Umami Burger, Hamburgers, Santa Monica and Various Locations, CA

Umami Burger
500 Broadway,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-1300
Mon-Sat 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sun 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM



I am a huge burger guy, and have been my whole life. I just love a good burger, but my needs are pretty simple and many frou frou burgers leave me cold. There are of course exceptions, like the amazing Pug Burger at Hungry Cat, but Umami Burger is not an exception for me, as I was not at all impressed.

This Umami Burger is in Fred Segal in Santa Monica with ample parking and some outdoor seating.

I am not one for Cheese on my hamburger, as I am allergic, but I wanted to try it how it was supposed to be, so I went for the Manly Burger with beer-cheddar cheese, bacon lardons, smoked salt onion rings, house ketchup and mustard

And honestly I was not impressed. Between the cheese and the huge bacon chunks the burger was way too salty and I lost the taste of the burger itself. Not horrible, but not someone I would try again.

Kelly had the Truffle burger with Truffled Aoili, truffle cheese and truffle glaze.

And honestly to me the truffle oil completely overpowered the meat and made it taste to me like a portabello mushroom. Not bad, but not too burger-y!

The shoe string fries were good and I enjoyed the different ketchup and dips to try, though the ketchup seemed too sweet to me.

After all the hype I had heard I thought I would like it more, but I was not too impressed. Too frou frou for me.

Give me grilled onions, lettuce, dill pickles, ketchup and mustard and I would be happy (though a good guacamole burger is great sometimes).

Horseless Carriage Restaurant @ Galpin, Diner, American, Breakfast, North Hills, CA

Horseless Carriage Restaurant
15505 Roscoe Blvd.
North Hills, CA 91343
(818) 892-3707
7am - 9 PM




Kelly and I had wanted to try this place for a long time, as we had heard good things, and we had tried before, but the parking is pretty limited, but we finally made our way here.

The place is tiny, with a counter and a row of booths and some seats outside, where we sat, as we didn't want to wait for a booth.

The service was good, and so was the food. Decent diner food.

I had a very decent diner hamburger, the Galpinburger which was a large 1/2 pound burger with fries, coleslaw, lettuce, tomato and pickles. A bit pricy at $10.95, but as I said a decent diner burger.

Kelly had some sort of crab eggs benedict, which was delicious and huge, and quite tasty.

And we got a hot fudge sunday for desert and they split it into 2 dishes for us, and it was heaped with fudge above and below the ice cream.

Enjoyable, though a pain to park with decent food and a huge menu.

Beeps Fast Food, Diner, Breakfast, Hamburger, Van Nuys, CA

Beeps Fast Food
16063 Sherman Way
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(818) 781-0830
7am - 9pm



My wife and I had passed this place quite a few times and always wanted to try it out, and finally did. It has very little parking, and even less space inside. Just a few booths by the counter you stand to order from, and a few seats outside. With some 50's albums hanging and playing.

We were very excited by the menu and cheap prices, but were not so impressed by the food or the service. We waited sat in cheap plastic chairs outside (no booths were available) and waited a long time for our food, though not nearly as long as the couple next to us who ordered before us.

I got a Steak and Cheese Sandwhich and fries, and was very unimpressed. Low quality and very very greasy meat that was not very tasty.

Kelly got an original breakfast special, 2 eggs, bacon, and sausage with toast and home fries for $4.99 and found it OK, but nothing special.

We were going to get some ice cream when we left, but we waited for a while in line and gave up and left.

We would not go here again.

The Counter, Custom Built Burgers, Various Locations, Los Angeles, CA

The Counter, Custom Built Burgers
Various Locations in California and around the country.

A delicious higher end build your own burger chain, with signature burgers, and various types of fries (from Sweet, to chili cheese) and even fried dill pickle chips.

The burgers are delicious and can be had in 1/3, 2/3 or the monstrous 1 pound and are cooked to order including a deliciously rate medium rare. Then you get a choice of cheese (blech, I know it is only me). 4 Toppings including Sautéed Onions, then premium toppings (including Chili, a Fried Egg, Fried Onion Strings and Homemade Guacamole and Sautéed mushrooms) , a sauce from a huge list and a type of bun.

