Restaurateur Partners with Wildly Popular Las Vegas Food Truck Fukuburger, Plans to Open Sit-Down Hollywood Eatery this September

LOS ANGELES, CA – In Japanese, “fuku” means “luck.”  And it was part luck, part explode-in-the-mouth hamburger joy, that bonded entrepreneur Harry Morton with one of Las Vegas’ best-loved food trucks, Fukuburger, inspiring the fourth-generation restaurateur to add another venture to his portfolio, which already includes the irreverent Pink Taco, the Viper Room, Beacher’s Madhouse and DeLeón Tequila.  Morton has partnered with the truck’s founders – Las Vegas devotees can rest easy: the truck will remain – and plans to open an eatery in Hollywood this September with the same casual sensibility, rock ‘n’ roll vibe, and gourmet Japanese/American fusion comfort food.

Fukuburger is the brainchild of co-owners Colin Fukunaga and Robert “Mags” Magsalin, who will serve as head chef at the L.A. Fukuburger.  They first introduced the truck in Las Vegas a year ago, in July 2010, quickly gaining a cult following, with fans tracking its every move via Twitter and www.fukuburger.com.

“I love everything about Fukuburger.  Colin and Mags are a totally unique duo, and I also love the street scene that Fukuburger attracts,” says Morton.   “I think it will translate very well to Hollywood, where it has the potential to become a great local hangout.”

The L.A. restaurant, to be located at 1634 Cahuenga Blvd. between Sunset and Hollywood Blvds., will be a 60-seat eatery designed by rock ‘n’ roll clothier Kelly Cole.  The color scheme will reflect that of the original Fukuburger truck — red, black and grey.  The eatery will offer communal seating and an unpretentious atmosphere, with rock music and flat-screen televisions with a live feed, which will allow patrons to engage in social media and capture images of the goings-on in the dining room and kitchen areas.

Morton plans to keep the same successful menu, focused on six burgers (full-sized, not sliders).   They include the signature Fuku-burger, Tamago, Buta-Burger, Kinoko and Karai, which the New York Times called “the best burger I’d had in years” (NYT, 2/4/11), as well as beer, sake and wine.  Follow Fukuburger on Twitter @fukuburger.