Great service, food, and ambiance! This place is very nostalgic for my family and I. Glad there is still a Knowlwood's open that we can go to. read more

Liana is a very good server at Knowlwood, she greets everyone with a beautiful smile and she's very good at what she does

Crazy that this place has only three stars! Been here before but this last experience was so great! Ordered the Frisco Burger, the chicken Caesar salad and the quesadilla kids meal. Also a boysenberry shake. Everything was great quality especially the salad! Had lots of chicken and it was good quality and came out hot like it should. The kids quesadilla came with a choice of beef or chicken which I thought was a great value. Everything was a great value here and the portion sizes were generous. The employees were very friendly and attentive when we approached the counter, and were very knowledgeable about the menu. You can tell they care. The actual restaurant itself is a time capsule of a simpler time and is a little rundown in a way that I think enhances the ambiance even more. So many cool historical items to look at. Overall Knowlwood embodies classic America from the service to the value to the actual vibes of the building. My family and I will definitely be coming back! read more

The restaurant was filthy. The booths were caked with dust, and the condiments were all sticky and gross. The food lacked texture and flavor, and it was greasy and disappointing. We couldn't eat more than a few bites, especially after noticing the dirty environment. Today we tried the breakfast. We've tried the burger once before, and I'm saying the "World's Best Hamburger" sign out front is genuinely offensive. You don't get to make that claim when you serve the same awful frozen burger they have next door. Do better. read more

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This place has good food, and I found out they served onion rings here. Basically I always knew this place existed but never dined here for some reason. This place is clean but extremely old feeling, like you don't require a tetanus shot just to use the restroom or anything. It's just an old building where the floor boards shift kinda funny, and things break as time passes. I'll tell you one thing that ain't broken, the kitchen and workers are on point. I ordered some "best burger" thing and it was awesome, also got fries. I took my friend here, we were supposed to eat at Denny's but I mentioned that I've always been here but never ate at Knowlwood, so we ate here. The only thing I regret was not ordering onion rings, I love onion rings. The workers are friendly, the food is great, the place looks tacky and the customers are expected to be rude because it's in Irvine but I had a good time here. This place is great, that is all. read more

The food was delish! We had omelets...we had burgers with fries... and we had the most amazing oriental chicken salad...they had a band playing while we had brunch...nice atmosphere..cozy vibes..outdoor seating..friendly, excellent service.. read more

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I am shocked that I didn't leave a review for Knowlwood's before! Did you know that this restaurant is registered as a historic site in the City of Irvine? Definitely come by and check it out. Ordering is simple, just get in line and order at the register where your receipt has your order number. There is a lot to choose from and if you're ever wondering what Knowlwood's has to offer, think of it as a diner with more affordable options than IHop and Denny's. The first time I came (which was years ago) I ordered a simple breakfast. This time I ordered the steak and eggs with a side of breakfast potatoes and toast. It's around $15 for this! Yes you heard me!! I'm not too picky with my diner food, so I know I can come Knowlwoods and enjoy my meal everytime. read more

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Dear Lord. These cookies, that's what the review is for. They're like the size of an Oreo. And they're $1.29 each? If I didn't promise my kiddo a small treat I would have laughed and walked out. This is insane. Hey new management, this ain't the way to do whatever you're doing. read more

Knowlwood - These cookies are a freaking $1.29 each - Burgers Near Me - Irvine, California

Saturday, August 16, 2025: We intended to eat at Denny's but this eatery was right next to it and it looked interesting and thought we should try a new place. As soon as you walk in you're quickly drawn in by the ambiance as the unique decor evoked the promise of a tasty home cooked meal, expectations of comfort food. It advertised that it had the best hamburger so my husband opted for that while I ordered the fish & chips. I'm no expert but I've had fish & chips all over in the U.S.; London, England; Darwin, Australia; and the best & most freshest served in Hilo, Hawaii. Our orders were quickly brought out by a confused & unfriendly young woman. When I asked if they had malt vinegar she looked at me with a blank stare then walked away. It was odd but she returned with balsamic vinaigrette. I told her that wasn't malt vinegar & I got the same blank stare but she did eventually return with my request. Sorry but her behavior was strange. Sadly, the food was bland & mediocre. It didn't match the hype of the ambiance & fell exceedingly short! My husband's hamburger fell apart because they stuffed it with too much lettuce and it made the buns soggy. The meat was barely seasoned. My fish was terrible. The batter had a bitter aftertaste and the fish wasn't tasty at all. The tartar sauce & malt vinegar did nothing to enhance it. I was hungry and managed to choke down one filet. It definitely was not cod or pollock. It was unidentifiable. I couldn't finish the rest. It was disgusting & disappointing! We had such high hopes for this establishment. We should have gone to Denny's. read more

