Burger crew meeting called to order on Saturday, July 24th, 2021.
Members in attendance: Angela, Trev, Marty, DK, Innie
Original burger crew meeting was slated for For The Win. Unfortunately when we arrived the restaurant was closed due to plumbing issues. Needless to say, there was no win.
Our consolation was a place a couple miles away called Blue Burger. It is located inside Bluebird Market which resembles more a liquor store than a market. The “market” portion is easily rivaled by the “mini store” in the lobby of the local TownePlace Suites by Marriot.
I. Ordering
There were only 4 burgers on the menu with a Fries add on for $2. The prices listed below reflect burger only.
Angela and Trevor ordered the Original Burger $9 – Raw onions, Mayo, Ketchup, Mustard, Lettuce, Tomato, American Cheese
and
Tex Mex with Fries $10 – American Cheese, Bacon, BBQ Sauce, Onion (fried)
DK ordered the Hot Cheeto Burger with Fries $12 – American Cheese, Bacon, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato, Fried Onions, Mayo, Ketchup
Wayne and Innie ordered the Original Burger with fries.
II. The Burgers
We all found the OG Burger was super juicy and really good. The patties had a really great sear with nice rough grind. All the burgers came with TWO patties and TWO super melty slices of cheese. The buns were also EXTRA toasted. We really don’t see enough of this around. The chef really made the burgers with care and love and it absolutely shows.
As for the Hot Cheetos burger, the first reaction after picking it up with the hands is that it was really stiff to the point it could be snapped. However, after first bite the fears were assuaged and the burger gave way predictably and nicely. The cheetos gave a crunch and felt really satisfying. Perhaps it could be described as ASMR for the mouth.
III. Fries
Fries seem single fried a-la crispy on the outside and way over done on the inside. If you’ve ever had fries at In ‘n Out “well done” then you know what I’m talking about. Plenty of seasoning salt to make that Coke taste extra good.
IV. Miscellaneous
This is strictly to-go establishment. There’s no seating available inside the market. There’s loud thumping music playing on the speakers.
It’s simply one chef working the grill/counter and payment is done in the market portion of the store. We didn’t see mask wearing by the chef.
Parking is difficult because ktown.
Hours are Closed Tuesday
12PM-9PM all other days except Friday and Saturday they close two hours later at 11PM
V. Value
As a group we valued the burgers between $9 and $12. The actual pricing is good for the money.
VI. The Verdict
The ratings: 4.1, 4.2, 3.5, 4, and 4.2. Perhaps there’s an indicator that one of the burgers wasn’t consistently made. Overall we really enjoyed the burger. Personally I would not go out of my way to come back but If I was in the area I’d definitely stop in if I were craving a hamburger.
Burger crew meeting called to order on Saturday, June 26th, 2021.
Members in attendance: Angela, Trev, Marty, DK, Wayne, and me (Innie)
Burger Crew’s second in-person meeting in a post-mask-mandatory world. Also, my first in-person meeting that I’ve been able to join post-baby! The adrenaline of being outside without mask and without baby was even further amplified by the thrill of seeing the crew up close and in person again! Add a burger and a beer to the mix, and we’ve basically described my current equivalent of a kid’s trip to Disneyland.
I. Ordering
DK ordered The BLVD (house-ground Angus beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, fancy sauce, and cheddar; $15), and side of sea salt fries.
After a glowing recommendation from the person taking our order, Wayne and I ordered The Marquis (lamb merguez patty, roasted bell pepper, arugula and red onion salata, and harissa aioli; $14). Wayne also ordered garlic parmesan fries.
Trev, Angela, and Marty ordered The BLVD, The Melrose (pollo asado sausage patty, elote salsa, pickled onion, arugula, and jack cheese; $12), and a side of Za’atar fries. All fries were $4 for a half order, and $7 for a full order.
As a note, both The Marquis and The Melrose burgers are listed on a physical menu at their counter, but not currently listed in the online version of the menu on their website. In fact, there are also some burgers that are online, but not on the counter menu. My suggestion is to do your homework if you want to know all your options!
II. The Burgers
The BLVD is a classic, but upscaled, burger. The crew summed it up as “a nice weekend burger” – everything you expect a burger to be, but with a little something extra special. The patty had a great meaty flavor, and was juicy and tender. The only criticism seemed to be that it could have used a little more sear. The tomato was delicious. That may probably be an odd detail to highlight, but as regular burger eaters know, the mealy, flavorless tomato slice is sadly prolific. High praise without words was DK and Angela eating and enjoying their tomato slices instead of donating them to our resident tomato enthusiast, Trev. (For those interested in doing a good deed, Trev accepts tomatoes in all forms: sliced, cherry, liquified into ketchup, etc.)
