My family and I were visiting the area to check out the mission in downtown. We wanted a simple and laid-back place to get a bite to eat being that we had our 3 year old us. After a quick check on yelp, this place came highly recommended. I was a little bit worried when I arrived. We were the only people in the entire restaurant. My wife and I were seated quickly. I did appreciate that the menu was not overly complicated. It made it easy to make our selections. They also did offer happy hour specials during the week. I opted for the double Smashburger and fries. The Smashburger comes with their signature sauce, which you can order at a few different spice levels. The girl at the counter said that normally people go with the regular spice level so I opted for that. When my burger and fries arrived, I was quite surprised at the portion sizes. My basket was filled with french fries and my burger was pleasantly large. In regards to the flavor I do have to say this was probably one of the best tasting burgers I have ever had. I didn't want to note that they do use sweet pickles on their burgers here. But it just works with the flavor that they're going for. My wife ordered the "my girlfriend is not hungry" sampler platter. This came with fries, onion rings, pretzel bites chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks. Everything was great tasting. Their onion rings were cooked to absolute perfection. The restaurant itself on the inside is a little bit small so I could imagine on days that they are busy. It might get a little bit cramped. I did also wanna mention that I did like that. They had a changing table in the restroom. That was a nice touch that you honestly do not see at a lot of restaurants even the mainstream ones. read more

Happy Place Eatery - Happy Smash Burger - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

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We went to the happy Place eatery on a crazy busy Saturday. We ordered mozzarella sticks, which were very nice and stringy and my son was very happy with stringy and fun. We ordered the pretzel balls. They were good, but they needed more salt. We also ordered the Philly cheesesteak, OMG! I am a Philly cheesesteak connoisseur and it had this wonderful cheesy hatch sauce. This is my very favorite new Philly cheesecake place out here because there's not a lot of places we can go. We also got the sliders. The sliders had a really nice bun. It came with a smash burger Patty, it has wonderful, caramelized, onions, and sliced pickles. It was a very nice combination and they have the yummy thousand island dressing on there similar to In-N-Out. Derick was are server and was doing awesome, especially considering he was alone on a crazy busy day. The food was great, atmosphere decent. We will be back! I was so glad it was better than my expectations! read more

Just discovered my Happy Place. BRE and Derek Mathewson rock it and made us feel like old friends. Check out Derek's photography on the wall as well!!! read more

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. read more

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They changed the onion rings back to the beer battered type! Back up to 5 stars. Next I have to try their philly cheesesteak.

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! read more

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~ 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!!! read more

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Overall experience: AWFUL. I was so happy to see a new burger place in Ventura but that happiness was soon turned into disappointment real quick. The food was NOT good! My burger was very nasty. I hate to say that about food but it was. My partner is not picky at all, but he agreed that it didn't taste good. We threw the burger and fries away. The service was not good as well. This company's food truck was on Port Hueneme Naval Base around lunch time. My family member bought food for us and they were NOT friendly. They didn't even give us napkins. When she asked for napkins, they were rude to her... The restaurant was nicely designed with a clean presentation. It was empty every time we went and I was there during busy times of the day. They did have good pizza. read more

Visiting Ventura. Great vibe from the minute we walk in. Our burgers were amazing, the garlic/pharm and sweet potato fires perfect! Dereck and the rest of the staff absolutely wonderful! A great experience. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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Very good food! We went during happy hour and tried 2 ciders, Parmesan garlic bites, street corn, and the Philly cheesesteak with chicken. The service was quick and the restaurant was a truly happy and fun place to hang out in. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

Happy Place Eatery - Smash burger - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

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. read more

Happy Place Eatery - Pinacolada seltzer & Mexican lager 5oz - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

