The humble and mighty burger is not just an American go-to but a worldwide staple, with seemingly endless iterations—and our city is home to some of the best. Here is your guide to the best burgers in Long Beach.
The Attic on Broadway
3441 E. Broadway
What kind of burger? The chef’s burger—with all the weight of those words.
There are few true, Yes-I-Die-on-That-Hill burgers that are chef burgers.
Chef burgers aren’t necessarily decadent (though they can be; they just don’t solely rely on it to make their point). Chef burgers are well-crafted bits of magic that remind us why we love burgers in the first place—I am reminded of Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s famed Big Mec—which, unknown to many, was actually a collaboration burger with fellow chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo—where a foie gras-infused red wine Bordelaise steals hearts and warms stomachs. I am reminded of the late, great Chef Art Gonzalez‘s masterful burger at the much-missed Hideaway space, an at-the-bar-only offering that exuded everything we love about burgers.
Enter Chef Cameron Slaugh’s dinner-only burger at The Attic. (Which, is in its latest iteration, is seeing its menu continually evolve and revolve seemingly by the week.) This double-patty beauty is oozing with layers of creaminess—from its hyper-earthy white cheddar, a bright chili aioli, and wonderful bits of fat on its smokey slab bacon—and, the beautiful finish, a tableside pour of peppercorn demi-glace.
Selva
4137 E. Anaheim St.
What kind of burger? The $10 one for the industry.
My love for Selva and Chef Carlos Jurado runs deep, from writing about his first menu to recently showcasing his uplift of Colombian food. And that love is just as deep for this crazy industry we call the hospitality industry. Each year, through two separate occasions—one for my Long Beach Food Scene Week celebrating restaurants, the other for my Long Beach Last Call event celebrating our bar culture—easily one of my favorite events is an industry appreciation event I throw solely for those who serve, bus, cook, pour, clean, and basically take care of us any time we visit a bar or restaurant.
So it feels appropriate to kick off this list with a burger that is meant for those that serve us in that capacity. Surely, regular patrons can access the burger during happy hour—which, bee-tee-dub, is all day every Wednesday—but the fact that Chef Carlos and the crew choose to focus on the industry deserves applause. Especially with this burger: Angus patty, fried mustard, white cheddar, caramelized onion and bacon jam, plantain puree, and aji mayo.
For Brian Addison’s most recent feature on Selva, click here.
Sideburns
939 E. 4th St.
What kind of burger? The one you can score at a bar.
Sideburns was originally birthed out of its neighboring The Stache Bar, whose food program was birthed out of its short-lived presence with Chef Melissa Ortiz. And since taking on Ortiz’s very minimal bar menu—a stellar Chicago dog here, some even more stellar cheese curds there, a chili cheese fries option—Sideburns has expanded into an all-out burger joint that has an array of the classic in many forms and, in many ways, taken a step away from Ortiz through the work of Chef Thomas, the burger master who you will find masterfully cooking some ten burgers at once.
Through Thomas’s oversight, the burger menu has expanded into a variety of definitively excessive, solidly over-the-top burgers (along with classics like The Tailgate and The Works that should not be dismissed). Sideburns is a little side-piece gem for patrons at The Stache—and, in all honesty, a gem for all of Long Beach.
For Brian Addison’s full feature on Sideburns, click here.
Dave’s Burgers
3396 Atlantic Ave.
What kind of burger? The burger-shack-next-to-a-gas-station burger.
On one side: The traffic-heavy hum of Atlantic Avenue. On the other: A gas station feeding that traffic-heavy hum. In the middle: A hidden, tiny-but-mighty burger shack decked out in red-and-white paint.
Dave’s Burgers has a legacy-like reputation about in throughout the city, where people often love the food but despise the service, get frustrated by its varying hours of operation, and want it to become bigger—all signs that point toward the fact that this place is legit.
You can go as basic or decadent as you like—there is no limit on patties or cheese slices despite this option not being openly advertised on the menu—but I suggest you actually go basic to get a grasp of Dave’s old-school approach to burgers. And in regard to that aforementioned decadence? That comes in the form of a Cubby Burger, where hot dog slices are added to your burger.
The Win~Dow
4600 E. 2nd St.
What kind of burger? The perfectly affordable, outright delicious one to stroll Belmont Shore while eating.