As good as The BLVD was, the Marquis was the shining winner that day. It got a slew of glowing descriptions from Wayne and I: lots of flavorful spices, a little bit of heat on the backend, and super juicy. As a self-reported spice fiend, the touch of heat at the end of each bite was unexpected but really appreciated. The lamb flavor was present, but not overtly game-y (something that I was initially worried about). Each component of the burger seemed to be well thought out, and they all played together in a satisfying and balanced way. The texture of the patty was very much like a breakfast sausage with a nice “al dente” chew. The arugula and red onion salata was fresh and peppery, and the salt on top of the burger bun was a nice touch. As a side note, I had to google what merguez was during the writing of this review, and it’s a lamb or beef sausage flavored with cumin, chili, and/or harissa with origins in North Africa. For what it’s worth, my unqualified opinion is that The WeHo Sausage Co. makes some good merguez.
Going to a location called the WeHo Sausage Company predictably triggered the classic Burger Crew conversation of “burger versus sandwich”: Besides beef, does lamb meet the criteria of acceptable patty material to call it a “burger”? (Answer: Yes) What about chicken? (Answer: No) Veggie/plant based? (Answer: C’mon). Pork? (Answer: Probably not?) Anyway, as such, for the sake of being pedantic, the following review for The Melrose comes with an asterisk of “not a burger”.
Trev, Angela, and Marty really enjoyed The Melrose. The elote salsa and jack cheese created a cheesy corn mixture that was amazing and made for a “feel good” chicken sandwich. It was a little on the salty side, but still a delicious flavor bomb. The buns for all the burgers held up well and we had no complaints.
III. Fries
Between the group, we managed to order the gamut of fry flavors without coordinating (yay for subconscious burger hive mind!), and we ended up enjoying all of them to varying degrees. The fries had a nice bite to them, with a golden double fried exterior and a fluffy inside. They stayed tasty even as the meal ended and they got cold. Between the sea salt, garlic parmesan, and za’atar, the za’atar had the best flavor and stood out the most. The regular sea salt fries were still solid though, and were well seasoned. The garlic parmesan fries had the pretty standard flavor that you come to expect from garlic parm fries. The fries are prepared skin-on, and come served with ketchup and their house ranch sauce.
IV. Miscellaneous
The food did take a while to finish after we placed our orders. I think we were originally quoted a 10-15 minute wait, but we waited closer to 25. The food was well worth the wait, but it might be something to consider if you’re running on a tight schedule.
Their beer selection was limited to only canned beer, but was still impressive! Their website states that they have 100+ varietals of local, craft, domestic, and imported beer. Another plus was that the staff seemed really knowledgeable about the offerings, and gave some nice recommendations when asked.
The WeHo Sausage Co. is located inside Citizen Public Market, a food hall with six other stalls and a combination of shared indoor and outdoor seating (including a rooftop bar, a patio located adjacent to WeHo Sausage Company, and at least for now, tables with pop up tents on Culver Blvd before you enter the building.) The hall was a beautiful space, and had a cool old-school, historic downtown Culver City vibe that was a great backdrop to our food.
I had a true mind trip entering this place; after walking in, it just kept going and going… It was the real life embodiment of the “bigger on the inside” TV trope!
Their hours are 11am – 9pm on Tuesday – Thursday, and Sunday, and 11a – 11p on Fridays and Saturdays. Parking is either street parking, which seems to have a limit of 1-2 hours, or public parking structures. The public parking structure that is connected to the Trader Joes seems to be the closest one available to the food hall.
V. Value
The members were asked how much they would pay for the burger, and it ranged between $8.50 and $16, with an average of $12.70. Our burgers cost $14-15, so it was priced slightly above what we valued it at. However, for a place in a pretty trendy downtown Culver City food space, their prices seem fair for a really enjoyable burger.
VI. The Verdict
The ratings: 4.5, 3.7, 3.0, 3.9, and 4.5. We highly recommend The Marquis, and also recommend checking out this food hall for what looked like some amazing food and drinks!
Next burger crew meeting is set for Saturday, July 24th at For the Win in Hollywood.
Burger Crew meeting called to order on Saturday, May 15, 2020.
Members in attendance: Angela, Trev, Marty, Wayne, and future K-Pop star, DK Non-synchronously remote: Innie
We would like to personally thank the fine folks at the CDC for lifting the fckn mask and distancing restrictions for vaccinated peoples. Today marked the first in-person meeting of 2021. It’s fckn good to be back, folks.
I. Ordering There are four burgers on the menu and we tried two of them:
The FCKN Good Burger Beef patty with American cheese and house sauce with caramelized onions; served on a potato roll bun and possibly thrown around like a baseball before serving.
