Our History | Brolly Hut — Inglewood, CA

Where It All Started

Brolly Hut opened its doors in 1970 on Crenshaw Boulevard in Inglewood, California — back when the neighborhood was built around family, community, and good food at a fair price. The name came from the vintage beach umbrella ("brolly") that became the restaurant's calling card, a nod to the sunny Southern California spirit that the founders wanted every customer to feel the moment they pulled up.

From day one, the menu was straightforward and honest: fresh-ground burgers cooked to order, slow-cooked chili ladled over crispy fries, hand-sliced pastrami piled high on sandwiches, and hearty breakfast burritos to start the day right. No shortcuts. No freezer bags. Just real food made by real people.

"We didn't have a marketing budget. We had good food and good people — and that was enough."

A Neighborhood Institution

Through the decades, Brolly Hut became more than a burger stand. It became a gathering place. Little League teams celebrated wins here. Families stopped in after Sunday service. Night-shift workers grabbed breakfast burritos before sunrise. Generations of Inglewood residents grew up knowing the Brolly Hut sign — that blue-and-gold umbrella — meant a satisfying meal was minutes away.

The Colossal Burger — a double patty stacked with house-made chili, pastrami, and the restaurant's signature sauce — became legendary in the area and has remained the menu's crown jewel for over five decades. Locals don't just order it. They recommend it to everyone they bring in for the first time.

Milestones

1970

Brolly Hut opens at 11205 Crenshaw Blvd, Inglewood, CA. The original menu features burgers, chili fries, and breakfast items. The iconic umbrella sign goes up for the first time.

1975

The Colossal Burger — with pastrami, house sauce, and double patty — is added to the menu and quickly becomes the most-ordered item.

1984

Brolly Hut expands its breakfast menu, adding the Breakfast Burrito that regulars still order every morning before it hits the counter.

1994

The restaurant weathers major challenges in the neighborhood and stays open throughout, cementing its reputation as a pillar of the Inglewood community.

2010

A full kitchen renovation modernizes operations while keeping every recipe exactly the same. The customers notice nothing — which is exactly the point.

2020

Despite the pandemic, Brolly Hut pivots quickly to curbside service and keeps the neighborhood fed through the toughest stretch in decades.

2024

A new brand identity is launched — same food, same values, fresh look. The blue-and-gold umbrella logo gets a modern refresh while honoring the original design.

Today

Brolly Hut is still on Crenshaw. Still making everything fresh. Still the best burger in Inglewood — and we're just getting started.

Still Going Strong

More than 55 years after opening, Brolly Hut is still family-operated, still cooking from scratch, and still serving Inglewood the food it deserves. New neighbors discover us every week. Old regulars bring their grandkids for the first time. And that umbrella sign still turns heads on Crenshaw — just like it did in 1970.