Wagyu Chuck

Had the loaded potatoes. They were really good. Said to hear they closed the place. I actually liked the food experience that Playground came up with. Excited to see what will take its place.

The burgers are great.
The loaded potatoes are amazing. Just perfect on a could rainy day.

I’m a burger beast… A creature on a mission to find the best burger in the nation. With so much talk about Chef Jason Quinn’s PlayGround Burger, I had to make my way here.
—-The Food—
Playground Burger ($ 14) — What makes a great burger is the beef and when told Chef Quinn makes this burger from both wagyu AND trip-​tip cuts, I thought it’d be an automatic orgasm, but I couldn’t have been more disappointed. Not only is it expensive, the admixture of the prime cuts exuded an awful funk that I found both distasteful and overbearing – so much that I put half of it in the trash. The protein was cooked rare, resulting in bloody, beef juice soaking into the bun too. Seeing a pink, red hue on my burger bun is just not appealing. This offsets the ingenious idea of adding horseradish in their buns and promoting a taste of iron instead.
Maybe my affection for burgers has made me overcritical, but with such incredible, supplemental ingredients like maple bourbon onion compote, shredded iceberg lettuce, homemade mayo/​mustard, how can any burger purist not set high expectations? Instead, It’s a messy, sticky, off-​putting mass.
Double Burger ($ 9) — A high class version of In-N-Out’s classic burger that’s successful in replicating taste and form. While the patty is MUCH better than the playground burger above, you have to wonder why you would want to pay more for a burger that’s equally satisfying as In-​N-​Outs?
—-
Conclusion: A costly and deplorable food trip that I’d like to «chuck» from my recent memory. Perhaps even Chef Jason Quinn feels the same since this location will be closed forever starting February 1^st, 2016. While I still admire the chef’s culinary chops at Playground, I feel his burger was a failed creation.
Extra Notes:
–Accepts credit card
–The Playground Burger is listed as a BLANK item on the menu.
–Located in 4^th Street Market at Downtown Santa Ana
–Kind, suggestive service,
–4^th Street Market cafeteria décor is hip and modern
–Restrooms available

I gotta say, I expected more for paying $ 9 for a double burger that is supposed to be gourmet. Upon first bites, definitely reminded me of In n Out. Honestly can’t taste the difference, so it’s unfortunate that they charge double from In n Out.
The fries was good, it has some kind of melted cheese on it, I believe it was gorgonzola, and the price for that was reasonable. Next time I’m in 4^th street market, I may consider buying the fries again, but will bring it home and eat with my in n out burger.

Normally, I roll my eyes at «gourmet» burgers, because their quality claims never justify the increased price. And let’s face it: In N Out makes a damn good burger without charging you an arm and a butt cheek.
Wagyu Chuck makes a very good burger. The texture and flavor of the meat remind me more of a juicy steak than a standard patty, which is great. But I had to tear a piece of the meat and taste it separately to make this distinction. Taking normal bites out of the burger just reminded me of In N Out, which was immensely disappointing given that I paid much more for this burger than I would have at In N Out.
My Double came with Kraft cheese singles. This was a catastrophe. Yes, I know In N Out uses them, too. But they charge accordingly. Dear owner, your customers are voluntarily paying triple the price of a burger because they are looking for quality. Give them real cheese. I recommend Tillamook or Costco’s generic alternative, in order to limit the additional cost of the cheese.
The burger also came with lettuce and tomatoes, and way too much thousand island sauce. Well, with the sauce and the fake cheese, it was really hard to taste the quality of the Wagyu.
I recommend going old school here: meat, cheese, and bun. Avoid overpowering distractions like thousand island sauce. This will bring out the far superior flavor of the burger. No one wants to pay $ 9 for a double double if they can’t taste the difference.
The potatoes are absolute perfection.

My husband ate here and let’s just say we went back a few times within the next couple of days. He ordered a double and loaded potatoes and fell in love. I don’t eat red meat but I did try the potatoes and they were amazing.
He has been talking about this burger so much, I think it is definitely deserving of a 5 star review. You will not be disappointed. :)

I think a three star review is fitting for Wagyu Chuck.
Wagyu beef or not, the burgers are pretty basic. Of course, the quality of the meat is the highlight, hence the name. I just couldn’t get myself up in excitement over the burger I tried.
My girlfriend and I shared a single with some of their cheesy potatoes, and there wasn’t much that stood out for us. Once again, I’ll reiterate that the burgers contain premium quality beef, and that is the reason for the three star rating. On another note, the potatoes were tasty and are quite the hot item. So I wouldn’t mind returning to this shop for their potatoes, but that would likely be the only reason.
Overall, decent burgers and baked potato fixtures. Prices are a little steep but you’re paying for quality. That just means I’m content with only having tried it once.

I haven’t had anything at 4^th St Market that I haven’t liked, and Wagyu Chuck is no exception. I got the single for $ 6 with everything on it except the dressing (I believe it was thousand island).
This burger is a good size — not too small, and not too large as to cause food coma. The meat was very juicy and all of the toppings complemented the burger as a whole. Not too greasy either, which is always a plus!
Service is friendly and fast. Overall, the burger isn’t the best I’ve had (that belongs to Toro Burger), but it’s pretty darn good.

I have been a huge fan of the Playground for the past year. After my first visit to 2.0, we took an after dinner walk across the street to the 4^th St. Market. It was a packed and bustling Saturday night. I promised that I would come back to eat lunch soon due to the really unique and creative food stalls.
After I won a bet from a co-​worker (Bruins beat Cal!!) the debt was settled at Wagyu Chuck. We got there a little before noon to beat the crowds but the entire place was pretty calm for this weekday lunch hour. I ordered their «secret» Playground burger and the dude at the counter would not tell me the ingredients since it’s so secretive. His coworker working the grill told us the ingredients after a little prodding. I’d tell you all what goes into this amazing burger but I was sworn to secrecy.
Needless to say, it was ridiculously good and decadent. Superior ingredients, slow cooking process and chock full of awesomeness. We also had the loaded potatoes. Just a killer lunch. I will definitely try their more traditional burgers next time to see how it compares to the In n Out.
Rock solid place.

Friendly service at this burger shop located within the Downtown Santa Ana 4^th street market. I think their prices are very fair, $ 6 for a cheeseburger, I think $ 9 for a double. They also have their Baked, Fried Potatoes as their sides. It’s a different twist as opposed to a side of fries. I opted for the loaded potatoes which are a little expensive at $ 5 whereas if you get them with no topping it’s $ 2. Loaded gets you melted cheese, scallions, and bacon bits.
The portions aren’t crazy big, probably just right. I got a single burger and maybe could have gone for a double. I don’t think the burger is anything I’ll rave or crave about in the future. I had a pleasant experience and wanted to give this shop a try, but it was just OK. I will probably try some of the other options at the 4^th street market next time.
If you want a burger, then it’s an alright place to go and the customer service is good, I just wasn’t blown away with the food.

Burger joint inside the Santa Ana 4^th street market
Their burgers come in a single, double, or triple
—kids single: don’t be fooled by the name, it’s still hefty enough for an adult (the name comes from the freedom to order this kids style without all the fixins). I like the grilled onions and bun but the patty was honestly not good, where’s the flavor
—baked potatoes fries: baked hen smashed and fried! For only $ 2 this is a steal. Not bad but you really need to eat em hot
All and all not really impressed
NOTE: there are parking meters in the street or its $ 1 per hour in the parking garage

Holy Moly!!! The double is a pretty awesome burger. From the patty to the bread. Simple but delicious. I am still thinking about this burger. I shared the burger because I had been eating all day… And I was told I didn’t really share. LOL … Oops!
The bread is super soft and fresh and I love the seasoning on the meat. Thick cuts of tomato, huge pieces of melted cheese and their house-​made thousand island dressing. Mmmmmm!!! I could go for one right now. Next time I’m not sharing. :P

