You’ve been asked “Any fries with that?” when you order a hamburger. What about a side of blessings instead?
That’s the meal deal with Jesus Burgers, which is simultaneously an address, a weekly event, and a group of people dedicated to serving hungry Isla Vistans. Run by the youth group of Mission Isla Vista, the house on the 6700 block of Del Playa Drive serves up steaming-hot burgers every Friday night for free. That’s made the place a hotspot in Isla Vista, where plenty of weekend revelers are ready for a burger after Friday-night beers. What most hungry attendees don’t know is the rich history and tight-knit community behind the Del Playa phenomenon.
Jesus Burgers dates back to 2001, when the youth group from Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara came to the streets of Isla Vista to pray for the youth. No one wanted prayer, so the undeterred group returned — this time with hot dogs. Eventually, the group switched to burgers, reorganized under the Mission Isla Vista name, and set up permanent shop at the Del Playa residence, which has now been theirs for 17 years.