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The Best Cheeseburgers in Pasadena

November 15, 2023 | Posted in Food

As the birthplace of the Cheeseburger, Pasadena is proud of it's cheesy burger scene. The list is packed with classic burgers and the old school spots that still make them, as well as innovative newcomers with tantalizing modern ingredients. Savor the memorable cheeseburgers in its hometown - who knows, maybe you'll try to do your own Cheeseburger Crawl.

Pie n' Burger

Start your cheeseburger crawl at Pie n' Burger in the South Lake Avenue neighborhood, one of LA's favorite burger spots since 1963. Enjoy classic burgers and milkshakes in a classic old-fashioned diner-style joint. Don't sleep on the fruit pies - they're truly exquisite. Cash only.

King's Row Gastropub

Go a little off the beaten path and you'll find a satisfying collection of brews at King's Row. Locals know that the food and appetizers at this spot is top tier. Try the King's Row 50/50 burger made with house ground creekstone farms beef chuck and brisket topped with bacon, grilled onions, lettuce, and two types of cheese. For any vegetarian friends, the Impossible Burger is divine.

Foothill Restaurant

In eastern Pasadena, Foothill Restaurant delivers a lovely atmosphere with an enchanting patio. It's a popular brunch spot with an excellent full bar, and the massive burgers taste better than they look. The classic burger is made with a half a pound of Wagyu. There's a plant-based burger on the menu too!

Lucky Baldwin's Pub

Like any authentic British Pub, Lucky Baldwin's is a crowd pleaser with 68 beers on tap and traditional British meals. Try the Craftsman 1903 Lager with your burger. The English burger comes with bacon blue cheese, and the Irish Burger is made with Guinness, Swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms. They also serve a Beyond Burger. Tuesday nights are trivia nights.

Dog Haus Biergarten

Not many people know that Dog Haus started right here in Pasadena, and now you do. The craft-casual spot has an expansive patio space in its Old Pasadena location. Their smash burgers made with 100% humanely raised Black Angus beef and are served on grilled King's Hawaiian rolls. You can even customize it with the selection of toppings such as smoked bacon, caramelized onions, onion rings, pickles, fried egg, and more. They also have an Impossible cheeseburger, my diet conscious friends.

Jake's Trustworthy Burgers & Beer

Since the 1940s, Jake's burger stand has been serving cheeseburgers on Route 66. It's Pasadena's oldest burger stand and they have some excellent tater tots and brews on tap.

Smash House Burger Co.

Love a little extra crisp with your cheeseburger? Head to Smash House Burger Co. for a juicy, smashed cheeseburger and a side of very loaded tater tots. There's curry ketchup and the fries are a thin natural cut, lightly fried and still crispy. The kid-friendliness points go towards the table top board games, like Jenga and Connect 4.

Super Burger

Super Burger is one of those spots that have been around. It's where you go when you finish your waterfall hike at Eaton Canyon. The burgers are bigger and thicker than you would expect, and fries are basically a double portion.

SLAB

SLAB is a newcomer on Arroyo Parkway to much fanfare. The spot is known for its slow-cooked Texas-style BBQ from pit master Burt Bakman. On the menu, there's a 1/2 pound brisket burger with garlic cheese sauce, barbeque sauce, and a brioche bun, topped with a slice of pickle.

The Cheeseburger Plaque Where It Happened

If you haven't seen the plaque where it happened, it's worth a visit. In 1924, Lionel Clark Sternberger invented the cheeseburger at the Rite Spot in Pasadena. Now, a plaque stands at its original spot to commemorate the achievement, at 1500 W Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.

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