As close as you can get to an In n Out Burger. This deliciousness of a burger wowed me after taking the first bite. The boyfriend and I both agreed it’s pretty darn close to tasting like In n Out.
Single, Double or Triple stack it. Boyfriend went with the triple. Juicy meat, melted American cheddar cheese, carmelized onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and what looked like thousand island dressing, but could be their «special sauce.»
This burger is paired with some mouth watering, fried potato chunks, lightly seasoned. Nice and crispy on the outside, hot and steamy on the inside. Perfection.
Defintiely worth my cheat day!
Enjoy.

Really glad we came back to 4^th St Market and gave Wagyu Chuck a try, easily one of the best dining options there!
The menu is simple with single, double or triple burger options and fries.
We went with the triple and loaded fries.
Prices are fair, as the quality is excellent.
They really did come close to imitating In N Out, I got a lot of the same flavors, though the meat is much richer, super juicy and greasy in the best way possible.
Very tasty, very filling.
The fries, fat potato chunks, skin on, my type of fry, I LOVED them!
Did not at all like the white cheese sauce on there though, would ask for other chesse options or get them plain next time.
Service was nice and our food came out quickly, excellent meaty dinner here!

Wagyu Chuck puts together one delectable burger.
I have been a fan of Jason Quinn since the first time I tried the Blue Crab Ceviche on The Lime Truck during the gourmet Food Truck explosion back in 2009. When I was told he created a Burger stand at the 4^th Street Market offering his interpretation of the classic American cheeseburger, I was all in from the jump. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.
The countless direct comparisons I had heard to In N Out are actually warranted in Waygu Chuck’s case. The Burger is offered in a Single, Double and Triple patty format on an abbreviated menu plus it looks and actually smells exactly like a Double Double upon presentation. That been said, there are stark differences from the first bite. The meat tastes more like steak than a mere patty thanks to the hand formed and high quality beef. The carmelized onions are far more nuanced than In N Out’s and the bun is buttered and grilled producing a unique richness that I adored. The cheese/​meat ratio is absolute perfection as well. This is seriously a damn good burger for its price point (or otherwise).
I was also able to enjoy it with a Stone Delicious IPA. Try that at an In N Out.
At $ 9 some may argue the value is less than In N Out but you are getting a higher grade of beef and to be honest, I found it much more filling than the Double Double and I didn’t even order a side. Is it better than In N Out? Jury is out on that until I try another but the question itself is a valid one. I for one think that says a lot.
This Burger was the absolute realness and I only wish I was close enough to enjoy it regularly. I will be back soon to give it a second spin and see if it cannot be my favorite Burger at $ 10 or less.

I was finally able to visit Wagyu Chuck last weekend at 4^th Street Market and I can say that I’m definitely a fan. But then again, I’ve always been a fan of Chef Jason Quinn’s food. Wagyu Chuck has a simple burger menu: kid’s single, double, triple, and the $ 14 Playground burger. You can add «fries» (deep-​fried baked torn russets) which were perfectly seasoned when ordered plain. You could also buy them with all the fixins too but that’s for another visit. I’d be happy with a tub of those russets while watching my favorite TV show.
The double burger itself is indeed reminiscent of In-​N-​Out but with a huge difference, the meat. It’s wagyu, people! You’re getting a huge deal on an expensive type of meat. My burger was juicy, melt-​in-​your-​mouth delicious. The burger was served with lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, American cheese, and pickles. I didn’t see any spread but it certainly didn’t need any. You can order alcohol at the counter and pick it up at the Recess bar across the way. Very efficient ordering if you ask me. They call out your name when your order is up so stay nearby unless you want someone else to eat your food. Bravo, Chef!

