The best smashburgers in Los Angeles

What is it? The former viral backyard pop-up in Silver Lake that’s largely credited with sparking L.A.’s smashburger frenzy.

Why we love it: Often imitated but never duplicated, Burgers Never Say Die has stirred up so much commotion, it's drawn three-hour lines around the block—and even inspired one fan to hire someone to wait in line on their behalf. That success probably has something to do with founder Shawn Nee’s quest for perfection, and it’s paid off. Now, fans line up at this walk-up Silver Lake brick-and-mortar for buttery, paper-thin patties pressed so hard, the crisp edges almost resemble lace. Topped with pickles, raw white onions and a drizzle of ketchup and mustard, it’s like the best fast-food burger you’ve ever tried. Supplement with some CVT soft serve and a styrofoam cup brimming with fries, and it’s hard to imagine a more quintessential smashburger meal in L.A.

Time Out tip: Come early on the weekends or you’re going to be waiting a long while.

Address: 2388 Glendale Blvd, Unit A, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Hours of operation: Mon, Tue noon–8pm; Wed–Sun noon–11:30pm

What is it? A buzzy pandemic burger pop-up known for its short rib patties, beef tallow fries and standout soft-serve cones. 

Why we love it: Heavy Handed dates back to the early days of the pandemic, when owners Max Miller and Danny Gordon first began selling short rib smashburgers in the driveway of Gordon’s Mar Vista home. Now, Heavy Handed has gone fully brick-and-mortar on Santa Monica’s Main Street, where lines form daily for the pair’s juicy short rib patties topped with American cheese, beef tallow fries (no breaks for vegetarians here) and Straus Creamery chocolate and vanilla swirls. Newer, much larger locations in Studio City and Silver Lake have brought smashburger excellence to the Valley and the Eastside, plus more seating and the same craft beers on tap.

Time Out tip: Park in the inexpensive public lots behind Main Street if you‘re visiting the original location.

Address: Santa Monica: 2912 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405; Studio City: 11838 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604; Silver Lake: 3200 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Hours of operation: Daily 11:30am–10pm

What is it? The best smashburgers in the South Bay.

Why we love it: The smashburger trend is past its peak, but you wouldn’t know it at Proudly Serving, which has locations in both Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. Chef-owner Matt McIvor offers a few customizations: plain, with cheese, “special” (Thousand Island-inspired) sauce and griddled onions, pastrami and Swiss or good ol’ ketchup and mustard, plus raw onions. In our honest opinion, I prefer the Founder (ketchup, mustard and raw onions) over the others. The burger's elements of crisp, sweet and tang complement the double beef patties and melted American cheese. 

Time Out tip: Throw in the fries cooked in rendered duck fat and you’ve got yourself a helluva meal.

Address: Hermosa Beach: 110 2nd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; Redondo Beach: 1617 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Hours of operation: Hermosa Beach: Daily 11am–9pm; Redondo Beach: 11am–10pm

What is it? A gourmet burger joint in Chinatown with a satellite inside a Canoga Park shopping mall.

Why we love it: When Eggslut’s Alvin Cailan reopened Amboy in Far East Plaza in 2020, he swapped from Filipino lunch plates to burgers—and the L.A. food world has been better for it. Reborn as Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers, Amboy now serves as a combination burger counter and butcher shop—and the shop now has a second Valley outpost within Westfield's Topanga Social, though I’ve heard quality varies widely at the upscale food court. In Chinatown, Amboy’s made-to-order burgers are available in more straightforward varieties, including a standout smashburger that offers juiciness despite the inherent flatness of the patties. The toasted sesame buns are made by Breadbar in the South Bay, and the mild sauce lets the combination of beef and cheese shine brightly.

Time Out tip: Before heading over, check Instagram for occasional specials from Ria Dolly Barbosa, who previously ran Downtown’s now-closed Petite Peso.

Address: 727 N Broadway, Suite 117, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Hours of operation: Daily noon–9pm

Time Out tip: Before heading over, check Instagram for occasional specials from Ria Dolly Barbosa, who previously ran Downtown’s now-closed Petite Peso.

What is it? A former pop-up turned brick-and-mortar inside USC Village. 

