Top 5 Hamburgers

This best burger OP has gone off the rails, but that's cool by me since catering, F&B, fine dining, hotels, etc. were my life for thirty + years. Following up on the sushi posts ,my late wife and I used to rent in Calabasas and we really dug Shibuya over by the post office. Very special, no shortcuts taken sauces/dips/salads and of course their fish. This was back in the mid-1990's. I haven't been back to that area in ages, but an old acquaintance in L.A. tells me that most every place I loved has gotten pricey since my stay.

Byegolly, probably so, but Phillipes the Original still has 25 cent coffee and In-an-Out will cost you a five spot.

No fan of In & Out. On a travel stop verses Mickey D's they win out (unless you want breakfast). Commendable for "no freezers", but little else there to get excited about. As another poster mentioned, it's the condiments that add what taste those burgers do have. No juicy medium rare, no taste of the grill, no thickness to the patty. A cabal of attorneys have deemed those qualities risky food service practices - better to overcook food than risk one food borne illness lawsuit. I'd rather pay a little more for a thick, grilled, juicy (not steamed off on a flat-top) indulge in saturated fat. Going inside an In & Out I feel like I'm visiting people at a tabernacle with that squeaky clean image. All they need are the Mormon pamphlets on the counter to firm up the experience.

Byegolly: I like the cheese and grilled onion residue off the wrapper of a double double. :)

Come on, I'd crush burgers at In N'Out before I'd destroy burgers at Carl's Jr any day, and I love Carl's Jr. Yes, there's a doctor's office clinicality to the interior; but I don't see a lot of bicycles out back, so I think we're safe from the Mormon thing.
I don't see a lot of Brothers working there though. Hmmm...
I had my first Double-Double back in '78, so I know it's not about the lawyers, because we just laughed at guys that said they were going to sue us back then and beat them up some more. I was a big Tommy's guy, and didn't think the In N'Out was a big deal either at the time. The only thing different from today was the fries. They were shoestring. Better for a rabid case of the munchies, IMHO. The shakes have never been spectacular, and I know this is heresy; but I never thought their lemonade was that good either.
...But saying In N'Out isn't good is like saying a great bagel shop that gets all the fundamentals just right is just OK because they don't do anything "different". What's different is the integrity of the essence.
(Hey, since this thread has been hijacked so many times---Lebanese food?---and speaking of bagels, what about Jewish delis? I always liked Mort's in Pacific Palisades; but Shep's on Pico was good, and Art's in 90210 was pretty good too. Weby's on Ventura is gone :( Brisket and pastrami, add swiss and cole slaw with Russian dressing on an onion roll...OK, enough of that)
Even my beloved Carl's Jr has gone to a freaking microwave, and that stuff that's supposed to pass for eggs (Ya, In N'Out, breakfast would be nice. Bacon seasons the grill very nicely), so keeping your integrity for more than thirty years speaks volumes to a company's sense of vision. Even the afore mentioned Mc D's was a lot better when they used to throw stuff away all the time, and everybody knows it. Make it fresh. Keep it for 10 minutes. Throw it away if no one shows up to buy it. God I love America!

03-15-10: Bongofury
Byegolly: I like the cheese and grilled onion residue off the wrapper of a double double. :)

Bongo, in college(USC), on our tri-weekly late night Tommy's-Rampart double chili cheese burger runs, we used to call that "wiping the baby's diaper".

At "Ptomaine Tommy's", if you order "extra chili", you end up with this mess that ten of those paper towels they call napkins won't make a dent in (BTW, they have those paper towel dispensers EVERYWHERE ...At least fifteen of them; but you go into the restroom to take the post-Tommy's chowfest face shower? Air dryer!!! Only in L.A...); but if you ask for "extra chili BOWL-STYLE", they turn the burger that already has enough chili in it to render a small nation defenseless on it's side, and ladle a HEAP of that greasy heaven into the "bowl", and plunge a spork into the mess. Much more doable.

