"Goldburger is the smash burger gift that keeps on giving in Los Angeles. Owner Allen Yelent opened his first Highland Park location with a charming covered patio in 2019, Los Feliz in 2021, and in Chinatown in 2024. (A fourth stand in Granada Hills is also in the works.) If the proliferation points to anything, it’s the sheer quality diners can find in any Goldburger. Yelent uses grass-fed meats from regenerative farms in California; his preferred cook offers a medium smash in the center, leaving a very juicy middle and lacier rim. The simplicity is what keeps regulars returning for single or double-layered cheeseburgers — most dressed with crisp shredded lettuce, crinkly pickles, and white onion — paired with traditional or curly fries and a bottle of Swell soda. It’s all you need in America’s burger capital. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Must-try dish: Goldburger" - Mona Holmes