I got the single smash cheeseburger... and it was great. Rafael was very nice and answered all my questions without hesitation. I highly recommend! Thanks again, Rafael! read more

My friends suggested that I try For the Win when in DTLA, so I had higher than normal expectations. I thought to myself, what can be so good about this place? They're just burgers. It's located in Grand Central Market and had a somewhat long line on a Sunday afternoon. - - Cheeseburger (4/5): It was good, but not breathtakingly good, especially for the price of almost $10. I think it would be comparable to that of an In-N-Out cheeseburger for a fraction of the price. - - Fries (3/5): I think it lacked flavor and were not anything special. I think trying For the Win was good for the experience but it didn't stand out to me like how I thought it would after hearing my friends' experiences. I probably won't be back in the future because the price for what I got just wasn't justified in my opinion. But despite the price, there wasn't really anything I can complain about. Once again, the burger was good but just wasn't worth it for me. read more

For The Win - Fries - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Ambiance: It's in Grand Central market downtown, so it's chaotic. There are tons of people everywhere, long lines all over the place, just like any other food court. Food: I really enjoyed this burger. It was flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the fries were good and not over salted. It's definitely a solid place. Service: fairly quick for the line. Waiting, I just walked around to see what else the market had to offer, two laps around, and my order was ready. Parking over here is not great, mostly paid. So, if you plan on just going in for a quick bite plan accordingly. read more

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Oh my GOODNESS!!! If you like burgers and haven't tried these I feel bad for you. Nice and simple menu but these burgers will have you craving smashed burgers like a maniac! You are able to add other toppings on your burger but if you want the classic smash burger taste it's pretty much just the meat, cheese, onions and bread. Such an amazing taste these burgers have and it was definitely the best thing I ate from here last time I went to grand central market. I wasn't able to try the fries but I will get those next time. They have a small bar and a few tables but when I went all of them were taken so you will probably have to walk around after you get your food to find another spot to sit and eat but grand central market has tables everywhere so no worries. read more

Grand central market is always a busy area. Order by tablet and pay through same tablet. I got it to eat there but doesn't matter because seems like everything is to go. The only thing is the price. I paid close to $20 for a double patty burger no fries and a drink. I highly regret it. Even with a double patty I was still hungry. Portions are small. Definitely not worth the cost. Taste was good but with $20 I can get a 8x8 from in n out with fries. Definitely will not come back. Way to many places to eat from that will get filled up with $20. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Super Messy, Super Delicious. Had a double bacon smash burger with fries and their homemade sauce. This burger was excellent. read more

For The Win - Double Bacon Cheeseburger at For The Win. - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Really solid Smashburger. A little disappointed in the beef being kinda dry on the edges (it should be thin and crispy and this was just a little bit too thick.) not a huge problem though and very tasty (i had 2.) the sauce that comes with the fries is out of this world read more

For The Win - Smashburger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great smash burgers here. Well seasoned, balanced toppings, and quick service. It's not the best I've ever had, nor is it very convenient place to grab a bite, but it is pretty good if you're in the area. I would skip on the cheese on fries but for a double cheeseburger, it was pretty tasty. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

FTW has been yappin about being the best smashburger in LA, so of course I'd have to see for myself (opinions own btw). This spot is located in GCM next to Ghost Sando shop. It is prob one of the busiest stalls in this food hall bc of the hype. There was already a lot of people who ordered ahead so it must be that good. I ordered the double cheeseburger with BLT as an add-on. They do charge for lettuce and other things as extras, so it'll rack up the price of your meal. Pretty pricy for a burger. I wanted to order loaded fries but they didn't have any available at the time so I opted for regular fries. There was a wait to get my food so you'd need to stick around and hear when they call out your order number since it's pretty loud. Luckily, I was seated at the front so you can see the staff in action. I got my burger and the patty hangs out on the side. The bun could barely cover them, so it'll get pretty messy to eat. It's a solid burger and tasted pretty good, but I personally don't think it's the best. The price can be a major turn off for some people since they charge for the vege, and can get pretty hectic. Maybe would return if I'm at GCM or at another FTW location read more

