The Best Burgers in Los Angeles

Burgers 99

Burgers 99 on La Brea doesn’t take itself too seriously when it comes to design, with its 80s-style neon accents and splashes of color. But brothers Nakul and Arjun Mahendro, the duo behind popular modern Indian restaurants Badmaash, do take their burgers seriously. The cheeseburgers are classics, and come loaded with lettuce, tomato, American cheese, dill pickles, 99 sauce, and an onion round for that extra punch of crunch. Don’t sleep on the house-made ranch and hickory sauces.

Father’s Office

At this point Father’s Office is an institution, and the burger is the thing to order. They have rules here, no substitutions being one of them. The way they make it is the way you get it. They won’t take off the onions for you, but trust us, you want them. The trademarked Office Burger is the perfect combination of a dry-aged beef patty, caramelized onions, bacon, Gruyère, Maytag blue cheese, and arugula. Grab a Petrus Aged Pale Sour to go along with it, and if you’re feeling slightly virtuous, maybe a beet salad, too, because they happen to also have greenery on the menu. 

The Cat & Fiddle

Well-executed British standards like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips are the name of the game at this treasured Hollywood pub. In fact, they’re so well-executed that the rollicking restaurant received a Michelin Bib Gourmand. The same level of care goes into the burgers: All of the meat is ground in-house, then charbroiled. There are two beef options, as well as a chicken burger, a house-made cauliflower and red quinoa patty, and a BBQ Impossible option. The last two are served on vegan buns, making this an ideal spot for those with dietary concerns.

Messhall

A Los Feliz crowd pleaser for more than a decade, Messhall is a favorite for boozy brunches, happy hour, and raw bar delights. Look around the restaurant, and you’ll spot a burger on nearly every table, whether it’s the Mess Burger (a half-pound beef patty with cheddar, caramelized onions, pickles, and smoky sauce on a brioche bun), a Thousand Island-slathered turkey burger, or the house-made veggie patty with slow-cooked onions. Gussy up your delivery order with a side of sweet potato fries, and add a fudge brownie for good measure.

Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers

There’s truly something for every burger craving at Barney’s in Santa Monica and Brentwood, with a whopping selection of 20-plus combos to choose from. Barney’s really goes that extra mile for every one of its burgers. The Greek burger, for example, is served in a pita with feta, avocado, lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Feel righteous with the Sunshine, with cheddar cheese, avocado, sprouts, and tomatoes on whole-wheat toast, or really go for it with the Big Barney’s Burger, featuring an entire pound of flame-broiled chuck on a French roll. Talk about a whopper.

Lunetta All Day 

Santa Monica locals love to spend an afternoon at renowned local chef Raphael Lunetta’s beloved local bistro-like restaurant, sharing all-day fare like market-fresh Nicoise salads and wood-grilled salmon sandwiches. Among those offerings is a superb burger with French flair. It pairs Snake River Farms grass-fed beef, white cheddar, caramelized onion, tomato, and Marie Rose sauce (a blend of tomatoes, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and black pepper) on a brioche roll. Say oui to a side of fresh-cut Kennebec fries or grilled seasonal veggies.

The Win-Dow

Since it opened blocks away from Venice Beach in 2019, The Win-Dow has become known for crisp-pattied smashburgers doused with tangy sauce on squishy potato buns. Now with locations in Hollywood, Silver Lake, and Long Beach, it’s a bonafide local burger empire. And if you’re not feeling like beef, there’s an Impossible patty option as well as a solid fried chicken sandwich.

Burger She Wrote

One of many LA burger operations to take advantage of the smashburger craze of the past several years, Burger She Wrote does it well with patties pressed so thin, they become lacy-edged and extremely crisp. Try the traditional, no-frills cheeseburger served on a plain white bun with a draping of melty American cheese, a holy trinity of condiments (ketchup, mayo, and mustard), onions, and pickles. Or go with my personal favorite, the Oklahoma-style smash, in which onions are pressed into the patty while it’s cooking for an extra sweet and smoky punch

The Apple Pan

The Apple Pan’s thick-pattied Steakburger and Hickoryburger are one of the two most iconic hot beef sandwiches in all of Los Angeles. Offered at the classic counter restaurant since 1929 and 1945, respectively, they both get a slathering of mayo and house-made sauce, as well as a thick wedge of crispy iceberg lettuce. The difference? The Steakburger is served with a sweet pickle relish, while the Hickoryburger is topped with barbecue sauce. No matter which one of these LA legends you choose, you won’t be disappointed. They’re as lionized as The Apple Pan itself.

Pono Burger

Organic grass-fed beef gets a Hawaiian twist at this Santa Monica mainstay known for its masterful flavor combinations. If you like a burger that’s piled high with toppings, check out the Paniolo, which is made with Fiscalini smoked cheddar, applewood-smoked bacon, house-made Kona coffee bourbon barbecue sauce, and a stack of fried onion rings. Or build your own creation, adorning your patty with perhaps wood-smoked caramelized onions or fresh Parmesan or grilled jalapeños — or all of the above.

Proudly Serving

It’s the pandemic-born business fairy tale. Proudly Serving founder Matthew McIvor perfected his smashburger in his own home (or driveway, more specifically) before opening a brick-and-mortar in Hermosa Beach. Each of the crispety-crunchety smashburgers on his compact menu is a standout, from the namesake PS burger to the brisket pastrami, Texas-style chili, and raw onion-topped versions. Nursing a weekend hangover? Opt for the Brunch Burger, which comes with the one-two punch of bacon jam and egg yolk jam, served on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Original Tommy’s

Original Tommy’s is to LA burgers what Famous Original Ray’s is to NYC pizza: You’ll see plenty of Original Tommy’s knockoffs, named things like Tomboy’s or Tomy’s Cheeseburgers. None of them serve chili cheeseburgers like this original 1946-founded stand, which now has locations all over the city. While all of the chili-topped patties are meat-forward masterpieces, add a little punch with the popular Caliente Burger adorned with cascabel chiles and pepper jack cheese. While you’re at it, keep the party going with a chili dog or chili cheese fries.

