Best Instagram Worthy Burgers Restaurants in Los Angeles
20 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
HiHo Cheeseburger
Wagyu beef burgers paired with perfectly executed double-fried fries
Notable Picks
8.8
HiHo revolutionizes the classic burger joint with 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef and hand-cut fries cooked in heart-healthy rice bran oil. Their crispy-outside, fluffy-inside fries are double-fried for perfection and served piping hot with house-made sauces.
Must-Try Dishes:
Double HiHo Burger with Fries, Hand-Cut French Fries, Willie Mae Fried Chicken
What Makes it Special: Wagyu beef burgers paired with perfectly executed double-fried fries
#2
Pasjoli
8.8
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Business Lunch Power Players
Instagram Worthy Wonders
James Beard Award-winning chef Dave Beran transformed his Michelin Plate bistro into a more accessible French experience while maintaining exacting standards. The pressed duck carved tableside remains legendary, but cordon bleu chicken wings stuffed with prosciutto and a French onion soup with explosive gruyère show the kitchen's playful mastery of rich, butter-forward bistro classics.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cordon Bleu Chicken Wings, French Onion Soup, Pressed Duck ($350, reservation required)
What Makes it Special: Michelin-recognized bistro from Alinea alum serving technically perfect French fare with California produce
8.6
Premium wagyu smash burgers served from an evening pop-up on Van Nuys Boulevard draw locals seeking indulgent late-night bites. The truffle parmesan fries and housemade Bougie Sauce deliver rich, craveable flavors that justify the slightly elevated price point for street food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wagyu Smash Burger, Truffle Parm Fries, Queen B Burger
What Makes it Special: Premium wagyu beef smashed crispy with signature sauce combinations
8.6
Heavy metal-themed burger destination relocated from Alhambra to Bay Shore Beach in 2024, serving half-pound patties with rock-inspired names. Food Network's Great Food Truck Race winner brings creative toppings from chimichurri-blue cheese to peanut butter-strawberry jam-bacon-sriracha, all served with craft beers and ocean views.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ozzy Osbourne Burger, Napalm Death Burger, Long Beach Dirtbag
What Makes it Special: Only beachfront heavy metal burger joint with rock memorabilia and ocean backdrop
#5
Heavy Handed
8.6
This walk-up smashburger spot uses ground short rib for patties with molten American cheese, house-made bread-and-butter pickles, and tangy Heavy sauce on potato rolls. Lines snake out the bright orange building onto Main Street for burgers that deliver both tender richness and crispy caramelized edges.
Must-Try Dishes:
Double Smashburger, Beef Tallow Fries, Triple Stack
What Makes it Special: Ground short rib patties create uniquely tender and beefy smashburgers
8.6
Iconic Los Angeles landmark hot dog stand shaped like a giant hot dog, originally built in 1946 and reopened in 2022 after 17 years in storage. This piece of programmatic architecture serves both hot dogs and burgers in a two-story space with massive patio.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicago Pup, Sassy Cheese Burger, Jalapeño Pup
What Makes it Special: Only surviving programmatic architecture hot dog building with 75+ year history
#7
Umami Burger
8.5
Pioneering the umami-bomb burger movement since 2009, this flagship serves 6-ounce Wagyu beef patties with parmesan crisps and shiitake mushrooms until midnight weekends. The late-night happy hour from 10:30 PM features two-for-one cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Original Umami Burger, Truffle Burger, Impossible Burger
What Makes it Special: Invented the gourmet umami burger category
#8
Heavy Handed
8.4
Ground short rib smashburgers with aggressive seasoning and caramelized onions, fried in beef tallow for maximum crispness. The third Silver Lake location brings the Santa Monica hit to Sunset Boulevard with the same lacey-edged patties and soft-serve cones that made the original a destination.
Must-Try Dishes:
Double Cheeseburger, Beef Tallow Fries, Dipped Soft Serve Cone
What Makes it Special: Short rib smashburgers with crispy lacey edges and beef tallow fries
8.4
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Family Friendly Favorites
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Classic American diner operating since 1947 in a stunning Googie-style building on the famous Sunset Strip. Open 24/7 on weekends, serving traditional burgers alongside breakfast classics and craft beer in a retro atmosphere perfect for late-night celebrity spotting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic Cheeseburger, Hickory Burger, Banana Cream Pie
What Makes it Special: Iconic 24/7 diner in preserved Googie architecture with Hollywood film history
8.4
This plant-based burger joint proves vegan fast food can rival traditional burger stands with Impossible patties, dairy-free shakes made with Oatly, and housemade organic sodas. The punk-diner aesthetic features bright neon, hidden seating nooks, and a mascot-filled merch wall that appeals to all ages.
Must-Try Dishes:
Monty Burger with Impossible Patty, Tater Tots, Strawberry Oat Milk Shake
What Makes it Special: Plant-based burgers that convert carnivores with authentic taste
Vibes:
Luxury Dining Elite
Rooftop Views Revelry
Birthday & Celebration Central
Instagram Worthy Wonders
This luxurious rooftop restaurant atop the Peninsula Hotel offers an elevated Angus beef burger alongside California cuisine, served poolside under iconic yellow striped umbrellas. Weekend BBQs feature special preparations of their signature burger with herbs from the hotel's own garden.
