Why go to a chain Mexican restaurant when you can happily indulge in Taco shops without ever crossing the International Border?

With a slew of options to choose from, it can be hard for visitors and locals alike to find a stellar place to grab the standard of Mexican food–a good, street style Taco!

That being said, there’s one place just next to Downtown that offers up great street style tacos to fill your belly with delight: It’s “El Paisa” and it’s located just off 25th St. and Imperial Avenue.

Heading over into this neighborhood might make you raise an eyebrow or two because although it’s definitely not the nicest part of town, it’s definitely worth the experience. And dessert will be waiting for you right across the street if you visit in the evening!

El Paisa is a 24 hour Mexican restaurant serving up some of the best Carnitas I’ve ever had. I typically order 3 of the “Mini Tacos” aka “Taquitos” (street style tacos). They cost about $1.70 per taco.

They are served on small corn tortillas, with a mess of onions and cilantro and a couple dabs of guacamole. Also, you’ll get a to add from a little tray of salsas, limes, radishes and a small bowl of chips to munch on while you wait for your order to come out.

The carnitas come out perfectly golden and delicious. Carnitas are a very sweet, tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork and the carnitas here are simply outstanding. They have a wonderful outer crisp and are so tender and delicious. I typically add a little dash of salsa for a tiny kick of spice, but they really don’t need much else than that. Pure porky heaven!

If you’re looking for a purely “California” dish and are not in the mood for tacos, then consider ordering the Carne Asada Fries, which are essentially a bunch of french fries served up with Carne Asada (seasoned beef), guacamole, sour cream and cheese. It’s a mountain of food and typically best shared with a friend or two and may send you into a food coma right afterwards.  It’ll be worth it though.

After you’ve finished up with your tacos and it’s in the evening, head across the street towards the market. There’s a little stand set up outside of the market serving up some deep-fried goodness for you to savor: Churros!

Churros El Tigre serves up freshly made churros for the masses, although it’s just a tiny little stand with a funnel system and a fryer. You can stand and actually watch your own churros as they’re cooked as the gentleman cranks out the dough and it drops it right into the hot fryer.

He then turns the churros over and over again, until they’re golden brown and crisp. He then scoops up the hot churros into a basket, which he then passes over to the next person who tosses then immediately douses them into a cinnamon-sugar mixture. The churros are now fully coated with cinnamon and sugar goodness and are put into a little baggie for you.

A mere $2.50 will get you 8 pieces of freshly made churros. They’re not as large as the typical churro you are used to, as these are a bit smaller and thinner. They have a wonderful exterior crunch and a soft center. The cinnamon-sugar mixture melts right onto the churros and they have the perfect ratio of spices and sugars to just make it such an outstanding treat and delight.

Getting street style tacos and churros is the perfect way to wind down an evening in San Diego and is also one experience you can savor without hassling to cross the border into Mexico.

However, in addition to all of the great components of my stay at and around the Hotel, another fantastic part of staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Carlsbad, is the creative, delicious, and on-spot meals they serve, and which I greatly enjoyed eating.

After checking in, I immediately went out to investigate the city.

Upon returning, I was exhausted, so I turned on the TV, laid down on the big, comfy bed and relaxed a little.

And knowing I was going to eat dinner at the hotel’s Carlsbad Beach Bistro just off the front lobby, was going to satiate my hunger and thirst, added to the pleasure of my relaxation.

I was fortunate to be joined by two family friends who drove up from La Jolla, which is only a short drive to the hotel.

So, as soon as they arrived, we sat down to dinner.

I had already looked over the menu in my room, so I knew exactly what I was going to order, but my friends took their time perusing their choices.

For starters, I ordered the Crunchy Shrimp with a subtle Chipotle Lime Aioli sauce:

One of my friends ordered the Papas & Pollo Quesadilla:

I get my love of steak from my Father, so the 12oz. New York Strip with Garlic Mashed Potatoes it is:

For dessert, the three of us shared two different desserts, the Strawberry Cheesecake:

And the Apple Crisp ala Mode:

I can tell you, none of us were disappointed in the quality and quantity of the food cooked and served to us. The food was all melt-in-your mouth savory, and my juicy steak was cooked perfectly.