There are so many combinations you could easily have a different burger each time you go.

The Counter is a delicious and higher end burger chain, with a higher price to go with it, but well worth it for the taste and customization options.

The Hat World Famous Pastrami, Various Locations, Los Angeles, CA

The Hat World Famous Pastrami

Various Locations around Los Angeles

, CA.

A fast food institution from around LA since 1951 when the first stand opened. I actually can't believe it took me so long to eat here.

I tried the signature Pastrami Dip (Roast Beef with Au Jus), which was delicious, though like most food on the menu just covered in fat and grease. Seriously fatty pastrami here! With condiments in little packages to make it easy to go (but it is way too messy to eat in your car).

Tasty, but certainly not deli level pastrami, but still good and worth checking out.

A Los Angeles Fast Food institution, though better than some (like Tito's Tacos which I was not very impressed with) and better than most nationwide chain (except maybe 5 Guys).
Still you will feel this in your gut for a long long time!

Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Various Locations, CA

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Locations, all over

.

A delicious $5.00 higher end fast food burger, made to order, which huge and delicious orders of fries (and malt vinegar). The menu is simple, with different types of burgers (many of which with 2 patties), hot dogs, veggie and grilled cheese (the burgers without the burger), regular or cajun fries, and a ton of burger toppings, which you order with the food and they make. And I love the pickles!

Made to order so it takes a little while longer, but well worth the wait, dare I say it even better than In N Out?

And the fresh made fries are fantastic, and come in a huge paper bag. Great with the balsamic that they have there.

If you like burgers you will certainly like the quality of Five Guys. It is still fast food (no medium rare here), but the best quality fast food for a slight premium.

And they have peanuts for you to munch on while you wait, though they are way too salty.

The Hungry Cat, Seafood, Hollywood, CA

The Hungry Cat

1535 Vine St.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

(323) 462-2155

GOOGLE MAP

And a new location in Santa Monica.

100 W. Channel Road (@PCH)

Santa Monica, CA 90402

(310) 459-3337

This is easily my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles, and by extension anywhere!

The Seafood is absolutely sublime. Perfect flavor combinations. And the menu seems to change up at least a few times a year to keep it fresh. The service is great, and they have reasonably priced bottles of wine, as well as incredible (if expensive) mixed drinks.

Food ranges in price from $17-$30 and then there are incredible fresh oysters, uni, lobster and other seafood that can be gotten in reasonably priced platters (especially for parties). If you like oysters don't miss out, as they are always delicious here!

My wife and I also love to go to their price fix valentines day dinners with feature incredible fixed menus with a few choices, as well as tasty tidbits from the chef that are always mind-blowingly good.

Honestly this is my go to restaurant for my birthday, because I always want to eat here!

I am born and raised on Marthas Vineyard Island off the coast of Massachusetts and I have to say we get the best swordfish, as it is harpooned, and you get it fresh that day, instead of long-lined where it drowns. Well the hungry cat swordfish I have had blew it out of the water. All the fish is amazing though! They have lobster rolls that are the first I have had to come close to the Vineyard as well!

The Hollywood Location is tiny and hidden on Vine, across from what used to be Borders, and has very few seats, a bar and a raw bar. You park in the structure on the other side that is also for Bed Bath and Beyond.

The Santa Monica location is larger, with a big bar, but even though it is right across from the ocean is pretty enclosed (as it is right on the PCH), though I hear they might be using the upstairs as a dining room as well which should have a good view. Here there is only Valet parking.

The service is always great and very helpful.

For years we heard about the Pug Burger, with blue cheese, bacon and avocados, but never had it because of the amazing seafood, but this year we decided to try it and we were blown away. I can't believe how amazing it was. EASILY THE BEST BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD! Every bite is a flavor explosion! This is an amazing burger! Wow! WOW WOW!!!!!

I can't recommend this restaurant any more. It is my favorite restaurant in the world. You will not be disappointed!

