Over the last few weeks, you’ve sent in your nominations for your favorite SoCal burger, from all parts of the realm. Now’s here's the Top 20 finalists. Also, we saw some interesting trends in the list. Here's a few of them:
Brick and Mortar vs the Pop-up
It's a healthy mix of establishments. On one side you have the pop-ups, those roaming burger businesses with their mobile flat-top grills setting up shop at breweries, clothing shops, and anywhere hungry people gather throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. On the other are the brick-and-mortar restaurants that provide the quintessential casual sit-down experience. Which type of establishment will prevail? Only you can decide!
All around the map
Like last year’s tournament, we observed a great deal of geographic diversity. The list stretches from Krunch Burger in La Mirada, and A’s BBQ in East L.A., to Terrible Burger in Long Beach, and El Brewjo in the OC. Your love for burgers encompasses the entire SoCal territory.
Old vs. new
One of the most endearing aspects of the Southern California burger scene is the wide age range of establishments. You have the pandemic pop-ups, born when out-of-work chefs and cooks scratched their burger slinging itch by feeding the public on the streets, still just a few years old. And you have others which have impressive longevity, oldie-but-still-goodie establishments such as The Apple Pan, which opened in 1947.
by WeAreLAist