burgercrewLA

So we originally wanted to go to Beast and Cleaver for our last burger stop of the trip. We get there and were sadly informed that they do not have the burger on their regular menu every day. They only serve it during special pop up burger days.

For a place that has a reputation for good burgers, how can you not have it on the regular menu?

Anyway, we had a quick planning meeting on the sidewalk, went through the list and map and settled on Big Max Burger Co in Queen Anne since it was not too far and it opened soon.

Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Sunday, June 23rd at 11am

• Members in attendance: Angela d. (that’s me!), Trevor Y., Wayne T., and Innie C.
• Slider members in attendance: Marty d.-Y., Lucy Y., and Ellis d.-Y.
• Special Guests: Chris Y. and Anella d.

I. Ordering

Trev and I ordered The Big Max ($14) – Two patties, lettuce, B&B pickles, caramelized and chopped red onion, aged cheddar, ketchup, max sauce, challah bun.

We made it a combo ($8) with large fry and large drink. We got the little ones chicken nuggets ($10) and the lil sammy slider ($5) – half patty, house ketchup, aged cheddar, challah slider roll.

Chris, Innie, and Lucy got the Big Max, chicken nuggets, regular fries ($5.50 for a large), and vanilla bean milk shake ($8 for a large).

Wayne also ordered the Big Max. Hey, can’t go wrong with the namesake of the restaurant. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Anella decided to break the groupthink and went with the Queen Animal ($14) Smoked bacon, frizzled onions, avocado, house BBQ, lettuce, B&B pickles, caramelized and chopped red onion, aged cheddar, max sauce, challah bun.

II. The Burgers

So it was obvious that this place was trying to clone McDonalds. We’ve seen that a lot. And we’ve seen it fail a lot as well. Burger Max actually accomplished it! It was spot on. the sauce tasted like big mac sauce, the shreddece and toppings all reminded us of a McDonalds Big Mac. They even went so far as to copy the packaging. I love the attention to detail.

Now, what differed from McDonalds was the sear. I would dare say that it had the best sear we had in Seattle. This was a true smash patty with lovely crunchy edges. Someone likened them to beef chips! Despite enjoying the sear, Wayne lamented that the meaty flavor was just not there. He argued that it tasted more burnt than meaty. I think the rest of us disagreed. I would have loved to just eat the outer edge of this burger! In fact, since Trev and I were sharing, he found that the edges disappeared rather quickly.

The rest of the toppings were good. I mean, the shreddece made the meat slide around, but that’s all part of the Big Mac Max experience. I don’t typically like bread and butter pickles, but I actually liked these. I would have liked to see the sesame seed bun, but the challah was quite nice.

III. The Fries

As discussed in previous reviews, Seattle’s fry game has been weak. But Big Max helped us finish strong in the Emerald City. These were shoe string (not sure if Innie busted out the tape measure, but there was little argument about these fries) and had an herb seasoning. We really liked them. It was like eating potato chips. I dare you to just eat one.

The home made ketchup was meh. Just give me the fancy ketchup. the max sauce was like a mustard, mayo sauce that was really good. The larger order was quite large and we had quite a bit of fries left over.

IV. Miscellaneous

The nuggets were also a McDonald’s clone, but they didn’t have the boot shape vs. the round shapes that we grew up with. I think it was because there was no need. The chicken must have been brined because they were all juicy and flavorful, thus no need to distinguish between the boot shape and the round shapes. The nuggets came in orders of 6 with sweet and sour sauce.

The milkshakes were good. They tasted like melted ice cream and I believe were made with Tillamook ice cream.

The place was really kid friendly. They had coloring pages, rocking horses, a mesh changing station in the single bathroom, and even offered to split the milkshake for the kids.

They had both indoor and outdoor seating. They also had fountain drinks.

Parking is a bit difficult as it’s street parking in the Queen Anne neighborhood.

Overall, it seemed like a pretty great place to hang out. If I lived in Seattle, I think I’d frequent this place.

V. Value

I ask the members how much they would pay for their burgers. We would pay anywhere from $9 to $15 so at $14 these burgers were decently priced. Don’t come here if you’re looking for a bargain basement burger.