(OriginallY Publish on March 16th, 2007)

Charcoal, Hamburger and Steak, Hollywood, CA

Charcoal
6372 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323)-465-8500
Sun-Thu 11am-Midnight
Fri-Sat 11am-1:30am
Brunch Saturdary and Sunday 10:30am-3:30pm

GOOGLE MAP

••••THE HORROR!! IT SEEMS CHARCOAL IS GONE! CLOSED FOR GOOD! SO SAD, THE BEST BURGER IN LOS ANGELES GONE AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME!!!!!••••

Located at the South East Corner of Sunset and Ivar, with parking in the Arclight parking garage (remember to validate) for some reason I had a much different impression of this place than what it was really like. And with the quality of the food, I am so surprised that there weren't more people there at 7:30 on a friday night, because the food is damn good, like maybe better than Houston's good. And the menu is very reminiscent of Houstons. This burger and steak place is well worth checking out. ••• Not only that but right now they have a 1/2 price deal, Monday through Saturday, 3 PM to 6 PM, and it is about half the menu. What a great deal! •••

101 Cafe Coffee Shop, Diner, Hollywood, CA

6145 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028-5220
(323) 467-1175
Daily 7am-3am

GOOGLE MAP

This is kind of a hip version of a diner, at least food wise, that plays some decent music, though the place is as dark as could be in there. There is a parking lot just east on Franklin, but it is usually full, so Kelly and I walked over there. The service is decent enough, and the food is decent as well.

Mel's Drive In Hollywood, Hamburgers, Diner, Hollywood, CA

Mel's Drive In

1650 N. Highland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 465-2111
Sun-Thur 6:30 AM- 3AM
Fri-Sat 24 Hours

GOOGLE MAP

I actually didn't realize this was a chain until I looked at the web site, I had just passed this 50's style diner so many times, that Kelly and I finally decided to go. The service was decent, and so was the food. The place is kind of fun, and their is a little museum attached even, and there are jukeboxes at each table, but they are 25¢ instead of the 5¢ at Johnny Rockets. Still this place was not bad.

Pie N' Burger, Hamburger and Pie Restaurant, Pasadena, CA

913 E. California Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 795-1123
Mon-Fri 6am-10pm
Sat 7am-10pm
Sun 7am-9pm

GOOGLE MAPS

I really wanted a burger today so I googled best burger's in Los Angeles and came up with the Citysearch Best Hamburgers 2007. The Audience winner was Father's Office which I hated, but the Editorial winner was Pie n' Burger, and Kelly was interested in the pie, so we took Chelsea and went. The place is a little East of Lake Avenue in Pasadena on the North side and has a few parking spots in back, but you will probably have to find street parking. It is a tiny, funky little place with a long counter and a few tables in the back, and a menu on the wall that has only had the prices change since this place opened.

Pie

Bob's Big Boy, Hamburgers, Burbank, CA

Bob's Big Boy

4211 Riverside Drive
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 843-9334

GOOGLE MAPS

The earliest still standing Bob's in the country, and one that still has it's 50's look, and even has 50's style drive up one night a week. The place is always packed, and there is usually a wait, but it is cheap. The burgers are OK, but again are not juicy, but fried, so not that great, just decent, as are the fries.

Johnny Rockets, Hamburgers, Burbank, CA

Johnny Rockets

52 Hugus Aly
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 793-6570

GOOGLE MAP

A decent fast food burger place set up as a 50's diner (though started in the 80's) and even including a nickel juke box at every table with a whole slew of 50's music. Sure the burger is a bit dry, but it is tasty, and you get to put on your own ketchup.

Fatburger The Last Great Hamburger Stand, Hamburgers, CA

Fatburger

Well, unfortunately I won't be having any Fatburgers again any time soon, or anything but salads and veggies, as I am now almost 50 pounds overweight, youch, but this was a pretty damn good way to kick start me into a diet. I have always enjoyed Fatburger, sure they aren't juicy burgers, as they are on the griddle, but with all the toppings, they still seam juicy, and I love the addition of the choice of thin or fat fries. These are damn good fast burgers, and the Kingburger is just plain impressive. Still it cost over 10 for a Kingburger, fat fries and a large soda.

