTS OF COMPETITION. I think everyone should at least try this place once and if you don't like it then your crazy, :)
(4)Andrew S.
I have been wanting to try The Habit for about a month, so I decided today was the day. Stopped in for lunch with some co-workers. We got there around 12:15pm and somehow still missed the lunch rush. I have no idea how that happened. However, by 12:30pm the line was nearly out the door. When I ordered there was only one cashier working. She was whining about how hard she was working. It was hard not to laugh. I told her she should be happy that they were busy, as it makes the day go by faster. She replied, "I like it better when it's slow, and I can just walk around." So obviously we aren't dealing with the same level of service as In-N-Out or Chick-Fil-A. I ordered their double burger, with cheese and bacon. I got the combo, so it came with fries and a drink. Ended up being in the neighborhood of $8.50. They have a medium sized menu, that offers sandwiches and salads in addition to the burgers. The burger menu is pretty basic. They get the food out pretty fast, I would say I waited maybe 5 minutes. Grabbed my food, got some Worcestershire sauce, and some jalapenos and headed to the table. I'm a big fan of chili-cheese fries, so I was really disappointed to see that they don't have them. So I just had ketchup on them. I'm not sure why more places don't just put a pot of chili on, then they could do chili on their burgers and fries. Anyway, back to the food. The fries were good. I liked them probably better than most other fast food places. The burger reminded me of a neater version of Farmer Boys with a slightly better presentation. In other words, it wasn't slopped together. However the burger did have the appearance of a standard grease-pit burger. I would say the burger is about 30% smaller than Farmer Boys. It had good flavor, was very juicy. The bacon was just right. The bun was nicely toasted. It dripped quite a bit, which bothers me just due to the messy factory. I would never try to eat it in the car or anything like that. All in all, it was good. However, that being said, The Habit hasn't re-invented the wheel. It's a good burger, not outstanding, or revolutionary. I would go there again if it was convenient, but probably wouldn't go seeking it out. Lastly, for all the people comparing this place to In-N-Out, it's really apples to oranges. The Habit has a much deeper menu than In-N-Out and is not really geared as much for the to-go crowd as In-N-Out. The Habit is more like Fat Burger. In-N-Out is an American classic, a staple even, and for me they will always have special place in my heart. The Habit, will really have to bring something new to the table if they want to stick around. Otherwise they are just a "pretty good burger place" and I think with the quality and service that other places are bringing to the table, they will struggle to compete after the initial hype is over.
(3)Michael H.
Wow what a burger. I've always compared burgers to in n out This place is now my favorite, because they have a great tasting burger and awesome onion rings.
(5)Charlie K.
Double Charburger - average. Their patties does have a different flavor to it but nothing special. Patties are overcooked, dry. Tri tip steak sandwich - lean meat in small size. Service - friendly/prompt service. If it wasn't for their service, I would have gave them 2 stars.
(3)JT S.
The Habit serves up great quality food at a reasonable price. This particular location has the worst atmosphere, especially on cold rainy days like today. The reason I give this location one star, there is not enough seating to accommodate the amount of business during peak times. Due to the high demand of people wanting to sit inside on cold / rainy days, people walk in the door and find an open table prior to placing their order, this is not fair to folks waiting in line. The Habit needs to manage this process better. How about a sign that says "please order first, then find a table" or have a host / hostess that is already cleaning tables help out with prioritizing the limited indoor seating. The Habit did have a table for me outside in the wind and cold on a patio that was littered with PIGEONS! A dozen aggressive birds pecking at your feet waiting for a scrap. Some patrons were allowing their kids to feed them. Disgusting! Where is the manager in all this chaos? Probably helping them pump out food for people who don't have a table. Too much competition in the burger game, I'll take my business somewhere else that has plenty of tables inside and no agressive pigeons outside on the patio.
(1)Carrie T.
The Habit is a great burger place. Finally, a decently priced burger that's a good size, not overly salty or rubbery, with decent toppings. I wouldn't have chosen shredded lettuce, but oh well. Seriously, for $2.95, it's a great burger! Much better than In-N-Out. The fries are amazing here. They are always golden and crispy (that means perfect!). The onion rings are good, but very heavy, so share a batch if you want to try them. Also, one of the great deals is their 95 cent soft serve cone. :-) This location in Lake Forest has a nice patio where you can sit out and watch the traffic on El Toro Road go by. It can be entertaining. Definitely a keeper!
(4)Laura G.
I like their salad. You can take your dog on the patio. The staff is very helpful and friendly. A good experience.
(4)Matt R.
Very friendly and lots of seating.
(4)Carolyn C.
Amazing food and very friendly service! ! I glad i work near this place
(5)Thomas N.
hands down way better than in n out and five guys. the quality of the ingredients to how they cook everything is a delight for your tastebuds. the bacon is especially always cooked perfectly. Mmm bacon
(4)Alex P.
As per usual, one of the best burgers in the area. You can never go wrong at The Habit. Rivals the great In'N'Out for the best "fast food" burger. Double char with cheese, fries and a coke. Delicious lunch.
(4)Sanjay K.
In n Out now has some serious competition! While not as "assembly line" and generic as In n Out, which is probably a good thing... The Habit always fills me up and makes me happy after each visit! The Habit has "character" which many burger places are lacking as of late. I love their Chicken Sandwiches as well as the Tri Tip!
