Hot Bunz, the smash burger spot known for its grass-fed beef patties and caramelized crust, has signed a lease for a new downtown Sacramento location at 730 K St. — a space larger than its existing restaurants. The family-owned chain, which already has locations in Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove, is set to take over the Hardin building spot that most recently housed Chando's Cantina Zazon Del Mar before that restaurant shuttered.
The lease, confirmed by Sacramento Business Journal, puts Hot Bunz in one of the larger spaces inside the Hardin retail complex on K Street, which is now getting a new tenant. Co-owner Diana Mkhitaryan told WhatNow that the restaurant is only a few months out from opening its third location, with an exact date to be shared on Hot Bunz's social media accounts. Per that same report, Hot Bunz is targeting an opening in early 2027.
The downtown space will fill about 5,730 square feet, according to the outlet's reporting, dwarfing the footprints of Hot Bunz's other two restaurants and giving the team room for both indoor and outdoor seating. Mkhitaryan said the bigger space will allow for a larger menu, and the owners are even considering a new name for the location: Hot Bunz Social Club, envisioned as a spot where customers can stay and hang out rather than just grab a burger and go.
What's Already on the Menu, and What Might Be Added
Hot Bunz's bread and butter is the smash burger — ground beef pressed onto a scorching grill until it forms a caramelized crust. The chain's classic smash, listed on its ordering page, stacks double grass-fed beef patties with melted yellow American cheese, caramelized grilled onions, pickles and house sauce on a toasted bun. The same menu features a salad built around chopped smash patties, cheese, tomatoes and pepperoncinis atop romaine, while sides on the chain's DoorDash listing include house-made mac and cheese, fries and onion rings.
Mkhitaryan said the burgers' crispy edges and juicy centers come down to using a substantial amount of meat in every patty, with beef sourced as 100% grass-fed from New Zealand and vegetables diced fresh to order. Should the Hot Bunz Social Club branding and expanded menu come together, the downtown location may add more salads, chicken wings and grilled chicken, according to WhatNow's reporting. The chain is also working on switching its fryers to avocado oil, with plans to have the change in place by the new location's opening.
A Downtown Address With a Rotating Cast of Tenants
The 730 K St. address has seen quick turnover in recent years. Chando's Cantina Zazon Del Mar closed after less than a year in business, Sacramento Business Journal reported in a separate story. Before that, the space was home to Solomon's Vinyl Diner, a restaurant themed around the building's longtime use as a Tower Records.
Mkhitaryan said Hot Bunz has been deliberate about its expansion, waiting for the right location rather than rushing into a lease. She and co-owner Sam Ayvazyan opened the first Hot Bunz in Rancho Cordova in 2022, followed by the Elk Grove location in 2023, and the pair have worked in the restaurant industry for roughly eight years. Mkhitaryan said the goal with the downtown expansion is to keep serving the community with authentic local food.
