Meet Ramon Douglas | Burger Enthusiast and Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ramon Douglas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ramon, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I’ve always liked burgers — eating and making. Sure, there’s a lot of other foods out there like tacos and pizza… but burgers caught my interest. There’s something about the different combinations you can come up with. There are so many options to keep it fresh and simple.

I found that burgers spark my creativity as a chef and started first by competing in burger contests. After earning a few wins, I discovered that I’m really passionate about my burgers and people like them. So, I decided to take a risk and started a business focused on great burgers that appeal to a broad customer base!

It definitely hasn’t been an easy journey. I’ve made plenty of adjustments to my process and menu along the way. Oh, and speaking of changes…keep an eye out for my upcoming creation: the LA Cheesesteak!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I’m a leaf on the wind … I bounced around diff jobs and schools trying to figure out what i wanted to do in life. I always wanted to be out in nature working, nature always fascinated me. I did a lot of forestry retreats with rangers growing up in Altadena. I had my college education set on University of Florida, Humboldt State or UC Davis, but grades had other plans for me, ha. After HS I moved up to the Bay Area with my brother, got a job at UC Berkeleys Unit 1 Dining Commons, that was my first food related job. I learned a lot from the chefs there, how to handle, cook, serve food. I had various other food service jobs in the Bay Area before moving back down to LA and getting into culinary school, best suggestion someone ever gave me. I completed it, ended up working at Disney World in Florida, Working there was not easy at all, I touched down and immediately started pulling 16 hour shifts 5 days a week, I was absorbing so much knowledge and techniques. I was there for a year before moving back to LA again. I ended up working at various hotels and country clubs throughout LA, and got into the burger contest circuit.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Ha, best time ever huh. Everyone is different and my friends know I’m different 😆. I don’t need much to have a good time. But if they wanted me to put an itinerary together it would have some road trips up the 395 or Coastal drives for relaxing hangouts. To eat and drink… hmmm, the Downtown Culver City (Citizen Public Market), Santa Monica (Wallflower, Accomplice Bar, The Lincoln (even tho the last 2 are technically Venice)) love the Arts District (Everson Royce Bar, Camphor, Death & Co, Truley/Angel City Brew, Eighty Two).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

First I want to dedicate everything to my pops… he passed in 2018. Also want to dedicate to my mom (She’s my day one ❤️), my son, my brothers, friends that have supported since the beginning one all the strangers that I’ve fed along the way.

Website: Burgersforlife.com

Instagram: _burgersforlife_

Yelp: Burgers for life

Image Credits
Leo Budirahardjo