For The Win

1st time here. 10/17/25 Came just for the burger. And I will say, it's really yummy. It was really small, but again, really good.

A decent smash burger, cheesy and a bit messy. It would be a good starter or upgrade if you haven't gotten into smash burgers yet or if your idea of smash burgers was more in n out. Orders are called out via the opposite end from where orders are taken. The system is a bit rubbish though since someone is constantly yelling the numbers out but they can't be bothered moving out of the middle of the kitchen and to the window so that you can actually hear the order over other market noise. I see others not hearing their order called out the first time either, I'm not the only one, and I sat in a table right behind it, would hate to be a little hard of hearing and trying to hear it called out. Give it a few minutes and hover near the window unless you have super sharp hearing. That's the kind of thing that makes me annoyed that tips are taken at the touch screen self service ordering system before you have a chance to experience issues with their service, it's a bit ludicrous really. Despite that, worth a stop. They have other stores where the experience might be a bit smoother, but this location is convenient if you're around Downtown.

I know the food is good because I’ve had them before. But I can in on a Saturday morning on my lunch break the sign says opens at 11am. So I’m standing at the corner and it’s two employees in the back on their phones. Once I got their attention I asked what time he said 11:30 I damn near wasted my whole lunch break because either the sign is wrong or they just chose to open late today.

If you’re hunting for one of the best classic cheeseburgers in town, look no further than For The Win. Their cheeseburger is pure comfort in every bite — perfectly seasoned, juicy, flavorful beef nestled between a soft, slightly toasted bun. The melted American cheese adds the perfect gooey richness, and the fresh pickles and onions give it just the right amount of crunch and tang. It’s simple, but that makes it great — no gimmicks, well-executed, high-quality ingredients. The portion size is perfect, and it hits that nostalgic, diner-style burger craving spot-on. It's worth the hype!

Juicy, satiating and messy burgers. Simple as that. You can also get fries and brussel sprouts but their focused menu is all about the burgers. Got a double cheese burger and it was good. If you like greasy messy burgers this is the spot for you! They definitely smash their patties. It wasn’t busy at the market so we got our meal within 10 minutes. The price point is on the higher end of burger spectrums, about $20 for a burger with fries and a tip.

Ambiance: It's in Grand Central market downtown, so it's chaotic. There are tons of people everywhere, long lines all over the place, just like any other food court. Food: I really enjoyed this burger. It was flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the fries were good and not over salted. It's definitely a solid place. Service: fairly quick for the line. Waiting, I just walked around to see what else the market had to offer, two laps around, and my order was ready. Parking over here is not great, mostly paid. So, if you plan on just going in for a quick bite plan accordingly.

Im from france and that was amazing, they give me 2 extra soda and 1 fries for free !! And the cheeseburger was delicious !!!

30 min wait or so Easter Sunday but the burger was well worth it. I had a double bacon cheeseburger and fries. Crispy and flavored well. The bread is good and the fries compliment the burger. Definitely will spin the block.

For The Win lives up to the name. The burger was everything you want--juicy, perfectly smashed, loaded with melted cheese, and stacked on a soft bun that held it all together. Simple, no gimmicks, just bold flavor done right. The fries were crispy, well-seasoned, and the perfect side to round out the meal. The vibe is casual and fun, the food comes out fast, and it hits every time. This is the kind of burger you crave when you want something indulgent and satisfying without overthinking it. If you're a burger person, For The Win is a must. Straight-up comfort food that actually delivers.

Guys - this was good, but extremely overhyped . Maybe i'm not a big fan of smash burgers, but they are small and not THAT good for the price. I would rather get other burgers around sadly. Interior is clean, you order yourself and the waiter serves your food out. Clean up after yourself. That's why I wouldn't justify a $9 burger you can finish in a couple bites. But worth the try!

