Cuisine Scene: Burgers

It’s no surprise that Long Beach—home to one of the most diverse food scenes in the country—serves up some seriously creative takes on the classic hamburger. You can get yours smashed or stacked, topped with bacon jam, Gouda fondue, or pickled jalapeños, and dig into it at a tavern, bistro, restaurant, or even a golf course. Yep, in true Long Beach style, there is no wrong way to burger!

CRACK BURGERS

Burgers are the stars at Crack (6180 Bixby Village Dr) which, in the span of just a few years, has established itself as producing some of the best in Long Beach. Located on the deck of the Bixby Village Golf Course, it serves the kind of burgers you normally get at backyard barbecues–rightly charred with lots of cracks and crevices to trap flavor. Its Bacon Jam burger is probably its most popular.

The Ordinarie

The Ordinarie’s (210 Promenade N) mission is to pay homage to the traditional American tavern. Well, is there anything more time-honored than a burger and beer? Its Tavern Burger looks fairly traditional until you realize the Thousand Island dressing is house-made, and those are pickled jalapenos dancing on your tongue along with some sweet caramelized onions. Pair this with some of The Ordinarie’s fantastically fat French fries.

THE WIN-DOW

Belmont Shore’s The Win-Dow (4600 2nd St) has quickly become a local food favorite. Its simple menu offers smash burgers grilled with onions and served on a bun with American cheese, pickles, and house sauce. Impossible burgers are available, along with a grain bowl, chicken sandwich, kale salad, and of course, fries. Add a classic hand-spun shake or dipped ice cream cone to take with you as you stroll 2nd Street.

The Attic

The Attic (3441 E Broadway) has built one of the most loyal followings in the city by offering sophisticated takes on comfort food. Its Attic Burger is a prime example of that sophistication with ground beef sitting on a house-made benne seed bun and topped with cheddar and American cheese. The burger also sports a tangy remoulade sauce as well as requisite onions, pickles and iceberg lettuce.

Parkers' Lighthouse

Granted, when you find yourself at one of Long Beach’s premiere seafood restaurants, a burger is not necessarily the first thing that jumps to mind. But Parkers' Lighthouse (435 Shoreline Village Dr.) serves something called its Garlic Cheese Bread Burger and it's unique and delicious enough to consider giving it a shot. It’s fairly simple–eight ounce, ground beef/brisket, tomato, house-made pickles–until they smother it with the topper: two slices of Parkers' delectable garlic cheese toast, oozing flavor all over the creation. If you still feel odd about not getting seafood, “Smash It” by adding a crab cake.

THE SOCIAL LIST

A popular people-watching spot on Retro Row, The Social List (2105 E. Fourth St) is well-known for fresh, inventive takes on well-known dishes. Perhaps its slate of self-proclaimed “Best Burgers in the LBC” is the best example of this, especially its Napoleon burger, which starts with a base of handmade beef patty and braised short rib paired with crispy onion and smoked gouda fondue. Pair it with a salad or garlicky shoestring fries. (Go garlicky!)

SIDEBURNS

You can get a classic burger at Sideburns (941 E 4th St), or you can get a burger with a creative twist, like the Poutine Burger with fries, cheese curds, and gravy, or the Smash Cristo, which is beer battered and deep fried, then drizzled with hot honey and powdered sugar. This food pairs well with the restaurant’s parent establishment, The Stache, the bar next door where you can order a classic cocktail and get your burger delivered at the bar.

The Crooked Duck

The Crooked Duck (5096 Pacific Coast Hwy) serves a wide swath of burgers, from bacon to black bean avocado veggie, cheddar to gorgonzola but, at some point, you have to try the Fritos Chili Cheddar Burger, which is exactly what it sounds like. A 100% natural beef patty is covered with Texas chili, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and then–deep breath–a handful of crunchy Fritos chips. It’s crisp and crunchy, with each bite revealing a new explosion of flavor.

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.