In-N-Out is still the top fast food burger in Los Angeles, with Original Tommy's chili cheeseburger and Fatburger's Original close behind as the city's other true LA-born classics. Round out the list with Goldburger, Carney's, and five statewide or national chains that also do the job well here. Prices run from about $5 for a basic cheeseburger up to $13 or so for a specialty smashburger, and every entry below was checked for hours, ownership, and location changes as of July 2026.
This year brought real change to LA's fast food burger scene. Fatburger's parent company, FAT Brands, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2026 after years of financial trouble under former CEO Andrew Wiederhorn, then sold the brand to FBG Bid Co for $595 million in June 2026. Fatburger locations stayed open through the whole process, but it's a genuinely new owner. Original Tommy's had a much quieter year: it turned 80 in May 2026 and is still run by the Koulax family that started it, with an 80-cent chili cheeseburger promo to mark the milestone.
The Melt's original downtown LA stand on Figueroa Street has closed, but the chain isn't going anywhere, it's been expanding hard across Southern California malls and now covers LA proper from a West Hollywood location. Del Taco changed hands too: Jack in the Box, which paid $585 million for the chain in 2022, sold it back off to franchise operator Yadav Enterprises for $115 million in a deal that closed in early 2026. The Habit has been a Yum! Brands company, the parent of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, since 2020.
We also reranked this list to lead with LA's own burger originals. In-N-Out, Original Tommy's, Fatburger, Goldburger, and Carney's all started in the Los Angeles area, In-N-Out in Baldwin Park, the rest within city limits. The Habit, McDonald's, Del Taco, Shake Shack, and The Melt all do good business in LA, but none of them started here.
Fast food burgers in LA at a glance
| Chain | LA roots | Order this | From |
|---|
| In-N-Out Burger | Baldwin Park, 1948 | Double-Double | $6 |
| Original Tommy's | Los Angeles, 1946 | Chili Cheeseburger | $8 |
| Fatburger | Los Angeles, late 1940s | The Original Fatburger | $5 |
| Goldburger | Los Angeles, 2018 | The Goldburger | $13 |
| Carney's | West Hollywood, 1978 | Cheeseburger | $7 |
| The Habit | Santa Barbara, 1969 | Original Charburger | $7 |
| McDonald's | San Bernardino, 1940 | Big Mac | $6 |
| Del Taco | Yermo, 1964 | Double Del Cheeseburger | $5 |
| Shake Shack | New York, 2004 | ShackBurger | $7 |
| The Melt | San Francisco Bay Area | Double MeltBurger | check current menu |
Drive-thru classicFrom $6
In-N-Out has been LA's fast food burger benchmark since Harry and Esther Snyder opened the first drive-thru hamburger stand in Baldwin Park in 1948. The company has never sold out or franchised, and the Snyder family (now led by Lynsi Snyder) still runs it. The Double-Double, cooked to order with hand-leafed lettuce, is the reason every "best burger in LA" debate starts here.
Know before you go: The "not-so-secret" menu (animal style, protein style, grilled cheese) is published right on In-N-Out's own site, no insider knowledge required.
02
Original Tommy's
Westlake / Rampart
Chili burgerFrom $8
Tommy Koulax opened the original walk-up stand at Beverly and Rampart in 1946, and the chain turned 80 in 2026 while still being run by the Koulax family. The chili, a beef-and-bean blend ladled over everything, is the whole reason to go, though chili-free options exist for anyone who wants a break from it.
Know before you go: Order the chili cheese fries alongside the burger, most regulars treat them as the real signature item.
Built-to-orderFrom $5
Fatburger has been grilling burgers in LA since the late 1940s, when Lovie Yancey opened her original walk-up stand near Western and Adams. The chain's longtime public parent, FAT Brands, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2026 and sold Fatburger to FBG Bid Co for $595 million that June, but locations kept operating through the sale.
Know before you go: Sizes run small through 3XL, ask for "medium" if you want the classic build most people picture.
SmashburgerFrom $13
Goldburger started as a 2018 pop-up on York Blvd and became one of Highland Park's most talked-about counters, grilling grass-fed smashburgers with a house-made garlic-mustard aioli. It's the newest name on this list and the only one that's purely local, no drive-thru, no locations outside LA.
Know before you go: It's counter service with limited seating, plan on a to-go order if you're in a hurry. Delivery-app pricing runs higher than the in-store price.
Railcar dinerFrom $7
Carney's has run its kitchen out of two converted Union Pacific railroad cars parked over the Sunset Strip since 1978. Burgers and chili dogs are the primary menu, and it's built up a following well beyond LA: the spot has shown up in both "Grand Theft Auto V" and "NCIS: Los Angeles."
Know before you go: Grab a seat on the open-air deck if the weather's decent, it's one of the last real outdoor fast-food patios left on the Strip.