One of the perks of living within walking distance of grand central market is being able to grab a smash burger from here whenever the craving strikes. This time I went with the bacon cheeseburger and my god do they have it down to a perfect science. The crispy edges are always my favorite part and they never miss on the seasoning or flavor. Prices can feel a bit steep, but it's justified for the quality you're getting imo. The staff are always hospitable and keep things moving even when the place gets chaotic and packed. Very much worth checking out if you're in the area.

Paying $13 for a burger, you expect something satisfying but this was the complete opposite. The smashed patties were paper thin, the buns were small, and the overall portion felt like a complete ripoff. The burger was overwhelmingly salty, to the point where it completely overpowered everything else. There was no balance, just salt. For the price and the portion size, it's honestly hard to justify.

My boyfriend and I are constantly on the hunt for good smashburgers and this ticked all the boxes! FTW lives up to the hype. Love the basic, to-the-point menu.. when it comes to smashburgers, it should only be limited to a few items and this place did exactly that. You order at the kiosk and receive your food within minutes. Portion sizes are phenomenal in comparison to the pricing, and food quality is amazing. I've tried multiple smashburgers in LA and this one takes the cake.

Food was good. But, I couldn't believe how similar it tasted to a McDonald's BigMaC. Nonetheless, the burger was good. But for Big Mac taste I don't think I will be spending $17 again on one of these.

Service is still impersonal. As they seem to be the only establishment in the Market that uses a order kiosk where they don't deal with people. Food was good and prepared in a decent amount of time.

I love a good smash burger. The ordering was fast as there was both a kiosk and a worker taking orders. Ambiance was the same anywhere in the market, it was super busy. On to the food, the burger itself was very delicious. My girlfriend doesn't necessarily like burgers, but she did enjoy this one. The meat was super juicy and you just can't go wrong ordering from here. The fries are something I came back for because I love French fries as well. I definitely recommend coming here for a good burger in LA! This has the Dyllan Guarantee!

Great burger- doesn't need extra toppings since the meat is perfectly seasoned and the pickles and sauce are not overwhelming. I did go for the loaded fries and glad I did, gooey cheese with caramelized onions-very satisfying. It's a busy food court with lots of options but they are quick and we found a clean table. Worth checking it out if you are craving a simple yet delicious classic burger.

Without getting into comparisons with other smash burger joints, here's what you can expect: Solid, reliable, CONSISTENT smash burgers. Sometimes they do get busy (even later at night). Parking is super easy, and dining space is limited indoors and outside. The burgers are greasy but 100% delicious. The seasoning is always on point, as is the lacy, crispy edge. Burgers come with onions, pickles, and their sauce. I find it odd that they nickel and dime you for lettuce and tomato. They are insanely cravable (I'm getting hungry just writing this). Skip the fries in favor of the sweet potato fries. I wish I knew how they keep them so crispy. They're crispy hot, they're crispy cold. How do they do it? I'm not too fond of their milkshake: it tastes kind of like Nesquick but a little more rich. Outside of the burgers, the one thing that has earned their spot in my rotation is the service. The staff here are friendly and go above and beyond. It really is appreciated.

Food came out prompt and fast. I like that they had 2 kiosks for self ordering helped with the line. I like that you can animal fries up sweet potato fries here. It's okay I just wish it was more loaded like Lowboy's version. I got double patty cheeseburger today and well one was way more than enough lol

Great burger, but overpriced. Pretty small and the sides are not that big either. I'd rather go to in n out but if you like a smash burger this one won't disappoint. Inside is relatively clean and the staff is nice and the burgers came out quick. I'd go again if I was craving a smash burger - ask for extra pickles!

Got this at the grand central market. Delicious. If you can eat a lot I would get 2 of them because they are small. I like the location because if anyone in your group doesn't want to eat there they can get anything else around, on top of the tourist attractions nearby. The staff gets pretty busy but they attend to you right away.

