Umami Burger in LA

[propita]

Hubby and I are making our annual journey from Fresno to LA to see our tax man. This time, we hope to stop at Umami Burger in Santa Monica on our way home Saturday. I’ve read that it’s the best tasting burger in LA, focusing on the “fifth taste”--umami. I love good hamburgers and can’t wait to try it.

Four shops in the LA area. Anybody there try it?

 

[Witterquick]

From what I know of "umami", I'm not sure it is a good idea. Meat burgers on it's own is umami in taste already anyway. An umami burger would therefore be a "double positive." OT: Could anyone tell me what the proper grammar word for the opposite of "double negative" is? I'm very sure I know the word but I just can't come of with it now. Aargg.

So a Umami burger might be just full of MSG! To make it double umami. Well I haven't tried it or googled it. Tell me if it's good.

Edit: Is it "redundancy"?

 

[Robert D. Robot]

I have never heard of Umami Burger before today, but- ironically- they were discussing it on a radio talk show this morning. The two folks who had eaten there were raving about it, drooling on-air, stating how much better it was than In-N-Out Burger and these other Southern California burger places.

They got into specifics later, but I had to take a phone call, so I missed the details. I was getting the idea that it was good because of actual, genuine "food ingredients" and not for additives poured in from some bottle, but not sure.

I am definitely planning on stopping in for a burger the next time that I am out there. Please report on your experience when you can!

 

[Shatnertage]

Never heard of it--usually Counter Burger is my burger mecca in LA. I'll add it to the list--let me know how it goes.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

We had the launch of Taste No. 5 paste in our supermarkets just over a year ago. I've never tried that specific product myself, though, and to be honest, I haven't heard from it since launch. (That's "launch" and not "lunch." )

 

[Bears Discover Fire]

I have never heard of Umami Burger before today, but- ironically- they were discussing it on a radio talk show this morning. The two folks who had eaten there were raving about it, drooling on-air, stating how much better it was than In-N-Out Burger and these other Southern California burger places.

They got into specifics later, but I had to take a phone call, so I missed the details. I was getting the idea that it was good because of actual, genuine "food ingredients" and not for additives poured in from some bottle, but not sure.

I am definitely planning on stopping in for a burger the next time that I am out there. Please report on your experience when you can!

Bolded for blasphemy.

 

[Captain Ice]

I have never heard of Umami Burger before today, but- ironically- they were discussing it on a radio talk show this morning. The two folks who had eaten there were raving about it, drooling on-air, stating how much better it was than In-N-Out Burger and these other Southern California burger places.

They got into specifics later, but I had to take a phone call, so I missed the details. I was getting the idea that it was good because of actual, genuine "food ingredients" and not for additives poured in from some bottle, but not sure.

I am definitely planning on stopping in for a burger the next time that I am out there. Please report on your experience when you can!

Bolded for blasphemy.

Quoted for truth. There is only ONE burger place better than In&Out. That's The Chuckbox

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Can my girlfriend and I join you?

I had never heard of it either until the other day when I saw this article about it on Yahoo. We're in the South Bay and we don't get to the city too often, usually when we do we hit up the Pantry the best breakfast place in town, but I told her we really have to try this place.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/is-this-the-best-burger-in-america-2452461

 

[Scout101]

I don't get the crazy love for In-N-Out Burger. It's not BAD, but it's just fast food. Better than Burger King, if that's the standard you're trying to hold it to, but nothing exactly special, either...

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I don't get the crazy love for In-N-Out Burger. It's not BAD, but it's just fast food. Better than Burger King, if that's the standard you're trying to hold it to, but nothing exactly special, either...

Their burgers and shakes are really quite good, but I think they have the worst fast food fries I have ever tasted.

 

[Robert D. Robot]

To Bears Discover Fire and Captain Ice -

Yes, I'll also have to check out In-N-Out Burger and Chuckbox when I am out in California to see how these burgers all stack up so I can make an informed decision!...

 

[cyph]

You should try going down the LAist Best Burger list. Umami burger is in the "gourmet burgers" section too: http://laist.com/2010/01/27/make_it_official_the_best_burger_in.php

 

[Scout101]

I don't get the crazy love for In-N-Out Burger. It's not BAD, but it's just fast food. Better than Burger King, if that's the standard you're trying to hold it to, but nothing exactly special, either...

Their burgers and shakes are really quite good, but I think they have the worst fast food fries I have ever tasted.

For fast food. People keep leaving that out. It's not some super-gourmet establsihment, it's fast food. While it's good for fast food, it's just fast food. In line with, say, 5 Guys.

 

[Shatnertage]

In-N-Out is good fast food. Very tasty burgers, and I've never gotten sick from eating there, which is more than I can say for Carl's Jr. I don't eat it often, but it's nice to know that it's there.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

In-N-Out Burger sounds kinky and I don't think they have those here.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

In-N-Out Burger sounds kinky and I don't think they have those here.

In N Out. In N Out! That's what a hamburger's all about!

The farthest east they've gone is Utah.

 

[Gepard]

I'll blaspheme and say that I don't think In 'n Out Burger is very good period. I remember shortly after I moved to LA some of my friends made a fairly big deal out of how I had to try In 'N Out. I expected something special and instead got an entirely mediocre burger and fries, whose main distinguishing feature was the Animal Sauce, which I found slightly disgusting.

I later tried their stuff without the sauce and it left no impression on me either way. Lots of people down here clearly love it, though, judging by the lines. There's a joint I pass by on my way to work every day and the drive-through is always backed up into the street, to the point of causing minor traffic jams.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I'll blaspheme and say that I don't think In 'n Out Burger is very good period. I remember shortly after I moved to LA some of my friends made a fairly big deal out of how I had to try In 'N Out. I expected something special and instead got an entirely mediocre burger and fries, whose main distinguishing feature was the Animal Sauce, which I found slightly disgusting.

I later tried their stuff without the sauce and it left no impression on me either way. Lots of people down here clearly love it, though, judging by the lines. There's a joint I pass by on my way to work every day and the drive-through is always backed up into the street, to the point of causing minor traffic jams.

STOP! Blasphemer!

 

[Captain Ice]

I don't get the crazy love for In-N-Out Burger. It's not BAD, but it's just fast food. Better than Burger King, if that's the standard you're trying to hold it to, but nothing exactly special, either...

Their burgers and shakes are really quite good, but I think they have the worst fast food fries I have ever tasted.

For fast food. People keep leaving that out. It's not some super-gourmet establsihment, it's fast food. While it's good for fast food, it's just fast food. In line with, say, 5 Guys.

We're actually kinda purposefully leaving that out. While it certainly is by no means a table service establishment, it's really not very fast. Even with no one in line ahead of you, it usually takes 7 to 10 minutes to get your food after you place your order.

It's a pretty good burger period. Maybe not better than what you can make at home, but certainly better than 90% of restaurant burgers.

 

[Gepard]

Not better than other fast food burgers, either. I'll take a double-quarter pounder over their stuff any day. All IMHO, of course.