"We’ll admit it: if you ate every burger on this guide (like we did), they all start to taste pretty similar—even the ones we love. But the smashburgers at Ban Ban stand out like a pair of Crocs at a wedding. This casual, Thai-influenced spot on Sawtelle from the Tuk Tuk Thai people does a crisp-edged wagyu laab smash and a grapow smash kicked up with garlic-chile paste, plus pandan milkshakes and spice-dusted fries. Everything on the short menu grabs your attention, but we'd prioritize the grapow burger with a runny egg. It’s spicy, tangy, and salty, though maybe arguably a little saucy for its delicate potato bun (expect things to get messy)." - garrett snyder, sylvio martins, nikko duren