It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!
The California Post tried the acclaimed cheeseburger at Amboy, ranked ninth in the World’s 101 Best Burgers and the only Los Angeles-based restaurant to crack the prestigious Top 10.
Five other LA burgers did, however, make the list of 101.
Jason Durrant bites into The DH at Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
A few burgers at Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers. Carlin Stiehl for CA PostMy immediate reaction when hearing the news about Amboy was skepticism.
In the world is a massive metric. But the claim is public, and the restaurant is standing by it.
When I first arrived to check it out, I wasn’t even sure I’d arrived in the right place.
To say the restaurant is in an unassuming spot in Chinatown would be an understatement.
We walked down a long commercial corridor to a compact storefront called Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers.
It is a cool space with an undeniable “if you know, you know” energy that feels like a classic Hollywood movie set.
It feels like a friendly neighborhood joint where regular guys are flipping patties — but it just so happens those patties are made with premium, dry-aged beef.
Ernest Crosby III bites into the Classic at Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
One of the star burgers at Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers. Carlin Stiehl for CA PostThe vibe is uniquely LA.
After introducing ourselves, we ordered the staple menu items:
- Amboy Classic ($10.00 – $14.00): A toasted sesame seed bun, a classic thin smash patty, American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles and house burger sauce.
- Amboy DH ($21.00): A toasted sesame seed bun, a massive 10-ounce dry-aged patty, American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles and house burger sauce.
- Amboy Fries ($10.00): Fries topped with burger sauce, caramelized onions, homemade cheese sauce and chopped chilis.
It was a substantial amount of food, but this was a formal taste test.
Inside Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Outside Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers. Carlin Stiehl for CA PostMy wife is vegan, so premium beef isn’t actually a regular staple in our household, so today was already a good day.
The Amboy Classic is exceptional, sitting right on par with any smash burger you’ve ever had in LA.
But the 10-ounce DH burger is a major leap forward again. It features a deep external sear while remaining medium-well and remarkably juicy in the center. While calling a burger “juicy” is a bit of a cliché, there’s honestly no other way to describe this one. It is a highly technical, well-produced, big-boy burger.
Shout out to Amboy.
I wasn’t the only one impressed. I spoke with fellow customer Jason Durrant, who was visiting from San Diego. His verdict was definitive: “It’s definitely better than any burger in San Diego.”
Securing the ninth-best burger in the world for $21 in Chinatown is an absolute win.
If I am going to treat myself to a burger, this makes the short list.
Complete top 10 ranking for 2026
- Bleecker Burger – London, England
- Black Bear Burger, London, United Kingdom
- Café Margaret – Sydney Australia
- The Diplomat – Hong Kong
- Gasoline Grill – Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Sip & Guzzle – New York, New York
- Hawksmoor St Pancras – London, United Kingdom
- Nowon – New York, New York
- Amboy Quality Meats – Los Angeles, California
- The Grill at The International – Sydney, Australia
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