A Handy Guide to Old School Burger Joints in Los Angeles Eater LA

Table Of Content

• The Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches in California
• MICHELIN-Starred Restaurants In California Wine Country
• More From the Los Angeles Times
• The Triple Cheeseburger from For The Win
• The Double Burger from Heavy Handed LA
• Best Indian Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area
• The Hamburger from Marty's Hamburger Stand

There's the unsurprising spate of ethnic food (Mexican, Greek, Italian) to go along with char-broiled veggie burgers that taste like the real deal, at least to some. Route 66 has since expanded into indomitable freeways, but the burger maintains its hold over Southern California, and arguably, the world. Today’s burgers take inspiration from this history and incorporate all the international flavors and diasporic flair that defines L.A’s eating.

The Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches in California

There’s no denying the prominence of Pie ‘n Burger in the world of burgers, and in LA, no less. Get ready to sink your teeth into the best burgers in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the heart of America’s burger obsession, and it’s a journey you won’t want to miss. These restaurants are so defining of what it means to eat and live in Southern California — that they’ve earned a place of honor for all time. One man’s opinion on the best (and worst) fast-food burger chains.

MICHELIN-Starred Restaurants In California Wine Country

When they divorced in 1952, she kept the burger stand and dropped the “Mr.,” popularizing burgers that could be customized with additional patties and ingredients. The ample seafood selections rightfully earn the most attention at Connie and Ted’s in West Hollywood, but in-the-know fans also swing through for the hook burger. Served tall with plenty of aged cheddar and Thousand Island sauce, this is an enduring burger that deserves its own shine. As of 2023, the former Burger Kitchen location is occupied by a Greek restaurant and cocktail bar called Theía. If all that was not enough, endless shots of half-cooked burgers slashed the plates brought the remaining carnage.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Other toppings include pickles, fresh onion, lettuce, and a creamy 1,000-island dressing. The burger is $17, at the time of publication, but you can also add some Neuske's bacon for an additional fee. Though there is a California classic cheeseburger on the menu, Original Tommy's is best known for its chili-topped burgers that are sure to make your mouth water. The basic chili cheeseburger is a great way to go for those looking for a seamless blend of these two nostalgic comfort foods. The thin patty is topped with Original Tommy's signature chili along with the standard fixings of pickles, tomato, onion, and mustard. It starts with a fresh-baked bun and is topped with a perfectly seasoned beef patty, caramelized onions, melted cheddar cheese, and a house-made honey-mustard glaze.

The Oinkster has been a fast-casual restaurant serving creative artisan burgers since 2006. It’s finished with a lot of crispy bacon (always a plus), lettuce, and house-made pickles. This restaurant seamlessly blends the worlds of gourmet burgers and classic metal music. If you’re one of those people who believe they can’t make good burgers out of vegan ingredients, it’s time to change your mind. Petit Trois le Valley is a family-owned and operated restaurant that has been serving gourmet burgers since 2018.

The Double Burger from Heavy Handed LA

This classic burger is made with a freshly grilled beef patty and topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and a secret sauce. Located in the heart of LA, Burger She Wrote puts an elevated twist on a classic by using wagyu beef patties. Each burger is made smash-style, but the Oklahoma Double is a local favorite thanks to the grilled onions and double patty. When dining at Burger She Wrote, you'll find that, despite being thin, the patties are pretty huge and are much wider than the bun. For The Win has four different locations in LA in Hollywood, Whittier, Glendale, and Grand Central Market. The atmosphere is super casual and guests order at the counter before taking their food to-go or posting up at one of the indoor or outdoor tables (depending on which location you visit).

Fin-tastic Leander burger house serves quality food, support community - Williamson County Sun

Fin-tastic Leander burger house serves quality food, support community.

Posted: Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Best Indian Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area

Unadorned and simply made, think seasoned patties with bacon, lettuce and all the fixin's at a reasonable price. A true hole-in-the-wall burger place, this classic West Hollywood dive does cheap, delicious burgers with fresh, hot fries. Perhaps the most beloved burger in Los Angeles, this Westside fixture still does things the old-fashioned way, with simply grilled patties, soft white buns, and an addictive house sauce. On the south side of town, James Henry Hawkins arrived in Watts from Arkansas and opened his eponymous Hawkins food stand in 1939. The joint quickly became known for its juicy, satiating burgers, and today Hawkins House of Burgers is run by Cynthia Hawkins, one of Hawkins’ 14 children. This Valley staple has drawn diners to Van Nuys since its opening in 1965.

The Hamburger from Marty's Hamburger Stand

Though some of the menu got a makeover by Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, this classic Eastside spot does a very good burger that has good seasoning and great beefy flavor. This Westside establishment specializes in pastrami, but still does great burgers. If there's a more over-the-top, comforting burger than Mom's, it's hard to think of one. Seasoned and grilled to perfection, these burgers get piled with bacon and toppings until they're nearly impossible to hold. A great find worth seeking for burger aficionados despite the 'seedy' location.

What happened to Alan Saffron from Kitchen Nightmares?

Camphor is a Michelin-starred restaurant situated in the vibrant Arts District of downtown Los Angeles. While you might not expect to find a burger on the menu at such an elevated eatery, the Le Burger is far from a standard sandwich. The patty is made of both dry-aged beef and tender duck, resulting in a juicy and mouthwatering bite.

This massive sandwich uses dry-aged beef and Maytag blue cheese for a remarkably different kind of burger. Paired with pickled green tomatoes, crisp leeks, and garlic aioli on top of a brioche bun, this might give its more “traditional” cousin a run for their money. When it comes to smash burgers, The Win-dow at American Beauty serves up the best ones on the Westside. Located on Rose Avenue in the heart of Venice, patrons can order pick-up or delivery all week long for lunch or an early dinner. Silver Lake also has a location, but we find that the Venice one is the most popular.

The move here is to keep things simple with standard well-griddled singles served with cheese on extra-squishy buns. Just make sure to have cash on hand and some patience, this cash-only establishment often comes with a bit of a wait. At legendary Venice dive Hinano Cafe, burgers are griddled right behind the bar. Open since 1962, this beachside watering hole still has the same sawdust-covered floor charm after all these years. Order a cheeseburger, which comes with a choice of cheddar or Swiss, and chips on the side.

This sauce is made in-house and you'll definitely want to put it on everything after your first bite. Most of the burgers on the menu can also be customized to have an additional patty or even pastrami. Monty's Good Burger has made headlines for creating incredibly realistic burgers that are entirely plant-based. The patties in the double burger are made from Impossible Meat that tastes (almost) exactly like the real thing.