Gate-adjacent burgers in T1 at Cassell's Hamburgers
Cassell's Hamburgers sits airside in Terminal 1 at LAX, making it one of the few sit-down options once you clear Southwest's security lanes. Seating is limited and right off the concourse, so it feels more like gate-side counter service than a full restaurant, but you can still sit down with a proper burger before a flight out of T1.
The menu centers on classic burgers, fries, and shakes, with mains typically running in the low-to-mid teens depending on toppings and size. Portions lean generous, and the standard burger setup comes with lettuce, tomato, and house sauce rather than anything overly fussy. If you want something lighter, you can usually pivot to a turkey or veggie option instead of the standard beef.
Drinks cover the usual airport range: soft drinks, basic beer, and sometimes a short list of canned options, all priced in standard LAX territory, so expect to pay several dollars more than street level. Shakes tend to be the better value here, pairing well with a single burger if you’re trying to keep the tab closer to $20 than $30. You order at the counter, grab a number, and food comes out in roughly 10–15 minutes.
Cassell's opens for the morning bank of Southwest flights, typically around the first departures from Terminal 1, and runs through the evening push, so you can usually count on it for both lunch and dinner. Turn times during peak windows near gates in the mid-teens can stretch a bit, which matters if you’re boarding out of a far T1 gate with only 30–40 minutes in hand.
Tip: if you’re tight on time, order a basic burger and fries to go and eat at your gate; the made-to-order burgers can run longer, but a simple order usually hits your tray faster than anything customized with extra toppings.