The addition of the Lemon Chive Butter added to the aroma and its lovely mixture of flavors.

After some quiet conversation, I had to bid adieu to my friends and went to bed.

Upon awaking, and knowing I had to drive back to Los Angeles shortly; I stopped by the restaurant for Their breakfast.

The breakfast menu was divine and included many marvelous and delicious choices:

From cereal to fresh fruit; and omelets cooked to order with a myriad of potently delicious toppings of your choice, breakfast has a new meaning at the Carlsbad Beach Bistro:

Divine and Sublime.
]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/delicious-food-from-the-hilton-garden-inn-in-carlsbad/feed/ 0 http://www.travelinlocal.com/foodies-from-southern-california-come-in-droves-to-olde-town-orange-circle-new-eateries/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/foodies-from-southern-california-come-in-droves-to-olde-town-orange-circle-new-eateries/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:00:18 +0000 Sandy Schroeder http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=30550 Welcome to Main Street, U.S.A/Olde Towne Plaza in the city of Orange, the latest path for foodies with a wave of new night spots and “let’s do lunch” ideas.

Olde Towne Plaza in the traffic circle at the intersection of Glassell and Chapman Streets in Orange has been a welcome gathering place for over a century. A year ago we spotlighted this popular area and now we are back with Part II, the latest foodie updates. We are also planning another visit to do Part III, a close up of this antique/collectible haven, one of the best in Orange County.

Gabbi’s may really have started the trend with gourmet Mexican that puts a delectable new spin on everybody’s favorites. Haven Gastropub followed with first cabin gourmet pub grub and superior craft brew selections. Francolis moved from Fashion Island in Newport to a hundred year old building in downtown Orange, bringing authentic Italian food, great wines, and loads of atmosphere.

Next, the Daily Treet became Bruxie Gourmet Waffles, with lines of eager eaters stretching out to the curb. A new take on the Belgian waffle, “bold folds” become street food for breakfast, lunch, snacks or desserts!

Then on Friday nights Orange County Wine Trolley began touring nearby historic neighborhoods offering choice restaurant sampling’s; and then gourmet food trucks started offering hungry palettes in the Orange Cycles bike shop parking lot. Bruery Provisions checked in with brews, cheeses and gourmet take-out sandwiches.

Kimmie’s Coffee Cup, known for their “made from scratch” creations, began offering even more choices and the Filling Station, under new ownership, launched a new dinner menu.

Meanwhile, Ruby’s Streamliner Diner came to town in the historic Santa Fe train depot and Manhattan Steak and Seafood, began hosting a jazz band in the bar and blue cheese stuffed olives in their martinis. Avila’s El Ranchito replaced PJ Abbeys in that historic former church and longtime favorites, Felix’s Continental Café, Watson’s Drugstore and Soda Fountain and Paris in a Cup, continue to excel in offerings of fine cuisine.

You may find it hard to make a choice, but after you dine, you have another fun decision to make.

Within easy walking distance, you’ll find historic neighborhoods, leading art galleries, and one of the best collections in Orange County of prime antique shops plus collector corners with rare collectibles, vintage clothing, records, books and periodicals.

Olde Towne has been repeatedly voted Orange County’s favorite downtown. Located at the north end of central Orange County, Orange was established in 1886. The plaza was the original social and commercial hub of Orange. The Plaza Historical District attained significance throughout the state as a historical landmark in 1981, and was placed on the National Registry of Historical Places in March, 1982.

Added note, the seventy-four year old Plaza Park Fountain at the center of the circle is being refurbished and will be reinstalled around the first of October.

Lunch, Dinner, Coffee, Tea or Chocolate…

Restaurants:

• Bagel Me, 60 Plaza Square
• Blue Frog Dessert House, 136 S. Glassell
• Cafe Lucca, 106 N. Glassell
• Cherry on Top, 117 N. Glassell
• Citrus City Grill, 122 N. Glassell
• Courtyard Deli, 162 N. Glassell
• Bruery Provisions, 143 N. Glassell
• Bruxie Waffles, 292 N. Glassell
• Byeblos, 129 W.Chapman
• El Ranchito, 182 S. Orange
• Felix’s Continental Cafe, 36 Plaza Square
• Francoli’s Gourmet, 100-104 S. Glassell
• Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen, 141 S. Glassell
• Haven Gastropub, 190 S. Glassell
• Jalapenos, 154 N. Glassell
• Kimmies Coffee Cup, 190 S. Glassell
• Manhattan Steak and Seafood, 202 S. Main St.
• O’Hara’s Pub, 150 N. Glassell
• Old Town Grinder & Ice Cream Parlor, 177 N. Glassell
• Omega Burger, 309 W. Chapman
• Paul’s Cocktails, 207 W. Chapman
• Pizza Hut, 396 W. Chapman
• Plaza 149, 149 Glassell
• Renata’s Cafe, 227 E. Chapman, Suite F
• Rutabegorz, 264 N. Glassell
• Ruby’s Streamliner Lounge, 186 N. Atchison
• Taco Adobe, 121 N. Lemon
• The Beach Pit BBQ, 128 N. Glassell
• The District Lounge, 223 W. Chapman
• The Filling Station, 201 North Glassell
• The Perfect Circle, 165 N. Glassell
• Tokyo Cafe, 161 N. Glassell
• Two’s Company, 22 Plaza Square
• Watson’s Drug Store & Soda Fountain, 116 E Chapman
• Wahoos Fish Tacos, 226 W. Chapman
• Zito’s Pizza, 156 N. Chapman

Tea Rooms and Coffee Houses:

• Paris in a Cup, 119 S. Glassell
• Starbucks. 44 Plaza Square & 101 E. Chapman
• The Ugly Mug, 261 N. Glassell

Parking in Olde Towne:

There is no charge for parking in Olde Towne, but most public parking areas have time limits. There is a two hour parking limit for parking along Chapman and Glassell, unless otherwise posted. The public parking lots have three hour limits. Parking on Palm between Glassell & Olive is 30-Minute parking and there are two lots with no limits: Lemon St. Parking Lot, northeast corner W. Chapman and Lemon; Metrolink Parking Lot, north side of W. Chapman, just west of the railroad tracks. Also, many residential streets are permit parking only.

What better way to cap off a day of walking and sightseeing then enjoying a juicy burger.

So off I went to Dino’s Burgers.

Dino’s doesn’t just serve burgers. In fact, their chicken and breakfast items are superb as well–but since I’m in pursuit of Los Angeles’ best burgers, when given the opportunity, I can–and eat–a good burger anytime, so that’s what I had.

At Dino’s Burgers, their home-made hamburgers are delicious, very filling and satisfying. They add their own brand of “secret sauce,” in lieu of ketchup, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The fries were hot and crisp, just the way I like them. Add a little salt–and you’re in a bit of heaven.

At Dino’s, they cook their burgers for you right on the grill. When I arrived the inside was full; and when I left, the indoor and outdoor dining area was full.

Dino’s Burgers
2817 N Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Next Friday, June 3^rd, is National Doughnut Day.

Every year, on the first Friday of June, the USA celebrates a circular fried piece of sweeten dough, which is most often topped with some type of sugary substance.

Originally created in 1938 as a fund raiser for Chicago’s Salvation Army, the purpose of creating Doughnut Day was twofold:

To help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor the Salvation Army "Lassies" of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers.

Since then, National Doughnut Day has only grown.

As to its proper spelling–whether it is donut or doughnut–that question remains to be answered.

To celebrate National Doughnut Day, your participating local Krispy Kreme is will offer customers a free doughnut of any variety. As Ron Ruponcinski, the corporate chef for Krispy Kreme puts it:

In honor of National Doughnut Day, we’re inviting doughnut fans to stop by a local Krispy Kreme shop for a complimentary doughnut. With several delicious, one-of-a-kind doughnuts to select from, including our signature Original Glazed®, you can pick your favorite or discover a new preferred sweet treat for FREE.

Of course, if Krispy Kreme isn’t where you want to get your doughnut, to be sure Los Angeles is full of doughnut stores.

In fact, one local establishment topped Bon Appetite’s Top 10 Best Places for Donuts. In case you didn’t know, it’s Randy’s Donuts, in Inglewood.

