As a Santa Barbara-born chain founded in 1969, Habit Burger & Grill brought its open-flame charbroil format to Encinitas Boulevard in June 2017 with a 2,400-square-foot build seating 84 between the dining room and patio. The Charburger uses 100% fresh, never-frozen ground beef grilled directly over an open flame and topped with caramelized onions, a cooking method distinct from the flat-top griddle technique at The Crack Shack Encinitas farther along the corridor. Beyond burgers, the menu extends to USDA Choice tri-tip steak, line-caught sushi-grade ahi tuna, and grilled chicken — all cooked over the same open-flame grill — plus hand-cut salads and a self-serve condiment bar stocked with fresh peppers, lemons, and limes. Consumer Reports named the Charburger the top-scoring burger in America in 2014, surveying over 53,000 participants across the national fast-food landscape. Yum! Brands acquired the chain in March 2020, expanding it to over 370 locations in 14 states, yet this Encinitas outpost retains the walk-up condiment bar stocked with fresh jalapeños, serranos, and citrus — a customization layer paralleling the build-your-own beverage approach at Philz Coffee up El Camino Real. The highest-complexity build — the sushi-grade ahi tuna filet — is hand-filleted, marinated in-house, and chargrilled over an open flame to a specified internal temperature before assembly with crisp produce and tartar sauce on a toasted bun.