The Win~Dow at American Beauty

"We’re going to cut straight to the chase - the cheeseburger at this Venice steakhouse costs $3.95. For context, that’s a dollar cheaper than a Big Mac and $4,996 less than the Fleurburger 5000, a.k.a. the most expensive burger in the world. Plus, it’s legitimately good - it’s a burger in its purest form, and comes topped with nothing but caramelized onions, pickles, and a single, silky slice of American cheese. Available for takeout and delivery, call (310) 412-0075, order through their website, or find them on most major apps." - kat hong

"Your Order: Kale Salad When you only have 30 minutes to inhale lunch and the thought of eating Sweetgreen again makes you want to scream obscenities in your car, head to The Win-Dow. This streamlined takeout spot is best known for its pocket-sized burgers, but they also have a shaved kale salad on their short menu which proves why LA’s clichéd obsession with kale salads exists in this first place. This one is particularly delicious with a lemony sweet vinaigrette and tons of sharp black pepper and pecorino that makes it taste like a leafy cacio e pepe. The extra crispy, olive oil-y croutons are also a highlight and half the reason why you should immediately eat this salad on one of Win-Dow’s outdoor stools." - brant cox, sylvio martins, arden shore, garrett snyder, nikko duren

"We imagine that when McDonald’s opened their first location, the burgers looked and tasted a lot like what you’ll find coming out of American Beauty’s burger window: they’re a quick, cheap (a single cheeseburger is $4.25), and deliciously compact homage to the California roadside burger. Grilled on a flat top with onions, topped with american cheese, pickles, and house sauce, and served on a potato roll, the burger is low-brow but high-quality. The meat comes from American Beauty next door, and while there are no martinis at the window, there is a chilled-out patio, perfect for grabbing after a day at the beach." - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren

"While the Window (stylized as the Win~dow) may be best known for its burgers, the kale salad on the menu is among the best in town. The base starts with massaged kale, cut into thin ribbons which gives the salad a nice chew, without making it too fibrous. The salad is topped with pine nuts, croutons, Pecorino Romano, and thinly sliced red onions before being dressed in a lemony garlic dressing. To take it to the next level, add an order of fried chicken as an additional topping." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff

"Your Order: Double Cheeseburger ($7.50) The Win-Dow’s burgers could be classified as smashburger-adjacent: the patties aren’t super flattened, but they are pressed down hard enough to get a nice sear. Those crispy edges hold up under a blanket of gooey American cheese, griddled onions, pickles, and bright pink house sauce. None of the ingredients between their soft potato buns stand out on their own, but together they make for an all-around great burger. The most notable thing about this takeout-friendly mini-chain is its price, but since the $4 single cheeseburger is a bit small, you’ll probably wind up ordering the double (and a side of very good fries) to make a full meal. " - garrett snyder, sylvio martins, nikko duren