There’s the hamburger, and then there’s the cheeseburger that satisfies the cravings of Californians with its gooey, melt-in-your-mouth provolone, cheddar, Swiss, bleu, Gouda, and the list goes on. And while In N’ Out always hits the spot for West Coasters, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to try a local spot or two or ten when you’re a denizen from here. Some of us like our cheeseburgers simple and some of us like them monstrous enough to give us a good food coma. In honor of Cheeseburger Day, here are ten favorite restaurants that serve scrumptious cheeseburgers in California:

10. The Original Tops
With its homemade Thousand Island Dressing and fresh ingredients, this Pasadena favorite’s old-fashioned cheeseburger has a layer of American Cheese to whisk you away from that fast food joint down the street. Not a meat-eater (I don’t judge)? Try the veggie burger with cheese
9. Stacked Sandwich
While there are multiple burger and sandwich options at this Arcadia establishment, you can’t go wrong with The Standard Burger. The combination of the Triple Prime Beef, grilled onions, garlic mayo, and cheddar cheese really makes you savor every bite, and if that’s not enough add the Mexican five Chili spiced fries to kick it up a notch.
8. The Salted Pig
Because the menu for this Downtown Riverside restaurant changes often, it’s hard to narrow it down. It’s a toss up between The Really Good burger and The Black & Tan. The former consists of jalapeno cream cheese (still a cheese) and crispy onions, whereas the latter has ale pickled tomato, cheddar, and stout mustard. Intrigued? Everything from the patties to the buns to the condiments is homemade.
7. Jay-Dee Café
Not only is this Alhambra dive bar sports friendly in case you need to catch a game, it’ll satisfy your cheeseburger craving. Go for the cheesy cheeseburger if you want your heart to melt away. Not in the mood for something that dense? Try the simple bacon cheeseburger for the perfect portion size to fill that void.
6. Dog Haus
The chain restaurant is known for its hot dogs, but there’s no denying that their cheeseburgers deserve a nod, too, like The Hangover. That Haus chili. That white American cheese. That bacon topped with a fried egg. But if you must go the “healthier” route, order the cheeseburger. It’s still good, but it has the Haus sauce to differentiate it from being too bland.
5. Café Cola
If you’re a control freak about your cheeseburger, Covina’s Café Cola will tickle your pickle with this create-your-own cheeseburger menu. Try the Bully, a five-ounce patty with your choice of cheese (try the Swiss), toppings (try the bacon and grilled onions), and the sauces (try the Sriracha and ranch). Still not stuffed? Share the Zombie Fries with a friend. Top it with any cheese, topping, and sauce.
4. Baker’s Drive-Thru
For a chain of restaurants centrally located in the Inland Empire, even some Californians don’t know of its existence. Even though this chain has fast food written all over it, the single baker with cheese is your standard classic lean patty with American cheese and its special dressing. Make it a “Mama #1,” which comes with fries (some may say its better than the fries from In N’ Out and McDonald’s) and a drink.
3. The Habit Burger Grill

Sometimes you just need something convenient but good, and that’s when The Habit Burger Grill comes in with its chain of restaurants mainly located in California. Go for the Double Char Cheese for that extra oomph. And as the name implies, you’ll definitely taste the char from the open flame!
2. The Market Grill

This one holds a special place in my heart not only for its cheeseburger and chicken California sandwich and its Chili burger (ok, I’ll stop), but this Monrovia gem also has good customer service for a hole-in-the-wall spot. The standard cheeseburger is laced with red onions and Thousand Island dressing with your choice of provolone, cheddar, or Swiss. Whether you choose a side of lemon potato salad or natural-cut fries to go along with your cheeseburger, just the sight of toasted buns cooling off on a rack will make you smile.
1. Super Burger
The word is that this Pasadena burger establishment is better than In N’ Out. What’s the noticeable difference? The cheeseburger alone is huge. Don’t get me started on the double cheeseburger. Feel free to stuff your cheeseburger with bacon, grilled onions, avocado, and/or a fried egg. You’ll die, hopefully not in the literal sense.

So, is your stomach grumbling yet? Good. Have a favorite cheeseburger we didn’t mention on the West Coast? Comment below on what makes a good cheeseburger!

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons