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    The Munch Box

    4.2 (461 reviews)
    InexpensiveBurgers
    Open • 10:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    The Munch Box Photos

    Business Info

    THE MUNCH BOX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Munch Box

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    Dogs
    Emilee T.

    Classic Chatsworth establishment. Feels like going back in time. Fair prices, generous portions, friendly staff. Always have been able to find a seat.

    Chili-Cheese Burger.
    Eric H.

    Est. 1956- Filled with murder, mayhem, and deliciousness, this internationally famous roadside burger joint has a great story. From Charlie Manson's hangout, to a community petition drive to avoid the bulldoser, and to national historic status, and global notoriety, The Munch Box is a locals favorite, and a destination stop for tourist worldwide. In addition to the history, the Munch Box has some really good food. The menu is limited, but what they do, they do very well - especially, the chili. The best chili cheese burger I've had in recent memory, and definitely in my top five all time best. Chili, cheese, pickle, onion, tomato and mustard. That's all you need (lettuce is for rabbits). The chili has a nice kick , but not too spicy; just perfect for a chili burger. The chili also has a good thickness, so it doesn't drip all over your hands and fall off the burger. The Hickory Burger was also delicious, as was the Western Dog (chili, mustard, cheese & onion). This is an all-beef dog, nicely cooked and the bun is perfectly steamed. Excellent! The Munch Box is one of the oldest family run businesses in LA County, which has not changed since they opened. You can come here for the Manson lore, or for the classic Googie architecture, but you also must come for the food! Four thumbs up for The Munch Box. Cash Only!

    Isobel L.

    Having seen the Munch Box listed on another website (Atlas Obscura) as a historical and unique restaurant, had to give it a try since I was in the area. I ordered the mushroom burger, fries, and a root beer float. The star was definitely the root beer float; the Munch Box staff make their own root beer and it is absolutely delicious (with caffeine). The root beer is well-balanced with creamy vanilla ice cream. The fries were fresh and light, definitely enough for two. The mushroom burger was a savory and filling burger. The ambiance is really cool, like traveling back in time to the '50s. The architecture has been maintained well, there's outdoor seating at the counter and at lunch tables. Free parking in the lot and on the street.

    An P.

    Munch box is a Chatsworth Heritage landmark and I understand the love and fans of this place! Easy parking, it is a little pricey but the flavors and people are just so amazing!! The double chili cheeseburger was a little bit intense for me but the double mushroom cheese burger was the winner for me! Chili cheese fries was awesome and is always good with a lemonade! Next time I would try the root beer float! Support the local beloved Munch Box!!

    Declared as one of LA's Historic Monuments!!
    Marcello D.

    One of the first places my pop took me to as a child when the family moved out west. It's one of those places you'll hear about from word of mouth. Opened in 1956 serving hickory and chili burger goodness and you better come check out one of San Fernando Valley's best kept secret!!!

    Outside
    Dale K.

    This joint is classic! A San Fernando Valley treasure, it's easy to imagine the hot rods zooming up and down the strip and the James Dean wannabe's fueling on burgers and fries. Forget those phony balony Hollywood "tours", if you want a taste of the real Los Angeles, you must come to the Munch Box..

    Root beer Float

    An hour from where I live but it was well worth it.. Everything was absolutely delicious! Shout out to the girl who took my order, was short some change and she allowed it, It is cash only so heads up!!! Overall, service was amazing and the food was delicious, I will definitely be coming back!

    Building
    Lauren S.

    The food is very plain no flavor to it. I asked for a cheeseburger with chili. I got a cheeseburger no chili. It's flavorless super bland. Very mediocre. Not much of a burger either. The environment was nice. The staff was really nice. Other than that, this will be my first and last try.

    Elizabeth L.

