The Pacific Beach location of Mr. Charlie's Told Me So is now serving customers ahead of its official grand opening on Saturday, January 31, marking the brand’s debut in San Diego County. A second local location at 3896 Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest is expected to follow soon, with locations also operating in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Australia, and beyond.
Founded in Los Angeles in 2022, Mr. Charlie’s has built a cult following for its unapologetically nostalgic fast-food aesthetic - a bright red-and-yellow interior and menu that openly riffs on McDonald’s classics, reimagined entirely without meat or dairy. The brand has gone viral across social media for its familiar look, cheeky naming conventions, and surprisingly indulgent plant-based comfort food.
A look at the menu boards inside the Pacific Beach location shows Mr. Charlie’s leaning heavily into fast-food familiarity. Core offerings include vegan takes on burgers and sandwiches such as the Not a Hamburger, Not a Cheeseburger, Double Not, and the Not a Chicken Sandwich, all built around plant-based patties and sauces meant to mirror traditional drive-thru flavors.
Signature combo options are sold as “Mr. Frowny Meals,” a tongue-in-cheek nod to Happy Meals, featuring a burger or sandwich paired with fries and a drink. The menu also includes vegan nuggets, fries, and breakfast items like McMuffin-style sandwiches, signaling all-day appeal beyond lunch and dinner. On the sweeter side, Mr. Charlie’s offers vegan soft-serve, sundaes, and other dessert options, reinforcing the brand’s focus on replicating the full fast-food experience rather than positioning itself as a health-forward vegan eatery.
The Hillcrest location, slated for the former Chocolat space on Fifth Avenue, is still in development and expected to open in the coming month, bringing the brand into one of San Diego’s most LGBTQ-friendly and nightlife-heavy neighborhoods. With its Pacific Beach soft opening now underway and a Hillcrest debut on the horizon, Mr. Charlie’s is positioning itself to become one of San Diego’s most talked-about new fast-casual arrivals of 2026.
Mr. Charlie’s is located at 1560 Garnet Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach. For more information, visit mrcharlies.co.
The Hillcrest location, slated for the former Chocolat space on Fifth Avenue, is still in development and expected to open in the coming month, bringing the brand into one of San Diego’s most LGBTQ-friendly and nightlife-heavy neighborhoods. With its Pacific Beach soft opening now underway and a Hillcrest debut on the horizon, Mr. Charlie’s is positioning itself to become one of San Diego’s most talked-about new fast-casual arrivals of 2026.
Mr. Charlie’s is located at 1560 Garnet Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach. For more information, visit mrcharlies.co.
Originally published on January 25, 2026.
