The Best Smashburger In LA (And Other Headlines)

It’s Food Friday! And today, we’re talking about … the best smashburger in L.A., plus where to find happy hour deals in the South Bay.

Wait, what is Food Friday? Every Friday, we'll give you ideas on what to eat, where to go and what to cook — plus the people and stories behind the dishes.

Smashed to perfection

What’s a smashburger? For me, the first thing that pops into my head is the Hulk angrily eating a burger. But for Dustin Bartz, the smashburger inspired him to take a classic and use the pop-up model to address the food cost pinch we’re all struggling with.

Bartz’s epiphany came while he walking through the meat aisle. He noticed American Wagyu ground beef selling for $5.99 per pound. And that’s how his $6 smash hit smashburger and weekly pop-up shop outside of the Alondra Park golf course in the city of Lawndale were born.

My colleague Gab Chabrán went for a visit and chatted with Bartz about burgers, radical transparency and his learnings. Read the full story here.

Bonus: Nothing says “good deal” like happy hour. And who doesn’t love a good deal, especially in this economy? Check out the 10 under-the-radar gems in the South Bay, including a few that have coveted weekend specials.

Even more food content: Visit LAist.com to see all things Food Friday! Or, check out all of our food-related stories right here!

Stay fed, L.A. There’s more news below — just keep reading. 

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More news

(After you stop hitting snooze)

• The L.A. County Board of Supervisors Tuesday is expected to approve a $700,000 settlement agreement with LAist Correspondent Josie Huang, who was thrown to the ground, pinned, handcuffed and arrested by sheriff’s deputies while she was documenting a 2020 arrest during a protest in Lynwood. Read more. 
• Theme park companies Six Flags, the owners of Magic Mountain, and Cedar Fair, the owners of Knott’s Berry Farm, announced an $8-billion merger on Thursday.

• The man arrested for his alleged role in Tupac Shakur’s death pleaded not guilty on Thursday, more than 27 years after the rapper was gunned down on the Las Vegas Strip.
• The L.A. City Council’s Transportation Committee unanimously approved a motion on Wednesday that authorizes the city to create a Speed Safety Pilot Program under a new law that goes into effect next year.
• As L.A. grapples with growing numbers of people living in recreational vehicles, city council members took a series of votes advancing parking bans, expanding a small program to house people in RVs and studying whether to create a designated RV housing zone on a street near the 405 Freeway.
• Thousands of Los Angeles Public Library patrons are waiting for a virtual copy of Britney Spears's memoir, The Woman In Me, which went viral on the day of its release.
• ICYMI: In a heated committee meeting on Wednesday, L.A. city councilmembers struck down a proposal for a six-month extension of a pandemic-era ban on rent hikes that has covered most L.A. apartments for the past three and a half years.

Wait... one more thing

Time falls back, but weekend plans go forward

Anime Pasadena returns to the Pasadena Convention Center this weekend.

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Jamie Pham for Visit Pasadena

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Courtesy of Visit Pasadena

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So … it’s that time of the year again when our bodies must readjust to a time shift. Sunday marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, and we get an extra hour of sleep! And that means more time to rest as you head into your weekend plans. Here’s what is happening in L.A. and SoCal this weekend, with a few key picks below:

• Magic Market Day of the Dead, Heritage Square Museum, Montecito Heights: Join a magical celebration of life to honor ancestors and loved ones. Bring a photo of a loved one and place them at a community altar. Then, enjoy the grounds while shopping for a gift.
• Anime Pasadena, Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena: Anime Pasadena returns for its fifth annual anime and cosplay convention. Scheduled panels feature the casts from global hit anime series and gaming such as One Piece, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, and more.
• Walk the Walk Conservation Hike with CLAW, Griffith Park, Los Angeles: The organization presents an educational hike with L.A.'s first-ever resident ecologist Courtney McCammon. The 1.5 to 2-hour hike is appropriate for all ages and fitness levels. Learn about Griffith Park's habitat and biodiversity. Bring water, sunscreen and binoculars if you have them.