06
The Habit Burger Grill
Northridge
ChargrilledFrom $7
The Habit started as "The Hamburger Habit" in Santa Barbara in 1969, not LA, but its char-grilled-over-an-open-flame format has made it a fixture across the city. Yum! Brands, the parent of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, bought the chain in 2020, though the menu and format haven't visibly changed since.
Know before you go: The Santa Barbara Char, served on grilled sourdough, is the menu's own twist on the format, worth trying instead of a plain bun.
Global chainFrom $6
McDonald's traces back to a 1940 stand in San Bernardino, outside LA proper, but the Downey location on Lakewood Blvd (opened 1953) is a genuine LA landmark: it's recognized as the oldest continuously operating McDonald's in the world, and it's still a working restaurant, not a museum piece.
Know before you go: The Downey location is drive-thru only with a small walk-up counter, there's no full indoor dining room.
Mexican-American fast foodFrom $5
Del Taco started in Yermo, near Barstow, in 1964, and its Double Del Cheeseburger is proof the chain never limited itself to tacos. Ownership changed again recently: Jack in the Box, which paid $585 million for Del Taco in 2022, sold it to franchise operator Yadav Enterprises for $115 million in a deal that closed in early 2026.
Know before you go: The burger menu runs alongside the full Mexican-American menu, so it's easy to miss on a first visit, look for it under "burgers," not "specialties."
09
Shake Shack
West Hollywood
New York importFrom $7
Shake Shack started as a hot dog cart in New York's Madison Square Park in 2004, a long way from LA, but its West Hollywood location has held its own since opening. The 100% Angus beef, never frozen, is the pitch, alongside a rotating lineup of limited-time specialty burgers.
Know before you go: Check what the current limited-time burger is before you order, Shake Shack rotates specialty builds a few times a year.
Grilled cheese & burgersCheck current menu
The Melt's original downtown LA stand on Figueroa Street has closed, but don't count the chain out, it's been expanding hard across Southern California malls, and the nearest current LA-proper location is now on Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood. The menu leans on 100% Angus and Wagyu beef and grilled cheese mashups alongside the MeltBurger line.
Know before you go: This is a new address, not the old Figueroa Street spot, double check you're headed to the West Hollywood location.
A few more worth knowing
- All five LA-born chains on this list (In-N-Out, Original Tommy's, Fatburger, Goldburger, Carney's) are still headquartered in the LA area.
- Three chains changed corporate ownership in the past two years: The Habit (Yum! Brands, 2020), Del Taco (Jack in the Box sold it to Yadav Enterprises, early 2026), and Fatburger (FAT Brands' bankruptcy, sold to FBG Bid Co, June 2026).
- Prices above are starting points for the base item, combos with fries and a drink typically add $4 to $6.
Frequently asked
What's the best fast food burger in Los Angeles?
In-N-Out's Double-Double is the most common answer, but Original Tommy's chili cheeseburger and Fatburger's Original are close behind, and both, like In-N-Out, started in the LA area decades ago.
How much does a fast food burger cost in LA right now?
Basic cheeseburgers start around $5 to $6 at the drive-thru chains (In-N-Out, McDonald's, Del Taco), climb to about $7 at chargrilled and railcar spots (Carney's, The Habit, Shake Shack), and top out near $13 at Goldburger's smashburger counter. Prices vary by location, so treat these as starting points, not guarantees.
Which of these burger chains actually started in Los Angeles?
In-N-Out (Baldwin Park, 1948), Original Tommy's (Los Angeles, 1946), Fatburger (Los Angeles, late 1940s), Goldburger (Highland Park, 2018), and Carney's (West Hollywood, 1978) are the true LA originals. The Habit started in Santa Barbara, McDonald's and Del Taco both trace back to Southern California outside LA, and Shake Shack and The Melt came in from New York and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Has anything on this list closed or changed hands recently?
Yes. The Melt's original downtown LA location on Figueroa Street has closed, though the chain still operates in West Hollywood and across Southern California. Fatburger's parent company, FAT Brands, went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2026 and sold the brand to FBG Bid Co in June 2026, though Fatburger locations stayed open throughout. Del Taco was sold by Jack in the Box to franchise operator Yadav Enterprises in a deal that closed in early 2026.
Are these spots kid-friendly and easy to park at?
Most are quick counters or drive-thrus that work fine with kids. Street parking is tightest at Carney's and The Melt's West Hollywood locations on Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevard, and Goldburger's Highland Park counter has limited seating, so budget extra time or plan for takeout at those three.
What's the best time to go to avoid a line?
In-N-Out and Original Tommy's both draw steady lunch and late-night crowds. Arriving before 11:30am or after 9pm cuts the wait significantly at most locations.
