Hard Pressed Burgers is slated to take over a space on Hendricks Avenue in San Marco where Good Dough donuts once operated. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
Published on February 4, 2026 at 4:39 pm
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The owners of the popular Hard Pressed Burgers food trucks plan to open their first brick and mortar location in Jacksonville’s San Marco neighborhood.
Known for their simple smash burgers — patties pressed thin and cooked until crispy — Hard Pressed Burgers operates two food trucks and hosts frequent collaborations with other restaurants like Chancho King, whose owners were just recently announced as finalists for a prestigious James Beard award.
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Opening a location in San Marco has long been a goal for owners Edward Evans and Justin Pa’ala. After all, one of their first steady gigs with their burger food truck was at nearby brewery Beer 30.
“San Marco and Murray Hill are kind of just like OG spots,” Pa’ala says. “It’s an easy no-brainer.”
If Hard Pressed is successful at its new San Marco location, Evans says a future goal is to open another brick and mortar location in the Murray Hill neighborhood.
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Opening a restaurant is not for the faint of heart, but Evans says he and Pa’ala are taking things the way they always have: by focusing on the basics and trying to keep things fun.
The Hard Pressed crew plan to open their new restaurant on Hendricks Avenue in the previous site of Good Dough donuts. If all goes according to plan, the co-owners say, the location will open sometime next month.
When it does, Pa’ala and Evans say the plan is to continue operating their food trucks while the restaurant will offer them opportunities to try out new dishes like buffalo chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and maybe even fried fish sandwiches along with beer and wine.
