I'm still crying about losing Jays (Santa Monica and Myra) and Meaty Meat Burgers (Pico and LaBrea), and the Fatburger on Western and Adams that burned (baby burn...) in the Rodney King riot.
Any of you Angelians remember Ara's Armenian Burgers? The cat was a composer of classical music who played his stuff while you ate one of the best burgers in town in his little shack. I don't remember where it was though. In the Valley I think.
Carney's on Sunset is still good;
The Original (not the satellites) Tommy's Burger on Beverly and Rampart. There's one in Vegas now (actually Henderson), so I'm hoping Phoenix is next!
Cassells on 6th near Vermont;
The Apple Pan out on Pico.
In Vegas, you've GOT to try the Original NY DB Burger at Daniel Boulud at the Wynn: 9oz of sirloin stuffed with braised short ribs, black truffle and foie gras. The best $32.00 burger on the planet! It does come with Pommes Frites :)
In Phoenix (my home for the last two decades), but also now in Pasadena and Santa Monica from what I've heard (you L.A. folks have GOT to check this place out), Le Grande Orange doesn't grind the meat 'til you order the burger! It's pretty freaking good, especially the green chili one. 12 bucks though... This place is primarily a wood-fired pizza joint; but got "Best of Phoenix" in the New Times for it's BURGER last year! The wings are unlike anything you've ever had, and are incredible in their own rite.
Also, we've got a Cheeburger Cheeburger (I know there's one in San Diego; but not sure about the L.A. market) that's pretty stellar;
Delux Burger on 32nd St and Camelback is great, AND open late for post-concert fare;
but my favorite is The Wineburger on 19th Ave and Bethany Home. Their grill is like fifty years old, and seasoned to absolute shed-a-tear perfection. Their meat is insane, their burgers come in sizes of which the largest would make Guy Fieri break out in a sweat and their buns are magnificent.
Los Angeles is to hamburgers what New York is to pizza. When I visit my mother, she is under strict orders not to cook anything; because I only have so many appetites in one weekend trip!
