Pono Burger Santa Monica Voted Best Burger in LA by Zagat

By Michael Vallens

2016 has turned out to be a coming out party for Santa Monica’s Pono Burger. In January, the folks at Pono were voted the number one burger in all of Los Angeles by Zagat, a remarkable feat. Chef Windy “Makani” Gerardi, owner of Ultimate Burger in Hawaii, has brought her magical cooking skills to the mainland.

Makani maintains that her priority is being true to it’s namesake “Pono”, which in Hawaiian means to do things the right way with love. Her never ending quest is to utilize the freshest of ingredients from local small farmers and farmers markets to truly make a beautiful product. The beef that Pono Burger serves is 100% grass-fed, with no antibiotics or hormones added. Burgers are grilled over dry oak which produces a one of a kind smokiness that leaves its mark.

When I was afforded an opportunity to visit the highly praised Pono Burger, the anticipation I felt was borderline overwhelming. I knew that I could not nor should not pass on the chance to visit a burger joint which could potentially be a life changing experience.

Upon arrival, I noticed that Pono Burger has a unique look. In fact, part of Pono Burger is located in a Quonset Hanger that was used during WWII, bringing major historical value to this venture. I was greeted by the warm and welcoming staff and led out to the courtyard to settle down at a peaceful spot to enjoy the amazing weather that Santa Monica regularly spoils it’s patrons with.

My server was Amy, and right away I observed that she possessed a great command of all that is Pono Burger and I could find the answers I was looking for. I wanted this experience to not only to emphasize all that is Pono, but I wanted this experience to improve my life for the better. And it certainly did not disappoint! During the month of May, Pono Burger celebrates Burger Month by pairing Pono Burgers hamburgers with an eclectic array of beers to choose from.

Amy provided all the 411 I needed to make an informed decision. I knew that I was in for an exhibition of mass consumption after choosing the Alekina Burger with Sweet Potato fries which was perfectly paired with the Pranqster, a Belgian Ale. It just happened that my requested brew was this first item to be brought to the table. It was ice cold and went down smooth. I particularly enjoyed the citrus and floral notes, which really made the Pranqster a memorable beverage.

The Alekina Burger is a sight to behold, prepared with beef that is ground in-house, sourced from a small farm on Mount Shasta, and was cooked to a perfect medium as requested. The Alekina burger comes with a house-made Chimichurri, organic Don Juan Chorizo, avocado and a sweet potato nest all on a freshly baked bun. The bite was so flavorful and so pleasing to the palate that it had me eating like a wild-man. The heros of this burger are the ridiculously high quality beef patty and the synergy created by the Chimichurri and Don Juan Chorizo.

The Sweet Potato fries were cut thin and fried to perfection. These fries had a natural sweetness that one expects from a top-notch joint like Pono Burger. Paired with house-made Inman Ranch Bacon and Chipotle aioli garnished with parsley, the dip was insanely tasty and matched the spice factor of the Alekina burger.

Pono Burger offers Milkshakes made with organic soft serve from the Straus family creamery. After much mental anguish trying to decide which milkshake to choose, Amy recommended the Milkshake with Salted Caramel sauce speckled with Niman Ranch Bacon and fresh whipped cream. The soft serve vanilla was the perfect foil for the salty-goodness of the Niman Ranch Bacon, all of which was a great complement to the meal as a whole.

I felt that this endeavor had in fact changed my life for the better. Major props go out to Chef Makani and her gracious staff, for they have created a food destination in a city full of legit competition. With all the success thus far, we can rejoice because there are more Pono Burger locations coming to a neighborhood near you, with restaurants opening in Hollywood and another in Venice in the near future.

Pono Burger

829 Broadway

Santa Monica, CA 90401

(310) 584-7005