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The Tournament of Cheeseburgers is back — now cheesier and juicier than before
It was such a blast last year, we're doing it again.
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Matthew Herrera
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LAist
)
It’s that time of year again — the LAist Tournament of Cheeseburgers is back! Remember all the fun we had last year arguing about our fave no-truly-this-beats-out-all-others burger joint?
We had 14,000 submissions, for 300 cheeseburger businesses, from 120 neighborhoods. SoCal, when it comes to grub, you show up!
The ultimate winner was Hangaburs, the El Sereno-based pop-up celebrated for its distinctive smashburgers. Operated by Alicia Lopez and Cecilia Ledezma, the pair’s hard-to-miss yellow tent can be found on the weekends all over L.A. and Orange County.
Now, we’re once again asking for your help selecting SoCal’s favorite cheeseburger in 2025.
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How it works:
Starting today, submit your pick for your fave cheeseburger using the form below.
We’d also love to hear any categories you think should be highlighted. Favorite plant-based burger? Most unusual toppings? Most likely to be eaten by aliens? You suggest it, we’ll consider it.
You have until Friday, May 30, to nominate your favorites, so get going!
Friendly reminder, you can only enter each restaurant once.
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What happens next?
The next voting round starts on June 9, so come back then to help pick the finalists.
The ultimate winner will be crowned on Sunday, July 20, at a special live event and celebration at Smorgasburg LA, the vibrant open-air food market in downtown L.A. You’ll be able to taste offerings from some of the top entrants, try other vendors' food and participate in family-friendly festivities.
[Note: You’ll notice that we’ve streamlined the process this year. We wanted to make it easier for burger establishments, who last year had to encourage their fans to vote in several rounds.]
Who is eligible?
Independently owned restaurants, food trucks, pop-up eateries and other similar non-traditional establishments are included. This also encompasses establishments with multiple locations under a single owner, ownership group, or consortium. So yes, that means In-N-Out is eligible. (If you want to nominate them, be our guest. This is a judgment-free zone.).
Establishments must also primarily operate in Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
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That’s it! Will your favorite spot be the winner? You’ll have to stay tuned!
Happy voting!
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Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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