Las mejores hamburguesas de Los Ángeles

Burgers 99

Burgers 99 en La Brea no se toma demasiado en serio el diseño, con sus acentos de neón estilo años 80 y toques de color. Pero los hermanos Nakul y Arjun Mahendro, el dúo detrás de los populares restaurantes indios modernos Badmaash, se toman sus hamburguesas en serio. Las hamburguesas con queso son clásicas y vienen cargadas de lechuga, tomate, queso americano, pepinillos encurtidos, salsa 99 y una rodaja de cebolla para darle un toque extra de crujiente. No te duermas con las salsas caseras tipo ranch y de nogal.

Father’s Office

En este punto, Father’s Office es una institución, y la hamburguesa es lo que hay que ordenar. Aquí tienen varias reglas, y no sustituir es una de ellas. Hacen todo simple, y eso es lo que obtienes. No te quitarán las cebollas, pero confía en nosotros, las quieres. La hamburguesa registrada Office Burger es la combinación perfecta de una hamburguesa de ternera añejada, cebollas caramelizadas, tocino, gruyere, queso azul Maytag y rúcula. Elige un Petrus Aged Pale Sour para acompañarlo y, si te sientes un poco virtuoso, tal vez también una ensalada de remolacha, porque también cuentan con vegetales en el menú. 

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

Messhall, un lugar que ha complacido al público de Los Feliz durante más de una década, es un lugar favorito para brunchs con alcohol, happy hour y delicias de barra con productos crudos. Mira alrededor del restaurante y verás una hamburguesa en casi cada mesa, ya sea la Mess Burger (una hamburguesa de media libra de carne con queso cheddar, cebollas caramelizadas, pepinillos y salsa ahumada en un pan brioche), una hamburguesa de pavo untada con salsa Thousand Island o la hamburguesa vegetariana casera con cebollas cocidas a fuego lento. Mejora tu orden de entrega con un acompañamiento de batatas fritas y añade un brownie con caramelo por si acaso.

Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers

En Barney’s de Santa Mónica y Brentwood realmente hay algo para todos los antojos de hamburguesas, con una enorme selección de más de 20 combinaciones para elegir. Barney’s realmente va más allá en cada una de sus hamburguesas. La hamburguesa griega, por ejemplo, se sirve en una pita con queso feta, aguacate, lechuga, pepinos y tomates. Siéntete bien con Sunshine, con queso cheddar, aguacate, brotes y tomates en pan integral tostado, o date un capricho con la hamburguesa Big Barney’s, que incluye medio kilo de carne asada a la parrilla en un pan francés. ¡Qué maravilla!

Lunetta All Day 

A los habitantes de Santa Mónica les encanta pasar una tarde en el apreciado restaurante tipo bistró del reconocido chef local Raphael Lunetta, donde comparten platos durante todo el día, como ensaladas Nicoise frescas del mercado y sándwiches de salmón a la parrilla de leña. Entre esas ofertas se encuentra una magnífica hamburguesa con estilo francés. Combina carne de res alimentado con pasto de Snake River Farms, queso cheddar blanco, cebolla caramelizada, tomate y salsa Marie Rose (una mezcla de tomates, mayonesa, salsa Worcestershire, jugo de limón y pimienta negra) en un pan brioche. Dile oui a una guarnición de patatas fritas Kennebec recién cortadas o verduras de temporada a la parrilla.

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

Sí, es una cadena. Pero es una cadena que emplea ingredientes de alta calidad y prácticas de bienestar animal líderes en la industria. Y, con ubicaciones en todo Los Ángeles (Santa Mónica, West Hollywood, Koreatown y Pasadena entre ellas), tu antojo carnívoro puede satisfacerse sin importar dónde estés. Mantén las cosas simples con la clásica hamburguesa con queso y carne Angus, u opta por la SmokeShack con tocino ahumado en madera de manzano, pimientos cherry picados y ShackSauce en un pan de patata tostado. Consejo profesional: puedes agregar esos pimientos cherry picados a cualquier hamburguesa que pidas y no te saltes las deliciosas patatas fritas onduladas.