The Win~Dow, Venice’s smash burger concept birthed in 2019 in a parking lot, officially opened its first Long Beach location in Belmont Shore in the former Archibald’s space well over a year ago, adding to the loved neighborhood’s renaissance and its growing need for more accessible, affordable options. And with it, The Win~Dow has also brought the most valuable burger on this list.
Chef Elisha Ben-Haim, culinary overlord for American Gonzo Food Corp which owns The Win~Dow, has created a humble yet hearty creation. And, in all frankness, I hope Long Beach denizens will experience it in its most unadulterated version after continuing—even a year later—witness person after person in line nix or rearrange the burger’s literal five ingredients. It’s a frustrating characteristic at a space that is trying to let the simplicity of its nine-item menu (including desserts) speak for itself.
With better fries than In N Out—I mean, let’s be frank: there’s no large feat in that—and the same value, I own my SoCal slander and opt for this over that.
For Brian Addison’s full feature on The Win~Dow, click here.
ISM Brewing
210 E. 3rd St. Unit A
What kind of burger? The one that comes with the perfect beer and a burger of the month club.
Let’s just start with one clear thing, especially on a list like this. ISM Brewing has the best juicy Lucy the city has witnessed. Its Lucy in the Sky burger comes with a pirate hat-like crown of browned cheese atop its bun and plenty of photo-worthy cheese oozing out of its dairy-stuffed patty.
But the burgers at ISM are much more than what’s always on the menu (which includes the Lucy and classic takes on the staple). there’s been a wild success with kitchen manager Bobby Gill’s Burger of the Month program, launched in November with a “Ravine Burger” that had avocado, jalapeño, Serrano, romaine, and tomato. But December started bringing in Bobby’s love of flavors with a “Get Funk’d” that saw a mushroom confit meld with bleu cheese, dijon, pickled red onions, and a bit of chicharrón for texture. And since then, he’s been dealing banger after banger: January saw an aptly named “Can’t Quit You”—a smirk-inducing, beer drinker’s nod to Dry January—that featured a house-made barbecue sauce with Swiss, pickled jalapeños bacon, and onion rings. February, lovingly named “Hate Myself for Loving You,” saw the space’s mac’n’cheese commingle with bacon, jalapeños, chipotle mayo, and pickled onions.
For the full feature on ISM Brewing’s burger menu, click here.
Hartland’s
1900 Ocean Blvd. (on the second floor)
What kind of burger? The one with the perfect ocean view.
Hartland’s—the project from the team at the Belmont Shore gem that is Liv’s, chefs Rob White and Kristine Schneider—officially be extended its menu into the evening earlier this year. Running from noon to 8PM Wednesdays through Sundays, Hartland’s dinner and lunch menu will span from the humble burger to caviar’n’chips.
But don’t ignore the not-so-humble burger. Kobe Wagyu beef patty slathered in a cornichon aioli. Crispy onion strips. Some house pickles. A nice slice of cheddar. It’s hearty, comforting, and completely not a smash burger.
And in all frankness, Chef Rob says it best: “It’s really about attempting to—in a really unstable hospitality environment—figure out what works best,” Rob said. “I want everyone to be able to enjoy, first and foremost, the space. And with that, if they want beer and a burger, they can have that. If they want bubbles and a shrimp cocktail, they can do that. It’s about making it neighborhood-y without cheapening the experience.”
Grill ‘Em All
5411 E. Ocean Blvd. (on the sand)
What kind of burger? The one literally served on the beach—not to mention the most metal burger in the region.
The story of Grill ‘Em All is, first and foremost, one of resilience. The “death to false burgers,” metal-inspired burger joint that had been an Alhambra staple since 2013 moved its entire business operation to Long Beach in 2023, where opened in the Bayshore concession stand location near the south end of Horny Corner. Announced on Instagram that their Alhambra “Valhalla” location shuttered, owner Matt Chernus said the plan was always to have the Long Beach location be just an extension—but the roughness of 2023 for restaurants had caused them to rethink their entire plan.
Luckily for us, we have what could possibly be the best burger on the sand, where staples like the “Napalm Death” praise the heat devils with pepper jack, pickled jalapeño, cream cheese, jalapeño poppers, habanero aioli, and sriracha.
