Seven Brothers: How a Samoan Surfer and Seven Sons Built Utah's Most Authentic Hawaiian Burger Joint

Walk into Seven Brothers at City Creek Center on any given afternoon, and you'll notice something that sets it apart from every other burger joint in downtown Salt Lake City. It's not just the massive Paniolo burger stacked impossibly high with two giant onion rings perched like a cowboy hat. It's not even the smell of grilled pineapple mixing with bacon smoke. It's the vibe—the genuine Aloha spirit radiating from a family that bought a hole-in-the-wall restaurant behind a gas station in Kahuku, Oahu, and turned it into a Utah phenomenon.

"If heaven had a flavor, it would taste like Seven Brothers' Paniolo burger," one customer wrote after their first visit. Another raved: "The fries were perfectly seasoned, macadamia shrimp salad was refreshing and delicious, and the Shez burger had the best flavor." This isn't just hype—this is what happens when Hawaiian food culture collides with Utah's appetite for quality family dining.

From California Dreams to North Shore Reality: The Hannemann Family Story

The story of Seven Brothers burgers isn't really about burgers at all. It's a love story that started in 1976 when a young Samoan surfer named Art Hannemann met a California girl named Peggy. They got married, and Art came from an adoring Samoan family of 14 children. As the Hannemanns started their own family, they kept having boys. Seven boys. Only boys. Always boys.

"Our house was a revolving door of chaos with lots of laughter, no privacy, friends funneling in at all hours, long talks about life, and constant rough-housing," one of the brothers recalls. Art and Peggy raised their seven sons—Spencer, Sterling, Shez, Max, Seth, Seek, and Shem—with three core values: love God, love others, and love surfing.

For seventeen years, Art commuted into Los Angeles for work while dreaming of returning to the islands. In 2003, they sold everything and moved back to Oahu. Art had always held what the brothers describe as a "lifelong dream to own a restaurant and have his kids run it for him." He'd considered starting a family band (all seven sons could play guitar), but in September 2009, he made a different move: he purchased what was then Kahuku Grill, a struggling restaurant literally tucked behind a gas station in the small North Shore town of Kahuku.

Nobody in the family had restaurant cooking experience. The start was brutal—only 10 to 20 customers a day. But Art emphasized two things from day one: the food had to be incredible, and the customer service had to blow people away. "I think God is reaching down touching each burger with his finger," Art would say during those early days. The brothers took turns manning the place, learning on the fly, making improvements as they went. Within months, lines stretched out the door and around the corner.

Let's talk about what makes Seven Brothers different from every other burger place in Salt Lake City. Start with the Paniolo burger—named after Shez Hannemann, the youngest brother, and inspired by Hawaiian cowboys ("paniolo" in Hawaiian). This thing is architectural. Two thick, never-frozen beef patties grilled to order. Two enormous homemade onion rings culled from the thickest part of the onion and deep-fried to bread-crumb perfection. Grilled pineapple. Crispy bacon. Melted American cheese. House sauce (think elevated fry sauce). And a generous drizzle of barbecue sauce.

When it arrives at your table, those onion rings hold the top bun up like a cowboy hat on a pencil. You have to engineer your approach. One reviewer from Salt Lake City Weekly described it perfectly: "It's a near-perfect encapsulation of the beachy vibes of Hawaii and Utah's rustic resourcefulness. It's a summer burger of epic proportions, and it's perfect for diners who like to get their hands and fingers sticky with a deluge of saucy goodness."

The Shem burger takes a different approach—freshly made guacamole sitting with smoky bacon, American cheese, and that signature house sauce. "Ordered the Shem burger protein style/lettuce wrap—excellent! The guacamole is a little spicy," a recent customer noted. Then there's the Spencer burger with its crispy onion ring, bacon, spicy jalapeños, Swiss cheese, and proprietary Spencer sauce.

But here's where Seven Brothers really separates from typical fast-casual burger joints: the sides and plates. Those signature home fries aren't standard fries at all—they're more like thicker fried potato chips, hand-cut and seasoned with what tastes like a Montreal steak blend: large salt crystals, cracked pepper, and several other spices. "The fries are definitely made in house, a bit of a cross between chips and thin wedges, and they come with quite a bit of seasoning," one celiac-friendly customer wrote. "They were very good."

