The Habit Burger Grill

For years, when I have been on State Street in Santa Barbara, I've noticed large crowds at The Habit. It has always smelled fantastic, and you don't usually see large crowds at terrible places (a couple of Italian restaurant chains notwithstanding) so I figured it had to be good. But I also had a hunch it might be overrated; most reviews seem a little too eager to compare it to In-n-Out. I imagined it was just a beloved joint that the locals desperately wanted to be as famous as In-n-Out, whether it deserved it or not.

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As it expanded over the years I became more curious. When I am at home and wanting a burger I inevitably go to Wolfe Burgers or In-n-Out. When I am out around Los Angeles and in the same mood, I try to find a Fatburger. I love those places and, even though Fatburger has definitely gone downhill in the last few years, I am loyal to them. Yesterday I was in Glendale, though, and passed by The Habit and figured 'why not?'
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The place was crowded when I walked in, crowded in the way you like to see in a burger joint: a couple nurses, a police officer, three massive dudes who looked like construction workers, an older couple, and many other people scattered on the patio. I ordered the #1 - a Charburger, fries and drink. I knew it came with tomato, which I don't like on a burger and I had planned to just take off. But the girl taking my order - without exaggeration the nicest person I have met working behind a counter in as long as I can remember - asked if I wanted everything on it. So I asked for no tomato. The total was $6.53. I don't know why but I was expecting the place to be more expensive.

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I took a seat by the window. On the counter close to me was a small condiment bar with ketchup, pickles, pepperoncinis, jalapenos, and lemon and lime slices. Also malt vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Cholula, A.1., Tabasco, and rice vinegar. I loved this. I poured myself a small amount of A.1. sauce and mixed a container of ketchup, Worcestershire, and lemon juice- one of my favorite condiments to eat with fries.

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It took about ten minutes to get my food. The fries were hot and crispy. The burger was smaller than I expected but it was fantastic. It reminded me of Rick's, one of my favorite burgers in the San Gabriel Valley. It would be impossible for me to compare it to a Double-Double because the Charburger is grilled over an open flame. As much as I love a Double-Double, the flame gives a taste to a burger (a char, I guess you could say) that can't be matched. (This is not to say I like one better than the other, though.) The reason I poured myself the A.1. was in case the burger needed some extra condiment to give it flavor. It did not. Not one bit. If I ever return here I will order the Double Char; I definitely could have eaten two of these patties.
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I liked The Habit even more than I thought I would. It reminded me of the way Fatburger used to be: clean, friendly, crowded, and very fresh ingredients. If there was a Habit in Pasadena I would certainly add it to the rotation of burger joints I visit.