Did you know the Cheeseburger was invited in Pasadena, California? According to SpuceEats, the year was 1924 and the inventor was a 16-year old boy working at his father's restaurant, The Rite Spot. While the restaurant has since been replaced with a plaque, you can celebrate the birth of this great sandwich on September 18th with National Cheeseburger Day! Here are the best spots for cheesing it up.
Burgers Never Say Die (Silverlake)
The motto here is always order two because once you've devoured this Smashburger, you'll always want another. The menu is simple with your choice between the Regular with cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions and the Three Stack, which is much like the regular except it's got three 3 stacks of meat.
Hours are 12 to 8 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. on weekends, and you can preorder over the phone (although they don't love that...) or through Doordash.
For the Win (Hollywood/Glendale/Whittier)
Quickly becoming one of my favorite burgers, this is the daytime concept from the beloved Hollywood bistro, Papilles. For the Win offers burgers, chicken sandwiches, french fries, and patty melts. For national cheeseburger day, I recommend the Cheeseburger made with a quarter-pound of smashed grass-fed beef, grilled onions, pickles, and cheese on a Martin's potato bun ($9).
For the Win is clearly "winning" because they have expanded to Whittier and Glendale. Hours vary by location, but all are open 7 days a week. Confirm on their Instagram before you go.
Poppy + Rose (DTLA)
Known for serving daily brunch until 3 p.m., Poppy + Rose from Chefs Michael and Kwini Reed makes a seriously good burger and serves it in a gorgeous outdoor space in the downtown Los Angeles flower district. Consider National Cheeseburger Day your excuse to enjoy a Classic Cheeseburger with a side of ambiance ($15.50).
Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. You can also order through their website.
Burger King + McDonalds
I don't generally group these fast-casual favorites together, but on National Cheeseburger Day, they're offering the same deal. Use the app and spend at least $1 to get a FREE Cheeseburger.
Mooyah (Various)
Also taking advantage of an opportunity to promote their rewards program, Mooyah Burgers is offering a Spend $5 get an MDC Burger to App users. This burger is stacked high with two patties and American cheese and Mooyah Sauce, so overall it's a pretty sweet deal. Best of all, it's good all week, from 9/12 to 9/18/2022.
Flower Burger (West Hollywood)
National Cheeseburger Day doesn't have to be about the meat. Enjoy the original Flower Burger made with flower cheddar on a red kidney bean patty bun or a Cherry Bomb with a lentil patty and a pink bun. All ingredients are vegan-friendly.
Place an order on their website for delivery, pickup, or dine in. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Win-dow (Venice/Silverlake)
The restaurant American Beauty began as a take-out-only spot, then expanded to a full steakhouse in Venice, and has since returned to its roots with two locations of The Win-Dow. Despite the popularity, they still sell a Smashburger style Cheeseburger for less than $4 ($3.95).
Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Venice and all the way until 10 p.m. in Silverlake. Online ordering is also available.
The Rooftop by JG (Beverly Hills)
When a burger in your car just won't do, head to the Waldorf Astoria for a lunch on the rooftop with a view of the hills of Beverly. In honor of the holiday, treat yourself to a Truffle Cheeseburger with brie, yuzu pickles, and black truffle aioli.
The rooftop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations are encouraged.
Goldburger (Highland Park/Los Feliz)
Goldburger specializes in Smashburgers with a variety of different sauces and slaws. The classic Goldburger is a grass-fed two patty with garlic-mustard aioli ($11), while the LA Special has pastrami and dijonaise slaw ($14). If you just want a taste of what Goldburger has to offer, try a Kids Cheeseburger, which is half the size and half the price, with ketchup instead of special sauce ($6).
In-N-Out Burger (multiple)
One of the best burgers in Los Angeles also happens to be under $4. A Cheeseburger Animal Style is one way to tame a rough day at work or a night out! Find out the origin of the term "Animal Style" here.