And then there's the coconut macadamia nut shrimp. Multiple Hawaii reviewers called it "life-changing" and "the best on the island." Five large shrimp hand-battered in sweet coconut flakes and crushed macadamia nuts, served with sweet Thai chili sauce, lightly seasoned rice, and a fresh salad with locally sourced papaya seed dressing. "It's seriously what dreams are made of. The shrimp is fresh, crunchy, sweet and tasty," wrote a regular customer. Unfortunately, this signature dish is currently only available at the Hawaii locations—something Utah fans are loudly requesting.

Don't skip dessert. The banana bread sundae starts with a mini loaf of Mom's homemade banana bread (complete with melty chocolate chips), served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and toasted coconut. "You just can't beat how warm banana bread gets the ice cream nice and melty," one reviewer noted. It's the kind of dessert that makes you reconsider your stomach capacity.

From Kahuku to City Creek: How Seven Brothers Became Part of Utah's Food Scene

The Hannemanns opened their second location in Lāʻie, Oahu, just a stone's throw from BYU-Hawaii campus in 2013. That decision changed everything. "We already had made a name for ourselves in the LDS community," Shez Hannemann explained. "So when we were deciding on where to go next, we thought it would be smart to put a spot in Provo, because that's also where BYU is."

Sterling Hannemann opened the first Utah location in 2017 with a business partner. The reception was immediate. Utah's large Polynesian community, combined with BYU students who'd fallen in love with the original locations in Hawaii, created instant demand. By 2024, Seven Brothers had exploded across the Wasatch Front with locations in Salt Lake City (City Creek Center), Saratoga Springs, Provo, Logan, Farmington, and South Weber, plus expansion into Arizona.

The City Creek location at 55 W South Temple brings Hawaiian burger culture right to downtown Salt Lake City—perfectly positioned for Temple Square tourists, convention center crowds, and downtown workers looking for something different from the usual lunch options. "We loved our experience at Seven Brothers City Creek! The food also came out very quickly with warm and friendly staff. We will be back!" one recent customer raved.

Each location maintains the family's commitment to what Seek Hannemann calls "face-to-face marketing"—creating experiences so good that customers can't help but share them. The restaurants feature family photos on the walls, burgers named after each brother, and table numbers that aren't numbers at all but affirmations like "smile," "happy," and "be brave." This is Christ-centered hospitality meeting island culture, and it resonates deeply in Utah.

Planning Your Visit to Seven Brothers Salt Lake City

Seven Brothers at City Creek Center 55 W South Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Downtown, near Temple Square

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11am-9pm Friday-Saturday: 11am-10pm Sunday: Closed

What to Order (Based on Customer Reviews):

Paniolo Burger (the signature—come hungry)
Shem Burger (that house-made guacamole)
Spencer Burger (for spice lovers)
Home Fries (perfectly seasoned, unlike anywhere else)
Banana Bread Sundae (if you have room)
Any burger "grilled cheese style" (ask—not on menu but locals know)

Good to Know:

Gluten-free buns available ($1 upcharge)
Dedicated fryer for celiac-safe fries
Never frozen beef, grilled to order
Fast-casual counter service
Dine-in or takeout available
Located in former Blue Lemon space at City Creek

Pro Tips from Reviews:

The Paniolo is huge—pull off one onion ring and eat separately
Get there before the lunch rush (11:30am gets busy)
Home fries are thicker than regular fries, plan accordingly
Portions are generous—a burger and small fry fills most people
Try the Paniolo Fries if you want the full experience

Why This Matters

In a Utah food scene increasingly dominated by chains and cookie-cutter concepts, Seven Brothers stands out by doing something radical: staying true to who they are. This is a family that moved from California to Oahu so their seven sons could surf together. Who bought a failing restaurant behind a gas station because Art Hannemann believed God touches each burger. Who named every menu item after one of the brothers or family members. Who brought Aloha spirit and North Shore food culture to the Wasatch Front and refused to compromise on quality or connection.

"Our food is amazing; it's incredibly good food," Shez Hannemann says. "But I think what sets us apart is the environment when you come into Seven Brothers, and that's how we try to distinguish ourselves from everybody else."

As one customer perfectly summarized: "If you haven't been to Seven Brothers yet, what are you even doing with your life? Drop everything, get yourself there, and prepare to have your taste buds serenaded by the food equivalent of a symphony orchestra."

Find Seven Brothers at City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City, or at six other locations across Utah. Follow them on Instagram for updates on new menu items and the possibility of coconut macadamia shrimp finally making its way to the mainland. Your Hawaiian burger education starts here.

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