(4)Tim U.
Really enjoyed the burger and onion rings. Would go back. Manager seemed like he knew what was going on and seemed real attentive to customers.
(4)Kimberly J.
This place is great! The food is great, the staff is very friendly, and the restaurant is clean and new. I get the charburger with cheese and avocado when I visit. They never skimp on the avocado so it's worth the extra they charge you for it. After you get your food expect staff to stop by at least once to ask how it's going and if you want a refill on your drink. The restaurant is pretty upscale as far as counter serve places go. It makes it more of a destination. I would never eat at an in-n-out, I always do drive trough. This place is nice enough where it doesn't exactly feel like fast food (but they get the food out much quicker than in-in-out), for just a buck or two more you might pay somewhere else.
(5)John L.
Very good burger, and I like the availability of salads. On par with In-n-out for taste of burger, although more expensive. I'm not a fry guy, but wasn't overly impressed with these. Best burger in my opinion is still Five Guys, but that's much further to drive. Come on Five Guys, open a South Orange County location!
(4)John A.
Best diner style burger on the planet. Hot meat and cheese, cold produce is all you have to know. the steak sandwich is meh; stick with the burgers and get it with avocado.
(4)Ryan F.
Does it live up to the hype?? Try and maybe it does for you....but, for me, I thought it was a tad overhyped. Certainly a great burger for the price with excellent service but I still left a little disappointed. I guess it really depends how we judge the place....does it stack up against In N Out? close but not quite.... Does it match Slater's or your personal high quality burger place? Not quite... Still worth trying and I will definitely be back again because of the convenience. The Habit is popping up all over so give it a shot....just don't bring true 5 star expectations.
(4)David P.
It wasn't bad. Service was very good. The sweet potato fries rocked cooked perfectly. Portion size was good.
(3)John F.
Stopped here for Dinner around 8pm. The place was busy but not full; seating was easy. I was impressed by the price and portion. I read somebody's review that it rivals In and Out. I definitely agree! The music was hip and the space was put to good use.
(3)Tommy S.
Walking into the noisy atmosphere, I see a fairly long line. No big deal, makes me want those famous Charburgers more. Upon walking up to the counter, I can totally see into their burger laboratory. I see the grillologists at work, grilling the burger patties at one side; The burger engineers fine crafting the burgers all before my eyes. Seeing this just made me want a burger so much more. So I chose the original Charburger, gotta get the one that started it all. Wait was pretty average, about 5-7 minutes. When I bit into the burger, I immediately knew I was coming back. It was so delicious! You can taste the char right off the bat. Although it was good, it was a little bit dry. But hey, it's pretty tasty. If you want variety from all of those fast-food burger chains, the Habit is definitely a good alternative.
(4)M F.
The Habit burgers and fries are outstanding. Seriously good-tasting food. They are a good rival to Inn & Out Burger in my opinion. If you love McFondleds or Crap in a Box burgers then definitely don't go here. There's not enough seating. Sitting outside is loud because of El Toro Road (a.k.a. mini 405 freeway).
(4)Randi F.
Spotless, great service & GREAT BURGER! Get the combo with fries & a drink for $6... can't beat it. My new favorite burger place.
(5)T A.
I ate here the other night and I just have to say that I am so glad that The Habit has branched out geographically. This location definitely provides the same great level of service and high quality food. I love the original charburger!
(5)Shannon G.
It was ok not my fav. I wish the sign said what came on the sandwich. I was unaware mayonnaise came on it and my friend got the chicken sandwich which we didn't know came with cheese guess we shoulda asked.
(3)Derek D.
Burger was good, fries were good...just nothing really to put this place over the top. Would rather deal with the lines at In-n-out.
(2)Nhi Thao N.
My cousin, sister, and I stopped by this Habit location after hiking at Holy Jim Falls. I had previously been to another Habit Burger location near work in Santa Ana, and I thought their burgers tasted very good and recommended it to my cousin and sister. When we got there, the place was pretty busy with a long line. We decided to order to-go, and we each got a charburger with fries and a drink. The burger tasted so yummy on the drive home!
(4)David H.
After picking us up from the airport, my wife's cousin took us here to pick up some lunch. The wait wasn't too long and we were soon on our way to my wife's aunty's house. I had the teriyaki burger and it was still warm even though we had picked it up about half an hour ago. It was juicy and had just enough sauce for my liking. The fries were already getting to the soggy point but the onion rings were still crispy. If we had The Habit near where I lived, I'd definitely eat there.
(4)J B.
I'm a meat-and-potatoes guy, so the patty and bun combo is one of most noticeable things... and The Habit brought its A-game. The restaurant's setup is akin to every other fast food joint -- where you order, then find a seat and wait for your food -- but the comparisons end there. The Double Char Burger had so much flavor that my taste buds felt exhausted upon devouring it, which is unusual for a palette that normally faces off with patties, cheese, a bun and ketchup. So if mine felt that way, imagine what'll happen to yours when you add the mayo, pickles, lettuce, and carmelized onions. Plus, the service was great and I had no trouble finding a place to sit, which might soon be a thing of the past as praise continues to circulate.
(5)Michael S.
