Burgers are pervasive across LA, so I quickly became skeptical when I heard about the opening of Black Star Burger. With the variety that LA has, I thought that I had seen it all. Enter Black Star Burger, a new restaurant in LA’s Fairfax section.
Black Star Burger originated in 2016 in Moscow, Russia by chef Yuri Levitas, along with Russian hip hop megastar Timati and his business partners. They achieved much success and have nearly 25 locations across Eastern Europe. Black Star recently opened its first US location on Fairfax.
The restaurant is set up as a fast-casual concept. The interior walls are painted black and the hip hop music quickly sets the tone for the experience. Unlike many burger restaurants, they have comfortable booths as well as tables. Best of all, the tables are well spaced so you don’t have to listen to the conversation at the next table.
The menu is naturally focused around burgers and sides. For our burgers, I selected the Hawaiian ($8.95) and my friend selected the Mushroom ($8.95). Other burgers on the menu include the Classic, the Texan and the Vegan. Gluten-free / carb-free diners can order the “LA Way” with lettuce wrapping the burger.
Once your order is placed, it appears on a status screen that you can see from your seat. An advantage is that you can have a reasonable expectation of your wait time based on the number of orders ahead of you. When your order is complete, it will appear under “Ready”. An employee will also call your name.
Each order arrives on a black tray with recyclable black plastic gloves. Because these burgers are so juicy, gloves are provided so that you don’t have to use an overabundance of napkins. Upon wearing them, I took a quick sniff and was relieved that they weren’t made of latex. Instead, they are made from odorless nitrile.
Not only was the Hawaiian Burger delicious, but it was also super juicy and I was happy to have the gloves. In addition to the delicious ground beef patty, it had a grilled pineapple ring, Hawaiian and Teriyaki sauces. The Mushroom Burger exudes melted mozzarella cheese and is equally juicy with Blackstar and Mushroom sauces. A tasty grilled brioche bun surrounds each burger.
Unlike some burger establishments, Black Star is quite creative with their sides. The cauliflower is batter fried and the potatoes are served as wedges. Both were nicely seasoned and something we would order again.
We happened to notice a large neon sign “Beer” and some beer taps underneath. I look forward to returning here when they have beer available. After all, nothing goes better with a burger than a cold beer.
So why would someone visit Black Star Burgers when there are so many choices in LA? Blackstar is all about the overall experience. They transcend above just good food with hip music and a cool interior vibe making for a great dining experience. Most importantly, the burgers are juicy and delicious and the price won’t hurt your wallet.
Blackstar Burgers, 351 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036; 323.433.7792
blackstarburger.com