"Though it's only been open since 2020, Amboy has already made a name for itself as one of the heaviest hitters in the LA burger game. Run by the chef who founded Eggslut, this tiny restaurant/butcher shop in the Far East Plaza serves juicy, near-perfect smashburgers, thick bar-style burgers, and the best fries in the city. Yes, you heard that right. Golden and crispy, skinny (but not too skinny), they’re served piping hot and taste like they were touched by Midas. Amboy doesn’t have any official tables, but there are a few seats scattered around the plaza, if you’re able to snag them." - sylvio martins, brant cox, cathy park
"This counter-service spot in Chinatown is a burger operation first, but the sleeper hit of the menu is their eye-catching hot dog. The signature Amboy Dog looks like a Viking warship, with a long blistered beef frank pointing upward on the ends. The smoked sausage is custom-made for the restaurant and has the satisfying snap of a meat stick but remains juicy inside, and the griddled bun is generously buttered like texas toast. On top is a delicious sweet-spicy combo of jammy onions, mayo, and pickled peppers." - garrett snyder, sylvio martins, brant cox, cathy park, andrew ryce
"Amboy is a tiny meat shop in Chinatown that’s home to some tremendous burgers and our favorite fries in LA. But for this week only, chef Alvin Cailan is putting a special Emilia-Romagna burger on the menu. Named for the region in Northern Italy, it comes with two blended patties that have been coated with grated parmesan and then smashed into the grill, balsamic aioli, diced onions, and pesto all on a toasted squishy bun. Pre-orders are available here." - brant cox
"For a delicious, portable, and satisfying pre-game bite, stop by Chinatown's Amboy for burgers. The Classic Double is the undisputed star here—a simple, old-school burger featuring double-decker smash patties (made of ground short rib, brisket, and rib-eye trim), American cheese, and caramelized onions. Scarf it down on the car ride to Chavez Ravine, or maybe pop a squat at a table in Far East Plaza to fully appreciate the patties' crispy edges. Anyway, baseball can wait because their fries are best enjoyed hot." - sylvio martins
"In the land of smash burger ubiquity, it’s nice to see native son Alvin Cailan return to LA with a thick pub-style burger at Amboy Quality Meats and Delicious Burgers, tucked inside the former Chinatown home of Chego. The Amboy Classic offers thin smashed patties, while the Slim Thicc comes with a hefty third-pounder patty tucked between American cheese, pickles, and caramelized onions. For something that goes outside of the usual burger spot options, try the Truffle Slim Thicc with a patty encrusted in 24-month aged Parmigiano and black truffle aioli. There are a handful of seats inside, but the majority of seating is in the outdoor plaza. What to order: The Slim Thicc is one of the better thick burgers in all of Los Angeles" - Eater Staff