The Hawkins family started out flipping burgers from a street food stand and proved such a hit with the locals in south-east Los Angeles that Hawkins House of Burgers is now a permanent fixture on Slater Street. At the helm is Cynthia Hawkins, the youngest of 14 children took over the business from her father, who had moved to LA from Arkansas in 1939 as part of a migration programme that moved Southern African Americans to the west. Tasty ‘fresh, never frozen’ beef, chicken or turkey burgers are the USP at this unpretentious and authentic venue that concentrates on delivering no-frills food in a relaxed community fashion. The menu is refreshingly simple - choose either a single, double or triple burger stack then add your preferred bacon, egg, chilli and cheese combination. Other comfort foods on the list include chili dogs, onion rings, chicken wings and T-bone steaks, as well as breakfast combos such as pancake stacks. For a slice of local culinary history, it’s worth stopping by.