Yuca’s double cheeseburger forever

Local culinary icon Socorro Herrera, founder of the beloved Yuca’s Hut in Los Feliz, died Dec. 23.

She founded the small walk-up window restaurant in 1976, running it with her family, one of the first eateries to bring Yucatecan cuisine to Los Angeles.

The most well-known of her dishes was the cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish rubbed with dark red achiote, marinated in citrus juices, and wrapped in banana leaves. This dish etched her culinary contributions into the L.A. landscape and, in 2005, earned her the James Beard America’s Classic Award and later, the first-ever L.A. Taco Taco Madness championship in 2009.

Although Herrera, who affectionately became known as Mama Yuca, and her family legacy will always be known for the excellence of its Mexican food, there's another menu item that I feel the most passionate about. And it’s not Mexican in origin.

It’s their cheeseburger.

Yes, that’s correct. I love the cheeseburger at Yuca’s, specifically the double cheeseburger, more than any other item on the menu, and it’s the item I order the most often.

For me, the double cheeseburger at Yuca’s perfectly represents L.A. culture. Coming from a mixed-race background, I can always appreciate how certain dishes, especially those of long-standing establishments, seek to build bridges between cultures to capture the appetites of all. All are welcome, and no one goes hungry.

I’m not alone in my love of Yuca’s cheeseburger. Many of you, dear LAist readers, voted for Yuca’s in our Tournament Of Cheeseburgers last summer, taking it to our Tasty 8 before being eliminated.

Yuca’s is where you can enjoy a double cheeseburger and chase it down with a taco containing their famous cochinita pibil. No one will question your decision. It’s just that kind of place.

A simple burger

The cheeseburger at Yuca’s isn’t large by modern standards. The burger fits in the palm of your hand and carries a certain amount of nostalgia, reminiscent of the various SoCal drive-thru burger establishments I spent my formative years eating at as a young buck.

It’s the perfect cheeseburger when I need to take a break from the smashburgers that dominate my Instagram feed. And while I love a good smashburger as much as the next person, a moment of pause is always welcomed.

The burger is simple in its construction. It consists of two beef patties, a small serving of mayo, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and raw white onions on a toasted bun. The clean-cut flavors work well together to form the perfect bite, which I’ve come to depend on when seeking comfort, especially on the go.

Its size and simple ingredients make Yuca’s cheeseburger a thing of beauty. And to me, one of the best burgers in Los Angeles.

I am fortunate to work just down the street from the Fair Oaks location in Pasadena. So whenever I need a quick fix, I order the combo with fries and fountain soda, which costs under $13 before taxes and tips. But truthfully, I sometimes order a double cheeseburger because it’s just the right amount of food and makes for a great light lunch.

So next time you feel a little hungry and find yourself near either Los Feliz or Pasadena, order the double cheeseburger. Just make sure to take a moment lift your burger toward the sky, a toast in honor of Mama Yuca.