VI. The Verdict

While it didn’t make the initial cut for our burger crew list, I’m incredibly grateful that Beast and Cleaver didn’t have their burger available. This was a wonderful way to say good bye to Seattle. The ratings: 3.3, 4.3, 4.4, and 4.7.

Waiting on Wayne’s post

meansandwich.com
@meanseattle
15th Ave @ Leary Way in Ballard
(206) 789-9999
(Burger Crew Does Seattle)

Members in attendance: Trevor Y., Angela d. Wayne T., and Innie C.
Slider members in attendance: Marty d.-Y. and Lucy Y.
Special Guests: Chris Y.

I. Ordering

Everyone ordered the DAM Burger.

Trevor and Angela added Bacon and Egg to theirs.
Innie added jalapenos to hers.

II. The Burger
While waiting for the burger we hung out in the back patio area and there was a great meaty aroma in the air. Think what it smells like outside of In’n Out but just beef. We got our order and I was not disappointed. After my first bite my initial thought was “I love this mustard.” There is a super tasty yellow grain mustard that perfectly compliments everything else in the burger. I do not regret at all adding egg or bacon to the burger. (Disclaimer: I love my burgers with everything on it).

The food came out really fresh/hot but it was wrapped up pretty well which has it’s pros and cons. Pro: it kept a potentially really messy burger very clean. Con: the wrapping does create like a little steam oven for the burger. If there were any lace on the edges of the patties, they were long gone by the time it got to us. The patties were described as “smashed.” We generally agreed that these were not properly smashed burgers but more accurately described as “pressed” burgers. With that said, the loose pack and course grind was very appreciated and the double meat patties provided a great meat/bun/toppings ratio.

If looking to improve the burger, I would have liked more raw onions and have a runny egg.

III. The Sides
Seattle is quickly becoming the sad fries capitol. Mean Sandwich didn’t offer fries. Instead they have “Skin n Ins”

Definitely not fries, but the best alternative we’ve found yet. Fried up to be super crunchy “skins” and really potatoey “Ins”. I still prefer our sub 5mm thick shoestring fries common found pretty everywhere outside of Seattle.

IV. Miscellaneous
Located in Ballard with plenty of local bars in the area. There’s even a service window directly to the bar attached to it in the rear patio. If you’re in the area, seems like a fun place to come hang out with friends and get some good food. There is seating available inside and outside.
No onsite parking available but plenty street parking options nearby. If you’re brining the little ones, the kids menu only has grilled cheese. But if you ask nicely they’ll make a simple burger.

V. Value
We rated how much we’d pay for our burgers and it ranged from $12-$18. The menu price is $18. My bacon and egg add on brought the total up to $23. So we don’t think this is a bargain play.

VI. The Verdict
So not a bargain but it’s a dang good burger. I (Trevor) thought this was the second best official burger we had on the trip. Most of the crew concurred with ratings of: 3.5, 3.8, 4.2, 4.3.

If in the area, it’s worth getting. Despite the name “Mean Sandwich” we found the owner is quite nice.

Next burger crew meeting: Saturday, June 22 at 6pm – Smash that Burger Co –North Queen Anne

The second stop in our annual burger expedition is FamilyFriend in Beacon Hill.

Burger Crew called to order on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 7p.

Members in attendance: Angela, Trevor, Wayne, and me (Innie)

Featuring: Lucy, Chris, and Trevor’s Ennui

I. Ordering

There was just one burger available on the FamilyFriend menu, so we all ordered the Double Kewpie Burger (2 beef patties, miso, onions, American cheese, pickles, served with shoestring truffle fries) for $15.75.

II. The Burger

Almost everyone in the crew really enjoyed the Kewpie burger.  The smashed patties had an impressively crisp sear throughout, tapering to a crunchy lace overhang that extended beyond the buns.  In terms of texture, this burger played all of its components perfectly.  The buttery toasted buns added a satisfying chewiness, the chopped pickles and onions provided the crunch, and the American cheese was as melty and gooey as to be expected from the one true burger cheese.  There is a generous application of the namesake mayo, but we didn’t think this disrupted the balance of flavors in the burger.  Also, if you’re going to order something called the Kewpie Burger, you should probably know what you’re signing up for.

