Capitol Burgers

Generaly speaking, a burger place is going to have a basic menu; burger, cheese burger, Dbl burger, Dbl cheeseburger, fries, chili fries, sodas, shakes, etc. So what makes one place better than the other? Many of my favorites have come and gone; Mo Better Burger, the original Blue Cube, Sammy's. Each had its presentation, it's spices on the burger, the way they cut the lettuce, onions, tomato, and so on.

One still stands alive and kicking, Capitol Burgers, 4301 Pico Blvd., where a cheeseburger with fries is about $4.00. It is perhaps my favorite burger stand in all of LA. They're no-nonsense-burger-making ethics is second to none.

First, the burger; standard bun, very crispy lettuce, a ripe 3/4" slice of tomato, chunky diced onions, ketchup, mustard and a perfect salt & pepper combination on the burger.

The fries are "awesome". It's at least twice the amount of most places and three times that of your chain fast food place; thin, crisp and enough grease for taste but not overly oily.

Do you find that it's hard to pass on a old fashion chocolate shake? They have the old school shake machine and with a chuck-a-scoop of ice cream and pulp of milk they have mastered a really great shake that's just thick enough but not too thick.

For pastrami sandwhich lovers, your hidden treasurer awaits you but I'm a burger guy.

Everyone who's spoken to me about burgers in LA knows about Capitol Burgers. I brag about it all the time but few have actually gone. Why?

One, it's in my hood. I live about six blocks away from it and many find my hood a little scary. It's not actually scary but some find it that way. It's actually rich with culture and people. Second, those who have passed by Capitol Burger see a fairly delapidated shack with an exterior of decades of paint, a horrible landscape job and rickety wood table and benches. It's always been like that. Even when they maintain it with a fresh coat of paint, it still doesn't change much. It's not a pretty place. The order window is an old screen window with black rod-iron type bars and the menu sign above the sink is handwritten and looks like its from some roadhouse movie from the 1940's.



I have a theory. They keep it that way because it keeps out the non-believers. Sounds funny? Conspiracy theory? They know how good there food is. They're always busy enough, been in business a really long time, why change anything? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This burger has an attitude!