The best burgers in Los Angeles

This bistro burger/Big Mac hybrid arrives a picture of decadence so large and enticing you don’t even know where to begin. (We recommend starting with a fork and knife; it’s that or like 40 napkins.) This is the high-low of gourmet burgers: Soaking in a rich bordelaise, this thin-pattied beauty features bougie ingredients while also sporting perfect, pedestrian American cheese. Factor in those caramelized onions and garlic aioli and you have one of the city’s absolute finest—and messiest—burgers, bar none, and it’s available at both the Hollywood and the Sherman Oaks locations.

This West L.A. institution has somehow managed to escape time. Burger patties sizzle on the griddle that’s been around for decades (since 1947, to be exact) and get served by friendly waiters that seem to have been around for just as long. Everything's aces, but we're partial to the smoky Hickory Burger, which comes slathered in secret house sauce (think: sugary, smoky tomato). Pair with an order of crispy fries served in a paper cone, and save room for a slice of house-made apple pie (á la mode, all the way).

Inspired by the Big Mec, the burger at this Michelin-starred Arts District bistro mixes dry-aged beef and duck meat for a juicy, luxurious patty that plays well against sweet caramelized onions, beef tallow remoulade and a duck fat brioche bun. Though pricey, the burger's overall decadence makes for the city's most memorable new handheld dining experiences. The almost over-the-top addition of duck to both patty and bun imparts a slightly gamey flavor to the burger, and each order comes with a pile of fries and a trio of housemade dipping sauces—details that make a $30 for plate of burger and fries feel well worth it.

A Bill’s burger is a thing of beauty, and what's more, it's a time machine. Take a bite and get transported to the mid-’60s, when this classic L.A. burger shack first fired up the flat top. The bacon cheeseburger is exactly that: griddled burger, American cheese, crispy bacon. There’s lettuce and tomato, and you can (and probably should) add grilled onion, but don’t get too crazy; the idea here is simplicity—because by God, Bill makes one hell of a burger. Just remember to bring some bills—Bill’s spot is cash-only.

Venice’s most famous dive bar has been slinging burgers since 1962, and the chargrilled “world famous” cheeseburgers here are cooked to perfection. Served with your choice of American or Swiss cheese, plus a little bag of chips on the side, Hinano’s cheeseburger is the pinnacle of backyard-style burgers. The sesame seed bun is just the right amount of toasted, and it’s piled with all the usual suspects: lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and relish. Whether scarfed down at the bar or eaten at one of the patio tables outside, it’s clear that Hinano’s cheeseburger is greater than the sum of its parts.

To call this burger iconic almost feels like an understatement. Chef-owner Sang Yoon was one of the first to give L.A. burgers a gourmet spin, and he did it with a now-famous but still-polarizing rule: No substitutions. No matter how much you might love ketchup, just order this burger and do it his way—you’ll be glad you did once you sink your teeth into dry-aged beef topped with caramelized onions more akin to French onion soup than the simply sautéed variety. Of course there’s also arugula and blue cheese, and that garlic-butter-toasted bun. Wash it down with one of this gastropub’s 30-plus beers and call it a night, whether in Santa Monica or Culver City.

Alvin Cailan returned to Far East Plaza, but this time around, the chef’s Amboy restaurant isn’t serving Filipino food—it’s all about burgers. Reborn as Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers, Amboy now serves as a combination burger counter and butcher shop—and the shop now has a second (far less consistent) Valley outpost within Westfield's Topanga Social. The made-to-order burgers are available in more straightforward varieties such as the classic double, with caramelized onions and American cheese, as well as the higher-end gourmet: If you’re looking for smashburger reprieve, try Amboy’s DH Burger, which stacks a 10-ounce dry-aged–beef patty with provolone, garlic-confit mayo, pickes, and caramelized onions. It’s massive, takes about 20 minutes and swings back toward hearty burger maximalism.

If you can get past Moo's nitpicky house rules (no saving seats while in line, and you can't eat pre-orders on-site), this Lincoln Heights barbecue joint serves one of the most unique, gut-busting burgers in the entire city. Served on a Martin's potato bun, the thick patty made of Moo's famous smoked brisket comes loaded with American cheese and signature aioli, plus dill pickles and razor-thin raw onions to cut through all the fat. The peppery, smoky quality of the meat infuses every bite—and is definitely delicious enough to sway diners away from the rest of the menu.

