Los Angeles is a driving city, and its burger map is spread out to match. Some of the best spots are decades-old counters and walk-up stands, others are gastropubs and small smash burger shops that opened in the last few years. The easiest way to plan is to group your stops by area instead of crossing town for a single burger.

Think of the city in a few zones. The Westside covers Santa Monica, Venice, West LA and the Sawtelle area, and it has some of the oldest counters in town. The Eastside, from Los Feliz and Silver Lake out to Highland Park, is where many of the newer smash burger spots live. Koreatown sits in the middle, Pasadena anchors the San Gabriel Valley, and the San Fernando Valley has its own drive-in tradition. Every spot below is also on the cards above, and you can browse more in our restaurant directory.

Best burgers in Los Angeles by style

Smash burgers

Goldburger started as a small Los Feliz counter and now has a second location in Highland Park. Its menu centers on thin, juicy smashed patties, and the LA Special adds pastrami. Burgers Never Say Die in Silver Lake is a go-to for crisp-edged smash burgers, and The Regular is the order to start with. On the Westside, Ban Ban Burger in Sawtelle brings Thai flavors to the format, with burgers built around ideas like laab and grapow. If you're new to the style, read smash burger vs. regular burger, and see our national best smash burgers page for more.

Classic counters and old-school stands

The Apple Pan on Pico Boulevard is a West LA landmark, and the Hickory Burger is its signature. A short drive away in Cheviot Hills, Marty's Hamburger Stand is a longtime walk-up burger stand. In Pasadena, Pie 'n Burger has been griddling burgers and baking pies since 1963, and its double-patty Big Ben is a favorite. Cassell's Hamburgers is a retro diner inside the Hotel Normandie in Koreatown. For more picks like these, see our guide to the best classic burgers in Los Angeles.

Gastropub and chef-driven burgers

Father's Office serves one of the best-known gastropub burgers in LA. The Office Burger is the one to order, and you'll find it at the original bar on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica and at a second location in Culver City. Also in Santa Monica, HiHo Cheeseburger serves grass-fed wagyu cheeseburgers in a relaxed setting and has several other locations around the city.

Cheap and casual

Hinano Cafe is a Venice dive bar steps from the beach that has been serving chargrilled cheeseburgers for a long time, with no fuss and no pretension. Out in the Valley, Daglas Drive-In in Winnetka is a retro burger stand that many locals visit as much for the fries as for the burgers. Our list of the best cheap burgers in Los Angeles has more budget-friendly ideas.

Local burger traditions

LA's burger culture leans on longevity. Counters like The Apple Pan and Pie 'n Burger have kept their menus short and focused for decades, and they still draw lines. The walk-up stand is another local fixture: you order at a window, grab your food and eat outside or in the car, which fits the city's love of driving and its mild weather.

The other big thread is the chef-driven bar burger. Bars like Father's Office pair a composed, chef-driven burger with craft beer, and you'll find that idea all over town. More recently, smash burger shops have taken over a lot of the conversation, often with toppings that reflect the neighborhoods around them, like Ban Ban Burger's Thai-inspired menu in Sawtelle. To learn how these styles differ, read our guide to American burger styles.

Tips for visiting

Group stops by area. The Apple Pan and Marty's are close together on the Westside, Goldburger and Burgers Never Say Die are a short drive apart on the Eastside, and Father's Office, HiHo and Hinano Cafe are all near the beach.
Plan for traffic. A trip across town can take much longer than the map suggests, especially at rush hour.
Expect to wait at popular spots. Classics like The Apple Pan can get busy, so go off-peak if you can.
Bring the car or plan to eat nearby. Walk-up stands often have little or no seating.
Check hours before you go, especially for bars and small counters, which can change their schedules.
Want to try the style at home? Make our ultimate smash burger or a classic patty melt.

Browse by style

Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best smash burgers, classic burger joints, cheap burgers in Los Angeles.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Los Angeles?

It depends on what you're after. For a classic LA experience, start with The Apple Pan or Pie 'n Burger. For a gastropub burger, go to Father's Office. For a modern smash burger, try Goldburger or Burgers Never Say Die.

Where can I find a cheap burger in Los Angeles?

Walk-up stands and casual counters are your best bet. Marty's Hamburger Stand, Daglas Drive-In and Hinano Cafe all keep things simple, and smash burger counters like Goldburger are good for a quick meal.

Where are the best smash burgers in Los Angeles?

Goldburger in Los Feliz and Highland Park, Burgers Never Say Die in Silver Lake and Ban Ban Burger in Sawtelle are three of the city's most talked-about smash burger spots.

Where can I get a burger near the beach in Los Angeles?

Hinano Cafe is right by the beach in Venice. In Santa Monica, Father's Office and HiHo Cheeseburger are both a short trip from the ocean.