This was a last minute addition to our burger tour. We hit some logistical issues and didn’t get our car and therefore, couldn’t make it out of town for Whiskey Smoke 808 or Seven Brothers. So Betty’s Burgers to the rescue! This place is tucked in what feels like an alley and is easy to miss. They have basic diner style burgers. I ordered the teriyaki burger and enjoyed it since we’re in Hawaii! We hadn’t had a teri burger yet! The pineapple was very nice in this burger!
So Sumana (the MVP) waited in line early early early in the morning at the Kaka’ako Farmer’s Market to secure these highly coveted burgers. We can see why there’s the hype! This is a rich burger! Super truffly in the best way. Messy. Saucy. Delicious! Trev described it as if Boarded up by Chubbies and the Daley had an amazingly high achieving burger baby. The sauce on the side was crucial to add in order to add another flavor to break up the richness. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sumana!
This was a tale of 4 burgers. The Wayne, Innie, Trev, and Angela table both ordered the Carolina Onion, but both burgers came out differently. Ours had a random tomato (that was not part of the menu description). The Sumana, Will, DK, Marissa table both ordered the O.P. style and again, both burgers were noticeably different! Perhaps an issue of consistency. Regardless, this was also a solid burger. And just as we had at the Daley, excellent crinkle cut fries!
The Daley has a solid burger. They have a nice lace (on one side). Really nice sauce on this one and a nice flavor, but the patty could have used a bit more seasoning. It has a similar flavor profile to Everson Royce Bar and maybe could have used a hit of acid to round it out. Wonderful way to kick off Burger Crew Does Oahu!
So excited that we’re all in Hawaii and hanging out together again! Here’s a look back at our trip last year!
Now, in an effort to reduce friction and also try to remember things about these burgers, I’m going to be posting a quick summary of each burger. Reviewers are welcome to add on or completely write their own review! And here we gooooooooooooo
Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at noon.
Members in attendance: Angela d. (that’s me!), Trevor Y., Wayne T., Dennis, K. and Innie C.
Guest starring: Marissa G.
Given the name of the establishment, Trev and I had to get All In Combo – locally sourced prime cut beef patty, original recipe farm to table mushroom patty, house sauce, leaf lettuce, beefsteak tomato, diced onions, pickles, bacon, avocado, American cheese, on a fresh brioche bun ($21) that included a drink and fries. Trev also called an audible since they had a limited time offer of a double Poppychee for a low low price of $5.99.
Innie got the double poppychee – Our locally sourced prime cut beef patty, house sauce, pickles, caramelized onions, American cheese, on a fresh golden poppyseed bun ($5.99). After all those singles, she finally learned that double is usually the best way to go. She also got an order of onion rings ($5.25).
In true Wayne fashion, he ordered his food ahead on Door Dash. He got the Double Poppychee Combo witha Jarritos and changed the onions to grilled onions ($13.01) *shout out to Wayne for his excellent book keeping (I kept bugging him as I was writing this the day before our next meeting).
DK got 3 beef sliders – Locally sourced prime cut beef patty, house sauce, pickle, Hawaiian roll; and curly fries. Marissa rounded out their order with a Poppychee as well.
There was a lot of variability in these burgers. Let’s start with the sliders. DK said they were good, but could easily be made at home. They were single patties on Hawaiian rolls. Trev has made better sliders for us! Maybe it’s time for another burger crew home edition. DK said the sliders would have been better had they had more than 1 patty and used the intense amount of poppyseeds/sesame seeds as seen on the Poppychee.
Next up was the All In. As someone who loves mushroom patties on burgers (I’m looking at you, Shake Shack), I was sorely disappointed that a place called Mr. Mushrooms Burger Farm had such a terrible mushroom patty. It didn’t have that deep umami flavor that I was looking for in the mushroom patty. And all the rest of the toppings really worked hard to cancel out all the flavor in the burger. I should have followed my gut and never order a burger that has lettuce. Why would I want to add water to my burger?!?!
And I saved the best for last. Instead of Mr. Mushroom Burger Farm, maybe it should have been called Mr. Poppyseed Burger Farm because the poppyseeds and the sesame seeds on that bun were amazing. The double was the correct meat-to-bun ratio and the caramelized onions were chunky, the cheese was cheesy, and the sauce was very good. The pickles were very sweet bread and butter pickles, but the burger benefitted from that hit of sweetness. I miss when the default bun was a sesame seed bun instead of the glossy brioche buns we’ve gotten used to. This bun brought me back to better bun days.
