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While the origins of the almighty burger are surrounded by facts and legends—from stories of Genghis Khan’s horsemen eating flat patties of ground meat to its more commonly known birthplace of Hamburg—there is no doubt that American culture’s thorough embracing of the burger lifted it to new culinary heights.
Since its humble beginning, the burger now sparks intense if not outright foolish debates—In-N-Out versus Anyone often births more authentic passion than debates in our Congress—and has a following that goes well beyond carnivores. Vegetarian and vegan burgers are also altering the way we perceive what has historically been none other than a hand-held meat delivery device.
Here are your essential burgers to try while traipsing across the land we call Long Beach.
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Ellie’s (204 Orange Ave.)
[Pictured above]
This has become my favorite burger in Long Beach. Thanks to the talents of Chef Jason Witzl, this burger’s epicenter is Flannery grass-fed beef—and he lets the meat speak for itself with a medium-rare wonder. Witzl’s homage to America’s most recognizable food is on par with the creation at Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s Petit Trois on Melrose (which is quite possibly the best burger I’ve ever had en tout).
In other words, it’s a hamburger that is hard to find in Long Beach; true, quality bistro fare that takes a hard ponder to think of when it comes to Long Beach grub. There was, however, a burger beforehand that used to own its top spot…
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Chianina (5716 E. Second St.) & Michael’s Downtown (210 E. Third St.)
…and that was the Chianina Burger.
First, one should know a very important fact: this is the only burger of its kind in the States (since the peeps of Michael Dene’s restaurampire have the sole access to the cherished Italian cattle this side of the Pacific). But more importantly, this eight-buck wonder is genuinely wonderful.
The Michael’s Burger in DTLB, with avocado and sweet’n’sour onions, is different than the Chianina Burger in Naples (pictured)—but each are worth visiting and mowing down. Note: the Chianina burger is only available at the bar and their happy hour is a no-joke affair so arrive early.
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Dave’s Burgers (3396 Atlantic Ave.)
This tiny-but-mighty little red-and-white burger shack is one of Long Beach’s hidden gems, a joint filled with the array of burgers that range from classic to gluttonous.
My suggestion? Go classic. Much like In-N-Out (which I think is vastly overrated), Dave’s allows you to add as many patties and slices of cheese as your heart desires, despite not being listed on the menu. (How can one not respect this triple cheeseburger masterpiece?) Here, grilled onions are the norm (you have to request raw onions),
And as for the gluttonous, well, that comes in the form of their Cubby burger: a burger, size of your choice, topped with hot dogs.
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Simmzy’s (5271 E. Second St.)
If you haven’t had the Simmzy’s Burger, it’s one worth checking out.
However, for the love of ground beef, I suggest one particular thing: Order it medium rare or medium at the most (because if you don’t, well, you don’t deserve that poor bovine’s sacrifice).
Other than that, try to not alter what Chef Ann Conness has constructed since its opening in 2012. A bit of aged cheddar, some caramelized onions, their garlic aioli—which also doubles as a spectacular dipping sauce for the fries, FYI—some tomato, and some lettuce. Voi-flippin’-la: the Simmzy’s Burger. If you’re feelin’ more adventurous, their bacon and bleu cheese burger is equally as spectacular.
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Prime by Shenandoah (3701 E. Fourth St.)
Prime is one of Long Beach’s most underrated joints—I’ve been clear about that.
And their Piedmont Burger is an example of why they’re underrated. Hearty, flavorful Piedmontese beef—only second in the world for me to Kobe and Chianina—can be stacked singularly or doubly before heirloom tomatoes, smoked gouda, and seasonal veggies are added between a buttery brioche bun.
Probably only second to Ellie’s burger, to be honest…
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Golden Burger (2301 E. Fourth St.)
While we’re on 4th, let’s head a bit west.
This joint is a necessary part of life for anyone who makes this area of Long Beach their home. Nostalgic and diner-y, Golden Burgers harkens to a that old-school, unapologetically American, greasy-spoon of a cafe—but of course, it’s operated by a Mexican family, making it even more awesome than Denny’s could ever dream of being.
And though you can gorge on the impeccable chili cheese pastrami fries for breakfast (make sure to the get the pastrami well-done and share or just go full beached-whale status and get their D.U.I. fries), their burgers are just outright solid.
My suggestion? The double bacon cheeseburger, an homage that makes one feel fuzzy inside and fat after (and if you reach) completion.
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Ma ‘N Pa Grocery (346 Roycroft Ave.)
This hole-in-the-wall Belmont Heights grocer has long been serving awesome burgers, offering not only one of the most unique spots in the city—it sits smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood—but great grub overall.