Hey Azaud,

I'm down for Lebanese food. Love it. I had an Iranian brother-in-law who'd take us to all these delish places in Atlanta. I didn't say In & Out wasn't good, I'm just no fan. They are very consistent in the product they deliver and that's saying a lot. Watching them put the spuds in the cutter is cool, but I've had better fries at several Suisse places, and better fries at many mussel & frites joints in the big apple. Don't get me started on noshing, black & whites, Nova, Borscht-in-a -cup, and kugel. I'm a sick puppy for that stuff. Barney Greengrass on Amsterdam has taken (actually I gave happily) a lot of my money. Today I overheard a group of thirty-somethings at the mall oohing & awing over their visit to Picasso's in Vegas, and I thought about what a letdown my experience was there after places like the French Laundry in California. I mean if you're going to spend real money, why not take ethereal over hoo hum. Sad that most of my foodie memories are just that. Dude!

03-15-10: Azaud
but if you ask for "extra chili BOWL-STYLE", they turn the burger that already has enough chili in it to render a small nation defenseless on it's side, and ladle a HEAP of that greasy heaven into the "bowl", and plunge a spork into the mess. Much more doable.

Lordy, I can imagine what the next morning is like. Better pre-position an extra roll of toilet paper next to the thrown before going to bed.

I meant "throne" instead of "thrown", that misspelling makes a bad distasteful even more revolting.

Me too on the Lebanese food! There used to be a place on Westwood that had great chow. I was just commenting on how far away from burgers we'd gotten. Don't fret; I'm a big high-jacker myself.
Remember Josephine's on Santa Monica? I'm still in mourning.
Orleans had a blackened redfish that was in a blackened SAUCE. It was insane!
Great sandwich board at The Tom O'Shanter on Los Feliz just outside of Glendale. They are owned by Lawry's, and the prime rib is therefore of course incredible to boot.

Azaud,

Tam O'Shanter. Heh, heh. Another old LA place. Had a rental in Los Feliz for awhile, so the drive along Los Feliz Blvd. through Atwater Village and on to Glendale is imprinted on my memory. The golf place to the left, Tam to the right, up to Dinah's and take a left to main drag Glendale. Not that long ago Burbank used to have a lot of old food hangouts that remind me of Hollywood in the Carson years before places like Fred 62 started sprouting up along with the 68 Dodge Dart tattooed driving clientele. Time to get out my DVD of "Things that aren't here anymore" and revisit old LA. Better go before another audiogon-er bitches about the old fart and his twenty sentences.

Ya, in the same strip as Dinah's was (is?) a little Mexican restaurant run by old ladies (need I say more?) that had Nopalitos con Huevos for breakfast (yup! Cactus and eggs!!). Only place in town I ever saw it, and boy, was it good!
The place was called El Ruby Cafe.

If you can't get it prepared the way you want it (med. rare) then it isn't a serious burger place worth stopping at, period! Put an ounce of prune juice per pound in the meat if your worried about e-coli. Worrying about it will kill you faster than anything.

Best burgers are at 5 Guys http://www.fiveguys.com/menu.aspx
Second best burgers are at 5 Guys.
Third best burgers............. " " "

The food in AZ does suck...thank god for frozen skyline and white castles. If it wasn't for travel, I'd starve.

03-16-10: Azaud
Me too on the Lebanese food! There used to be a place on Westwood that had great chow.

Just hit Sunnin Lebanese Cafe on Westwood Blvd & Santa Monica last week. Food was and great and it was cheap/affordable. Meat kabobs were tender and juicey, pilaf was perfect, got the mixed appetizer plate that was a great assortment. Creamy hommos. I love the Lebanese beer Almaza. Wish I lived closer, I'd hit it at least once a week. You can get a decent meal for ~$15.

Had a great burger at the new Betty burgers in Capitola, Ca.
"Hot buns and juicy burgers"

04-04-10: Magnumpi205
"Hot buns and juicy burgers"

Did you get her name?

