George's Hamburgers

The inspiration

George's Hamburgers started in spring 1973, when Greek entrepreneur George Papaspyropoulos bought an old Jack in the Box property on Commonwealth Avenue and turned it into a burger stand¹ . The idea was simple: skip fast-food shortcuts and serve real comfort food, with cheeseburgers and fries on giant buns piled with fresh vegetables¹ . More than fifty years later, the place still runs on that same spirit¹ .

Who's behind it

Founder George Papaspyropoulos retired and returned to Greece in 1979¹ .

What to order

• Chili cheese fries: crispy crinkle-cuts smothered in chili and melted cheese .²
• Pastrami: a frequently cited alternative for burger loyalists looking to branch out .

Why you should try it

George's is a rare thing: a 52-year-old Fullerton institution still family-run, where the food has stayed consistent for half a century¹ . If you're staying nearby and want an old-school burger or an oversized breakfast burrito made the way it was in 1973, this is the counter to pull up to^1,2 .