Los Angeles, California, is packed with burger joints, but you do not need to spend $15 or $20 to get a good one.
From legendary LA institutions to newer smashburger spots, there are plenty of places where you can grab a satisfying burger without spending a fortune.
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Here are five of the main names worth knowing if you're looking for a cheap burger in Los Angeles.
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger is probably the first name that comes to mind when you think about an affordable burger in Los Angeles.
The California-born chain has been serving burgers since 1948, and its simple menu keeps prices relatively low compared with many of LA's newer burger restaurants.
The Double-Double remains the obvious choice, while the famous Animal Style option adds grilled onions, extra spread and mustard-grilled patties.
There are locations all over Los Angeles, making it one of the easiest cheap burger options to find.
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The Win~Dow
The Win~Dow Silver Lake has become one of LA's best-known affordable smashburger spots.
The cheeseburger is built with American cheese, pickles, grilled onions and house sauce on a soft potato bun, with the single burger historically priced around $4 to $5 and the double around $8.
The Los Angeles Times has specifically highlighted The Win-Dow for offering some of the city's most affordable burgers.
There are several locations around LA, so it is an easy option when you're craving a proper smashburger without the price tag of some of the city's trendier burger restaurants.
Original Tommy's
Original Tommy's is one of the essential names in the Los Angeles burger scene, particularly if you like your burger covered in chili.
The original Beverly and Rampart location dates back to 1946 and remains a classic LA late-night stop.
A regular hamburger currently starts around $6 to $7, while the famous cheeseburger with Tommy's chili is around $8, although prices can vary between locations and ordering platforms.
It is messy, filling and very different from a typical fast-food burger, with chili, tomatoes, mustard, pickles and onions piled onto the burger.
Fatburger
Fatburger is another LA-born burger chain that has been around since the late 1940s.
The Original Fatburger is a bigger, more substantial burger than you'll get at some of the other cheap burger spots on this list, with a range of toppings and add-ons available.
For something cheaper, the chain's newer Flatburger is currently listed at $8.99 at its Wilshire location, while the traditional Original Fatburger costs more once you add fries and a drink.
It is a good choice if you want something more substantial than a small fast-food burger while still keeping the cost below many of LA's newer burger restaurants.
Burgers Never Say Die
BURGERS NEVER SAY DIE has become one of the recognizable names in LA's smashburger scene, particularly around Silver Lake and the east side.
The burgers are deliberately simple, with thin smashed patties, crispy edges, American cheese and classic toppings.
It is more expensive than In-N-Out or The Win-Dow, but still fits the affordable end of LA's independent burger scene compared with many of the city's more elaborate options.
Burgers Never Say Die is also a good choice if you're specifically looking for that crispy-edged smashburger rather than a traditional thick-patty burger.
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