The 6 Must-Try Burgers in Los Angeles

At this Melrose Avenue establishment from culinary legend Nancy Silverton, the burgers are worth the wait. On the first Saturday of every month from 12pm to 2pm, executive chef Ryan DeNicola fires up Silverton’s famous burgers, so good that Los Angeles magazine dissected every element in detail. The key to a good burger is to start with a killer patty, and Silverton does just that. The beef is a blend of chuck, brisket, dry-aged beef trim, dry-aged beef fat, and fat from around the kidneys for optimal flavor and texture. It’s then seasoned and cooked on an almond wood-fired grill. The classic Spacca burger consists of a beef patty, Calabrian mint aioli, cheddar cheese, lettuce, caramelized onions, tomato, and pickle on a sesame bun. An equally juicy “sooner smash burger” hits the spot with two dry-aged smash patties, American cheese, yellow mustard, and shaved onions on a sesame bun. The best move is to get both.

A taste of New England in LA, this seafood restaurant and raw bar — named after owner Michael Cimarusti’s grandparents Connie and Ted — is a tribute to the times the couple spent fishing together off the shores of New England. While most of the menu is dedicated to seafood, the burger here is a crowd favorite, featuring Hook’s 4-year-aged cheddar, pickles, onion, lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing on a beef patty. A smoked bacon add-on is available, and why wouldn’t you? Also famous here is the Maine lobster roll, served hot with drawn butter or cold with mayonnaise. Grab a craft beer on tap and sit on the expansive outdoor patio to enjoy LA’s weather.

The team behind the hugely popular Blue Ribbon chain has brought its famed burger to the West Coast at Hank’s. Located inside Palisades Village, Hank’s serves up all sorts of burgers from wagyu to vegan varieties, but the one that has people talking is the “Double Diamond” option. Served on a potato brioche bun with your choice of cheese, pickles, onions, and a special sauce, the burger’s focus is on its Angus beef double patties — a whole half-pound of meat. Paired with fries, it’s quite the feast.

Despite its name — the “ADB Nottaburger” — this vegan patty deserves a spot on this list. Made with Beyond “meat,” caramelized onions, vegan cheddar, vegan Thousand Island spread, and iceberg lettuce on a sesame bun, the burger hits all the flavor notes as one with real beef. All Day Baby is a city favorite, with owner Lien Ta creating a cool and casual space for Southern-inflected diner fare that’s landed on best-of lists by the LA Times, Eater LA, The Infatuation, and more.

A tribute to co-owner Chris Ostrow’s late father Jordan Ostrow, Mister O’s is the realization of the father and son’s idea for a place with three things: good vibes, atmosphere, and top-notch drinks. Ostrow nailed it — the energy is high and drinks flow as diners dig into the signature Mr. O’s burger with a double patty, American cheese, pickled fresnos, caramelized onions, grilled green onions, and garlic aioli on a potato bun that nabbed a spot on Time Out LA’s best burger list. Vegans can opt for a version with an Impossible Burger “meat” patty with smoked vegan gouda, pickled fresno chiles, dill pickles, grilled onions, and lettuce instead of a bun, paired with sweet potato fries. Wash it all down with a house cocktail or local draft beer.

Now with locations around the world, Umami Burger is a Los Angeles hometown original that opened in 2007 to an immediate cult following. The idea here is that the burger doubles down on umami, that elusive “fifth taste” of savoriness. The burgers here all maximize umami through techniques such as putting its proprietary powder (with ingredients that are naturally high in umami such as kombu and dried mushroom) into the burger mix and adding toppings to some such as truffle aioli or a bacon-wrapped onion ring. The chain is a burger guarantee no matter where you are in the city.