For The Win - Double cheeseburger with BLT add on - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'm a bit late to the party with this smash burger phenomenon. I read online that FTW has one of the better smash burgers out there. I knew that I needed to give it a try. To be fair, I haven't had so many smash burgers to compare it. With that being said, it was very good burger. However, it was way to expensive for what it was. A single cheeseburger costs $9. Factor in tax and a tip and you are looking at an $11 burger which to me is too expensive for a single patty. Nevertheless, it was dang good burger. read more

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The Social media hype is real. I wandered into grand central market after a grand adventure around DTLA and saw the huge sign. I had to try it to see what all the noise was about on Tik Tok and IG. Service was extremely quick. The girl running cash was pretty nice. The menu was simple and to the point. You start at the plain burger with cheese, pickles, and sauce and can add extras for more. The size was really small but pretty tasty. There were also no combos on the menu so everything was individually priced. They were also sold out of the popular Brussels sprout so early in the day which sucks because that was something that I wanted to try. Overall it was good but I wouldn't go back again based on price and portion size. read more

For The Win - Storefront - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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It's tucked discreetly in a strip mall, which offers limited parking. It's an unassuming place with very few tables (and barely any decor) so try to come at non-peak hours. On the Saturday that we were there, we noticed that between 3:15pm and 3:40pm, nobody was lined up. However, prior to that, we'd been in line for 20 minutes and were lucky to score a table because a family with small children kindly offered us theirs as they were about to leave. So many people come to this place, it's unbelievable! There's a sign that the food will come in around 35 minutes. Ours came in 40, but we were okay with that since we had a table. A sweet girl came to refill the condiments and napkins at our table. But other than that, nobody checked on us. I ordered a cheeseburger with tomato and lettuce (you have to order this, their burgers only come with the bread and patty) and you have to pay for cheese. They also charge a dollar if you want their dipping sauce for your fries. To be fair, it's super tasty. The burger was a revelation. Their smash burger was crispy and juicy and this combined with the soft bread, the melted cheese and the tomato and lettuce, made for a powerful flavor bomb. I savored every bite and was so sad when I was done. As someone who is sick of burgers, my love for them was reignited by FTW. I will definitely visit them again but next time I'll probably just order it via Doordash or get it to go. The lack of seating and a waiting area made it slightly claustrophobic for me. It's the only reason (along with the parking issue) why I couldn't give it 5 stars. But as regards the food alone, it most definitely deserves 5 starts. Maybe even 6! FTW's burgers definitely deserve the label "best burgers in Los Angeles. read more

For The Win - There's a 4% kitchen charge, just so you know - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Another social media let down :( Service: didn't really interact with anyone, as I ordered on a tablet and picked up on the counter. The brief human interaction I had was the guy who called out my name and handed me the order. Food: $11 for a single patty cheeseburger ($10) + lettuce and tomato ($1). I requested no pickles but still got pickles in my burger. The patty was unevenly seasoned, some parts were very very salty. Sauce was good but nothing special really. I was hoping that lettuce and tomato would give the crunchy texture, but they were all mushy. In my honest opinion, with the similar price range, I would rather have an In-n-Out double double combo (which included fries and a drink). read more

It's good, but not at this price point. Decided to check this place out to see all the hype. I can't justify burger for like almost $20 bucks for a triple cheese burger. The burgers are very thinly smashed, and not that filling. I would rather gotten a 5x5 at in n out with the works and probably would have been cheaper and just as delicious. I opted to add the jalapenos, but the ones they use are those cheap canned soggy and sour jalapenos, not very fresh. I don't recommend getting that added. Also got the fries and they were whatever. Nothing special. Wouldn't come back again especially at this price point. If it was $10 bucks then sure. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Just what I craved but never had the courage to try. A down and dirty, greasy stacked cheese burger. The burger tastes like how it looks, just patty, cheesy goodness with a fair amount of their special pink sauce. I got a triple cheese burger which was a little smaller than I thought it would be but was still enough for me to be satisfied. They also have loaded fries which I imagine is like the animal style fries from In N Out (I didn't get to try it but will next time). Line was pretty short on a weekday and you can find seating somewhere within the Grand Central Market (which is where this shop is). read more