It was Betty!
And they were juicy.

85 % lean , high quality ground beef, Worcestershire , black pepper , chopped green onion, chopped fresh jalapeno, chopped fresh basil, a little fresh garlic, all mixed in the meat. top with tillimook smoked cheddar, or smoked Gouda ,lettuce , tomato ,thin cut onion. my favorite. I will sometimes add pan seared panchetta and some of the grease to the ground beef before cooking on the grill.

Kuma's in Chicago. A metal burger place. Usually an hour wait to be seated (well worth it). Great metal playing on the stereo, and each burger is named after a metal band.

Yep, sounds gimmicky. But strip all the metal aside, and you still have a menu full of the best burgers I've ever had.

Chrissain, sounds good, but I'm not a fan of smoked cheese.

Thanks to this thread I finally got off my ass and went to The Counter, which I had been meaning to do for a long time. Not the original in SM, but a newer one in Marina. Good burgers and fixin's. Solid recommendation.

Just did the Wineburger the Original in Old Phoenix. Amazing.

Whitecastle!!

All of a sudden there are a couple more on my (local to Phoenix) radar:
Smashburger (I ate at the one on 20th and Camelback)
Blu Burger Grill (101 and Northern)
Blu Burger being the better of the two. Better than most, really. They have Angus, Kobe and Bison to choose from. Lots of variation possibilities. I liked it better than Cheeburger Cheeburger by a wide margin.
Smashburger is recommended too; but not as enthusiatically as Blu.

Cheeburger Cheeburger is another burnt burger joint, yuck! Really good onion rings though.

OK, I was in LA for the weekend to attend the 67th anniversary of the Atwater Village Lion's Club Breakfast (pedestrian at best; but I get to see a lot of folks I grew up with), and I took the opportunity to try Oinkster in Eagle Rock. It was featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, so I showed up with more than slightly elevated expectations, and the joint did not disappoint.
The Oinkster pastrami is clearly the must-try item; but the pulled pork is also quite good. The pastrami sandwich is thick with meat (he cures it himself), and topped with red cabbage slaw, caramelized onions and Gruyère cheese.
I've been staying away from fries lately, trying to lower my carb intake; but this guy makes his own ketchup (!!!), so I ordered some. He calls them "Belgian" fries, and uses a combination of beef shortening and rice oil to cook them in. He makes two kinds of ketchup, and they are both stunning: regular, and chipotle.
I went back again on my way out of town and had a burger, as a fat black gentleman had suggested I try one while we were standing in the (very) long line on my first trip. It was great. More carmelized onions, some pastrami, sharp cheddar and avocado... This GREAT dressing. They called this one "The Royale" (Don't ask. I didn't go to Burger King).
They have rotisserie chicken that I have yet to try. It looks good.
I had an Horchata milkshake on my first visit. Expensive at $4.50; but I would have it again. It was great.
Their website has all sorts of info, including a link to the D,D&D segment.
This place is fun. I'll be going back next LA trip for sure.

Oinkster rocks. Down the street is Mambo Cafe for Cuban Pulled Pork Lechon. Highly recommend it.

Well I just had one today to confirm...it is 5 guys

Haven Gastropub in the City of Orange just opened and has an awesome one--juicy meat with St Angur cheese, roasted red peppers and wild argula. Very good and memorable.

I've yet to make it to Oinkster, but have heard nothing but good things about it. Kinda a haul from the end of the 110 fwy for a burger, though.

I'm in Newport Beach for work the next couple of days, and I can't get the guys I'm entertaining convinced we should drive to, even though I offered, to Santa Monica to Father's Office. So where should I take them, that's close to NB?

thx, SoCal-ians.