I was very excited to try their smashburgers after seeing pictures on social media. It's part of a growing chain of restaurants and this is conveniently located in Grand Central Market with a ton of other food stalls. The stall is located somewhat in the middle of the building and as we walked further in, it got stuffier and stuffier. We did visit during summer so it's probably better during the cooler seasons. When we visited, the market was already very packed but we lucked out and got some of the limited counter seats at For The Win. The stall is surrounded by glass windows so you can see the whole process while sitting at the counters. Double Cheeseburger: For me, two telling signs of a good smashburger are sad-looking buns and patties with crispy edges. And they delivered! But I thought it could've been a little more flavorful. I was a hungover and my tastebuds probably weren't at its peak but I just wasn't entirely satisfied with it. It was juicy though! Brussel Sprouts: I did not expect to find vegetables here but it's a great side to have with your greasy burger. I believe the sauce is something along the lines of balsamic vinegar because the bottom of the box was a lot more tart than the rest. This would've been so much better if the outer leaves were crispy but either it never got to that point or the sauce made it too soggy. Overall, a good meal but I need to come back and give it another shot when I'm not hungover!

First time trying it and had high expectations. The look doesn't look as good as the one on the screen when we ordered. The taste was just ok. Maybe I should have added lettuce and tomato. But for $10 for a cheeseburger, I don't think it lives up to the hype for me.

I was craving a smash burger and this place definitely delivered. It was worth fighting my way through the lunch rush at grand central market. The double cheeseburger is everything you'd want in a smash burger. It's juicy and sloppy in a good way. The patties are flavorful and slightly crispy on the edges. The sauce and pickles complete the whole thing. It's the perfect indulgent quick lunch

I got the burger and fries. The burger was okay for a smash burger but wasn't crispy enough on the outside as other great smash burger places like Easy Street. The fries were bland and definitely needed more seasoning, I had to rely on ketchup to get me through. The price is astronomical for what is offered, I would consider it a decent food spot if a meal wasn't $20 for what I could get from Burger King.

Best smash burger you can get in Southern California. Nestled in GCM their burgers offer an easy ordering experience with a touch pad and fast wait time. While waiting you can walk around and check out other food giants like Egg Slut and Ramen Hood. The market is very alive and I've always had a great experience there. I really appreciate the ambience and possibilities to have a drink from one place and apps from another while waiting for your main dish to be ready. However the prices are pretty steep for the portion of the burger. About the size of a McDonald's cheeseburger. I tried mine as a single patty and it was $9-10.00. Smash burgers are always an interesting topic because the amount of ingredients is small and so is the labor but the simplicity of how it's prepared makes all of the difference. FTW executed perfectly with the crispness of the patty, soft bun, melty cheese and house made sauce . FTW has other locations throughout Los Angeles and I highly recommend trying them.

Greasy deliciousness! If you're counting your calories or on a weight loss journey, please stay 100 yards away from FTW! This place cranks out the juiciest burgers packed with a ton of flavor. Take a friend with you. Share a burger so you can leave room for to taste something else in the Grand Central Market. Pro tip: Ask for extra napkins.

I've lived in DTLA for almost 6 months and somehow just made my way over to the Grand Centel Market for the very first time. I was extremely overwhelmed walking around and couldn't decide what to get, but the sight of FTW Burgers pushed me over the edge and I ordered right away. I ended up ordering a double smash burger and split an order of the golden cut fries with my wife. The food only took maybe 10 minutes to come out and when it did, I was ready to give this place five stars without even taking a bite. The French fries were crispy and were probably some of the best I've had in a long time. The double smash burger was hands down, without a shadow of a doubt, the best smash burger I have ever had in my entire life. I have no idea what was done here differently, but I was legit drooling as I ate this bad boy. The meat was so tender and juicy, the cheese was magnificent, and even the bun was perfect. Overall, For the Win is my new favourite burger spot in DTLA. Not only was the food amazing, but the setup itself was pretty cool and the staff was great. Want a burger at the Grand Central Market? FTW is the king.