Well, decided to come here after being recommended by a friend...and with all the misplaced hype of Five Guys (which I was underwhelmed with the burger there). So my expectation was a cautious one. To my surprise the burgers here are AMAZING. The meat patties are thick, juicy, and full of flavor. The buns are toasted so that it doesn't disintegrate and crumble (aka Five Guys Burger & Fries). And the fries were just right and crispy. It was like a double double on crack and steroid. My mouth and taste buds were having an orgy as I inhaled the burger. I had to refrain myself from ordering a second double cheese burger because it's summer and you gotta look gooood. Price point wise, it's maybe $1-$2 more than In-N-Out for the same combo meal, but you do get more meat for that. I never thought I would find a burger place that would be better than In-N-Out, but this place is definitely a step up from In-N-Out (but I still love In-N-Out). Will be coming here more often when I'm craving a burger (but In-N-Out is still a good option when The Habit is not in close proximity). Found a new favorite burger place.
(5)Rick F.
Delicious burgers and great service. The sweet potato fries are extremely tasty. I also sometimes just get a BBQ chicken salad if I don't want to risk a heart attack. The salads are of a good size and very fresh. Can be very busy during lunchtime on a weekday but they usually get you your food in short order.
(4)Casey S.
Great burger when craving an old fashioned burger. They have other items too... really good food. Friendly service. Seating area gets packed sometimes and that's tough, but it's a sign that other people feel the same way. They even have salads, etc. Restraunt feel without the price. Clean.
(5)J C.
4.5 stars Pros Premium toppings for burgers (bacon, avocado) French fries are excellent! Cons Closes 9pm, 8pm Sundays hours before IN N OUT. Place is somewhat small. I'd hate to be here during the lunch rush. Staff was very friendly, and place was clean.
(4)Jim M.
I think the In n Out is way better.
(3)Sam B.
The name says it all. I am addicted to this place like a bad habit. I frequent this location about once or twice a week. The burgers are scrumptious and the prices are very reasonable.
(4)Liz Y.
A pretty good burger and onion rings. They have some other things I would like to go back and try. The patio is nice.
(4)Carol N Chuck S.
My first visit today. Food was very good. Not record-breakers but this place has been open only 2 Weeks, and the line is out-the-door Continually & you'll see why! NO ONE is eating half of anything & tossing the rest!! Nice people, small old chain based in Santa Barbara, extra clean, extra friendly service, Flame Grilling of all meat for added ' flavor '. I've read some "ho hum" reviews on Habit, but some people can't be impressed unless U give them free ice cream for dessert and announce their name over a PA system, to satisfy their ego. BUT when you see California Highway Patrol cars from San Juan, Santa Ana & Westminster [how do I know? I asked them all!] in the parking lot, you know some people like the joint ! Sandwiches include Burgers, Chicken, Tri-Tip, Fresh Albacore Tuna Steak, Pastrami, Veggie-Burger, Chicken-Club. Salads, Soft Drinks, Shakes As a 30 year Lake Forest resident, I can tell you this chain will be here for a long time to come. And this is only # 2 location in all of Orange County. Still, I'll bet lots from the younger generations will find reasons 2 complain; so be ready :) Parking's not the best, but it's in a shopping center; located in a used-to-be Johnny Rocket's. So don't blame Habit Burger 4 this! I never ever saw Johnny's with the business this place gets in 1 hr. And the people seem to be "Coming Back" (even after 2 wks) As for 'kelly h's comment "The worst part about this place is the music they insist on blasting at a super high volume. I mean LOUD." They must have stopped that! That would have even bothered me ! Today was crowd noise only. Here's Another + ! I ordered the burger, fry & drink special & no one charged me extra for cheese or for onion rings instead of fries. Carl's & McD's would have given 'trash-junk' rings for extra $ + $ for cheese !
(5)Omar C.
This place has the best burgers, and onion rings. I like how they make everything in front of you and how clean they are. I love In N Out but I for some reason I feel like The Habit isn't too fast foodie, where In N Out is.
(5)H B.
I kept hearing how fabulous this place was. I am not a big beef eater nor can I eat bread so I put off trying this place for a while. I so should have gone sooner!! Not only do they lettuce wrap, the food is great and it is very inexpensive. I would give it 5 stars but I felt the fries were a little over done. But I stuffed them in my face anyway. Haha I will definitely be returning.
(4)Ty S.
My review to Habit burger is based on at least 5 visits since they open. I only tried combo #1 and combo #2. The first one is single burger patty and the second is double patties. The charbroiled burgers tasted really good. The fires were nice, crispy and tasty. Personally, I give the edge to Habit Burger over In and Out Burger. I just made sure of that after trying both within few days.
(4)John N.
Only OK, nothing special! Better places to get a hamburger
(2)Jackie C.
I went here for the first time last week after reading reviews on Yelp. I've never heard of this place before that... I grew up eating In N Out. I had a Charburger w/cheese and it was good; I scarved it down because I was starving. It's much better than McDonalds or Carls Jr but not In N Out. I have never tried TK's or Five Guy's either and that's on my next list... Right now In N Out is number one Habit #2... I always order In N Out with 2 types of onions; I don't know if Habit offers that. I just like the taste of In N Out better; the onions are better and the overall taste is better... I can't really verbalize why. I just like it more. Another reason why I prefer In N Out is because of the drive thru; this Habit doesn't have one. I have anti-social tendencies and would prefer to sit 40 min in the drive thru at In N Out versus walking in and getting my burger in 10. Yes, that anti-social!
