The Best Burgers in LA

With the motto “Quality Forever,” The Apple Pan continues to serve loyal customers as it has since 1947. The current stewards are Shelli and Irving Azoff, who acquired the beloved restaurant from Sunny Sherman and her mother Martha Gamble in 2019 with the promise that there would be no major changes. The Apple Pan is still closed on Mondays and the classic burgers arrive on paper plates, but now credit cards are accepted and you can pre-order on DoorDash. Counter seating is still highly coveted - a pandemic-era patio offers additional seating.

There are two burgers on the menu, and you can't go wrong with either one: the standard Steakburger and the famed Hickoryburger. The latter features a beef patty with a sweet-smoky hickory sauce, mayo, pickles and chilled iceberg lettuce for crunch. Add melted Tillamook cheddar for $1. In another nod to modern sensibilities, both burgers are available with an Impossible patty upon request. And of course, save room for the banana cream pie, baked fresh daily!

Still going strong in his mid-90s, burger legend Bill Elwell personally grills every burger at Bill’s Burgers in Van Nuys. He’s stood behind the same flat-top griddle on weekdays since 1965, bending every burger to his will. His special L.A. style burgers feature seared patties, sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, pickles, and mayo on soft buns. Melted American cheese is a beautiful binding agent. A second patty and crispy bacon only aid matters. NOTE: cash only.

The smashburger at this counter serve shop in Beverly Grove features a 100% American Wagyu beef patty from Snake River Farms, topped with American cheese, ketchup, onions, pickles, mustard and mayo. Level up with the Oklahoma, which adds thinly-sliced onions that are grilled into the patty. The pared down menu includes hand-cut fries, a grilled cheese and Mexican Coke. The Los Feliz location also offers an Impossible burger, Vegan Caesar and milkshakes.

Burgers Never Say Die chef Shawn Nee built a sensation with the smashburger pop-up he launched with partners in Hollywood and Glendale Tap before going permanent in Silver Lake. Inside their white and red shop, a motto encourages customers to “Always Order Two.” Twin patties tout crunchy meat skirts, ketchup, mustard, pickle and raw onions on a soft bun.

Helmed by Chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George, the Michelin-starred Camphor features French bistro fare with South Asian influences. Available only at the bar and on the patio, the luxurious Le Burger starts with a dry-aged beef and duck patty, then adds smoked Gouda, caramelized onions and beef fat remoulade, served on a duck fat brioche bun for added decadence.

Chef Christian Page and his partners at Hotel Normandie helped to revive a Koreatown classic in 2015. Cassell's houses vintage signs, an open kitchen, and the restaurant’s original cross-broiler, which imparts a historic sear on both sides. Patties weigh 1/3 lb. or 2/3 lb. and feature a house-ground blend of chuck and brisket. The Patty Melt pairs patties with caramelized onions and a choice of Cheddar or Swiss on griddled rye.

Monty’s Good Burger proved to be such a big hit at festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach that business partners Nic Adler and Bill Fold (Goldenvoice), Erin & Derric Swinfard (Monster Media) and Dirk & Amy Alton (Best Beverage Catering) teamed on a bold plant-based Koreatown restaurant. Locations in Echo Park and Culver City have since followed.

The signature Single Cheeseburger features an Impossible patty with Follow Your Heart vegan cheese, house spread, lettuce, tomato, pickles and grilled onions on a Bosch Bakery potato bun.

What began as an East LA pop-up in 2017 has been recognized as a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Located in Lincoln Heights, Moo's Craft Barbecue serves up Texas-style BBQ with a Cal-Mex twist. The Smoked Burger is made with a smoked thick patty, topped with American cheese, razor thin onions, house-made dill pickles and aioli on a Martin's potato bun. Available Friday-Sunday only, The Rampart is inspired by the classic Original Tommy's chili cheeseburger (see below) - smoked thicc prime brisket patty, American cheese, yellow mustard, dill pickles and diced onions, topped with smoked Texas chili on a Martin's potato bun.

Chef Andre Guerrero reinvigorated an old Eagle Rock A-frame and opened The Oinkster in 2006, focusing on crave-worthy comfort food. Following Guerrero's retirement, his son Fred (co-founder of Burgerlords) announced in January 2023 that he was taking the reins.