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We had been at the great park most of the day and was looking for someplace that wasn't technically fast food but close to the park and this one's very convenient just on the other side of the 5. There was plenty of parking as it was early afternoon on a Sunday - there is a Denny's right next to this restaurant as well as some hotels, but we lucked out and found a spot right away Upon entering, you turned to the left, and there is a large counter and menu above, and it looked to be stations for the cashiers. Maybe based on the time that we were there, both of the gals were very preoccupied, counting their cast drawers at that particular moment. We had to interrupt them to place our order. We did decide to eat inside, although there are are plenty of tables on a patio area as well. Inside is definitely older and has a hodgepodge of all sorts of decor, which was also than adjusted slightly for Halloween decorations. To be honest, though some of the areas of this restaurant looked like they really could use a good cleaning or dusting, so it was hard to decipher if it was real cobwebs or decorations. We waited about 15 minutes for our order. They do call out on a microphone with a bell tone before they speak and then you need to run up and get your order. We did get two fountain drinks as well with our meal. The fountain station is in a little bit, awkward spot and half of the options or not working - just running clear. Before our food arrived, I didn't need to use the ladies room, which also is very old. Everything was functioning, but it's the type of place that even though it may be clean it's old. It feels dirty. I ordered the original cheeseburger which is their claim to fame. My husband ordered the French dip. We shared a basket of fries. The food was delicious. Burger and the French dip were full of flavor. The french fries were nice and hot and I couldn't believe the basket was the small. I can't imagine how big the basket would've been for a large serving. There are a ton of condiments on the table tables everything from ketchup to hot sauce to maple syrup. I needed to move everything off to one side so that we could share the fries and put the tray in between us. It did seem that this place may have been busier earlier that day perhaps for Sunday breakfast as one gentleman was still in the process of cleaning the overall restaurant. There are only about four or five other tables standing at that time. Between the outside area and all the tables and chairs and benches they have it can really fit a lot of people. I'm glad I tried it. The food was great experience and the inside of this place really could use an overhaul but I'm one for nostalgia if you've been around this long you're doing something right. read more

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A few months ago, I've attended a business networking event for the first time. I loved the historic ambience. The food is fresh with a good quality. All employees and the owner are very friendly. Since then, whenever I have a business meeting, I go there. I highly recommend this place. read more

This restaurant is a favorite of my partner & I. The food is great, the prices are reasonable, & there is outdoor seating, which is nice on a sunny day. We have never been disappointed with the quality of the food! read more

All the employees here are super friendly and helpful. The environment has a cute and kitschy old-time vibe. The food was tasty and well prepared. The staff was really helpful with all my vegetarian modification requests . Such a fun experience! Will definitely be back again! read more

Cool breakfast spot right off the 405 on Sand Canyon Ave in Irvine. Inside and outside seating available. Very spacious inside, nice and interesting decoration and a pool table. Plenty of parking. Good atmosphere, relax and enjoyable. Food was really good, tasty and good quantity. Why 4 stars instead of 5? Because the cashier said I could substitute my toast for a pancake. But she didn't say that it was extra. Not a big deal, but I would have liked to know because ordering! read more

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We stopped in for nostalgia's sake, but the "Home of the World's Best Hamburger" claim must be a joke. The burger was dry, tasteless & forgettable. The fries? Just as sad. My chicken salad was no better-- wilted greens, bland chicken, a weird dressing that didn't belong anywhere near food & zucchini cooked into mush. To top it off, the food took forever to arrive, even though there were only two occupied tables in the whole place. By the time it arrived, the disconnected, lifeless atmosphere already had us regretting the choice. If this is the "world's best," I'd hate to see the worst. read more

Knowlwood - NOT a good burger. Bland - Burgers Near Me - Irvine, California

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Melanie is amazing good hearted lady that is very patient and kind. The food here is better than Denny's alot better.