Nonna Mercato
3722 Atlantic Ave.
What kind of burger? The secret one that comes around once a year (and happens to be named after yours truly).
Honestly, it isn’t because it was named after me (though that is, humbly, really, really rad). Chef Cameron Slaugh of Nonna Mercato (and The Attic) opted to have an off-the-menu item that would require patrons to order it aloud. While it certainly instilled instant anxiety when I heard this was his plan, I was happy to hear that, after a few days, the burger would consistently sell out.
I know it had my name on it. It was rather strange to hear a customer behind me say, “Is the B Addison Burger still sold out?” but also kinda cool. But more importantly, it also lived up to Chef Cam’s ability. It had a happy sesame bun (finally eschewing that odd brioche trend). The thing was stuffed with two patties. It had New School cheese (that’s a chef’s version of Kraft: the melty quality of Kraft with the depth of cheddar). There were Calabrian chiles (Chef Cam and I share Italian heritage). And then? Balsamic caramelized onions.
It was utterly delicious—and I remain just as utterly humbled. Let’s hope it makes a return. Et tu, Chef Cam?
The Social List
2105 E. 4th St.
What kind of burger? The one that Jin from BTS loves. (No joke.)
I’ve long admired the fact that The Social List has, for the better part of its past eight years of existence, has proudly advertised its neighborhood-ness. It has almost always avoided pretense, even as it became the first 4th Street bar to regularly carry quality beers (like Houblon Chouffe when it first opened, a rarity) and whiskeys (like Blanton’s, unheard of in the early 2010s in Long Beach), now the regular among any full bar establishment.
And it has always—always—had stellar burgers. Just ask Jin, one-seventh of the massive K-pop group that is BTS. The singer opened his “Running Wild” music video with an ode to Retro Row as he witnesses the world collapsing while getting pelted by meteors. While everyone else loses their minds, Jin opts for a day with his puppy while taking in his last day on earth. And, of course, the blue cheese and fig burger from The Social List, something he noted was a personal favorite.
Hamburgers Nice
Various locations; check Instagram
What kind of burger? Smash’n’simple perfection.
What is there to say about Chef Jairo Bogarín’s genuinely stellar smash-burger operation? One of the best burgers in Long Beach? Definitively. The best burger in Long Beach? In terms of quality and cost, could very well be.
His “Lunch Burger” is simultaneously stupidly simple—two patties, American cheese, some sauce, pickles, onions, jalapeños—but packs such an astounding flavor punch that there is no disbelief in the fact that the popup perpetually sells out.
Yes, Hamburgers Nice has what is basically a permanent spot every Thursday morning (8AM to 2PM, serving their equally stellar breakfast burger that has a dollop of grape jelly and I promise you that it won’t anger you) and Friday for the dinner crowd (from 5PM to 9PM, often accompanied by a partnership or featuring a special burger) at Good Time, which makes the burger popup come full circle given they used to serve at this very spot when it was Commodity. But they also venture elsewhere, so check out their Instagram regularly.
The Kroft
4150 McGowen St. (inside The Hangar)
What kind of burger? Smash’n’simple perfection.
There is so much more than this little blurb that needs to be said about The Kroft’s owner, Stephen Le, a man who has entirely shifted the way he runs his business, an OC giant in the food scene when they bursted out as Anaheim’s Packing District’s most popular spot when they opened in nearly a decade ago in 2014.
What used to be a spot focusing mainly on decadent poutine, Le—during the pandemic and currently—noticed a slip in both patronage and online promotion. With a humble heart, he realized two major things: he wasn’t that happy and he wasn’t making food the way he used to enjoy.
This burger—along with some other stellar items, including a great chicken parm sandwich, brussel sprouts, and new plays on poutine, including a killer katsu chicken curry poutine—is a culmination of that effort to better himself and his business: Succulent, savory, stellar, this is easily one of the city’s best burgers, where double Wagyu patties sit amid gooey globs of cheese, caramelized onions, wonderfully thick pickles, and sauce.
The Ordinarie
210 The Promenade N.
What kind of burger? The perfect tavern burger.
