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A Handy Guide to Old School Burger Joints in Los Angeles

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America's love of burgers may have no stronger foundation than in the city of Los Angeles and its outlying neighborhoods, where the likes of Fatburger, Tommy's and In-N-Out have proliferated the gospel of the high-quality fast food burger for generations. In the meantime, other classic burger places have popped up all over town, with iconic spots like Apple Pan, Pie'n Burger, and Irv's Burgers capturing the hearts of both young and old. Herein, Eater presents a handy guide to the Best Old-School Burger Joints in Los Angeles.


·All Burger Week 2013 Coverage [~ELA~]

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Pie 'n Burger

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This classic burger joint makes great seared patties and straightforward burgers that somehow taste better than the sum of their parts. Think of it as an improved version of the classic In-N-Out burger. The pies here are amazing as well.

The Apple Pan

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Perhaps the most beloved burger in Los Angeles, this Westside fixture still does things the old-fashioned way, with simply grilled patties, soft white buns, and an addictive house sauce. The counter-top dining experience is a must for any burger lover. The pies are also a must-try.

In-N-Out Burger

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If not the original then probably the more prolific and notable burger joint in L.A. In-N-Out is the quintessential California burger and the quality hasn't changed at all over years.

Bill & Hiroko's

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This unsung burger stand in Van Nuys makes one of the best classic burgers, thanks to dedicated burger man Bill Elwell, who still makes every burger here after decades of business. The double cheeseburger with bacon is the one to get.

Original Tommy's Hamburgers

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Probably the only real contender to In-N-Out's dominance in L.A., Tommy's still does a good chili-burger that boasts an incredibly thick chili and well-constructed burgers loaded with chopped onions, tomatoes, and mustard.

Fatburger

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A heftier, more "gourmet" version of the thin-pattied burger, Fatburger specializes in fresh ground patties that are thicker than the average joint, along with a slew of custom options that allows diners to make their ideal burger. Part of triad of classic L.A. burger chains that includes Tommy's and In-N-Out.

Marty's Hamburger Stand

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This Westside burger stand still has that old timey charm with dedicated employees who will customize any burger. The double-cheeseburger is a specialty, though the small size makes parking tough. This is fast food the way it should be done.

Irv's Burgers

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A true hole-in-the-wall burger place, this classic West Hollywood dive does cheap, delicious burgers with fresh, hot fries. As a bonus, each order gets a charming drawings on their plates. Definitely a great place to become a regular.

Mom's Burgers

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If there's a more over-the-top, comforting burger than Mom's, it's hard to think of one. Seasoned and grilled to perfection, these burgers get piled with bacon and toppings until they're nearly impossible to hold. A great find worth seeking for burger aficionados despite the 'seedy' location.

Hinano Cafe

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This classic Westside dive does a variety of straightforward burgers just by Venice Beach. Unadorned and simply made, think seasoned patties with bacon, lettuce and all the fixin's at a reasonable price.

Astro Burger

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It wouldn't be L.A. if there wasn't a vegetarian-friendly burger place in the city. There's the unsurprising spate of ethnic food (Mexican, Greek, Italian) to go along with char-broiled veggie burgers that taste like the real deal, at least to some.

Hawkins House Of Burgers

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Perhaps the original heart-attack burger joint, these burgers get piled high with a myriad of toppings, like sausages, chili, pastrami, eggs, bacon and more. A true find for the burger glutton.

Johnnie's Pastrami

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This Westside establishment specializes in pastrami, but still does great burgers. They start with a 1/3 lb. patty and can get loaded up with a thick, savory chili.

Howard's Big Burger

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This heavy-hitting Westside joint is known for their bacon & avocado burgers, which got attention for being on Man Versus Food. The patties might be pre-formed and frozen at this point, but the toppings make up for it.

Hamburger Habit

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This West LA standard does all the classic diner options, only from a hamburger point of view. Chili cheese fries go well with the inexpensive, fully customizable burgers. The milkshakes are also worth trying.

Patra's

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Though some of the menu got a makeover by Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, this classic Eastside spot does a very good burger that has good seasoning and great beefy flavor.

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers

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One of the original "gourmet" hamburgers, Barney's still uses fresh-ground beef patties, producing a nice char. Over the years they've developed a myriad number of burger varieties to suit different tastes, such as the Cajun Style burger and Moroccan burger. There's also vegetarian burgers, because this is L.A.

