The Best Burgers in Watsonville: Episode 4 — The King Kong Burger
Four episodes. Four burgers. And this is the one that closes it out.
Kong's Burger and Cafe has been a Watsonville institution for over 37 years. Sang Soon Ahn and Soon Ja are two of the most passionate people you will ever meet behind a counter. The walls of their restaurant are covered in reviews and writeups from people who found this place and never stopped talking about it.
People drive from Santa Cruz to Watsonville just for this burger. That should tell you everything.
The King Kong Burger
$10.99.
A classic burger cooked fresh to order, topped with a blend of cheese and your choice of Asian seasoned spicy pork, beef, or chicken.
Get the spicy pork. That is not a suggestion.
The topping is what separates this from every other burger in the series. It brings a flavor that hits like a great Bibimbap bowl. A little sweet, a little spicy, bold and layered in a way that makes a $10.99 burger feel like it should cost twice that.
Nothing is frozen. Everything is cooked to order. Sang will talk about his food if you ask him. Ask him.
The Rest of the Menu Is Just as Good
If burgers are not your thing, they have you covered. The salmon burger at $10.99, the Bibim Bahp plate with rice, vegetables, a fried egg, and your choice of protein, and the beef teriyaki plate are all worth coming back for.
And their regular Kong Burger is $7.99. They also brew their own fresh coffee daily. This place does not miss on anything.
The Verdict
Four episodes. Four great burgers. One series.
Kong's takes the crown.
📍 Kong's Burger and Cafe | 15 E Beach St, Suite 101, Watsonville, CA 95076
Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 6pm