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    Happy Place Eatery

    4.4 (128 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    HAPPY PLACE EATERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Happy Place Eatery

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    Darwin C.

    I've eaten at a lot of food trucks in Washington, DC, with a variety of food, and this burger truck is a good find. I found this burger truck by accident on base and was hungry at the same time. So I decided to get a double patty and fries came with the order. Great on the presentation and how the food was put together. I did not expect the food to look the way it did but it looked and tasted delicious! The fries were crunchy and had good flavor. The burger was filling and I liked how they grilled the onions. For a burger truck?! This is hands down a really good food truck. So far, one of the better food trucks that visit the base. If they stop by again, I'd definitely buy another burger. I'm all about convenience where I don't have to leave the office.

    Double smash burger

    Pros: The Fries. Get the fries. Super crispy, well-seasoned perfection. Maybes: Wings - large, crispy, juicy. The cooking is just right; we got the lemon pepper ones and they were a bit overly salty. I'd go back to try buffalo-style. Ranch dressing - usually I dive into the stuff, here I only dipped once - seems like too much mayo/oil? The burger? Better plan on ordering a double-patty. The picture attached -is- a double patty and it was not bad, but not a must-have next time. As someone else noted - pickles are bread-and-butter sweet, not dill. Not my preference. BUT - burgers come with sides of bbq sauce to your requested spice heat level, and I will say the "O.G" sauce is a keeper. I'd buy a bottle if they have it next time. Can only imagine how good it would be on some tri-tip. O-rings - were O-kay, nicely fried and crunchy, but not particularly onion-y, either.

    Vegan loaded fries
    Lianna M.

    Great burger spot with yummy vegan options! It was crowded because of the football game, but there was plenty of seating outside. We ordered a smash burger, Louisiana fried chicken sandwich, onion rings, the vegan smash burger, vegan loaded fries, and some side salads. The smash burger was pretty solid, we should have added an extra patty because the bun was pretty fluffy. I enjoyed the sauce on it that had a little kick to it. The Louisiana fried chicken was also very good. I'm glad that I got the dry rub because it was pretty sauced up without the buffalo sauce. The onion rings were also solid. Very crispy and a generous portion. Vegan options were really good! The vegan smash burger was just like the regular burger, just with a beyond patty. Can't pass on their vegan loaded fries! Loved how crispy they were, and the toppings made it even more tasty. Definitely will be back if I ever wanted comfort food in Ventura! Happy Place brought me to my happy place!

    Jess B.

    ~ GOOD VIBES AND GREAT FOOD ~ Happy Place Eatery truly lives up to its name. From the moment you walk in, it's welcoming and just an easy place to hang out. The space is open and packed with TVs, seriously, there are so many. It's an awesome spot to watch a game, and if there's something specific you want on, they're super accommodating and happy to switch it for you. Food is classic American comfort, the smash burgers are a must, simple and delicious. I've been on a wings kick and these are a sleeper hit... especially the lemon pepper. We also loved the pretzel bites with cheese sauce, mozzarella sticks, and those house-made sauces (ranch and honey mustard were both fire). Portions are generous, fries come in abundance, and everything comes out fast and hot. Beer lovers will appreciate the rotating taps and ciders, plus their fun "bottoms up" beer system with collectible magnets that actually save you money over time. Happy hour is super solid too $5 beers and well-priced food make it an easy win. Service deserves a shoutout. Ordering is done at the bar, but food is brought to your table, and the staff is genuinely friendly and full of good energy. It feels like a neighborhood spot where they actually want you to have a good time. Between the patio, the selfie booth, affordable prices, and game-day setup, Happy Place Eatery is a great downtown Ventura hang for friends, families, or anyone looking for good food, cold drinks, and relaxed vibes. I'll definitely be back!!!

    Beer
    Ignacio S.

    Been coming here for months and it never disappoints. Great spot with a chill vibe and solid smash burgers. They have a lot of TVs to watch your favorite sports. Olivia is an amazing server, great energy, super welcoming, and makes every visit feel like you're a regular from day one. Always look forward to coming back

    Smash Burger
    Christina W.

    My boyfriend and I came here religiously for a few months collecting magnets. Came in today for the first time in a while, my boyfriend was craving their pizza since yesterday which they apparently no longer serve. We also tried to turn in our 28 magnets we've collected after several visits and from bringing in friends and apparently they don't accept them for a $1 beer anymore. We also came here to watch the Thursday night football game and they weren't playing it. Just seems like it's changed a lot since we last came. Change can be good but it's so odd that we came here a lot to collect magnets and were so excited over their $1 beers for 10 magnets and we can't redeem that anymore. We had 1 beer and went somewhere else.

    Crispy French Fries
    Cierra A.

    I had the Philly Cheesesteak at the Happy Place Food Truck at Topa Topa Brewery and it was AMAZING! Delicious! Definitely recommend checking this place out if you are in the mood for a good cheesesteak or even a burger!

    Banana pudding
    Eric Z.

    Great food! Sit & relax with the downtown Ventura breeze with some great food; many TVs; all the drinks you can handle & excellent service. A must try.

    Charlotte C.

    This place yummy! I like the food even though I wasn't sure what to expect. You might initially walk by it because the sign doesn't match the name. You go in and seat yourselves and they bring you a menu and then you walk up to the counter and order. Personally I didn't like most of their sauces but I got a bbq bacon burger which was delicious and their fries were so good. My daughter got a sampler platter which was also so good! It had a funny name like "my girlfriend isn't hungry" and had pretzel bites, cheese sticks, chicken fingers and fries. It was a little pricey but it was tasty. Would probably go back to try something else.

    Pinacolada seltzer & Mexican lager 5oz
    Dinakar M.

    Chose this place so we can catch up 4qtr 49ers game, festive vibe and plenty of TV's to watch the game. Finger food was good and enjoyed the small size lager too.

    Banana pudding
    Luke Z.

    Food was amazing. Great smash burger, great donuts, great fries (sweet potato w/ brown sugar, regular beer battered, and garlic fries). We also got ranch which was very herby and homemade, delicious with beer battered. My recommendation is the Happy Smashburger with regular fries + ranch. Also we got cinnamon donuts, more like cinnamon beignets, which were extremely delicious. The banana pudding was exception too. Can't go wrong with this place. Ambiance is open, cozy, and moody but in a good way. Real plants allow for a better atmosphere as well as booths for cushy seating. The service was great, very accommodating, not the friendliest but could be a language barrier. However, you can tell they put their work into their craft. Overall, worth the visit and the food, try it out!

    Smash burger
    Rachel I.

    Delicious!! Was down the road and needed a quick bite to eat. Stumbled on this spot and I'm glad I did! The food was incredibly delicious , fresh quality ingredients. Beautiful restaurant, small but lots of sitting!

    Food truck offering... Smash burger for me and dog version of a smash burger...

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    13 days ago

    After complaining about the price I realize now that you get what you pay for. I tried the rest now I came back to the best. Yum yum!

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    21 hours ago

    The food was great and atmosphere aswell Olivia was great service was excellent made my first time experience here great will be coming back

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    Ask the Community - Happy Place Eatery

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