Kendall gets a new burger joint from the couple behind Apocalypse BBQ
One of Kendall’s favorite barbecue spots has opened its first standalone burger joint — also in Kendall, of course.
The new Lala’s Burgers, from the owners of the wildly popular Apocalypse BBQ, is now open in the former space of the Japanese restaurant Fujiya in a strip mall near the intersection of 88th Street and 137th Avenue.
Lala’s had been operating out of a shipping container at Lincoln’s Beard Brewing & Cocktails, where it opened in late 2024. Before that, Lala’s creations popped up at Apocalypse BBQ, which opened in its new, bigger location earlier this year.
Serving the burgers at the brewery was a positive thing, says Lala’s and Apocalypse owner Jeff Budnechky, but there were limits as to what he could do.
“We loved being at the brewery and being in that scene and doing everything we were able to do with the fire pit there, but it was just a little tight inside the container,” he says of the business he started with his wife Laura (the Lala in question). “We tried doing chicken sandwiches, but we didn’t have the space to prep them in a sanitary way. So now to be able to see all of our ideas come to life is amazing.”
Now, the menu proudly offers thick, crispy chicken sandwiches and other new side items that are available thanks to the extra space: beer-battered onion rings, fried pickles (briny with the merest hint of sweetness) and hot dogs.
There is, however, a change to the burgers: Budnechky is no longer making smashburgers, instead he’s using a thicker patty. He made the change because of one of the most powerful forces known to mankind: nostalgia.
“Smashburgers are amazing, and I love being able to grab them all around the city, but I really miss a big juicy, meaty patty,” he admits. “I just wanted the childhood burger that I grew up with. My wife likes them and I love them so it made a lot of sense to us.”
The menu includes The Lala, which comes slathered in Lala sauce, grilled onions, pickles and American cheese, and the McLala with a secret sauce, shredded lettuce, dehydrated onions and pickles (stop us if that sound familiar). There are also specialty burgers like The Timba, with cream cheese, bacon, guava sauce, potato sticks and Havarti cheese and the jaw-dropping The Maxwell with hot honey, chopped pepperoni, a fried slab of queso frito and American cheese. You might want to get a doctor’s note to try that one, but it’s worth it.
You can also order any of these toppings on a chicken sandwich. At the moment, there are no vegetarian offerings, but Budnechky plans to add a grilled cheese sandwich to the menu at some point. In the meantime, there’s always The Brownie, a giant sharing-sized brownie topped with vanilla ice cream, fudge and sprinkles.
The new Lala’s also features a craft beer program, with Miami brews like Everhaze IPA and the easy drinking No Mames Mexican-style lager from Tripping Animals Brewing Company, La Rubia from Wynwood Brewing Company and La Playita from The Tank. There’s also a small vinyl listening area, a nod to Apocalypse BBQ, and there will also be a selection of board and table games.
The location is also a little easier logistically for the Budnechkys, since it’s just a few miles down Kendall Drive from Apocalypse BBQ. Efficiency is key for the couple these days: They’re expecting their first child in March.
Budnechky points out that things could have been even more complicated: The baby is due March 21, and they had been planning to bring Apocalypse BBQ to the Miami Open, which runs March 15-29, 2026.
“We were going to build a 10-day restaurant there, and then the baby gets here five days into it,” he says, laughing. “My family was like, ‘No.’ But it’s hard to say no. But we’re super excited about Lala’s. The biggest difference is being able to stretch our wings. The sky’s the limit.”
Lala’s Burgers
Where: 13750 SW 88th St., Miami
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
More information: @lalasbrgrs