Tribute to Burger Stand Week on What's To Eat LA: Irv's Burgers (a small ode)

8289 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323)650-2456
Mon-Fri 7:30AM-8PM
Sat 8AM-7PM
Sun Closed
CASH ONLY

To wrap up my week we have our, beloved of many, hamburger stand called Irv's Burgers. Many know the story, and for those of you that don't you can click on their page and read about the drama they've gone through in the past to now have come out (mostly) on top. To make a long story short though, Irv's was about to be turned into a coffee shop and people gathered in one voice to rescue this little underdog. Letters were written and emails were sent and Irv's got saved. Why would people really care all that much about a burger stand? Why would people actually be compelled to do something when it's just a little hut that makes burgers and fries?

This woman. Her name is Sonia Hong (owner of Irv's) and people like her don't exist. She may be one of the only people in LA that I know that expresses genuine non-stop cheerfulness. Does she have glum days? Possibly. But, I would never know it cause whenever I see her she reminds me that the potential for people to be incredibly full of love is possible. She is a bit of happiness personified. When you show up you'll notice that she talks to everyone as if she knows them and has known them for years (often she does), calling them by name, and the one's that she doesn't know by name she still treats like family...with enthusiastic sweetness and meekness. She is one of the few people that understands that a huge part about what makes people come back is "you". No other business can get another Sonia cause there's only one of her, and she is Irv's.

As for the burgers she puts together, she is a master. The kind of person who can walk away and talk and come back right on time to flip it. She just knows...cause she's been doing it that long. Notice the plate. They all come like that. When you taste it you realize it really was just for me. Also, an odd fact is that she uses the picture to identify the person who ordered it (yes that's what I look like in case you're wondering...at least on that day) . A customized burger that always knocks you down. The patty was put together fresh, as well as fresh ingredients for everything else, but really that's the most I can say about it. The mystery of Irv's is shocking, cause there's no real understanding of "why" it tastes so good by the looks of it. She has some kind of magic going on that makes her simple burgers taste so good...almost too good for how simple they are. Maybe they're done better by some magical means, like maybe the laws of physics cease to exist in her kitchen. Bottom line is that people come back for this amazing burger and to be around her. It is a testament to her and to the burgers that are so beloved that she had enough people rally to her aid when she needed it most.

There's an actual eating area that's covered (which rocks now that we're about to start getting some rain) and parking is street parking which can sometimes be menacing in West Hollywood but it's well worth it. Or if you don't feel like going out, you'll be shocked to know that they deliver. They are THE ONLY burger stand I know that delivers. Bless them for this.

To many people reading this, this is old news but to those who don't know or have never heard of Irv's please go on down and be amazed. You'll not only feel at home, but you'll be at home having a burger that is a thing of terrifying deliciousness. Sonia, if you're reading this, may you live to be 100 and have Irv's to show for it the entire time.

Free Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Burgers run from $2.91 to $4.58 but just get the #1 combo for $5.08

Tribute to Burger Stand Week on What's To Eat LA: The Original Marty's

10558 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 836-6944
Daily 7AM-6PM
CASH ONLY

When did LA turn into a health mecca? Why is it that Angelenos started converting to being healthy and giving up eating what they liked? Was it propaganda from movies and the stars that are made to look like perfection personified? Was it the fact that the news told them obesity would hit you no matter what you do cause America is just full of fat people? I doubt it. I think it slowly crept into people consciouses when fine dining told us to eat less and less. Thank you Californian cuisine. In LA we have a life of excess but eat less portions (and healthier) to accommodate that lifestyle. Slightly backwards, but it's just the way it is. There is still one untouched category that we Californians celebrate, and that's the burger. The burger by definition guarantees a little bit of weight gain and the bigger and greasier it is, (often) the better it is. Marty's has a burger that made them famous ("the combo") and is not for the weak of heart. It's a burger and hot dog with chili all in between one bun. You know what? It just hit me...the only people still alive are the healthy ones and they open businesses that cater to their needs. Sadly though this explains why havens like Marty's are a dying breed. Thankfully there are still plenty of people that succumb to it's goodness.

The cheeseburger that you see here is what I would define as "All American". Now I'm not talking about the dying burger joint known as All American Burger (thank you Fast Times at Ridgemont High) . I'm talking about a simple personification of chomping into a piece of cow that makes you thank God we can live in a country as great as ours where we can live and afford to eat meals like this. Where the little guy can open up this tiny little hut (some people's walk in closets are bigger) and can last a very very...very long time. The one guy I know who works there has been working there for like 20 years. How's the burger taste? Dang good. Don't you hate when food writers tell you something's good? That means nothing to you personally but what can I say...it's really darn good. The patties are grilled to perfection without any dryness whatsoever, the tomatoes are rockin and always fresh, and the buns are light but have some grip-able mass to them that doesn't fall apart after two bites. Here, they make a textbook burger that defines the word classic.

And another classic...the split grilled hot dog with diced onions, relish and mustard on a lightly grilled bun. I think the hot dog is one of the best food items you can get at stand that reflects the age and seasoned metal of an old grill. Juicy, smokey and just plain yummy.

This hut is a landmark and therefore won't be going anywhere anytime soon unless an act of God causes it to crumble. The parking is only street parking which kind of is a bummer but they're quick and worth the short wait. Honestly, this burger stand is one of the few the proud that will outlive us all probably but especially if you have too many of their combos.

Free Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Pretty darn cheap...too cheap to print...and I don't have a menu in front of me to quote it.

Johnnie's (aka. the other French Dip/ Pastrami place)

4017 Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230
(310)397-6654
Sun-Thurs 10AM-2:30AM
Fri-Sat 10AM-3:30AM

A most debatable place is Johnnie's in Culver City. Let me back it up and say that I've been to great places where I've had amazing steaks before and have gone back and then the steak was so so. That being said pastrami is such an unusual meat. Ribbons of fat can taste good or they can be aggravating.

Johnnie's has been around for a crazy long time (1952) and is now a landmark (thank you LA). Original juke boxes:



On to what matters. We grabbed a hot pastrami and a cheeseburger this time around. A nice little bonus is both come with their amazing pickles (which you can get by the pound and one day we might). Let me apologize for not snapping a shot of the burger... I suck. It was a great tasting back yard hearty burger. I'd buy it again if I have $6.50 in cash floating around (kind of pricey but I think about Apple Pan and remember it's the exact same thing there). The pastrami was good. I'm not going to proclaim it as stellar cause it wasn't but here's the one thing that is weird. Some bites actually tasted significantly better than others. Only a couple of small bits of aggravating fat...all the rest was yummy. Let's examine:

And get really deep:

It was good and if I don't feel like making the schlepp to Philipe's in downtown I'll hit here for sure cause it's pretty good when it's right on. The verdict is very difficult when it comes to Johnnies cause it's an inconsistent meat. Just look at citysearch to see what I mean. You either love it or hate it.


In the end remember these things... cash only and they're open late! They've been around for a long time so they must be doing something right and everyone's taste buds are different. With those bits of sage advice I bid you adieu.

Free Drink Refills: Yup
Entree Price Range: about $7 to $10