After a few years touring the streets as a gourmet food truck under the Metallica-influenced name Grill 'Em All, Ryan Harkins and Matt Chernus took their winnings from season one of The Great Food Truck Race and went full brick and mortar in 2013.
Today, their storefront sits on Main Street in the heart of Alhambra, tucked unceremoniously between a Menchie's frozen yogurt and an Applebee's. It seems at first an odd place for a colorful, loud, heavy metal-themed burger restaurant, but the Grill 'Em All team has been fitting in nicely, thanks in part to loyal fans and people with an affinity for red meat and speed metal.
Mostly, it's because they keep their Alhambra community well fed. Simple, deluxe, and absolutely outrageous burger options abound on the long chalkboard menu, with new versions swapped in monthly to keep things fresh. From grilled cheese sandwich buns to burgers branded with a skull, these are some of the most insane burgers available in Los Angeles. They're also among the best.
A few highlights:
Waste 'Em All: This burger was a surprising highlight, given its (relatively) tame nature, compared to the other burgers here. It shows the quality of the meat and local buns that Grill 'Em All is using for all of their burgers — even the ones slathered in chili.
Dee Snider: One of Grill 'Em All's classic burgers from its truck days, the Dee Snider's mix of peanut butter, jelly, and bacon falls squarely into the so-crazy-it-works category, with a great mix of creamy, sweet, and salty, all topped with spicy sriracha.
I Wanna Be Your Dog: Verging into the heart of 'stunt burger' territory, the this dog- and chili-topped burger is unreasonable in every way possible. There is no clear angle with which to even enjoy the thing, and wads of napkins are mandatory.
Berzerker: Originally a limited-time option, this stacked burger with the branded skull bun has become something of a regular order for those in the know. Apparently people love having way, way too much stuff on their burgers.
Molly Hatchet: Another truck classic, this breakfast sausage gravy-laced burger is like the McRib; it's not always around, but people demand that it never go away forever. Your best bet to enjoy one of these soaked monstrosities is on Monday nights.
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