For The Win - Inside - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Ambiance: the FTW burger place is located inside grand central market Service: very fast to place the order with cashier and pick up the food at another counter Food: simple menu and surcharge for every add-on Double Cheeseburger - **** add bacon, tasty and crunchy patty, recommend Price: decent size and affordable prices, about $15 per person read more

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This was a bomb burger. Saw a few posts on my socials about this place and was excited to try. I love that the menu is small and easy. I'd rather a place make one thing really good than a bunch of mediocre dishes. Got a double cheese with bacon, lettuce and tomato. Fries. Burger was so good. Cheese was cheesin. Smash patty was juicy and well cooked. Fry sauce was bomb. The whole thing was incredibly flavorful and the double was just enough for a big boy like me. Only negative I could say is this is one messy eat. My boyfriend got it all over his hands and face so I cut mine in half to make it easier to eat. Fries were decent. Pretty middle of the road. Overall really good. I thoroughly enjoyed. Just gotta remember to bring the wet wipes next time. read more

For The Win - Double cheese with lettuce/tomato and bacon - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

BLUF: Burger (yes) fries (yes) FTW makes a pretty darn good burger. Located in the historic Grand Central Market in downtown LA, their burgers are very good. Using the now popular "smash" technique, they do it well. The burger meat is fresh and flavorful. Wife and I ordered the single burger with cheese and fries. It was a good combo. I thought the burger was a tad small but the wife thought otherwise. I will order a double next time I eat here and you can assure yourself I will eat here again! The fries were hot and crisp. Give yourself tim because they cook everything to order. Service was good and the ambience was "food hall" like. read more

For The Win - Fries - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I had heard that FTW was voted top cheeseburger in California and had no idea it was actually located inside Grand Central Market! Decided to try FTW after coming to Grand Central Market and looking around on New Year's Eve and decided on FTW. I ordered the single Cheeseburger and Loaded Fries. I can tell you immediately that if you like In-n-Out, you'll probably like FTW. Their fry sauce is similar to In-n-Out's thousand island, but has a slight kick to it. Next time I will order a double and add tomato & lettuce because the patties are very smashed. Crispy edges with grilled onions and pickles, yum! I really enjoyed their loaded fries as well. Order at the counter/cashier and pick-up on the side window. Service is fairly quick, everything's made fresh to order and took around 10 minutes. Compared to Easy Street Burgers in Studio City, I liked For The Win much more! Though FTW does get to be a bit pricey, I didn't go in with much expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Parking is always a doozy in Downtown, but we parked in a lot across the street for a flat rate of $10. read more

For The Win - Loaded Fries & Single Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is the location in the Grabd. Central Market, basically in the middle but heading towards Angels Flight. Putting the hype aside, this is a very good burger. I ordered the double, with everything, and it was delicious. Next time, I would add jalopeños and bacon (and they are VERY generous with the jalapeños). Yes, it's a little pricey but these smash burgers are well made and they taste great. The meat that hangs over the side of the bun is crispy, as it should be. It's a messy beast, too, because they drench it in "fry sauce" after the burger is placed on the lower bun. Fry sauce, which is basically mayo and ketchup, is not really a thing in California but it is a thing in Utah and perhaps elsewhere. They have counter seating but not a lot of it. Best burger ever? Maybe not but well worth a visit. read more

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Holy SHIT!!! I would eat here every damn day if I lived in LA. The burger was a perfect 10/10. Double patty, jalapeños, bacon, tomato and lettuce are a must!!! The fries are average, but the burger is worth every damn calorie. Get here ASAP!! Service was great. Friendly and quick. The location is fun and Poppin. Something for everyone to eat!! read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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So I had tickets to see Dudamel conduct Das Rheingold and needed a quick dinner beforehand. Turned out that smashburgers are a great pairing to the LA Philharmonic! Loved the gritty vibe of the food hall and delicious food. Triple Cheeseburger: I know that Smashburgers are really trendy right now and I'm ok with that trend. Especially here, where they were delicious! Very crispy edges and somewhat crispy moving inwards, with a slightly meatier middle. The gooey cheese slices add the perfect moisture to the well-done flat patties, also adding more fatty goodness. I got the triple, which was indeed indulgent. It was very filling, but not quite food coma inducing. Loaded Fries: So much umami from the very nicely browned onions. Also, more of that yummy melted cheese. And the sauce gave it a good tangy contrast. Had to share these though, since it'd be a bit much when also eating a triple. read more