(4)Rivi L.
I think this place might have beaten In N Out! The double char burger was nice and cheesy.. just how I like it! I was supposed to share this burger but by the time had to hand it over it was all gone! The onion rungs were good. I also got sweet potato fries but I never really cared for them anyway so it doesn't matter. There's all these reviews about long lines and all but when i went (during lunchtime) it was dead! =)
(5)Steve J.
Great burgers at a very good price. Also have chicken, tri-tip, and tuna. The service is friendly and excels. The BBQ bacon burger is exceptional, and the sweet potato fries are great.
(4)Mandy K.
Let's face it, I enjoy a good burger just like the rest of the world. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't be one of those veggie patty with sprouts kinda girls. However, during a recent trip to the Habit I jumped to the other side. In the store, there was a picture of their latest special, a veggie burger with sprouts and avocado on a whole wheat bun. For some reason, I decided to give it a try. Imagine my surprise when I took my first bite and seconds later... my last. This burger was delicious!!! Of course, I had to have some fries with my healthy meal and they did not disappoint. I will still be a regular at in n out, but the Habit is a great place to sit on the patio and enjoy a meal. Whether it's the tuna sandwich, tritip sandwich or veggie burger, this place is sure to leave you satisfied.
(4)Irwin P.
First bite took me back to when I was a kid, sitting on a bar stool at a hole in a wall burger joint in Glendale. A good ol burger with charbroiled patty on a sesame bun with chopped lettuce, mayo, cheese, tomato, hold the pickles, and caramelize onions...WHAT! Very delicious, fresh, and filling. I got a combo #1 which comes with a charburger, fries, and a fountain drink for about 6 bucks, pretty standard when it comes to the upper middle class burger joints. They get you on the additions like bacon, avocados, cheese but that isn't to expensive. I haven't tried the other items on the menu and more than likely won't. Check them out if you are on the fence about it you probably won't be disappointed.
(4)Haylee T.
Good Burger, Great onion rings, Awesome prices... A few bucks more than In and Out but worth it for the patty to bun ratio (in and outs beef patty is way too thin). I had the teriyaki burger, It was great with the pineapple... obviously canned pineapple but still yummy.
(3)Sonia R.
I didn't try the burger. Got the grilled chicken sandwich. I liked the grilled onions. It was ok. A burger nowadays is a dime a dozen.
(2)W K.
This is the best burger in the world but isn't the worst. Enough said....
(3)Thu D.
Great Fries! Way better than In and Out, but the burgers are not as good as In and Out. Still want to go back and try the other food that the Habit has.
(4)Orlando B.
I went to have lunch with a buddy of mine who received a flyer from this place.Im a fan of trying out new burger joints and man was i right about this one.The place was very clean and well decorated.Ive had alot of burgers in my lifetime but id have to admit,hands down,the BEST burger ive ever had.Ive had burgers from big chain burger joints and before i thought In N Out was the best,but man was i wrong.The Habit blew them away.Im not a huge fan of onions but the way they caramelize the onions is awsome.They literally melt in ur mouth. After two bites ,there was steam coming out from the meat,thats how fresh and hot it was.DEEEELISH!!!Good fries aswell,excellent and extra friendly staff.I would have given it 5* but the only thing i didnt like was there is a huge line as soon as you walk in,you cant even walk in without having to go thru alot of people to get in the back of the line.Other than that,im a big fan and WILL come back! *^^*
(4)Debbie N.
I've been to The Habit about two times, but never on a hungry stomach until today. The first time I went here, I ordered a vanilla ice cream cone because I didn't want to be the only one there not eating. If you like McDonald's ice cream cone, you'll love The Habit's. I liked my cone so much, I couldn't resist myself and ordered a malt. I wanted to try the coffee flavor, but they ran out so I settled for mocha. The malt was just ok. It was too chocolatey and sweet. I could only finish about half of it before I started sharing it with my bf. The second time I came here, I ordered the #1 Charburger with cheese. On my first bite into the burger, I said to my bf, "This tastes just like In N Out!" The buns are toasted, cheese melted, and onions are grilled, but the lettuce part is a little different. Although the food reminds me of In N Out, I definitely prefer going to The Habit instead due to its excellent service and the atmosphere is much more pleasant here. The service is amazing! The girl who took my order was super friendly and sweet. She even came by our table and took our tray. The decor is nice and doesn't remind me of a fast food restaurant and there's plenty of room to sit. There's also a condiment bar where there are different kinds of peppers. I give this place a 3 star, but thanks to its customer service, it's a 4 star.
(4)Mighty M.
Im totally with Kelly H on this one..." place is pretty good, but it's nothing to crap your pants over. The burgers are good, but they aren't mind-blowing or anything"... onion rings are def better than fries, IMO. I also like that they have other options other than burgers like salads, chicken, etc. Id go if the BF wanted a burger. But Id prob try to convince him to drive to The Counter instead.
(3)Ram R.
Fairly small menu but food is good. Not a lot of seating and parking lot is kind of cramped.
(5)Andrew D.
Burgers are awesome! Fries are pretty average. Rather hit this place up over 5 Guys any day.
(4)Steven F.
Is it the best burger i've ever had? No. Its a good burger joint but nowadays I would probably recommend 5 guys.
(3)Eric M.
