Well, drove to RMAF this year from Phoenix, and timed it to do lunch in Santa Fe, so I could finally try the green chili cheeseburger at Bobcat Bite. Alas, a sign on the door saying they would be closed 'til the 20th let me know that it wasn't to be. Licked my wounds (and the plate) down the street at Harry's Roadhouse. This place is fabulous! Best strawberry rhubarb pie EVER followed a Buffalo Burger to die for. My daughter-in-law had a turkey panini with goat cheese, roasted peppers and artichoke hearts. I took a bite or three. Best panini I've ever tasted. This place is a GEM, and I'd have missed it altogether if Bobcat Bite hadn't been nice enough to engage in corporate narcissism and take some down time!
I grew up in Chicago, and I have never been to Joe Boston's, but I will check it out when I am up there during the holidays.
For Chicago I-talian beef in Chi-town, we go done to Taylor Street area, Al's Italian Beef. Very tasty!!
Also, if you are downtown, I love Vesuvio (it's a great little very old Trattoria) near Navy Pier. It's still has authentic wise-guys hanging out there. Tells you how good it is!!
Thanks Tvad. I've been hearing about Langers for years; but it kind of fell off my radar. I'll get there the next time I'm in town, for sure. I used to live across the street from Cal St. Northridge on Nordhoff, and I've never heard of Brent's. I'll give it a try also. Bongo, you just flat out get around! I enjoyed a place in Vegas the last time I was there. It's a small chain. It's called Hash House A Go Go. Take a look at the images Google puts up. It's lot of fun. San Diego's got one also. The dish I had was the featured dish on Man Versus Food.
I don't know Macdad, the best sandwich? I'd have to say it came from a Jewish deli, like 5) Art's in B.H. or Studio City 4) Mort's in Pacific Palisades 3) Shep's on Pico (I think it's gone) 2) Carnegie (N.Y.) 1) Webbie's on Laurel Cyn and Ventura (*sniff* gone...) and was probably a hot brisket/pastrami combo with coleslaw, swiss cheese and Russian dressing on rye or onion. Or maybe a tongue/liverwurst combo. Non Jewish deli mentionables: The Tam O'Shanter on Los Feliz has a GREAT sandwich board, and is a pretty good restaurant too. Owned by Lawry's, so the prime rib is terrific, too. Here in Phoenix there are a couple of places, Luke's and Guido's, that make outstanding Italian beef/sausage combo sandwiches (ALWAYS with peppers and provalone). My dad was born and raised in Upper Darby, Pa. I have no excuse for not getting over there one day to try real Philly cheese-steak.
I think the best "non-gourmet" burger I have had anywhere is definitely In-N-Out burger.
We need to get them here in Houston.
That said, I was just in Philly, and went to Daleassandros for the best cheese steak (actually the best sandwich) I have ever had. We blew off a super expensive steak dinner the next night with customers, and drove back over to there for more cheese steaks and beers.
"Thurmanator" Thurman Cafe' Columbus Ohio (google that one!) Five Guys is always good Buckeye burger, Ohio Deli Columbus Ohio My very own "Flamin'Face" I put crushed cayennes in the meat (usually bison) I roast fresh picked off of my vine Jalapenos, and put them on top. Melt some hot pepper cheese over the peppers on the burger. Fresh guacomole on the bottom and roasted Habanero salsa on the top. Killer. My wife has plain, with ketchup....
Anyone going to Denver for the show should know about (now that I've secured my reservation!) a great little foodie opportunity. The name of the place is Bones. They are a gourmet take on the classic Japanese noodle bowl parlor. Their site is at bonesdenver dot com.
While I still give Five Guys an Honorable Mention against the others I mentioned, one definite big plus about them is that when you order fries, you get an ORDER of fries. Too much for me so one order is plenty big enough to share with the family. It is the only place I have been to where I can get some malt vinegar to go with the fries too.
Hodad's in Ocean Beach, CA In-N-Out (almost any combination animal style) Big Daddy's in Charlotte Honorable Mention: Five Guys
Big Daddy's Bacon Cheeseburger on Steroids is definitely a heart attack waiting to happen: Ground chuck with bacon salt, 3 pieces of jalapeno bacon, 3 pieces of applewood smoked bacon, Monterey Jack and Bacconaise. It's huge too.
