Burgers in LA?
 

Hi,

We'll be arriving to LA on a Friday night at the end of the month and the main attraction for me is trying an In-N-Out burger. Does anyone know of one near the airport that we can stop at on our way to our hotel? I realize it would help to know where we're staying, but we haven't decided for sure yet.

Also, I've heard burgers in general are good in LA. Any other places you would recommend that aren't 'fast' food? I know we'll spend at least a little bit of time in Santa Monica (we're just going for a long weekend, and one night is a wedding).

Thanks for any tips!

There is indeed an In & Out Burger right by the airport on Sepulvada. The planes are practicaly right over your head there.

I'm interested in your opinion of the In-and-Out burger, which is a great favorite or those who grew up eating them.

For me, it was a culinary letdown equal to Dick's hamburger, which is beloved by generations of Seattleites.

Closest to LAX:
www.in-n-out.com/location_details.asp?id=117

I really never understood the big fuss about In-n-Out. Maybe it is the nostalgia thing, or maybe the fact that it is not widely available.

Without knowing where you are staying, it will be hard to recommend other restaurants. Some of the better "fast food" chains here are Rubio's Baja Grill, Baja Fresh, and La Salsa.

This is very helpful! Thanks! I will post my review. Coming from NY, burgers are not a big thing for me, and it's something I associate with CA, so maybe I will think it's better than it is.

For our non-In-n-Out option, it doesn't necessarily have to be fast food - are there any sit down restaurants that are famous for their burgers?

Thanks!

get grilled onions.

If you are hungry they will make you a 4x4....oh yeah!!!

I tried it at the Sepulvada location right off LAX 2 weeks ago on a Sunday night, before my red-eye flight back home.

I really don't understand what the fuss is. It's a decent burger, but not that special. You can see them cutting fresh potatoes, but they seem undercooked to me.

But the problem is that the place is a dump. Ran out of napkins, nobody wiped the tables, trash and food pieces all over the floor. Hm, no wonder most people seem to use the drive-thru.

I think In-N-Out is a great burger that competes with any non-fast food place. Another place you might want to try is Fat Burger which is everywhere.

Check out the Apple Pan if you wind up near West LA. Burgers are good, pies even better.

To me In'Out is good but not that special.
The classic California burger is charbroiled on an open flame(In-n-Out is not). There are hundreds of these restaurants scattered throughout SoCal. These places often feature decent Mexican food too.

Apple Pan is THE best. Two small chains that have a good selection of burgers are Islands and Red Robin, these are normal sit-down places with other things besides burgers on the menu.

Is there anything that's not a chain? We were hoping for something that is uniquely LA and memorably good. Is there a specific char-broiled place anyone can recommend? Maybe we'll love in-n-out (although it sounds like people here are not too crazy about it) and just go back a few times during our weekend. I would just hate to miss something that we can't otherwise get especially since we don't expect to be back in LA for a long time.

THANKS!

"uniquely LA"?

I think the cows used for burgers at In-N-Out have had utter implants.

Father's Office in Santa Monica has outstanding burgers. They don't even serve ketsup but the burgers are the most moist and flavorful I've ever had.

According to the Zagat Guide, the highest rated hamburger places are:

Tommy’s, 2575 West Beverly Boulevard
Barney’s, 11660 San Vicente Boulevard and 225 26th Street
Cassell’s, 3266 West Sixth Street
Astro Burger, 5601 Melrose Avenue

HTTY

Apple Pan is not a chain. Father's Office is overpriced and a pretentious yuppie place, but then given that it is in Santa Monica, that is to be expected.

There's a Fatburger in Inglewood.

mlgb-Would you send them to Inglewood?

I was going to mention the Apple Pan, but others beat me to it! Yes, a great "non chain" burger. For the chains my two picks would be, In-N-Out and Tommy's in that order.

Does Carney's still exist on Sunset Boulevard. I would kill for their burger with chili. ;)

Hamburger Hamlet...classic LA
http://www.hamburgerhamlet.com/
And their French Onion soup is worth a try, too...a big bowl try!

Father's Office in Santa Monica makes the best high-end burger. That would be my recommendation for a great dinner during your weekend trip. Make a reservation ahead of time. The Shack in Playa del Rey (less than 5 miles from LAX in the direction of Santa Monica) makes an awesome burger as well, but it doesn't have the same ambience of Father's Office.

Hamburger Hamlet is a tried-and-true classic but I don't think that there are any locations on the west side.

"I really never understood the big fuss about In-n-Out. Maybe it is the nostalgia thing, or maybe the fact that it is not widely available."

Better burgers than McD's, Burger King or Wendy's. Great milkshakes. Fries are better at McD's.

Also the mystique of the "secret" menu adds to the popularity of In-N-Out.

Apple Pan is a great LA experience, great fries, too.

Like bobludlow said, Father's Office is the best "high-end" burger. Only open for dinner, expect a line, burger comes "as is" no substitutions. It's delicious. Father's Office has a large selection of great beers on tap.

