The Hottest Burgers in Los Angeles, 2015
While Los Angeles watches food trends come and go, there will always be an eternal respect for the classic burger. Inherent in the burger is a sense of nostalgia and tradition that holds true even in the city marked by fast-changing fads. The City of Angels has seen a resurgence of classic burgers, and while a few restaurants are certainly taking liberties with their iterations, most are utilizing a straightforward approach that truly lets the individual components shine. Here now, the hottest burgers in Los Angeles, in no particular order:
1 Animal
One of the newest additions to Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo’s Animal menu is the Boner Burger, an obscenely delicious patty topped with jack cheese, caramelized onion, poblano chili, and 420 sauce on marble rye from Diamond Bakery just up the street. Haters could open the debate of the necessity of a bun for burger classification, but when meat on toast tastes so damn good, who really cares.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105966/animal_boner_burger.0.0.jpg)
2 Ledlow
While the Ledlow burger is arguably the best new burger in the city right now, there is no question it is seriously under discussed. Offered as a single, double, or triple with American cheese and cheddar, red onion, dill pickle, and Dijon and garlic aioli, it is a straightforward classic done just right. [Photo: Farley Elliott]
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105968/ledlow-burger.0.0.jpg)
3 Mariscos El Cristalazo
The award for the best non-beef burger has to go to the La Puente gem Mariscos El Cristalazo. Seafood lovers will rejoice in the abundance of shrimp both in and outside of the burger, with a skewer of saucy shrimp jutting right out of the shrimp patty. [Photo: Lucas Peterson]
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105970/Mariscos_El_Cristalazo.0.0.JPG)
4 Cassell’s Hamburgers
While the classic Koreatown burger joint recently moved a few blocks down 6th Street, the integrity of the offerings, with meat still pushed through the old meat grinder and cooked under the original broiler, remains. The Cassell’s burger is a beacon of simplicity, with a nicely seared burger with or without cheese served on a Parker House bun with lettuce, onion, pickle, and tomato on the side that can be used as a burger topping or makeshift salad. [Photo: Ryan Tanaka]
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105972/Cassell_s_2014-12-15_18-40-11_IMG_1837__RyanTanaka2014A_K_-_6977_LR.0.0.jpg)
5 Belcampo
Belcampo offers two options for burger lovers at different price points. While there is no doubt the Belcampo cheeseburger with Wagyu-Angus dry-aged meat is an outstanding meal, it’s the Belcampo Fast Burger that has our attention. Inspired by classic drive through burgers, the Fast Burger is made with grass-fed beef from the Belcampo farm, house-made American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion, and is only five bucks.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105974/Belcampo_DTLA_Fast_Burger.0.0.jpg)
6 The Independence
This Santa Monica newcomer puts a soupy spin on its burger with French onion soup onions, gruyere, herb aioli, and onion bun, and is a reliable go-to for upgraded pub fare in a bright and airy space.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105976/The_Independence_-_Angus_Burger.0.0.jpg)
7 Plan Check
Drawing inspiration from its new neighbor, Western Avenue in Koreatown, the newest branch of Plan Check incorporates Korean flavors in non-traditional ways. Chef Ernesto Uchimura’s K-BBQ Burger is built with kimcheese, gochujang barbeque sauce, grilled pork belly, sesame salt, fried onions, and sprouting onion.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105978/PLAN_CHECK_DTLA_KBBQ_0009.0.0.jpg)
8 Magnolia House
Pasadena cocktail gem Magnoila House offers up the House Burger to soak up some of the best libations this part of town. The burger is stacked with house-made American cheese, dill pickle remoulade, thick cut smoked bacon, and bourbon onions. [Photo: acuna-hansen]
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105982/Magnolia_House_-_House_Burger_5.0.0.jpg)
9 Public School 818
The newest outlet of Public School, PS818, opened in Sherman Oaks just a month ago. While there are a few burger variations, the Bison Burger, made with a grass-fed bison patty, whiskey barbeque sauce, emmental cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pepper bacon mushroom topping, will never steer you wrong.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105984/Screen_Shot_2015-04-12_at_10.33.16_PM.0.0.png)
10 Ashland Hill
Chef Bradley Miller’s Santa Monica beer and wine garden doesn’t disappoint with red onion bacon jam, sharp white cheddar, paprika, mayo, watercress, and herb Parmesan fries.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105986/Ashland_Hill.0.0.jpg)
11 Continental
While Toluca Lake’s stately new restaurant Continental has a solid classic burger with Angus beef, white cheddar, butter lettuce, 1000 Island, and tomatoes on brioche, the vegan Jay Bird is a great option for going meatless, if you’re into that sort of thing. Made with a house-made vegan patty, Daiya cheddar, meatless bacon tomatoes, butter lettuce, vegan Sriracha, and 1000 Island, it’s a great option for vegetarian-leaning friends. [Photo: acuna-hansen]
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105988/Continental_-_Jay_Bird_2.0.0.jpg)
12 Venice Whaler Bar & Grill
The bun vs. toast debate will forever rage, but no one will argue with the pleasure of diving into a chuck and brisket-blend burger oozing with cheddar on sourdough when it can be enjoyed just steps from the beach. [Photo: Moretti Photo]
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105990/Venice_Whaler_-_Whaler_Burger.0.0.jpg)
13 Butchers & Barbers
Chef Luke Reyes’ burger is deliciously savory with a juicy, meaty patty that’s accentuated by Gruyere, arugula, red onion, and bread & butter pickles. Paired with a stellar cocktail (or a few), it’s undoubtedly one of the best meals in this part of town.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105992/Butchers_Barbers.0.0.jpg)
14 Abigaile
The most playful new burger comes by way of Chef Tin Vuong at Hermosa Beach gastropub Abigaile. The Twenty Spot Munchie Box is a riff on Jack in the Box’s Munchie Meal, and comes with a waffle bacon burger, 50/50 fries and tots with wiz, and a Mexican coke float, all for twenty bucks. [Photo: Lanewood Studio]
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105994/abigaile_twenty_spot_munchie_box_2_credit_lanewood_studio.0.0.jpg)
15 Barrel & Ashes
One of the newer additions to Studio City’s Barrel & Ashes is the Barrel Burger with caramelized onion, bacon, and Swiss. Only available at lunch, the burger is best had when eaten with the restaurant’s outstanding miner’s potatoes or hoe cake.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46105996/Barrel_and_Ashes_1934.0.0.jpg)
16 Birch
Although chef Brendan Collin’s menu at Birch sports international flair, the burger is a classic, with Swiss cheese, avocado, horseradish aioli, and butter lettuce.
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46106000/Birch_burger.0.0.jpeg)
17 Biergarten
Rumor has it that Guy Fieri’s Triple D (Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives) stopped by this Koreatown pub a few weeks ago, and he’ll be talking about the Chosun One, a blend of pork, beef and even tofu, plus some grilled spam, sauteed kimchi, American cheese, gochujang aioli, and a slather of mustard on Hawaiian buns. Is this the ideal Koreatown burger?
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46110456/20150403-0K1A8038.0.0.jpg)