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Private company

Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks

Tropical-themed restaurant chain in California and Arizona, USA

Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks (also known as Islands) is a casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in burgers, fresh cut fries, and specialty drinks. Their tropical-themed restaurants are decorated to evoke the Hawaiian concept of "ohana" (family). Despite being known for their burgers and fries, various other types of food are also offered, such as tacos, chicken sandwiches, and multiple entree salads.2 It is headquartered in Carlsbad.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1982Founded1

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Islands restaurant in Anaheim Hills
Photo: Vercillo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks (also known as Islands) is a casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in burgers, fresh cut fries, and specialty drinks.2

The story

The company was founded in May 1982 by entrepreneur Tony DeGrazier in West Los Angeles. DeGrazier got the idea for his business while serving in the US Navy in O‘ahu in the 1960s.

By the late 2000s, the chain had grown to more than 50 locations throughout the Southwestern United States. The original Islands in West LA closed in 2018 due to rising rent costs.

Islands closed eight locations during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its only locations in Nevada and Hawaii. It was also during this time when DeGraizer left the restaurant and retired in 2020, selling his company to private investors.

In 2023, the restaurant launched Tortilla Beach by Islands, a delivery and take-out based concept specializing in Mexican-inspired food such as burritos, tacos and bowls.

From Wikipedia’s article on Islands (restaurant), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1982Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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