Michelin-Starred Chef Ready To Open Tanner's Prime Burgers In San Diego's North County

April 11, 2024

A former chef of multiple Michelin-starred restaurants is ready to unveil Tanner's Prime Burgers restaurant in San Diego's North County. 

Chef Brandon Rodgers has worked in the kitchens at some of the top restaurants in Northern California's Bay Area, including famed The French Laundry in Yountville, CA. While working as chef de cuisine at San Francisco's Benu Korean-American fusion eatery, the restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars. 

Rodgers also helped open In Situ at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which subsequently earned a Michelin star and back-to-back James Beard nominations. Locally, Rodgers previously worked at Jack’s La Jolla, which closed in 2009, then at at El Bizcocho (now Avant) where he trained under James Beard award-winning Chef Gavin Kaysen to represent the United States in the 2007 Bocuse d’Or culinary competition.

For the past year, Chef Rodgers has partnered with San Diego's Brandt Beef and operated Tanner's Prime Burgers as a pop-up concept within Blue Moon Celebrity Grill in the 3rd Floor Clubhouse at the Del Mar Racetrack during both the summer season and last fall's Bing Crosby incarnation. Named after Eric Brandt’s son, Tanner's serves a menu of cheffed up smash burgers. The signature creation includes a 1/3-pound Brandt Beef patty topped with Brandt Beef bacon, caramelized onions, thinly-sliced sweet onions, lettuce, special sauce, and the New School American cheese created by chef and culinary pioneer Eric Greenspan.
Tanner's Prime Burgers will grand open on April 19 in the space that was previously scheduled to house a branch of Swagyu within Oceanside's brand new Freeman Collective, which also houses HomeState, Corner Pizza, Artifex Brewery, Blackmarket Bakery, and Northside Shack. In addition to burgers, Tanner's will serve a variety of appetizers, and rotating dishes, as well as beef tallow French fries and beef tallow ice cream sandwiches. The restaurant will also have a full bar component. 

In addition to the new brick-and-mortar location, Tanner's Prime Burgers will continue to operate its pop up site at Del Mar Racetrack during this year's upcoming season. Like last season, Tanners will be located inside the Blue Moon Celebrity Grill in the 3rd Floor Clubhouse.

Tanner's Prime Burgers will open on Friday, April 19, at 510 Vista Way in San Diego's North County city of Oceanside. For more information, follow Tanner's Prime Burgers on Instagram and check out the menu below.