So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Brenda King, and I’m the owner of Hotbox Burgers in South Los Angeles. I was raised in South Central Los Angeles, and I’m proud to still serve the community that shaped me.

My family and I started Hotbox Burgers with a vision to bring fresh, quality food to our neighborhood while showing that our community deserves the very best. Beyond serving great food, I’m passionate about entrepreneurship, investing back into South LA, and inspiring others to pursue their dreams.

It has been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful to be building something that reflects my roots and creates a positive impact where it all started.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

love the diversity. South Los Angeles is made up of people from so many different backgrounds and cultures, and that diversity is what makes the community unique. It’s inspiring to serve people from all walks of life every day.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

Hotbox Burgers launched on December 21, 2019, from a humble tow-behind food trailer with one goal: to bring fresh, made-to-order burgers to South Los Angeles.

We serve handmade Angus beef, turkey, and Impossible burgers, along with fries, onion rings, specialty loaded fries, and other comfort foods that our customers love.

My family and I started Hotbox Burgers because we felt our community deserved better fresh food options. Our goal was never to compete with other local family-owned businesses. It was to raise the standard and show that our community deserves fresh, quality meals instead of always relying on large fast-food chains.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?

My biggest advice is to stop waiting for everyone’s approval and just start. If you have a vision, protect it. Not everyone is going to understand what you’re building, and that’s okay. There will always be critics, doubters, and people who tell you it won’t work. Don’t let someone else’s opinion become your reality.

I admire people from all walks of life who turned rejection into purpose. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney, and Steve Jobs all overcame setbacks to achieve greatness.

Above all, Jesus is my greatest mentor. His life reminds me that rejection doesn’t define your purpose. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.

Spiritually, I remind myself of Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” It doesn’t mean life will be easy; it means obstacles don’t get the final word.

I also hold on to Jeremiah 29:11 because it reminds me that God has a purpose and a future for us, even when we cannot see the whole picture.

The truth is, every successful person, from athletes and leaders to great food entrepreneurs, has faced rejection, failure, and criticism. The difference is that they didn’t quit. Stay focused, keep learning, trust God’s timing, and never let someone else’s limits define what you’re capable of accomplishing.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

One piece of feedback I’ll never forget is when a customer told me, “The best burgers in the world.” Moments like that remind me why I started Hotbox Burgers. Knowing that something we created brought someone that much joy makes all the hard work worth it.

I’ve also learned that food is personal. Everyone has different tastes, and not everyone is going to like your food, and that’s okay. I respect honest feedback because it helps us grow, but I’ve learned not to let criticism distract me from the bigger vision.

I’m inspired by the entrepreneurs who paved the way before me. They remind me that every successful business has faced challenges, criticism, and setbacks. Brands like In-N-Out, Chick-fil-A, and countless independent restaurants have all had people who loved them and people who didn’t. That’s simply part of being in business.

The goal isn’t to please everyone. It’s to stay consistent, keep improving, and serve the people who believe in what you’re building.

One Bible verse that keeps me grounded is Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

That verse reminds me to keep showing up, keep serving with excellence, and trust that the work will speak for itself.

At the end of the day, I’m grateful for every customer who walks through our doors. Whether someone has been with us since our food trailer days or is trying Hotbox Burgers for the first time, we appreciate every opportunity to earn their support.

Where do you see your company in the future?

We’re only getting started. The direction has changed from what I originally imagined, and I’m at peace with that because I’ve learned to trust God’s direction more than my own. Sometimes what we plan is small compared to what God has planned for us.

I want Hotbox Burgers to be known for quality, consistency, and doing things the right way. I admire the franchise brands that have built their reputation by never compromising their standards, and that’s the kind of legacy I hope to build.

One verse that keeps me grounded is Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”

That verse reminds me that God’s vision is greater than mine, so I’m trusting Him with every step.

The best is still ahead, and I’d rather let the journey speak for itself than reveal everything before it’s time.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that a burger is just a burger. People often assume all burger restaurants are the same, but there is a huge difference between food that is made fresh to order with quality ingredients and food that is mass-produced for speed.

We believe customers can taste the difference, and our goal has always been to prove that South LA deserves fresh, handcrafted food made with care.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of my biggest struggles has been realizing that building a business is a lot harder than most people think. People see the finished product, but they don’t see the long hours, difficult decisions, rising food costs, the challenge of finding and keeping great employees, or the constant pressure of making sure the doors stay open.

There have definitely been moments when I questioned myself and wondered if I was making the right decisions. But every challenge taught me something. Instead of giving up, I learned to adapt, make better decisions, and keep moving forward.

Building Hotbox Burgers has made me wiser, stronger, and more appreciative of every customer who chooses to support us. It’s still not easy, and I don’t think owning a business ever is, but every obstacle has helped shape me into a better leader.

Through it all, I remind myself why I started, stay grounded in my faith, and keep showing up.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Growing up, I never really had just one favorite artist because I listened to a little bit of everything.

I grew up listening to Selena, Vicente Fernández, Los Rieleros del Norte, and Maná, but I also loved Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, Salt-N-Pepa, Slick Rick, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, and so much more.

As I’ve grown and evolved, my taste in music has evolved too. These days, I listen more to Christian music and Christian hip-hop. It really elevates my alter ego, in the best way.

As for athletes, I admired people from all different backgrounds. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Derek Jeter, Larry Bird, Wayne Gretzky, and Steve Young were all athletes I respected for their talent, discipline, and dedication to their craft.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I’d like to give a shoutout to my husband, Jorge, and our daughters, Destiny, Leslie, and Jade. None of this would have been possible without them.

Jorge has stood by my side through every challenge, believed in the vision from the beginning, and has been my biggest supporter. My daughters have grown up with Hotbox Burgers. They’ve been involved in the business, made sacrifices alongside us, and have been part of this journey every step of the way.

We’re a family that shows up for one another, works hard together, and supports each other through it all.

My hope is that one day, when I retire, my daughters will become the second generation of women to own and lead Hotbox Burgers, continuing the legacy we’ve built together as a family.

I also want to recognize my late brother, Miguel. He believed in me from the very beginning and helped build Hotbox Burgers during its early days. His encouragement, support, and belief in my vision will always be a part of this business, and I’ll always carry his memory with me.

I’m also grateful to the entire Hotbox Burgers team and to our loyal customers who have supported us from our food trailer days to where we are today. Every order, every recommendation, and every person who has believed in us has helped us continue growing.

Lastly, I want to thank Ogie Jackson Obaseki for his guidance, encouragement, and belief in me throughout this journey.

To everyone who has been part of our story, thank you from the bottom of my heart. We truly appreciate every one of you, and we’re just getting started.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Readers can follow us on Instagram at @hotboxburgersla and search for Hotbox Burgers online to learn more about our company.