First thing first: The Ordinarie has always has incredible burgers—I still say don’t skip out on their patty melt, available on their late night menu—but their long-loved ode to the SoCal staple-that-is-so-strong-it-borders-culty that is In N Out—previously called the “Just Your Ordinarie Burger” and now dubbed the “Tavern Burger”—is one that elevates The Ordinarie into offering one of the best burgers in the city.
House -made Thousand Island—just a hint of sweet but more toward the salty and tart—is slathered onto each side of the bun, where pickles and house-pickled jalapeños—a nod toward the packet of hot yellow chiles one can and should get upon request from In N Out—and good ol’ American cheese and lettuce.
The result is a wonderfully nostalgic, this-is-what-I-remember-as-a-kid bites of a burger, where In N Out was more than a fast food joint but a destination toward something great. And with french fries that are not only some of the best in the city—let’s not even go into the nonsense called “fries” from In N Out—it is one way to rediscover why the Promenade, and particularly The Ordinarie, was such a beautiful way to experience our city.
Rasselbock
4020 Atlantic Ave.
What kind of burger? The properly German one.
Rasselbock has long been the steward of traditional German cuisine, having been home in Bixby Knolls since 2016. And its owner, Germany native and Logn Beach resident Björn Risse, is looking forward to nearing the decade mark with his array of schnitzel, bratwurst, goulash, käsekrainer, strudels, and plenty of house-made mustard to go around.
But don’t skip out on the burgers, especially the BürgerMeister. Beer-braised onions and Swiss cheese meld together over a hefty beef patty with butter lettuce, tomato, and a whole grain Dijon aioli.
For Brian Addison’s full feature on Rasselbock, click here.
The Auld Dubliner
71 S. Pine Ave.
What kind of burger? The decadent pub burger—best with a pint.
The beauty of The Auld Dubliner 20-year presence in Long Beach is, honestly, the story of how it came to be through owner David Copley’s emigration, a story that is about the immigrant experience and how there are different experiences depending on where you come from. It’s a story about the love of both your new home and the one your were born in—and it’s also about how our city is home to one of the most unique Irish pubs this side of the Atlantic.
With that, stepping into the Auld Dub is stepping into a sacred place that would otherwise not exist: Its entire interior was made and designed in Ireland, shipped here in pieces and assembled to create what is nothing short of a truly Irish pub.
And the food? A constantly evolving menu that reflects the growing culinary scene on the island itself while also fusing Californian sensibility and style. Its Guinness Burger is no exception: Fried onion strings. Creamy cheddar. Rasher (Irish bacon). And a house made Guinness beer barbecue sauce. What else is there to say besides, “Chef’s kiss”?
For Brian Addison’s full feature on The Auld Dubliner, click here.
Roxanne’s
1115 E. Wardlow Rd.
What kind of burger? The beautifully excessive pupusa burger.
Roxanne’s can easily be deemed as vastly underrated: They offer some of the best wings in the city, their in-house tamarind barbecue sauce a staple on the menu since opening and expanding into other varieties like mango habanero and classic buffalo. Stellar empanadas. And a variety of Latin American food that eschews the focus on Mexico Only.
But let’s not even be coy regarding how impossible it is not to love witnessing these two words pushed together on a menu: “Pupusa burger.” And that pupusa burger has a particular magic dancing around its outright decadent nature thanks to the work of Chef Susy Rios of El Salvador.
Her pupusas—be they acting as the bread for a burger or standing on their own—challenge some of the best in the city with nothing more than her masa stuffed with nothing more than a cheese blend and loroco. You’ll often find that very filling oozing out of the pupusas and onto the edge of your burger. And her curtido—the cabbage-meets-carrot accoutrement that is a staple in Salvadorian food—is worthy as a topping on any burger, not just her own. Excessive. Decadent. And worth every damn bite.
For Brian Addison’s full feature on Roxanne’s, click here.
Beachwood Distillery
3630 Atlantic Ave.
What kind of burger? The one inside a local distillery that makes almost every single ingredient that goes into your drink.
Beachwood Distillery is a win for the Long Beach food community for multiple reasons. Yes, it’s a taproom for their famed beers. But more importantly, it’s a distillery. And not just any distillery but a space where Beachwood eventually wants to make every single ingredient in your cocktail, from house-made Campari and Aperol to bitters, tinctures, and spirits.
