When 16-year-old Lionel Sternberger placed cheese on a hamburger in 1924, he launched a global culinary revolution from a roadside stand on Colorado Boulevard. More than a century later, Cheeseburger Week 2026 honors that moment with a six-day celebration marking an unprecedented convergence: the centennial of Route 66, the 150th anniversary of Colorado Boulevard, and the ongoing legacy of Sternberger’s invention at The Rite Spot.
Approximately 40 in Pasadena restaurants will participate, offering special menus and voting in the annual Cheeseburger Challenge. New for 2026 is a special Route 66 Cheeseburger Challenge category.
“Pasadena may be best known for our New Year events but I would be willing to bet billions of people the world over have enjoyed a cheeseburger over the past 99 years or so,” said Paul Little, President and CEO of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. “This is a week for Pasadena to have a little culinary fun and host visitors for a delicious experience.”
Venues range from casual burger joints like Pie ‘n Burger and Dog Haus to upscale establishments including Ruth’s Chris Steak House and The Royce Woodfired Steakhouse at the Langham Huntington Hotel. El Portal Restaurant and Yahaira’s Cafe offer the Zacatecas Burger, available only during Cheeseburger Week.
Time Magazine’s 1964 obituary recognized Sternberger as the cheeseburger’s inventor. The Pasadena Museum of History houses an original Rite Spot menu, the earliest documented reference to a hamburger with cheese. In 2017, a commemorative plaque was installed at 1520 W. Colorado Boulevard.
The timing carries particular significance as Pasadena’s restaurant industry recovers from pandemic losses and the devastating January 2025 Eaton Fire. For many establishments, Cheeseburger Week represents a crucial economic lifeline.
Pasadena Cheeseburger Week will run Sunday, Jan. 25 through Saturday, Jan. 31 as an all-day event. Participating restaurants throughout Pasadena; Pasadena Chamber of Commerce address, 44 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, California 91106. For more information, call (626) 795-3355 or visit https://www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com/.