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Finally got to try the FTW burger after hearing so much praise of it. It was good, but at $10 for the cheeseburger without any add-ons, it wasn't worth it. When my son ate this, he compared it to In&Outs. Very similar quality at half the costs. I would agree. read more

For The Win - Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I really had high hopes for this spot as it was named one of the best burgers in LA! I ordered the double burger and a fry. The fries were as perfect as you could ask. Warm, perfectly salted and crunchy! However, the burger was a bit dry and just left me a bit disappointed. I would not let my 1-off detour you, but something to keep in mind on your next visit. read more

This was a mid burger. - The smashness of the burger was satisfactory, but the burger wasn't superb in any way. - lettuce and tomato was not included with the burger and cost an additional $1. - $14.84 for a double cheese burger with tomato and lettuce lies on the pricier side, but makes sense for being in central market. - the service was fast and the staff was friendly - the location is in a large food market and the parking here costs $5 read more

For The Win - Double cheese - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I think this place was good, but not good enough to come back. The fries were honestly the highlight because nothing in the burger stood out. I think the service here was great, however. And it's in this food hall that's filled with so many other spots so it felt like an experience trying this place. Overall, nothing stood out to me and I'll acknowledge a good burger, but it wasn't outstanding. read more

For The Win - Marketplace - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

There are so many options at Grand Central Market, so we did a little research before our visit. The recommendation to try For the Win was spot on! This was hands down one of the best smash burgers I've had! I tried the double cheeseburger with everything on it--absolutely incredible. The fries were also hot and crispy. The ordering and pickup process were easy, and there's an open kitchen concept. The name captures it all; they are winning! read more

For The Win - Double cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A little salty for me but not bad! I love the bun and the fries. Definitely could have eaten a double but considering I had to go back to work after lunch, the single cheeseburger was perfect. Pretty fast service considering! read more

For The Win - Single Cheeseburger and Fries - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Crap, I deleted the photos before I posted it. Anyways, great burger decent fries nothing special about the service was really fast. It was done three minutes, burnt edges on the end of the burger. Cheesy bacon is good. There's a few tables provided by the actual market itself, and there seem to be plenty of seating by this booth. I would go back, but there's so many other places to try. I can't guarantee anything. read more

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First heard about this place from competitive eater Raina crazy about a burger challenge but it's in Whittier. This burger joint is center of a market where there are a bunch of eateries like sushi, ramen, bbq and variety of Mexican joints. The market has limited seating so anybody from different eateries can sit. First menu impression remembers like Smash burger. In fact, it is. If you like jean Claude van dam (guile from street fighter the movie), there are 3 posters of him. Cashier was helpful on answering questions/concerns. There's only hamburger and cheeseburger (from single to triple) that comes with fry sauce, pickles and onions. Anything else like fry sauce, jalapeños , bacon or veggies are sold separately. Including bottle of water (no tap water btw). Sodas are can but there's beer. Order the triple cheese with jalapeños and veggies with loaded fries while gf got the single with regular fries. But here is where the reviews don't say: the wait time. During a long line, be expected to wait. There were like 3 people ahead of me but had to wait 30+ minutes. Also, check your order because the common complaint is mixing up the orders. Got my order but forgot my gf fries. Was it worth the wait? It is all right. It came out unorganized and it's not even huge (even for triple cheeseburger). The loaded fries is just regular fries but with melted cheese and sauce (like In N out animal style fries but with no meat). Overall, if you like smash burger, give this place a try read more