– Trev and Angela ordered a double with bacon – Marty ordered a single – Wayne ordered a double – Innie had a double delivered to her
The Tommy Beef patty with American cheese, bacon, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup; served on a potato roll bun and made to look like it walked away from a bad car accident.
– I ordered a double – Innie had a single delivered to her
All of their burgers come with a sweet & spicy pickle spear. Someone must have stolen the entire fckn jar though because none of us got one.
II. The Burgers The potato buns were nice and squishy like “memory foam without the memory” according to Trev. They weren’t toasted but we got good texture from the patties. It felt good biting into this burger. The patties had a really nice sear and a surprisingly beefy flavor for how thin they were. The easy choice of using American cheese meant that the patties were topped with a gooey goodiness that got nooked in all the crannies. There was consensus that the meat-to-cheese-to-bun ratio was best with the doubles, but in full disclosure, none of us tried a triple so the double might just be second-best.
As for the other toppings, the bacon was mostly crunchy and very tasty. The shredduce and the off-season tomatoes in the Tommy were nothing to write home about. Those who ordered the FCKN Good Burger liked the flavor of the house sauce with caramelized onions. Innie called out the fact that there were onions layered between each patty, which is so generous of them! But you know what’s not generous? Not getting any fckn pickles.
If you’re getting this delivered, stay away from the Tommy. Between the lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, and residual steam, there’s enough moisture to make the burger look like it just ran a marathon. Innie said the even bacon was soggy!
III. The Fries/Sides We might have spent more time talking about the sides than the burgers. The fried zucchini, tater tots, and onion rings were all so well done. Great crunch and they stayed crunchy long after cooling down. If they added a new Applebee’s style sampler platter to their menu, it would hands down be the best dish!
IV. Miscellaneous One of the better designed physical distance markings in front of the shop. You’ll get blasted with a strong whiff of coffee once you walk in. Nice outdoor setup in the back with fake grass, string lights, fans, and heaters. The chairs are painted in a variety of bright colors which gives it a kind of Mexican aesthetic. There was a live DJ that was bumping great music during our Saturday lunch. Great vibe and super dog friendly! There may or may not be a bathroom though…
V. Value The members were asked how much they would pay for the burger and the responses ranged between $9.00 and $13.00 which is in line with the actual prices. Good value!
VI. The Verdict The ratings were 4.0, 3.9, 4.1, 3.8, 2.5, and 4.0. Another solid burger for West LA!
Burger crew meeting called to order on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 4:30pm (Wayne’s choice).
Members in attendance: Angela d., Trevor Y., Wayne T., Innie C., and Christian Y. (guest).
Slider member: Marty d.
Absent: Dennis K.
I. Ordering All burgers are served with lettuce, spread, tomato, onion, and pickles. Trev and Angela split the outlaw burger ($12) – 99% flavor, 1% outlaw Angus ground beef patty with sharp dry cheddar cheese, hearty strips of smoked apple wood bacon and crispy shoestring onion rings drenched from top to bottom in our famous BBQ sauce. We also got the bacon wrapped onion rings (3 pieces for $10).
Marty got the 2 mini slider kid’s meal ($9) that included 2 sliders, fries, and gummi worms!
Wayne got the double bacon cheese burger ($10.49) with chipotle spread instead of the regular spread. He also ordered the bacon wrapped onion rings and an epic strawberry lemonade ($3).
Innie got classic (double) $11 – Classic original flavor. 100% grass-fed Angus beef topped with fresh tomato, crisp iceberg lettuce, onions, and crunchy dill pickle chips dressed with mayo and mustard. She also got some regular onion rings ($7). Chris got the Roadking burger ($12) – Smoked apple wood bacon layered on our 100% organic Angus beef with sharp cheddar cheese.
II. The burgers
The meat was dry and crumbly. Maybe meat was too lean. All the burgers were well done; not like “good job” well done, but overcooked well done. There was really no beefy flavor despite the seasoning. All the toppings were really good. The onion strings were crisp and very satisfying. You could bite clean through the burger without anything getting pulled out. There was a nice soak of the BBQ sauce into the burger. The bacon bits on top were a nice garnish. The bacon was clearly their strong suit. All the members agreed that the bacon was done perfectly, which is difficult given our differing views on bacon.
The buns held up, but were nothing special. There wasn’t any flavor in the bun and was more of a structural component. Innie’s burger had cheese on the top of the bun. Innie’s was onion forward (raw onions) and there was an abundance of mayo. Innie feels like she missed out since she had a really basic burger and Big D’s seems to be all about the toppings.