So bummed with our experience tonight. This is our favorite place for vegan smash burgers so we decided to come back and try some new things. We both got Cesar salads which had a ton of brown lettuce and barely any dressing. I got a side of fries (which I'm pretty sure they have changed the fries now) and they were waaaayyyy over done. Also got the vegan loaded fries and was supposed to be mild but was really spicy. The server also didn't know the vegan loaded fries were even on the menu, we had to show her. Maybe it was just an off night but for $80 I'm pretty bummed. read more

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. read more

Happy Place Eatery - Double smash burger - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

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Great vegan options! I got the vegan smashburger and my husband got the vegan loaded fries. My burger was soo delicious and the fries were SO crispy (and they give you a LOT)! I love the nifty beer dispenser they have too that fills from the bottom. My husband liked his fries, but said the sauce was a little sweet for him. read more

Happy Place Eatery - Vegan loaded fries - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

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Sunday 7/26/2026 @6:30pm - Great spot to hang out after catching a movie across the street. The food was delicious, and although the staff appeared to be short-handed, the two women working absolutely gave it their all. They hustled the entire time while still providing excellent service. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would definitely come back. read more

Had the pleasure of eating at their food truck and have been wanting to stop by. Perfect way to start off Spring. We got there at 3pm on the dot which is when happy hour started. Greeted as soon as we walked in and sat in the front window. Place was clean and has an open feel. Ordered at the bar and the food came out fresh, fast and with friendly service. My partner and I split a double Smashed, then we added the parm bites and pretzel bites. My kid ate almost of the pretzel bites but I snagged a few. The cheese sauce was creamy and a touch spicy. I also like the marinara sauce that came with the parm bites. The burger was BOMB and that's you need to know. Plus a $5 beer, Happy Hour at the Happy Place Eatery doesn't disappoint. read more

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I got the "My girlfriend isn't hungry" and it was pretty good. The pretzel bites and cheese it came with were pretty disappointing, but the fries were delicious, and the chicken was pretty good too. I think next time I would get the smash burger. Came here with a large group so the long tables were cool. Luckily it was good temperature outside, because pretty much all the seating is outside seating only. Employees were nice. read more

Love the food !!! Philly fires are fire!!! We had a great sever "Janelle" she was very attentive and funny. And they finally got Modelo on tap!!! Nice cold beer with the perfect pour !! read more

We had the smash burger and the back smash burger. Both were very tasty! The fries were good too. We also ordered the wings and they were delicious!!! Service was good. Friendly staff. It's a small restaurant with an open patio facing the street. Great for people watching and enjoying the afternoon. Would definitely come back again! read more

Happy Place Eatery - Bacon smash burger. - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

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 read more

Happy Place Eatery - Beer - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

Happy Place Brick & Mortar on Main St. is famous for Smashburgers but the service is so friendly! You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table- either inside or outside. Shout out to Josey, our server last night, who went out of her way to make our first experience exceptional. Love their original Smashburgers with their signature sauce that's slightly sweet and fiery and the bread & butter pickles. That's a bit of a debate - are you team bread & butter or team dill pickle fan? I tried the Elote Salad with Chicken and it was a flavor bomb- would definitely order again! Ambiance is modern pub with TV's for the Sports fans and good music videos playing. They offer great selection of local craft brews and Outside picnic tables for enjoying Ventura's great weather and lively downtown scene. Highly recommended!! read more

I got their smash burger and fries through their food truck at the Ojai Valley Brewery today. It was so yummy!!! And the people working the food truck were very nice! Will definitely check out their restaurant in Ventura. I know it will be an even larger menu, am trust that everything will be as delicious as the smash burger and fries I got from their food truck. I also love that they have a dog version of patties with the same quality of meat. read more

Happy Place Eatery - Food truck offering... Smash burger for me and dog version of a smash burger... - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

Stopped in for a quick bite and there was something for everybody and we all really enjoyed our food. The staff was lovely and the beer selection was good too (= read more

I have gone twice now. Servers are friendly. Smash burger is good, but not a fan of the sweet pickles (personal preference). Regular pickles would be a great option. Mostly hightop seating, but benches outside provided seating for larger parties. Unfortunately high chairs were too tall to be used at these benches (they were meant for the indoor high tops). It is a huge bummer that they charge $1 per individual portion of ranch. I think that the big 3 (ranch, ketchup, mustard) should be complimentary. But maybe cashiers should at least offer it at checkout so customers know beforehand? I had to wait again in a long line during a rush just to ask (and pay) for it instead of soaking in family time. read more

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! read more

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Service was nice but burger gave my bf and I food poisoning. Ordered from the food truck.