This place is great, super clean and pretty quick too. Girl behind the counter was was really nice and enthusiastic about her job. Not irritatingly nice though like the people at Pavilions. Burgers are awesome and the price is fair considering a meal a McD;s routinely costs around $7 now. Only reason I didnt give it 5 was cause I thought the portion was a lil small. Good place to stop though if your in the area.
(4)Danny E.
A bit Pricey but over all a very good burger. Especially since you can put crisp bacon on your burger. Service is good menu is not too confusing. They have wraps, salads, and other sandwiches. Fries are regular or sweet potato. Cheese drips off the burgers. good alternative If you cant find an In and Out!!!! I say try it you will like it!!!
(4)moon d.
Gave it a try on a recommendation, great tasting burger. Clean, modern restaurant.
(5)Jordan P.
Reeeallly really good. I've been to locations in LA, Fullerton, & Santa Ana. Also cam here. Friendly employees & manager. The patio here is awesome, its huge and completely covered. Great burgers & fries!
(5)Annie R.
I REALLY wanted to try this place; just from the great aroma and reviews as well. Went there on Saturday for lunch with family and there was a long line to order but surprisingly it went quickly; very friendly staff and so very helpful. Ordered burgers and fries and they sure looked tasty. But, they were pre-formed and tasted just "ok". That was my disappointment. The fries were great and crispy, my little son liked his chicken but my sister & I agreed that we would come back, but try another item such as tuna. BTW; my sister raved about the delicious sweet potato fries! Not saying I would not return but again, it's not such a rave of a burger like one would expect.
(2)Kenia G.
Eh, just a fancier burger joint
(3)Thomas D.
Pretty impressed by it. Came into the Habit knowing that it may be good, but not close to in n out. That's exactly what it was. Liked the fact that you could add bacon or avocado and they had teriyaki burgers which were good. They also have good onion rings. For what it is, it's pretty good. I'd come back here if I was craving a teri burger, but for a standard delicious cheeseburger I'll stick to in n out
(3)Danny V.
I have eaten at many great burger joints all over. What's good about this place first off is the menu...burgers and fries plain and simple. Great quality for your money. I think the double was only $3.95. The place is nice and clean. Overall good burger for the price. However there is room for improvement. The price of cheese is not included nor is any other extra like bacon, avocado, ect. Plus they only have two types of cheese American and Swiss....would have liked to see cheddar. Seems like they want a good burger restaurant with simple ingredients but lack the options of fresh ingredients. The shakes aren't great nor are the sweet potato fries. I might go back not that great as I thought it would be.
(3)Terry A.
Move over In-N-Out. Here's a great burger for those who want a healthy alternative. They provide top notch service and you can have your burger made to order (including lettuce wrap) with a salad instead of fries. And, that's not all, they offer a great selection of sandwich alternatives such as chicken breast, tuna, and tri-tip.
(4)Rosamond F.
I liked the flavor of the burger and the whole wheat bun but the meat patty was way too small for the bun or the bun was way too big for the hamburger. I ended up with way more bread than burger.
(3)Isabel S.
Its a good burger, great onion rings. Thats about it. I may update my review because next time I am going to get the CharChicken Burger. It looked really really good when someone else was eating it ! The onion rings are crispy and not too greasy. They have Diet Coke and not Pepsi, there is the 2 stars.
(2)Edgar M.
The burgers are good but their fries are just average. The "Double Char" with cheese is a must if its your first time here. Although I haven't had anything else on their menu the other sandwiches look promising. IMO, In N Out is still king for those budget conscious and for a more gourmet burger, The Counter is the place to go. Although they have ample seating indoors and out on the patio, their lack of a drive thru is kind of a deal breaker for me because the lines can be very long if you just want take out.
(3)Tina M.
I came here for the first time this weekend. My friend said that it's the best burger he's ever had and when I drove by I knew I had to try because I love burgers. I do admit, it is a good burger but I don't think it's the best burger I've ever had. I'm not a big onion rings person, but I thought that these were pretty good. Personally, I like In-N-Out more but I will be coming back.
(4)Jeff G.
Mushroom Swiss Char burger is pretty good. Still prefer In N Out on a regular basis.
(3)Derrick E.
Great burger... Does not beat in and out though... Not original like the Counter. But cant hate it was a great typical burger.
(4)John S.
I'll echo the sentiments of another reviewer: this place pretty much replaces In-N-Out for me. If you're familiar with Fatburger, the quality and style of food at The Habit is right in the middle between In-N-Out and Fatburger. Yes it's a bit more expensive. You'll spend $7-8 on a double cheeseburger, fries and shake instead of $5-6 at In-N-Out. When I was a starving college student, I might not have made the tradeoff, but having a real job, the extra $2 is well worth it. Here will be the difference: 1. The milkshake will be real ice cream and awesome instead of frozen gum-based-beverage; right up to par with something you'd get at a good diner. 2. The fries will be crisp and properly salted and tasty. I'm befuddled by the reviewers who say the fries are 'Just ok'. Compared to what? Limp In-N-Out or big fastfood chain fries that turn soggy after a few minutes? These are great. 3. The burger is probably where there is the least difference; The meat has a good chargrilled flavor, the buns are toasted and tasty; no animal style sauce, just the regular condiments, but a good balanced flavor overall. Last tip: at some point order the Chicken Club on Sourdough. Best chicken club sandwich I've had bar none. They do go a bit heavy on the mayo with this, if you're not a fan, make sure to ask them to hold/go easy on it.