I couldn’t wait an entire week to have a Randy’s donut, so yesterday I found myself right in front of the shop. As you can see in the photo, my friend ordered a classic glazed doughnut and for myself–being the maple lover I am–ate their delicious maple cream-filled beauty.

Both donuts were delicious, but in my opinion, the better doughnut was the maple topped stick. Talk about rich and yummy!

So, mark your calendars for next Friday, and have a sweet weekend.

The cast of Glee, The Anaheim Ducks and Angels teams, Michel Jordan, Arno Schwarzenegger, Madonna, Robin Williams, Pierce Brosnan, and numerous other political leaders, actors and athletes have all dined here.

Zagat best summed up the restaurant:

Fantastic fresh fish and some of the best chowder in Orange County are hallmarks of this big barn of a seafood restaurant in Los Alamitos – tabs are affordable – service is friendly – although it is always bustling, so long waits are a regular occurrence. P.S. An onsite market vends the daily catch.

[Ed. Note] – The outside patio is a natural for a mellow lunch and the mango martinis are memorable. Put this way, it’s better to experience them rather than to trying to describe their subtle blend of heavenly mix of mangoes and vodka.

One of the Original Fish Company’s Seafood Recipes and Fish Market goals is to help make you the chef due to its myriad of daily catches savory smells and tasters–my favorite dishes are the rich Cheese Crab Quesadilla and the Sea Bass with Strawberry and Orange Salsa.

If you’re in the vicinity of North Orange County, where the 405 and 605 freeway meet, you’re minutes from a Original Fish Company dining experience, When there, take the Katella exit off the 605 freeway and head toward the second light. From there, turn right on Los Alamitos Blvd., and into the parking lot.

For 30 years this amazing restaurant has anchored this busy corner in Los Alamitos, making excellence a byword. I live nearby, and it’s always a treat to have this delectable, first class restaurant a heartbeat away.

The Original Fish Company - 11061 Los Alamitos Blvd., Los Alamitos. Hours: Monday thru Saturday, 11 am to 10 pm. Sunday, 10 am to 10 pm.

Phone Number: (562)594-4553

Further branding its classic image, NORMS motto is “Where life happens 24/7.”

Conceived and developed by Norm Roybark–a Los Angeles native–the very first NORMS, “We Never Close” coffee shop was near Sunset and Vine.

It first opened for business in 1949, and was built on La Cienega Boulevard near Melrose. By 1957, NORMS expanded and grew just as Southern California did.

Although known for its good home cooked style food, NORMS is also known for its architecture.

Designed by the architects Louis Armet and Eldon Davis, who were famous for their Googie architectural style, NORMS is just one of the iconic buildings crafted by this team.

They also designed:

• Kerry’s Coffee shop (now a Mel’s Drive-In) (1947)
• Johnie’s Coffee Shop (1955)
• Holly’s / Hawthorne Grill (1956) (Demolished)
• Falcon Coffee Shop, Hawthorne (1956)
• Pann’s Restaurant (1956)
• Norms  (the first one), West Hollywood (1957)
• Holiday Bowl (demolished 2007) (1958)
• Ship’s Restaurant (Demolished 2005) (1950′s)
• The Steak House (now a laundromat) (1959)
• Wich Stand (now Simply Wholesome) (1958)
• Conrad’s (originally Donly’s, then Conrad’s, now Astro Family Restaurant) (1958)
• Stanley Burke’s (then Corky’s, now Lamplighter) (1958)
• Denny’s, Van Nuys (1958)
• Penguin Coffee Shop (now Dr. Beauchamp’s) (1959)
• Denny’s, North Hollywood (1960)
• Twain’s Restaurant (1960)
• Sam’s Cafe, Glendale
• Glen Capri Motel, Glendale
• Prebles (later Sandi’s Family Restaurant, now closed), Alhambra
• Bob’s Big Boy #23, Alhambra #34, Northridge, Bob’s Big Boy #135 (Now Coco’s), Mission Hills, #147 (now Coco’s) Pasadena, #158, Glendale #181, Van Nuys (1980)
• Lulu’s Restaurant, Van Nuys
• Norms #6, Hawthorne Boulevard; Norms #8, Slauson Ave., Huntington Park; Norms, Long Beach
• Ron-dee Coffee Shop (Demolished 2004) (1955)  Source:  Wikipedia

Googie architecture, which originated in SoCal in the late 1940s, is a form of modern architecture that was influenced by our then new car culture, Space (Yes, those green men), and the rise of the Atomic Age. Not too suprisingly, Googie architecture became closely associated with the design of motels, coffee houses, and bowling alleys.