I finally realized there was a Five Guys Burgers within 10 miles of my house. Hit it last Thursday and have to say they deliver a good burger. Definitely better than In & out - more meat, always a good thing. Of course, a double burger, fries, and drink cost ~$11 at Five Guys and ~$7
I'd take Tommy's over Five guys 7 out of 10 times, but they are different approaches, so the comparison isn't entirely fair.
Azaud, I forgot to answer your Pappasitos Post. My wife and I actually worked at Pappasitos for about 5 yrs each as waiters, bartenders (college and grad school), then floor managers, kitchen managers, and Asst GM's before were were both hired away by other restuarant companies.
I have made thousands of racks of Agujas and they are sublime, but my father in law makes better ribs, he really does. He won the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo BBQ Cook Off with them twice in the eighties. That is extremely high praise for anyone.
The quail, simply sublime. Simply marinaded in the fajita marinade then expertly grilled over the charcoal/mesquite grill. Tough to beat. I can tell you that you can eat off of the floor in any Pappas Rest during the busiest times, they are unbelievably well run, and their quality control and cleanliness is the best you can find anywhere.
That said, I would still go to Goode Co Taqueria for my last meal. Now the best Mexican (traditional) meal I have ever had: Hacienda De Los Morales in Ciuadad de Mexico D.F.. Maybe the best meals I have ever had anywhere, better than France, Italy, Spain, NY, San Fran..... Anyone else had the good fortune to check this place out? I used to go to Mexico City for work all of the time, it was the only good thing about the trip.
Alright, I've tried two more "joints" in the Phoenix area, and I have some good news. I've got one more that I've been told is good that I have to try, and I expect to hear of more, as I'm an exterminator here in town; and as a foodie, and in need of smalltalk for when I'm servicing customers' homes and I get the glazed over look upon steering the conversation toward audio equipment, I tend to go straight to favorite recipes and/or restaurants. Seeing as the thermometer is going to reach 113 degrees twice this week, I'll be trying like heck to drag said conversations out, to buy a few more minutes in my customers' air conditioned interiors before being banished to the outside to burn my hands on my spray-rig, and bump my head against the Arizona sun. The worst is when I put my hand in a glove and the sweat from the last job scalds me. But I digress. The name of the burger joint I have to try is Plush Burger; but as I said, I have good news. I have a new current favorite (in Phoenix). I tried a place called Five Guys, and it was good. I would eat there again (and again...); but the place that has me oohing and ahhing these days is a joint called Burger Studio on Mountain View and 7th St. They have a burger (their "Signature" burger) they call "The Caprese Burger". Great patty, great bun; with sliced (not melted) artisan mozzarella and tomatoes, romaine, a fresh (and almost coarse) pesto mixture, onions and finished with a superb balsamic reduction drizzle. I admire simplicity; and yet am a sucker for an over-the-top creation. This gem has a little bit of both going for it. Their fried stuffs are very good too. Sweet potato fries and of course regular, and really good onion rings. I saw them pour the zucchini out of a bag into the fryer; but they were nevertheless very good also. I want to try some of their other creations; but am in no hurry. You've got to try this burger if you get the opportunity.
Angeleans may want to check out the front page of the L.A. Taco site. There's a new burger joint in town called Kalbi Burger. Check out the pic of the burger, and tell me you don't want to try this one. Check out the Taco section for more mouth watering pics also.
Let's not leave Eva's Jamaican off that Laguna list. Their jerk chicken used to be amazing(haven't been in years). Also, that calaloo soup.
What's your thoughts on Mozambique? I really liked their chicken livers peri-peri. Actually, anything with the peri-peri sauce is good for me. And the curry was nice.
There are four really good Mexican restaurants in Highland Park. I can highly recommend Antojitos Chilangos, El Huarache, Le Abeja and Metro Balderas.
Here on Orange County, I can recommend Carnitas Los Reyes,, Taco Mesa (calamari!), Tacos Jaliscq, Taqueria El Granjenal, Taqueria Mexico, Taqueria Morelos and Tom's Tacos.