I’m a bit torn over the burgers here and here’s why:
— The single burger cost $ 7 (add $ 2 for an extra patty).
— The burgers taste TOO much like in-​n-​out, so it’s hard to justify the price uptick.
However, the meat was pretty good quality. They would be able to up the quality even more if they gave you a single «thick» patty instead of two small patties for the double burger. This would make it more gourmet (and less fast-​foodish) and more distinct but I guess it would take more temperature control from the grillers.
Also go to try the Potato Fries with everything on top and it was decent. Potatoes were crispy, poutine was a nice touch, and the bacon bits tasted fine.
Should have went with the Playground burger, which is a blank line with a 14 next to it. I’ll be back to try it.
3.5 stars.

I had the $ 14 Playground burger a couple weekends ago. I’m still thinking about it.
It was massive, and I somehow finished it after trying the PFC Fried Chicken and Cornbread and Waygu Khai Soi at Noodle Tramp. I have fond hazy memories of taking a bite and remarking that this was the best burger ever, then taking another bite, and repeating myself, until it was somehow all in my tummy.
You have to really love sweetness in your burger. This burger was loaded with caramelized onions, or more specifically a «maple bourbon onion compote.» It was too sweet for A, who tried a couple bites. No problem, because that meant more burger for me! The mustard contrasted well with the onions. The patty itself was so ridiculously rich and juicy. Visually, you could see how dense the meat was. It was probably borderline heart attack inducing (Jason mentions it’s almost 40% fat in one video), but it tasted really damn good. The parmesan aioli and fontina/​gruyère were just icing on the cake.
Disclaimer: I was four very mixed drinks in. Will need to try the Playground burger sober to test my theory that this is indeed the tastiest burger I’ve found to date. But I stand by my claim for now!
Other notes:
–You can add-​on Recess drinks to any of your Lunchbox orders, prepay, then pick up at the Recess bar.
–The Playground burger is definitely big enough for two people to share. I’m just a fatty.

The double is hefty and filling! I recommend the double for a nice ingredient ratio since the patties are the thin style. Clearly, they use Wagyu beef in each burger. I have had a burger for way more than $ 9, so I feel that the price is fair especially for such high quality beef. I LOVE the bun that they use. It is a little buttery, soft and fresh. The American cheese was perfectly melted, and they use a lot of it. They didn’t douse it in sauce which I appreciated. The burger also comes with lettuce and yummy grilled onions. My only complaint is that it is a bit too salty for me, but it could have just been a one-​off thing. The torn potatoes were crazy good! Crusty and seasoned on the outside and soft on the inside.
They don’t cook it until you order it, so it takes close to 15 minutes to receive your order. The girl working the register was very nice but when I asked what was on the «secret» $ 14 burger she said that I have to trust them. I’ll admit that I am a bit of a picky eater. There are a lot of things that I don’t like so ordering a burger without knowing what was on it did not appeal to me.
Tip: Be sure to read the menu on the clipboard. You can order beer from Recess by just paying for it with your burger and walking over to pick it up. I had to pay separately because I didn’t read!

I tried Chef Jason Quinn’s wagyu single cheese burger and it tasted great! This is one of the best burgers I have tried. I usually use In-​N-​Out to gauge how good a burger is. In this case the burger was great. I could tell the meat was high quality and it was moist, tender and juicy. The bun tasted good as well, and was soft and spongy. I opted for the single cheese burger, and while it was good, the size was extremely small. For $ 6 I would have expected at least a third of a pound. I do understand that the beef being used is high quality wagyu beef, grass fed, and organic. But still it seemed to be a little bit more than what I wanted to pay. The 2 patty version is $ 9 and is close to a third of a pound.
The fried torn baked potatoes are a wonderful side and priced at $ 2, I think that is reasonable. It certainly was a good experience, but these items didn’t fill me up. I really think the price point needs to be a bit lower. Overall it was a great burger, taste wise.