Ban Ban Burger

I didn't think there was a way to make katsu sandos better but Ban Ban Burger's iteration is simply on its own level! Turns out, when you put a Thai spin on the katsu sando and you use the juiciest, thickest pork cutlet around, you get the best katsu sando I've ever encountered! Seriously, I'm drooling thinking of this sandwich and I must go back ASAP.

Found this place on yelp and was intrigued by the menu and pictures. Definitely over delivered! There was no line and the place was kind of empty for a Sunday afternoon. We ordered the Grapow Smash Burger, Laab Burger, Shoestring Fries, and a Thai Tea Shake. My grapow burger was sooo good. Fried egg was perfect--oozed but didn't make a mess. The sauce and thai pickles really change the whole flavor of the burger making it super unique. Thai tea shake was 10/10. One thing I'll say is that it's pretty pricey for a burger place. $50 for 2. Probably standard for the area. Still, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a great new burger spot.

The burgers here are insanely good! Definitely one of my favorite smash burgers in Los Angeles, they are just so perfectly juicy and well-made! Their unique twist on them is what makes them special, I cannot get enough of their green sauce, or topped with a perfectly fried egg. Their french fries are also addicting, prices are very fair. The food is made to order quickly and they are extremely friendly and hard-working. Highly recommend recommended if you're looking for a castle bite in the area!

If you are reading this review, run here. I've come for a special that they were having with a New York chef and was blown away. But ended up completely forgetting about this place until I was craving a burger. We ordered the wagyu laab smash, panang fried chicken sando and the shoestring fries. SO GOOD. The shoestring fries threw me off because they're sprinkled with some sour seasoning that grew on me and I couldn't get enough of it The smash and chicken sando were perfectly juicy and flavorful. If you like Thai flavors, definitely give this place a try! Service is great, of course, and the inside is very cutely decorated.

Such a cute burger place! And the food is amazing- never had a Thai smash burger before and it was so flavorful! The laab fries too! Also ordered the Thai tea slush- soo good too! These are must orders for your first time. There's seating inside as well as on the patio. I ordered ahead of time online and picked up within 15 mins - it can take a while if you don't order ahead and there's a crowd.

Smash Like No Other! A flavorful, uniquely explosive smash burger right off the 405, Santa Monica exit. Los Angeles has plenty of tasty smash burgers, offering various bun-to-beef ratios, an array of pickles, tomatoes, cheeses, and more. But none bring Thai flavors into the mix like this spot does, elevating a crispy, juicy beef exterior with soft buns, Thai pickles, and bold dressings. Hands down, the Wagyu Laab Smash--featuring onions, laab powder, mint, and herb sauce on a potato roll--was the most unique and flavorful burger we've had. The Panang Grilled Chicken Sando was another standout--crispy, juicy, and absolutely delicious. An extra side of Panang sauce would make it even better. Don't skip the fries! We tried both the Shoestring Fries and Panang Fries, and they were spectacular. The Shoestring Fries, dusted with zesty laab powder, were perfectly crispy and addictive. But the Panang Fries were a full meal on their own--creamy, zesty, and loaded with a smash patty, herbs, chili, cheese, and a generous drizzle of Panang sauce. Best of all, they serve Thai beer! This cute little hut on Sawtelle's restaurant row with friendly service is an absolute must-try.

First timer and I love the food! I ordered the Wagyu Laab Smash, fries with curry ketchup, Thai tea, and Thai Coffee. The Wagyu Laab burger was delicious!! All of the flavors blend together very nicely. There's a mint gremolata sauce that was delicious (I love mint in general). I could also taste the lime rice powder which added a nice subtle tart flavor too. The bun was soft and the burger itself was flavored well, not too salty. There was a good amount of melty cheese too which was nice. I'll definitely get this burger again! The Fries have zesty laarb powder on them and they were good flavor wise. My only complaint is that they're too small. I wish they offered fries larger than shoe string fries. The Thai Tea is good! It's definitely on the sweeter side but good. I haven't tried the coffee just yet. I ordered this on UberEats so I can't speak to the ambiance or service but I plan to go in next time.

Ban Ban Burger is one of the more interesting places that I've tried this New Year. They have good food and good service with good seating for people. My favorite thing that I tried and I would highly recommended is the Fried Chicken Sandwich. It had so much flavor and the bread was toasted perfectly. Nice juicy chicken. And this was definitely a big surprise. The double Grapow Burger was also delicious. Nice juicy egg and the cheddar cheese was nice and sharp. Burgers well seasoned and the garlic aialoi house sauce combo make the burger. The wagyu laab was the most interesting thing that I tried. The mint and herb sauce with zesty lamb was interesting and different. The Panang Fries were also interesting the curry on top has some tang to it. Fries were nice and crisp overall a great experience. 4.5 stars out of 5

Review is from July 2024. Before having Ban Ban Burger, I hadn't had many smash burgers but it seems to be becoming more and more popular! Parking can be hard to find in this area, so we parked on the street directly across the restaurant. We ordered: 1. Wagyu Laab Smash: Simple but also flavorful. The Thai pickle, mint, and herb sauce brought a refreshing taste to the burger. 2. Satay Katsu Sando: While this tasted like a standard katsu sando, the peanut sauce was what made it stand out. The cutlet was fried well though! 3. Shoestring Fries 4. Pandan Shake: I love anything pandan but unfortunately this was a miss.. It had a bitter aftertaste that made it hard to drink. A Thai twist on burgers and sandwiches, you can't go wrong giving Ban Ban Burger a try!

Smash burgers have been popping up left and right across Southern California and my reception has been lukewarm but I'm happy to find Ban Ban Burger to be a nice surprise and one of my favorite burgers in the area! I really found the Wagyu Laab Smash burger to standout with its Thai flavors being a key differentiator. Perfect amount of spice and mint to bring it all home. I'd say you can't go wrong with either the Grapow or Lamb with the distinct flavors, just really depends on what you're looking for. The fries are thin and more of a shoestring style but they have what appear to be some lime/zest seasoning which I found to be a nice counterbalance and complement to the burgers. On the other hand I love pandan but the pandan shake can be hit or miss. I often find that there can be a bitter flavor, likely extracted from the pandan leaves which isn't the most pleasant.