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!