Trev was the lone member who didn’t love the burger, and thought it didn’t have the umami he was looking for.  He felt that it was missing an it factor, but couldn’t pinpoint anything specifically wrong with it.  He conceded that it was possible that he was just feeling tired and over caffeinated and his mood could have affected his burger spidey senses.

III. Sides 

A sad theme that unfortunately plagued this year’s trip was listless, disappointing fries.  Earlier in the day, Lil Woody’s impressed us with their ability to somehow produce an even soggier fry than In-n-Out.  Angela and Trev reported that their pregame burgers at Dicks and Local Tide also failed to meet their fried potato expectations.

We were happily surprised when FamilyFriend delivered us some top notch fries.  They were crispy, well-seasoned, and held up well throughout the meal without getting soggy.  The truffle seasoning was well balanced, and the fry was crisp without being overcooked.  A lot of places tend to be heavy handed when dealing with truffle flavor, but these simply tasted like really good fries.

Trev and Angela opted to add an order of Homey Salad (Asian dressing, spring mix, radish, cherry tomato, corn, picholine olives).  Angela thought it was a bit overdressed, but Trevor really enjoyed it.  If you’re very hungry, this might be a good start because it came out really fast.  Trev and Angela also gave top marks to their drink orders, a mango iced tea and a white peach sonic.  What’s a sonic, you ask?  Apparently, it’s just a fancy word they’ve added to make it sound cool.

The restaurant very kindly let me order a side of red rice off-menu, for the discerning tastes of our carb-loving, meat-adverse 3 year old.  I’m not sure what gives the rice the red color, but it was good and tasted simply like a fragrant basmati.

Chris ordered the La Beacon Batchoy (La Paz Style), a Filipino noodle soup dish of egg noodles, pig offal, cow, and fermented shrimp broth.  He said that he really enjoyed it and noted that it tasted authentic to how he remembered eating it as a kid.  He only wished that there was a larger portion of it for the price.

IV.  Miscellaneous

FamilyFriend is located in a small, inconspicuous white and black building that is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.  Save for a small sign on the window, there isn’t any obvious signage.  The inside reminded us of a converted single family house, almost like someone renovated their home to include restaurant booths and tables and a professional bar.  The atmosphere is a bit loud, and you could still feel some of the summer heat even during the evening hours.  The service here was great; everyone was super friendly and accommodating.

Something to note was that when we received the bill, we noticed a nondescript line item called “charges and fees” that seemed fairly significant.

We inquired about it with our host and he explained that it was an automatic standard gratuity of 25% on the total for parties of 5 or more.  Apparently, this was written on the menu, but it was printed in a pretty unusual area near the food items.  As an often-large group, we are familiar with auto gratuities and we normally don’t have a problem with it, but we found it peculiar that 1) it was a percentage of the total bill (after taxes, and not on the subtotal), and 2) that it was generically termed as a “fee” on the receipt and could easily lead to a person adding additional gratuity on top of it.  After inquiring about it with the staff, they took the fee off.

The parking in the area was very easy, probably because there weren’t many other businesses or residences nearby.  There looked to be additional seating in a patio in the back, but none of us had a good look at it.  We didn’t order any alcoholic beverages, but the bar looked very legit.  The bathroom was nice and clean and offered courtesy feminine products (which was something that I noticed in several bathrooms during this trip.  Go Seattle!)

V. Value

The members were asked how much they would pay for their burgers.  These were the ratings and values given by the crew:

Innie: 4.2, $13

Angela: 4.8, $15

Trevor: 3.4 $12

Wayne: 4.3, $12

VI. Verdict

A great second official burger of the Seattle trip!  Next up is Mean Sandwich in Ballard.

Welcome to Seattle burger crew! We had our annual burger crew trip to Seattle and planned to eat five burgers together. Unfortunately, 2 of our members ended up with Covid so we were down to 4 members. We definitely ate all the things in their honor.

Here is burger #1 (though Trev and I did pregame with 3 burgers before Burger Crew Seattle officially started [Juicy J’s Smoked Burgers, Dick’s Drive In, and Local Tide]).

Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 11am in Capitol Hill (Burger Crew Does Seattle).