Good chessburger French fries and all types of sandwich good price nice place with live music read more

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Just had our book club meeting here and great ambience and wonderful service from Liana! The food was yummy and such a fun vibe!

The grilled white fish sandwich was moist and delicious. The staff are very welcoming. Highly recommend. read more

Ordered w/out onions. Uber delivered. Had onions. Drove over and had it replaced. Didn't replace my toast this time but whatever. Drove back home and ONIONS!!!!! Would not refund me. Said I have to go through Uber Eats. Your mistake TWICE. Lost good customers FOREVER. read more

The place is hidden and run down, tables always dirty. Their burgers are ok- think fast food

Poor quality service. 2 out of 3 orders were wrong. No one speaks English well enough to understand what Gluten free is. We were told the business changed hands and it is no longer the Knowlwoods of old that was a ranch house in Yorba Linda when it was great! read more

I never write review, but this place should be embarrassed to advertise the World best burgers. I tried a burger that has a frozen patty heated on a grill so much of it was not edible, A great burger should be FRESH not frozen beef. The atmosphere is very nice, just needs a detailed cleaning, I ordered fries as well and ate only 50% as the rest were not editable. One of the two cooks wasn't wearing a head covering. All of the staff were dressed as if they were at home lodging around. Many improvements needed to turn this business around. read more

Housed in one of the few true historic buildings in Irvine, family breakfast at Knowlwood feels like one of the few things that got my teenagers out of bed on a Sunday morning. It's barely changed over the years and I'm so glad it hasn't. My wife and I typically split a Scramble or the California Omelette and the Breakfast Burrito almost always gets ordered by at least one of the kids. Lunches and dinners are also treats; be sure to include something special like an Ice Cream Float and/or the Irish Nachos. read more

Knowlwood - Menu Board - Burgers Near Me - Irvine, California

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The service absolutely sucked today. The root beer was out. I asked him to change it. I stood there waiting over 10 minutes. Come to find out. The machine is malfunctioning and no one told me.. Also, I requested my breakfast burrito to be cut in half they failed to do that. This is not how I remember this location. Customer service has really gone to the trash. read more

Great food, service and burgers. Enjoyed the vibe and will definitely go back. Great turkey burger.

My recommendation is to come for the decor with low expectations on the food. I really wanted to like Knowlwood, but the food was very underwhelming. What went well: -Super cute decor and overall vibe (but slightly disjointed) -Loving the stage with disco ball and all the things to look at -Great pool table -Delicious fries and ranch -Great prices What can be improved: -BLT - bacon was not crispy (as requested) and the mayo or spread was really overpowering - the sandwich itself just did not taste great -Fried Zucchini - all around strange -French Dip - could barely eat it - not flavorful I'm always happy to try somewhere new and in this case I might go back for the fries. I'm also really curious about their shakes too. read more

Knowlwood - Loving the vintage vibes - Burgers Near Me - Irvine, California

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Wow, how have things changed and not for the better. I ordered the fried fish sandwich and and half zucchini sticks. The sandwich bun was burned. I paid $4.69 for half an order of zucchini sticks. Check out the picture to see the sandwich and amount of zucc's I got. My mom ordered a chili size. The beef patty tasted strange, not bad but different. Upon inspection the patty looked like it contain TVP. We won't be going here again read more

Knowlwood - Burn sandwich bun and $4.65 worth of zucchini sticks - Burgers Near Me - Irvine, California

The Frisch burger was delicious, the patty was juicy and hot off the grill. Fish and chip are good and I highly recommend them. Fried and zucchini sticks were okay, but the onions ring were amazing. Staff was nice and friendly. Park can be a bit tight. read more

