Burger Chef Locations

Fresno, CA

Shields Avenue and Cedar Avenue

I was just watching a show about Wendy's on the FoodTV channel, and a guy mentioned that when Wendy's was #2 in the 1960s, "Burger Chef" was #3. All this time (I'm 49) I thought Burger Chef was just in my home town of Fresno, Calfornia.

I used to LOVE Burger Chef! My typical Saturday (circa 1967) consisted of getting up in the morning and mowing a half dozen of my neighbors' lawns, earning about 20 bucks or more, then hoping on my bike to pedal to Shields Avenue and Cedar Avenue, to the Thrifty's Drug Store, and buy a bunch of DC Comics (Superman, Superboy, Legion of Super Heroes, etc.). Then on my way back home I'd stop off at Burger Chef for lunch.  (And after mowing a half dozen yards, I was very hungry!). It was located on the northeast corner of Shields and Cedar.

Burger Chef flame-broiled their burgers on a metal "conveyor belt", that you could watch while you waited for your order. That was so much fun for me then. Anyways, lots of great memories of Burger Chef. Thanks for your web site.

Posted by: Ron M. | June 6, 2006 at 11:36 PM

Was the Burger Chef on the Northwest corner of Shields and Cedar, or what?

Posted by: Mark K. | April 11, 2007 at 12:41 PM

Fullerton, CA

925 S. Harbor Blvd

This location is now B&B Donuts, check out this photo on RoadsidePeek.com

--R.T.

Lawndale, CA

Prairie Avenue

Mill Valley, CA

E. Blithedale and Camino Alto

There was a Burger Chef at E.Blithedale and Camino Alto in Mill Valley, California built new in 1972 when the intersection was changed from two lane roads to 6-8 and a signal replaced the stop sign. The store only lasted a few years and became a Der Wienerschnitzel for a few more and is now a Giro Poli Rotisserie Chicken place.

Posted by: Steven Carry | February 24, 2006 at 01:51 AM

Northridge, CA

17825 Devonshire Street

Orange, CA

North Tustin Avenue

I was 15 or 16 when Burger Chef made it's debut in Orange, CA in the early 60's. The restaurant was small, just the building to house the production operation, and possibly a small awning. The restaurant was located on North Tustin Ave about 1/2 to 3/4 block north of Katella Ave on the East side of the street, if I remember correctly. That would put the street number in the 1500 to 1600 range. I thought at the time that Burger Chef was a great alternative to the Golden Arches. That location only lasted a few years, maybe 5 or so. Burger Chef comes to memory when people start reminiscing about the origins of the Golden Arches.

Anyway looked you up with a web search, just for grins.  Sorry don't have any pictures or more definite info. Just a few memories.  Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Posted by: David Howden | September 13, 2007 at 07:59 AM

Rialto, CA

765 E. Foothill Blvd.

This location is now Jim's Burger.  You can see a photo at RoadsidePeek.com

--R.T.

San Bernardino, CA

I remember a couple of Burger Chef restaurants in the San Bernardino/Rialto CA area in the 1970's. I much preferred them to the Burger Kings. Have it your way? You could have it your way at Burger Chef, much more so than at the Burger Kings. Did you know that Burger King stole the name "Whopper" from a small burger stand in Topeka, KS, that had been in business here for many years prior to the advent of BK?

Posted by: Tom Greene | December 30, 2005 at 11:19 PM

Woodland, CA

171 W. Main Street

Now a Rico's Pizza

--R.T.

I worked at the Woodland location for a year until it went out of business. I was working the shift when we closed the doors for the last time. Sad day for us! I still have some of the leftover frisbees that we served a medium drink, order of fries and a Big Shef on.

Posted by: Pamela L | 10/14/2006 at 12:23 AM