Their burgers range from the classic to the monster of a burger pictured above, where layers of corned beef are smushed between an Angus patty, fried egg, and the most generous portions of cheese in the city.
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Plunge (1900 E. Ocean Blvd. on floor above front lobby)
Like Prime, Plunge is one of the city’s most underrated joints—and like Prime, their burgers are solid but unlike Prime, there are multiple offerings that are equally spectacular.
For the veggie-vores, their the Falafel Burger, a red lentil-based patty that is incredibly moist and paired with an avocado mash and chipotle aioli that creates a slightly spicy, definitely creamy combo.
For the carnivores, their classic gouda burger—complete with house-made pickles, peppery arugula, garlic aioli, and deliciousness—is served both as a whole or as a slider during happy hour.
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MVP’s Grill & Patio (2742 E. Fourth St.; 5484 E. Stearns St; and 937 Redondo Ave.)
When Shillelagh announced they were leaving their longtime home next door to dive staple O’Connell’s, I was admittedly sad—it had a vibe like no other—but when I also heard that MVPs would be moving from their home westerly on 4th (now home to underrated grub hub Prime and mentioned on this list), I was once again happy.
With two other locations in Long Beach, MVPs offers an array of burgers that are not only solid but cater to all palates. My suggestion? The mighty George Foreman V: burger, cheese, bacon, and avocado.
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The Eldo (3014 N Studebaker Road, Suite C)
Most commonly known as the El Dorado Bar & Grill, which opened in 1957, this joint reopened as The Eldo in 2013 when brothers Trevor and Jason Nettmann decided to keep the Long Beach jewel alive while also offering South African fare. (No joke: get the peri-peri chicken, their version of the classic S.A. dish of peri-peri chicken that is marinated for a few days in a peppery house sauce and flame-grilled. It’s one of the few places that offers South African food in the region.)
And their burgers are unapologetic odes that include everything from a lamb option to a veggie chipotle option to the classic version pictures with Grade A Angus beef.
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HashTag Burger (3387 Atlantic Ave.)
In the words of my friend and writer Sarah Bennett: HashTag Burgers is the joint for the Instagram Generation, an offering of decadent, gluttonous, Man v. Food-style fare that are the types of things one ventures into when attempting death by burger.
There’s the 30-ounce burger challenge: Dubbed the “HashTag This” burger, it features six strips of bacon, eight slices of cheese, four fried eggs, eight onion rings, hash browns galore, some chili (because why not?), and a dash of clogged arteries. Eat that and a large drink and it’s yours for free.
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Rockfire Grill (1940 Ximeno Ave.)
Rockfire Grill—with two other locations in Huntington Beach and Mission Viejo—is much like HashTag Burger in that their burgers are meant to be decadent for the new school generation that is obsessed with the excess.
Rockfire is known for their flatbread burgers. That’s right: Save your needless carbs and focus on the meat and cheese (though one can make any burger with a veggie patty and, in the case of their cheesy, garlicky flatbread, it is not as if the bread goes unknown)
Take, for example, their O.M.G Burger, which is pictured: Grilled onions, mushrooms & roasted garlic—hence the “O.M.G.”—garlic aioli , greens, tomatoes, American cheese, cheddar cheese, and a good all-beef patty.
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Louis Burger III (555 Atlantic Ave.)
Much like Golden Burger, Louis is a greasy spoon diner that hits the right spot despite what you’re looking for. (Their chili cheese fries and fried zucchini are par none in the city.)
And much like Golden Burger, their menu is vast and at times overwhelming, melding American fare with Mexican grub and an assortment of breakfast and Greek offerings—and its burgers are nothing short of classic, burger-tastic deliciousness.
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Tracy’s Bar & Grill (5511 E. Spring St.)
Say what you will about Tracy’s, an East Long Beach staple that opened in 1994 by former LBPD officer Mike Tracy and his wife Suzi and currently operated by a trio of sisters, but their burgers are solid, unapologetic fare.
My suggestion? Get the Basic Bacon burger, a classic burger smushed between doughy, bright-white bread. But of course, you can always go for the monster pictured, Denise’s Damn Good Burger, a breakfast burger of sorts topped with bacon, fried egg, and ham, on top of the regular accoutrements.
Fun fact: Tracy’s still has its Hot Dog Show menu, an entire and exact replica of the menu from the famed Hot Dog Show joint on Broadway near Alamitos in the 1950s and 60s. The menu ranges from the classic Mutt Dog to the Chow Dog, an array of sliced dogs on a hamburger bun with cheddar cheese, bacon and good ol’ 1,000 Island dressing.
Brian Addison is a columnist and editor for the Long Beach Post. Reach him at [email protected] or on social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.