In Culver City, Mom’s List approaches the American burger from a different starting point—one rooted not in nostalgia alone, but in accountability. Just recently opened, the concept, created by founder Ziad “Zee” Batal and executed alongside Michelin-recognized Chef Scott Howard, is built on a simple premise: if you can trace every ingredient, you change how people experience comfort food.
For Batal, that framework begins at home. The restaurant takes its name from his mother’s handwritten grocery lists—documents shaped by habit, discipline, and a constant attention to labels. That influence carries through the entire operation, from sourcing to presentation, shaping a menu that prioritizes clarity over excess.
“Mom’s List was inspired by my mother’s handwritten grocery lists and her commitment to choosing better ingredients,” Batal said. “She was intentional about what she brought into our home, and that mindset shaped this concept.”
He sees the restaurant less as a reinvention and more as a return to clarity. “We want guests to understand exactly what they are eating and feel confident in the sourcing behind every item on the menu,” he added. “It’s about being completely transparent and bringing that back into fast casual.”
Transparency as the Core System
What separates Mom’s List from other fast-casual concepts is how far it extends that transparency. The restaurant doesn’t just source high-quality ingredients—it makes that sourcing visible. Chef Scott Howard frames it as a discipline rather than a trend. “When you start with organic beef, hand-cut organic potatoes, and properly sourced dairy, the job becomes about restraint,” Howard said. “You let the ingredients lead.”
Burgers are built on 100% organic, grass-fed and grass-finished beef, with options like the OG layered with house sauce and caramelized onions, and the Golden Rule, a breakfast-style build topped with eggs and cheddar. Sides stay equally focused, with hand-cut fries and sweet potato chips finished simply with sea salt, while house-made sauces reinforce the kitchen’s from-scratch approach. Milkshakes round out the menu, made with thoughtfully sourced dairy and the same ingredient standards carried throughout, keeping the entire experience consistent from bun to beverage.
“When guests know what they’re eating and where it comes from, it changes the experience,” he said. “It creates trust, and that allows the food to speak for itself.”
That system continues beyond the kitchen through Mom’s Market, an on-site retail component where those same ingredients are available for purchase. It turns the restaurant into something closer to a working pantry, giving guests the ability to replicate the menu at home.
Extending the Idea Beyond the Plate
The concept carries into programming that ties food back to memory and routine. The “Memories for Milkshakes” initiative invites guests to bring in physical photos with their mother or a maternal figure in exchange for a milkshake—an exchange that builds a visual archive inside the space.
“Food is tied to memory,” Batal said. “This is a way to bring that into the restaurant and make it part of the experience, not just something you think about after.”
That same philosophy shapes Mom’s Market, where guests can purchase the exact ingredients used in the kitchen.
“We wanted to create a ‘kitchen to home’ connection,” Batal added. “If you trust what you’re eating here, you should be able to bring that into your own space.”
A Defined Position in a Crowded Category
Mom’s List enters a competitive fast-casual space, but its positioning is specific. It doesn’t rely on speed or scale as its primary differentiator. Instead, it leans into traceability—what’s in the food, where it came from, and how it’s handled.
“We’re focused on quality over complexity,” Howard said. “If you respect the ingredients and execute consistently, that’s what people come back for.”
For Batal, the goal is straightforward. “This is about giving people confidence in what they’re eating,” he said. “That’s the standard we’re trying to set.” If you want a burger experience that gives you “the cleanest burger bite” come visit Mom’s List today.
For More Information About Mom’s List, Visit mymomslist.com
Location: 4114 Sepulveda Blvd., Unit E Culver City
Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Photo credits: Photo courtesy of Mom’s List
