“Los Angeles is arguably one of the best burger cities in the world,” says film producer Jamie Patricof, whose film Exhibiting Forgiveness was at Sundance and whose Madu documentary hits Disney+ in March.
Patricof — who also publishes the popular food newsletter Jamie’s List (jamieslist.com) — shares his top 10 L.A. burger picks with THR.
Smash burgers
“Burgers Never Say Die, Goldburger and Burger She Wrote make three of the best smash burgers you’ll find anywhere in the world,” says Patricof (who’s also producing the upcoming Derek Cianfrance film Roofman, starring Channing Tatum).
Burgers Never Say Die: 2388 Glendale Blvd., Silver Lake
Goldburger: 1820 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz and 5623 York Blvd., Highland Park
Burger She Wrote: 7454½ Beverly Blvd., Beverly Grove and 4655 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz
BBQ Burger
“Moo’s Craft Barbecue has a smoked beef brisket burger that is truly one of a kind.”
Moo’s Craft Barbecue: 2118 N. Broadway, Downtown L.A.
Traditional Burgers
“Amboy, which is hidden in Far East Plaza in Chinatown and also serves as a butcher, has one of the best burgers you can find.” Patricof is also partial to the offerings at HiHo Cheeseburger, which serves a classic burger made from grass-fed and grass-finished Wagyu, noting that the burger spot is “from the people who brought you Sugarfish, KazuNori and Uovo.”
Amboy: 717 N. Broadway, Chinatown. Additional location at Topanga Social food hall, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park
HiHo Cheeseburger: 4625 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, 6245 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, 1320 2nd St., Santa Monica, and 4220 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City.
Fine-Dining Burgers
Patricof is a fan of the patties at French bistro Petit Trois; sake bar and Japanese restaurant Ototo; Sunset Boulevard’s Horses and Michelin-starred Camphor.
Petit Trois: 718 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, and 13705 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
Ototo: 1360 Allison Ave., Echo Park
Horses: 7617 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
Camphor: 923 E. 3rd Street, Downtown L.A.
O.G. Burger
“There’s nothing more classic than sitting at the counter at The Apple Pan eating a burger and some fries.”
The Apple Pan: 10801 Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles
A version of this story first appeared in the March 6 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.