Because I work as an editor at Hungry?, people somehow expect that I go out constantly and know the name about Wolfgang Puck’s new sous chef. I suppose people sort of imagine us carrying some sort of a badge/card that identifies us as food critics. The truth is, I go out often enough, but most of the time eating out means walking over to the taco truck (thanks, Carmen) and getting a burrito. It’s not that I don’t like going out, but at four bucks per stellar burrito it’s hard to justify driving across town for a questionable one. While I try to hit all of the best spots in the book and discover new ones for upcoming editions, ultimately Carmen is just too good to me.
So, it’s a credit to the pull of a tasty burger that I finally managed to find my way to Cassell’s Hamburger’s (Hungry? Los Angeles p. 87). Located towards the northern edge of Koreatown at 6th and New Hampshire, Cassell’s is the sort of old-fashioned burger joint that you might expect to find in Pasadena, El Segundo, or the 1950s. I was hoping it would be the perfect spot to have a mellow burger and read a book before I went home and watch the Dodgers.
Man, was I right. As the patron saint of the Hungry? City Guides, Huell Howser, would say ‘oh, boy!’ The burgers here are killer. They don’t slather it in mystery sauce (you can do that yourself at the condiment bar). They just use really good, really fresh ground beef. There’s plenty of room for you and your friends (they weren’t even using their second room the day that I came by) and everyone here is incredibly friendly.The only real surprise was the toilet seat/bidet in the bathroom. Yes, a bidet. I’m sure someone far more sophisticated than myself thinks this a godsend, but, man, it just makes me nervous. So if you’re looking for a restaurant with By the way some of the best beef in town and a bidet, Cassell’s is your place.
By the way, if there are any graphic designers in the house, it’d be pretty sweet if you could get on those badges.
—David Wegbreit
Cassell's
3266 W. 6th St.
Los Angeles 90020
(323) 480-8668