    If you are ever in Chatsworth or near there and love great junk food, The Munch Box is the place to go. Parking is usually not a problem. This place has been there forever it seems, I think sometime in the mid 50s it went up. It has chili dogs, burgers, fries. They thought of closing it once and that did not go over well with the neighborhood. This roadside burger stand has been owned and operated by the same family, kept the same Googie architecture, and nearly the same menu, with a variety of burgers, hot dogs, and fries since it opened. The prices have gone up, but other than that it is the same. When development threatened to close the restaurant in the early 2000's, the community wrote 1,700 letters and petitions to the city council, urging that the burger stand be placed on the list of Cultural-Historical landmarks. They won and it is now a protected landmark. The food is the best. We love their chili dogs with raw onion. Their burgers with chili are great. I don't care for American Cheese, not really cheese now is it, and that is all they have, but my grandson loves it. They still sell root beer and even though it is the same you can get at a grocery, it seems better there. It is go to the counter, order, wait a minute and either eat there, outdoors, or in your car or take home. We always stay and on cold days we eat in the car. The place is just so adorable. Not pretty, just so cute and the oldness makes it cuter. It is kept super clean. The service is ever so great. They are fast and friendly. Try it.

    what a nice visit to this old school spot. friendly service, that's serving up great food.

    Fries

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    21 days ago

    Just the best burger you will find in SFV, bar none! Generous portions. Hickory burger is to die for. I've been coming here since 1982!

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    7 months ago

    Not much ambiance but the chili, burgers and fries were delicious. The ladies at the window were very nice too.

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    7 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Great food and prices, the double chili burger was great, fries were crispy, will go there again!

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    4 months ago

    What a great hamburger. And fast! And great taste and worth every penny. Will be back very soon.

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    8 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Quality quick food it's is like Tommy's Burger cousin simple and good I'm a fan of just the chilli burgers and hot dogs

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - The Munch Box

    I want to try this place but don't eat red meat. Is there any chance they substitute a veggie burger, even chicken or Turkey burger?

    I get a grilled cheese because I don't eat red meat either. They make it for me all the time.

    Anyone know if the chili is gluten free?

    No. It's not.

    View All 7 Questions

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    For the Win - Double bacon cheeseburger with added jalapeño

    For the Win

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    18.9 mi•Hollywood Hills
    •$$

    This place has been all over my feed forever as one of the best smash burgers in LA, so I was…read moreexcited to finally try it out! We stopped in on a Sunday around 11:30, no line and very quick service! Finished eating and left around 12:05 so we must've lucked out with no line. We got two double cheese burgers and the loaded fries. The burger had impressively thin patties with a really nice char on the meat skirt, well seasoned, and perfectly crispy. The buns were quite small and a bit smooshed, but they were soft. It came with some fry sauce and pickles as well, overall a good burger. The fries had a good amount of toppings (cheese onions, fry sauce) and were nice and crispy. Kinda wish the onions were slightly more grilled for some extra flavor! Would probably go for plain next time as the loaded fries and burger together had similar flavors The interior has a few benches for seating and single bar type seating around the perimeter - I could see it filling up if there's a big line of people. Would like to try the chicken sandwich and brussel sprouts next time we stop by!

    Harken back when I was a wee lad bouncing around the play place of the Golden Arches. Not a care in…read morethe world and not a thought behind my eyes. I have carried life's burden and traveled continents, but one thing remains the same after my many moons of life, the taste of a Big Mac. The taste of a burger so consistent and familiar, that my tastebuds can traverse continents and taste fermented shark in the Netherlands, broiled Mackerel in Kyoto, or a cheeseburger in Reykjavik. The Big Mac stays the same. I went to LA to taste, apparently, the best burger in LA at For the Win. I paid $25 for two smash burgers and had high expectations. After all, when you click this joint on Google Maps, a fancy review pops up. Nice! However, when the smash burger entered my cave and caressed my buds, my mind instantly recognized it as a Big Mac. Therefore, my brain could hardly differentiate between a McDonalds burger, and the "best" burger in LA. I haven't eaten at McDonalds in 14 years, but my mind still knew what a gentle and warm face looks like. So overall, it was alright! As the reverend Shane Gillis says "Not Bad". The service was good tho. And the ambiance was a bit weird because the music was off. Haha bye!!!

