Hot Bunz, the smash burger spot known for its grass-fed beef patties and caramelized crust, has signed a lease for a new downtown Sacramento location at 730 K St. — a space larger than its existing restaurants. The family-owned chain, which already has locations in Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove, is set to take over the Hardin building spot that most recently housed Chando’s Cantina Zazon Del Mar before that restaurant shuttered.
The lease, confirmed by Sacramento Business Journal, puts Hot Bunz in one of the larger spaces inside the Hardin retail complex on K Street, which is now getting a new tenant. Co-owner Diana Mkhitaryan told WhatNow that the restaurant is only a few months out from opening its third location, with an exact date to be shared on Hot Bunz’s social media accounts. Per that same report, Hot Bunz is targeting an opening in early 2027.
The downtown space will fill about 5,730 square feet, according to the outlet’s reporting, dwarfing the footprints of Hot Bunz’s other two restaurants and giving the team room for both indoor and outdoor seating. Mkhitaryan said the bigger space will allow for a larger menu, and the owners are even considering a new name for the location: Hot Bunz Social Club, envisioned as a spot where customers can stay and hang out rather than just grab a burger and go.
What’s Already on the Menu, and What Might Be Added
Hot Bunz’s bread and butter is the smash burger — ground beef pressed onto a scorching grill until it forms a caramelized crust. The chain’s classic smash, listed on its ordering page, stacks double grass-fed beef patties with melted yellow American cheese, caramelized grilled onions, pickles and house sauce on a toasted bun. The same menu features a salad built around chopped smash patties, cheese, tomatoes and pepperoncinis atop romaine, while sides on the chain’s DoorDash listing include house-made mac and cheese, fries and onion rings…