Doto’s comte-topped burger reminds us of the famed Le Mec at Petit Trois, except it doesn’t look like a lava lamp of bordelaise exploded onto the plate. This double-stacked burger gets all the gooey richness it needs from a mix of jammy onions, tangy chili aioli, and generous amounts of French cheese draped off the patties like melted wax. There is a crucial dab of sweet pickle relish helps cut through its cheesy blanket.

The fancy French burger at Pasjoli was once capped at ten orders per night, but after a menu makeover, their burger policy is now much more laissez-faire. The thick, dry-aged patty is pan-seared and basted in herb butter, then blanketed with cheddar and bone marrow aioli. A handful of crisp shallots and a thick ring of sautéed red onion are the only vegetables in sight.

Birdie G’s has tinkered with various burger recipes over the years, but fingers crossed that the latest one is here to stay. Halfway between a steakhouse and a diner burger, the patty is crusted in peppery steak seasoning, grilled over wood until its edge-to-edge rosy pink, then cradled in a milk bread bun from the dough wizards at Petitgrain Boulangerie. Onion jam and melted havarti add some buttery sweetness, but it’s the pickles and swab of tangy steak sauce that snatch your attention.

This Old Hollywood-themed bistro on Melrose is dark and moody with plush green booths, a room-spanning bar, and nine different martinis on the menu. In other words, it’s the perfect setting for a throwback bar burger. The Benjamin’s version is as unfussy as it is juicy: there’s an inch-thick, medium-rare patty, gooey American cheese, pickles, and a generous coat of smoky hickory sauce (a subtle nod to Apple Pan). A slab of sautéed onion on the bottom sweetens the plump sesame bun as you eat.

If we had to draw our ideal version of a bar burger in art class, it would look like the one at Dunsmoor. Served only in the back wine bar, this decadent monstrosity features an inch-thick beef patty smothered in gooey comte cheese, topped with raw onions and a tangy onion jam on a soft sesame bun. The kitchen only prepares 20 orders each night, available at the bar starting at 5:30pm. So plan on arriving early.

Say hello to our absolute favorite burger in Los Angeles right now. A perfectly-cooked Wagyu beef patty, cheddar cheese, dill aioli, fresh arugula, and a caramelized onion-bacon jam on a brioche bun - Dudley’s burger is special. It’s sweet and savory, briny and peppery, and something you’ll want to remember forever. You should absolutely come to this neighborhood Venice spot for the fresh seafood, but if you skip the burger, you’re living a lesser existence.

We love the punchy wagyu laab burger from Ban Ban Burger, a Thai-influenced spot on Sawtelle from the Tuk Tuk Thai people. The basil chili sauce sizzles on your tongue, cooled down just enough by American cheese and a runny yolk from the fried egg. Just maybe don’t wear white if you order this drippy burger—there’s a lot of sauce for the delicate potato roll.

This casual mini-chain from a former fine-dining chef has three other locations across LA, specializing in smashburgers with beefy, fresh-ground patties and a very good fried chicken sandwich. Among LA’s surplus of smashburger options, we like that For The Win strikes a nice balance between a juicy, flavorful patty and crisp, lacy edges. Plus, the melted cheese-to-potato bun ratio that’s spot on.

The fact that the best barbecue restaurant in LA also happens to make one the city’s best burgers is borderline unfair. Available daily, the “Thicc Smoked Burger” here lives up to its name. A beefy, eight-ounce ground brisket patty crusted with black pepper takes a quick trip through the smoker, giving it a nice smoky flavor without overcooking the juicy, medium-rare interior. It’s topped with pickles, aioli, and thinly sliced raw onions on a soft potato bun.

These are the most substantial burgers in LA’s oversaturated smash scene. From the eponymous Goldburger, which comes topped with American cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and their special garlic-mustard aioli, to the LA Special, loaded with thick cuts of pastrami, these are smashburgers that’ll keep you full well past dinner and possibly into breakfast the next day. Also, their curly fries are not to be missed.