I don't eat a lot of hamburgers, but when we are returning home from a driving trip we exit the 405 Freeway in No Redondo, next to Manhattan Beach, and get an Amimal Style In-N-Out burger. Sure tastes good after a week of fine dining. Here is the Secret Menu, better than a regular burger.

http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp

We also like any of the Tommy's. They have various names, like Tommy's Original, Tomboys World Famous, etc. Their chili-cheese burger is great, also fries and milk shakes. Our local TBs has jalepeno peppers you can pick up at the utencil counter, to add on the side.

It's like going to Philly and eating a cheesteak. You got to know what to order!

Have a double double with and a chocolate or vanilla shake. Nix the fries. Awesome!

Aloha!

Brentwood is pretty west side, bobludlow, no?!

I like In-n-Out, but am not gobsmacked about 'em. I think the whole thing about the place is psychological. Their marketing campaign has been brilliant in its simplicity -- not to mention the name itself...

Thanks for the secret menu link MBNancy. I didn't know about the grilled cheese.

I didn't know about the Grilled Cheese either, until a few years ago. My dil ordered one when we drove through, along with Animal style Fries, and that's when I first learned of the Secret Menu.

The person taking the order doesn't blink at all, they are used to people asking for The Flying Dutchman!

In fact, there is more to order, than on their posted list.

http://www.tiburon-belvedere.com/cgi...cgi?c=In_N_Out

In and Out is all about freshness. Supposedly there is not a single heat lamp, microwave or freezer in any of the InO locations.

There beef is 100% with no additives, fillers, nor preservatives. There are no cow brains, hooves, horns, intestines, etc. added. It's PURE beef meat. Likewise, there's nothing fake in their milkshakes.

The taste is average, but the quality of getting everything fresh and not frozen for days/weeks is great. I like mine "protein style", wrapped in a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. Strawberry shake and fries and I'm ready to go!

Astro burgers are great too. I haven't had one for years.

Islands is good for sit down hamburgers and a bunch of other things. It's more like the burger equivalent of Applebee's.

If you want something that is unique and if you like hot dogs, try Pink's Hot Dogs.

Casell's (see above) is great. (limited hours)

Hamburger Hamlet is an old reliable. It has been decades, but they used to have a wonderful lobster bisque.

A reliable friend swears by the Hungry Cat on Sunset and Vine. It's a sea food place, which is what I always have there, but he says the burger is great.

Tommy's on Rampart's is a historical burger stand. Bring Rolaids. Don't go there after midnight.

I want to try Pinks next time I'm in LA.

I had a Pinks for lunch in Las Vegas after a night of drinking...ugh...the flight home was not fun.

Sorry, that's "their beef", not "there beef" - gee, can't spell!

I think there is no shortage of good burgers in LA. I also give my vote to Fatburger (delish! get the chili fries too).

I think Father's Office has the best "gourmet" burger I have ever tasted -- carmelized onions, cheese stuffed right into the patty, arugala instead of typical lettuce, toasty french roll. Getting a table there is totally chaotic, though. You order at the bar and then stalk all the other diners until someone leaves their table. They also have a great selection of microbrews on tap and really yummy fries.

Apple Pan offers a great, but simple burger. Not good for large parties since you have to wait against the wall until a seat opens up at the u-shaped counter. The place oozes history and nostalgia, though. Good pie, too.

Tommy's chili is not of this planet. Bright orange and very tasty, but unless you have an iron stomach, you might want to save a trip here for another time.

Island's is ok, but not very different than the burgers you will find at other casual chain restaurants.

If you happen to be in downtown LA, Petes Bar and Grill makes a great cheeseburger.

Don't listen to the In 'N Out naysayers! They are THE BEST. Don't skip the fries...they are great, too.
Tommy's is a classic but definitely a grease bucket.
There's a place in Santa Monica called The Counter, which allows you to build your own burger. It boasts more than 312,120 combinations.
Mel's Diner is also a can't-miss, and so is Swinger's. These are more diners than burger joints, but you can get a burger there, too.

There's also Johnny Rockets.
Fifties-style, jukebox, big fat burgers, big fat fries, big thick shake.
http://www.johnnyrockets.com/locations/

There's nothing special about In-And-Out Burger. Locals boasted about it, so I tried it, twice as a matter of fact, still don't know what the fuss is about.

In N Out is great. There's a reason why it's so beloved here! The fries are nothing to write home about, but the burgers are fantastic. I highly recommend getting one with onions.

I second everyone who has suggested Apple Pan and Father's Office. Awesome burgers in very different settings. Definitely not chains.

If you're ever out in the Pasadena area on another trip, the burgers at Pie N Burger might be the very best in the L.A. area.

I like In & Out Burger but you can get pretty burned out on it. I always order it with the grilled onions. Someone mentioned Carney's--I don't know if it's still on Sunset but there is one in Studio City (it's a greasy spoon place and the chili burgers are what I affectionately call "heart attack on a plate"!). Hungry Cat on Hollywood & Vine is not a seafood place--they are the same owners who own AOC in Beverly Hills (a wine bar/tapas place). It is a very eclectic, California-type bistro. Their burgers are awesome, love their lobster roll and their frittatas. They also serve for dessert these cute little binets (the ones you get in New Orleans) in a plain brown paper bag dusted with lot of sugar and it's served hot! So Yummy! The other burger place I like is Fuddruckers (in Sherman Oaks) and Islands (Encino).