With cheese sauce, shredded pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapenos and onion rings, the Hot Mess Burger from Jack in the Box was a lot to handle. So much so that the sandwich’s fans could not get enough.
Now the sandwich, introduced in 2013 and discontinued “more than a decade” ago, is back for a limited time.
Very limited.
On Friday only, Jack in the Box is reintroducing the Hot Mess Burger at a one-day pop-up with free sandwiches at 4340 Mission Blvd., just south of Grand Avenue, in Pacific Beach from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It’s all part of the company’s 75th anniversary extravaganza. Jack in the Box, founded in 1951 and headquartered in San Diego, is doing all sorts of fun and wacky things to celebrate. It revived the Chicken Supreme, a meaty, cheesy yet fresh chicken sandwich, where crispy lettuce and soft tomato counter the warm and gooey two slices of cheese and a creamy sauce. It is bringing back other menu items, from sliders to wraps, which has at once created buzz and stoked nostalgia. Sales impacts of the campaign are yet to be reported. Its first-quarter earnings for 2026 and annual shareholder meeting are both scheduled for later this month.
The company’s lore around its Hot Mess Burger is a lot. There’s a band, a wife, a lead singer, nostalgia, posters.
The burger’s debut featured “Jack on tour with 80s rockband, Meat Riot, where he met his wife, Cricket. To mark the Hot Mess return, and in celebration of the brand’s 75th anniversary, Jack Box reprises his role as frontman of Meat Riot in a remake of the original ad. Featuring Jack fondly looking back on his days as lead singer in the band, fans are given an insider look at Jack and Cricket’s early days.”
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box’s Hot Mess Burger promotional poster. (Jack in the Box)
A reviewer from Buzzfeed liked the sandwich and was drawn to its texture, writing, “Looking down at the hot stain of cheese, I was glad to be wearing an apron. Jack in the Box’s Hot Mess Burger stayed true to its name, sticky and saucy, leaving a snail trail of melted cheese dripping down my palm. Like me, many fans of the brand will be reaching for extra napkins very soon.”
If you miss the pop-up, or continue craving pickled jalapeno, cheese sauce, onion rings and beef on sourdough, fear not: The event in Pacific Beach is just one of several. Pop-ups will also happen in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas.
And if you don’t want to drive to Texas, there’s an easier option: The burger will be available until April 5 at any Jack in the Box restaurant, on its own or as part of the Hot Mess Munchie Meal. The sandwich starts at around $6. The meal starts at $13.