After thousands of votes, the ultimate winner of the 2025 Tournament of Cheeseburgers was revealed at our burger-laden, music and activity filled event at Smorgasburg LA on Sunday. And the winner is..... Win-Dow, with locations in Venice, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Long Beach, The Grove and Santa Barbara.
The winner: Win-dow started in Venice in 2019 and has spread to several other locations. With its low-key vibe (a literal window in the wall), juicy, hand-formed smashed patties (no tomato, no lettuce, no frills) and reasonable prices (a double for $7.50), it seems simple pleasures is what we need right now in a complex world.
The runners-up:
Second place: Krunch Third place: El Brewjo
Special Recognition:
Larry Mantle's Special Merit Award: Pie 'N Burger. Community Champion Special Award: Fair Oaks Burger
It’s official: Win-Dow is your favorite SoCal cheeseburger this year, announced during our live event on Sunday, at Smorgasburg LA at The Row in DTLA.
The low-key vibe of its window-in-the-wall locations in Hollywood, Silver Lake, The Grove, Venice, and Long Beach has garnered many fans, as has its reasonable prices: a single patty cheeseburger is $4.35 and a double is $7.50.
“Our double cheeseburger is like a little bit of alchemy,” said co-founder Jeff Goodman. “The ingredients just sort of come together and make something really, really special, and then for $7.50 it's just an extraordinary value.”
The trophy-winning Win-Dow staff at Smorgasburg LA on Sunday
(
Hershal Shevade
/
LAist
)
Goodman, along with co-founder Paul Hibler, debuted the first Win-Dow in Venice in 2019, at the local steakhouse they’d opened, American Beauty.
Both had lived in Venice for decades, and wanted to provide something for their neighbors — something tasty and affordable for lunch.
Their juicy,hand-formed smashed patties are topped with sweet-tasting onions, and served with slices of American cheese, pickles, and their signature house sauce.
No tomato, no lettuce, no frills.
“At the time it was pretty unique,” said Goodman. “I grew up in New Jersey and that's like a New Jersey style burger to smash it with onions like that, so that's where it came from.”
The restaurant has since expanded across L.A. and they’ve just opened a restaurant in Santa Barbara. Goodman teased their next move.
“We do have plans, not yet ready to reveal, but we have another restaurant in construction,” he said.
Runners up
Second place: Krunch
Third place: El Brewjo
Special Recognition:
Larry Mantle's Special Merit Award: Pie 'N Burger
Community Champion Special Award: Fair Oaks Burger
