In The Mood / A Few Good Burgers

For a step up from fast food, try some of these spots.

The Redwood: The best part of the juicy charbroiled burgers served here is the 7-ounce patty of high-quality, freshly ground, lightly handled beef. It goes into a classic old-fashioned hamburger, a cheeseburger, a mushroom-onion-and-Jack burger, a bacon-avocado-and-Swiss burger, a guacamole burger and a patty melt. (Burgers, $5.45 to $6.95.) The Redwood 2nd St. Saloon, 316 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles, (213) 617-2867.

* Russell’s Burgers: This local chain, established in 1930, is famous for big, juicy, downright messy hamburgers, cheeseburgers and bacon cheeseburgers, all of which come with a choice of side dish. Note: The Atlantic Avenue and 2nd Street locations don’t make French fries. (Burgers, $5.39 to $6.99.) Russell’s Burgers, 4306 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, (562) 427-6869; 5656 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, (562) 434-0226; 30 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, (626) 579-1404; and other locations.

* Wolfe Burgers: This 20-year-old stand serves everything from the tiny Junior burger with a 1/6-pound patty (beef, turkey or vegetable) to the 2/3-pound Big Bad Wolfe. The standard Wolfe Burger (1/3 pound) comes with lettuce, tomato and cheese on a regular or wheat bun. A lavish condiment bar allows you to gussy up a burger to taste. (Burgers, $2.35 to $5.70.) Wolfe Burgers, 46 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, (626) 792-7292.

* Jay’s Jayburgers: For 41 years (29 at the present location), Jay’s has been selling burgers built with up to three 3-ounce patties and dressed with cheese, chili, mustard, tomato, pickles and onions. (Burgers: single, $2.80; double, $3.75; triple, $4.70.) Jay’s Jayburgers, 4481 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 666-5204.

* Hamburger Hamlet: There are 19 different burgers at this famous chain, including the most popular “Everything on It” (melted cheese, onion, pickles, tomato, shredded lettuce and 1000 Island dressing) and the Island Burger, basted with spicy teriyaki glaze, bedecked with grilled pineapple slices and Swiss cheese and served on grilled sweet molasses bread. (Burgers: 6-ounce, $6.75; 8-ounce, $7.25.) Hamburger Hamlet, 9201 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 278-4924; 10943 Weyburn Ave., Westwood, (310) 208-8980; 11648 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, (310) 826-3558; 4419 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 784-1183.

* Hampton’s: This large mid-Hollywood cafe is famous for hefty half-pound burgers and 150 possible topping combinations. Although the most popular burger is the basic cheeseburger, you could, if inclined, select the Soggy Bottom (peanut butter and plum jam), the Slam Dunk (plum jam and Dijon mustard) or the relatively sedate Menage a Trois (cheese, bacon and avocado). Patties come in beef, salmon, veggie, fish or ostrich. (Burgers, $5.95 to $10.55.) Hampton’s Hollywood Cafe, 1342 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, (213) 469-1090.

* Mo Better Meaty Meat: It’s a hamburger stand run by vegetarians that sells, in addition to turkey and vegetarian burgers, great beef burgers whose meat content ranges from a 5-ounce patty to the 14-ounce Double King burger. Best bet: the daily special, a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, mustard and mayonnaise, a soft drink and some of Mo Better’s terrific fresh French fries. (Burgers, $3 to $9.) Mo Better Meaty Meat, 5855 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 938-6558.

* Cassell’s Hamburgers: The burger here, often said to be the best in town, is made from 6 to 12 ounces of freshly ground prime beef and dressed according to the customer’s specifications with cheese, tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, and/or homemade 1000 Island or Roquefort dressings. (Burgers: to go, $3.50 to $5; to eat in, which includes side dish, $4.70 to $5.80.) Cassell’s Hamburgers, 3266 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, (213) 387-5502.