Macdad:

There are some incredible places in Newport. The Crow Bar in Corona Del Mar is a wonderful restaurant with world class bar food/American Comfort. It is on 2325 E. Coast Highway. Anjin is a combo Japanese/Korean steakhouse. 3033 Bristol in Costa Mesa; two blocks South of South Coast Plaza. You self-grill meat on small bbq's. Catalina Fish Kitchen on 670 W. 17th St in Costa mesa is hipster central. Great fresh fish. Daimon's Japanese on 16232 PCH in Huntington Beach has more eye candy per capita than any other restaurant.

Bongo, I ate at Anjin last week with some of the Japanese guys I work with, it was sublime, a great dining experience. We ended up at Javiers tonight, about the 100th time I've been there.

Going to Father's tomorrow, and the Dodgers game. I love SoCal, there's a reason it costs so much to live here, it really is great.

Macdad: also love Ikko for sushi. Right around the corner from Anjin. Also love Javiers for their mole. El Matador in Costa Mesa is a great mid-scale Mexican Restaurant and Taco Mesa is a great taco stand. I love their tacos calamari and tacos al pastor.

PS: Father's Office has a newer sister restaurant in Culver City, which is about 30 minutes closer than the Santa Monica location to OC. While at the Dodgers, go to Phillipes The Original for French Dipped Beef Grinders. A LA tradition.

Javier's in Laguna has one of the best grilled/sauteed Calamari steaks I have ever had. Always perfectly tender and juicey, never overcooked and rubbery.

DMob

Try La Sirena Grill in downtown Laguna on Mermaid Street. The best organic sourced Mexican food in the country.

Hit Sunin Lebanese Cafe again last night for dinner. Corner of Westwood Blvd & Santa Monica. Great value buy dinner. Terrfic rice pilaf, juicy marinated kabobs, creamy hommos, and the Almaza Lebanese beer really is good. Tasty dinner for two w/ a couple of beers - ~$40 (ours was ~$60+, but I always overaeat)

Javiers is good, great scenery, and the view is nice too!!

I have to second the Kumas in Chicago , the best burger I have ever had in a restaurant, with cool oil paintings of bears eating meat on the walls also, ha !

.... And a 3rd for Kuma's in Chicago! Last time I had the "Slayer". Took me three days to finish! My #1 in Chgo. #2 and #3 would probably be Ram Brewery and Montana Ted's.

Dmob and Bfury,
Try Gusto Del Lido at:

417 Washington Blvd
MDR
310-823-3979

Fantastic Tapas $8-$12, the chief is Moorish, cooked at El Bulli in Barcelona and cooked all around Europe.

I forgot to tell you guys that I have my first In-N-Out burger last week and it was definitely the best "fast food" burger I have ever had. The bun, patty and condiments were awesomely fresh.

Also, the burger at Father's office in Santa Monica was pretty much as good as it gets.

If they would just triple my salary/bonus, I could almost afford to live in SoCal and pay the income tax, sales tax, gasoline taxes (it's about $0.30 more per gallon than Southeast Texas), property taxes......

Come to think of it, I'll stay in Texas and just keep visiting Cali. Maybe as a state Texas can buy California out of foreclosure next year and we can all move there??

Macdaddy

I have lived here all 51 years. What keeps us out of Texas is 100 degree weather matched to 110% humidity and skeeters the size of Canadian geese.

In exchange, we can laugh at the beach culture foisted on the rest of the country by the Beach Boys and having a movie star as a gov-ner. Yes, there is always a double double grilled onions Animal Style in our golden future.....

Macdaddy II

Our tans are as deep as your belt buckles are wide....

lol, I'm really missing SoCal right now. It's only May, and this morning the humidity at 6 am was 85%, and the temp was 78. On the way home, the car read 95 degree, and humidity actually went up I think.

I think I need to work on some more deals with my boys in the Newport Beach office.

I have a friend who is claiming that BLD's(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) burger is the best in LA. Now, that's a tall order because there are so many different levels of burger - fast food, gourmet, family restaurant...

Although, a $16 burger (w/ fries) better change my life to justify it's existence 'cause there is a lot of stellar competition in the $7-10 range.