III. The fries/sides Fries were fine. A little soggy, but seasoned. The bacon wrapped onion rings were SO GOOD! Crispy, salty, sweetness from the onion. It all melded well together. They are a bit pricey at $10 for 3 rings, but well worth it. The regular onion rings had a large portion. The coating was super soft and fell off and unfortunately Trev and I were unlucky and got one with the onion skin left on it!
IV. Miscellaneous
The pick up time was later than scheduled. It took an addition 15 to 20 minutes than when pick up time was scheduled. Wayne’s lemonade came with 3 sour belts and a large gummy shark and cotton candy! Totally unexpected. Real strawberry pulp, too so a legit strawberry lemonade. You can order on Uber eats, yelp, grub hub as the Big D’s website is non-existent.
We ended up ordering take out and driving to Palm Park, which is about 1.5 miles away. The park was really nice with lots of benches. Great for social distancing!
V. Value I ask the members how much they would pay for the burger they ate. We would pay anywhere between $8 and $11 so value is decent.
VI. The verdict I surprisingly enjoyed this burger very much. I usually need a good patty to rate it high, but I enjoyed all the toppings so much! I think everyone else needed better meat. The ratings: 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, and 3.5
The next burger crew meeting is scheduled for December 11, 2020 and will be remote given the state of the COVID. Stay healthy everyone!
Burger Crew meeting called to order on October 17, 2020.
Members in attendance: Angela, DK, Innie, Trevor, and Wayne
We’re still following pandemic protocol and picking up our food and eating it elsewhere. As Trevor alluded to in the last review, he concocted a master plan to evade our insect tormentors. That plan: to eat at a higher elevation because as we all know, insects suffer from altitude sickness. We ended up setting up our chairs and eating on top of a nearby parking structure. On to the review!
I. Ordering
All of us ordered our food ahead of time through various food ordering platforms. Surprisingly, the restaurant’s own website had the incorrect link for ordering food, and depending on which platform you were ordering from, different food options were available. Most notably, onion rings were missing from some of them. Trying to place an order by phone resulted in the call going straight to voicemail, and on top of that, their voicemail inbox was full.
As far as meat burgers go, Pop’s follows the In-N-Out model of basically having only one type of burger but you choose how many patties you want. All of them have “Creekstone Farms Beef Patties dusted with House Blend Seasoning, Red Wine Sauce and Grass-fed Butter topped with Special Sauce Pickles, Caramelized Onions, and American Cheese.”
Angela and Trevor ordered a double ($8) with egg ($2.50), onion rings ($4), and fries ($4). DK ordered a single ($6) with Skittles. Innie ordered a single with iceberg lettuce. I ordered a double with Pop’s secret sauce and fried pickles ($6.50).
My double burger with Pop’s secret sauce
II. The Burgers
Everyone was in general agreement right off the bat that getting a double was better than getting a single. Trevor said that double meat was the way to go, and Innie felt that her single burger wasn’t beefy enough, nor did she think that it was seasoned enough, and even though I had a double, I still felt like it wasn’t beefy enough. DK thought the patty was like a McDonald’s patty with a slightly better sear.
Aside from the meat, the burgers had a good amount of pickle in each bite, and the cheese was melted well over the patties. The onions were nice and caramelized and the bun was sweet and gooey, but these might’ve contributed to an overall mushiness in terms of how the burgers felt in your mouth.
Angela complained that her and Trevor’s burger (which was cut in half by the restaurant) was super messy and that the burger wasn’t cut appropriately in half, with the bun not distributed evenly.
III. The Sides
The fries were thin cut, and agreed that they were overly salted/seasoned, and Trevor thought they were too peppery. However, they managed to stay crispy despite not eating them right away.
The onion rings had a soft and thick batter, and the onion inside was cooked throughout so it didn’t pull out when you bit into them. They were very good overall.
The big winner of the sides was the fried pickles. They had lots of flavor and the batter stayed crispy as well.
Fried pickles
IV. Miscellaneous
Pop’s is located in the 3rd Street Promenade inside of the SocialEats food hall. When we picked up our food, there was only one person handling order pickups for all of the establishments inside of the food hall due to the pandemic, so during a busy time, this might be a problem (we ordered for 4:30PM pickup). Parking is also what you would expect from Santa Monica, where street parking can be hard to find.
V. Value
Most of us valued the burgers between $6-$8.50, with one outlier of $12, so the burgers were priced OK and could be a good value if they were executed better.
VI. The Verdict
The ratings were 2.5, 2.5, 2.8, 3.0, and 3.1. None of us were impressed by the burgers. If you want burgers in Santa Monica, HiHo Cheeseburger is nearby and has much better burgers.
