11 California Burgers Loaded With Flavor (And Everything Else You Love)
California isn’t just famous for its sun-soaked beaches. It’s also a haven for burger lovers. Imagine patties crowned with crispy cheese skirts, drizzled in secret sauces that make every bite a celebration.
These legendary burgers aren’t merely food but experiences that draw locals back again and again and inspire visitors to plan entire trips just to take a bite.
1. Father’s Office: No Ketchup Needed
Chef Sang Yoon’s legendary Office Burger has sparked both devotion and debate across Los Angeles. The combination of dry-aged beef, caramelized onions, bacon, and blue cheese creates a symphony of flavors that explains the strict no-substitutions policy.
The Santa Monica and Culver City locations both offer the same exceptional burger experience. I once drove 40 miles through LA traffic just for this burger, and still dream about that perfect bite of peppery arugula and umami-rich beef.
2. The Apple Pan: Time-Capsule Deliciousness
Walking into The Apple Pan feels like stepping back to 1947. This West LA institution serves the famous Hickoryburger – a simple yet perfect creation topped with their smoky signature sauce that hasn’t changed in decades.
Counter seating wraps around the tiny kitchen where veteran cooks flip patties with practiced precision. The burger arrives wrapped in paper, juicy and hot, ready to be paired with their equally famous apple pie for the ultimate LA classic experience.
3. Hodad’s: Beach-Town Burger Bliss
Hodad’s towers of deliciousness have been satisfying San Diego’s hungry surfers and visitors since 1969. Their Double Bacon Cheeseburger defies conventional eating methods – this monster requires strategic planning just to get it in your mouth.
The bacon is unlike anywhere else: instead of strips, they weave it into a patty-sized blanket that gets crispy on the griddle.
During my college years in San Diego, my friends and I would measure weekend success by whether we managed to score a table at this perpetually packed burger paradise.
4. Cassell’s: Old-School Technique, Modern Quality
Cassell’s honors burger tradition while elevating ingredients to modern standards. Each patty is ground in-house daily and cooked on the restored original crossfire broiler from the 1940s location.
The Koreatown revival preserves what made the original great – simple, perfectly executed burgers where quality speaks for itself.
The classic cheeseburger comes with housemade thousand island, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a Parker House bun that soaks up all those magnificent juices.
5. HiHo Cheeseburger: Wagyu Wonder
HiHo stands alone as the only burger joint exclusively using 100% grass-fed, grass-finished Wagyu beef. Their signature double comes mustard-grilled with melty cheese, crisp pickles, and onions on a toasted bun.
The Santa Monica location started the craze, but now Studio City and Marina del Rey residents can enjoy the same exceptional quality.
I brought my skeptical New York friend here last summer, and his first bite was followed by wide eyes and a mumbled “Ok fine, California wins the burger game.”
6. Gott’s Roadside: Wine Country’s Burger Royalty
Gott’s elevates the roadside burger stand to something special. Their California Burger perfectly represents the state’s love for fresh ingredients – topped with a fried egg, Gruyère cheese, bacon, balsamic onions, and mayo.
What began in St. Helena now has multiple NorCal locations, including the SF Ferry Building. The ingredients are sourced with wine-country attention to detail, making these burgers pair wonderfully with local wines and craft beers for a truly California dining experience.
7. Causwells: San Francisco’s Perfect Double
Causwells’ Americana Burger has developed a cult following in the Marina District. This double-patty masterpiece comes with American cheese, house pickles, onions, and their special sauce – striking the perfect balance between chef-driven and nostalgic.
The patties have that ideal smash-style crust while remaining juicy inside. During my last visit, I watched a family of tourists order one to share as an appetizer, then immediately flag down their server to order three more after the first bite.
8. Squeeze Burger: The Cheese Skirt Pioneer
Squeeze Burger created something magical when they let cheese melt beyond the patty onto the griddle, creating their signature crispy cheese skirt. The “Squeeze with Cheese” has become a Northern California legend that must be experienced to be believed.
The Galt location still draws crowds seeking this unique creation, and the cheese-skirt technique was pioneered at the original Squeeze Inn in Sacramento (that Sacramento location has since closed), with the tradition carried on here.
The technique creates a lacy, crispy cheese crown that extends inches beyond the burger itself – crunchy at the edges and perfectly melted where it meets the juicy patty.
9. Original Tommy’s: Chili Burger Institution
Since 1946, Tommy’s original Rampart location has been serving their famous chili-topped burgers 24 hours a day. The simple burger gets smothered in their signature beef chili – a spicy, savory topping that’s become an LA cultural touchstone.
Late-night Tommy’s runs are a rite of passage for Angelenos. The Caliente version kicks up the heat for spice lovers.
My college roommate and I had a tradition of celebrating final exams with 2 am Tommy’s runs – nothing says “academic victory” like chili dripping down your arms.
10. Pie ‘n Burger: Pasadena’s Time Machine
Pie ‘n Burger has been serving classic California-style burgers since 1963 from their charming Pasadena counter. Their burger comes dressed with housemade Thousand Island-style spread, crisp lettuce, and thick-sliced tomato on a perfectly toasted bun.
The vintage diner setting enhances the experience – red counter stools, paper placemats, and servers who’ve been there for decades.
No burger experience here is complete without finishing with a slice of their equally famous homemade pie.
11. Burgers Never Say Die: Smash Hit Sensation
What started as a backyard pop-up has evolved into LA’s smashburger headquarters. BNSD perfected the technique of smashing ultra-thin patties to create maximum crispy edge surface area while keeping the interior juicy.
Their Silver Lake location often has lines around the block for these simple yet perfect burgers. The Double features two paper-thin patties with crispy, lacy edges, American cheese melted between them, and just pickles and sauce.
The simplicity allows the technique and quality to shine through.