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! read more

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Happy place always coming in with the clutch grub! The truck was set up at the fireworks show at the Ventura college and was the hit of the show and you could tell by the line! The smash burger cooked exactly how it should with crispy edges, American cheese and that crave worthy sauce! The consistency is always the best and you know exactly what to expect every time. They do have a sampler option but due to the wait and crowds it wasn't offered but next time I'm at the brick and mortar or the truck on a slower event I'm all in on the sampler! read more

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We walked in thinking it was gonna be your average burger joint and boy were we wrong! The food is so good! From their proprietary secret sauce (spicy and delicious!) to their house ranch -- you know the food is prepared with a love of the culinary kind! The service is beyond reproach! Chema not only gave us great recommendations, but let me know if be missing out if I didn't give the Balcom Canyon Blueberry Cider a try. (I'd been looking for a blueberry beer...) He was so right! He shared lots of insight about the restaurant, the food, and the area! Sitting at the counter was ideal for us today, but I think our next visit we will have to sit at the open sidewalk window! We will definitely be back. read more

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We stopped by Happy Place Eatery while shopping for antiques in downtown Ventura. This place was really good. We got a couple of appetizers and a couple of drinks. The staff was friendly and attentive. Service was relatively quick. There is inside and outside seating so we sat outside to enjoy the sun in the middle of January. We ordered the Parmesan bites and Loaded Happy Fries. They didn't disappoint. We'll come back again. read more

Happy Place Eatery - Happy Place Eatery in Ventura, CA - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

Happy Place Eatery is such a great addition to downtown Ventura. If you are looking for friendly vibes, a cold beer and delicious American classics then this spot is for you! I've wandered by this spot a few times and have been happy to see they've been pretty busy and getting good traffic inside since they have opened. I know a lot of my friends personally were excited about this spot having followed them from their food truck days. This place definitely makes me happy to eat at. The name fits! The restaurant itself is very casual and laid back. You order at a counter so no table service per say. However, they will bring your food over to you after you order which is nice. Service the night we came was a 10/10. Ashanti was our server and beer tender and she was lovely. We kept calling her a queen because she truly is one! She was so bubbly and friendly. She totally made the night with her good vibes and attentiveness. Given also that it was everyone's first time, she helped explain their beer system and tokens that you can collect to save money on your beers in the future (make sure you ask her/them about it next time you come). Prices were reasonable. You can get a beer and a full meal for about $25. Nothing wrong with that. They have a rotating beer and cider/seltzer selection which I appreciate. I went with a Balcom Canyon mango cider and it was one of the best ciders I've had in the US in a while. Very refreshing and tasty. Ice cold too - you can't go wrong. For my meal I kept it simple with a chicken fingers plate and fries. Classic no frills but definitely tasty and hit the spot. I also love their dressings! I'm a sauce queen and to keep me coming back I need those good homemade sauces which they totally have here. Tried their ranch and honey mustard with my chicken strips and they were so good. Yum! Also if you are a wing lover their wings are a home run 10/10 here. So jealous my friend got them and I didn't lol. Now I know. Their lemon pepper wings are everything I dream about. Well seasoned and super crunchy. Some of the best wings I've had in the 805. I'll definitely be back for these bad boys. At the table my friends also ordered their burgers, pizzas and salads. Everything was tasty and well received. Easy to say you'll find something to satisfy even your pickiest of eaters. Good simple bar type food done right. Final notes: The restaurant was clean and so was the bathroom. The tables are primarily high tops but they did have a couple of more booth types seats too. Love that they have a selfie booth. Super fun and captures a nice moment. If you haven't been to Happy Place Eatery you are missing out and please make sure to give them a try! read more

