Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    For The Win

    3.9 (302 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order For The Win Takeout or Delivery

    For The Win Photos

    Business Info

    FOR THE WIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - For The Win

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Seating
    Ally Y.

    One of the best burgers I've had in a very long time if ever. You walk in order from the tablet and find a seat. They even have a counter top to eat at while your order gets made. The service is great because you order and do your thing while the chef does his and all is well. (For the "bad service" comments I don't think good service needs to be "extra happy" when customers come in. True service means they put their soul into what they do and that's this place simplicity at its finest a real burger joint with real people) keep it 100 Smashed Burger: it's a simple honest burger. It's the pinnacle of cheese burger with molten cheese and grilled onion. Expect third degree burns on your tongue if you don't wait a bit. But that's the best part when have you sat down and had a hot cheeseburger NEVER! Until here shoutout to the chef for perfecting such greatness. We added fries and a soda I wish I got the cheese fries because they looked so good. But that's for next time. (Price $10 a burger)($3extra for a double) well worth This place is legit W burgers

    Fries
    April V.

    The burgers are good but not a big fan of the sauce. Fries are nicely salted. Bought the fry's sauce & it's like an In-N-Out spread sauce packet. I didn't really like it & it tastes like it has some types of mustard or horseradish or strong oil Not sure if I was overcharged or the prices increased The service was fast though

    Entrance
    Hannah S.

    Always on the lookout for a great burger and have heard a lot about For The Win, but my experience here was a bit disappointing. The burgers are cooked nicely and the cheese is good - but their fry sauce is overwhelmingly sweet, they charge an additional price for everything apart from the buns and meat, the vibes are uninviting, and the staff don't seem to want to have anything to do with the customers.  We were meeting up with my SIL/MIL and were all craving burgers so we came here for our family dinner. The decor is minimalist, bare bones, and quite sterile - definitely not an inviting place to linger. There are giant order screens instead of registers at the counter and the staff are hiding back in the kitchen and constantly seemed busy and overwhelmed even when we needed help (we were the only customers). We eventually figured out our issues on our own and got our food ordered with no help from anyone. We ordered three single cheese burgers and one double with some loaded fries, water bottles and a chocolate shake - almost cost $80! If you want lettuce and tomato or even pickles - extra charge. Pretty much nickel and dime you for anything other than the meat and cheese lol. And forget about water cups - there aren't any water stations or anything so you're forced to get bottled water (yay more microplastics). The food took a while to prepare and when it came out, our shake was missing. I asked the staff about it and he seemed very annoyed - but I eventually got it.  The burgers were cooked decently - the meat and cheese have decent flavors but again, I was not a fan of how sweet their fry sauce was - it was overwhelming on both the burgers and the fries. I also asked for two extra sides of the sauce as I wasn't sure what to expect and they charge extra for that too ($3 for two sauces) lol. It's definitely not made in house - it came in pre packaged plastic like giant ketchup packets. Definitely wouldn't get this again. The fries were pretty good and the chocolate shake was nice - those were the wins of our experience. I was also taken aback that the self-order kiosk asks you for a tip - you self order, pick up your order yourself when they put it on the counter so you take it back to your table yourself, AND clean up after yourself - which is totally fine but what would we need to tip for?  The location is great - in the main core of the cute little downtown Alhambra area near the movie theater. Parking is easy in the garages nearby. The food isn't bad and I would come again if it wasn't so impersonal and expensive, but unfortunately based on this first experience I doubt we'll be back - definitely preferred it when it was Grill Em All.

    Our already today. 2 double cheeseburger, dirty fries, and Brussels
    Ann Q.

    We had a really great first time experience today! There was only one gentleman working today and he greeted everyone that came in! I told him it was our first time here and he warmly helped us out at the register. Explained what the burgers come with and sides options. We opted for 2 double cheeseburgers no add ons, and all fixings. Order of Brussels and dirty fries. OMG if I was younger I would throw down the burgers and fries so quick!!! The dirty fries had tons of grilled onions and their fry sauce. There was an option to add bacon bits but we decided against it since we were expecting our meal to be heavy already. I absolutely loved the dirty fries!!! It was an elevated more gourmet version of in n out animal fries. The smash burgers were made very well, nice char and crispy beef edges! Cheese fully melted, generous sauce, pickles n onions all in some sweet and soft toasted brioche buns! The buns were similar to Hawaiian bread. I had to eat with a fork and knife, I had already fumbled and dirtied my dress with the Brussels! Brussels I think we're just deep fried, I don't think there was any sauce or toppings on it yet the Brussels were not overly bitter. I was hoping they were going to help with offsetting the heaviness of the overall meal, but because it too was fried in beef tallow, everything ate overall super heavy and very rich. These aren't cheap, you are paying for quality and you will get quality foods! Despite the price I felt like it was worth it. I would definitely add veggies on my next visit and and and!!! I found out coconut Co is going to be their neighbor soon!!! It would be a perfect pairing to get a coconut drink to pair with my burger!!! I'm so excited for them to open!!! Man... Definitely get the dirty fries!!! I'm drooling just thinking about it! BYOB, there is no fountain drinks here only canned and bottled drinks. No ice no water refill station.