    Photos
    For the Win - Piccolina is hoping to share

    Piccolina is hoping to share

    For the Win - Cheeseburger

    Cheeseburger

    For the Win - Double Cheeseburger with fresh onions and jalapeños

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    Amboy - Amboy

    Amboy

    4.3(718 reviews)
    24.6 mi•Chinatown
    •$$

    This place seems to get increasingly popular for their burgers over time. I believe this is their…read moreoriginal location and it's in the heart of Chinatown. It has a small hole in the wall café type vibe to this place and the service is really friendly. I came specifically for the DH, which is the dry aged 10 oz patty. At $21 as of 6/2026, it's not a cheap burger, but you are getting a lot of burger and with high quality food ingredients. Just a really great burger and not one of those smashburgers either. These are thiiiicck. I've been wanting to come here for a very long time, but for whatever reason, I just haven't had a chance. I actually even went to their other location into Topanga a while back (which is no longer there along with lots of other places in that ill fated food court). I also saw that they recently made a list of one of the best burgers in the country/world. And while I feel those list are pretty subjective, I do think that this is one of the best burgers I personally have had.

    I'll preface this by saying burgers aren't something I typically go far out of my way for. I like…read morethem, but I've never fully understood the obsession, especially when LA has so many unique, global, authentic, and genuinely incredible food options. But Amboy has gotten a ton of hype, especially from food influencers, so I decided to make the 45-minute trek and try the DH Burger. We arrived just before 5, so there was hardly a line. After ordering, we waited about 25 minutes for our burgers and fries, which felt reasonable for a thicker patty cooked with some intention. The DH is a seriously good burger. It's probably about as good as a classic burger can get. The meat was juicy, the bun was soft, and everything was cooked and constructed really well. Does it justify the higher price? I'm not entirely sure. Was it a mind-blowing experience? Not really. Was it delicious? Absolutely. I just don't think it's so far superior to other great burgers that most people need to travel 45 minutes for it, especially considering the extremely limited seating, crowded space, and slightly grungy DTLA location. If you're anywhere nearby, Amboy is absolutely worth trying. If you're a true burger connoisseur, it may even be worth the longer pilgrimage. Overall, I'd absolutely recommend Amboy and agree that it's a top-tier burger. I just think there are a lot of really good burgers out there, and it's difficult for something as simple as a burger to reach the almost mythical level of hype that surrounds this one.

    Photos
    Amboy - The order counter

    The order counter

    Amboy - Three Crowns Colab Limited Edition

    Three Crowns Colab Limited Edition

    Amboy - Amboy DH Burger..  10 oz aged

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    Amboy DH Burger.. 10 oz aged

    Morrison

    Morrison

    4.7(9.4k reviews)
    21.1 mi•Atwater Village
    •$$

    The people here are sooo nice and accommodating. Came here with a friend for lunch-our first time…read moreand it was great. Surprise was the happy hour menu offered. We got the nachos and the burger trio and the filet burger sandwich. It was all good esp the filet burger which had 2 big slices of steak! The trio sliders were so good and love the bun with a lot of French fries. The nachos was a big bowl too with all the fixins-guac, beans, cheese choice of chicken or ground beef! This is a neighborhood gem and I'd make it a destination place to go to too. The place has a nice bar area with tvs too Thank you Keith for the wonderful service.

    GIFT CERTIFICATES - BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK! SCAM BUSINESS!…read more I was a frequenter to both Morrison locations in Burbank and Los Feliz. They bear the same name, menu, shirts, decor, etc. This gives the consumer the impression that these are absolutely related businesses that share ownership/management. A family member knew I loved the Morrison, and bought a $100 gift certificate from the Los Feliz location and gave it to me as a birthday gift. That location shut down a few weeks later, so I took it the gift certificate to the Burbank location. After attempting to use it after ordering a ton of food and drink, they straight up told me they are not associated with the other location whatsoever and they would not honor the gift certificate. Whether that's the truth or not (I don't believe them) you have a BRAND TO PROTECT. This is what sharing a brand is! To make the cognizant decision not to honor this gift certificate is theft! I will NEVER return to a business that bears the Morrison name ever again. You have lost a customer for life. I now implore all Yelpers to boycott this business for shady business practices. They literally took the $100 and disappeared! Where's my $100 Morrison?

