Hinano Cafe Hinano is an iconic Venice dive bar with an equally famous burger
Hinano Café is the kind of dive bar we presume Venice used to be full of during the Jim Morrison era. Laidback and chill, this spot has been around since the 1960s and is where you go in for one drink that turns into several. There’s a daily 4-8pm happy hour, free popcorn, pool tables, sawdust on the floor (can’t imagine what that’s for), and a legendary burger that's as delicious as it is well-priced. If you’re looking for a low-key spot to grab drinks after dodging tourists and close-up magic on the boardwalk all day, Hinano is your spot.
Whether you’ve had a few beers or not, ordering this classic cheeseburger is a no-brainer. It’s simple in a backyard burger kind of way, with heavily charred patties and mayo and yellow mustard peeking out from the soft sesame bun. It comes with a bag of chips and pickled peppers on the side, and you could add a hot link or bacon if you want. (We think it’s pretty perfect as is.)
photo credit: Nicolas Zhou
Hinano uses a lightly toasted sesame roll for its cheesesteaks and we think it’s genius. The soft, fluffy bread makes for a lighter sandwich and room for more crispy beef and melted american in each bite. The griddled peppers and onion cooked down to a near jam are nice, too.
photo credit: Nicolas Zhou
You can get a ladle of Hinano’s smoky meat-rich chili inside your burger, or on top of a hot dog, but the best way to eat it is straight from the cup. Mix in the melted cheddar and diced red onion, and crumble the side bag of Fritos on top for extra crunch.
video credit: Nicolas Zhou
