Take it from a vegan... 20 Los Angeles cheeseburgers rated!

Here's the reason you should take my cheeseburger advice... read the fine print.

The year was 1999, and I just received my AAS degree in Electrical Engineering, and I was living with my Granparents since I was too broke to afford a place of my own.
I waited patiently for days hoping for that first job offer to come calling, so when Nortel Networks called to offer me my first job in my career field, Telecommunications, I was thrilled.
When they told me that the training would be in Dalls, TX and that I would get a $5,000.00 hiring bonus, I was as happy as I had ever been up to that point.
That night I went to sleep with tears in my eyes, and I prayed for the first time in quite a while.
"God, thank you. Thank you so much. I was getting pretty worried there... now show me what I can do for you."
I woke up the next morning with the word "Leviticus" stuck in my head. At first I passed this off as strange, since the word sounded like some ancient Greek hero or something. Who knows, maybe I fell asleep to some shitty WWF Wrestling the night before, I don't really know where the word came from, but that's not what's important now.
Throughout the day, the word came back a few more times, so I was inspired enough at that point to look it up in the dictionary. Leviticus, as I found out, was the third book in The Old Testament of the Bible. It deals alot with the dietary practices of the Jews (i.e. Kosher laws).

Huh.

I wasn't about to start eating healthy at that time, much less follow Kosher guidelines (and I didn't want to change my life over a word that got stuck in my head from an unknown source). Besides, my favorite food had always been cheeseburgers, which is not allowed in Kosher practice because it combines meat with dairy (besides the fact that the meat it definately not Kosher, ecspecially if it's fast food).

Five years go by, and the year is now 2004. The job with Nortel Networks only lasted 6 months before they ended up laying off 30% of their work force due to the tech stock market crash of 2000. I had been working in a dead end job (SBC Communications), third shift, for 4 years. I was disgusted with it. I was disgusted with myself and I wanted out of Milwaukee. My weight was up to 240 lbs, and I smoked and drank constantly.
Then, one night, I had a moment of divine inspiration. That night was January 24, 2005. Johnny Carson just died of lung cancer. I was researching healthy eating online, techniques, etc, and I came across a lot of information on "keeping Kosher". It seemed like a pretty good idea , and combined with the "divine" message I received 5 years earlier, I began eating strictly Kosher.
At the very least, it would be just enough of a dietary restriction that it would cause me to be more consious of what I was eating all the time, and cut out fast food/restaurants completely.
I can't really explain why, but I just knew it was the right thing to do at that time. I would miss those cheeseburgers though...

What happened?

I lost 80 pounds, was inspired to quit smoking cigarettes, and decided to leave my dead end job behind and move to Tucson, AZ. I felt completely empowered... and completely healthy for the first time in my life. I told myself that January 24 would be a celebration every year, and I would celebrate it as a new begining in my life. Last year (2006) I moved to Los Angeles, and I dropped meat and cheese from my diet completely and started eating vegan. This made eating Kosher much easier since the majority of the "rules" revolve around meat and cheese.

So as it goes now, I have celebrated January 24 every year by eating cheeseburgers. All cheeseburgers, all day. I love cheeseburgers, and knew that I would miss them, so I set aside this date from the start to compensate for my losses. Hey, at least it something.

"Every year I would eat as many cheeseburgers as I wanted as a reward," I told myself.

So after living completely vegan for 2006, January 24, 2007 came around. I was ready for the ultimate L.A. cheeseburger extravaganza, and this time I was going to try something different. I would try 20 different cheeseburgers in Los Angeles and rate them on their taste. For someone who loves cheeseburgers as much as me, I sought out "The Best Cheeseburger in Los Angeles". To any connoisseur of cheesburgers, this is a must read.

Here were the rules:

1. I would order the basic cheeseburger, with whatever came on it. If the only cheeseburger on their menu was a "special" kind of cheeseburger, I would order that one with no modifications.
2. I would order a cup of water.
3. I would make my choices diverse, including fast food and sit down type dining restaraunts, but rate them all on their overall overall quality, taste, price, presentation, atmosphere, and service (in that order) 1-10.
4. I would take a picture of the cheeseburger that included the cup of water in the background so the viewer would be able to determine the level of class of the establishment.

I started on the fast food early in the day, and then my fiancee and I set out that night to finish the list off. All together 20 cheeseburgers were consumed by us.


NUMBER 1 - The Apple Pan - $7.30

They had a coice between the "Steakburger" and the "Smokeyburger". This is a highy rated place. I chose the "Smokeyburger" version. This was probably the best burger I ever had in my life... nearly perfect in every way. Diner type counter food, but done perfectly. Comes complete with an angry old man to serve you.












Overall Quality: 10
Taste: 10
Price: 8
Presentation: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Service: 6



NUMBER 2 - Johnny Rockets - $6.58

Great atmosphere, great service. The meat was high quality and had a hint of pepper to it. Thoroughly enjoyed this "50's" styled place. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great burger and an amazing atmosphere. This place is like an "Apple Pan" wanna be, but that's pretty admirable considering...













Overall Quality: 9
Taste: 9
Price: 7
Presentation: 9
Atmosphere: 10
Service: 8



NUMBER 3 - Fatburger - $5.93

A California staple. The burger could have been the best on the list if they hadn't put relish on it. Otherwise excellent. Phat. Worth the nearly 6 bucks I spent on it.

Overall Quality: 9
Taste: 8
Price: 6
Presentation: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Service: 5



NUMBER 4 - Carls Jr. - $2.86

For the price and the quality, this was one of my favorites for sure. The meat was quality, and charbroiled. For fast food it was amazing. I was truly satisfied after eating this one, which goes to show: fast food can be good as long as you go here. Simple and awesome (no lettuce or tomato), cheese perfectly melted, hot off the grill... throbbing gristle.