Members in attendance: Angela d. (that’s me!), Trevor Y., Wayne T., and Innie C.
Slider members in attendance: Marty d.-Y. and Lucy Y.
Special Guests: Chris Y.

I. Ordering

Trevor and I ordered The Fig and the Pig ($10.50) – a scoop of our own pickled figs, Hills bacon, crumbled blue cheese and mayo.

Marty got the Plain Lil Woody with cheese + plus ketchup and pickles ($6) – 1/4 lb. grass-fed beef on a bun (from the kids menu for 12 and under).

Innie got The New Mexican ($10.50) – slow-roasted Hatch green chiles and our house-made queso sauce and mayo.

Chris and Wayne each got the Lil Woody ($8.50) – 1/4 pound Royal Ranch grass-fed beef, Tillamook cheddar, chopped onions, diced pickles, ketchup and mayo.

Lastly, Lucy got a grilled cheese ($4) – with American cheese and inside out buns.

II. The Burgers
Based on our research, Li’l Woody’s is a rival to Dick’s Drive In. Both are fast food style burgers. Li’l Woody’s is good for what it is. It looks similar to a Dick’s burger.

The burger was grilled and you could taste that grill flavor. The meat was oooookay. It was similar to a Whopper patty. We had asked for the patties to be cooked medium rare, but they told us all burgers are cooked all the way through.

The buns were toasted. Overall, burgers were a bit dry. The toppings varied a lot based on the type of burger. The Lil Woody has a similar construction to a Whopper. The Fig and The Pig had a good idea, but really poor execution. Some bites were too figgy and other bites were too cheesy. And the bacon was chewy 🤨, not crunchy. Yuck. The New Mexican was not spicy. The hatch chili didn’t have much flavor and the queso tasted cheesy despite the watery consistency. Innie said it tasted similar to a Carl’s Jr. Southwest burger.

III. The Sides
The french fries were sad. They were made with Russet potatoes and were fresh cut, but there’s a reason why McDonalds cooks frozen fries (read: double fried french fries are superior). These fries managed to be overcooked and yet limp. They had a burnt taste instead of the saltiness you want in a fry. The only redeeming quality was that they give a lot for only $6. But I’d rather have no fries than a lot of bad fries.

IV. Miscellaneous
There are several locations throughout the city. The one we went to was close to the Starbucks Reserve and parking in this neighborhood is tough. We ended up parking in a paid lot for $13. They have limited indoor seating with room for a big party upstairs. They have a lot of cool looking merch if you’re in the market for some burger themed clothing. They have fountain drinks and water cups available. There is a single bathroom.

V. Value
I ask the members how much they would pay for their burgers. We would pay anywhere from $6 to $8. So we thought the prices were slightly higher than we’d like to pay for these burgers (especially given the fast food quality).

VI. The Verdict
So far Seattle is the home for phallic things (the Space Needle, Dick’s Drive In, and Li’l Woody’s). Burgers were good, but not great. Fast food style burger. If you’re looking for a good burger, keep walking. The ratings: 2.3 2.5, 2.8, and 3.0.

Next burger crew meeting: Friday, June 21st at 7pm – Familyfriend – Beacon Hill

Burger Crew meeting called to order on Sunday, May 5th, 2024 at noon (Innie’s pick)

Members in attendance: Angela, Trevor, DK, Wayne, and Innie.

I. Ordering

Ban Ban Burger is from the folks that brought us Tuk Tuk Thai. This is your place to get thai-influenced smashburgers. If you’ve ever been to Thailand or anywhere in southeast asia you know they’re very generous with flavors and Ban Ban Burger delivers.

Between the entire group we ordered

Grapow Smash – free range beef, onions with house-made grapow paste. Served a fried egg, house Thai pickle, American cheese, and wild garlic aioli on a potato roll

Wagyu Laab Smash – Wagyu beef, onions, seasoned with zesty laab powder, with house Thai pickle, mint, and herb sauce with American cheese on a potato roll

II. The Burgers

This burger is all about the flavor and not so much the meat because

True to Thai influence the burgers were spicy. As someone who’s pretty sensitive to spicy (but still loves it) would rate it as a medium spicy but I really appreciate the heat doesn’t linger. Our resident spice experts said they were not disappointed with spicyness if it were advertised as a “spicy burger.” The meat itself was a bit plain but all the crazy flavors made it not noticeable. The patty had a good (not great) sear and tasted like pepper was mixed into the beef.