Next meeting: Big D’s Burgers in Whittier on November 15, 2020.
“FOR 100 WE TRY HARDER” Burger crew meeting called to order on Saturday, September 12th, 2020.
Members in attendance: Angela, Trev, Wayne, Innie Missing member at large: DK Guest: Christian
We Tripped up and had a last minute change of venue to Burgers 99, the same proprietors as Badmaash.
We are still navigating the format for burger crew meetings in person. The last three meetings (including this one) has taking place in a park and the most recent two has resulted in multiple insect bites! I will need to brainstorm the locale for the next meeting.
I. Ordering
Burgers99 had a very similar feel to our burger pick last week (Uncool Burgers). The space looks about the same size and they’re both on somewhat trendy streets just in a different part of trendy Los Angeles.
The menu is simple and essentially only has 4 burgers on it
Ordering was very simple at the counter or online
II. The Burgers
The group collectively agreed that the patties had great seasoning. Even though the patties were ordered medium rare we found it was cooked medium and Wayne’s was overcooked but the meat flavor was still plentiful which could be attributed to quality and freshness in the meat. The tasty patty was accompanied by a great bun. It was soft but firm or firm but soft … basically near perfect. The cheese was ooey gooey perfect. Unfortunately not all was great. The onions still had the thin layer on them which prevented clean bites of onions. Given how great everything else was this is a small item to gripe yet still legitimate as it has a direct effect on the joy factor on a per bite basis.
If you find yourself deciding between the single or the double, opt for the double. We found that it had a good meat to bun ratio and lettuce, tomato, and pickles did their job in a supporting “roll” to create a wonderfully messy tasty burger. If you want a less meat forward experience, the single patty does still hold it’s own.
III. Fries
The fries were somewhat crispy. This is by no fault of Burger99. We had ordered to take out and by the time we got to the fries they were okay. No strong feelings one way or another.
IV. Miscellaneous
As in all things Los Angeles related, the parking can be very tricky especially on a busy street like La Brea. In front of the store there were two small tables on the sidewalk if you opt to eat there. Burger Crew decided to eat nearby at a park and the writer of this review quickly was bit on the legs by insects (probably mosquitos). I spent the rest of the meeting walking laps around the tables to stay moving in an attempt to avoid being bitten any more.
V. Value
We valued the burgers between $8 and $12 depending on the number of patties and at the time of writing this review, every burger was sub $10 (exception is the triple cheeseburger) which makes this place a great value.
VI. The Verdict
The ratings were 3.7, 4.0, 4.1, and 4.3 out of 5 which makes also this place an excellent burger. We hope this place has much success and to come back one day post-pandemic.
Next meeting: 10/17/20 at Pop’s Burger in Santa Monica
Burger crew meeting called to order on Saturday, August 15th, 2020.
Members in attendance: Angela, Trev, DK, Wayne, me (Innie) Special guest appearance: Trophy husband, Christian
The second socially-distanced, in-person burger crew meeting of our post COVID-19 world. It was amazing to see everyone’s faces again! Or at least the parts not covered by masks. We all met up to order take out at Uncool Burgers then drove to a nearby grassy area to eat outside in camping chairs (while simultaneously being eaten by mosquitos… The circle of life!)
Shower thought tangent: If Rafiki holds up a burger at Pride Rock, does that make it a Burger King?
I. Ordering
Uncool Burgers offers 6 burgers on the menu, all of which can be ordered as a single or double patty burger, a salad, or a rice bowl. They also offer a couple of vegan-specific options, as well as quite a few variations of crispy chicken sandwiches. There were a couple of ways to order: either in person at the restaurant, or through their website online. We all ordered at around the same time, with a few of us using each option, and the food came out within a few minutes of each other. The food came out way earlier than the quoted time when ordering online, however, so keep that in mind if ordering ahead!
Wayne ordered the double Breakfast Burger (uncool sauce, onion jam, fried egg, hashbrown, and gruyere), $10, with a side of onion rings, $4.
Angela and Trev ordered the double Rolls Royce Burger (raclette cheese, kewpie truffle mayo, wild arugula, fennel salad, onion jam), $15. They also ordered funions (half fries, half onion rings), $4.50.
DK ordered the double Classic Burger (burger sauce, caramelized onions, tomato, house pickles, lettuce, American cheese), $7. I ordered the single Uncool Burger (uncool sauce, onion jam, cheese crisp, American cheese, house pickles), $6. Chris also ordered the Uncool Burger, but as a double, $8. We ordered onion rings, $4
Side note: By the time we sat down to eat, it was already dark, so our pictures turned out to be terrible potato representations of what I’m sure were actually very appetizing looking burgers. To avoid doing Uncool Burgers a disservice, I’m omitting the pictures for this round of review.
