There are times when things just taste better when smothered in chili. At least this was the young Tommy Koulax's philosophy when he opened his humble hamburger stand on the corner of Beverly and Rampart in 1946. And given the success of his little business venture over the years, not to mention the hoards of imitators across the country, America agrees. There are loads of great burgers in Los Angeles, but it's hard to argue with the iconic double patty topped with the famous chili of the Original Tommy's burger. For just a few bucks, you can partake in the time-honored tradition, and though rapidly rising rent prices may wear on the wallet, Angelenos revel in the fact that Tommy's doesn't charge for extra portions of chili, tomatoes, onions and pickles. No alcohol available. Open 24 hours.
Where the Locals Eat rating
Best Burgers
Top 100 Restaurants, Los Angeles
"Every so often a society must step back to evaluate truly significant moments in history – even (and maybe especially) if those moments are smothered in chili. Tommy Koulax opened his Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers stand on the corner of Beverly and Rampart boulevards on May 15, 1946. ... Tommy's has gone on to become a Southern California institution."
—Los Angeles Times
"The Tommy's chili, which comes standard on the burgers, sets it apart from other burger joints."
—QSR Magazine
"Tommy's is the quintessential burger joint in a city that made burgers an enduring part of American life. We don't dare criticize Tommy's, because an army of its incredibly devoted fans will never let us rest. So we'll say this: the burgers themselves aren't much, but the topping is a sloppy glob of impressively tasty chili that seems to have magically addictive powers."
—Gayot
"Tommy's Original is the crème de la crème of greasy burgers."
—Out West Newspaper