Such a bummer that this place has gone down hill so quickly. But to be fair this location was always shit. Just ordered thru Postmates and this is how the burger arrived. The bun was ripped in half? and they totally got my order wrong. Definitely don't order from this place on any take out apps. Not anywhere close to being worth $18 for a fucking burger.

listen, I don't usually leave reviews but I think it's my duty to sing the praises of FOR THE WIN. If youve ever had a McDonald's fry as a kid in the early 2000s and you want to feel that same euphoria, then run, don't walk, to FTW. Fries so good they don't need any condiments. I think ketchup actually ruins what makes these fries so special, perfectly salty, nice crunch but not DRY just crispy enough to make you grab another one. And before you know it they're all gone. Oh yeah their burgers are pretty good too. But the fries are the real star here in my opinion. Burgers are hard to fuck up, good meat, enough cheese, great bun.. you're enjoying it 9 times out of 10. But fries? Fries are my unit of measurement when it comes to burger spots and FTW just made the top of my list. Adding to this review: yes they're kind of pricy, wake up it's not the 90s anymore our economy is f$&ked up and the food supply is monopolized by big corpos, I'll happily pay a premium to not eat low grade frozen food from CISCO that's been sitting on a truck for god knows how long. If you wanna get a cheap burger go to in & out and wait 45mins in a line around the block for an okay burger and mid fries. Or you could join us in 2025 and break that $20 for a burger and fries that will make your father proud.

Always a good time at Grand Central. Burger was on point. It was slightly moist on the bottom but still solid overall. I can see why it's ranked high. Service was solid. Atmosphere is always going to be a win. No pun intended.

I'm gonna call it how it is, it's good not great. FTW was jam packed today at GCM, but they moved pretty quick to get our order out. I ended up with the single cheeseburger with jalapeños in it and it was solid (7.7/10). Where it's at, and how far it is from me, I wouldn't make my way to get it. I can see why people rate this fairly high, but then again I know there's other spots out there that can compete. Overall, FTW was good just not great. Much love!

The wife and I went to Grand Central Market to try out some of the delicious foods that are offered inside. One of those spots was For The Win. I've heard so much about them having a great Smashburger so I had to give them a try. I ordered from the kiosk and pickup was just around the corner. Very simple. After about 10 minutes my name was called and I received my burger in a nice bag with plenty of napkins. I sat down and bit into the burger and it definitely is a good one. The patty was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The sauce they put on the burger was delicious as well. Sometimes the signature sauce can be a miss at burger joints. When I come back to Grand Central Market I will be purchasing another For The Win smashburger.

I've heard good things from my friends about For the Win so figured we'll grab a quick burger dinner at GCM. We ordered using the kiosk and provided info on customization (plain cheeseburger with grilled onions and sauce on the side). The wait wasn't too bad. Upon returning home and opening up our food, my plain cheeseburger had pickles and sauces that I opted out on. I wanted onions but there were no onions in sight. The sauce had a slight kick and I'm not a fan of spicy. Disappointing experience for sure.

Grand central market is always a busy area. Order by tablet and pay through same tablet. I got it to eat there but doesn't matter because seems like everything is to go. The only thing is the price. I paid close to $20 for a double patty burger no fries and a drink. I highly regret it. Even with a double patty I was still hungry. Portions are small. Definitely not worth the cost. Taste was good but with $20 I can get a 8x8 from in n out with fries. Definitely will not come back. Way to many places to eat from that will get filled up with $20.

My friends suggested that I try For the Win when in DTLA, so I had higher than normal expectations. I thought to myself, what can be so good about this place? They're just burgers. It's located in Grand Central Market and had a somewhat long line on a Sunday afternoon. - - Cheeseburger (4/5): It was good, but not breathtakingly good, especially for the price of almost $10. I think it would be comparable to that of an In-N-Out cheeseburger for a fraction of the price. - - Fries (3/5): I think it lacked flavor and were not anything special. I think trying For the Win was good for the experience but it didn't stand out to me like how I thought it would after hearing my friends' experiences. I probably won't be back in the future because the price for what I got just wasn't justified in my opinion. But despite the price, there wasn't really anything I can complain about. Once again, the burger was good but just wasn't worth it for me.