II. The Burgers
We had a hard time choosing just one burger, since a lot of them sounded intriguing. The house patties were a blend of grass-fed beef chuck and short rib, and from what we could tell, were of the smash type (though not markedly thin or lacey). We didn’t discuss the sear of the burgers, but that may have been mostly because we couldn’t see anything besides the general burger shape vehicle of meat and bun.
One of the winners of the bunch was the cheese crisp on the Uncool Burger. That element was the shining umami MVP; salty and rich, with a nice thickness and chew. Chris and I wondered for a few minutes if we had somehow gotten bacon in our burgers. (Surprise bacon is best bacon.) Along with the house pickles and sauce, the Uncool Burger had a really satisfying bite of textures and flavors.
Wayne’s Breakfast Burger was pretty messy, since his fried egg ended up bursting in transit. Despite the congealed egg getting stuck to the wrapper, Wayne said that he enjoyed his burger. The hashbrown was crispy, and was slightly thinner than a McDonald’s one.
DK thought that his Classic Burger had a bit of a horseradish/mustard hint, although neither ingredient is listed in the description. DK called his “an all around good burger.”
The Rolls Royce Burger, split between Angela and Trevor, was very cheesy and gooey, likely a product of the melted raclette cheese. They mostly tasted a lot of cheese and arugula, and thought the burger could have used more balance and flavor.
All the burgers were messy and saucy (not in a bad way), and the buns for all burgers held up well, even for Wayne’s eggy mess. We all thought that the burgers were still solidly enjoyable for being slightly cold and would be even better fresh. The flavors all melded well together, where we didn’t really know where one ingredient ended and another started.
Those that ordered the double patties thought it was a nice ratio of meat to toppings. I was the loner who ordered a single, but I definitely didn’t feel like I was missing the second patty.
III. Fries
The fries were good, even after a few minutes of moving locations. They were thin and crispy, with the thinness of McDonalds fries but not the texture. The onion rings were very crunchy, with a rough textured batter. The onions stayed mostly inside when biting through them. They didn’t taste seasoned or salted, and needed sauce. There’s a selection of 8 different sauces to choose from, with a couple options having an extra surcharge (chimchurri ranch +$0.50, and vegan truffle island (+$1). Chris and I had the Uncool sauce, which reminded us of Chick-fil-A sauce, so it may have similarly been a mix of honey mustard and barbeque. Wayne also ordered the yuzu chipotle aioli that he really enjoyed.
IV. Miscellaneous
Uncool Burgers opened mid-pandemic, in June. Admirably ballsy, and we’re glad they decided to open! DK mentioned that the owner also owns a couple of other businesses in the Larchmont area. There were plenty of metered spots available, but that may have been because we came pretty late in the day when most of the businesses were closed. Uncool burgers is open late! Until 11p on Sunday through Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. They also offer a couple of all-day breakfast options (breakfast burrito and a vegan sausage sandwich), a kids menu (grilled cheeses and a plain burger), and a few dessert options (hand pies and a vegan milkshake). Their crispy chicken sandwiches sounded tempting enough to consider having a second dinner after the meeting.
V. Value
The members were asked how much they would pay for the burger and it ranged from $10 – $12. Since our burgers’ actual costs ranged from $6 – $15, most of us got a pretty good deal. We generally thought that their menu prices were very reasonable, especially for a pretty trendy area in LA.
VI. The Verdict
The ratings were 4.2, 4.1, 4.1, 3.0, and 3.4. With the exception of a particular burger, this place got high marks and praise from the crew! We’re happy to see that the burger landscape is still churning out great places amidst the shutdown. I can’t wait to come back when I’m able to see the burger and/or chicken sandwich I’m eating.
Next burger crew meeting is set for Saturday, September 12th at Tripp Burgers at the corner of Sepulveda and Palms.
Burger crew meeting called to order on Sunday, July 12, 2020.
Members in attendance: Angela, Trev, Wayne, Marty, and-a-me, DK Absent: Innie
COVID-19 has devastated the burger world and by transitive property, us. In our respective domiciles, strategically situated throughout LA county (except the Valley because ew), Burger Crew LA has been keeping small burger businesses afloat with our hearts and wallets. Today, we eat together in solidarity (fist pump emoji) at a nearby park in sunny Long Beach, Calif.
I. Ordering Amorcito has one burger on the menu so ordering was a cinch. The New Mexican Hatch Chile Burger has a single angus beef patty, garlic aioli, hatch green chile puree, ketchup, mustard, pickles, American cheese, on a soft potato bun. Ironically, in this era of delivery and takeout, you can order raw sushi but not get burger patties cooked medium rare, so be forewarned if that is a deciding factor.
