Hand-patty burgers from humanely raised beef. Two Bay Area spots. Same family, same grill, same obsession with doing it right.
Photo: Pexels / Valeria Boltneva
I opened the first Big Mouth on 24th Street in the Mission back in '97. No investors, no franchise manual. Just a flat-top grill and beef from ranchers I actually knew by name.
We've been buying from the same family farms for 27 years now. Pasture-raised cattle, zero growth hormones, zero routine antibiotics. I hand-patty every burger to order. That's why it takes a couple extra minutes — the beef hits the grill about thirty seconds after it gets shaped.
The SSF location on Cherry Ave happened because people from Daly City and San Bruno kept driving all the way to the Mission for a decent burger. Fair point. So we opened closer to them.
Twenty-seven years of running a burger joint teaches you things no business book covers. Like the fact that your regulars will notice if you change beef suppliers — even slightly. Or that the lunch rush on a rainy Tuesday can somehow be worse than a sunny Saturday. We learned early on that consistency beats novelty every single time. The Big Mouth burger tastes the same today as it did in 2003. People count on that.
We cook over open flame at both locations. Gas grill, not flat-top — it matters for the char. The buns are French rolls from a local bakery, scored and lightly toasted. We tried brioche once in 2019. Regulars revolted within a week. French rolls came back and never left.
30+ items on the full menu. Swipe for the hits.
Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite 6 years running. Here's what people actually say.
I've been coming here for years. Tried most of the burgers at this point — they even do Fish & Chips that are actually good, which, you don't expect from a burger joint. Beyond the food, the people are just warm. Abraham's usually around and makes you feel like you're eating at somebody's house.
Burger is big, no frills. Not trying to be wagyu or truffle-oil fancy. It's thick, flame-grilled, does the job. The fries are that darker kind — like a second pass in the fryer. Ate all of them. Grabbed one before a Giants game. Would do it again.
GF bun and the Beyond Burger are both legit here. Sweet potato fries too. My friends are always surprised when I tell them my favorite burger spot has solid vegan options. The Greek salad is bigger than it needs to be — in a good way.
Same beef, same grill, same family at both spots. Only real difference — Cherry Ave has a parking lot.
851 Cherry Ave, Suite 19, San Bruno CA 94066
650-871-76363392 24th Street, San Francisco CA 94110
415-821-4821Walk-ins only. No apps, no algorithms. Just show up hungry.
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