Sure, most people seem to think L.A is full of health-conscious people who are always worried about their figures, but don’t let that reputation fool you. L.A is also home to some of the best food around. If you’re the type of person who drools at the mere thought of a delicious, thick, meaty patty piled high with cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato, then look no further. Los Angeles has something for everyone, and when it comes to burgers, well…the city won’t let you down!
#1 In-N-Out
Yes, this may be a fast food chain, but In-N-Out burger is legendary. There’s a reason that, at dinner time, the line at the drive-thru is sometimes down the block – literally. Locals love In-N-Out and the chain is just as loyal to the locals as they are to them. The food is never over-processed, and they don’t pre-package or freeze their food. It’s all about the quality, and yes, you can taste their dedication in every bite.
Insider tip: Order your fries “animal style” for a real yummy surprise (a special sauce that tastes eerily like Thousand Island dressing), or if your tummy is really crying out for some meat, try the 3×3 or 4×4 of their not-so-secret secret menu (that’s either 3 or 4 meat patties and slices of cheese, depending on which one you order).
Locations: All over the place in Southern California. Seriously.
#2 Slaters 50/50
Slaters is a small, locally-owned chain that is a bar and grill type of restaurant. You might be wondering about the 50/50 in their name, and once you know about their secret, you’ll never be able to eat a regular burger again. Slaters is famous for their 50/50 burger patties, which consist of 50% beef and 50% crumpled bacon. Yes, they put bacon in the patty, but that isn’t the only thing with bacon at Slaters. They also have bacon ketchup for your fries, bacon cheese for your burgers, and even bacon cocktails. But this article isn’t about the bacon, it’s about the burgers, and you’ll get quality meat at Slaters.
They only use the finest corn-fed Holstein beef supplied by natural beef producers in Southern California. And they weigh all their patties AFTER cooking so you’ll never get shafted when it comes to the size of their burgers. They’re known for their unique burgers, some for only the most adventurous of burger lovers, including gems like the Frito Crunch Burger (beef, bacon, bacon cheese, bacon turkey chili, Fritos, and 1000 Island dressing) or the Peanut Butter and Jellousy (a burger patty, bacon, peanut butter and strawberry jelly), which is my absolute favorite thing ever.
Insider Tip: Not only are the burgers to die for, but their appetizers are, too. Try the sweet potato fries with pumpkin sauce, the fried pickles, or the fried mac and cheese balls. You won’t be disappointed. Also, come in with an open mind – the Peanut Butter and Jellousy is surprisingly delicious!
Locations: Several throughout Southern California: Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Anaheim Hills, Lake Forest, Rancho Cucamongo, San Diego, and San Marcos.
#4 Umami
Umami means “savory taste” in Japanese and it’s one of the five basic tastes (with sweet, sour, bitter and salty). And when you visit Umami, you’ll see that the word couldn’t be more fitting for the burgers they offer. All of their burgers start with house-ground, hand-formed patties infused with the Umami Master Sauce. But while the burger patty itself is delightful, you’ll be in heaven once you take a look at the toppings. Ingredients like truffle cheese, shiitake mushrooms, port-caramelized onions, and ahi tuna are just some of the unusual options that takes this burger from being great to being gourmet.
Insider Tip: Umamify your fries. Go on, you know you can’t resist the sounds of fries smothered in truffle cheese fondue and truffle salt (Truffle’em) or made with braised short ribs and house gravy (Smother’em). And that’s only the beginning… You won’t be disappointed.
Locations: Too many to list all of them as Umami is a California chain of casual burger joints. You can find them in the Arts District, The Grove, Burbank, and even LAX just to name a few.
#5 JNJ Bar-B-Que And Burgers
What started as a small little burger stand has now transformed itself into a famous restaurant. If you’re looking for some classic bar-b-que style food, L.A. may seem like the last place for it, but don’t be fooled. JNJ is famous for a reason and the prices won’t set you back much at all. And in case you’re the type who wants something more than fries with that burger, you can get classic sides like baked beans, corn on the cob, and even collard greens. The environment here may not be as fancy as other restaurants on the list, but the prices and quality of the food more than make up for that.
Insider Tip: If you’re super hungry (or wanting to split a burger), the 4 Finger burger is exactly the burger you’re looking for.
Location: 5754 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles.
#6 Father’s Office
If Esquire Magazine rates one of your burgers as one of the best in the world, well then, I’d say you have one heck of a burger. Their Office Burger is a dry-aged beef topped with caramelized onions, Gruyere, and Maytag cheeses, applewood-smoked bacon compote and arugula on a soft roll. Owner and head chef Sang Yoon doesn’t allow substitutions or alterations to any of the food served at Father’s Office, but considering how well-received everything is it’s doubtful you’d need to change a thing. It’s said that he doesn’t even allow ketchup. Besides burgers, the rest of the menu is relatively fancy with items like duck confit salad, smoked eel, and roasted bone marrow.
Insider Tip: In addition to the food, they have an extensive list of rotating craft beers you don’t want to miss out on either.
Locations: 1018 Montana Ave, Santa Monica and 3229 Helms Ave, Los Angeles
#7 Hole in the Wall Burger Joint
The name of this place is pretty fitting considering it’s literally tucked into what appears to be an alley at Sepulveda and Santa Monica, but this place serves burgers that cost only $7.95, and can stand up to any of the gourmet places in town. It’s a very simple, cash-only place, but you get a quality burger made just the way you like it. First, you start with your choice of meat – beef, turkey, veggie, ground chicken or their burger of the week. Then you choose a bread, and let me tell ya, the pretzel bun is a great choice. If you’re not that adventurous, they have a brioche bun or even just an old fashioned plain bun (that’s what it’s called). From there, you can try their unique spreads such as cranberry mayo, and you also get a choice of cheese and additional items such as fried egg or applewood smoked bacon. There are countless possibilities when it comes to getting a burger just the way you like it.
Insider tip: Their house-made relish is a unique blend of cinnamon, clove and sweet peppers. Worth a try, trust me. Oh, and it’s cash only.
Location: 2200 Colorado Ave, Unit C, Santa Monica.
Whether you’re looking for something fancy or just want to grab a bite to eat after a night on the town, Los Angeles has plenty of options to satisfy that burger craving. Who knew there were so many different ways you could eat one? But now that you know, perhaps it’s time to go on a food adventure of your own – and tell me, which burgers are your favorite?
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