II. The Burgers First up, the buns. Soft and gooey, they held up and tasted great, as great as potato buns can taste. I didn’t notice any toast marks on them but I suspect they steamed in the container on the way over. Trev thought the buns tasted like Hawaiian rolls but he’s said this a few times recently and I’m convinced the man just has an itch for Hawaiian rolls. (Alexa, make Angela buy Hawaiian rolls for Trevor!)
The patties looked like they were cooked medium. Of course, we (the hive) prefer medium rare when possible but understand it’s tricky with take out. They had a nice beefy flavor (always the crowd-pleaser) and were tenderly packed. I don’t remember much of a sear and it wasn’t discussed which has me stunned in hindsight. But I just think we were all eagerly waiting to talk about the star of the burger…
Yes, the mustard. Bold yellow, the kind seen in the background of every American BBQ. It totally works with this style of burger, which to me, is a gourmet McDonald’s cheeseburger, very HiHo. None of the other toppings competed for the spotlight, so other than being mustard-forward, this was a well-balanced burger. The only “disappointment” was the hatch chile which oddly was the runt of the lot, buried by its tastier siblings. The burger was still tasty without it, so no love lost.
It’s been rumored that a double cheeseburger can be ordered. Our source believes that the double is not proportioned well, however, and possibly a conspiracy to launder beef.
III. The Fries No fries this time, though I saw chicharrones on a menu and couldn’t resist. These were dressed with lime, salsa roja, cilantro, and red pickled jalapenos. Mostly soggy by the time I got into them, they still tasted festive and were a real treat. I’d love to try these again in person the way they were meant to be eaten!
IV. Miscellaneous Amorcito is located inside of the Long Beach Exchange (LBX) which currently has plenty of free parking spots in its huge parking lots. Normally it’s horrible, so I’ve been told. The food was sealed in bags with napkins and utensils inside. Marty requested no chiles on her burger and it was properly labeled. From ordering to pick up, everything went about as smooth as it could go!
V. Value The members were asked how much they would pay for the burger and it ranged between $6.00 and $9.50. The burger is priced at $6.75 which is a really decent price in 2020. It’s a little undersized for American appetites; reason enough to try their tasty sides if you’re into spicy and tangy.
VI. The Verdict The ratings: 3.1, 3.9, 4.0, and 4.2. As the lone burger representing the LBX, we stand with you Amorcito. Please stay in business!
Next meeting will be sometime during the weekend of August 15-16. Stay tuned!
Burger crew meeting called to order on Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Members in attendance: Angela, Trevor, Wayne, DK, and Innie.
I. Ordering
Trev and I split “The Classic” – $9 – American cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, burger shop dressing. We made it a double for $2.99, we also added bacon for $2. We ordered fries for $3.
Wayne got “The 3pm” – $9 – Bacon, crispy onion ring, American cheese, and BBQ sauce. He made it a double for $2.99 and made it a combo for $3.99.
Innie got the “Toro Bravo” – $10 – Roasted hatch chilies, candied bacon, with cheddar, and habanero aioli.
DK got the “Loaded grilled cheese” – $7 – Caramelized onions, tomatoes, pickles, avocado, white cheddar and cheese sauce. Which, as you can see from the description does NOT include a burger patty. DK found that out the hard way! He got his grilled cheese and had to ask them to add a burger patty on it. Not sure if he just got himself kicked out of burger crew.
II. The Burgers
The patties had inconsistent doneness. They were well seared on one side, but not on the other. It was a course grind, hard packed, with a good chew and juicy. The seasoning was inconsistent. I had some pupil dilating bites, and others were ho hum. The double is way too much meat. I would opt for the single if I were to come back again.
The buns were soft and toasty, but Trev thought it was briochey and dry. Most of us didn’t really notice the bun. We weren’t in love, but more in like. We’re just friends.
Regarding the toppings, I was not a fan of the wet lettuce at the bottom of the burger. Poor structural integrity. The bacon was crispy and good! Innie had candied bacon, which she reported was not too sweet, but she liked it. The sauce was good and toppings were all great. Wayne’s onion ring stayed together, the hatch chilies on Innie’s were like more flavorful jalapenos, but a mild heat. So if you’re a heat fiend like Innie or DK, this is a little mellow for you. Burgers were also very instagram ready.
Lastly, the cheese deserved its own section. Everyone thought the cheese was yummy. In particular, Trev and Wayne LOVED the cheese. And we all know how much DK loves an abundance of cheese that’s super gooey. So his grilled cheese (+burger patty) was right up his alley. Not only did it have cheese, but also some cheese sauce? Maybe a cheesey overload for some, but the perfect burger for DK. Maybe he should split off and create the grilled cheese crew.
