🍔 The Ultimate LA Burger Guide 🍔

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In honor of summer, I polled the Jamie’s List crew and came up with the best burgers in Los Angeles. As you know, I think LA is the best city in the world. However, I know I’m biased. But with that being said, we are undoubtedly the greatest burger city in the world. Why is that? Great question.

From our research, it’s because we essentially invented the modern fast-food burger — McDonald's in San Bernardino, In-N-Out in Baldwin Park, Bob's Big Boy in Glendale — and the tradition continues to run deep. This standing was only solidified when a spot in Chinatown was just awarded 9th best burger in the WORLD. A huge accomplishment.

The list below isn’t exhaustive, and like any good list, it will spark lots of debate (we had our own while making it). However, I can promise that if you eat any of the burgers below, you will be quite pleased.

As part of my quest to never be too controversial, the picks are in alphabetical order. So no rankings, just great burgers across the city. If you have one that I’m missing — send it my way.

Amboy — This is the spot with the title of 9th best burger in the world. It’s a huge accomplishment for this small Chinatown joint. In terms of what to order, you can never go wrong with their classic: a sesame seed bun (generous on the seeds), a thin patty, melty American cheese, pickles, caramelized onions and their house made burger sauce. They also offer that in “slim thicc” or DH sizes, which just means larger patties. If you want to be adventurous , try their DH burger — which is a juicy 10 oz porterhouse patty. Doc Rivers, who is not only a championship-winning coach, but a real foodie (and a Jamie’s List member) calls this his favorite burger in LA.

Apple Pan — This longstanding LA diner is known for their hickory burger complete with a sweet-n-smoky sauce. It’s a classic for a reason. They’re walk-in only, but the good news is they now offer delivery through their website! However, there’s nothing more classic than sitting at the counter at The Apple Pan, eating a burger and some fries.

The Benjamin — Sometimes, even at a nicer restaurant you just need a classic burger. This option, featuring a thick patty, is so simple, yet so good. Pair it with their fries, of course. I like this one so much that even when it’s not my main entree, I get it and split it with my friends. This is the newest (and arguably the best) burger in the city — and yes, I’m biased because it’s owned by Jamie’s List crew member Ben Hundreds. But I swear that’s not why. Try it for yourself!

Burgers Never Say Die — Their slogan is “always order two”, and I get why. These are smashburgers, so the patty is thin and perfectly crisped, sitting between a potato bun. It’s made up of the basics: a beef patty, ketchup, mustard, cheese, pickles, and onion — but excels.

Burger She Wrote — I like this burger place on Beverly so much that they were even one of the booths at my birthday party/food festival. They use Kings Hawaiian buns to add a sweetness, and the beef is 100% American Wagyu, perfectly smashed and cooked until the edges are crispy. They’ve become so popular that they’re expanding, with a location in Sherman Oaks now open, and Brentwood coming soon.

Cassell’s Hamburgers — This spot has been around since 1948, and now has two locations: one in Koreatown and the other in Chinatown. While they’ve expanded their menu since their founding, Cassell’s remains focused on fresh, hormone-free quality beef. Each burger is ground, pressed, and broiled using the same equipment from the day they opened. But if we’re being honest: you’re really there for the patty melt.

Camphor — A burger at a Michelin-starred restaurant? Hear me out. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill burger — patty is made from duck meat and dry aged beef, with a duck fat brioche bun & a beef fat remoulade sauce. It’s juicy, rich, and will leave you full for hours, so maybe split it with your table.

Hiho — Voted the best burger in California by KTLA, this spot is owned by Jamie’s List crew member Jerry Greenberg (whose name you might recognize from his other spots, Sugarfish, KazuNori, Matu, and UOVO). Each burger is made with 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef. There are multiple locations across the city, so this one is accessible to most Angelenos. Pro Tip: don’t skip their banana cream pie for dessert.

Goldburger — Starting as an east side pop-up in 2018, Goldburger was on the smashburger train early, and has been a consistently good bite. Their garlic-mustard aioli on their eponymous dish sets them apart, but they also offer other options if that flavor profile isn’t for you. This is a good spot for grab-and-go, as there’s not a lot of outdoor seating.