Last Chance to Try This Cult-Favorite Burger at the Lodge in Oakland

Say farewell — for now — to fawned-over burger pop-up Lovely’s, which has served a “flawless diner-style burger” according to Bon Appétit’s Julia Kramer at Oakland neighborhood bar the Lodge since last year. This week is Lovely’s last at the small kitchen inside 3758 Piedmont Avenue.

With demand for his food way up, Lovely’s chef Mikey Yoon announced on Instagram he’d be moving on from the Lodge, seeking a bigger home for his $6 “drive-thru” burger and more diner-inspired fare. The Piedmont Avenue bar’s charming, rustic space was getting too small to keep up with volume: Now, Yoon tells Eater SF he’ll be focusing on one-off pop-ups and seeking a new space to rent for regular hours until he locates a permanent brick-and-mortar home (likely in Oakland).

Yoon, whose first generation Korean-American parents ran a Maryland deli where he worked, has earned praised for his perfectly sloppy, Midwest-style griddled burger. For the patty, he hand-grinds Angus beef daily, heaping on American cheese and serving his beauties on Martin’s potato buns. Fried chicken sandwiches and french fries have also been Lovely’s mainstays.

Tomorrow, Friday, is the last day to try them at the Lodge. Stay tuned for more news on where Lovely’s lands in the future.

• In a tiny bar kitchen in Oakland, Mikey Yoon creates his version of diner fare [SF Chronicle]