Founded during the pandemic shutdown of 2020 by chef Santos Uy, For The Win is a Los Angeles smash burger concept that opened its first San Diego location at 1037 Garnet Ave in Pacific Beach (92109) in July 2025. Uy previously ran Papilles Bistro near the Hollywood Bowl, a French restaurant that earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, before pivoting to a streamlined burger menu when lockdowns stalled fine dining. His brother Ronald Uy, a San Diego resident and business partner, manages the Pacific Beach outpost day to day from the former Lucha Libre Taco Shop space. The signature smash burger features a three-ounce patty pressed thin on the grill until the edges crisp, finished with pickles, grilled onions, and a house fry sauce on a Martin's potato bun. Late hours keep the kitchen running until midnight on Thursdays and 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, making it a rare late-night food option between Costa Brava and the bars farther west on Garnet. Singles, doubles, and triples are available, and sides include thin-cut French fries, sweet potato fries, loaded fries with grilled onions and melted American cheese, and Brussels sprouts deep-fried in beef tallow dressed in balsamic vinegar. Thick milkshakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry round out the menu alongside brownies and a grilled cheese option for vegetarians. Times of San Diego and Eater San Diego both covered the opening, noting the low price point and Michelin-trained pedigree set it apart in an increasingly competitive PB burger scene. Sports fans catching a game at Sandbar Sports Grill nearby can grab a smash burger on the walk home. The chain now operates roughly ten locations across Los Angeles, with Pacific Beach marking its first expansion beyond LA County.