“I am not here to be the next Tito’s,” said co-owner Gabe Gordon, who shares the space with his wife Lena, his longtime business partner, and master brewer Julian Shrago. “And I am okay with that because there’s not going to be this immediate market for Beachwood Vodka. But what I can do is control everything that goes into a cup.”
On top of this? Stellar burgers to go with quite possibly could be the most Long Beach drinks in the city.
For Brian Addison’s full feature on Beachwood Distillery, click here.
Ellie’s
204 Orange Ave.
What kind of burger? The weekday lunch burger.
Chef Jason Witzl’s Ellie’s will be going on year eight come autumn of this year and it has become one of the city’s most beloved restaurants—and while its updated interior and continually altering menu reflect an elevated experience, sometimes, people forget that some of Witzl’s best offerings are takes on our base foods. And one of Chef Jason’s most admirable, respected traits is his ability to adapt while harnessing those base foods. Adaptation, ironically, oftentimes involves not a constant evolution but return to basics; an examination of where your space sits within the community’s wants.
Hence, his weekday lunch offerings. The space now opens at noon for their Burger Party, where an array of sandwiches and sides—all $15 or under—are offered Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 4PM. And yes, that also includes $1.50 oysters.
”Let’s have fun—we deserve it,” Chef Jason said.
For Brian Addison’s full feature on Ellie’s, click here.
Union at Compound
1395 Coronado Ave.
What kind of burger? The one inside an art gallery.
One of Long Beach’s most notable newcomers in 2024 was the restaurant Union located inside Compound, a nonprofit cultural and community space with an art gallery in the Zaferia neighborhood. Behind the stoves is Eugene Santiago, chef and founder of the Southeast Asian fusion pop-up Baryo. And he is the main reason Union’s menu is full of playful dishes.
His no-fuss, straight-up, old-school burger is no exception—and the fact that you can enjoy it before, during, or after exploring the space’s underrated art offerings is nothing short of awesome.
Look for Brian Addison’s updated profile on Union at Compoundin the coming days
Louis Burgers III
555 Atlantic Ave.
What kind of burger? The burger you eat with some chili cheese fries.
While I continue work on a larger piece (for what is a couple years now) that examines how generations of immigrants—from the Greeks to the Mexicans to the Chinese—have kept the American diner alive and well in SoCal, I should definitely include in this list a shout-out to one of the longtime staples of comfort food in my life here in Long Beach: the stellar, no-place-like-teenage-nostalgia, late-night-drunken-solace that are Louis Burger III’s burgers accompanied by their chili cheese fries.
Yes, you can add pastrami to your burger and/or fries. Sure, you can go all out with the DUI fries version, slathered in bacon and jalapeños and pastrami and yellow peppers (and for that version, I actually suggest Golden Burgers over Louis—look further down the list).
But the plain, good ol’ chili cheese fries with a classic double cheeseburger never fail me—and intoxicated or not, it’s worth every damn calorie.
MVPs
2742 E. 4th St. | 5484 E. Stearns St. | 937 Redondo Ave.
What kind of burger? The burger from a Long Beach joint that’s been around for decades and’ll make you feel like a pro athlete (well, kinda).
MVPs is a Long Beach legacy place: WIth its OG location across from Coffee Cup Cafe near 4th and Grand now shuttered (and replaced by the also shuttered and underrated Prime by Shenandoah and soon to become something I have to keep my lips sealed on for now), it didn’t take that closure as a means for defeat but expansion.
It first moved to the southwest corner of 4th and Temple, directly next to O’Connell’s (much to the cheers of bar patrons who can walk their burger over while enjoying a Jameson), before creating two more locations: One at 10th and Redondo and another over on Stearns just east of the Traffic Circle.
It’s thing? A seemingly endless variety of burgers named after athletes, the menu altering as new kings and queens of sports are anointed. Order whomever inspires you just don’t forget the cajun fries.
Thanks for all the good info Brian. One of these Saturday’s, go to the Thirsty Isle on Carson and Lakewood. You will find one of the finest burgers in Long Beach. Leo is a great chef.
You are a Long Beach gem and we appreciate you!
Thanks for always giving us great ideas for enjoyable meal and to take special friends too.