Out by San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, there’s a small business corridor teeming with lively bars and restaurants. But the one-block haven for elite breakfast sandwiches, late-night Korean eats and an Irish pub dating back to 1978-ish just got even more vibrant with the opening of a buzzy brewery’s new taproom. However, it’s not just any taproom — it features a $3 beer, arguably the cheapest in the city. And you can pair it with one of the most popular smash burgers San Francisco has to offer.
Two Pitchers Brewing Company held the grand opening of its second Bay Area outpost last week at 3821 Noriega St. After experiencing success in Oakland by teaming up with Lovely’s Burgers, owners Tommy Hester and Wilson Barr collaborated with Maillards, the popular smash burger concept from Max Ponzurick that has been popping up at the Outer Sunset farmers market and Heritage Restaurant & Bar on Clement Street for the last three years. If the line out the door was any indication, the residents of the Outer Sunset were stoked to have a new hangout that will likely bring folks from other parts of the city to the quiet, beachside strip.
“I got really excited when I heard the news that it was opening, because there’s not really a spot in the neighborhood to hang out with your friends to drink beers and also get just a fantastic mouthwatering burger,” William Bouzek, a San Francisco native who now works in analytics for GoodRx, told SFGATE while waiting in line. “But I feel like my eyes are bigger than my stomach right now so it’s hard to pick which burger I want.”
Article continues below this ad
Customers line up for the opening of Maillards first brick and mortar restaurant on Noriega St. in the Sunset district in San Francisco, on April 22, 2026.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
The restaurant is packed on an early Wednesday evening at the opening of Maillards first brick and mortar restaurant on Noriega St. in the Sunset district in San Francisco, on April 22, 2026.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
It was a rare sunny day in the Outer Sunset district. As wispy clouds sat idly across the bright blue sky, Hester opened the door of his first SF business built inside a former grocery store at 4 p.m. on the dot. There was no cheer or any sort of celebration for the grand opening, only the shuffling of footsteps as the line halfway down the block made its way inside the light-filled space.
Beneath exposed wooden beams, the bar highlighted a tap list of 21 beers written in chalk. Two Pitchers is known for its $3 Baseline Lager and a selection of low-ABV radlers spiked with grapefruit, blood orange, passion fruit, guava and more. Their beverage program also includes a cider and guest taps featuring Bay Area breweries like Humble Sea, Ghost Town, Enterprise, Barebottle, Harmonic and more. The move: Grab a beer to sip on while waiting in line for the delectable burgers.
Article continues below this ad
The Maillards line stretched from the front door to the very back, with mix and match wooden tables and chairs partitioned on each side of the hungry guests. Ponzurick could be seen in the kitchen, behind the ordering kiosk, smashing the burger patties one by one with his griddle press. After each round of burgers were plated, he spritzed heavy amounts of water to clean the piping hot iron plate. Ponzurick told SFGATE in a previous interview that cleaning the surface was essential because a dry, clean surface is necessary for a smash burger to get the lace-y edges that fan out from the burger bun.
A line cook makes smash burgers at Maillards new brick and mortar location in San Francisco, on April 22, 2026.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
A variety of offerings at the Maillards new brick and mortar location on Noriega St. in the Sunset district in San Francisco, on April 22, 2026.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
Longtime fans of Maillards will immediately notice Ponzurick’s menu is bigger than before. There are a total of four burgers, all built around grass-fed and finished beef, including the classic Maillards double cheese burger ($12, $10 for a single patty), which was topped with caramelized shallots and house-brined pickles, and a spicy version with charred jalapenos and fresno chilis ($13/$11). The expanded menu also featured spicy fried chicken in two forms: a sandwich ($10) and nuggets ($10). The tender sammie was one big chicken tender in a red hot sauce reminiscent of Frank’s RedHot, with jalapeño slaw and dill pickles. It was a great sharp, spicy bite compared to the more mellow and savory Maillards burger.
Article continues below this ad
The pickle-brined chicken nuggets, which I didn’t try, came in a small tub and were accompanied by one of two dipping sauces — a Moroccan spiced honey or herbed ranch. I shall return for it on my next visit. This new iteration of Maillards also comes with two ice cream options using Straus organic soft serve: cookies and cream ($7) — a swirl of vanilla soft serve in a cup with vanilla bean whipped cream and cookie dust — as well as a “dabble cup” ($6), which was a vanilla, chocolate or a combo swirl in a cup and topped with a sugar cone. Yes, I’ll be returning for those, too.
The Maillards smashburger includes caramelized shallots, housemade pickles, American cheese and maillards sauce, as seen on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
Two Pitchers teamed up with Maillards to open a new restaurant/brewery on Noriega St. in the Sunset district in San Francisco, on April 22, 2026.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
For those in the mood for just a snack, the French fries ($5) were fried in beef tallow for a richer flavor. The garlic crunch Caesar salad ($10) was a jumble of radicchio, kale and romaine lettuce with parmesan cheese, chives, sourdough crumbs and garlic crunch oil.
Article continues below this ad
While this was Two Pitchers’ grand opening, the brewery and Maillards held a soft opening the weekend of April 17. Hester said the line for those days curved around the block and onto 45th Avenue. He called it “mindblowing.”
“I had to drive out to a restaurant supply store in the middle of service because we had run out of glasses for beer,” he told SFGATE while sitting at the bar at the grand opening. “I loaded up the back of my car with as many as I could fit. We didn’t expect to be so swamped.”
Folks fill the parklet on an early Wednesday evening at the opening of Maillards first brick and mortar restaurant on Noriega St. in the Sunset district in San Francisco, on April 22, 2026.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
Customers line up beneath the main menu at Maillards first brick and mortar location in San Francisco on April 22, 2026.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
While the crowd spilled out onto the parklet out front, it was clear that the new Two Pitchers and Maillards establishment was going to bring brew and burger bliss to the Outer Sunset.
Article continues below this ad
Hester said he was filled with pride seeing all of the hard work come to fruition. Ponzurick said it was the biggest day of his life.
“Watching the Maillards team work and seeing the support of the community brought me to tears at some points through the night,” he said.
The remnants after the meal at Maillards in San Francisco, on April 22, 2026.
Lizzy Montana Myers/For SFGATE
Ponzurick told SFGATE he sat in the corner booth of the restaurant thinking about how far he and his team had come, before he quickly realized he had to put in an order for more food for the following day.
Article continues below this ad
“This space and this community means everything to me. I’m forever grateful for the love that everyone has shown us,” he continued. “I’ve always believed in the Sunset and there’s truly no other place I’d rather start my journey with Maillards.”
Two Pitchers Outer Sunset, 3821 Noriega St., San Francisco. Open Wednesday and Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.