The wagyu patty was also very nice and DK described it as a “deep tissue and shiatsu” flavor and appreciated the mint chutney. It seemed it was better balanced than the Grapow burger.

Both patties were loose pack and thus very messy. I absolutely love the sunny side egg with the large (GMO?!) yolk.

I realize there’s so much flavor but I haven’t described it. The reason is it’s very difficult to describe if you’ve never had spiced thai food. They completely captured the essence and it felt like a party in my mouth and all the spices were invited. <insert some spice girl meme>

The potato bun was super squishy and eggy and the pickles were PERFECT. It’s like partial pickled texture but full pickled flavor. Wayne felt it could been more pickled for his taste but appreciated the crunch. PICK A LANE WAYNE!

The closest comparison to this burger experience to Ban Ban Burger would have to be Chego’s (which is now Amboys… see previous review).

III. The Sides

So now that the bacon debate has been fully settled, the new hot topic is what is considered a “shoe string” fry? We’ve decided to take it upon ourselves and measure. 5mm thick. Is that shoe string? absolutely! Although thinner than McDonalds they’re still fluffy and crunchy. Cooked perfectly and served hot with some sort of lime salt.

Sweet potato fries (measured > 5mm) were also fried nicely with crunch and fluff. No soggy potato fries here.. which seems to be a challenge for most establishments out there.

Ketchup… yes this is a side. I’m usually the first to poopoo any artisanal or homemade ketchup. When I want ketchup I want heinz, del monte, hunts, store house brand, or even fancy castup. Enter Ban Ban and their fancier ketchup that has some sort of lemon grass or curry oil in it. It has a very light touch and it’s good! Trevor approved.

Last note, if you get the Pandan Shake, make sure it’s not frozen solid. Wayne some how got one that was impossible to eat. He had another one made and said it wasn’t as sweet as he expected and had an earthy/grassy flavor (read: dirt). And if you ever happen to be in Singapore the pandan shakes there are superior.

IV. Miscellaneous

Located on Sawtelle south of Santa Monica Blvd. It’s at the end closest to Santa Monica Blvd so parking was not too difficult. YMMV as you get closer to Tsujita etc. Go on a Sunday because parking will be free at the meters. They open at 11:30 or 12 and be the first ones there if you can. As we were waiting for our orders it got quite busy there.

There’s a small refrigerator display case with some unique beers, mexican coke and a water station for those that need/want it.

Lastly, please go to 10 Speed Coffee down the street (walking distance). EXCELLENT cappuccinos, mochas, and espresso.

V. Value

The members were asked how much they would pay for their burgers.  These were the ratings and value given by the crew:

Trev: 4.4, $15

Wayne: 4.5, $11

Angela: 4.2, $16

DK. 4.8, $17.50

Innie: 4.1, $13.50

VI. Verdict

Another winner of a burger spot! If you’re in the area please pop in and get a burger and afterwards take a coffee break and head over to Plan Check for one LA’s best burgers.

Burger Crew meeting called to order on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 at noon (DK’s pick).

Members in attendance: Angela, Trevor, DK, Wayne, and me (Innie).

Guest starring: Lucy and Chris, dynamic duo

I. Ordering

Amboy has a straightforward but extensive menu.  They offer 5 different styles of burger (Amboy, Fancy, Steak House, Chili Cheese, and Truffle), which can be paired with several options of patty (single or double Classic Smashed, single or double Slim Thicc, and the DH).  Even without considering the optional add-on toppings, that’s already 25 different burger variations! 

Angela and Trev shared an Amboy (Amboy burger sauce, American cheese, caramelized onions, sliced pickles in a toasted sesame seed bun) with double Slim Thicc patties and bacon add-on, and a side of truffle fries.

Wayne and I both ordered an Amboy with double Classic Smashed patties, and a side of regular fries.