Bongo, what's that Sushi place in the same shopping area as Javier's in Newport? I ate there last time I was there, and it was excellent.
Also, I work with a bunch of dudes from Japan and they brought me to this absolutely AWESOME Korean/Japanese BBQ place right off of PCH and I can't remember the name, and I was trying to send my boss there tomorrow.
Lupe's is good, but Goode Co Taqueria (same folks that own Goode Co BBQ and Goode Co Seafood) has the best TexMex in Houston. If I have one meal left, it would be Chicken Enchiladas with Queso Fresco from Goode Co Taqueria.
Don't get us started on Mexican in L.A... I used to drool for Carrillo's, a carniceria in San Fernando. You would go in for a burrito and hear the women in the back clapping their hands together making the masa tortillas by hand. The flour tortillas were so fresh that they had an elasticity to them. They would pull as you bit into them. Epically sized carnitas burrito with fresh pico de gallo and guacamole. Salsas to die for. There used to be a lot of great taquerias around York and Figueroa (Highland Park?). Great "Giddy Food" for after a night of partying. Some of the trucks have been parking in the same place for decades, and shell out the best lengua (tongue) tacos I've ever had. I would typically do eight or ten of those, and another five or six al pastor tacos. Total endorphin rush at 2:30AM.
Fab in Reseda makes incredible variations of any style of dog. Worth the drive. They are moving to a new location, so be sure to ping Yelp. Chicago-style, Detroit Conies, NJ Red Devils, AZ Sonorans--you name it--they can make it. They have the best mustard pickle relish I have ever had.
Let's Be Frank is a taco wagon that parks at the old Helm Bakery building in Culver City. One of the best LA street dogs.
In Chicago, I can like Hot Dougs. Amazing fries cooked in duck fat.
In NY, Bark in Brooklyn is effing amazing. Everything is made from scratch on premises.
I never could get with the Carney's dogs even though many consider them to be one of the best. The dog, itself is lack-luster and too skinny. And their chili is just not my style. Pink's, on the other hand, is still a classic.
A couple of years ago, a new joint called Mosher's in Long Beach had what I consider the best true Chicago dog in SoCal. Unfortunately, the chain raised their prices significantly and started cutting corners. Their Chicago Dog is now only so-so and too expensive for what you get.
...and Carney's burger is like an Original Tommy's burger without the Ptomaine poisoning (which definitely adds flavor...). There used to be a place on Santa Monica and Myra called Jay's A-Dog that made the best Tommy's rip-off burger in town. IMHO the Fatburger on Western near Adams that burned in the riot was the only location that could hold a candle to Meaty Meat Burgers.
06-25-10: Eddaytona Tommy's Burger on Washington before the Venice Pier
Don't you mean the corner of Lincoln & Pico Blvds right next to San-Mo high school?
I hit that place once a month or so for a re-charge. By the time the change for your bill hits your hand, the burger is ready. Tommy's is still my all-time favorite fast burger w/ Fatburger pulling up a close second. The late, great, Mo Better Meatty Meat Burgers on Pico & Fairfax was another of the classics.
Tommy's Burger on Washington before the Venice Pier. It used to be open 25/7. I went there late night in the 80's with a girlfriend. We got two slobbered with chili after she showed the cooks her t-ts
Just introduced to The Habit in the So. Bay cities of Torrance and El Segundo. This is a great charburger every thing is fresh and tasty the onion rings are excellent I'm told the fries are also very good. These aren't monster burgers but neither is the price, $2.95 w/ lettuce,tomato carmelized onions mayo, pickles on a toasted bun!!!!!!! For drink fries and burger $5.95!! Just a fresh tasting American burger check the on line menu it's very diverse, tri-tip, albacore, chicken .................
I think it's that the grill gets seasoned at Fatburger because they also cook bacon on it. I had my first Fatburger (a double King cheese egg bacon chilli with everything on it) in 1978 when I was working delivering furniture for Levitz. The drivers there would only stop for lunch at Fatburger or Cassell's on 6th near Vermont. It was the Fatburger on Western near Adams (that burned in the riot). Of course, just like the Original Tommy's on Beverly and Rampart, you swore it was better than the other locations.
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