Cassell's Los Angeles
A classic greasy spoon re-invented
I remember the first time I had a burger from Cassell’s. It was in late 2007, consumed via take out in a political campaign headquarters that was located in an unpleasant basement office in Westlake. And yet, even under the circumstances, I can remember thinking to myself “this is one of the best burgers I’ve ever had in LA.”
I’d never heard of the Koreatown-located burger joint before I had it, but I soon learned that it had been around for decades and was beloved by many longtime Angelino burger lovers.
You can imagine my sadness when I learned in 2012 that Cassell’s had closed without the opportunity to have an in-person visit.
But then a remarkable thing happened (perhaps reflective of LA as the city of re-invention).
In late 2014, Cassell’s re-opened just down the street from the original, in the lobby of a newly renovated chic hotel, Hotel Normandie.
Not your father’s Cassell’s, this iteration offers a full late night bar, a coffee bar, housemade sodas and a breakfast menu.
But the burgers are still made with the same USDA Prime ground chuck and brisket combination that is flown in from Colorado daily, freshly ground on site, and cooked on the original broiler-griddle combination machine. The 1/3rd pound burgers are juicy and highly flavorful (I recommend requesting extra napkins) and come with pickles. I particularly recommend their patty melt.
Finally, for those of you who want to splurge, the thick and frothy milkshakes and malts at Cassell’s are definitely worth it.
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