Los Angeles has quietly become one of America's premier burger cities. While New York claims the smash burger crown and the Midwest perfects the diner classic, LA does something different—it refuses to pick a lane. Here you'll find 75-year-old institutions still grinding beef the same way they did in 1947, next-gen chefs treating burgers with Michelin-level reverence, and everything in between. The city's burger scene mirrors LA itself: diverse, innovative, and unapologetically excellent.
What makes a great LA burger? It's not just about the beef (though that matters). It's about places that have perfected their specific vision, whether that's a simple counter-service cheeseburger or a dry-aged patty topped with bordelaise sauce. These six spots represent the best of what's happening in LA's burger world right now—each bringing something distinct to the table, from technique to innovation to pure, consistent deliciousness.
| Restaurant | Location | Price Range | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Apple Pan | West LA | $ ($10) | Classic Hickoryburger since 1947 |
| StormBurger | Inglewood | $ ($8-11) | Community-focused modern burgers |
| HiHo Cheeseburger | Multiple | $$ ($9-15) | Grass-fed Wagyu beef |
| Cassell's Hamburgers | Koreatown | $$ ($12-17) | Daily-ground beef since 1948 |
| Father's Office | Santa Monica / Culver City | $$ ($19) | The infamous no-substitutions Office Burger |
| Petit Trois | Hollywood / Sherman Oaks | $$$$ ($37) | The decadent Big Mec |
The Apple Pan: LA's Timeless Counter Classic
| Address | 10801 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 |
|---|---|
| Website | theapplepan.com |
| Price Range | $ (Burgers $10.25) |
| Specialty | Old-school counter service with secret sauce |
| Must-Try | Hickoryburger - $10.25 |
Walking into The Apple Pan feels like stepping through a time portal to 1947—because that's exactly when this place opened, and not much has changed since. The horseshoe-shaped counter seats maybe two dozen people elbow-to-elbow, white-papered plates slide across the worn Formica, and the griddle sizzles with the same rhythm it has for over 75 years. There's no pretense here, no farm-to-table manifesto on the menu. Just burgers done exactly right, every single time.
The Hickoryburger is what you're here for: a perfectly griddled patty topped with melted cheese, crisp lettuce, pickles, and that mysterious house sauce that generations of Angelenos have tried and failed to replicate at home. The sauce is tangy and slightly sweet, with a smokiness that complements the beef without overwhelming it. It arrives on a soft sesame bun that somehow manages to stay structurally sound despite the juicy patty.
What makes The Apple Pan special isn't innovation—it's consistency bordering on the obsessive. The same families have been working here for decades, and they know exactly how every burger should look, taste, and feel. On any given Tuesday afternoon, you'll find tourists, local regulars who've been coming for 40 years, and curious food writers all squeezed together at that counter. The wait can stretch to 30 minutes during prime hours, but watching the choreographed dance of the kitchen staff while you wait is part of the experience. Oh, and save room for a slice of their banana cream pie—it's legendary for a reason.
StormBurger: Inglewood's Rising Star
| Address | 1500 N La Brea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302 |
|---|---|
| Website | stormburger.com |
| Price Range | $ (Burgers $7.99-$10.99) |
| Specialty | Fresh, quality burgers for underserved communities |
| Must-Try | Double Classic Stormburger - $10.99 |
StormBurger opened in 2023 with a mission that goes beyond making great burgers—though they absolutely do that. Founded to serve high-quality food to communities often overlooked by major chains, this Inglewood spot has quickly earned a devoted following and spots on practically every "best burgers in LA" list published in the past two years. The hype is deserved.
The Classic Stormburger hits all the right notes: fresh beef patties with proper char, American cheese that melts into every crevice, and their signature Storm sauce—a tangy, slightly spicy blend that elevates the whole package. The lettuce stays crisp, the tomatoes are actually ripe, and those house-made pickles add the perfect acidic punch. Go for the double if you're properly hungry; the ratio of beef to toppings to bun is spot-on. Their Bacon BBQ Stormburger is another standout, crowned with crispy onion straws that add textural contrast.
The vibe is casual and welcoming, with late hours that make it a go-to spot when the burger craving hits after 10 PM (they're open until 1 AM on weekends). The onion rings are handcrafted in-house and absolutely worth ordering as a side. At under $11 for a double burger, StormBurger delivers serious value without cutting corners on quality. The fact that they're actively working to bring better food options to their community while making burgers this good? That's the kind of business LA needs more of.
