Often it is best to test the new business concept by partnering with an existing business. Lowell Bakke did just that when he converted the back-end of his family liquor store into a burger restaurant. He named it The Standing Room probably because it lacked chairs and it was exclusively a take-out establishment.
Chef Thomas “TK” Kim helped open The Standing Room and developed the menu. Seeing bulgogi, kimchi, and Korean aioli in burger combinations reminded me of what Roy Choi used to do on the Kogi BBQ truck. The combination of word-of-mouth and social media posts quickly caught the attention of LA foodies.
Ten years later The Standing Room remains featured on Eater LA’s Essential Los Angeles Burgers. While they closed their Hermosa Beach location, they recently opened a new location in Torrance. It is located in a strip mall in between the Torrance Civic Center and the Torrance Marriott.
Despite LA’s indoor dining position, The Standing Room remains in take-out mode. Once an order is placed, the customer is asked to remain outside. A text message received indicates when the order is ready.
Because their Hermosa Beach location was large enough for a full kitchen, they expanded the menu to include appetizers such as Pan Roasted Edamame tossed in a Chili Garlic Soy Reduction, Brussels Sprouts in Habanero Cream, Tuna Poke Nachos and Truffle Parmesan fries.
The Cash Burger is topped with bacon, shishito peppers, American, cheddar, crispy peppered onion, Korean aioli, and hoisin BBQ. Because they use high-quality beef, they prepare the patty medium so that it remains juicy. A plant-based burger may be substituted for any of their burger offerings.
I’ve had a few of their burgers at their Redondo Beach location and so I selected their Braised Short Ribs. The short ribs were tender and flavorful, but I thought they were a bit on the dry side. The Fried Brussels Sprouts with Habanero Cream has a nice sweet, salty and spicy taste to it. It also comes with a scoop of steamed white rice and a side salad.
My wife and I were quite happy with what we experienced and since it is situated close to our house, we put The Standing Room on our list of places to go when we need to make a last-minute decision for dinner.
The Standing Room, 3556 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503; 310.921.8535 thestandingroomrestaurant.com