Char-Hut — Restaurant in Tamarac

I used to love Char Hut. I’ve been eating here for years (at several locations), but that all changed recently. It’s amazing how poorly the employees will behave when the long-time managers are away.

I have significantly reduced my red meat consumption due to health issues, so going to Char Hut for one of their famously never-frozen burgers was a long-anticipated treat.

When ordering the Char Cheeseburger, the order-taker asked, “How would you like it cooked?” The burgers are fairly thin, so this is always a funny question from them. I said, “medium.” I get to my table with all toppings as requested, take a bite, and it’s rare, nearly raw. A little over or undercooking is normal once in a while, but aside from the browned exterior, this was nearly steak tartare.

I brought it back and asked the cook to remake it with “a little pink in the middle” since it was not medium and he clearly had a tendency to undercook the food. He took the sandwich, opened it, ripped apart the burger and stated, “That’s medium.” I was shocked. “I’ve been working here for years, that’s medium,” he insisted. I was not about to engage in an argument with a short-order cook regarding the subtle nuances of cooking times and temperatures. I simply but firmly said, “That’s raw. You served me raw meat. Please recook it.” He then threw it away, neither changed his gloves nor washed his hands, and returned to cooking food.

It came out slightly better, but still not medium. I chose to enjoy my lunch and report this to Char Hut management via their website. It has now been two months without a response from Char Hut management. To say I am disappointed with this South Florida icon would be an understatement. I cannot even count the number of times I’ve eaten here with my family since the early 1980s. I’ve always accepted that they’re a bit more expensive due to the freshness of the food and the fact that they’re locally owned without a billion dollar marketing machine behind them.

I sincerely hope Char Hut management takes the comments (positive and negative) of its lifelong customers seriously.

I would love to post a positive...

Char-Hut is a small chain of fast service restaurants owned by the Cammisa family. The family started the business over 40 years ago when they opened their first restaurant in Miami after moving to Florida from Buffalo. The family closed the Miami restaurant in favor of moving to southwest Broward. They specialize in hamburgers and chicken. Unlike other fast food places you can tell them how well you want your burger meat cooked and you can customize it with different toppings. The food is cooked to order.

This place is an institution and you can't hang around this long in the South Florida restaurant scene unless you offer quality food. I have eaten here many times through the years and if you go inside you come out smelling like a grill. It is a breeze to order from the drive through during Covid-19. You have to wait a little longer in line than your standard big chain fast food place but it's well worth the wait.

I ordered a single Char-Hut burger with cheese, fries, and fruit punch for $12. I picked the regular fries but when my daughter comes she always gets the sweet potato fries. I really like how you can customize all aspects of your burger down to the bread it is served on. The fruit punch was terrible, they needed to change the canister.

I love that Char-Hut is still open serving up the comfort food. It's an older place but that is what I like about it. I am glad I passed by because it brought back some...

Fresh, Flavorful Burgers and Wonderful Hospitality!

When my son was craving a burger, we decided to stop by Char-Hut in Tamarac, and it turned out to be such a fantastic choice! This place has everything you’d want in a burger joint—from incredible food to a welcoming atmosphere.

What immediately caught my attention was their open grill setup. Watching the burgers being freshly made right in front of us added such a cool touch to the experience. And let me tell you, those burgers were absolutely amazing! Packed with flavor, cooked to perfection, and served piping hot—they totally hit the spot for both of us.

One of the standout moments of our visit was meeting the owner. He was an absolute sweetheart, genuinely warm and friendly, which made us feel even more at home. It’s also worth noting that Char-Hut is locally owned, which makes supporting this spot feel even better. You can tell they take pride in their community, their food, and their outstanding customer service.

The quality of the food, combined with the personal and friendly vibe, ensures that this won’t be our last visit. If you’re in Tamarac and looking for a locally owned burger spot that delivers on flavor and hospitality, Char-Hut is the...