HiHo Cheeseburger: Grass-Fed Perfection
| Address | Multiple locations: Mid-Wilshire (6245 Wilshire Blvd), Santa Monica (1320 2nd St), Studio City (4220 Coldwater Canyon Ave) |
|---|---|
| Website | hiho.la |
| Price Range | $$ (Burgers $9.45-$14.70) |
| Specialty | 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef burgers |
| Must-Try | HiHo Double Cheeseburger - $10.45 |
HiHo Cheeseburger proves that "better ingredients" isn't just marketing speak when you actually mean it. Every burger here starts with 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef—the kind of meat most restaurants reserve for $40 steaks. Somehow, HiHo makes this work at prices that won't require a second mortgage, and the difference in flavor and texture is immediately apparent.
The HiHo Double Cheeseburger is their signature for good reason. Two Wagyu patties, double American cheese, mustard-grilled and topped with ketchup, slow-cooked caramelized onions, crisp lettuce, and house-made pickles. The beef has a richness you don't find in conventional grain-fed ground chuck—deeper, more complex, with just enough marbling to keep everything juicy. The mustard griddling adds a subtle tang that cuts through the richness, and those slow-cooked onions bring a sweetness that ties the whole thing together.
HiHo operates as a no-tipping establishment (there's a 6% service fee instead), which creates a more relaxed dining dynamic. The hand-cut, twice-fried fries are exceptional—crispy exteriors giving way to fluffy interiors, perfect for dipping in extra sauce. With three locations around LA, HiHo has become the go-to spot for burger lovers who want quality ingredients without the gastropub markup. The fact that you can get a grass-fed Wagyu double cheeseburger for $10.45 in Los Angeles feels almost too good to be true, but HiHo makes it happen.
Cassell's Hamburgers: Daily-Ground Excellence
| Address | 3600 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020 (Koreatown location in Hotel Normandie); also 1021 Alpine St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (Chinatown) |
|---|---|
| Website | cassellshamburgers.com |
| Price Range | $$ (Burgers $12.50-$17) |
| Specialty | Premium beef ground in-house daily since 1948 |
| Must-Try | 7oz Burger with Cheese - $17 |
Cassell's Hamburgers has been grinding premium beef daily since 1948, using the original equipment that's been maintained and cherished for over seven decades. That commitment to doing things the hard way—the right way—is what sets Cassell's apart in a city full of burger joints claiming to be "authentic."
Located in Koreatown's historic Hotel Normandie, Cassell's occupies a space that honors its mid-century roots while feeling fresh and inviting. The burgers here are customizable—choose your size (4oz or 7oz), your toppings, and watch as they build your order to spec. The beef itself is the star: freshly ground, properly seasoned, and cooked to your preferred doneness. There's a texture difference you can taste when meat hasn't been sitting pre-ground for days—it's looser, more tender, with a cleaner beef flavor.
The 7oz burger with cheese is substantial without being absurd, served on a quality bun that can handle the juice without disintegrating. Cassell's also serves breakfast and has an excellent coffee bar, making it a solid choice any time of day. The atmosphere strikes a nice balance between nostalgic and contemporary—you get the sense of history without feeling like you're eating in a museum. Fair warning: this place gets busy during lunch and dinner rushes, but the efficient staff keeps things moving. Their second Chinatown location offers another option if you're in that part of the city.
Father's Office: The Burger That Started a Movement
| Address | 1018 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403 (Original); also 3229 Helms Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034 (Culver City) |
|---|---|
| Website | fathersoffice.com |
| Price Range | $$ (Office Burger $19) |
| Specialty | The no-substitutions gastropub burger that influenced a generation |
| Must-Try | The Office Burger - $19 (no modifications allowed) |
Father's Office earned its reputation—and its Michelin Bib Gourmand designation—by doing something radical in the early 2000s: refusing to let customers customize their burger. No ketchup, no substitutions, no changes. Period. Chef Sang Yoon designed the Office Burger exactly how he wanted it, and if you don't like it, there are plenty of other places to eat. Somehow, this audacious approach worked.
The Office Burger features dry-aged beef—already a rarity for burgers—topped with caramelized onions, Gruyère and Maytag blue cheeses, an applewood-smoked bacon compote, and arugula, all on a soft French roll. It's rich, complex, and unapologetically gourmet. The blue cheese is assertive but not overwhelming, the bacon compote adds sweetness and smoke, and the arugula provides a peppery freshness that cuts through all that richness. The dry-aged beef brings a funky, intense beefiness you simply cannot get from standard ground chuck.
This isn't a casual burger—it's a sit-down-with-a-craft-beer-and-savor-it experience. Father's Office has an excellent beer selection, which makes sense given it's technically a gastropub. The $19 price point reflects both the quality ingredients and the Santa Monica/Culver City real estate. Is it the most expensive burger on this list? No (that honor goes to Petit Trois). But it's the burger that helped define what LA's upscale burger scene could be, and nearly 20 years later, it still holds up.