The single burger at Everson Royce Bar isn’t just a tutorial in simplicity, it’s the ultimate example of how the damn thing should be done. Don’t expect overbearing sauce, unnecessary fried egg, or soggy vegetables - ERB’s burger is just prime beef chuck, cheddar, and pickles all sandwiched between an egg brioche bun. It’s a perfect burger that we’d happily eat once a week.

Camphor’s semi-secret, off-menu burger is only available at the bar or patio, which means if you’re heading to this French spot in the Arts District, make sure you’re seated in the right spot. This burger is not to be missed. The patty is a mix of duck and dry-aged beef, giving it a sweet, slightly gamey flavor that plays nice with the tangy caramelized onions. The soft brioche bun and savory beef fat remoulade push this baby into true decadence territory.

There’s a lot to love about Oy Bar in Studio City. The dark, divey interior, and the pastrami quesadilla get us in the door—but it’s the burger that’s worthy of another rush hour standstill on the 101. A heavy helping of cilantro is something we’ve never seen on a burger before, but Oy Bar (from the Jeff’s Table people) proves that it might just be the ultimate accompaniment to a thick, medium burger patty.

Love Hour is worth seeking out, and you’ll usually find them behind Ddong Ggo in Koreatown. This smashburger spot keeps it simple - you choose between a single or a double (the double has the best meat-to-bun ratio), and then add your own toppings like you’re at a cookout. The edges of the burger get nice and crispy, but unlike other smash spots, it’s not overly greasy, so the bun stays intact... and that’s tougher to pull off than you think.

A former pop-up gone permanent, this smashburger operation bounced around the South Bay and Long Beach before landing in a breezy space with lots of seating a block from the ocean in Hermosa Beach. Burgers here are double-stacked by default, though they’ll probably let you do a single if you ask nicely. The not-too-thin patties have a nice seasoned crust that droops over the edge of the toasted potato bun, while the mayo-heavy special sauce and pickles add some tang.

Hawkins makes messy, classic burgers that harken back to simpler times. And while the counter-service Watts spot does get creative with the triple-stacked Leaning Tower Of Watts, our go-to is the double cheeseburger with bacon. The angus beef patties are notably thick, and each slice of smoked bacon offers a satisfying crackle with each chew. Finishing one whole will make you want to lie down horizontally for hours.

If you need a dive bar and a killer burger in Manhattan Beach, Ercole's is the place to be. Regulars drink cheap beer and play pool in a space that looks like it’s been minimally updated since it opened in 1927, aside from a few faded Budweiser posters. The char-grilled, backyard-style burgers here are in the same vein as the fantastic ones at Big Dean's and Hinano Cafe, except that Ercole's sources its beef from the butcher shop next door, which means the patty here is a little thicker.

No burger in the city has caused more friendship implosions, breakups, and multi-generational family disputes than the one at Father’s Office - especially when it comes to the infamous “no ketchup” policy. But we’ll track this classic every time we’re near one of their locations in Culver City, Santa Monica, or Downtown. Topped with caramelized onions, gruyere and Maytag blue cheese, bacon compote, and arugula, this is the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and extremely tangy.

The Apple Pan hasn’t really changed much since it opened on April 11 1947, and that’s about all you need to know. This LA institution has more than earned its place in LA burger lore, and while the classic hickory burger isn’t our absolute favorite among the old-school spots, it’s still pretty tasty. Come pay your respects and get a delicious banana cream pie on your way out.

Speaking of beach bars: Hinano is Venice’s best beachside dive—a place with sawdust on the floor, guys who haven’t left their seat at the bar since the ’60s, pool tables in the back, and a handful of confused-looking tourists. More importantly, it’s a place with a great, no-B.S. burger. This is another super-traditional option, one that’s grilled right behind the bar and comes in a basket with a bag of chips on the side.