Why we love it: Founded by first-time restaurant owners Sam Hong and Josh Kim, this Oklahoma-style smashburger pop-up that debuted at Smorgasburg back in 2022 has finally graduated to the permanent location. While I wouldn’t necessarily pick Softies' classic smashburger (the Cali) out of a lineup in a blind taste test, Hong and Kim truly distinguish themselves with their must-try Aji. This unique smashburger pairs griddled onions and pickled jalapeños with a punchy bright green cilantro mayo full of two of my favorite things: garlic and lime juice. The airy new location right next to Yobesoyo Superette inside USC Village includes two hours’ free parking, plus newer menu items like a chopped cheese sandwich, a dairy-free Orange Bang made with oat milk and a Caesar salad topped with fried chicken. On the burger front, however, the newest highlight is Crispy Shroom, which tops your smashburger with a whole enoki fried mushroom (it can also be made vegetarian if you forgo the patty entirely).

Time Out tip: Order the key lime pie for dessert—and look out for Softies’ new breakfast menu come fall.

Address: 835 W Jefferson Blvd Unit 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90089

Opening hours: Daily 11am–8pm

Time Out tip: Order the key lime pie for dessert—and look out for Softies’ new breakfast menu come fall.

What is it? A Koreatown smashburger spot that also serves natural wine and beer. 

Why we love it: Michael Pak’s Love Hour has taken over the old Beer Belly, transforming the space into a one-stop shop for natural wine, beer and some of the city’s most popular smashburgers. The longtime pop-up is now a fully fledged brick-and-mortar, and the smashburgers are as good as ever, with its most unique feature being the customizable stack. Order singles, doubles, triples or more—someone’s even done a 10-patty burger. They come smashed on the flattop, then crowned with cheese, pickle, onion and the absolute slightest sprinkle of chopped onion. Unlike just about anyone else, Love Hour also offers a range of seasoned fries, tossed to order in flavors like BBQ, buffalo, garlic parmesan, and sour cream and onion. 

Time Out tip: Fried chicken lovers can also score fried chicken sandwiches flavored with hot honey or buffalo sauce.

Address: 532 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Hours of operation: Wed–Sat 5pm–2am (kitchen closes at 10pm); Sun 3–9pm

What is it? An Echo Park watering hole that’s home to an excellent smashburger known as the Lowburger. 

Why we love it: Lowboy is a neighborhood bar, through and through—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t great food, too. The handful of cocktails lean classic, but not as classic as our favorite item on the menu: the Lowburger, one of the absolute best smashburgers anywhere in town (and available for $10). The Lowburger’s patty is pressed so thin it practically dissolves with a little crunch, the American cheese runneth over, the red pepper jam adds a hint of sugar and heat, and there’s a rich, salty-sweet pile of grilled onions nestled under the potato bun to diversify it from the onslaught of smashburgers popping up around town. Go wild here by adding an extra patty or opting for some of the newer versions or vegan options.

Time Out tip: Rather than try to find parking on Sunset, look for a spot in the public lot behind Honey Hi and Little Fish whose entrance is off Echo Park Avenue.

Address: 1540 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Hours of operation: Mon–Thu 4pm–1am, Fri 4pm–2am, Sat noon–2am, Sun noon–1am

What is it? An excellent burger truck that has an ongoing nightly residency outside of Glendale’s Paperback Brewing.

Why we love it: Founded by a classically trained chef and his childhood friend, Bun + Blanket makes seriously great burgers. While I enjoyed the juicier, thicker fusion-style burgers, I also can’t deny that Bun + Blanket also makes a mean “smashed burger” (as it’s listed on the menu) seasoned with both grilled and raw onions, plus American cheese and the classic duo of ketchup and mustard. It’s so good, in fact, that I’d recommend coming from out of your way just to visit this black-and-neon food truck. The fact it’s mere yards away from one of L.A.’s coolest-looking breweries doesn’t hurt either, but make no mistake: This is one of L.A.’s best smashburgers.

Time Out tip: If you’re coming with a friend, split the Gogi-Gooey (a bulgogi burger).

Address: 422 Magnolia Ave, Glendale, CA 91204

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 4:30–8pm, Sat 12:30–9pm, Sun 12:30–8pm

What is it? A tiny bistro-turned-gourmet-burger-joint in Hollywood with nine other outposts across the L.A. area.