    Photos
    Morrison - Meat Pies in the Making

    Meat Pies in the Making

    Morrison - Meat Pie

    Meat Pie

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    The Kroft

    The Kroft

    4.2(148 reviews)
    24.7 mi•Chinatown
    •$$

    Ambiance: it's sad to see this Kroft location closed, it's on the ground level of the apartment…read morebuilding, conveniently attached parking garage for retail and residents Service: friendly and patient with questions, provided useful suggestions Food: standard Kroft menu, plenty of choices for poutines, sandwiches and burgers LOCO MOCO - **** Two Wagyu Beef Patties, Fried Egg, Brown Gravy, Cheese Curds, Fried Onions, Ketchup Glaze, Green Onions, rich in flavors and bold taste, recommend Price: generous portions and affordable prices, about $15~$20 for a quick bite

    I'm so sad to say this place has closed on 10/20/25. I happen to go the day before its last day and…read morethey were serving a limited menu and thankfully my favorite wagyu smash burger was still available. To say I'm super bummed is an understatement. I am so thankful that I happen to stop by for lunch and visit this location one last time. The same manager was there on the last day as when I went the first time two years ago. The staff there was always amazing, friendly, and the food was incredible. I think it was the Chinatown location that didn't work for them. However, the good news is that they do have three other locations and if you have never been, I suggest you check Kroft out if you love burgers, especially smashed. The other locations are in Long Beach, Anaheim, and Rancho Cucamonga. I wish them luck and I will definitely be stopping in their other locations if I am ever in the area.

    Photos
    The Kroft
    The Kroft
    The Kroft - Double wagyu smash

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    Double wagyu smash

    Hawkins House of Burgers - Fat Burger (with cheese) + French Fries - with a juxtaposition of the Watts Towers

    Hawkins House of Burgers

    4.2(2.2k reviews)
    30.1 mi
    •$$

    This place is a Los Angeles legend…read more It's not even about giving it five stars--it's about telling people that if you want to try one of the best burgers in Los Angeles, this is a spot you absolutely need to visit. The food is outstanding, the portions are generous, and the burgers live up to the hype. What makes it even better is that you're not just getting a great meal; you're experiencing a piece of Los Angeles history. Places like this are becoming rare, and Hawkins House of Burgers has earned its legendary status. If you're a local and haven't been here yet, you're missing out. And if you're visiting Los Angeles, put this place on your list.

    I was in the neighborhood and wanted a burger. I made an online order to Hawkins since I saw a long…read moreline and I couldnt find parking. Checked in at 5-10min. They said order wasn't ready. Waited another 10min, while I saw other people picking up orders, so I checked in again. Same response, not ready yet. Another 10min passed by, now I'm seeeing people who came after me get their orders before me. Asked the staff again for my order status. The order pick up window person shouted my name to the kitchen each time I checked in. Finally the 3rd time they responded, they start arguing, apparently my order was done a long time ago, and it was given to someone else. It took 30min to figure out that my order had already been done and given to someone else because there was no communication between the kitchen, order staff or pick up staff. no apology, just got my food after the argument 3minutes later...Food was average, definitely not worth a 30min wait.

    Photos
    Hawkins House of Burgers - Sketchy ATM i wouldn't use. They have pay machine when you order inside.

    Sketchy ATM i wouldn't use. They have pay machine when you order inside.

    Hawkins House of Burgers - Fat Burger

    Fat Burger

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    The Munch Box - burgers - Updated October 2026

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