Hamburger Haven

Hamburger Haven is the cheapest place I have eaten in West Hollywood to date. There were seven or eight people in our group and I doubt anybody paid over $8 for their lunch.

On the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Robertson, Hamburger Haven doesn't hide behind the sheen and class of most West Hollywood restaurants. When you see the little red shack with covered out door seating and an old sign, you pretty much know what you're in for. It looks like the covered seating was perhaps an add-on. The original portion of the restaurant consists of a couple grills and the kitchen, a counter, and then a counter where you can sit by the windows.

The menu--a hand painted wall above the cash registers--consists of burgers and hotdogs with few variations. The place reeks of grease--the kind you crave. I ordered a hotdog with mustard and kraut, fries and a small root beer. They write your order on the bottom of your plate and give you a playing card which they will call when your order is ready. The restaurant is cash only, but there is an ATM inside.

I grabbed one of the plastic tables outside and waited maybe 5 minutes for my food. It is a little hard to understand the card they're calling so keep your ears peeled and if it has been a long wait, you probably just missed it.

There are only a couple of bottles of ketchup and mustard so if you don't get one borrow it from another table. Also, the only salt is at the pickup counter--so make sure you use it before going back and sitting down.

The food is greasy, but in a good way. The hotdog was average, but piled high with plenty of kraut and mustard. I was a little disapointed that the bun was cold, but it was still very fresh tasting. The fries were pretty good, a little too potato-y in some cases but others were just right. A lot of people in my group ordered the turkey burger which is apparently very delicious and flavorful at this restaurant. Someone else got the onion rings and I was slightly jealous of their crispy fried outer layer and piping hot centers. I should have ordered the onion rings, they looked perfect.

Overall, I thought the food was average-good, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again. I would, however go there if I was looking for somewhere cheap to dine in West Hollywood or just for a quick bite.





Hamburger Haven
8954 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Map