    Happy to be at our favorite smashburger in Alhambra!
    Greg W.

    I wanted to post an update. About 2 weeks after the review we went back. We walked up to the front and asked the grill master if they are buttering and/or grilling the buns. The answer was unfortunately "sorry no", so we decided not to eat there. Michael, I hope this changes back but until it does, we won't be returning. This might work for the normal buns but not for the gluten free buns. Because of this, I can't give them four stars any longer.

    Ashley H.

    Alright burger place. Service was minimal and there were kiosk stations upfront to order on. Meal itself wasn't bad (a little on the salty side) but I was pretty surprised on how small their cheeseburger was being $8+. Asked staff for water cups which was denied. Overheard another patron after ask and also denied as well.

    Tiffany T.

    One of my favorite smash burgers! The burgers are incredibly flavorful, and you really get those perfectly crispy edges. The servers are always super friendly and quick with my orders. There's convenient parking nearby in the garage behind the movie theater or next to Dollar Tree.

    Cheeseburger
    Austin B.

    tl;dr the excellent, McDonald's-esque fries can't make up for the average smashburger; the expensive food isn't worth the premium Following the COVID-era smashburger trend, For the Win is a pandemic-borne pop-up from the mind of former fine-dining chef Santos Uy. Originally operating out of his Bib Gourmand-designated Papilles Bistro, FTW has since established multiple dedicated brick-and-mortar locations across Greater Los Angeles. While many burger aficionados lament that the quality has declined with the expansion, FTW remains routinely ranked among LA's top smashburgers. The relatively recent Alhambra outpost is located by the movie theater at the busy intersection of Garfield and Main. The interior decoration is pretty barebones. The concrete floors are polished, and the whitewashed walls have only orange-and-blue, FTW-specific decals. Up front, a handful of wooden tables are pressed up against a teal-upholstered booth. Further back, a diner-style counter peers directly into the open kitchen. The hum of the industrial refrigerator and sizzle from the grill overpower the low din of chatter. I originally was drawn to FTW for their lunch special: a cheeseburger, fries, and a drink for $9.99. Within about 10 minutes, I was presented with a cafeteria tray of food. The piping hot cheeseburger was mostly forgettable, from the flimsy potato roll bun, to the handful of snappy pickles, to the not-quite-juicy-and-not-quite-crispy patty, to FTW's overly sweet Thousand Island-adjacent fry sauce. The shoestring fries were a superior McDonald's dupe: excellently crispy, and the portion was the perfect size for sharing. The staff were friendly, and I was pleased to see my burger being cooked to order. Although I have never tried FTW during the pre-expansion days, I've confirmed during a return visit that the Alhambra location is middling as far as smash burgers go. Ultimately, the burgers are no more satisfying than a solid In-N-Out Double Double, but double the price; as such, I don't expect myself ever paying them a return visit.

    Triple smash with loaded fries and a chocolate shake. Better go for a walk after!
    Colin O.

    Sweet and simple, this is a great burger. Everything is cooked fresh and the staff always make an effort to welcome their customers. Not cheap by any stretch but the taste is worth it. Love their food!

    Fries
    Jess B.

    My husband and I tried this place out on a Saturday night. It was about 1.5 hours from closing. It's an open kitchen and they have both table and bar seating. We opted to sit at the bar and watch the cook prepare our food. Your order from a kiosk (there's two in total), which I really like. The menu is small and simple; there's only a few options for burgers and sides. My husband ordered a double cheeseburger with fries and I ordered a double cheeseburger (lettuce wrapped) with brussel sprouts. Service was standard. They weren't friendly but they weren't rude either. And our food was delivered pretty quickly after ordering. I started with the brussel sprouts and they were really salty. It was so salty that after my first bite I had to immediately down my drink. They were pretty pricey so I forced myself to eat them but paired them with the lettuce wrapped around my burger to decrease the saltiness. I had the burger next. It was good but I wasn't a fan of the sauce.

    Cheeseburger
    Gail Astrid M.

    Love their smash burgers over here. I wish they had more signature drinks rather than the tap and the canned. Overall all A+ customer service. Very casual place.

    Double Cheeseburger
    Rickey S.

