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Revealed: the winner of the 2025 LAist Tournament of Cheeseburgers
Cheeseburger from Win-Dow
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Courtesy Win-Dow
)
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.
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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
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Third place: El Brewjo
Special Recognition:
Larry Mantle's Special Merit Award: Pie 'N Burger
Community Champion Special Award: Fair Oaks Burger
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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