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In the area for business and a coworker and I made the drive to Laguna Beach. We wanted to grab a bite on our way back towards Whittier. There was lots of traffic and we were hoping to eat and wait out the traffic a bit, but we had already left Laguna Beach. A quick search showed this on our route. Finding it was very easy and it's a nice lil theme concept, very well decorated with a comfortable feel. This is a fast food kind of vibe - you order at the counter, get your food when its called and find seating where you like. They have tables, booths and a nice lil patio out front. I was really hungry and not quite sure what I wanted... Pictures online showed the burgers were big like restaurant style and that's not my preference so I went with a cajun chicken sandwich, no tomato, sauce on the side, an order of sweet potato fries and an order of fried zucchini (had to try it!). Coworker did get the regular burger (not 8oz) and it was a normal thin style burger, so I think the big one must be the 8oz version. My chicken sandwich came out with tomato, no big deal I removed it, it was 2 pieces of chicken and juicy. The bun was not desirable - maybe whole wheat? Overall I did ate everything, but I felt like it was good, not great. Not quite "good fast food" level. That's the main reason for 3 stars versus 5. Everything is priced separate (like no combo meals) so I would've preferred it be great for the price. I had a dessert craving so I did try to order a milkshake to go for the road when we were leaving, sadly they were out of ice cream :( Note to include that service was good. The employee who took our order was friendly and kind. She was patient while I asked questions and made some recommendations which I appreciated. Would I eat here again? - absolutely if I was in the same situation I was in on this day. Would I go specifically to eat at this restaurant? not likely... read more

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Our family decided to celebrate our nephew's graduation here . Great place , good food . read more

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RAT TRAPS IN THE DINING AREA. I'm posting this to create awareness for all of the parent out there with kids playing in the knowlwood dining area. It's astounding to see rat traps in a dining area that is so inviting for kids to play with and observe the things on their walls. My kids including my 2 year old, were playing and looking at the things on the wall when one of them walks up to me and says. Dada there's a rat traps. Me assuming it was one of the many gadgets on the wall said nooooo. There wouldn't. Be a rat trap just chilling on the side of the wall with all of the other gadgets..... well lo and behold a dangerous to children and 2 year olds, RAT TRAP along with Cockroach traps. Suit yourself but as for me and my family this is disgusting, dangerous so we won't be going back that's for sure. read more

Knowlwood - RAT TRAPS IN THE DINING AREA WHERE KIDS PLAY. - Burgers Near Me - Irvine, California

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Haven't been to a knowlwoods in years I remember it as one of the best home style burgers. Not the same as it used to be but the service was quick and polite. Meat was juicy but needed salt. Fries were a bit saturated in oil, not fluffy potato consistency I remember. read more

Came in after long day of softball. 7 of us ordered burgers and fries. Burgers were overcooked, fries were soggy and gross. Pastrami was tough. 4/7 of us didn't finish our food! What a shame! read more

Average food. The fish and chips had such dense fish it was like chewing steak. The fries should be ordered well done. The fried mushrooms had too thick of a coating around them. The milkshake is average. Next time I'll have to try a Pastrami Burger. read more

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How did I never know of this place? What a fun restaurant. I split the 1/2lb Frisco Burger with my husband and a large Fri. It was delicious. The ranch, my choice of Fri side, was very good. One of the best I've ever tasted. The restaurant was clean and the service friendly. It's a great family restaurant. read more

Had a really good burger and onion rings. Our server Liana was very friendly and the ambiance was great. Cute place to have dinner.

I was in the neighborhood at breakfast time and gave it a try. Honestly, the omelette I ordered was just so-so. It had a lot of cheese, which I think spoils an omelette. If there's a next time, I'll ask them to hold the cheese altogether. In an event, it came with a choice of potatoes and a choice of toast. The service was excellent - attentive and on the ball. At breakfast time, it's sit down, which threw me for bit as one ordinarily orders at the counter, and they call your number when the food is ready. The atmosphere is nice. The building was a sizable barn back in the day, so it's roomy inside. read more

The literal opposite of self proclaimed "The World's Best Burger." It was so bad it'd be a waste if energy to describe it. I did not and could not finish the burger. They've given up read more

My family and soccer team has gone here for 10+ years. They have a large menu and we have tried a decent amount. I highly recommend getting the Frisco Deluxe burger. I have had nothing like it and this burger alone is why we continue to go back. Additionally, the fried zucchini and brunch food are good and it is a nice place to bring a large amount of people if needed. If you get fries, ask for them well done! It looks a little run down but nothing worth avoiding this place over. read more