Petit Trois: The $37 Big Mec Experience
| Address | 718 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 (Hollywood); also 13705 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 |
|---|---|
| Website | petittrois.com |
| Price Range | $$$$ (Big Mec $37) |
| Specialty | French bistro-inspired burger with bordelaise sauce |
| Must-Try | The Big Mec - $37 |
Let's address the elephant in the room: the Big Mec at Petit Trois costs $37. For a burger. In a city where you can get an excellent burger for $10, spending nearly four times that requires justification. So here it is: the Big Mec isn't trying to be your Tuesday lunch. It's a French chef's love letter to the American burger, executed with bistro technique and premium ingredients.
The Big Mec features twin beef patties, melted American cheese (yes, American—this is intentional), garlic aioli with minced pickles, and here's where it goes full French: a cascading pool of rich, wine-based bordelaise sauce on a butter-toasted brioche bun. That bordelaise is the key—it's the same sauce you'd find on a $60 steak at a proper French restaurant, bringing umami depth and a glossy richness that transforms the entire burger experience.
Is it worth $37? That depends on what you're looking for. If you want maximum value, go to StormBurger or The Apple Pan. If you want to experience what happens when a chef trained in French technique applies that knowledge to an American classic, the Big Mec delivers. It's decadent, messy in the best way, and completely over-the-top. The price has increased from $18 when it first launched to $37 today, making it arguably LA's most expensive burger.
Petit Trois' Highland location in Hollywood celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, and the Big Mec remains a signature despite—or perhaps because of—its controversial price tag. This is a special occasion burger, a "I want to see what all the fuss is about" burger. And yes, it comes with fries, which does help justify that price point slightly. Just slightly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the average price for a burger in Los Angeles?
Most quality burgers in LA range from $10-19, with budget options starting around $8 and premium gourmet burgers reaching $37 or more. The sweet spot for quality without breaking the bank is typically $12-16, where you'll find places like Cassell's and HiHo delivering excellent burgers with premium ingredients.
Do these burger restaurants take reservations?
Most casual burger spots like The Apple Pan, StormBurger, and HiHo operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Upscale establishments like Petit Trois accept and even recommend reservations, especially for weekend dinners. Father's Office operates as a gastropub without reservations. It's always best to call ahead or check the restaurant's website for specific policies.
Which LA burger spot is best for families with kids?
StormBurger and HiHo Cheeseburger are particularly family-friendly with casual atmospheres, reasonable prices, and menus that appeal to both kids and adults. The Apple Pan's counter seating and limited space make it trickier with young children, while Father's Office and Petit Trois lean more toward adult dining experiences.
Are there good vegetarian burger options in Los Angeles?
Yes! While this article focuses on beef burgers, HiHo Cheeseburger offers quality veggie burger options, and many LA burger spots have embraced plant-based patties. The city's burger scene has become increasingly inclusive of vegetarian and vegan options, with several restaurants offering Beyond Meat or house-made veggie patties.
What makes an LA burger different from burgers in other cities?
LA burgers reflect the city's diversity and refusal to commit to a single style. You'll find everything from classic diner burgers to French-influenced gourmet creations to grass-fed Wagyu options, often within a few miles of each other. LA's burger culture embraces both tradition (places operating since the 1940s) and innovation (chefs applying fine-dining techniques), creating a scene that's uniquely eclectic.
Conclusion
Los Angeles' burger scene doesn't demand that you choose between old-school authenticity and modern innovation—it celebrates both. Whether you're sliding into a worn counter seat at The Apple Pan for a $10 classic that's been perfected over 75 years, or splurging on Petit Trois' $37 French-inflected Big Mec, you're experiencing different expressions of the same fundamental truth: LA takes its burgers seriously.
The six spots on this list represent the breadth of what makes LA's burger culture special. You've got history (The Apple Pan, Cassell's), community-focused quality (StormBurger), premium ingredients at fair prices (HiHo), gastropub innovation (Father's Office), and fine-dining indulgence (Petit Trois). Each one has earned its spot through consistency, quality, and a clear vision of what a burger should be.
The beautiful thing about LA's burger scene is that there's no wrong answer—just different moods, budgets, and cravings. The $8 StormBurger is no less valid than the $37 Big Mec; they're solving different problems. So whether you're a local mapping out your next burger crawl or a visitor with limited time to experience LA's food culture, any of these six spots will show you why this city belongs in the conversation about America's best burger destinations. Just come hungry, and maybe bring cash for The Apple Pan—they're old school in the best possible way.