Season 2

It’s no secret that Los Angeles has minted stars in the burger world. But for many natives, it’s the homegrown, backyard burger traditions that keep the burger scene here alive and well. Just ask Alvin, whose childhood growing up in East L.A. is filled with memories of grilling burgers on Sundays and watching the area’s famous lowrider clubs cruise the boulevard. Today, he’s linking up with Together Car Club to talk shop about the communal power of backyard burgers and why lowriders and grilling go hand-in-hand.

Burgers are universally beloved because they're the food of the people. But few can deny the appeal of secret, off-menu burgers—a concept that was popularized by the GOAT fast-food chain, In-N-Out. With the obsessive demand for Animal-style burgers, other fast-food chains like Shake Shack and Five Guys have taken note, creating more competition in the field. So which fast-food, off-menu burger reigns supreme? Alvin is linking up with his friend and burger lover, Seth Rogen, to crown a winner.

Is the patty melt a burger or a sandwich? It’s a debate that holds a different meaning in SoCal, where the patty melt was born. To pay tribute to this underrated burger, Alvin is linking up with patty melt legend, chef Christian Page, to scout the best of what L.A. has to offer. From eating the historical patty melt at the famous diner, Du-pars, to sampling the new-school version at Cassell's—which chef David Chang crowned as "best in class"—get ready for Alvin's quest to find the ultimate patty melt.

When the sun sets in Los Angeles and the crowd spills out of Dodger Stadium, that’s when the true spirit of Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers comes to life. While the world sings the praises of In-N-Out, real Angelenos know that this late-night burger temple is the secret handshake, known for its legendary chili burgers and party vibe. On today’s episode, two of L.A.’s greatest ambassadors—Kogi founder Roy Choi and KCRW radio personality Evan Kleiman—meet up with Alvin to talk shop about what makes Tommy’s the ultimate late-night burger spot.

If you want to understand the soul of L.A.’s burger culture, you have to head to the Apple Pan. The 70-year-old West Side burger counter embodies the burger in its purest form—served at a counter and wrapped in paper by life-long staffers. Few people can talk about what makes this place special more than burger scholar George Motz. In today’s episode, Alvin and the roving Burger Lord are going to dig into why the Apple Pan deserves to be called one of the best burgers in America.

To be a real burger pro, you have to understand different ways to dial up flavor. Attaining Burger Lord status involves more than just a fancy cast iron or spatula. It involves science. That’s why Alvin is teaming up with food scientist and Museum of Food and Drink founder, Dave Arnold. Dave’s going to to pull back the curtain on essential scientific concepts—things like umami and the maillard reaction—that will help you make the perfect burger.