This burger joint in Highland Park and Los Feliz gives fans the best of both worlds: a still-juicy center but ample crust on the patties, which are always stacked double; the meat is more pressed around the edges than some of the city’s other smashburgers, providing plenty of texture in every bite. The namesake Goldburger comes standard with American cheese, a garlic-mustard aioli, pickles and perfectly charred grilled onions, but everything here is worth a try—especially the Bar Burger, which swaps the usual smash for a six-ounce thick cut patty with raw white onions, pickled red onions and “great” mustard-y sauce. The mixed alliums add texture and contrast to every bite, and while Goldburger still makes one of the city’s best smashburgers, we’d recommend the Bar Burger over any of them any day of the week.

Come on, how could we not? The not-so-secret menu at In-N-Out is rife with burger combinations, and fans of the burger chain will defend to the death their own go-to order. Here is our call: the Double-Double (Animal Style, obviously), boasting two mustard-griddled all-beef patties with lettuce, tomato, cheese and an extra helping of In-N-Out’s blessed thousand island dressing, along with pickles and grilled onions. Argue with this classic, we dare you.

We’re normally not the biggest fans of burgers with strings and conditions attached, but this burger served only in this Glassell Park restaurant’s bar area is just that good. Only 20 burgers are available each night, starting at 5:30pm—but early birds who flock here will be rewarded with one of the best new burgers in Los Angeles. Each thick beef patty topped with melted Comté cheese comes on a aioli-smothered housemade sesame bun. Not one, but two kinds of onions grace each burger: a sweet, slightly tangy onion jam and then sliced raw onion to cut through the richness. At $27, Dunsmoor’s burger isn’t exactly cheap, but that price tag does include a pile of crispy, steak-cut potatoes fried in duck fat and a side of refreshing pickled vegetables.

This is a burger purist’s platonic ideal. Unassuming but beloved by all, E.R.B.’s Single Burger is proof that less is more. Nearly impossible to savor slowly, this burger disappears in seconds, probably due to that perfect balance of salty, juicy medium-rare beef to squishy bun to dairy. No visit to this Arts District bar is complete without ordering at least one for the table, but good luck leaving without ordering another. E.R.B.’s single is simplicity at its finest: a solitary gound-chuck patty made from prime beef that gets covered in stringy, melty Tillamook cheddar. That’s it. That’s the whole shebang. Well, we guess there’s also the dill pickle, a special sauce and an eggy brioche bun, but OK, now that’s it. It’s the simple things in life.

This buzzy Santa Monica burger dates back to an early pandemic pop-up, when owners Max Miller and Danny Gordon first began selling short rib smashburgers in the driveway of the latter's Mar Vista home. Now, Heavy Handed's smashburgers draw lines of hungry folks most days of the week. Made of high-quality, marbled beef, the Double's lacy-edged crispy patties pair beautifully with the restaurant's signature sauce and a blanket of gooey American cheese. Housemade potato rolls and deep, rich caramelized onions add up to a satisfying gourmet fast food burger, especially with a side of beef tallow fries (no breaks for vegetarians here).

Pie ’n Burger knows that when you’ve got a good thing going, sometimes it’s best not to mess with it. This classic L.A. burger spot’s been serving up that good thing since ’63, offering griddled burgers using the same methods and sourcing—when possible—for more than 50 years. Careful when you lift one of these stacked cheeseburgers to your lips; they practically ooze that housemade thousand island, and the lettuce, tomato and onion are so packed in that they practically spring out. If you're really hungry, opt for the Big Ben: a double patty that's stacked extra high. It’s probably best to grab some extra napkins before digging in. (We’re just lookin’ out.)

Charles Namba takes his burgers seriously, which is why the chef behind the Ode to Mos Burger at OTOTO (also on this list) created this impeccable bistro-style creation at his newest restaurant, Camélia. The Japanese-Italian restaurant in the Arts District piles melted provolone cheese, grilled onions and pickled jalapenos onto a thick dry-aged beef patty for maximal deliciousness and a twinge of heat. While I'm actually a tad more partial to the Ode to Mos burger at OTOTO, the dry-aged burger at Camélia is a little more decadent, which pushes it slightly over its chili-covered cousin. Plus, each $27 entrée also comes with the restaurant’s phenomenal French fries, which hover between steak-cut and shoestring in thickness.

