L.A. Buns ~ 8237 2nd St Downey, CA 90241
L.A. Buns. I didn't think much about your name, or much about you at all when I eased through your divey front door. But I should have known when I walked in that if I'm here, it's because you deftly pull the people in with artisan burger mojo, pride in your quality ingredients, and a menu cast of co-stars that might make Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy jealous.
A running mantra of mine in getting Bang for your Burger Buck is to steer clear of the costly add ons. Bacon, cheese and onion rings can not only add extra cheddar to that bill but can also mask the flavor of an otherwise fine burger patty. At L.A. Buns, $5.45 will get you a 1/2lb of house ground chuck, shredded lettuce, roasted tomato and a made from scratch thousand island wisely spiked with butter pickles, nestled on a fluffy brioche bun, specially sourced from a bakery in El Segundo. But for a mere extra 70 cents you can add cheddar, bacon and onion strings. Child, don't even trip. If you want Bang for that Burger Buck, pony up the couch change or put off the laundry for one more day, because at L.A. Buns, the LAX burger is a hot damn deal.