French 75, French Restaurant and Hamburgers, Burbank, CA

French 75
3400 W. Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA
(818) 955-5100

GOOGLE MAPS

Kelly and I decided to get a nice meal in Burbank, which isn't always an easy task, as Burbank seems to have more fast food than it does good food, but right near her house are 2 places that are both expensive and good, both Morton's and right next door to it French 75. You have to park valet, for $5.50 (youch), but the place is really amazing. It looks straight out of Moulon Rouge. The bar is amazing, and the whole place is dark with red velvet and old French posters around the place. Our waiter was a bit strange, but the food was pretty great, and the people next to us got a chocolate soufflé which we quickly ordered, so we could get it after the meal. Wow.

•••

Amazingly we went back not a month later. I signed up for their mailing list and got a $25 gift certificate, so we went back. I had the same, but Kelly didn't.

In-N-Out, Hamburgers, Burbank, CA

In-N-Out
All over California
761 N, First St.
Burbank, CA 91502

GOOGLE MAP

The famous only on the West Coast fast food Hamburgers, has the shortest menu you will ever see in a burger joint, and they do make damn good burgers, though still fast food (IE thin and dry). Still they are pretty dan good, though don't come with ketchup on them (you must add it), but do have Coke and Dr. Pepper on fountain. And if you like milk shakes, there's are amazing with real ice cream. If you are an east coaster you must check this place out, though this one is not my favorite as different from the others the fries (which I always thought took some getting used to) are exceptionally dry and overcooked here, giving even more of a stale Cape Cod Potato Chips flavor. Decent burgers though.

Daily Grill, American Restaurant, Burbank, CA

Daily Grill

2500 Hollywood Way

Burbank, CA 91505

(818) 840-6464

GOOGLE MAP

At the Marriott Hotel near the Burbank Airport, this place is fairly expensive, and has OK food, though actually they have pretty incredible hamburgers. I used to love the Daily Grill, when we used to pick up Nicoise salad's with rare Ahi Tuna, and it was fantastic. Unfortunately the menu seems to have changed, and everything on it is incredibly expensive. The service is decent, and fast, but the menu is pretty pricey, and there was not too much I wanted on it.

Father's Office, Pub and Restaurant, Santa Monica, CA

Father's Office

1018 Montana Ave.

Santa Monica, CA 90403

(310) 393-BEER

GOOGLE MAP

I have been reading about this place like crazy, with a huge write up in both Los Angeles Magazine and also FOOD AND WINE magazine, and had been dying to try out this bastion of beer and burgers, which has won tons of award and accolades all over the place. This is one of the hippest places in town, and the line outside, and lack of parking add to that image. The place has a ton of beers on tap, with many obscure beers, as the owner/chef is trying to make beer the new wine. The place is tiny too, and you literally have to wait like a hawk to try and get a seat as soon as people get up, and then sneak in, and then you must order from the bar, and they will bring the food to your (though you get your drinks at the bar).

Now I really wanted to love this place, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed.

Topz, Hamburger Restaurant, Toluca Lake, CA

Topz
10119 Riverside Dr.
Toluca Lake, CA 91602
(818) 766-9066

GOOGLE MAP

I had been looking forward to this place, which bills itself as having the LEANEST BURGERS IN AMERICA for a while, since one of the producers I have been working with mentioned it to me. And I have to say I was very disappointed. I was not too impressed at all, though I did like the syrups and formulas you can add to your soda, though they can't be good for you, and don't make up for the unimpressive and borring hamburgers and fries this place serves.

Fuddruckers, American Hamburgers, Burbank, California

FUDDRUCKERS

221 N. San Fernando Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91501

(818) 848-4856

GOOGLE MAP

Right in the heart of Burbank with the old AMC 14 parking right next store (meaning depending on when you go it, parking can be a pain to park), this place is all about Hamburgers and they do them very well. And even better you get to put on your own toppings. Lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, jalap