The fries were described as “long coated fries” and they were in-fact long and coated. They were more like steak fries that had been roughed up. They were crispy on the outside with a nice texture, but fluffy on the inside. The best steak fries we’ve had! To be fair, you don’t see steak fries all that often.
The curly fries were good! Standard, seasoned curly fries executed well. They spurred a spirited discussion on the difference between curly fries and curled fried potatoes.
The onion rings were fried well, but didn’t have much onion flavor to them. It definitely needed a dip. Good if you just want fried dough dipped in ranch, but pretty forgettable.
The drinks are all in a fridge (so no fountain sodas). I love that they had Jarritos as well as Ito En teas (my fave). It’s Pasadena so street parking is limited, but there’s also a structure nearby for $12. Also, be careful on the ramp to the bathroom. Trev claimed it was slippery, but no one else had that issue. Maybe it’s time for new shoes 🤔
I ask the members how much they would pay for their burgers. We would pay anywhere from $10 to $14. So that limited time deal for the Poppychee burger is a steal! Get it while you can!
It was fun getting out to Pasadena (many of us hadn’t been in a while). The poppychee was a winner. I’m going to keep thinking about that bun. But don’t get any other burger on the menu! The ratings (these were only ratings for the Poppychee burger. Trust that you don’t want to see the ratings for the other burgers we ordered): 3.9, 4.2, 4.2, 4.2, and 4.4.
This is a streamlined review of Salt & Pearl. Members in attendance were Angela, Trevor, Innie, and Wayne. DK was too busy scuba diving to join.
Everyone got the smash burger since it was the only burger on the menu (double patty, American cheese, pickles, 1000 island, grilled onions), and it comes with fries by default. Angela and Trevor also ordered portabello fries (crispy garlic panko mushrooms, soy ginger dipping sauce) and the BBQ Oysters (cooked 3 ways: classic, New Orleans, and crispy bacon parm).
Smash burger:
Everyone agreed the burger was technically very solid. The sear had really good crispy and charred edges that gave the patty great texture without drying it out. It was juicy, well-balanced, and the American cheese added a nice richness. However, the burger didn’t really stand out and rise above “decently good” status. The toppings overall felt a bit underwhelming: the onions were in an awkward middle ground (neither raw nor caramelized), the tomato could’ve been better, and the pickles blended in rather than popping with acidity. It was also on the small side for the price, but it did come with fries. Overall, we liked it and would eat it again, but we wouldn’t go out of our way for it.
Fries:
Shoestring-style fries that were crispy, well-salted, and had a fluffy interior. The portion size was generous, but the fries were cut strangely short.
Portabello fries:
The batter was light and not overly thick, which allowed the mushroom to shine. The portabello itself was flavorful and meaty, and as fries they didn’t feel overly greasy. The dipping sauce was also really good. This would be a strong reorder if we came back.
BBQ oysters:
They were good but pricey. The crispy bacon parm ones in particular overwhelmed the oyster flavor. This was more like a one-time try than something to reorder.
Drinks:
Angela got a watermelon basil mule mocktail and didn’t like it, describing the taste of the alcohol as kind of like Robitussin. Trevor liked his beer and Innie liked her boulevardier.
Misc:
Indoor and outdoor seating available, and the outdoor seating had heaters, which was necessary for the chilly night. Service was friendly and attentive. Bathrooms were clean, though lighting in one was noticeably dim. Metered parking in the area was somewhat limited but manageable.
Scores/Value:
Angela: 4.2, $8
Innie: 3.8, $16
Trevor: 2.9, $7
Wayne: 4.0, $10
Palms n’ Patties – LA – March 15, 2026
Members in attendance: Trevor Y., Angela d., Dennis K, and Innie C.
“At Palms n’ Patties, quality is our priority. We keep it simple with organic, grass-fed beef and cook without seed oils. It’s simple, honest, and made for the community. just real food done right.” – Palms n’ Patties website and I concur.
I. Ordering
Check out the menu and brain tickling prices on everything.