The Bucket

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This very old restaurant in Eagle Rock looks like a roadside stop, serving since 1935. The large burgers feature over-the-top ingredients like the famous Cardiac, which uses two 1/2 lb patties, bacon, ham, and grilled onions.

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Pie 'n Burger

This classic burger joint makes great seared patties and straightforward burgers that somehow taste better than the sum of their parts. Think of it as an improved version of the classic In-N-Out burger. The pies here are amazing as well.

The Apple Pan

Perhaps the most beloved burger in Los Angeles, this Westside fixture still does things the old-fashioned way, with simply grilled patties, soft white buns, and an addictive house sauce. The counter-top dining experience is a must for any burger lover. The pies are also a must-try.

In-N-Out Burger

If not the original then probably the more prolific and notable burger joint in L.A. In-N-Out is the quintessential California burger and the quality hasn't changed at all over years.

Bill & Hiroko's

This unsung burger stand in Van Nuys makes one of the best classic burgers, thanks to dedicated burger man Bill Elwell, who still makes every burger here after decades of business. The double cheeseburger with bacon is the one to get.

Original Tommy's Hamburgers

Probably the only real contender to In-N-Out's dominance in L.A., Tommy's still does a good chili-burger that boasts an incredibly thick chili and well-constructed burgers loaded with chopped onions, tomatoes, and mustard.

Fatburger

A heftier, more "gourmet" version of the thin-pattied burger, Fatburger specializes in fresh ground patties that are thicker than the average joint, along with a slew of custom options that allows diners to make their ideal burger. Part of triad of classic L.A. burger chains that includes Tommy's and In-N-Out.

Marty's Hamburger Stand

This Westside burger stand still has that old timey charm with dedicated employees who will customize any burger. The double-cheeseburger is a specialty, though the small size makes parking tough. This is fast food the way it should be done.

Irv's Burgers

A true hole-in-the-wall burger place, this classic West Hollywood dive does cheap, delicious burgers with fresh, hot fries. As a bonus, each order gets a charming drawings on their plates. Definitely a great place to become a regular.

Mom's Burgers

If there's a more over-the-top, comforting burger than Mom's, it's hard to think of one. Seasoned and grilled to perfection, these burgers get piled with bacon and toppings until they're nearly impossible to hold. A great find worth seeking for burger aficionados despite the 'seedy' location.

Hinano Cafe

This classic Westside dive does a variety of straightforward burgers just by Venice Beach. Unadorned and simply made, think seasoned patties with bacon, lettuce and all the fixin's at a reasonable price.

Astro Burger

It wouldn't be L.A. if there wasn't a vegetarian-friendly burger place in the city. There's the unsurprising spate of ethnic food (Mexican, Greek, Italian) to go along with char-broiled veggie burgers that taste like the real deal, at least to some.

Hawkins House Of Burgers

Perhaps the original heart-attack burger joint, these burgers get piled high with a myriad of toppings, like sausages, chili, pastrami, eggs, bacon and more. A true find for the burger glutton.

Johnnie's Pastrami

This Westside establishment specializes in pastrami, but still does great burgers. They start with a 1/3 lb. patty and can get loaded up with a thick, savory chili.

Howard's Big Burger

This heavy-hitting Westside joint is known for their bacon & avocado burgers, which got attention for being on Man Versus Food. The patties might be pre-formed and frozen at this point, but the toppings make up for it.

Hamburger Habit

This West LA standard does all the classic diner options, only from a hamburger point of view. Chili cheese fries go well with the inexpensive, fully customizable burgers. The milkshakes are also worth trying.

Related Maps

Patra's

Though some of the menu got a makeover by Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, this classic Eastside spot does a very good burger that has good seasoning and great beefy flavor.

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers

One of the original "gourmet" hamburgers, Barney's still uses fresh-ground beef patties, producing a nice char. Over the years they've developed a myriad number of burger varieties to suit different tastes, such as the Cajun Style burger and Moroccan burger. There's also vegetarian burgers, because this is L.A.

The Bucket

This very old restaurant in Eagle Rock looks like a roadside stop, serving since 1935. The large burgers feature over-the-top ingredients like the famous Cardiac, which uses two 1/2 lb patties, bacon, ham, and grilled onions.

Related Maps