Ambiance: It's in Grand Central market downtown, so it's chaotic. There are tons of people everywhere, long lines all over the place, just like any other food court. Food: I really enjoyed this burger. It was flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the fries were good and not over salted. It's definitely a solid place. Service: fairly quick for the line. Waiting, I just walked around to see what else the market had to offer, two laps around, and my order was ready. Parking over here is not great, mostly paid. So, if you plan on just going in for a quick bite plan accordingly.

Oh my GOODNESS!!! If you like burgers and haven't tried these I feel bad for you. Nice and simple menu but these burgers will have you craving smashed burgers like a maniac! You are able to add other toppings on your burger but if you want the classic smash burger taste it's pretty much just the meat, cheese, onions and bread. Such an amazing taste these burgers have and it was definitely the best thing I ate from here last time I went to grand central market. I wasn't able to try the fries but I will get those next time. They have a small bar and a few tables but when I went all of them were taken so you will probably have to walk around after you get your food to find another spot to sit and eat but grand central market has tables everywhere so no worries.

Really solid Smashburger. A little disappointed in the beef being kinda dry on the edges (it should be thin and crispy and this was just a little bit too thick.) not a huge problem though and very tasty (i had 2.) the sauce that comes with the fries is out of this world

Stopped by before a recent Dodger game to see what all the hype was about. I ordered a double cheeseburger and side of fries well done. This burger definitely lived up to the hype. One of the best smash burgers I have ever had. Just the right amount of grease and char on the burger. The cheese was nice and gooey. My only complaint was they forgot my pickles. The fries were average at best but the burger was sooo good I had to give it 5 stars!!

Great smash burgers here. Well seasoned, balanced toppings, and quick service. It's not the best I've ever had, nor is it very convenient place to grab a bite, but it is pretty good if you're in the area. I would skip on the cheese on fries but for a double cheeseburger, it was pretty tasty.

Super Messy, Super Delicious. Had a double bacon smash burger with fries and their homemade sauce. This burger was excellent.

Another social media let down :( Service: didn't really interact with anyone, as I ordered on a tablet and picked up on the counter. The brief human interaction I had was the guy who called out my name and handed me the order. Food: $11 for a single patty cheeseburger ($10) + lettuce and tomato ($1). I requested no pickles but still got pickles in my burger. The patty was unevenly seasoned, some parts were very very salty. Sauce was good but nothing special really. I was hoping that lettuce and tomato would give the crunchy texture, but they were all mushy. In my honest opinion, with the similar price range, I would rather have an In-n-Out double double combo (which included fries and a drink).

I really had high hopes for this spot as it was named one of the best burgers in LA! I ordered the double burger and a fry. The fries were as perfect as you could ask. Warm, perfectly salted and crunchy! However, the burger was a bit dry and just left me a bit disappointed. I would not let my 1-off detour you, but something to keep in mind on your next visit.

Finally got to try the FTW burger after hearing so much praise of it. It was good, but at $10 for the cheeseburger without any add-ons, it wasn't worth it. When my son ate this, he compared it to In&Outs. Very similar quality at half the costs. I would agree.

I'm a bit late to the party with this smash burger phenomenon. I read online that FTW has one of the better smash burgers out there. I knew that I needed to give it a try. To be fair, I haven't had so many smash burgers to compare it. With that being said, it was very good burger. However, it was way to expensive for what it was. A single cheeseburger costs $9. Factor in tax and a tip and you are looking at an $11 burger which to me is too expensive for a single patty. Nevertheless, it was dang good burger.