A few distinctive features of Googie architecture are:

• radically vaulted roofing
• concrete walls
• large glass windows
• room-length dining counter
• large neon marquee

NORMS highly recognized “Saw Tooth” Pennant Sign, still remains in 12 of their out 17 restaurants. Amazingly enough, its archetype logo was designed on a napkin by Norm Roybark and Eldon Davis.

Whenever and wherever you pass by a NORMS, you’ll know it. And if you’re hungry, just park and have a seat.

NORMS’ menu consists of comfort food which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.

But for me, I always gravitate toward their BIGGER BETTER BREAKFAST.

For $5.99, you’ll not only have a well cooked and delicious breakfast, it’s a certainty you’ll have a full stomach when you leave.

Still owned and operated by the Roybark family, their philosophy is still the same and remains as its founder, Norm Roybark’s envisioned it to be:

“Great Food, Great Service and Great Value.”

And that’s exactly what my experience was and what you’ll get around the clock whenever you eat at NORMS.

Kimera belongs to the Dining as Art Collection® restaurant series, owned and run by the Ghoukassian family. Kimera is a chic restaurant and lounge with a flair for simple, clever cuisine.

A good friend of mine invited me to the celebratory semi-private tasting event on a week-day evening in October to commemorate Kimera’s new bill of fare. Kimera’s new menu offers fabulous drinks and bites at affordable prices.

The celebration was a can’t-miss event. Excited guests filled the restaurant. Smiling waiters and waitresses greeted attendees at the door and offered fresh drinks and hot samples from the new menu.

The bar poured red wine, sparkling white wine, and mixed drinks for guests. Waiters cheerfully assisted attendees at the buffet style food arrangement designed exclusively for the event. The plates and beverages were delectably exquisite.

I sampled the margarita pizza, corn hush puppies, and mac “n” cheese. I am a long-time fan of Kimera’s margarita pizza with its warm crust, sweet tomatoes, fresh cheese, and basil. I was particularly smitten by the new gourmet mac “n” cheese with zesty peppers and rich white cheese sauce. The Meyer’s all natural beef and short rib “sloppy joe” sliders were a huge hit. I saw guests appear for thirds and fourths at the slider section.

Beyond the food, Kimera is well-known for its fresh style and design. The general layout of the venue is alluring, modern, and trendy. Kimera’s djs mirror the restaurant’s panache with exhilarating mixes of current and retro pop tunes.

Kimera’s revamped menu is delicious and affordable. The celebratory tasting event was exquisite and exciting. Guests stayed late into the week-day night enjoying the richness and ambiance of the occasion.

Siblings Karyn and Marc Ghoukassian hosted an outstanding event. Kimera’s reputation for excellent food, superb drinks, and exceptional evenings lives on.

Sarah is the author of brokeintheOC. Special thanks to Josh Ruddick.

Serving the world’s finest fish and the best clam chowder was the goal and every other person in OC seems to have fond memories of being here to enjoy it.

It’s has an easy, picnic like atmosphere, where t-shirts and shorts are fine. Its restaurant and fish market do brisk business offering fresh fish, shelled fish, smoked fish, chowder and sauces.

You may find yourself waiting in line for a seat, parking curbside, and filling the meter, under the watchful eye of the Newport meter maids; but it all turns out to be worth it as you you savor your dinner.

Typical comments: “I have been coming here since my family took me when I was three years old. The seafood is delicious, always fresh, and the 3 sides (slaw, tomatoes or mashed potatoes, are just right.”

Or, “Now this is what seafood is all about! Fresh, tasty and a fair price.   Tuna appetizers, lobster, scallops, all to die for. Their service is great, and its setting is amazing.  I’m getting hungry thinking about this place. I hit the place before 4:00pm and save some money as its lunch pricing is a really good deal.  I’ve been eating here since 1971. This is the real thing–maintained for decades.  Be sure to pick up some saltwater taffy on the way out.”