Must-Try Dishes:
Peninsula Angus Beef Burger, Wagyu Beef Sliders, Truffle Mac & Cheese
What Makes it Special: Five-star hotel rooftop with panoramic city views
#12
Heavy Handed
8.3
Smash burger specialist frying their straight-cut fries in beef tallow, creating rich, savory sides that have earned cult status among Valley burger enthusiasts. The ground short rib patties and house-made pickles complete the nostalgic drive-in experience without the car hops.
Must-Try Dishes:
Heavy Burger with Beef Tallow Fries, Loaded Fries with Heavy Sauce, Double Smash Burger Combo
What Makes it Special: Beef tallow-fried straight-cut fries pair with smash burgers made from ground short rib
#13
The Oinkster
8.3
The Oinkster delivers house-cured pastrami, juicy Angus burgers, and standout Belgian fries in a playful, modern space. Chef Andre Guerrero brings fine-dining chops to fast-casual classics, earning the spot a cult following and regular lines out the door.
Must-Try Dishes:
Belgian Fries, Oinkster Pastrami Burger, Garlic Aioli Fries
What Makes it Special: Signature Belgian fries with housemade sauces and creative burger pairings.
#14
Melanie
8.2
This cozy Beverly Grove wine bar added a daytime Melanie Burger program featuring smash-style burgers alongside its small-plates menu. Guests mention the juicy, diner-inspired patties, thoughtful sides, and deep wine list, making it a rare spot where serious bottles and serious burgers coexist.
Must-Try Dishes:
Melanie Burger, Juicy Durrty Burger, Tater Tots
What Makes it Special: A polished wine bar that quietly serves one of the area’s better smashburgers.
#15
Shake Shack
8.2
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Trendy Table Hotspots
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Premium fast-casual chain serving elevated versions of American classics with 100% Angus beef burgers and hand-spun shakes. Open until midnight on weekends with a modern design and exclusive West Hollywood Rainbow Connection concrete made with local Cofax donuts.
Must-Try Dishes:
ShackBurger, Roadside Double, Rainbow Connection Concrete
What Makes it Special: High-quality chain with exclusive LA Pride-supporting Rainbow Connection dessert
8.1
Entirely plant-based burgers using Impossible patties that successfully mimic beef with house spread and grilled onions on brioche buns. The Echo Park outpost provides more space than the original Koreatown location while maintaining the thick oat milk shakes and retro diner aesthetics that built the cult following.
Must-Try Dishes:
Double Cheeseburger, Tater Tots, Strawberry Oat Milk Shake
What Makes it Special: 100% plant-based burgers that satisfy meat-eaters and vegans equally
8.1
Croatian-run beachside café adjacent to Rosie's Dog Beach offering Mediterranean-inspired burgers and burritos alongside a dedicated dog menu. Opened in 2024 with fairy lights creating magical evening ambiance, agility courses for pups, and sourdough bun burgers that impressed first-year visitors.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sourdough Bun Burger, Breakfast Burrito, Ceviche
What Makes it Special: Only Long Beach beach bar with dog agility courses and dedicated canine menu
Worthy Picks
#18
Ban Ban Burger
7.9
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Trendy Table Hotspots
Thai-fusion smash burgers built on the Tuk Tuk Thai playbook, replacing standard condiment layers with makrut aioli, basil chili oil, and panang curry—flavors that actually earn the word 'fusion.' Sawtelle regulars treat it as a fast, affordable detour from the usual ramen-and-udon corridor, and the compact menu keeps the kitchen focused. Expect counter-service pacing in a no-frills strip-mall setup where the food does all the talking.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wagyu Laab Smash, Grapow Smash, Panang Fried Chicken Sando
What Makes it Special: Thai-fusion smash burgers from the sisters behind Tuk Tuk Thai, swapping standard burger sauces for makrut aioli, basil chili oil, and panang curry
7.9
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Family Friendly Favorites
A Japanese-fusion burger counter on Sawtelle that tops beef patties with crab, nori, and wasabi—the signature Katsu California Roll burger is the draw, not a gimmick. The format is order-at-the-counter with a free parking lot and outdoor seating, built for a quick hit rather than a lingering meal. It works best when you lean into the fusion specials; the soft shell crab and teriyaki cheesesteak reward curiosity more than the straight-ahead options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Katsu California Roll, Teriyaki Cheesesteak, Veggie Burger
What Makes it Special: Sushi-meets-burger fusion from the creators of Chef Katsu's Original California Roll Hamburger, topping beef patties with crab, nori, and wasabi
#20
Urban Skillet
7.6
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
This halal burger concept brings street-inspired flavors and 100% locally sourced halal meat to Main Street, combining beachside chill with bold LA energy. The growing chain's flagship location serves gourmet burgers, crispy wings, loaded fries, and hand-crafted shakes from its Ocean Park spot where it all began.
Must-Try Dishes:
Signature Halal Burger, Loaded Fries, Hand-Crafted Shakes
What Makes it Special: 100% halal burgers with street-style creativity and fresh ingredients