Irv’s Burgers, a legendary West Hollywood spot since 1946, serves up juicy smash burgers with a side of nostalgia and friendly service, perfect for a quick bite amidst the bustling vibe of Santa Monica Boulevard.
"Irv’s Burgers is back. The legendary Route 66 stand has been reborn (and reconstructed almost identically) by longtime chef-owner Sonia Hong and new partner Lawrence Longo. Expect weekend lines for these classic LA burgers, served with a sear but not too thin. Want to step things up? The Big Irv comes with pastrami, a hot dog, and more on top." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff
"Irv’s Ice Cream will sell festive ice cream flavors that will complement the Latin vibes, including cold and sweet treats like chocolate peanut butter brownies and brown butter pecan flavors." - Ernest Owens
"Burger lovers rejoiced when Irv’s re-opened in a new Santa Monica Boulevard location in 2022. The beloved Irv’s burger is available, and a pared-down Just For You burger with Thousand Island dressing and thick pickles on a seeded proprietary bun. They even added some new options like thin-shaved pastrami sandwiches, hot dogs, tuna melts, and simple salads." - Eater Staff
"The cheeseburger special inspired by the acclaimed film The Menu doesn’t depart too significantly from Irv’s regular burger, but the little details make this something worth seeking out during the month of January while it’s available." - Eater Staff
"If you’ve been in LA long enough and take your burgers seriously, chances are you know about Irv’s. The classic roadside burger spot has cycled through a couple of owners and locations on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood since first opening in 1946. For the past couple of decades, Irv’s was helmed by the Hong family, and matriarch Sonia Hong charmed the neighborhood not just with simple and delicious burgers, but also with personalized caricatures along with every order. She would even scrawl the phrase “just for you!” in Sharpie next to your doodle. So it was devastating in 2018 when Irv’s closed due to leasing issues. But as of 2022, Irv’s is back, and most days, you can still spot Sonia Hong handing out burgers with a smile. We’re tickled by Irv’s great return (and especially Hong’s) but we would be remiss to not mention that the experience is just not quite what it used to be. With bigger investors fueling the business, Irv’s now feels a bit manufactured —the “doodles” are pre-printed and no longer customized per order, the space is polished and minimalist, and the burgers and fries have changed a bit and won’t take you back to the original. If you’re looking for a quick, affordable burger or tuna melt in West Hollywood, Irv’s will do. But the character is gone." - Arden Shore
