When you think of burger toppings, sushi probably isn’t one of the things that come to mind. However at Black Sheep Burgers, you’ll find spicy tuna rolls and California rolls, minus the rice, sitting on top of a gourmet burger. Established by the family behind Venice’s 26 Beach, this tiny restaurant brings the same sushi burgers and much more to Sawtelle.

The decor is suprisingly feminine, especially for a place that serves burgers. You order at the counter, grab your number and then sit either inside, where table seating is limited to just these two small tables…

…or by one of the counters on a barstool. There are also a handful of tables outside to dine al fresco and bask in the California sun.

Both beef and chicken burgers are offered, as well as vegetarian options. The meat is sourced from Huntington Meats, an old-fashioned butcher in the original Farmers’ Market,  which shows that they definitely care about the quality of the meats served.

The Cali Chicken Burger featured a well-seasoned chicken patty, that was flavorful  and still a bit moist. It was piled high with avocado, melty pepper jack, Jamaican relish (a mix of peppers and onions that was sweet, rather than spicy), alfalfa sprouts, tomato and mayo on a gorgeous bun. At $8.95, it’s a bargain for a well-constructed burger with top notch ingredients – especially with all that avocado (which some places will happily charge you $3 to add). I felt completely spoiled.

Likewise, the Spicy Tuna Salad Sandwich was stacked with avocado, along with tomato and alfalfa spouts, served on multigrain bread from Extea Bakery. The tuna salad had a slight kick, lightly mixed with mayo, celery and onions.

Another highlight were the curry fries. Perfectly fried crinkle cut potatoes with some sweet curry sauce draped over it. They were too delicious. We had to eat them all.

In addition to burgers and sandwiches, they have healthier fare like salads and grain bowls (though I have to say that my Cali Chicken Burger and the Spicy Tuna Salad seemed pretty healthy, thanks to the avocado and alfalfa).

The service was very friendly, and the manager, who had a giant smile on her face,  made sure to stop by and see how we were enjoying our meal. She seemed to genuinely care about us and the other customers.

Black Sheep Burgers is a rare gem – perfectly executed food at a reasonable price. At 26 Beach, the same sushi burgers are almost double the price (though you’ll get fries, too). You can taste the love and care that goes into the cooking here. So the next time you find yourself on Sawtelle, pass on the ramen and give Black Sheep Burgers a try. They’ll be happy to see you.

Location – 1313 Mississippi Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Website – http://blacksheepburgers.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly – Yes
Gluten-Free Options – Yes