Overall Quality: 8
Taste: 8
Price: 10
Presentation: 6
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4



NUMBER 5 - Bob's Big Boy - $4.75

"Bob's Big Boy"... the only cheeseburger on the menu. Great burger, sort of like a big mac without the 1000 Island dressing. Instead it has ketchup with chopped onions and a small amount of relish in it. Not too much. Good down to earth atmosphere.

Overall Quality: 8
Taste: 9
Price: 7
Presentation: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Service: 7



NUMBER 6 - The Counter - $7.15


Great burger. Great flavor. HORRIBLE ATMOSPHERE. They packed it in tight there so you can literally rub elbows with the table next to yours. Loud. Thank God the burger was good, otherwise I would have left before finishing it. But since "service" and "atmosphere" are last in my rating system (those variables are never the cheeseburger's fault, and lets face it, it's all about the cheeseburgers right?), it made number 6.

Overall Quality: 8
Taste: 9
Price: 5
Presentation: 8
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 5



NUMBER 7 - Hamburger Hamlet - $9.40

High priced, average cheeseburger. Excellent service, and good presentation. I spoke with my server for a while about their name, it seems that they are changing it from "Hamburger Hamlet" to "The Hamlet" in an attempt to attract a higher class consumer, and so people wouldn't thin it was "just a hamburger joint". I was not impressed by this information to say the least, but he didn't know why I came.

Overall Quality: 7
Taste: 6
Price: 4
Presentation: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Service: 8



NUMBER 8 - Hamburger Haven - $4.55


Good tasting burger, despite it not being flame broiled. The bun was a little too toasty, crispy even. Not much more to say about this one.













Overall Quality: 7
Taste: 8
Price: 7
Presentation: 6
Atmosphere: 6
Service: 5



NUMBER 9 - Canter's - $8.95


Average burger. Good atmosphere. This place has quite a history, it's been in alot of movies and commercials. However, it had the worst service next to McDonalds. For a sit down place that's just not acceptable.

Overall Quality: 6
Taste: 7
Price: 4
Presentation: 6
Atmosphere: 8
Service: 3



NUMBER 10 - Astro Burger - $3.36

The burger tasted great, flame broiled meat. The bad atmosphere and service put ot at 10.

Overall Quality: 6
Taste: 8
Price: 7
Presentation: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4



NUMBER 11 - Carney's - $3.09


Neat place on an old train car in West Hollywood. The burger was very average, and the tomato was too big (Look at that thing! C'mon!). Overrated.













Overall Quality: 6
Taste: 4
Price: 5
Presentation: 4
Atmosphere: 8
Service: 5



NUMBER 12 - In N Out - $2.06


Bad atmosphere and service. WAY too big of a piece of lettuce on this one. Almost no meat. But there's just something about these little things that makes it OK. I can't explain it.

Overall Quality: 5
Taste: 5
Price: 6
Presentation: 4
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 3



NUMBER 13 - Cassell's - $4.60

Neat little place in Korea Town. The burger was the most average for it's price but they had great service. They also have a topping area where you can decide what to put on it. I put ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onion on mine.

Overall Quality: 5
Taste: 5
Price: 3
Presentation: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 7



NUMBER 14 - Hamburger Habit - $4.76


Super dry meat. Great atmosphere, and you get a pickle. They meant well. Nice joint.

Overall Quality: 5
Taste: 4
Price: 4
Presentation: 5
Atmosphere: 6
Service: 4



NUMBER 15 - George's - $4.45

The meat tasted a bit like gristle and meat mixed together, and the bun wasn't toasted. The atmosphere was "surly" to say the least. The cook gave me "those eyes"... you know what I mean.

Overall Quality: 4
Taste: 4
Price: 3
Presentation: 4
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 4



NUMBER 16 - Wendy's - $3.15


The best of the worst fast food places. Hey it's no Carl's Jr. but it's better than the next 4! It was actually pretty fresh for freeze dried meat.












Overall Quality: 4
Taste: 5
Price: 2
Presentation: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5



NUMBER 17 - Burger King - $1.07


Hey, it's flame broiled which helped a little. Unfortunately, you can't polish a turd. Good price though.

Overall Quality: 3
Taste: 4
Price: 5
Presentation: 3
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1



NUMBER 18 - Tommy's - $2.10

Hope you like greasy chili mixed with cheeseburger toppings! MMMMlllggghhh. This one nearly made me sick. They top all their food with chili. I can see it with fries... but the cheeseburger was WAY too messy. "Like eating a diaper." - Dharmini.

Overall Quality: 2
Taste: 2
Price: 4
Presentation: 1
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 2



NUMBER 19 - Jack In the Box - $1.40


Close to as bad as Mc Donalds, definately in the same ball park. Meat was flavorless, bun was 2 days old at least. Service? No line and I waited for 10 mintes before they took my order.

Overall Quality: 1
Taste: 0
Price: 4
Presentation: 2
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 1



NUMBER 20 - Mc Donalds - $1.07

Here it is. the worst of the worst. Are you surprised? I didn't think so. The meat was not visible, but the taste had a slight hint of.... I think it was plastic or something. As far as service is concerned, it was the same as Jack in the Box. I waited for AT LEAST 10 minutes before being helped. I honestly forgot how horrible these burgers are, and I nearly got sick. I left sweating... and hallucinating.

Overall Quality: 1
Taste: 0
Price: 4
Presentation: 1
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 0