In the Owner’s own words, here’s how it all began..

How did it all get started? Ever since I was a little boy, I have loved the Sea and loved to fish. As a young man when I returned home from World War 2 I worked as a journeyman carpenter by day, composed music and played the piano by night. One day while working I made a goal to spend the rest of my life working with what I loved, ‘FISH’. So after much scrimping and saving I finally made it into the seafood business in 1951.

The original name of our restaurant was Seafood Varieties and in front of the restaurant we had large lobster and crab cookers. It took about three years for me to realize that nobody knew us by our business name, instead they referred to us as the place with the big Crab Cookers. Essentially our customers named the restaurant, and I was happy to change the name for them. Time has facilitated many changes with our building, refrigeration techniques etc., but the one thing that has not changed or will not change, is our persistent dedication to constantly provide you, our customers, the worlds finest seafood. It may sound corny, but the truth of the matter is that in 1951, I fell in love with the fish business and our customers and I have been on a honeymoon ever since.The original name of our restaurant was Seafood Varieties and in front of the restaurant we had large lobster and crab cookers.

It took about three years for me to realize that nobody knew us by our business name, instead they referred to us as the place with the big Crab Cookers. Essentially our customers named the restaurant, and I was happy to change the name for them. Time has facilitated many changes with our building, refrigeration techniques etc., but the one thing that has not changed or will not change is our persistent dedication to constantly provide you, our customers, the worlds finest seafood. It may sound corny, but the truth of the matter is, in 1951, I fell in love with the fish business and our customers and I have been on a honeymoon ever since.

Bob Roubian, Proprietor

The Crab Cooker

Hours: Sunday thru Thursday, Fish Market, 10:00am – 9:00pm; Restaurant 11:00am – 9:00pm

Friday and Saturday, Fish Market 10:00am – 10:00pm; Restaurant 11:00am – 10:00pm

Two Locations: Original, 2200 Newport Blvd., Newport – 17260 E.17th, Tustin.

Luckily, the Main Street Wine Cellar on Main street in Seal Beach is a great place to start (over and over again). It’s an unpretentious, fun place to sample different wines from California. So I ventured there on Saturday afternoon to try my luck with their vino.

The bar itself is very open, spacious and filled with natural light. There’s great window views of Main Street, which is very quaint and old fashioned. All the windows slide open to get plenty of ocean air, with mirrors on the back wall to reflect the natural light.

There’s a short wine bar in the back, and a long table in the middle for groups of all sizes, with tables for small groups around the edges. 

Because the street is so visible, it’s a great place to people watch (lots of dog walkers and bicyclists). Also it feels intimate at the same time. I parked in the lot located right next to the bar, and just walked right in.

It was only about 1/3 full that afternoon, but everyone present stayed for a long time: the evidence was the numerous wine glasses on each table. I was also proof, we chilled out for a long time, lazing the Saturday afternoon away.

The wine menu changes every 3 weeks, and I recommend getting a flight (wine tasting lingo for lots of smaller glasses of wine) so you can try out as many as possible without impairing your judgment. I might as well just elaborate now, you can get flights of other things here; cheese, meat, truffles–so I guess the lesson I learned for my first wine bar trip was that less is more, eat and drink slowly and try many different things.

I tried the "Cali Coast" Pinot Noir flight, which I definitely enjoyed. Let your server help you, or at least follow their recommendations on what to drink and order, etc. I’m definitely more of a wine enjoyer than a wine connoisseur, but I was surprised that the wine list wasn’t more extensive.

In a way it made it easier for me, I wasn’t overwhelmed with choices, but I can imagine someone with more knowledge or more bravado than me feeling the pinch of a smaller selection, although with the rotation you can try something new every time.

Wednesday is Flight Night, so you can get 2 for 1 flights all night (flights are $15-$20 each and include three 3 oz glasses of your choice to try), and Friday is host to an extended happy hour (12-6pm, if you’re free all day). I hear that on weekend nights, it probably best to phone in advance for a reservation, or you might find yourself waiting longer than you’d like to.

The Saturday afternoon I was there, they were serving $5 mango mimosas (I didn’t sample them, but they sound like a good enough reason to return). Also, if someone in your group is not an oenophile, there is beer to enjoy as well.