DK ordered a Steak House (Amboy steak sauce, American cheese, diced raw onions, sliced pickles in a toasted sesame seed bun) with double Classic Smashed patties with an add-on of pepperoncini, and a side of garlic fries.

II. The Burger

Let me just preface by saying, there’s lots to unpack in this burger, in all the best possible ways.  This is probably one of the most praiseworthy burgers we’ve had in a while. 

First off, the patties.  They really live up to the “Quality Meats” moniker of the restaurant.  The patties all had a great beefy flavor, and were consistently juicy and well seared between all of our orders.  Angela and Trev were able to order their burger medium rare since they had “Slim Thicc” patties, while the rest of us had the classic smashed patties.   They also opted to add on a topping of bacon, which ended up being a very good decision.  The bacon add-on is a super thick, tender slab of pork belly, far beyond what we normally picture when considering the term “bacon”. It wasn’t crunchy, but neither was it chewy.  (Our unnamed chewy-bacon lobbyist briefly attempted to claim the adjective for this bacon.)  Trev described it to be as tender as a well-smoked brisket.  We thought this was a secret menu item at first since we couldn’t remember it being on the posted menu, but upon closer inspection, it’s listed under the optional “add-ons”.  For the price of $5, this bacon is well worth every porcine penny.

Another home run was the toasted sesame seed buns.  These buns were A+ grade, and it is the humble opinion of this crew that the name of the restaurant be updated to Quality Meats and Buns.  Aggressively covered in sesame seeds on BOTH top AND bottom buns, these buns were impressively toasted and had an amazing soft and chewy bite.  We’ve become accustomed to the squishy, soft, (sometimes dry) brioche buns that seem ubiquitous to many burger places. While those are usually fine (if rather nondescript), these sesame buns were almost as much of a star of the show as the patties… which is saying a lot!  (Note: According to the description in the Westfield Topanga Amboy location, these buns are sourced locally from Breadbar.)

The other components of the burgers were equally satisfying.  The pickles were generously well dispersed, and to our great appreciation, were situated on top of the bottom bun.  The American cheese was as gooey and melty as expected, and played well with the burger sauce and caramelized onions.

The steak sauce in DK’s burger was more savory and spicy than sweet. He saw specks of chili flakes which accounted for the bit of heat he tasted.   

III. The Sides

Some otherwise great burger places serve up some rather unimpressive fries. (I’m looking at you, In-N-Out.  I may try to placate myself by ordering them done medium well, but we both know we’re not fooling anyone into thinking those are good fries.)

We’re happy to report that these fries were solidly good fries.  Crunchy and crispy outsides, fluffy insides, nicely seasoned, and stayed tasty even when they cooled down.  The plain fries, served with a side of ketchup, were properly salted and had a great texture.  The truffle fries, served with a truffle dip, were deemed “not too truffle-y” by Trev, since he could actually taste the fries and not just an overpowering flavor of mushroom.  The garlic fries were covered in a garlic aioli sauce, with little bits of garlic.  The portions were also generous for the price, particularly for LA.

IV. Miscellaneous

Amboy was opened in 2020 and is located in the Far East Plaza in Chinatown, in Chego’s old spot.  Orders are made at the counter, and there is limited indoor and outdoor seating.  Service was very good – we were checked up on a couple of times after receiving our food, which is unexpected for this type of casual service restaurant.  Drinks are available in cans and there is no complementary tap water, so bring your own if you’re thrifty but enjoy being hydrated.  They also seem to be environmentally conscious, as everything is served in paper products and they have recycling bins available.

Their menu also includes several different melts and hotdogs, as well as a mysteriously advertised option called a “Chester”.

I didn’t know this until researching for this review, but amboy is a term for a Filipino raised in America.  Per his cookbook bio, Alvin Cailan (the chef behind Amboy) grew up in East LA feeling not American enough to be an American but not Filipino enough to be Filipino, thus identifying with the term amboy.

V. Value

The members were asked how much they would pay for their burgers.  These were the ratings and value given by the crew:

Me: 4.8, $16

Wayne: 4.5, $10

Angela: 4.7, $16

DK. 4.8, $17.50

Trev: 4.8, $18

VI. Verdict

I think it’s safe to say that we can recommend Amboy for a great meal of burgers and fries.  Everything we tried seemed to be very thoughtfully considered and executed, and we all left satisfied and happy. 

