Thin Fries and Malt Liquor-Battered Onion Rings

One weekend, I was in Studio City (that’s just the other side of the hill to you Hollywood residents) and absolutely starving.  It was a gray day, overcast and a little breezy.  Which, of course, means I needed something fortifying and hearty.

Just across the street from Starbucks and down the street from The Counter (my other favorite burger chain), this installment of Umami Burger had the feel of an old school Parisian bar, all dark reds and black leather.  White marble tables line one side of the narrow room, with a bar and open kitchen on the other.  The tables are close together, so if you’re looking for private conversation, I suggest dining at one of the outdoor tables.

I took a seat facing the bar, enthralled with the variety of liquors and beers on offer here.  But it was afternoon, and a cocktail wasn’t exactly in the plans.  Fried food, though, was most definitely in order.  We tried the thin fries, which were a tad salty for me and perfectly seasoned for my companion, as well as the malt liquor-battered onion rings.  Accompanied by house-made ketchup, these were tasty sides for our burgers.

My companion says I like fancy food, which explains why the only burger that was even a consideration was the truffle burger.  A truffle glaze on the medium-rare burger and gooey, melty house-made truffle cheese melded into the soft bun making for a cohesive flavor.  Some onion strings might have added textural contrast, but I was very, very happy with the burger as it was.

Truffle Burger

Across the table, the “manly burger” sans cheese looked and smelled amazing.  With bacon lardon (that’s thick-cut bacon) and onion strings dusted with smoked salt, the burger tasted great.  The ketchup and mustard made the un-toasted bun soggy, and throwing it on the grill for a bit before saucing would probably have made the burger even tastier.

There are tons of Umami Burger locations around Los Angeles – two in Hollywood, one in Los Feliz, and yet another in Santa Monica – so the next time I’m craving a burger and I’m out on the town, I’ll be asking for my bun toasted on the truffle burger.

Umami Burger
12159 Ventura Blvd Studio City, CA 91604
818.286.9004