Since 2011, this no-frills counter has served some of L.A.'s juiciest, best-tasting burgers from inside an unassuming liquor store in Redondo Beach. (There's also a newer location in Torrance.) The Napoleon—a mix of hand-packed patties topped with bacon, caramelized onion, three kinds of cheese, fried egg, short rib AND a tangle of Parmesan fries—might win in the over-the-top category, but we prefer the Cash, which gilds the lily with bacon, shishito peppers, “only” two kinds of cheese, gochujang aioli, hoisin barbecue sauce and a crispy peppered onion ring. Not only is it easier to eat, but the flavors gel together better. Then again, you can't go wrong with a classic burger here, or the Chance (jalapeño, sautéed chili onion and habanero cream coleslaw).

Echo Park’s James Beard award-winning sake bar is home to this flawlessly constructed chili cheeseburger, previously only available as an early-bird special. While billed as an homage to a Japanese fast food chain, this burger (available with cheese for $1 extra) easily goes head-to-head with local chili burger greats like the Original Tommy’s, which actually served as the inspiration for Mos Burger back in the 1960s. The housemade chili is rich and comforting, a thick slice of tomato adds textural contrast and the cheese adds an additional note of creaminess to each bite. Served with a knife, but best eaten with your hands, it’s a messy, comforting meal that’ll probably require wet wipes afterwards—which the staff is more than happy to provide.

Often imitated but never duplicated, backyard pop-up gone permanent restaurant Burgers Never Say Die can largely be credited with sparking L.A.’s smashburger frenzy. These stacks caused so much commotion that they’ve wrapped three-hour lines around the block and even caused a fan to hire someone to wait in line for them. That success probably has something to do with founder Shawn Nee’s quest for perfection, and it’s paid off. Now, fans line up at this walk-up Silver Lake brick-and-mortar for buttery, paper-thin patties pressed so hard, the crisp edges almost resemble lace. Topped with pickles, raw white onions and a drizzle of ketchup and mustard, the Regular (a double patty) is like the best fast-food burger you’ve ever tried. Supplement with some CVT soft serve and a styrofoam cup brimming with beef-tallow fries and you've got one of the best, most nostalgic meals in L.A.

Made with steakhouse trimmings from Niku X—Chubby Curry’s fancier Downtown sibling—the Wagyu burger makes a strong argument for deviating from this Beverly Hills restaurant’s namesake comfort food. The subtly Japanese flavors come through in the form of curry aioli and a milk bread-inspired brioche bun recipe. Caramelized onions add sweetness and the eight-ounce patty is made of ultra-juicy, high-quality beef. Every bite is bookended by chef Shin Thompson’s housemade bun. Paired with Chubby Curry’s delicious waffle fries, it’s one of the tastiest and most (relatively) affordable indulgences in the 90210.

Pick a burger, any burger; at this old-time West Hollywood roadside stand with a second location along La Brea, every order comes with a side of L.A. history. Revived in 2022, the Route 66 icon’s no-frills burgers still deliver, especially with a side of fries and a spruced up dessert menu that includes milkshakes and birthday cookies. For a less complicated cheeseburger, opt for the Just For You, which comes simply dressed with pickles and housemade sauce on a sesame bun.

A shining, beefy example of L.A.’s smashburger trend, Love Hour slings crisp-edged, pressed-thin patties on potato buns with a handful of topping options “for a good time.” You can find these singles, doubles, triples or more—someone’s even done a 10-patty burger—in Koreatown's old Beer Belly space, which the team has turned into a natural wine and burger bar. Love Hour also offers a range of absolutely killer seasoned fries, tossed to order in flavors like BBQ, garlic-parmesan, and sour cream and onion, making for the ultimate burger-and-fries combo. Recently they've added a take-home kit, too, so you can always have Love Hour on hand for a good time.

Now relocated to Long Beach, this metal-themed, meat-slinging burger shop doesn’t serve a single patty that’s not decadently dressed to the point of obscenity, and the Napalm Death tops them all. A medium-rare, half-pound patty gets drenched in gooey pepperjack, pickled jalapeños and cream cheese, then it's all topped off with fried jalapeño poppers and habanero aioli. It’s what we’ll dine on when the valkyries carry us over the rainbow bridge to Valhalla (which may be because it kills us as we’re eating it).