(5)Misti-ann F.
Don't bother calling in your order it won't be done when you get there. After waiting 20 (we only get a 30min luch break) we got our food & it was okay. Got the charburger & sweet potato fries....kinda disapointing. I really wanted to like this place.
(2)Cynthia T.
Sooo happy to find a Habit closer to home. The Habit has been in Goleta for ages, and although I didn't frequent it much as a Goleta-postmortem teen, it has become one of those "I want to eat there when I'm back in town" places. So nice we can fit it in on the drive there or back too!! Maybe 2 blocks off the 5 freeway, it was easy in, easy out. Super nice service, burgers tasted like they should (TASTY), and I liked the new sweet potato fries too!
(4)Cherrie H.
Great place for a good, old fashioned burger. As much as I love IN-N-OUT - this place gives you a very good burger on a fresh bun and the food seems tastier (the meat has a great flavor). If you get a chance visit the Lake Forest location - all you have to do is follow your nose through the parking lot.
(4)Josh B.
Great choice for a good quality burger on the run but at much better than fast food quality both in terms of food and the facility. Chicken sandwiches and tritip also good. We are frequent customers.
(4)M. A.
Probably the worst burger I have had in a long time. They should be using the cheapest meat. You are much better off to go to In-n-out. This was my first time and the last.
(1)Kyle S.
I have been waiting for this place to open since I've always heard how great the Habit is! The burger and fries were great! Loved it. But even BETTER - their service was incredible. You order at a counter yet you're treated better than a restaurant would treat you. While eating, I had FIVE different people come by to ask how things were, refill drinks, etc. This is a fast food/self service place - I had never expected this! A wonderful visit and I will definitely return many times!
(5)John B.
In reading the other Habit reviews before posting mine I've noticed a lot of comparisons to In-N-Out. I'd say its a good comparison in terms of quality. In-N-Out has a taste of their own, but the Habit does too. They are both neck and neck when it comes to their burgers. Both get 5 stars in my book. Where the Habit pulls out in front of this race is the size of their menu. I cant tell you how many times I've been at In-N-Out and thought: "If they only had a garden burger" (my girlfriend is vegetarian), or "If they only had a chicken sandwich", and the "if-only's" go on and on... The Habit's menu has something for everyone who thinks that other burger joint is limited in one way or another. The ahi sandwich is amazing, the chicken is great, the garden burger is tasty, and being that the Habit originates from California's central coast, its no surprise that they have also mastered the Tri-Tip sandwich. Add to this your choice of bread for sandwiches and their new sweet potato fries, and the meals you can put together here are simply to die for... They even have a variety of hot and sweet peppers to add to your meal which I am always impressed by. 5 stars all the way. If you've never been, consider it highly recommended! Oh and a little PS: If you're ever in Santa Barbara, its worth a visit to the original Habit location in Goleta (by UCSB). It is the only Habit location (so I've been told) which offers chili-burgers on their menu. Best chili-burger you'll ever have!
(5)chad A.
Been to the Habit twice now. 1st time on State Street in Santa Barbara and this time I finally waited out the crowds for the this new location on El Toro Rd. It's often been compared to In-N-Out. I'm a fan of both, but I think The Habit wins as far as burger to burger and In-N-Out wins fry to fry. My 1st visit I had the Char burger with cheese and added bacon. Fresh, smokey char grilled, crispy, creamy, BOMB-DIGGITY-LICIOUSNESS. The fry's are not bad, nice and crispy, slightly over salted for my taste and just didn't have that fresh fried taste INO has. Also had the Onion Rings, which were pretty good, crispy, not too greasy, but lacked seasoning. Finished it off with a chocolate shake which it's pretty hard to screw up. 2nd visit had the char burger with cheese (no bacon this time) and split a fry with GF and it once again DID A BODY GOOD all for under $10. Hopefully they can stick it out with INO down the street and Fuddruckers across the street. I dig all three places and they're all just down the street from my house, I'm in burger paradise!
(4)Geoff M.
The place busy busy, but had open tables. The place was clean, friendly staff, had an outdoor patio. We ordered a single char (my son) and double char for me. At first glance the presentation of the burger wrapped reminded me of In-&-out, but I have to say the actual burger tasted better. Not a huge difference, but definitely better. The Onion rings were very good, the fries which my son had were not special. I liked that they had other condiments, banana peppers, peperoncini's and jalapenos. I like that they have a variety of menu items. This will definitely bring me back to check out other stuff.
(4)Tony T.
The Habit has a great burger that is served with sauteed onions as a topping. The fries are also very tasty as is the veggie burger. The service is very quick and the eatery is always very clean and tidy. It has been very busy the several times I have been, but the line moves rather quickly. Definitely a good option for lunch or for whenever you have a hankering for a good burger. A great surprise was the 95 cent soft serve vanilla cone. YUM!
(4)Joe P.
Better tasting burgers with faster and better service than In-n-Out! Onion rings are yummy.
(5)Kelly D.
i love this place! you can't go wrong with anything on the menu! it gets alot of inn-n-out comparisons but so what...inn-n-out is the bomb diggity too!
(5)Tim H.
Very good for the price. Better than fast food.
