BONITA, Calif. — Ryan Cunningham and Kalina O’Connor opened the Burger Kook about a year ago and have built a devoted following through word of mouth and social media. The business operates under a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation, or MEHKO, permit issued by San Diego County.
“And we get to run a restaurant essentially out of our house with that permit,” said Ryan Cunningham.
The restaurant’s tagline—”World’s Second Best Burger”—is intentionally unconventional. “Everyone says they are the best. Everyone’s slogan is the best. Best pizza, best burger, best ice cream. World’s best this, world’s best that. Says who? Yeah, we are different,” said Ryan and Kalina…