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Txule burger at Agua Viva in Downtown.
The txule burger from Agua Viva.
Farley Elliott

10 of the Hottest Burgers in LA Right Now

From rooftop stunners to a vegan sensation on La Brea

by Farley Elliott Updated
28 comments / new
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The txule burger from Agua Viva.
| Farley Elliott
by Farley Elliott Updated
28 comments / new

Hamburgers may very well be the quintessential food of Southern California. The combination of ground beef (or, more recently, vegan alternatives) and bun is so deeply entrenched in Los Angeles’s dining culture that there’s always a new creation to taste in and around the city. Upscale spots, takeaway joints, and street pop-ups all love to sell burgers to eager audiences — all to delicious results. Here are 10 of the hottest burgers in LA right now.

Added: Oy Bar, Camphor, Birdie G’s, Agua Viva, Mr. Charlie’s

Removed: Horses, Market Tavern, Fellow, Goldburger Los Feliz, Burger She Wrote, the Wolves, Hamburgers Nice, For the Win Whittier

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Say It Ain’t So

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The plant-based burgers from Valley pop-up Say It Ain’t So don’t skip on decadence. Just look at those double-Impossible patties, the melty non-dairy cheese, and the soft but sturdy buns; this isn’t the kind of place that messes around, meat or no meat.

11136 W Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 747-2241
(818) 747-2241

Oy Bar

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This mellow Valley bar is hiding what may be the most delicious new burger in all of Los Angeles — and the burger may not even be the best thing to get at Oy Bar. Seriously, this cool-kid hangout in Studio City is an incredible mix of dive-bar realness and menu decadence, with a burger that combines a big patty with lots of cheese, plenty of crunch, and just the right amount of bracing pickle-y features.

12446 Moorpark St, Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 761-8686
(818) 761-8686

Also featured in:

The Win~Dow Silver Lake

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One of the Westside’s best burgers has expanded east, landing along Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake for all the world to see. These are simple, inexpensive options served fast and hot to eager local crowds; expect more expansion soon from this group, too.

1529 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 499-3787
(323) 499-3787
A double patty cheeseburger and fries sit on a red plastic stool in front of a restaurant. shown from up close.
The Window burger in Silver Lake.
The Window

Mr. Charlie’s

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Mr. Charlie’s is the hot new vegan kid on the block, the kind of place where influencers are hosting unboxing videos and taking photos inside the very, very familiar-looking red-and-yellow restaurant. Playing off the simplicity of fast-food giants like McDonald’s, this La Brea option does pared-down vegan burgers and fries sold in throwback cardboard takeout meal boxes.

612 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 424-4795
(323) 424-4795
A filter-heavy photo of a double burger with cheese and sauce, tinged yellow.
Mr. Charlie’s burger.
Mr. Charlie’s

Great White

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Venice hotspot Great White is fast becoming a Larchmont staple, a place for all-day dining on the sidewalk. Look beyond the breakfast burritos, salads, and dinnertime pizzas to find one of LA’s most underrated burgers.

244 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 745-5059
(323) 745-5059

Also featured in:

Moo's Craft Barbecue

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The beef is smoked (as is all the meat) at Moo’s Craft Barbecue in Lincoln Heights — it’s just that, for their much-loved burger, it’s also ground, formed into a patty, and served thick on a spongey bun with bracing raw onions. This is a pub-style burger for fans sick of the smashed stuff.

2118 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 686-4133
(323) 686-4133

Also featured in:

Agua Viva

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The txule burger at José Andrés’s rooftop destination Agua Viva is a thing of pure pleasure, a mix of ribeye meat topped with simple American cheese and lots of piparra peppers. The garlickly finishing spread takes it over the top, while the airy bun keeps everything just barely contained.

100 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 349-8585
(213) 349-8585
Txule burger at Agua Viva in Downtown.
The burger at Agua Viva.
Farley Elliott

Camphor

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The in-the-know burger at Arts District fine-dining spot Camphor is one to watch. Not only is the thick bar and patio bistro table-only option a head-turner in the room, it features dry-aged beef and slowly cooked duck leg meat. The Camphor burger’s bun is even finished off with duck fat, and the burger’s sauce is made with smoked beef fat, making for a seriously rich addition to the LA burger landscape.

923 E 3rd St Suite 109, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 626-8888
(213) 626-8888
A close up side shot of a thick burger with a yellow-orange bun.
The Camphor burger.
Camphor

Also featured in:

Birdie G's

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The new burger at Birdie G’s is a whopper of a thing, mixing seared blood sausage with a thick round of red onion, swiss cheese, and sliced cornichons for added effect — and all housed inside of a pretzel bun. Beware, though: this big-time option is not for those looking to go faint on flavor, and is also only available as part of the bar area’s daily happy hour.

