Jeff and Laura "Lala" Budnechky, the husband-and-wife team behind the beloved Apocalypse BBQ, have turned their weekly pop-up into a permanent smash burger destination. Lala's Burgers has officially opened at 13750 SW 88th Street in Kendall.
What started as a side project became a phenomenon. The smash burgers proved so popular at pop-up events that the Budnechkys knew they had something special on their hands.
"The response was overwhelming," Laura said. "People were tracking our pop-up schedule, driving across Miami-Dade to get our burgers. We knew we had to find them a permanent home."
The menu keeps things focused and delicious. The signature "Lala" burger comes with American cheese, grilled onions, house pickles, and their proprietary sauce—a combination that has earned a devoted following. The "Bacon" burger features bacon jam and onion tanglers for those seeking extra indulgence.
"We've always believed that barbecue and burgers are about quality ingredients and proper technique," Jeff explained. "With Lala's, we get to show what we can do with smash burgers the same way we've approached barbecue at Apocalypse."
The Kendall location gives the Budnechkys a dedicated space to serve their community without the constraints of pop-up schedules. It also allows them to maintain the quality control that made their burgers famous in the first place.
"Our customers have been with us through every pop-up, every farmers market, every event," Laura noted. "This permanent location is for them. They believed in us, and now we can be here for them every day."
Lala's Burgers joins the growing wave of successful Miami pop-ups transitioning to permanent locations, proving that when the food is good enough, Miami shows up.