You Give Us the Beef: Best Burger in LA?

A good burger is hard to find. Fast food joints lure us in with low prices and speedy service, but often send us packing with extra pounds and a bad taste in our mouth, whether it's their politics or their processed meats. But a burger is a state of mind, a craving, a bite of Americana right up there with apple pie. And burgers can get dressed up for all sorts of occasions: hoe-down style with BBQ sauce and some onion straws, dressed to impress with designer cheese and pricey wedges of smoky bacon, or down and dirty slathered in chili. It's easy to become a burger elitist or connoisseur; we become devotees to one neighborhood diner, joint or stand, or, we treat the burger like a gourmet meal, and sample the beef-and-buns at high-end restaurants. And while we know it's pretty tough to beat an old fashioned home-grilled backyard BBQ burger, there are some choices in LA. We'll tell you what we like, and then it's your turn.

In-n-Out is the obvious choice for number one. It's a tradition, it's a legend, it's a SoCal staple. We like that they have a secret menu, that they were the first to offer a burger "protein style" and that from what we hear, they treat their employees well. We like what comes with the burger, too--creamy milkshakes and tasty french fries. The Double Double is one of our favorite burgers, hands down.

But we also must shamefully admit that we like the offerings at that hideous tropical-themed chain, Islands. We like their Hawaiian burger, with its ring of pinapple and teriyaki sauce, or their Bleunami, with bleu cheese and red onion toppings. Their cheese fries are fabulous, and with a bottomless iced tea, or Cherry Coke, this burger spot is pure nostalgia for our high school years, and hits the spot when we want to really sit down and dive between the buns--so to speak.

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We got hooked on Fatburger back when there was a location near where we once worked. You could smell that meat sizzling a mile away, and somehow it got our mouths watering and the hamburger hankerings set in. Their burgers are big and juicy, and don't need any special toppings to sell. We like the "Fat" fries on the side, and the job is done.

So now you know what we like. We know we left some places off, and it's up to you to set us right, or read us the riot act. You tell us: Where's the Best Burger in LA?