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YUMM. Probably one of the better burgers I've ever had. $15 for fries, single burger, and a water. Burger was super flavorful and the texture was insane. Fries were plentiful and crispy. If hungry, I recommend getting 2 patties because they do run on the smaller side. Lots of seating around and in the coolest location ever. Good service, highly highly recommend trying if exploring grand central. read more

For The Win - Single burger and fries - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Really tasty smashed cheese burger! One patty was enough to satiate me during lunch without slipping into a food coma. It's a pricier burger for sure, around 12 dollars for my single patty cheeseburger after tax and tip. Service: friendly and relatively quick. I had my burger within 15 mins. Ambience: It's really warm in GCM, would not recommend wearing a jacket in this space. read more

For The Win - Smashed cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Easily one of the top 3 Smashburgers I've ever had! The meat wasn't too smashed but just enough. Plus the bacon tasted amazing too! I didn't try the fries but my coworker said they were bomb! Service was cool, no cashier. Just order at a kiosk and in 5-15 minutes someone calls your name and gives you your order. Definitely coming back!! read more

For The Win - Cheeseburger w/ Bacon - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

FTW comes up in a bunch of lists of best burgers in LA and after having one, I can see why. But as you may see from the picture, the book does not match the cover. When I first opened the wrapper, I was initially disappointed because it does not look pretty at all. Looked a little soggy and smushed. But looks were deceiving because I was very happy with the flavors and textures. Their standard cheeseburger comes with grilled onions, pickles and sauce. All blended well with the crusty smashed patties and bun. Service was quick but we came before noon. Will be back!! read more

For The Win - Double Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The burger was pretty good. I feel like I needed a little more seasoning. My husband feels like it needed more meat inside. We got a single patty. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I love smash burgers !! This place did not disappoint. It was really crowded in Grand Central Market around 2:45pm Sunday and when I got to FTW there was a line of at least 10 people and shortly after that we were told that they were cold out and would be back in an hour !! We browsed around grand central in the mean time but we definitely waited the whole hour to get back in line. The burgers were made-to-order and super juicy. Burger comes with pickles and melted cheese and the smashed patties are seasoned generously. There are also options to add bacon and other toppings on each burger to customize it to your liking. read more

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Fireeee af. They ran out and had to shut down for an hour but it was well worth the wait. Double cheeseburger was perfect crispy and melted cheesy. 5/5 would recommend. read more

For The Win - Double cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Located in the bustling Grand Central Market, For The Win is a gem of savory American cuisine that will make you constantly crave for more. The service from start to finish was perfect. The young lady who took my order was very informative and pleasant. She was efficient and calm despite the long line of hungry patrons. I also noticed that the line would move rather quickly since she was so good at her job. The cooks (chefs) behind the counter were working so harmoniously. Getting all the orders in and out as fast as they could. With all this hustle they were still able to deliver a perfect burger every time. Their spot was clean and tidy. Since the kitchen is open you can see how organized and spotless For The Win is. They have plenty of counter space to eat at in addition to the other seats around Grand Central Market. The burger was cooked to perfection . The bun soft, the cheese gooey, the meat tasty with a bit of crunch round the edges. SO DELICIOUS. My preference is to have less sauce as my one customized change. Come to For The Win and get one of the best burgers in DTLA. read more

For The Win - In action! Great customer experience! - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Taste: 4 Creativity/Authenticity: 4 Atmosphere: 3.5 Service: 5 Bang for your buck: 3.5 I really dont get the hype of smash burgers but I Finally got a chance to try FTW smash burgers and let me tell you it didn't disappoint!! A Solid burger, whether it has been smashed or just a regular patty! Overall great xp my total for a double cheese with bacon and jalapeño with a side of fries and a mineral water was $24.46 woah! Thanks inflation read more

For The Win - Double cheese burger with bacon and jalapeño - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a bummer that this place has gone down hill so quickly. But to be fair this location was always shit. Just ordered thru Postmates and this is how the burger arrived. The bun was ripped in half? and they totally got my order wrong. Definitely don't order from this place on any take out apps. Not anywhere close to being worth $18 for a fucking burger. read more

For The Win - Burger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California