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One of my biggest peeves is someone complaining that they were "ignored" the whole time . Get up and order . This is informal dining . Counter service . Prices are not high and it does get busy. No one means to ignore you .. it's a small time biz , they just opened . Get over yourself. I guess I am all about small biz and cheer for them all the way . I went in today and Ashanti is a rockstar . QUEEN. She was at the register by herself for the most part and held it down. Her personality is all about what a place named Happy Place should have . All smiles and super friendly . I felt she was my bestie by the end of the night . My whole squad had a great time ! I ordered the double smash with fries and it was delicious . I had to get my Casa Agria beer . So good . The pint glasses are like nothing I've seen before . They fill from The bottom and once done , you keep the token at the bottom. Once you've collected 10 you get a discounted beer . So cool. The spot is clean . Chill vibes and tons of real plants . I love it. I made sure to hit up Their self booth too ! If you're a person with bad vibes .. shake them off and then stop by . This place is a Happy Place and not meant for downers. read more

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Went there on a long weekend on a Saturday, Fast service , good food, nice ambiance, delicious beer definitely going back read more

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My Husband is a long time friend of @skysunner the owner of @wedeliverliquor @happyplaceeatery, so we knew that as soon as his brick & mortar opened up in @downtownventura we had to go! According to my husband, he's known Sky for over 20 years. They actually met in 2000 when my husband became the golf course superintendent to Saticoy Regional Golf Course the first time he was the golf course superintendent there (he was also superintendent fr. 2021-2023) Sky is one of those community figures that supports so many other businesses while also creating his own mark in the community, it's hard not to support him & the amazing things he does. We came in on a Monday so that we wouldn't have to fight for seating & it was a day off for both of us. We came in around lunch time & we ordered a few things... Chicken Wings (Lemon Pepper) Pizza Slice Vegan Chicken Sandwich (comes w/fries) Double Smash Burger (comes w/fries) Banana Pudding My Vegan Chicken Sandwich was sooo good! Right now it does not come w/ a sauce, the sauce that they have for their other sandwiches is not vegan b/c it does contain eggs in it, but the sandwich on its own, it's still very good. My only critique is b/c there is no sauce, I wish it had more spice b/c I love a little bit of heat. I'm not gonna lie it was really delicious & satisfying. It made me feel very full. I actually did not eat for several hours after having this. My husband enjoyed the lemon pepper wings, the pizza, and he really enjoyed the double smash burger with that amazing happy sauce. My Hubby waited until we were home to eat the Banana Pudding. My husband loves banana pudding so much so I wasn't really surprised when he ordered this. His only critique is that he wish there was more I gotta tell you, it was so nice in there. The customer service was on point. We had a waitress that really paid attention to us and our needs. I highly recommend coming & trying their menu. But make sure you are seated inside. It's quite chilly these days & it's easier to catch the attention of the waitstaff inside, rather than outside. I love that they have something for EVERYONE! read more

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SERVICE: I only know of them through their food truck and my first experience was at a music festival. Staff seemed cool. FOOD: forget the name of the basic burger but man it was delicious! Great flavor and seasoned just right (not too salty, not under dressed). WELL: I must go back again and now that I learned there's a storefront. read more

This is new-ish to Main St in Ventura and I am so happy we stopped for a bite! The food was DELICIOUS and the ambiance was so friendly. The only reason I drop a star on the review is because we went during happy hour and the only guy working did not offer happy hour rates/menu. Regardless, do yourself a favor and try the Philly cheesesteak when you come here, you won't regret it! read more

Happy Place Eatery - Burgers Near Me - Ventura, California

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