infy BURGER HOLIDAY: FO:2, Bowery, Hungry Cat, 25°

pictured left to right: hungry cat’s pugburger, father’s office (no ketchup!), bowery burger, 25° 

I have been on something of a burger odyssey this last week. It started Monday at Bowery, where ertel and I had an impromptu dinner before Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The following day before the Juice game was Sang Yoon’s new outpost in Culver-adjacent: Father’s Office II. Friday night at Hungry Cat I was deterred from my mussel agenda by indierockbakery, who demanded I try the pug burger. Last night after the Colin Meloy show ertel and I popped into 25° stuffing the number one into our Yuca’s filled gullets.

Bowery: ground sirloin, topped with caramelized onions, grilled mushrooms, bacon, grueyere and bleu cheese on an english muffin
High: The muffin’s texture is a plus, ensuring each bite stars the burger.
Low: The flavor comes from the rich toppings, I don’t know how this patty would fair in a dressed down arrangement.

Father’s Office II: dry-aged NY chuck and sirloin, arugula, applewood smoked bacon compote, caramelized onions, gruyere and Maytag blue cheese on a French roll
High: 200lbs of bacon reduced to 50lbs of fat in the compote permeates the entire affair with subtle bacon flavor while eliminating the jarring crunch of bacon strips.
Low: Ultimately it’s the least traditional of the burgers I tried, and Chef Yoon’s strict no ketchup, no substitution policy may vex n00b diners

Hungry Cat: ground sirloin, applewood smoked bacon, Danish blue cheese, avacado, red onion on a La Brea Bakery bun, add fried egg
High: The fried egg really binds the ingredients, coating the entire burger after the first bite breaks the yolk
Low: As a classic burger, it lacks some of the more advanced techniques of its competitors

25°: number one: ground sirloin with prelibato gorgonzola, crescenza, bacon, caramelized onions, arugula, thousand island on a buttered bun
High: At medium rare, sirloin is heaven. The rich cheeses and buttered bun make every bite amazing.
Low: This burger oozes cheese, a cookie-sized chunk fell out and I didn’t miss it.

ranked in order of amazingness:
1. Father’s Office
2. Hungry Cat
3. 25°
4. Bowery 

it’s important to remember any one of the above will make a run for the best hamburger you’ve ever consumed. the one burger that has escaped me is jGold’s #1: the cheeseburger at Comme Ça.