A visit was long overdue, so kudos to DK for making it an official Burger Crew choice!

Next Burger Crew meeting is scheduled for Sunday, 5/5 at Ban Ban Burgers. 

Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at noon (Angela’s pick).

Members in attendance: Trev, Angela, Wayne, Innie, and this month’s reviewer, DK
Special Guests: Chris, Marissa, Molly

I. Ordering
The options at THICC are as varied as their neighbor stalls in the Original Farmer’s Market. This self-proclaimed “old-fashioned LA burger joint” is subterfuge; the offerings are anything but conservative.

Here’s what we ordered:
– Trev ordered the B.A.E. (beef patty, American cheese, bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato, pickles, THICC sauce)
– Angela ordered the Screwburger (chopped cheeseburger, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, dill pickles, THICC sauce) and fried pickles
– Wayne ordered the Hollapeno (beef patty, pepper jack, charred jalapenos, caramelized onions, Kaylin & Kaylin jalapeno pickles, THICC sauce) and garlic fries
– Innie ordered the Hollapeno and garlic fries…
– DK order the… Hollapeno… and garlic fries…

II. The Burgers
Surprising quality in the heart of a touristy location! The buttery buns were good and hearty but not too bready. The patties had good sear and felt loosely packed, especially the Screwburger which Angela said felt looser than a sandcastle during high tide… but in an appetizing way.

The THICCness of the patties reminded us of how patties USED to be before the smash burger revival and it’s always appreciated when they ask how well you want the patty cooked and deliver on it! As for the toppings, notably the bacon was more chewy than crunchy and the jalapenos weren’t spicy but still flavorful.

III. The Sides
The garlic fries weren’t too garlicky (they use garlic paste) and had great crisp. They somehow stayed crunchy long after they should have expired, so whoever was frying back there did a bang up job. The fried pickles were also a hit, way better than expected, and a solid choice to stick in the burger if that’s how you roll.

IV. Miscellaneous
They are located in stall #126. They cook everything to order and they’re upfront about it – don’t come here expecting fast food! That said, their time estimate was spot on. They have indoor and outdoor seating (dogs not allowed indoors) which was such a shame because the decor was very cute.

V. Value
I asked the members how much they would pay for their burgers. The responses ranged anywhere from $10 to $15, on par with the menu’s prices.

VI. The Verdict
A great local spot to take your friends while showing them around! The ratings: 4.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.2, and 4.3 #groupthink

Next month’s meeting: Amboy

Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at noon (Wayne’s Pick). Despite the meeting being at noon, Trev and I didn’t arrive until closer to 1pm due to a lot of street closures because of some event in Chinatown.

Members in attendance: Angela d. (that’s me!), Trevor Y., Wayne T., Dennis K., and Innie C.
Slider member in attendance: Lucy Y.
Special Guests: Chris Y. and Marissa G.

I. Ordering
There are 3 types of burgers + 1 for the vegans.

Trevor ordered a BBQ Bacon Lowburger, double ($14) – beef patty, bacon, house made bourbon BBQ sauce, american cheese, griddled onions, garlic mayo, toasted potato bun.

I ordered a Fresh burger ($10) – beef chuck patty, american cheese, crisp iceberg, sliced tomato, shaved onion, house-made pickles & garlic mayo on a toasted potato bun. Trev and I also bummed some fries off of everyone else 🤗

Chris and Innie also got a Fresh burger and a BBQ Bacon Lowburger and handcut fries ($8) that come with ketchup and garlic aioli.

Wayne also got stuck in traffic, but not nearly as bad as us. He ordered ahead of UberEats and got a Lowburger, double ($13) – beef chuck patty, 2000 island dressing, american cheese, red pepper jam, griddled onions, served on a toasted potato bun. He turned that into a combo to get fries + a diet coke (+$6).

Lastly, DK and Marissa got a fresh burger ($10) and a lowburger ($9) + fries ($8).

II. The Burgers
This place is known for their smash patties since LA is all about smashburgers. The meat wasn’t all that beefy nor was it seasoned all that well. The patties did have a lot of lace, but that didn’t make up for the lack of umami flavor we all crave in our burgers.

