Disgusting picture shows raw meat stacked up outside popular new restaurant during heat wave

A disgusting picture showed giant rolls of raw meat stacked up on the sidewalk outside a popular burger joint in San Francisco during the recent heat wave that hit California.

A photo went viral on Reddit over the weekend showing four rolls of hamburger meat on the sidewalk next to a jar of mayo at the Mission District restaurant Hamburger Project in the scorching temperatures.

The eatery responded to the post on Instagram hat the delivery driver had left the meat unattended when no one was at the burger joint to receive it.

“This morning, a delivery driver was unable to access our restaurant on Guerrero street because we were closed. They decided to leave the product on the sidewalk because they didn’t have time to wait,” the post read. 

The shop said this was something “they would never authorize or accept.” When the team arrived they found the product outside which was “immediately discarded” as it was “obviously compromised by being on the ground without proper temperature control.”

A second post showed a copy of the note from the driver and the photo the person sent to the shop to show the order had been delivered. The note read “Hiiii, I don’t have time.”

“Obviously we disposed of the product as soon as we found it. We appreciate the community’s vigilance and continued support,” the post concluded, noting that they had also updated their delivery procedures to ensure that it never happens again.

The owner of the Mission District shop Tan Truong told the San Francisco Chronicle due to high demands over the last few days they had run low on beef.

Because the driver didn’t have access to the shop he left the meat on the sidewalk. Truong said he was unable to accept the order before the staff arrived because he was on a plane back to SF.

“It’s a horrible image to have ground beef sitting on the sidewalk, but we have protocols against using products like that and we definitely do not condone leaving it outside like that,” Truong said.

This isn’t the first time the burger joint has been the center of some kind of controversy. Last year, Chef Geoffrey Lee was “relieved of his day-to-day duties” following a backlash over a viral dispute with an influencer over a review.

Lee remains a partner at Hamburger Project. The two opened the popular burger joint along with the once-Michelin-starred sushi restaurant Ju-Ni and the now-closed Handroll Project together. 

Responding to the viral picture and claims about being “relieved” the Hamburger Project posted a message on Instagram from Lee clarifying his current role. 

“I want to address the photos circulating of ground beef left on the sidewalk in the sun outside Guerrero Street location of Hamburger Project,” the post read.

“Like many of you, I find it unacceptable. It reflects a clear failure in the delivery process and does not align with the standards I believe in or uphold.”

“To be clear, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of Hamburger Project,” Lee wrote. “Following my public and abrupt removal from those responsibilities by partner Tan Truong-without my agreement-my role shifted. Since being asked to return to jü-ni for my specific skill set, my focus has been fully dedicated there.”

The first Hamburger project opened on Divisadero Street in December 2024, slinging more than 1,000 hamburgers in its first two days, per the SF Chronicle. The Guerrero location opened in 2025.

The California Post has reached out to the restaurant for further comment.

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