There are so many options at Grand Central Market, so we did a little research before our visit. The recommendation to try For the Win was spot on! This was hands down one of the best smash burgers I've had! I tried the double cheeseburger with everything on it--absolutely incredible. The fries were also hot and crispy. The ordering and pickup process were easy, and there's an open kitchen concept. The name captures it all; they are winning!

A little salty for me but not bad! I love the bun and the fries. Definitely could have eaten a double but considering I had to go back to work after lunch, the single cheeseburger was perfect. Pretty fast service considering!

FTW has been yappin about being the best smashburger in LA, so of course I'd have to see for myself (opinions own btw). This spot is located in GCM next to Ghost Sando shop. It is prob one of the busiest stalls in this food hall bc of the hype. There was already a lot of people who ordered ahead so it must be that good. I ordered the double cheeseburger with BLT as an add-on. They do charge for lettuce and other things as extras, so it'll rack up the price of your meal. Pretty pricy for a burger. I wanted to order loaded fries but they didn't have any available at the time so I opted for regular fries. There was a wait to get my food so you'd need to stick around and hear when they call out your order number since it's pretty loud. Luckily, I was seated at the front so you can see the staff in action. I got my burger and the patty hangs out on the side. The bun could barely cover them, so it'll get pretty messy to eat. It's a solid burger and tasted pretty good, but I personally don't think it's the best. The price can be a major turn off for some people since they charge for the vege, and can get pretty hectic. Maybe would return if I'm at GCM or at another FTW location

Crap, I deleted the photos before I posted it. Anyways, great burger decent fries nothing special about the service was really fast. It was done three minutes, burnt edges on the end of the burger. Cheesy bacon is good. There's a few tables provided by the actual market itself, and there seem to be plenty of seating by this booth. I would go back, but there's so many other places to try. I can't guarantee anything.

Easily one of the top 3 Smashburgers I've ever had! The meat wasn't too smashed but just enough. Plus the bacon tasted amazing too! I didn't try the fries but my coworker said they were bomb! Service was cool, no cashier. Just order at a kiosk and in 5-15 minutes someone calls your name and gives you your order. Definitely coming back!!

Burgers are good just stupid expensive for a burger only. Fries and drink of course separate. I get these hipster spots want to make money but they're all about being small and not really about the customer experience. Parking lot is terrible, location to sit down and eat, terrible. It's like they make you go through all of that just to try their overly expensive burgers. Also, smells like they don't clean their oil. Not bad of a burger tho just not for the price.

these are the best sweet potato fries i've ever had. i think i went to heaven for like five minutes. this burger was SO stunning. not the absolute most incredible ever but still so good. 8/10 but the fries brought it to 9/10. workers were nice and quick with the food. the entire vibe is super casual and louder. but that's just grand central. it just feels like la.

Fucking amazing!!!!!!! One of the best smash burgers we've ever had. If you're in LA and you're craving a burger, try them!

FTW comes up in a bunch of lists of best burgers in LA and after having one, I can see why. But as you may see from the picture, the book does not match the cover. When I first opened the wrapper, I was initially disappointed because it does not look pretty at all. Looked a little soggy and smushed. But looks were deceiving because I was very happy with the flavors and textures. Their standard cheeseburger comes with grilled onions, pickles and sauce. All blended well with the crusty smashed patties and bun. Service was quick but we came before noon. Will be back!!

The burger was pretty good. I feel like I needed a little more seasoning. My husband feels like it needed more meat inside. We got a single patty.

It's good, but not at this price point. Decided to check this place out to see all the hype. I can't justify burger for like almost $20 bucks for a triple cheese burger. The burgers are very thinly smashed, and not that filling. I would rather gotten a 5x5 at in n out with the works and probably would have been cheaper and just as delicious. I opted to add the jalapenos, but the ones they use are those cheap canned soggy and sour jalapenos, not very fresh. I don't recommend getting that added. Also got the fries and they were whatever. Nothing special. Wouldn't come back again especially at this price point. If it was $10 bucks then sure.