Goldburger Highland Park — Restaurant in Los Angeles

After closing up a long Friday at the home office (is that a thing?), I decided to treat myself to some burgers. Being in no way influenced by my hour-long youtube marathon of best burger joints in Los Angeles, I decided to drive out to Goldburger in Highland Park and indulge in one of, if not my #1 favorite foods.

I had been wanting to try Goldburger for a while but every time I had a chance to hit up their old pop-up, life always had other plans, so this was a determined adventure to taste their burgers that I had heard so much about and I was not disappointed. Now for the record, I don't recommend doing what I did, which was ordering their top three burgers and feasting on them in my car like some up-and-coming Kobayashi wannabe prepping for my first big contest.

I ordered the Goldburger (a classic double patty smashburger with american cheese), the LA burger (effectively a Goldburger but with added pastrami), and a California burger (a Goldburger but with lettuce and special sauce of which I assume is a mayo/ketchup/thousand island mix). I ate them all in that order, and each one was absolutely delicious, even though by the end of my third burger I felt like had gained 10 lbs and was in desperate need of a light Ironman triathlon to burn some calories.

Now that I've tried all three, in succession, I can honestly say that your mileage may vary, BUT I think simplicity here is the winner. The Goldburger is classic in every way and the core of what a delicious burger should be--well thought out with high quality ingredients in a combination that puts the focus on the Burgers taste and not how overwhelmingly big or how much stuff you can fit between the buns.

I'm definitely going back, but next time, I'm getting one Goldburger, a side of curly fries (JUST NOW REALIZING I FORGOT TO ORDER FRIES!), and taking it to a nice shady park to enjoy with a cold beer. Now that is what I think the essence of this burger...

Goldburger in Los Angeles offers a solid burger experience that hits many of the right notes but ultimately falls just short of greatness. The smashed patty is cooked well, with a nice char and juicy texture, while the melted cheddar adds a satisfying layer of richness. The grilled onions bring a sweet, caramelized flavor but also introduce a somewhat stringy, slimy texture that detracts from the overall bite. Mine came with the special sauce, which, while flavorful, turned the burger into a slippery, saucy mess, making the patties slide around uncomfortably. The soft bun is serviceable but nothing to write home about—it gets the job done without standing out.

The curly fries, on the other hand, steal the show. They’re crispy, perfectly seasoned, and come with a smoky, tangy dipping sauce that elevates them to a level of indulgence that outshines the burger itself.

Goldburger’s retro, walk-up vibe does add some charm, but the overall meal lands at a respectable four stars. It’s good, reliable comfort food, but it doesn’t quite deliver the wow factor that would make it a top-tier LA smashburger destination. Worth trying if you’re in the area, but not a place I’d go out of my way to...

Got the LA Burger, curly fries and the chocolate pie slice. I can see why the pie is what everyone raves about. Damn smooth filling, excellent taste, not too rich so it coats your mouth but still unctuous enough to not need ice cream or whipped cream. The crust on the slice I got was a bit darker than I usually like but still crunchy and flaky.

The burger and the fries were a total let down. Two medium-ish slices of pastrami on the whole thing didn't justify the 3 dollars extra for it, the bottom bun was soaked on grease and there was still a small pool of it in the corner of the box. The fries are jack in the box curly fries. Not better, not worse, but not anywhere near worth the 6 bucks they're asking for them. I guess the upcharge is for the tap water they offer in the pretty grimy dining area. Doesn't take a lot to run a broom through the rafters and floor to knock the cobwebs and leaves off the wall. I guess that adds to the charm?

Come for the pie, get a burger...