Introduction to The Habit Burger & Grill’s Latest Creations
Jason Triail, The Habit Burger & Grill’s director of culinary innovation, is a New York native. But when he joined the Irvine-based chain in 2023, he started thinking about West Coast produce.
Tempura Avocado Wedges: A New California-Inspired Dish
The result is called Tempura Avocado Wedges. “This is something I’ve been working on for over a year,” he said, showing off the dish in his test kitchen here Habit headquarters. It’s in the back of a drive-thru at 2200 Barranca Parkway. “Our new mantra, and it always will be, is we are California feel-good and we’re a California-based company. So avocados spoke to me. What can I do with it? Turn it into a tempura fried avocado with a crispy outside and creamy inside. Serve it with our signature ranch.” The dish went on sale for a limited time this week.
Revisiting the Existing Menu
Triail said he likes to come with unexpected recipes nobody else has, but he is also revisiting the existing menu. Jason Triail, directory of culinary innovation at The Habit Burger & Grill, shows off a new Santa Barbara Cobb Salad being tested at select Southern California restaurants. (Photo by Fielding Buck, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Since Triail joined The Habit he has been evaluating it from every angle. He is testing a new take on the Santa Barbara Cobb in about 20 restaurants. He not only tweaked the recipe, he’s showing it off in a new bowl.
Enhancements to the Santa Barbara Cobb Salad
“I looked at the value proposition,” he said. “Everything’s getting pricier out there so you’ve got to show the consumer what they’re paying for. Instead of doing diced egg like most people see in a Cobb salad, I went with the whole egg. I cut it in half. Same thing with avocado. Instead of using smashed avocado, I took that avocado and quartered and put a little bit of color, a little bit of pizazz with Everything But bagel seasoning. Instead of diced tomatoes, we go whole grape tomatoes. Let it pop.” He is also using sliced white cheddar instead of grated cheese. “We’re hand-crumbling it to give it that charcuterie look to it.”
Upcoming Beverages
Triail said a couple of new beverages are on the way in coming weeks, including dragon fruit and a frozen chocolate banana shake.
Information
Information: habitburger.com
Conclusion
The Habit Burger & Grill is continuously innovating and improving its menu, with a focus on California-inspired dishes and high-quality ingredients. With the introduction of Tempura Avocado Wedges and the revamped Santa Barbara Cobb Salad, customers can expect a fresh and exciting dining experience.
FAQs
Q: What is the new dish introduced by The Habit Burger & Grill?
A: The new dish is called Tempura Avocado Wedges, a tempura fried avocado with a crispy outside and creamy inside, served with signature ranch.
Q: What changes have been made to the Santa Barbara Cobb Salad?
A: The salad now features a whole egg cut in half, quartered avocado with Everything But bagel seasoning, whole grape tomatoes, and sliced white cheddar cheese.
Q: What new beverages can customers expect in the coming weeks?
A: The Habit Burger & Grill will be introducing dragon fruit and a frozen chocolate banana shake.
Q: Where can customers find more information about The Habit Burger & Grill?
A: Customers can visit habitburger.com for more information.
Originally Published: March 21, 2025 at 12:13 PM PDT
