Best Places for Burgers, Pizza, and Hot Dogs in California

When you want a good hamburger or slice of pizza, you could head for one of the major nationwide chains. Or you could try some of the lesser-known eateries that California is famous for. From great burgers and fries to pizzas and even hot dogs, you’ll be sure to find plenty of top-rated places. Don’t have time to look? No problem! We’ve assembled a list of some of the best places to grab a juicy burger or slice of gourmet pizza.

Want to find even more great burger joints and pizza parlors? Pay a visit to the GiftYa database. From here, you’ll find plenty of GiftYa electronic e-gift cards that download conveniently and securely into your debit card. GiftYa e-gift cards are perfect for travelers or people who like exploring the shops, restaurants, and local attractions of their own neighborhoods. Check out GiftYa and see what you can find today!

Burger Bun

Hamburgers are just the beginning at Burger Bun

Amazing hamburgers and fries at Burger Bun. Image courtesy of Yelp.

818 N. Pacific Ave. Ste H | Glendale/ burgerbun.net

Serving the greater Glendale community, Burger Bun specializes in providing delicious burgers made from fresh ingredients. You’ll find all the major classics here — standard hamburgers, delicious cheeseburgers, and even veggie burgers. However, if you want to branch out your “burger palate,” you’ll want to order some of the real special dishes.

Dine on a savory pastrami burger, kobe burger, or pork-free halal burger. Try the egg cheeseburger combo with onion rings made from scratch. The burgers here aren’t chargrilled, giving them more of that special homemade flavor. And if you’re in the mood for something a bit different, Burger Bun also includes a selection of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, tortas, gyros, wings, and sandwiches — including their famous Philly Cheesesteak. You won’t find a shortage of delicious menu options here, making this one eatery that should definitely be on your go-to list.  

“Solid cheeseburger and fries!! Hit the spot. Definitely will be back and told some people about it too.” — Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for Burger Bun

Mr. Fries Man

Build your own “loaded fries” dish at Mr. Fries Man

Awesome custom fries at Mr. Fries Man. Image courtesy of Yelp.

14800 S. Western Ave Ste 108 | Gardena/ mrfriesman.com

Ready for something a bit different? Mr. Fries Man doesn’t offer your usual fast food. As the name implies, here, you get to create your own special portion of “loaded” fries, adding from more than a dozen toppings to their specialty fries. Start by choosing your favorite protein, from chicken to shrimp to steak or the beyond meat “plant-based meat.” Then pick from a number of sauces including barbeque, buffalo, honey garlic or spicy jalapeno ranch. You can also add on bacon, chili, mild cheddar, parmesan cheese, extra chicken, steak, shrimp — or even crab.

Don’t want to bother with building your own meal from scratch? No problem. Mr. Fries Man offers many customer favorites such as the BBQ bacon ranch chicken (with cheddar cheese), BBQ bacon ranch shrimp, and chicken bacon parmesan. You can even go really exotic with the Lemon Garlic Crab & Shrimp. One of the more revolutionary underground home-grown catering businesses in southern Los Angeles, you’ll definitely find some unique flavors at Mr. Fries Man.  

“They sell one item and it isn’t French Fries — they sell ‘loaded’ fries, with a variety of toppings/options.” — Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for Mr. Fries Man

VOWburger

Impossible vegan burgers? Yes please!

Massive VOWdubs and cheese from VOWburger. Image courtesy of Yelp.

519 N. Fairfax Ave | Beverly Grove/ vowburger.com

For anyone who thought vegan burgers aren’t delicious, VOWburger would like to change your mind. A fully vegan, 100% plant-based burger place that also specializes in delicious shakes, VOWburger offers some gorgeous and delicious plant-based burgers, chargrilled to perfection.

Order the chargrilled VOWburger, available with one patty or two. You can also enjoy the Nashville inspired plant-based VOWchicken sandwich and even VOWchicken tenders. Or if you’d like to have something even more different, try the VOWchickn caesar wrap with lettuce, shredded parmesan, and Caesar dressing.