(4)CatLadyHon N.
Went to the Habit the first time with a coworker and we were both impressed with the burger and fries. The burgers were simple and nothing to rave about. They were juicy and flavorful. I'm a big fan of the fries since they were my size preference and cooked to a golden crisp, crunchy, and lightly salted. In addition the burgers and fries, the Habit has a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches which makes it a good place to go with a group of people who may not all like burgers and fries. They have a couple of lunch combos but the menu items are generally sold separately. To me, prices are slightly on the high side. If you want cheese, add .50 cents. Burgers should naturally come with cheese. Burgers alone are like $5 or $6. The place does get loud and is contributable to the loud music and amount of people that were there. I would return but not regularly.
(4)Ron B.
Hmm. Four stars. Like, what could this little hamburger joint have done to get such like, a high rating from me? Is it like, their location? It is located on El Toro just north of Rockfield in Lake Forest. Traffic at times is a pain so I like, don't think that it's their location. Is it like, their food? It's like, just hamburgers. You've got the Char Burger and the double Char Burger, hamburger meat (two on the Double Char), lettuce, tomato, pickles between two buns (of which you can like, get both of these burgers lettuced wrapped if you're like, trying to eat healthy with out all of the bread). They also have like, sandwiches, such as the BLT, a tuna steak sandwich and like, salads too. They have regular french fries, sweet potato(e) fries and like, onion rings (Mmm, onion rings). The Habit also has shakes AND malts ranging from like, vanilla to chocolate to coffee and mocha. Is it like, their prices? That could be a reason but, that's like, not it either.The reason that I like, gave this place four stars is because of the employees. They are like, always cleaning the outside patio area. coming around asking if everything is to our liking and the cashiers are like, really friendly even though the place can have a pretty long line of hungry customers. They are like, still friendly and makes you feel like the wait was worth it and always seem to have a smile for you to brighten your day. No frumpy looks at this place...not that I have seen anyways. To put this in another way think of this place like Cheers. "Where everybody knows your name. And they're always glad you came" and it doesn't feel like you're interrupting them. I just love this place.
(4)Janine P.
Had the free promo burger, fries and drink for lunch today. Food came out fast and prepared as I had requested (I added cheese to my Teri Burger and asked for no pickles.) All the staff there was friendly and attentive even with line out the door of people waiting to order. The only other location I've been to is the one in El Segundo and the food & service here was much better. I'll be back here after they officially open to try out their other menu items.
(5)Dawn C.
While driving home this evening, I was listening to the story of the Wu-Tang Clan on NPR and remembering vivid moments of when I was in high school. I was also stuffing my face with sweet potato fries and sipping on a strawberry malt from The Habit. As embarrassing as it seems in reflection, it sure tasted great. Hey, I was hungry. Once I got home, I was able to sink my teeth into the char-burger with cheese and it did not disappoint. This place is good and inexpensive. I will be back there soon.
(3)Angie S.
i LOVE this place! i originally fell in love with it in Santa Barbara, and was so sad that i could only get it up there. and then i found it down in orange county, and no less, by my work place!!! needless to say i was SUPER excited!! i get the albacore sandwich- it's the best- i can't even order anything else! the food is delicious!!
(5)Yazan M.
Place was AWESOME! Staff is super friendly and try to accommodate your needs. They had mixed up an order of milkshake for a soda and I got a milkshake free of charge with no waiting in line or anything. Food tastes great as well so well worth it. My friends and I took our kids here and they loved it as well.
(5)Matt M.
The cheese burger reminds me of a good backyard BBQ, well worth stopping by again; and for a bonus the fries were made perfect.
(4)Barry D.
If 5 stars is as good as it gets, then The Habit is a Solid 4. They have a great location on El Toro Road in the new Orchard Center. They have taken over the Johnny Rockets location. Parking is solid depending on the time of day, but overall there really is plenty. You line up to order, and the menu is basic with a few extras. Pricing overall is quite good, especially if you do not add Bacon, cheese or Avocado. Even loaded you can get the double char (#2) with fries for about $6. Add a drink and you are into a great, filling combo meal for about $7.50 The plate comes loaded and you can add peppers and jalapenos, etc from the condiment bar. I am a huge In'and'Out fan and this is just plain a better meal. Get the onion rings if you decide and you will not be sorry. Sit outside if the weather cooperates. Pluses: Great food, quick turn around and obvious quality. The plate comes loaded with fries and they taste pretty darn good. Service is outstanding. Counter person was great and shouted our order back to the cook who seems to remember all that is shouted his way. We were asked by the busing staff several time if they could get us anything else Price is very fair. We had 2 combo meals (add bacon and cheese) with drinks for $16. Minuses: They are constantly calling numbers over the loud speakers both inside and out. It gets a bit obnoxious after a while. There are better ways! I have been there twice in a week and will make this a permanent Habit.
(4)izumi n.
yummy veggie burger
(5)David D.
Was brave and tried the new Habit on opening day. More help then you'll ever see again and the burger was cooked fine not burnt to a crisp. Way too much salt on the onion rings which they quickly replaced with a salt-free batch. I'd say it's a good char-broiled alternative to in-n-out. I think I'll order the burger without salt next time too. Ranch dressing was very good for dipping rings and frys. If my no-salt order on the next visit is good they'll denfinitely deserve another star.