III. The Fries
They were crispy and seemed to be battered. Very similar to fries you’d get at Pink’s. They were pretty big orders. We had 2 orders among the 5 of us and there was still like an entire order left at the end of our meal. Granted, our resident fry monster was on a diet that day for some unknown reason.
IV. Miscellaneous
Burgershop is in Corporation food hall in downtown LA. So parking is a hassle, but conveniently there is a lot right next door for $6 that closes at 10pm. They had one counter for the regular Burgershop and the other counter for vegan options. It didn’t seem that busy overall on a Thursday night. They had loud music playing. Indoor and outdoor seating. Free refills of soda, and lots of interesting fry options. We were boring and didn’t try any of them. The worker was really nice and gave us free vegan dole whip samples to enjoy for dessert! Really light and refreshing and super nice! They have a sweet neon sign and I did not get a picture of. Wayne promised me he’d send me his picture of it, but he has not.
V. Value
The members were asked how much they would pay for the burger they ordered. We would pay between $10.50 and $12 and on average $12 for a double. Seems pretty on par with what we expect to pay.
VI. The Verdict
The ratings: 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 4.1, and 4.2. Pretty burgers, but if they could get their doneness and seasoning more consistent it could get better!
Next burger crew meeting will be held remotely due to Corona virus. Can’t let social distancing stop us!
Welcome to the first Burger Crew meeting of the decade!
Members in attendance: Angela, Trevor, Wayne, DK, and Innie (and guest starring Chris)
Ordering
Electric Owl has only one meat burger for dinner (the other burger is an Impossible burger), so our choice was more or less made for us, and this is what we ordered.
Wayne: Smash burger (wagyu+dry aged beef, house cheese, griddled shallots, pickles, savory spread, frico bun) with bacon and ranch tots
Trangela: Smash burger with ranch tots DK: Smash burger with bacon Innie: Smash burger
The burgers
Innie thought that the burger was super rich and cheesy, but that the burger didn’t fit the definition of a smash burger because the patty wasn’t a smash patty; maybe it was pressed down onto the griddle during cooking but it wasn’t the thin type of patty that one would expect from something called a “smash burger.” The house cheese was very gooey and melty to the point that several of us compared it to nacho cheese in texture. When I asked everybody what they thought of the patty, Trevor’s immediate reaction was “oh yes!” because of how much he enjoyed it. It had the right amount of fat to make a very juicy and meaty tasting burger; when I bit into it, still-hot meat juices poured out of the burger and onto my hands. It also had just the right amount of seasoning and had a very good sear. However, Trevor and Angela’s burger had very uneven doneness; one side was rare while the other side was well-done, but they still thoroughly enjoyed their burger.
Everybody loved the savory spread, which was a horseradish-mustard aioli. Angela thinks that the burger should actually be renamed to the “French dip burger” because the addition of the aioli reminded her of a French dip sandwich. Trevor thought that the spread gave you all of the good of horseradish in terms of flavor but none of the bad in terms of how strong horseradish can be. The bacon was thick cut and what I would describe as “80% crispy,” meaning it was cooked enough that it stood on its own, but it still had a bit of chew to go along with a bit of crispiness.
The pickles were cut into long flat slices, and they were very good but they unfortunately didn’t put enough of them into the burger to ensure some pickle in every bite. The griddled shallots gave the burger a sweetness that some of us liked, particularly Trevor. The buns were toasted, which probably helped keep the burger from falling apart, but DK and I had buns that were over-toasted (DK described his as burnt).
The sides
There’s not a whole lot to say about the ranch tots other than that they were very good (some said maybe the best tots they’ve ever had). They stayed crispy for the entire meal and the ranch dust helped set them apart from more generic tots. At $2 for a side, they were also very reasonably priced.
Miscellaneous
Trevor appreciated the “ketcup in the squeezy bottle that’s extra extra large” for optimal ketchup consumption. Their cocktails are very spirit-forward (strong). The booth we sat in was very comfortable, and the restaurant had great ambiance and felt very lively, helped in no small part by being fairly noisy. They don’t use an online reservation system and in order to make reservations, you have to email or call. Only street parking is available so you’re at the mercy of finding a meter if you want to park nearby.
Value & Rating
Most of us thought that the burger was priced pretty approriately at $15, with only one dissenter at $12.50. Overall, the burger was a pretty big hit for all of us, with scores ranging from 3.7 to 4.5 and an average score of 4.1.
Next Burger Crew meeting will be in February at BurgerShop in Downtown Los Angeles!
