Jay, we need some sort of equation for the “meal score”. Are fries 50% of your eqation? As in: Burger Score + Fries Score = Meal Score? Personally I place the fries of significantly less importance. I might go: .66 Burger Score + .33 Fries Score = Meal Score
Ken, Jay’s has been gone for about 6-7 years now. They had some sort of rent dispute, and the landowner wanted to build a small commercial center on the lot.
Mo Better Meaty Meat Burger (defunct from Pico & Faifax) has been re-incarnated on La Brea across the street from the Umami, between 8th & Olympic. It rose like the phoenix about six months back and has a truncated name like Meaty Meat Burger.
I like Pie N’ Burger. Atypically, I don’t love Apple Pan. Too much of that hickory sauce and not thick enough a patty.
I get a Jay-like down & dirty fix at Master Burger. It’s quite convenient, just off the 10 freeway on Adams (1 blk south of 10 at that point) & 1/2 block east of Crenshaw. You can get a fine sized double burger of decent quality meat with all sorts of topping options (incl chili) for $6. Not the placed to go like when we went to Jay’s, real late at night. The other drawback is that they are not real fast. Definitely 10 minutes even without a crowd. But it’s great QPR.
The best burger I had in Chicago (maybe ever) was about a month ago at Publican Quality Meat. Unfortunately, they only do them on Tuesday nights and the change burgers every week. I did buy some pre-pattied burgers from them for 4th of July that were destined for the nest Tuesday night’s menu, and they were received very well. I suspect they do an umami boost by adding porcini powder in their seasoning
Actually, if you value quality meat and fries, Oinkster make a great flattop burger and their fries are awesome. You can also get a pastrami-toppped burger, IIRC.
If only one did not have to drive to BFE to get it. I’ve never been to Oinkster and didn’t exactly know where it was until I drove past it last week looking at a property for sale. I had just eaten lunch so just couldn’t stop in for a try. Maybe before a UCLA football game this fall. Btw, Master Burger, Pink’s and Earlez will do pastrami on the burgers too. That might be pushing disqualification though.
Okay. Went to Peter Luger’s yesterday for lunch. Holy smokes. That dry aged burger is the best burger I have ever had in my life…period! Wow is all I have to say. Never been able to taste the typical flavor associated with dry aged beef in a burger, but wow…jumps off the plate here. Highly recommended for $12 or whatever it was. Unbelievable, and didn’t think I would say that. P.S. the steak was weak compared to this. Go for lunch and get the burger.
Having eaten most on Gold’s list (linked above), I tried the pljeskavica today at Aroma Cafe. It was horrible. A waste of calories and fat. And I drove past Plan Check and Apple Pan to go there.
When I am traversing the great LA/OC area these are a few of my faves.
Fathers Office, great burger and they often have Pliny The Elder on tap to wash it down.
The Apple Pan, west LA. Crisp edges, smoky greatness, kinda like a much better Steak and Shake, an institution, insane pies, try the apple.
Pie N’ Burger, Pasadena, at times I think this could be the best burger in LA.
The 49er. Long Beach. Old school, cooked on a Weber, takes a while, worth every sloppy bite.
When I take the family to our folks house on the peninsula in Newport we make a bee-line to TK’S, it’s part family tradition and part damn good hamburger.
Still waiting on a post for NJ. Luger’s sounds great but that would require pre-planning.
Nothing in central Jersey at all?
Most of the local pubs around here have no clue and still serve a really mediocre burger with obviously frozen FFs which I have already voiced my bias against.
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