Sam "The Cooking Guy" Unveils Samburgers In San Diego's Little Italy

April 12, 2021

San Diego food celebrity Sam "The Cooking Guy" has partnered with the Little Italy Food Hall once again for the opening of a second Samburgers  a burger-centric eatery taking over the central vendor space at the dining destination. 

Emmy Award-winning Sam "The Cooking Guy" Zien is adding to his budding restaurant empire with the launch of Samburgers  the third collaboration with the Little Italy Food Hall following the launch of Not Not Tacos in 2018 and Graze by Sam in 2019. Sam The Cooking Guy launched the first location of Samburgers last year in the Seaport Village space that housed Buster's Beach House & Longboard Bar for three decades. Samburgers is replacing Not Not Tacos in the main vendor space next to the bar. Not Not Tacos is relocating to the back corner unit that last housed Semola Pasta Bar, which is opening a full-scale restaurant in La Jolla. 

In early 2020, Zien and his partners from Grain & Grit Collective entered into a decade-long lease with the Port of San Diego for the building at 807 West Harbor Drive to open a full-service American comfort food restaurant in the bayfront space but the COVID-19 pandemic. Zien and Grain & Grit already collaborate together to operate Not Not Tacos in Little Italy Food Hall and Graze in the space directly opposite the food hall within Piazza Della Famiglia. The new, yet-to-be-named Seaport Village restaurant is currently paused as the restaurant industry waits out coronavirus restrictions, but it is currently open as take-out exclusive Eats by Sam.

Samburgers will celebrate its grand opening week starting on Monday, April 12, with live music, food specials, and giveaways, and meet and greet hours with Sam The Cooking Guy. The eatery serves a variety of burgers, including ground chicken, salmon and plant-based patties, as well as sides like chili cheese tots hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad and more. 

The new Samburgers is located at 550 W Date Street in San Diego's Little Italy. For more information, visit eatsbysam.com/samburgers.