The LA Fast Food Tour Makes the Big Time

One Saturday morning a couple of years ago, I decided to write a few blog posts about some of my favorite LA fast food eateries. The posts spotlighted Pink's, Tommy's, Fatburger, and Philippe's.  You can read them by clicking here.

About a year ago, I got a note from someone who was putting together a foodie book and she asked permission to include my silly little posts in the book. Of course I gave permission and then really didn't think anything more about it ...

... until I got a note that the book had been published!  By National Geographic, no less!

The LA Fast Food Tour appears on page 135 and if you look *really* hard at the list of authors in the back of the book, you'll find my name there.  (It might take a magnifying glass.)

I don't have a vested interest in the sale of this book, so I feel free to recommend it very highly.  It's a beautiful book (you know the photography is breathtaking -- it's published by National Geographic).  It's entertaining and fun to learn about food in faraway places. You can click on the graphic above to order it from Amazon.

LA Fast Food Tour: Philippe The Original

Philippe's, Home of the French Dip Sandwich. It's unique in Los Angeles, a place where patrons share tables with strangers and make use of any available seat. In business for over 90 years, it clings to its original ambiance with sawdust on the floor, servers that keep the food line moving, and vintage photos and newspaper clippings that proclaim:

"...one of the best food bargains in town." The New York Times Magazine, MacDonald Harris, March 1990

"...the best french dip we've ever had." The Food Paper, Fall 1991

"Best reason to go downtown" "...a landmark among landmarks." Los Angeles Magazine, The Best of L.A., November 1990

In addition to Philippe's specialty -- beef, ham, pork and lamb french dip sandwiches, -- the menu includes several other sandwiches; soup and stews; salads; and more esoteric items such as pickled beets and pickled pigs feet, and hard boiled eggs. You can buy a jar of their special hot mustard to carry Philippe's home with you. They even have a wine list. [What kind of wine goes with pickled pigs feet?] And there's one other trademark item on Philippe's menu: a 10-cent cup of coffee.

Check out Philippe's website for a look back at Philippe's history through vintage photos, including the train that jumped the track and nearly took a shortcut through the restaurant's front door. Quoting from the website:

Philippe The Original is one of the oldest and best known restaurants in Southern California. Philippe's was established in 1908 by Philippe Mathieu, who claimed the distinction of having created the "French Dipped Sandwich." One day in 1918, while making a sandwich, Mathieu inadvertently dropped the sliced french roll into the roasting pan filled with juice still hot from the oven. The patron, a policeman, said he would take the sandwich anyway and returned the next day with some friends asking for more dipped sandwiches. And so was born the "French Dipped Sandwich," so called either because of Mathieu's French heritage, the French roll the sandwich is made on or because the officer's name was French. The answer is lost to history.

Philippe's is located a block from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and from Olvera Street. Here are Mapquest directions from the Marriott. It will take about 20 minutes to go to Philippe's from the Marriott in non-rush hour traffic.

LA Fast Food Tour: Fatburger

It's time to move on to the next stop on the LA Fast Food Tour. Scattered across several US states you'll find The Last Great Hamburger Stand, Fatburger, which originated in Los Angeles. Fatburger's website gives a glimpse of the company's history:

In 1952, Lovie Yancey created something unique. A culture. A phenomenon, if you will. She created the biggest, juiciest hamburgers anyone had ever seen. So obviously, there was only one name for them – Fatburger.

Half a century later, while other places are just discovering taste, we're still making hamburgers the way she did. Fresh lean beef, not frozen patties. Cooked-to-order, just the way you want it, every time.

The only thing Lovie loved as much as hamburgers was music. So you'll hear some of the best music ever blasting from kickin' new jukeboxes: Rock'n'Roll, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Classic Soul that'll keep you groovin' in your chair long enough to finish that big juicy burger. We'd love to tell you about the late night talk show hosts and rap stars who've made us the happenin' place—but our attorneys won't let us. (And, of course, restaurant critics keep naming us the best burger in town, but you don't care about those guys.)

The menu includes burgers and cheeseburgers in a variety of sizes; chicken sandwiches; chili; fat fries, skinny fries, chili fries, and home-made onion rings. Also available are hot dogs, chili dogs, and veggieburgers.

Locations close to the Marriott include:

Studio City
10600 1/2 Ventura Blvd. (& Lankershim)
Studio City, CA 91604
P: 818-769-8725

Van Nuys
6162 1/8 Sepulveda Blvd. (& Victory)
Van Nuys, CA 91411
P: 818-989-2695

LA Fast Food Tour: The Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers

The second stop on our Fast Food Tour is the Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers, which originated in a small walk-up stand at the corner of Beverly and Rampart in 1946. As more and more hungry customers found their way to the little shack, Tommy first expanded the Original Stand, and then he opened more locations. There are 29 locations, with the Burbank location just five minutes by car from the Marriott.

Tommy's claim to fame is its chili-slathered hamburger and cheeseburger (single-, double- and triple-burger versions), chili cheese fries, regular fries, tamales, hot dogs and chilidogs. It's a classic fast food menu made with fresh, tasty garnishes--and chili.

What are chili cheese fries? According to Wikipedia, "Simply an order of french fries with two ladles of chili over them. The chili cheese fries will have a slice of cheese placed between the doses of chili, to aid in melting." Yum. Pass the paper towels, please.

The first time I visited the Original Tommy's was about midnight. Even at that late hour, there were several people in line making a "Tommy's Run."

Some reviews of Tommy's Original World Famous Hamburgers are found at yelp.com.

If you want to visit the Original Tommy's original location, here are directions from the Marriott: Mapquest Marriott to Beverly Blvd. and Rampart Blvd.

Directions to the Burbank Tommy's are found here: Mapquest Marriott to Burbank Original Tommy's

Thanks to Wikipedia for photos and content.

LA Fast Food Tour: The Hot Dog Stand with a Parking Attendant

Los Angeles is known for its trendy restaurants with health-conscious menus. But that doesn't mean that we don't enjoy our junk food too. In the weeks leading up to Jamboree, we'll take a look at some of the Jamboree Committee's favorite eateries and hope that you'll try them for yourself during your trip to Jamboree.

Our first stop on the Los Angeles Junk Food Tour is Pink's. Quoting from their website:

Pink's is probably the most famous hot dog stand in the country... certainly in Los Angeles! Located near the corner of Melrose and La Brea, Pink's can be found by looking for a crowd of people and following the aroma of fresh meaty chili and soft hot dog buns.

Pink's is unlike any other hot dog stand in America. For example, it has its own parking lot attendant (parking is free). It has been in the same location for 65 years. It is not unusual to see a Rolls Royce pull up to Pink's (the chili dog ordered will be for the occupant, not the chauffeur!). Movie stars, well-known dignitaries, struggling musicians, businessmen, housewives, school children... all have savored Pink's Famous Chili Dogs.

The menu is a tribute to creative writing as well as creativity in the kitchen. There's usually line of hungry customers waiting to watch the hot dog being built right before your eyes. Top it off with a bottle of YooHoo or Orange Crush soda.

Pink's is a little bit of a drive from the Burbank Marriott. It will take about a half hour (not during rush hour!) to get to get there. Here are Mapquest directions from the Burbank Marriott to Pink's.