Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 7pm(Wayne’s pick).
Members in attendance: Angela d. (that’s me!), Trevor Y., Wayne T., Dennis K., and Innie C.
I. Ordering
Pretty simple menu with a focus on smash burgers
Trev and I ordered a BBQ Bacon Smash [double] + raw onions and pickles ($12 + 3 for the extra patty). We also got the bacon cheese fries ($7) and a Starry ($2).
Wayne got the Double Smash + pickles, tomato, raw onion, and cheese ($11). He also got an order of fries ($4).
DK got a Bacon Smash + jalapenos (+$1), cheese, and pickles ($11). He also got fries ($4).
Innie ordered a jalapeno smash + cheese, tomato, pickles, and raw onions ($9).
I feel like our Korean members typically order the same burger. If they both wanted bacon and jalapenos, would it be cheaper to start with a bacon smash and add jalapenos or start with a jalapeno smash and add bacon?
II. The Burgers
When we walked in, the delicious smell of maillard hit us in the face. These burgers had a lot of promise as much of taste is impacted by smell. These were truly smashed burgers. There was a lot of caramelization and a great skirt. I thought it was a tad bit oversmashed as the resulting patty ended up too dry and falling apart. As part of his contrarian nature, Wayne disagreed with me. But we all agreed that the overall experience of the burger was “crunchy bland”. We needed more meatiness from the patty and probably more seasoning as well.
In terms of toppings, the jalapeno smash had a spicy burger sauce that wasn’t too spicy (calibrate for Korean palate), but the jalapenos overpowered the entire burger (perhaps because it was a single). The BBQ bacon double smash was very messy and the onion ring was fine. I just didn’t get enough flavor.
III. The Sides
– Method Cooked: Double fried
– Moisture Content: Medium. There was definitely a nice potatoey-ness to the fries.
– Category: These are battered fries
– Flavor: Great flavor. They look really sad, but don’t let appearances fool you. They are crunchy, potatoey (in the best way), and had a great flavor.
– Seasoning: salt. The Bacon Cheese fries were way too much. The fries alone were good enough, no need to spend an extra $3 to get extra sodium and calories. Much more enjoyable to get these fries sans toppings
IV. Miscellaneous
Soooooo, this location isn’t in the best neighborhood. We encountered some sketchy looking people walking to the restaurant. And there was this guy who came in saying that he left his burger in here yesterday and that they should give him another one. The workers seemed really vigilant of this and guided this person out of the restaurant. Perhaps consider going to the Westwood location.
It’s in LA so street parking, but it’s free after 6pm (just be mindful of where you park).
This place is pretty small. There are 7 tables. You order at the kiosk so minimal human interaction is required to eat here. There is a small bathroom available. And the wait was a bit long. The fryer was slow as well. DK’s fries didn’t come until we were almost done with our burgers. They have canned soda and no free water available.
V. Value
I ask the members how much they would pay for their burgers. We would pay anywhere from $9 to $14. So these burgers are priced right.
VI. The Verdict
Great crunch, solid fries, but the burger needs more soul. It’s all looks and no substance. The ratings: 3.0, 3.2, 3.7, 3.7, and 4.1.
Next burger crew meeting will be at Panda Sal’s in Bellflower!