Nestled just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Zareen’s downtown, Local Kitchens — a Bay Area-based micro food hall known for offering a wide variety of food brands under one roof — recently introduced a new lineup of burgers under the Sweet Onion Burger (SOB) umbrella.
The company, which operates locations throughout Northern California, allows diners to mix and match from multiple restaurants in one spot. With 13 locations, from the Bay Area to Sacramento, Local Kitchens provides a unique dining experience where convenience and variety go hand in hand.
According to Local Kitchens Brand Director Olyvia Ruhlmann during an interview on Sept. 23 with The Paly Voice, this [burger lineup] launch comes in partnership with celebrity chef Alvin Cailan, the mind behind famous LA food truck Eggslut and host of “The Burger Show.”
“When we were searching for the right partner to bring a fresh take on the burger to Northern California, we came across Alvin Cailan,” Ruhlmann told The Paly Voice. “For lack of a better word, he’s a legend. He has been hosting “The Burger Show” with First We Feast for over six years, and has 129 million views and counting. He now owns Amboy in LA, which is a really popular burger spot, and he’s also a food consultant for Bob’s burger. When it comes to burgers, he knows his stuff, and this [decision] was just a no-brainer.”
Ruhlmann said that the SOB has a rich history rooted in America’s Southern spirit of making the most of what you’ve got.
“I think what really excited us most about this partnership is that we’re creating a new category within the burger market, especially in Northern California,” Ruhlmann said. “This burger originates from Oklahoma, and it has a really interesting back story from the 1920s era. During the Great Depression, they were trying to find ways to do more with less, and it [the SOB] is really a simple beef, onion, and cheese flavor profile. From there, it’s evolved to become a regional delicacy in Oklahoma.”
Earlier this month, we went in person to the Palo Alto Local Kitchens location to try the new SOB lineup. Upon arriving at the location, we were shocked by the contrast between the bustling Zareens next door, and the modern yet empty Local Kitchens restaurant. After ordering food at the self-service kiosks, we sat ourselves down at a table, without any human interactions. Once our orders were complete, we picked up our food.
Here’s what we thought of each dish we ordered (all prices shown without tax):
Garlic Fries – $7 – (2/10)
Starting off weak, our appetizer of Garlic Fries was disappointing. Priced at a steep $7, they arrived soggy with almost no crispiness (Voice tried the fries again on a separate occasion, with similar results). The overwhelming garlic flavor overpowered the entire dish, without adding depth or real enhancement to the fries themselves. Overall, the fries ended up an unappetizing mess that we would not recommend.
Bacon Sweet Onion Burger – $12 – (9/10)
The Bacon SOB elevates the burger by adding crispy bacon, bringing a smoky richness to complement the sweetness of the caramelized onions and signature SOB sauce, a pleasant mayo-based sauce. The burger features a juicy medium-well beef patty, paired well with melted American cheese, savory bacon strips, and the restaurant’s flagship sauce. All in all, this burger was an incredibly tasty burger worth a try.
Hot Sweet Onion Burger – $11 – (8.5/10)
The Hot SOB is a slightly more complex take on the burger, adding jalepeños to create depth and complement the aforementioned sweet SOB sauce. The burger consists of a juicy patty covering slices of American cheese, sweetened caramelized onions and the restaurant’s flagship sauce. Placed together in a sesame bun, the Hot SOB represents another brilliant burger that we would recommend to all spicy food connoisseurs.
Molasses Chocolate Chunk Cookie – $3 – (9/10)
The Molasses Chocolate Chunk Cookie offers a nice blend of both sweet and savory flavors. The cookie is soft and chewy, with molasses adding depth to the sweetness of the chocolate chunks. A sprinkle of sea salt on top provides the perfect contrast, enhancing the overall flavor profile. This was a great dessert to finish the meal off.
Overall, the new SOB lineup now available at Local Kitchens, paired with all of its existing menu items, makes this micro-food hall on California Avenue a unique try for everyone.