The backyard-style burgers at Yuca’s are small and unassuming, just like the nearly 50-year-old taco hut itself. Affordable at $9, Yuca’s double cheeseburger comes with two thin, juicy beef patties cooked on a well-seasoned grill that’s handled thousands of orders of carnitas, carne asada, cochinita pibil and chili verde over the years. Depending on your preference, you can add or subtract cheese or chili, or make it a single if you’re not super hungry. Creamy American cheese, crispy lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard and mayo combine for one of the city’s best no-frills daytime-only burgers; the Los Feliz location closes at 6pm, while Pasadena calls it quits at 6:30pm. Even in Pasadena, where the cheeseburger was supposedly first invented in 1924, Yuca’s time-tested version stands out as one of the best in the area—a statement we’d hang our hat on any day of the week.

You cannot eat the Whipper Burger at Hawkins House of Burgers without a fork and knife. It’s just not possible. And while some behemoth burgers aim more for quantity than quality, the Whipper manages to encompass both. Two well-seasoned, tender patties are topped with a pile of expertly fried pastrami, along with sausage links that delightfully snap when you bite into them. It’s a mess. It’s kind of ridiculous. But it’s worth the half-hour wait and the curious looks that go along with ordering it—and the additional curious looks from fellow diners when it lands on your table.

At first glance, the $25 namesake burger at this sustainable raw bar along the Venice Boardwalk might not seem like much, but take one bite and you’ll quickly realize why this is one of the best gourmet burgers in town. The patty is made of Wagyu beef (Dudley also offers a Beyond option for vegetarians too), there’s a sweet, jammy mixture of bacon and caramelized onions, and the dill aioli adds just a touch of creaminess to the overall experience. Fresh arugula cuts through the richness of all the beef and cheddar cheese, and the brioche bun always comes to the table plush and warm. For one person, the Dudley Burger is more than enough—you probably won’t even need a side of fries to feel satisfied.

The smashburger trend has likely hit its peak, but you wouldn’t know it at Hermosa Beach’s Proudly Serving, home to the South Bay’s best smashburgers. Chef-owner Matt McIvor offers a few customizations: plain, with cheese, “special” (Thousand Island-inspired) sauce and griddled onions, pastrami and Swiss or good ol’ ketchup and mustard, plus raw onions. In our honest opinion, we prefer the Founder (ketchup, mustard and raw onions) over the others. The burger's elements of crisp, sweet and tang complement the double beef patties and melted American cheese. Throw in the fries cooked in rendered duck fat and you’ve got yourself a helluva meal.

Stepping into this ornate Downtown cocktail bar is like a trip to the early 20th century: Antique lamps, sconces and art dot the space, while an old train station’s stained glass arches make up the awe-inspiring ceiling. While the striking interiors and specialty cocktails serve as the bar’s major draws, culinary lead Laurent Quenioux’s seriously great bistro burger is another compelling reason to pay the Wolves a visit. A touch pricey at $25, the thick patty comes topped with lemony parsley butter, sherry-caramelized onions, sauce bercy, comté cheese and pickles. It’s also served with a side of housemade aioli and beef jus. You’d think this all would send the decadence quotient over the top, but the result is a surprisingly balanced burger you won’t be able to put down until the very last bite. Plus, the whole thing comes with a pile of golden-hued, perfectly crispy pommes frites.

American Beauty’s casual burger walk-up in Venice has become so popular it’s spurred standalone locations in Silver Lake, Hollywood and Long Beach, and there’s good reason for it—it serves one of the best, most affordable smashburgers in town. For only $4.35, you can snag a straightforward, wholly satisfying single patty with American cheese, house sauce and grilled onions on a potato bun from any Win-dow location. Really hungry? The double will only set you back $7.50. At the Silver Lake location, you can also pick up dipped soft-serve cones in flavors like mint chip and salted caramel.

Tommy's has earned cult status in L.A. thanks in part to its famed double chili cheeseburger. Two well-seasoned beef patties, cheese, pickles, a glop of hearty chili and a thick slice of tomato have kept this chain going since its first store opened on Beverly in 1946, and still draw crowds at more than 25 locations in California. Not into chili? They're open early for breakfast burritos and hash browns as well.