The Royale is a truly deluxe burger featuring a 1/3 lb. Nebraska Angus beef patty, bacon, chili, pastrami, dill pickles, onions, sliced tomato, crisp iceberg lettuce, Thousand Island dressing, and a choice of American or sharp Cheddar cheese.

There are dozens of Original Tommy’s across L.A. County (and a slew of knockoffs), but the must-visit location is the first one, which founder Tom Koulax opened in May 1946. Located in Westlake at the corner of Beverly and Rampart Boulevards, Tommy’s is open 24 hours and a quintessential late-night LA experience.

Chili is the draw, whether it's in a gloriously messy Single, Double or Triple Chili Cheeseburger; slathered over a hot dog and fries; or piled on a tamale with a slice of cheese, pickles and tomato. Dig in at one of the stand-up counters or enjoy an after-hours feast at your car.

The Chicken Katsu Sando is rightfully a favorite at Ototo, the James Beard Award winning sake bar in Echo Park. But don't sleep on the Ode to MOS Burger, inspired by the Japanese fast food chain of the same name. To bring it full circle, MOS Burger founder Satoshi Sakurada was reportedly a regular at Original Tommy's in the '60s and brought the made-to-order concept back to Japan. The Ode to MOS Burger features a nicely charred patty topped with American cheese, house-made chili, tomato and "special sauce" on a fluffy sesame bun. Available nightly from 5-7pm only.

Chef-owner Jeff Strauss garnered a loyal following with Jeff's Table, his Highland Park "sandwich speakeasy" that serves up cult favorites like the Dirty Baby chicken salad melt and "Jeff's Special" Reuben. Strauss recently took over the kitchen at OyBar, formerly the Oyster House in Studio City.

The signature OyBar Burger bucks current trends and is not smashed - the thick patty is served with Point Reyes Toma, house-made hoisin ketchup, lettuce, red onion, cilantro, cucumber and Dijon on a sesame "holla" bun. The next-level bar menu is well worth exploring, but the burger is a must.

Petit Trois is a classic Paris-style "bar à la carte" from Ludo Lefebvre, wife Krissy and partners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. While many menu items would be instantly recognizable in the 6th Arrondissement, Parisians would no doubt be stunned by the Big Mec at Petit Trois locations in Hollywood and Sherman Oaks. The decadent double cheeseburger features twin patties, melted American cheese, garlic aioli with minced pickles, and a cascading pool of sticky Bordelaise sauce on a brioche bun.

Pie ‘n Burger is a Pasadena favorite near Caltech that dates to 1963. Current owner Michael Osborn has worked there since 1972. Their griddled burgers come with Thousand Island dressing, iceberg lettuce and pickles on a soft bun. Swiss cheese complements the seared meat. A neon clock by the entrance features a coconut cream pie at the center of the clock hands. Listen to the clock for more than time.

At République, the multi-faceted Mid-City restaurant and bakery from chefs Walter Manzke and wife Margarita Manzke, brunch is always in session during the day. Their dry-aged beef burger has become a customer favorite, featuring a substantial, medium-griddled beef patty made with equal parts short rib and Prime dry-aged ribeye; American cheese, caramelized onions, and special sauce (ketchup, mayo, house-made pickle relish) on a house-baked, poppy seed-studded pain de mie, served with French fries.

Chef Chris Phelps showcases sustainable, humanely raised animals at Salt’s Cure in Hollywood. Phelps introduced The Dinner Burger in July 2023, featuring a ribeye and brisket patty; house-cured bacon, smoked gouda, caramelized onion, arugula and Dijon mustard on a pretzel bun.

Burgers don't come any more straightforward - or more affordable - than at The Win-Dow, a takeout window attached to the American Beauty steakhouse in Venice (there are now locations in Silver Lake, Hollywood and Long Beach). The smashburger patties are flattop grilled with onions and topped with American cheese, pickles and house sauce on a potato bun. The Cheeseburger is just $4.25, the Double is $7.50 and the veg-friendly Beauty Burger with Impossible patty is $8.25.