LOVE HOUR
Hamburger restaurant · Koreatown ·
Crispy smashburgers, craft beer, fun bar vibes, and a photo booth
Crispy smashburgers, craft beer, fun bar vibes, and a photo booth
"Love Hour has become a fixture of LA's smashburger scene and for good reason. The edges of the patty here get nice and crispy, but unlike other smash spots, it’s not overly greasy, so the bun stays intact (that’s tougher to pull off than you think). They mostly keep their toppings simple: gooey cheese, raw onions and pickles for crunch, and an outstanding smoky-sweet special sauce. Find them at their order-at-the-counter bar in Koreatown. Weekends at their beer and wine spot can get pretty busy—expect a great patio, a bumping playlist, big birthday groups, and a free flow of people breezing through the walkway with burgers, garlic-parm fries, and bottles until midnight." - brant cox, cathy park, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"This is a burger-focused guide, so we won’t give Love Hour extra points for being attached to a bar, but it doesn’t hurt, either. This Koreatown takeout window serves one of the most sizeable smashburgers on the list, making it one of the few places where a reasonably hungry person would be content with a single (though we still prefer the double). The style here involves frilly-edged, beefy patties, gooey cheese, raw onions and pickles for crunch, and an outstanding smoky-sweet burger sauce—served on a soft toasted bun that’s the proper size. We also like that these burgers aren’t too messy, which would make them a great lunch option if Love Hour wasn’t only open at night (here’s hoping)." - garrett snyder, sylvio martins, nikko duren
"You wanted to keep your birthday simple this year and just do some In-N-Out drive-thru, but after seeing the line wrapped around the block, you’re going in another direction. In particular, towards Love Hour. The Koreatown pop-up has been cranking out some of our favorite smashburgers for over a year now, and the quarantine hasn’t slowed them down one bit. They’re currently offering drive-thru pre-orders on Wednesdays from 5-9pm, but on Saturday afternoons, you can pick up kits that allow you to cook (and build) your own burgers at home. Ordering available for both days via their website." - brant cox
"At Koreatown’s Love Hour queer party Hot Pot on June 29, Perhaps Japanese will be popping up alongside Bluey & Co, Rana Shehadeh, and more; entrance is free and the event runs from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m." - Rebecca Roland
"A great casual spot for brews & gourmet comfort food, Beer Belly is a solid example of present-day culture in Koreatown's nightlife scene.Thoughtful wood interiors and lighting are a modern backdrop against their impressive beer list. Ideal for beer enthusiasts, Sunday day-to-night drinking and self-proclaimed foodies who love good design." - The HR Dept