Open for both breakfast and lunch, you can now start your day with a VOWegg sandwich, VOWegg breakfast burrito (with vegan cheese and hash browns), and fresh squeezed orange juice. Sides include delicious vegan fries as well as amazing vegan shakes (available in strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, or cookie monster). Come see how decadent (yet healthy) vegan cuisine can be.

“I got the plant-based shake, burger, and a chicken sandwich. Frankly, now that I got a taste of these, I don’t know if I’ll be going back to meat-based burgers. I’m not even kidding. I even liked that there were two options between impossible and beyond meat.” — Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for VOWburger

Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria

Amazing pizzas made just the way you want

Great varieties of pizzas at Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria. Image courtesy of Yelp.

815 N. Vermont Ave. | East Hollywood/ bigmamaspizza.com

Switching gears from burgers to pizza, Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria offers some high-quality pizza pies made to your specifications. You’ll find everything from BBQ chicken to cheese lover to Hawaiian and meat lover here. Or if you want something fancier than your standard snack, try the A-1 Angus Style Pizza with homemade cali sauce and angus beef. There’s also the Alfredo Shrimp Pizza with mushrooms and broccoli, and adventurous diners can always make their own pizzas with homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Vegans will appreciate that Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria uses vegan dough, making it easier to craft their popular vegan and veggie pizzas. Vegan cheese is also available, as well as vegan sausage and even vegan ravioli. Known for providing customers with delicious orders, Big Mama’s & Papa’s is one pizzeria you won’t want to miss.

“Words cannot describe how each order is taken care of properly. The quality of BMPP’s pizza never changes.” — Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria

Laventina’s Pizza

Savor the amazing Tandoori Chicken Pizza

Tandoori chicken pizza with jalapenos. Image courtesy of Yelp.

5806 Bellflower Blvd. | Lakewood/ laventinaspizzas.com

Ever try Indian pizza? At Laventina’s Pizza, you can. Serving the city of Lakewood for over twenty years, Laventina’s Pizza uses fresh vegetables and the finest ingredients every day. Dough is prepared fresh, pizzas are hand tossed, and the sauces are all homemade. All of this care allows them to create some delicious gourmet pizzas, including the deluxe (pepperoni, ham, sausage, mushroom, bell pepper, onions, and olives), BBQ chicken, spicy chicken, meat lovers (with Canadian bacon), and of course, the Tandoori chicken.

Using an exotic blend of tandoori chicken, thai chili, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro along with tandoori sauce, Laventina’s offers a special pizza that will have your tastebuds singing. Those who want to keep trying their specialty pizzas should move on to the new Desi Pizzas, which include the Desi Thai Chili and Chutney Pizzas. You’ll also find plenty of great oven-baked subs and standard pizzas on the menu, but honestly? When you’re here, go all out and try something new and amazing.

“This was my first time trying Indian pizza, and it was great! I ordered the Tandoori chicken pizza and I have zero complaints. I also ordered the deluxe pizza and swapped out sausage for extra cheese. The extra cheese definitely made it so much better, lol!” — Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for Laventina’s Pizza

Fab Hot Dogs

Order every style of hot dog from Fab Hot Dogs

Delicious Chicago and LA dogs from Fab Hot Dogs. Image courtesy of Yelp.

19417 1/2 Victory Blvd Loehmann’s Plaza| Reseda/ fabhotdogs.com

Who says you need to go all the way to the east coast to get a good hot dog? At Fab Hot Dogs, the finest east coast dogs get shipped in weekly from New Jersey. They’re then cooked in all sorts of unique styles from different regions of the country. Taste the Carolina Slaw Dog, topped with chili and southern cole slaw. Like bacon? The Kansas City Dog is wrapped with tasty bacons and topped with BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, and grilled onions.

There’s also the Ruben Dog (swiss cheese, pastrami, sauerkraut and mustard), Chicago Dog, and the California-style LA Street Dog. When you stop by Fab Hot Dogs, you’ll get to taste the flavors of an entire nation at one convenient eatery.

“Been here twice and loving it! My Dad recommended this place to me because he loves good hot dogs and boy was he right! The first time I came here, I got the Texas burrito dog! YUM!!! They grilled the outside of the burrito so it’s nice and crispy. Holds up to the chili inside.” — Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa for Fab Hot Dogs

‍