(3)Rob S.
Good burgers and great price. The place is always busy, the staff very attentive. If you want a shake, go to In-N-Out. They are just not that great.
(3)James H.
Just took my first trip to Habit and they serve a tastey burger at a reasonable price. Clean and trendy looking restaurant and the service was excellent. Staff was very friendly and they kept the place very clean.
(5)Tamara C.
I went here with my friend in Mid July because the trendiness of this place was killing us. I have to say my first impression walking in was that it was quite nice on the inside for a fast food burger joint. Lots of seating inside and outside. Now I ordered a burger with caramelized onions. My friend got his with cheese, caramelized onions and bacon. My friend and I prefer our burgers cooked medium rare so we always ask if they can make it that way. They lowest they go is medium on their burgers. We thought OK, shouldn't be too bad. We get our burgers and the first bite was like oh boy, charred to the max well done. Kinda ewww! The bun was not impressive at all. I mean did they get their buns from McDonald's or what? It was too darn dry. The caramelized onions were the bomb though. Yummmy! My friend loved the bacon on his burger. He likes it crispy and I tried a piece and thought it was only OK. After we ate, a manager came to our table to ask if he could take anything away for us and asked how our meal was. We told him honestly that we were not impressed. The burger was too dry, bun was quite nasty, but we did say the caramelized onions and bacon were really good. He listened to our constructive criticism. He told us how they cooked their meat to seal in the juice and didn't understand why it could possibly be so dry. He told us he would be right back and came back with two business cards written on the back for a free burger. We thought that was quite thoughtful. Later my friend went back for his free burger and still was not impressed. Another manager asked him how he liked his burger and my friend told him not so much. Apparently, the manager he spoke to this time around was not so nice. He could not take constructive criticism and mocked my friend when he made a comment. I would have to say the majority of people like their meat cooked medium to well done. For that reason this burger place would be a good choice. If you prefer the burger medium rare, don't even bother. There are other things on the menu that look quite tasty so I'm going to give it another chance.
(2)Ken G.
Love this place. The burgers are very tasty, service is great and the prices are very reasonable.
(4)Jasmine S.
They have amazing veggie burgers! I also love their onion rings! The only con is sometimes you can't find a place to sit and the wait for your food can take a while.
(4)Justin W.
Alright so I went to check this place out in their grand opening week like almost a year ago.. It was pretty busy inside and we had to wait in line just to place our order.. It was well staffed and everything went quickly.. The girl was obviously new and took awhile to get my order correct.. Anyways after we got our food everything was right and tasted pretty good but definitly not as good as inn and out 5 guys or fudrockers (across the street) over all 3 stars feels just right not amazing but not bad either Id go back sometime and give it another try..
(3)Kelly C.
Very good burgers, tried my first one today and I give the BBQ Burger an A+. They give you whatever you want on your burger and it's hassle-free, which I love! Highly recommended!
(5)Cuong K.
So this is the place where ive been eating lunch for the past 3 weeks near work, and Ive noticed some things that should be brought to light. For example, if i wanted to "to-go" my food, that means I don't have time to sit there and eat it. So i waited roughly 12 minutes for one burger, just one, and I noticed the peeps keep serving the people who are planning to eat on site rather quickly and the people who are sitting and standing for their to-gos are just gettin annoyed (including me). Another thing that annoyed me is the pastrami sandwich. Wow 6.25 dollars for a tiny ass sandwich? a small ass french roll cut in half wit some sliced pastrami for $6.25? So DON't order the pastrami sandwich, i rather be at The Hat and get a better pastrami and get my money's worth. again i rather eat the burger here than other fast food joints. DOn't order the new sweet potato fries, it's not good.
(3)Marisha F.
soooooo good! the bacon is perfectly crispy and the onion rings are super crunchy. the ranch is really good too.
(4)Gladys S.
This is the best hamburger in town. The salads are really good too. Everything seems to be good that's on the menu.
(5)Gina A.
I've had the burger which i thought was good, it wasn't the best thing in the world, it was a burger. I also had the club which i liked much more than the burger. I think other than the burger they are kind of expensive.
(4)Susan M.
I was in the mood for a burger and remember driving by this place several times. I am so glad I stopped in. I had the BBQ Bacon Char and it was so good! Great price for a solid burger, perfect proportion of toppings on a fluffy bun. Even the pickles were good quality (normally I pick them off). I was in the mood for sweet potato fries, which were alright (needed some seasoned salt). But I had some of my friend's onion rings which were really good! I give it five stars because the service was amazing and the restaurant was clean. I can't wait to go back and try one of their sandwiches.
(5)Scott S.
It's not the most amazing burger, but it's pretty damn tasty. Prices are low and the onion rings are bomb.
(4)Ann B.
Wow! We had a great teriyaki burger here last night. After returning from eating a burger at Hodad's in Ocean Beach, we actually thought the meat tasted better and the burger was $2.25 cheaper. You can really taste the char. You can ask for extra char if you like. The rings are great and not greasy. Burgers are under $4.00 and are as good as a Ruby's at $9.00. Large patio area. This place is a 5 for the price. I love the fact that you can get a wheat bun or grilled sourdough bread instead of a soggy bun like In and Out UPDATE. They have added sweet potato fries to their menu. I also tried the grilled ahi tuna on sourdough for $6 , Yummy.
(5)