DK ordered double cheeseburger + Jalapenos + Fries
Innie ordered a double grilled smash
Angela and I ordered a double grilled smash + PnP Fries with parmasean
Grilled Smash with inverted buns
PnP Fries with parmasean
II. The Burger
These burgers were simply very good in the most satisfying way. They delivered on their mission statement. The patties were very flavorful with a nice char/great sear accompanied by that lace we love so much. We also all loved the inverted grilled bun, it’s so simple and I’m pretty shocked I don’t see this more often.
The burger also had the right amount of cheesiness and delicious bread and butter pickles. There really isn’t much else to ask for.
Definitely opt for the double to get the right meat to burger ratio as we found the single to be too thin. And the overall size to be what would be an appropriate size for a normal human but would be considered on the smaller size if compared to competitors. Or maybe it’s just shrinklfation?
III. Sides
The fries tasted like McDonald’s fries but without the chemical aftertaste. I suspect this aftertaste is the use of the old oil at McDonald’s. Despite having a really great fry, the PnP fries could have used significantly more sauce and the parmasean cheese congealed into a loose “blanket” sitting on top fo the fries. It’s still good but could have been better. I’d still order it again given the opportunity.
Notice the “plain” fries underneath?
IV. Miscellaneous
Walking into the restaurant gave a very steril vibe akin to a fancy new urgent care center opening up. Very lackluster everything. Ordering was done at the counter with a kiosk and the only semblance of life was via a small cut out in the wall to the kitchen. Drinks were in a small fridge with mostly cans and bottles. While we dined inside at the sparse tables, we did notice a majority of the business was done via takeout/togo.
If you ever do find yourself in the area, please note there is parking available behind the building which is always a godsend in this part of town.
V. Value
We valued the double burger between $11 to $14 which is pretty spot on with their pricing. I find this to be appropriately valued especially in this inflated economy at the time of writing this review
VI. The Verdict
Burger Crew LA is really hitting it’s stride on finding solid burger places lately. Perhaps competition has been fierce among burger purveyors so everyone must up their game and we are here for it!
The ratings for the burgers ranged from 4.2 to 4.7. We loved it and Wayne totally missed out because he doesn’t know how to read a calendar.
Burger Crew meeting called to order on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at noon.
Members in attendance: Trevor Y., Angela d., Dennis K., Wayne T., and me, Innie C.
Special appearance by: Marissa G.
Tater tots: Marty and Ellis
I. Ordering
Primal Cuts offers steakhouse-style mains and sides, including New York strip and Picanha steaks, smash and non-smash burgers, mashed potatoes, fries, and a few roasted vegetable options. The smash burgers’ patties are 4 ounces each and can be ordered as a single or a double, while the non-smash burgers have a single 8 ounce patty.
Trevor and Angela ordered a double garlic smash burger (two 4 oz smashed beef patties, garlic aioli, American cheese, grilled onions, pickles; $11.50) with a side of tallow fries ($6). Wayne ordered two OG burgers (8 oz beef patty, cheddar cheese, mustard aioli, caramelized onions, pickles, brioche bun; $15). DK and Marissa ordered the OG burger, a single garlic smash burger ($8), and tallow fries. I ordered a double garlic smash burger.
II. The Burger
While it was not the right time of year to celebrate Festivus, our experience on this visit necessitated an airing of grievances. The patties for most of our burgers, whether they were intended to be smashed or not, did not meet our expectations. For Angela, Trevor, and my garlic smash burgers, the patties seemed pressed, rather than properly smashed. We definitely noticed the absence of sear, and the patties felt too thick to be considered a smash patty. The grind of the meat was very fine, and we theorized that it would have been the perfect texture to complement a deep, lacy sear… if there had been one. As it was served, though, the grind resulted in a rather spongey patty. Wayne’s and DK’s OG burgers similarly had a fine grind with no notable sear. Wayne described them to be very juicy with the medium doneness he requested, but it reminded him of a meatloaf rather than a burger patty. We all thought the beef itself was flavorful and of good quality, but would have been improved by more seasoning.
The garlic aioli and crispy pickles helped with adding more flavor back to the garlic smash burgers, but along with the rather unremarkable grilled onions, this didn’t make up for the overall need for salt.
