Fusion Burgers

Fusion Burgers
5933 York Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90042
(323) 257-8705

Hours:    Mon - Sun: 3:00 pm-10:00 pm


We thought we'd try a new burger joint on the way to the Dodger game, and Fusion Burgers seemed to have some unique burgers on their menu.   So off we went....

Let me tell you that driving down York Blvd to get here is not one of the most pleasant drives.   It seems like a pretty rough neighborhood.... at least compared to what I'm used to..   Bars on the windows to almost every business, graffiti in all forms is abundant.    Nothing specific made me feel unsafe, as it's not the worst neighborhood I've visited for a meal, but just the atmosphere outside had me questioning myself - Is there a place for a $10 burger (fries and drink not included) in this neighborhood?   That's what we were here to find out....

The locations is on a corner of a two main streets in a small strip mall with very little parking.   I'd say the parking lot had about 10 spots, maybe 12.   I parked in the last available spot in front of the UniSex Hair Cut business (which also sold Mexican insurance.)   There is street parking as well, but it seemed crowded as well.

We walked into the burger place and were taken back by the prestige of a nice restaurant.  Nothing fancy, just nice.   We were greeted immediately and asked if we were there for pick up or dine in.  The server seated us next to a window seat with a view of York Blvd (if you could look past the graffiti etched into the glass.)   The interior is really well done.

Onto the menu.   For those loyal readers, you know that I'm a glutton for spicy (pain!) and anything along those lines grab my attention immediately.  I quickly focus on Dan's Inferno Burger.  Described as ground chicken and turkey mixed patty, Dan's Inferno sauce, 1000 Island, pepper cheese, roasted peppers, and onion ringlets.  I wasn't too sure about the chicken/turkey combo patty as I came here for a burger, but the description was calling my name.  I also had to try their chili cheese fries and the Cheese Tosos (tater tots.)

The food is definitely made fresh here, it took a little while for our food to arrive..  Don't come here in a rush, I would say it took between 10-15 minutes to get our food.. This isn't fast food...

The food comes presented very elegantly on nice plates.  They are sure trying to impress in this neighborhood.   Now for the food.....

The chili fries were good.   Nothing special, but decent.  It tasted home made and not your fast food chili.  However nothing stuck out on my palate about the chili.  It was just chili on fries with a slice of cheese melted on the top.

The cheese tosos were pretty good, and if I were to come back I would get these over the fries.  The fries (assuming they're the same fries by them selves as the ones in the chili cheese fries) just had no real flavoring or seasoning to them.  The cheese tosos were basically hash browns and cheddar cheese shaped into jumbo sized tater tots and deep fried.   Really good...  They were cooked perfectly and the cheese didn't really overpower the fried potato taste.   I liked 'em!

And now.... the main attraction....  The burger...    My first bite into the burger I was focusing on the flavor of the patty, because that was my biggest concern.   Oh yeah.....  They must add some seasoning.  This patty would make a great burger substitute in any burger..  Then.....  Dan's Inferno sauce kicked in..  It kinda had a habañero flavor to it, but it didn't have the heat I would have expected from the flavor.  Don't get me wrong, it was hot...... but not habañero hot.   I'm guessing the sauce had a very very small concentrate of habañero to give the flavor but not all the heat..    I couldn't really taste the the pepper cheese as described on the burger.   It must have been a very very mild pepper jack..  I think this is where the burger could have used some improvement.  If it was me, I might have substituted a more flavorful or sharper cheese.   Oh... The onion ringlets.   Annoying....  They just seemed to get in the way while eating the burger and provided no help with the mixing of the flavors.   I would have liked to have seen just a few unfried onion slices on the burger..  Maybe raw onion to bring out the flavor...

One more thing.. I'd be remiss to not mention the jalapeño dip they serve with the sides.   It was awesome!  Not really spicy, but had a mild ranch flavor with dill and some jalapeno flavors.  The fries that weren't covered in chili I dipped into here and they were good!   If I were to come back, I might just get the fries just to dip them into this dip..

Would I come back?   Well, the burgers were good..   If I were in the area with no other lunch plans I'd probably come back.  For me, it's not a special trip worthy of a place...  The food is good, but I can't say memorable...