2421 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 310-3616
(310) 310-3616

Also featured in:

Proudly Serving

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This South Bay burger staple started as a pop-up and now has a kitchen to use along the boardwalk, where it turns out smashed and flavorful options with cheese, sauce, and plenty of pickles.

136 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

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Say It Ain’t So

11136 W Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

The plant-based burgers from Valley pop-up Say It Ain’t So don’t skip on decadence. Just look at those double-Impossible patties, the melty non-dairy cheese, and the soft but sturdy buns; this isn’t the kind of place that messes around, meat or no meat.

11136 W Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 747-2241
(818) 747-2241

Oy Bar

12446 Moorpark St, Studio City, CA 91604

This mellow Valley bar is hiding what may be the most delicious new burger in all of Los Angeles — and the burger may not even be the best thing to get at Oy Bar. Seriously, this cool-kid hangout in Studio City is an incredible mix of dive-bar realness and menu decadence, with a burger that combines a big patty with lots of cheese, plenty of crunch, and just the right amount of bracing pickle-y features.

12446 Moorpark St, Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 761-8686
(818) 761-8686

The Win~Dow Silver Lake

1529 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

One of the Westside’s best burgers has expanded east, landing along Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake for all the world to see. These are simple, inexpensive options served fast and hot to eager local crowds; expect more expansion soon from this group, too.

1529 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 499-3787
(323) 499-3787
A double patty cheeseburger and fries sit on a red plastic stool in front of a restaurant. shown from up close.
The Window burger in Silver Lake.
The Window

Mr. Charlie’s

612 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Mr. Charlie’s is the hot new vegan kid on the block, the kind of place where influencers are hosting unboxing videos and taking photos inside the very, very familiar-looking red-and-yellow restaurant. Playing off the simplicity of fast-food giants like McDonald’s, this La Brea option does pared-down vegan burgers and fries sold in throwback cardboard takeout meal boxes.

612 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 424-4795
(323) 424-4795
A filter-heavy photo of a double burger with cheese and sauce, tinged yellow.
Mr. Charlie’s burger.
Mr. Charlie’s

Great White

244 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Venice hotspot Great White is fast becoming a Larchmont staple, a place for all-day dining on the sidewalk. Look beyond the breakfast burritos, salads, and dinnertime pizzas to find one of LA’s most underrated burgers.

244 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 745-5059
(323) 745-5059

Moo's Craft Barbecue

2118 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031

The beef is smoked (as is all the meat) at Moo’s Craft Barbecue in Lincoln Heights — it’s just that, for their much-loved burger, it’s also ground, formed into a patty, and served thick on a spongey bun with bracing raw onions. This is a pub-style burger for fans sick of the smashed stuff.

2118 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 686-4133
(323) 686-4133

Agua Viva

100 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The txule burger at José Andrés’s rooftop destination Agua Viva is a thing of pure pleasure, a mix of ribeye meat topped with simple American cheese and lots of piparra peppers. The garlickly finishing spread takes it over the top, while the airy bun keeps everything just barely contained.

100 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 349-8585
(213) 349-8585
Txule burger at Agua Viva in Downtown.
The burger at Agua Viva.
Farley Elliott

Camphor

923 E 3rd St Suite 109, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The in-the-know burger at Arts District fine-dining spot Camphor is one to watch. Not only is the thick bar and patio bistro table-only option a head-turner in the room, it features dry-aged beef and slowly cooked duck leg meat. The Camphor burger’s bun is even finished off with duck fat, and the burger’s sauce is made with smoked beef fat, making for a seriously rich addition to the LA burger landscape.

923 E 3rd St Suite 109, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 626-8888
(213) 626-8888
A close up side shot of a thick burger with a yellow-orange bun.
The Camphor burger.
Camphor

Birdie G's

2421 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404

The new burger at Birdie G’s is a whopper of a thing, mixing seared blood sausage with a thick round of red onion, swiss cheese, and sliced cornichons for added effect — and all housed inside of a pretzel bun. Beware, though: this big-time option is not for those looking to go faint on flavor, and is also only available as part of the bar area’s daily happy hour.

2421 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 310-3616
(310) 310-3616

Proudly Serving

136 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

This South Bay burger staple started as a pop-up and now has a kitchen to use along the boardwalk, where it turns out smashed and flavorful options with cheese, sauce, and plenty of pickles.

136 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

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