Burt’s Burgers is gearing up to roll into Newport Beach as part of an expansion plan. The company will host a seasonal pop‑up at the Balboa Fun Zone (600 East Bay Ave.), followed by a full‑time opening in 2026, it announced earlier this week.
A small space facing the bay and ferry to the island, it will host a test opening and several pop-up dates over the next few months, including the city’s famous holiday boat parade from the 17th to the 21st. Then in April, it will officially launch as a permanent location, founder Ryan Van Tuyl explained.
“Newport Beach deserves to finally have a quality, affordable hamburger that is actually worth the hype… We NEVER smash our beef. Smashburgers are delicious, but they’re a vehicle for overcharging customers for a tiny portion of beef,” he promised.
The SoCal burger business began as a catering service last year, before opening its flagship in Huntington Beach in April, posts show. It is for gourmet sliders, street dogs, Wagyu rib eye beef, waffle fries fried in beef tallow, and house‑made sauces and shakes. At first, the Newport site will have a limited menu, then expand options.
Van Tuyl’s culinary journey is rooted in a long career outside the restaurant industry. Before launching Burt’s Burgers, he owned and operated successful music schools in Orange County for 20 years, then transitioned into cooking after working as a prep chef and training under Chef Tony Thomason — a partnership that helped craft Burt’s signature recipes.