Goldburger

Formerly a sought-after pop-up synonymous with thoughtfully prepared smashburgers, Goldburger now has locations in Silver Lake and Highland Park that both still utilize grass-fed beef from sustainable farms. Keep things straightforward with the namesake Goldburger, two smashed patties topped with griddled onions, fresh pickles, and house-made garlic-mustard aioli. A sleeper hit is the patty melt, which stacks double patties, grilled onions, Swiss and American cheeses, and house-made Russian dressing on butter-toasted, locally made Bub and Grandma’s spelt polenta bread.

Hawkins House of Burgers

Since 1939, Hawkins House of Burgers has been a Watts institution — in no small part due to its hulking burger creations. Sure, there are no-fuss “classic” burgers dressed with restraint (lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, mayo, and mustard). But if you’re in the mood to sink your teeth into something really meaty, try the Whipper, topped with pastrami and a hot link, or the gargantuan Leaning Tower of Watts: three half-pound patties, a hot link, pastrami, eggs, chili, and bacon, served with a large order of fries and two medium soft drinks. Maybe order it with a friend while you’re at it.

Burgers Never Say Die

Fast food-style burgers get a glow-up at this popular Silver Lake stand, which keeps things dead simple with burgers, fries, and soft drinks — period. Order a single or a triple stack — don’t worry yourself over the lack of a double-stack option — and revel in the effortless combination of crisp patties, American cheese, ketchup, mustard, chopped onions, and pickles.

The Golden Bull

For a thick, restaurant-style patty made with a steakhouse sensibility, look no further than long-standing Santa Monica chophouse The Golden Bull. A couple of special touches, like smoked cheddar cheese and butter lettuce, take this classic cheeseburger to another level, as do herb-dusted fries served on the side. The sandwich is rounded out with red onion, pickles, sliced tomato, and “fancy sauce” — an apt description for this upscale and completely satisfying creation.

For the Win

Well-seasoned patties that are pressed with onions and blackened on the grill (in a good way) have made For the Win a destination among smashburger fanatics. Simply topped with pickles and a bathing of tangy “fry sauce,” burgers or cheeseburgers can be leveled up with lettuce, tomato, bacon, and/or jalapeños. With six locations around town, including Hollywood, Glendale, and Downtown’s Grand Central Market, and one coming soon to Beverly Hills, the mini-chain’s back-to-basics approach seems to be working.

Trophies Burger Club

Why choose between mayo or Dijon mustard when you could Dijonnaise? The vibrant condiment is one of the flavor building blocks at Trophies Burger Club on Fairfax, making appearances on its namesake hot beef sandwich (along with chopped onions and “shredduce”) and the Spicy BBQ Bacon burger (which is also anointed with spicy barbecue sauce and bacon, as well as grilled onions and chopped chiles). To feel like a kid again, order the After-School Special, a traditional combo of a classic burger, fries, and a soda (weekdays only). Cartoons not required.

Plan Check Kitchen + Bar

This Sawtelle standby, led by exacting chef Ernesto Uchimura, kicks American comfort fare up a notch with a focus on flavor and technique — and the same can be said for its mile-high burgers. The beef is ground fresh daily. The bread is a “crunch” roll similar to Dutch crunch. And the house-made toppings include a highly concentrated ketchup leather, Americanized dashi cheese, and “pig candy.” To see what we’re talking about, try the Chef’s Favorite Burger, which features cheese two ways (American and a cheddar cheese crisp), bacon two ways (regular strips plus bacon-infused Thousand Island), ketchup leather, a sunny side-up fried egg, and hot sauce. Just, wow.

Emmy Squared

Although it’s named for its Detroit-style square pizzas, New York City export Emmy Squared is also known for its mighty fine cheeseburger (or two). Le Big Matt (named for chef-owner Matt Hyland) is a hefty combo of two all-beef patties, American cheese, Sammy sauce, pickles, and greens on a pretzel bun. The Bodega Burger, meanwhile, is a take on an NYC chopped cheese, featuring chopped grass-fed beef, American cheese, red onion, ketchup, pickles, and bell pepper on a pretzel bun. East coast expats will revel in the familiar flavors.

Petit Trois Le Valley

Chef Ludo Lefebvre puts his signature French spin on his beloved Big Mec, which regularly lands on LA best burger round-ups. It’s a massive creation on a brioche bun. Think two substantial griddled all-beef patties, melted American cheese, special sauce, and a veritable pool of bordelaise draped over all of it. Warning: You’ll definitely need a knife and fork as well as a few napkins to finish off this bad boy. And this being a bistro, the frites certainly have that je ne sais quoi, so add an order to sop up all that leftover sauce.

Shake Shack

Yes, it’s a chain. But it’s a chain that employs high-quality ingredients and industry-leading animal-welfare practices. And, with locations all over LA — Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Koreatown, and Pasadena among them — your carnivore craving can be satisfied no matter where you are. Keep things simple with the classic Angus beef cheeseburger, or opt for the SmokeShack with applewood-smoked bacon, chopped cherry peppers, and ShackSauce on a toasted potato bun. Pro tips: You can add those chopped cherry peppers to any burger you order, and please don’t skip the delightful crinkle fries.