Tommy’s Hamburgers in Fountain Valley has been a go-to for my family and friends for many years. The building itself and the decor is nothing special, but the food is amazing.
When we had been out partying at night, we’d make a run to Tommy’s Hamburgers for a tasty bite before hitting the beach or heading home. These days, just about every trip to California, I get together with my brother or friends at Tommy’s for a quick catch-up and some yummy eats.
Tommy’s started in Los Angeles in 1946 as a hamburger stand. They recently celebrated 70 years in business. You’ll note that they call themselves “Original Tommy’s World Famous Hamburgers,” since over the years others have tried to capitalize on the Tommy’s name as well as the chili cheeseburgers and chili cheese hot dogs. To avoid some of this confusion, they’ve added the slogan, “Look for the Shack” on their bags and some signs.
If you want a drippy, cheesy, chili-laden hamburger with extra-dill pickles (or none!), this is the place. The chili is smooth, with no beans, is a little bit greasy and has a nice chili flavour. The burger comes in a paper pocket, wrapped in another sheet of paper.
As we eat, we let the chili drip from the burger onto our fries. You can also order chili fries directly from the counter to get the full chili cheese fries experience.
There’s also a chili cheese hot dog on the menu.
Tommy’s Hamburgers in Fountain Valley has booths to eat inside, and a patio outside. The bathrooms are outside, too, across the drive-thru road, so watch for cars as you cross over.
Parking on the street or in a lot just behind the restaurant.
Here are some other places to visit in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach.
Enjoyed for many years.
Original Tommy’s Hamburgers
9024 Recreation Cir, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