    TLDR: burger is tasty but seems overpriced for what it is. I'd give it a 4/5 stars overall if the double cheese burger was like $12 after tax: 5 star for the burger & 3 stars for the service. -- Came in on a Friday around 915pm. I ordered a double cheeseburger ($12.50) with tomato and lettuce added ($1) and it came out to $14.92 after taxes. The burger was good, crispy edges from the smash burger, well seasoned. The lettuce and tomato are a must to add more texture. It's just way too pricy to be $15 for a double smash burger imo. The service was mid. There were only two people in the restaurant including me. It took about 15 minutes to get my order. Maybe they were understaffed but there were only two workers but I could tell they were slammed with all the online orders coming in. The other customer who was waiting on his meal didn't get the sweet potato fries that he ordered because they made a mistake and had to wait for the sweet potato fries to be cooked (from frozen) and I ended up finishing my burger before his order was completed. Online orders weren't completed in the 15-20 minutes that I was there. After 9 pm they put the chairs up by the booth and only bar seating is available.

    Julia K.

    My husband and I came here for a quick bite after discovering it about a year ago near our favorite local movie theater. There's plenty of parking behind the former Rite Aid or the theater structure. We ordered two single cheeseburgers, they do them smash Burger style here, and a side of sweet potato fries. Everything was fresh and delicious. Sad to see it was a pretty slow night for the restaurant as we have seen businesses come and go from this place over the years and it would be a shame to see this place go too. If you're in the area, stop by and get some bomb burgers, the fry sauce doesn't disappoint either!

    Cheeseburger (left), Chicken Sandwich (right)

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mia G.
    2
    37
    14

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joe B.
    0
    69
    0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Eric H.
    334
    12
    14

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Sklar T.
    1531
    955
    12504

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J ..
    0
    44
    55

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Food was delicious as always! Amazing service from Sal and Enoch and Hein! Will definitely come back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M M.
    0
    34
    2

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael A.

    Michael A.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Really like the smash burger. The friends are generous. I wanted to try the broccoli, but they sold out. Next time.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of El N.
    128
    26
    0

    4 months ago

    I love this place! Josh and the rest of the crew are great! I highly recommend throwing some bacon on your burger!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael A.

    Michael A.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Frederic H.
    500
    67
    255

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ruth D.
    18
    26
    818

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of S. L.
    49
    30
    19

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rei E.
    37
    107
    1221

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 8

    Ask the Community - For The Win

    Hey! Just wondering any follow up on the question regarding a nut allergy?

    Just wondering, for a nut allergy, is there any concern?

    Llppp

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    With Love, - Add your own toppings for free

    With Love,

    4.5(430 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $

    Second Visit & Still Such a Fun Dessert Spot!…read more This was our second visit here, and once again the service and ambience were very welcoming. It's a smaller dessert spot with about 3-4 tables available, but it gives off a cozy and chill vibe that we really enjoyed. This time we got the half-and-half milk and ube ice cream with taiyakis filled with: * taro * red bean * custard * cheesecake * nutella And honestly... I was really surprised that the cheesecake filling was actually delicious! Creamy, smooth, and definitely something I'd order again. The taiyaki itself was warm with that nice slight crisp on the outside, and paired perfectly with the ice cream. Overall, such a fun spot for dessert and definitely a must-try if you're craving taiyakis and ice cream. Happy eats!

    This small dessert place is located in an outdoor mall. It is hard to find a parking space in the…read morelot. There is street parking available. This place is unique with Taiyaki Ice Cream. What is that? A freshly baked fish shell filled with custard or other filling. It is served with soft serve ice cream. There is a topping bar that is unlimited !!! the place was busy and there was a line. The servers were efficient to take the orders and prepare them too. The wait was not too long. I ordered the pineapple Dole whip and it was SO GOOD. The baked fish was filled with custard and enjoyable too. There are a few a few tables and chairs inside, but be ready to eat your treat outside. I am looking forward to returning and try other flavors.

    Photos
    With Love,
    With Love,
    With Love, - Menu

    See all

    Menu

    Patisserie Too - Heating up the croissant egg tart and Portuguese egg tart, so good

    Patisserie Too

    4.2(448 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    I loved the coconut tart the most. Every single tart here is very affordable here, ranging from…read more$0.95 to $2. The cheapest and simplest one is the Portuguese egg tart and the more fancy ones are either $1.75 or $2. I tried all of them: Portuguese egg tart, cheese tart, caramel croissant tart, tiramisu tart, berry tart, and coconut tart (my favorite). We also got the salted egg yolk croissant for only $1 which is a steal although I wish it was a tad bit sweeter to balance out the salt. It was a smooth process to go in and buy. They also have a variety of specialty desserts that are in the $8 price range if you want something more extravagant. I tried the King Panda which was filled with cream cheese mousse. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, but more of the latter. We went on a Saturday and it was pretty packed but we managed to snag a seat.