The one shining beacon in our Burger Crew meeting was DK’s single garlic smash burger. His lone patty outshined all the other belles at the ball, having a thin, smashed halo of lace that draped over the buns. The ratio of meat to other ingredients also had a better balance of flavor compared to the doubles or the OG. Unfortunately, this was the one burger that the reviewer forgot to capture for photographic evidence…
The brioche and potato buns were fine, but did get a bit soggy as the meal progressed (particularly for Wayne’s OG burgers).
III. Sides
The french fries are fried in tallow, lending them a subtle beefy flavor and a satisfyingly crisp, golden brown exterior. The cook and seasoning on these fries were excellent.
What seems to be turning into Burger Crew custom is our Very Important, semi-regular discussion on fry sizes and standards. Steak fries? Shoestring? What should we call all those fry sizes that fall into the vast space between those categories? Where are the metrics for fry categorization?
The fries at Primal Cuts are a bit thicker than the average McDonald’s fry, but far from thick enough to venture into steak fry territory. Regardless of fry semantics, these fries were delicious.
IV. Miscellaneous
Primal Cuts resides in a food hall called Rodeo 72, one of a few “Rodeo” public market locations throughout California. The “72” in the name refers to Whittier Boulevard (Highway 72). The space in the food hall is very comfortable, with a plethora of indoor and outdoor seating options and clean restrooms. There didn’t seem to be any shortage of parking spots for us when we arrived at the location.
When driving to the food hall, it will feel like you are driving into a random gated community. Do not doubt your GPS this time; you are indeed on the right path.
V. Value
The crew was asked how much they would pay for their respective burgers. The responses for the double smash burger ranged from $10 to $14, the OG burger ranged from $12 to $13, and DK thought that he would pay $10 for the single garlic burger.
VI. The Verdict
The team at Primal Cuts delivered on their promise of quality meats, but missed the mark this time on the execution. If you’re looking for a burger at the Rodeo 72 food hall, we recommend that you order a single smash burger and tallow fries, and hope that the chef in the back has enough strength to smash that patty into lacey goodness.
The rating for the single garlic smash was a 4.3. The ratings for the other burgers were 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, and 3.1.
Next Burger Crew meeting is set for Sunday, 3/15 at Palms n’ Patties.
Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at noon. Welcome to 2026 where things are figuratively on fire, unlike last year when it was way more literal…
Members in attendance: Angela d., Trevor Y., Wayne T., Dennis K. (wave emoji), and Innie C.
Sliders in attendance: Marty, Ellis, and Molly
Special guest: Marissa G.
I. Ordering
Move aside Eat Fantastic *theatrical shove*… welcome to Beasties! where the line between burger and torta used to blur to infinity (it’s now permanently closed). Ordering was a cinch since the burgers are named after the number of patties en español.
Each burger came with a side of queso for dipping.
II. The Burgers
The potato buns were great: a little hint of sweetness, held up great without sogging. Great choice to go with this style of burger.
The patties are made of angus beef: a blend of chuck, brisket, and short rib. This was another great choice as the Crew really liked the primal beefiness, especially los amigos that ordered las doses. Great maillard and seared well, but not too much of that lacy skirt we love.
On top of the patties is a thin layer of chorizo. Very complementary on the dos but a smidge overpowering on the uno, so definitely go double if you want a burger experience and go uno if you’re fiending for a chorizo sandwich.
Whether you get an uno or dos (or heck, even a tres), you’re in for a flavor bomb of a meal. These burgers have great texture and flavor, and I haven’t even brought up the side of dipping queso which adds a whole ‘nother dimension.
III. The Sides
Pretty good standard cut, crispy french fries. Goes well with the queso dip if you’re into that. The smash tacos were pretty tasty too; better than the uno but probably not better than the dos.
IV. Miscellaneous
While there’s plenty of parking spots, there aren’t many spots to park your tushie (patio seating only, not many that are kid-friendly). Food comes out pretty quickly though; feels like a eat-and-go kind of place.
V. Value
I asked the members how much they would pay for the burger they ate. Their responses ranged from $7 to $14.
VI. The Verdict
The scores: 3.4, 3.5, 4.0, 4.0, 4.3 – which on average is about a half point higher than the previous tenant, Eat Fantastic. Welcome to the neighborhood, Beasties! Hope you stick around.