These burgers were well balanced because despite the lack of meatiness and seasoning, the burgers were pretty good. All the ingredients contributed to a good experience. Though I will say that they are heavy handed on the lettuce. I know it’s called a “Fresh burger”, but damn, I didn’t order a salad!

There was some debate over whether the pickles were good. DK didn’t like them, but others did. For the record, I didn’t notice them. Whether that’s a good thing or not, I’ll leave up to your interpretation.

The bacon was cooked inconsistently between burgers. Some had bacon that was easy to bite through and others had the experience of having the entire slice of bacon come out when you try to take a bite. The buns were squishy, toasty, and yummy.

The burgers are definitely on the smaller side so you should definitely get AT LEAST a double. We discussed that the burgers should come as a double by default. A single is just sad.

III. The Sides
The french fries were alright. They had good flavor, but were totally soggy. So if you like your fries a little on the soggier side, you’ll love these! They have a very generous serving size when you order it as a side. The combo serving is noticeably smaller.

IV. Miscellaneous
Service was fast. And the burgers were actually made next door! They have lots of good beer choices. The place was clean (bathroom, too) and they had both indoor and outdoor seating.

Since it’s in Echo Park, parking is nonexistent. And watch out for Chinatown road closures 🤨

V. Value
I ask the members how much they would pay for their burgers. We would pay anywhere from $8 to $11.75. So we thought the prices were slightly higher than we’d like to pay for these burgers (especially given the size of a single).

VI. The Verdict
The burgers have a nice lace and good balance (but don’t get the Fresh burger, unless you really love lettuce). The ratings: 2.8, 3.0, 3.1, 3.4, and 3.7.

Next burger crew meeting: Saturday, March 16th at noon – THICC Burger L.A. – Fairfax

Burger Crew meeting called to order on Jan 20, 2024.

Members in attendance: Angela, DK, Innie, Trevor, and Wayne

I. Ordering

Angela/Trevor: Double Western Combo (80/20 brisket blend, American cheese, tangy BBQ sauce, onion straws, buttermilk ranch, and pickles, with waffle fries), extra side of mac and cheese, hazy double IPA

Innie: Single Baldwin Combo (80/20 brisket and tri tip blend, American cheese, Smash sauce, sauteed onions, and pepperoncinis, with waffle fries), beer

DK: Double Baldwin Combo, beer

Wayne: Double Western Combo

II. Burgers

Our experience with the burgers was pretty mixed. Many of us found the patties to be dry, overcooked, and just burnt in general while others thought that theirs were fine. I also found my burger to be cold, as if it had been sitting and waiting to be ordered, but Angela and Trevor really liked theirs, saying that it was a really good western-style burger with the way everything was balanced. Trevor particularly liked the onion straws.

Innie and DK thought that their burgers tasted mostly like their condiments, which was the only thing keeping the burgers from being too dry. DK said that he wished his burger had more pepperoncinis; Innie said she didn’t even notice any in hers, and after some deliberation, we think that it’s possible that they accidentally gave her a classic smash burger instead of a Baldwin.

III. Sides

Everyone thought that the waffle fries were just ok, and just like with my burger, I thought that mine were really cold while others described theirs as “not hot.” Several of us thought they lacking seasoning; I usually eat fries without using ketchup or other dipping sauces, but I felt like I couldn’t eat these without ketchup because of lack of flavor.

On the bright side, the mac and cheese was praiseworthy according to Angela. It was was super cheesy and the morsels of Cheez-Its on top added a nice crunch.

IV. Misc

Everyone liked their beers; Trevor said his was the best double IPA he’s ever had. The outdoor seating isn’t a great experience when it rains, with tables that are too close to the edges of roofs and parts of the ground that get flooded with puddles that you need to walk through. They have their own small parking lot but it doesn’t hold that many cars. The women’s restroom was pretty much out of soap while we were there.

V. Rating/Value/Verdict

Angela: 3.6/$12
DK: 3.7/$12.75
Innie: 2.8/$10
Trevor: 3.4/$9.50
Wayne: 1.5/$6

Next Burger Crew meeting will be at Lowboy in Echo Park.