    Came here for egg tarts and their bakery goods, this is a newly opened bakery and thought to try…read moreit. Turns out all their baked goods are delicious, probably glad I don't live walking distance or else I might develop diabetes. They are known for their tarts, but their cakes are also delicious! Their favored tea are more towards the Japanese candy taste. Def would recommend checking this place out. Will need to park at street or local parking garages though. There is also seating areas inside and outside but very very limited. Mostly to go. Although I got to say their quality have gone down since they been more popular which is the biggest disappointment part. Hoping they can improve so leaving one star off for that.

    Photos
    Patisserie Too - Paste de nata (Portuguese egg tart)

    Paste de nata (Portuguese egg tart)

    Patisserie Too - English tea

    English tea

    Patisserie Too - View from across street

    See all

    View from across street

    Salju Dessert

    Salju Dessert

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $

    We found GOLD in Alhambra! Mother's Day lunch at a well known seafood restaurant, the family was…read moresearching for dessert to complete the special occasion. Of course we turned to Yelp! Enter Salju! Amazing place. Delicious dessert, super friendly service, and very cozy but comfortable dining area. Huge variety of desserts from drinks, to ice cream, crepes, and the best shaved ice. The service was a bit slow but not because of lack of hustle. This couple was hauling the best they can with the Mother's Day crowd. And it was worth the wait. Check out everyone's photos. If you're coming in a big crew like I did, order different items and share share share. I will definitely make an effort to return here especially with summer fast approaching. Clean solo bathroom and plenty of parking.

    Such a cute hidden spot on Valley! I stopped by late at night craving something to cool me off and…read moreended up here for dessert. I've been here before, but ever since Salju went viral on TikTok, it's definitely gotten a lot busier compared to past years. That said, the quality is still great. I ordered a regular milk shaved ice with mango and mochi, plus condensed milk drizzled on top. The shaved ice itself and the toppings were delicious, but I'd probably skip the condensed milk next time since it made everything a bit too sweet for my taste. Portion sizes are generous. The small is easily enough to share between two people, and the medium is massive. There are tons of flavor options to choose from, and orders come out pretty quickly despite how busy it can get!

    Photos
    Salju Dessert - Welcome to Salju Dessert. #Order counter

    Welcome to Salju Dessert. #Order counter

    Salju Dessert - Pineapple with double gummies

    Pineapple with double gummies

    Salju Dessert - Strawberry snow with boba, mochi and condensed milk

    See all

    Strawberry snow with boba, mochi and condensed milk

    Pillow Talk Cafe Pasadena - Egg Heaven and Tamagoyaki sandwiches

    Pillow Talk Cafe Pasadena

    4.2(592 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    Came here after checking out Descanso Gardens and was worried they'd sell out so I placed an online…read moreorder. Picking up was smooth and easy but parking was awful. We had to circle the area a few times to find street parking. It would be nice if they had a designated parking lot in addition to street parking because some of the businesses around there had that. There was seating inside despite the store being pretty small, so my bf and I just ate inside. The cakes were pretty good! I got the Matcha Yuzu and he got the Kinako Chestnut. I couldn't really taste the yuzu until I tried only the first layer of cream. The matcha overpowers the yuzu a lot because there was two layers of matcha cream and one layer of matcha cake. Still really good and can taste that the matcha is high quality! As for the kinako chestnut, we couldn't taste the chestnut much but there were some chestnut pieces hidden in the cake! I would love to try the peach one as well but this place is quite far. Hopefully I'm in the area when they have the peach seasonal again.

    Ordered UberEats and my order arrived in less than an hour!…read more Menu had a good variety of sandwiches, cakes, and drinks. Pricing was pricey. Most of the cakes cost $9+ and the sandwiches were $10+! Got the Egg Heaven Sandwich ($13) and it was pretty much an egg salad sandwich. The bread didn't taste fresh and was quite dry. I was expecting the bread to be soft and fluffy but that wasn't the texture at all. The egg salad was quite heavy on mayonnaise and had too much pepper for my preference. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the sandwich unfortunately. The Sunny Side Up (Coconut Mango Mousse Cake) - $9.50 - was delicious! Love how it was nicely packaged in a cute tin! The mango mousse was so creamy and I could tell it was made with sweet mangos! The cake was so moist and fresh. The coconut cream on top made it even more delicious! Definitely recommend! The Tiramisu ($9.50) was so good! It was so creamy and every bite was nicely layered with mascarpone mousse/coffee jelly and topped with cocoa powder. It wasn't too sweet and the cream didn't feel too heavy. The cake was very fresh and soft! Overall, I didn't enjoy the sandwich but the cakes were incredible and definitely worth getting!

    Photos
    Pillow Talk Cafe Pasadena
    Pillow Talk Cafe Pasadena - NEW SPECIAL DRINKS

    NEW SPECIAL DRINKS

    Pillow Talk Cafe Pasadena - Sandwiches

    See all

    Sandwiches

    For The Win - burgers - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...