Why we love it: One of the city’s most popular smashburgers comes from For the Win, the original location of which used to be a French bistro named Papilles before owner Santos Uy flipped the space during the pandemic. Whether you’re ordering a single, double or a triple, you’ll tear into crispy patties of grass-fed beef, plenty of griddled onions and a Thousand Island-esque sauce sandwiched between two halves of a Martin’s potato roll. Pair your burger with the delectable fries if you have room in your budget—For the Win's higher-quality take on a typical fast food meal comes with markedly premium prices. My only quibble is that quality tends to vary widely; I’ve had less than stellar smashburgers when I’ve dropped into the Grand Central Market location, though the Hollywood outpost never fails to deliver.

Time Out tip: You can now also find For the Win inside Montebello’s BLVD MRKT and at the Beverly Center. It’s certainly not the best smashburger in L.A., but I can certainly admit it’s the most ubiquitous.

Address: Multiple, incl. Hollywood, Beverly Grove and Silver Lake

Opening hours: Varies by location

What is it? An Oklahoma-style smashburger concept founded by professional skateboarder Don Nguyen.

Why we love it: Extra frilly edges and a tangle of grilled onions set apart the Oklahoma-style smashburgers at this Beverly Grove takeout joint with a satellite location along the Venice Boardwalk. You can also order a classic single or double smashburger, which comes with diced raw onions and the classic combination of ketchup, mayo and mustard. While I wouldn’t rank BSW’s classic smash in our top five smashburgers in L.A. by any means, the Oklahoma-style burger is unique enough to merit coming here, at least if you’re in love with sweet grilled onions.

Time Out tip: Superfans can rep Burger She Wrote with a branded skateboard.

Address: Beverly Grove: 7454 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036; Venice: 1425 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291

Opening hours: Beverly Grove: Mon–Thu 11:30am–10pm; Fri, Sat 11:30am–11pm; Sun 11:30am–10pm. Venice: Mon–Thu 11:30am–8pm; Fri, Sat 11:30am–9:30pm; Sun 11:30am–8pm 

What is it? Some of the best smashburgers in the Valley—and no, don’t come at me about Easy Street Burgers. 

Why we love it: The name of this Van Nuys smashburger operation makes me cringe, but if you can forgive the menu’s childish puns, Wanna Smash serves smashburgers made with ultra-lacey, thin patties that manage to stay juicy in the center. Plus, unlike other shops, you can opt for a sampler (“The Foursome”) that includes slider-sized versions of all four burger variants on their menu. Of the four I tried, my favorite is the Hot & Heavy, which adds bacon, sliced jalapeños and two kinds of sauce to a classic smash. Barbecue lovers will appreciate the Cowgirl (bacon, onion rings and housemade barbecue sauce), but even the classic option here will hit the spot the next time you’re driving through the deep San Fernando Valley and craving a smashburger.

Time Out tip: Wanna Smash also sells milkshakes and fully loaded fries. 

Address: 6350 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Hours of operation: Mon–Sat 11am–9 pm

What is it? A Thai-inspired smashburger joint in West L.A.

Why we love it: Run by the sisters behind Tuk Tuk Thai next door, this fusion-style fast food joint along Sawtelle offers unique smashburgers and sandwiches inspired by classic Thai street food dishes. While I wouldn’t drive across the city (or more than 15 minutes, for that matter) for Ban Ban Burger, it’s a great option for anyone who lives, works or plays on the Westside. Those who love a messy, napkins-required burger will enjoy the grapow smash, which pairs the classic Thai seasoning with a three-ounce free-range Australian beef patty, housemade pickles, American cheese and garlic aioli, plus a runny egg on top. Personally, I preferred the larb smash, which offsets a three-ounce American Wagyu patty seasoned with lime, rice powder and bird’s eye chili with mint gremolata and makrut lime aioli. 

Time Out tip: Don’t skip the fragrant pandan milkshake—the quintessentially Southeast Asian dessert flavor makes for a refreshing end to your meal.

Address: 1644 Sawtelle Blvd, Suite 3149, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Hours of operation: Daily noon–10 pm