Buns N Roses: Where Metal Meets Meat and Purpose

How Chef Adriano is Turning Up the Volume on Burgers, Beats, and Community

By Lorenzo Dela Rama

In a town where reinvention is the currency of survival, few stories strike the chord of grit and generosity like Chef Adriano's. At first glance, he's the inked-up force behind Buns N Roses, a punk-and-hip-hop-fueled burger experience that has become the loudest whisper in L.A.'s food scene. But dig deeper and you’ll find something richer: a single father, musician, chef, and community advocate whose life’s playlist has been equal parts chaos, hustle, and healing.

A Heavy Metal Origin Story Before burgers, there were riffs. Adriano's first stage was the Hollywood Musician Institute, where, at just 18, he chased guitar dreams and built a name as a heavy metal producer. By his late twenties, he was scoring for TV, layering emotions into melodies while quietly refining another craft—food. With pots simmering and amps buzzing, he straddled both kitchens and studios, until life nudged him hard. He pivoted, traded tour buses for prep stations, and stepped into culinary school at the Los Angeles Culinary Institute, knife in one hand, pick in the other.

"I started in kitchens just trying to get by," he says. "I was the guy dropping stuff, messing up. I didn’t know I was good. I just knew people started finishing their plates. And that meant something."

Birth of a Brand: Buns N Roses What began as a pop-up ghost kitchen has grown into a movement. Buns N Roses, now operating out of Hollywood, doesn’t simply serve burgers—it stages edible concerts. Every burger is a track. Every topping, a solo. He doesn’t use recipes; he uses what he calls a "songbook."

"Everything in the kitchen is music. We tattoo the buns. We high-five Jeffy the kitchen mascot. The kitchen is our stage."

And the food? It roars. Take the short rib and duck bacon smashburger, with smoky cheddar, bacon jam, Calabrian chili mayo, and a flavor bomb of wagyu that punches like a breakdown in a deathcore bridge. One bite and you’re not in Kansas—you’re in a mosh pit of umami.

"Flavor is the anthem," Adriano says. "I want people to say, 'I didn’t know this existed.'"

More Than a Meal For Adriano, food goes beyond sustenance—it serves a purpose. When L.A.'s devastating wildfires consumed homes and hope, Buns N Roses stepped in as a sponsor for the Phoenix Dojo Gala, a fundraiser to rebuild Gerry Blanck's martial arts studio and aid 180 displaced students and families.

He also delivers meals to frontline workers, feeding fire and police personnel across Hollywood. And it doesn't stop there. His business, while for-profit, actively contributes to causes like SaveTheMusic.org, blending culinary passion with community purpose.

"We serve burgers with soul," he says. "This is more than a kitchen. It’s a place where music, food, and people find each other again."

Fatherhood in the Fire Off the line, Adriano is raising his 16-year-old daughter, grounding his chaotic schedule with morning school runs and after-dinner talks. It’s not a side story—it’s the center.

"Everything I do is for her," he says. "The music, the kitchen, even the chaos—it’s all so she sees that you can build something from nothing, if you believe in your flavor."

What’s Next for Buns N Roses? The dream goes beyond the burger line. Adriano envisions a physical space that fuses food, art, and live music—a venue where Buns N Roses becomes an immersive experience.

"I want people to eat, to vibe, to connect. I want this to be a home for people who need a taste of belonging."

Join the Movement Whether you're a fan of short ribs or Slayer, there's room at Adriano's table. Follow the scent of smoked cheddar and guitar riffs to the next Buns N Roses event, or better yet, become a partner in its growth. This is an exceptional opportunity to invest with Chef Adriano to expand his restaurant brand and partner in a movement built on music, meat, and meaning.

Contact Information: bunsnrosesla@gmail.com

www.bunsnrosesla.com

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