The 2nd annual Tournament of Cheeseburgers is underway, and after all your nominations, we're unveiling our Top 20 list. You have until Friday, June 20, to tell us who the ultimate winner should be.
What kind of establishments? A healthy mix between pandemic-born newcomers and venerable old timers, nimble pop ups and brick 'n mortar neighborhood staples.
Where are they based? All over the region, from La Mirada, Pasadena, Long Beach, to the West Side and everywhere in between!
What should I do now? Help us pick the ultimate winner by voting. Head to LAist.com/burger.
Over the last few weeks, you’ve sent in more than 1,000 nominations for your favorite SoCal burger, from all parts of the realm.
It was a wonderfully mixed and eclectic crowd. Thank you for all your entries, from the bottom of our (cheesy and beefy) hearts. You've made your love of burgers loud and clear!
This week we revealed the Top 20 finalists. From these will be chosen the ultimate winner.
Many of you have been asking if we can create a map so you can set out on a tasting tour (may we join you?). So here it is:
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.
What happens now?
It’s all down to you. You have until midnight on Friday, June 20, to help us whittle down the list and pick your ultimate SoCal cheeseburger establishment. Head to LAist.com/burger to vote on who should be the winner, or enter your vote below:
Also, don’t forget to join us at the Tournament of Cheeseburgers event at Smorgasburg LA at the ROW DTLA on Sunday, July 20. We’ll announce the winners, and you can try top-performing cheeseburgers and participate in family fun!
