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Hinano Cafe Features Great Burgers, Great Dive Atmosphere

// July 2nd, 2009 // View Comments // Restaurants, Reviews

Beach bums, yuppies, homeless people, punks, rockers, and just about every other type of folk you might find near the Marina are the usual clientele at Hinano Cafe, one of my favorite dives on Washington. Not only do they feature sawdust on the floors, and cheesy neon lights, but they have some pretty incredible burgers and pool tables to boot.

This is a no-frills burger. Just a pre-formed patty, griddled up, on a griddled bun, with some shredded lettuce, mayo, mustard, and a slab of cheddar cheese. I like to add on an extra hot link, sliced and also griddled… you know, for that extra coronary kick.

There’s really only one way to describe the Hinano burger experience: the perfect dive. What more coudl you ask for from pub grub? It’s greasy (but not overly greasy), flavorful, and dirt cheap. At 6 bucks (add 1.50 for the hot links), you really can’t beat it. So grab a beer with the locals, and settle into the bar with one of these tasty treats.

A Trip to The Counter, Marina Del Rey

// June 3rd, 2009 // View Comments // Restaurants

The Hambur.grlrs mostly work in this office on LA’s westside, very close to the Marina Del Rey location of perennial Angeleno favorite The Counter. Famous for its myriad combinations of toppings, buns, proteins, and sauces, The Counter has become a regular lunch spot for us. Here’s a simple combination I cooked up the other day: beef patty, rare, on white hamburger bun, with Danish blue cheese, grilled onions, and peppercorn steak sauce. A bit on the greasy side for me, but tasty nonetheless. The Counter is sort of hit-or-miss: if you get the wrong combination it can be the worst burger ever. But the flipside is equally true. In fact, The Counter was the first burger I ever ate in Los Angeles (apart from In-N-Out when I was a little kid). So it has a special place in my heart.