Pie ‘n Burger | Pasadena, California
Since 1963, Pie’n Burger has been an institution in Pasadena and is a picture of a perfect California burger, one that our critic called the best in Burger-rich LA. You’re not going to find a lot of surprises here: it’s an asymmetrically squinted, thin patty on a buttery bun packed with a thick pile of the iceberg, a few pickles, tomatoes, and a Thousand Island blanket, with melted American acting like the glue holding the meat together after it’s kicking its ass on the grill. — AK
Pie ‘n Burger
Ray’s Hell Burger | Arlington, Virginia
It’s been a bit of an odyssey for the DC-area burger institution, which has undergone a series of legal and landlord disputes that have left the location in DC proper as the only outpost to secure the burger that President Obama occasionally deployed for diplomacy. The fact that those famous burgers — hand-trimmed and in-house ground thanks to all the beef know-how that comes from being siblings with Ray’s The Steaks — remain a worthy DC institution. — ML
Ray’s Hell Burger