My advice is to come early, try something new (definitely try a flight, to get the maximum amount of new wine varieties), and order the truffle popcorn, or something else delectable from their menu.

The event will host 50 food trucks, live entertainment, shopping and more at the Honda Center, in Anaheim on Saturday, August 28^th. They’ll also be hosting a child’s play and learn area–so bring the whole family to enjoy the festivities!

The festivities at OC Foodie Fest will also help the following charities: Child S.H.A.R.E., Pretend City Children’s Museum, and St. Vincent’s Meals on Wheels.

The OC Foodie Fest seeks to celebrate food truck cuisine, the rich community of Orange County, and their local charities. It will have a diverse array of delicacies with different and unique flavors from all over the world. Every food lover in attendance is sure to find the event a true epicurean delight.

I was lucky enough to interview James Foxall, owner of the fusion food truck “Taco Dawg,” and founding OC Foodie Fest Partner.

This remarkable entrepreneur and food connoisseur gives Travelin’ Local the inside scoop on the event he has worked so enthusiastically to make happen and what to expect for the event:

Congratulations on OC Foodie Fest’s first year! What aspect of the OCFF are you most proud of?

James Foxall: We have an amazing staff making this entire event possible. From the Event Producer Virginia Strickland, to our public relations manager, social media manager, designer, interns, 20 area managers, and 100 volunteers, the team has accomplished so much in a very short amount of time. I am simply amazed by their creativity, tenacity, diligence and I am extremely grateful to work with this group.

How did you get involved in OC Foodie Fest?

JF: My company (Taco Dawg) had been kicking the idea around since the beginning of the year. Virginia, a regular Taco Dawg patron, mentioned the need for a festival to promote Orange County trucks, so we shared our visions and the rest is history.

Have you collaborated on an event with OC Foodies in the past?

JF: No, this is our first time working together. It was a natural connection for our groups to work together to support the common interest of the Orange County food scene.

The event has so much going on! How long did the planning process take?

JF: We designed the event to have something for everyone, ensuring that the event will focus on all the amazing gourmet food trucks, while providing a festival environment with entertainment and shopping. The planning involved a lot of initial research to develop the perfect event structure. All of the detailed components fell into place over a course of six months.

OCFF will help out three charities: Child S.H.A.R.E., Pretend City Children’s Museum, and St. Vincent’s Meals on Wheels. How were these benefiting non-profits selected?

JF: These are a few of the charities that we have worked with in the past. Giving back has always been a big part of my & Virginia’s life philosophies. The biggest personal payoff for us is knowing that at the end of the day everybody’s time, food and money will be going to some really great causes.

How did the OCFF committee determine which 50 trucks would be a part of the event?

JF: We reached out to all the local OC trucks, as well as those from the surrounding areas. We chose an equation of trucks that would best represent the variety of gourmet food truck cuisines and cooking styles that are currently being served in Southern California.

OCFF has a fantastic entertainment line up! Could you tell me a little more about the outstanding talent groups performing at OCFF?

JF: Although I haven’t personally met all of the groups, out knowledgeable staff extremely tapped into the local music and dance scenes. Our public relations manager and music manager, Ashley Eliot, has done a tremendous job creating the live music line-up in conjunct with the OC local online music magazine, Everyday Noise. Our event partners, Pacific Rim, have very strong relationships within the local dance community and helped make our amazing line-up possible. I’m already a personal fan of all these groups and will probably be the guy asking everyone to take a picture with me.

What three food trucks are you most looking forward to sampling from at OCFF?

JF: Besides Taco Dawg? Gosh, it’s so hard to choose since there are so many tempting options. The beauty of the festival is that I don’t have to choose one when I can have them all.

How would you best sum up the appeal of food truck fusion food?

JF: It’s just a reflection of what’s going on within the American people. Young people in particular, are starting to change the way they live. People are more conscious of what they put into their bodies and more aware of how much they spend. The gourmet food truck movement allows everyone to eat high caliber food without having to go into credit card debt to support it.

Does Taco Dawg have any celebrity customers?

JF: We’ve had our run-ins, but to me the real celebrities are the regular customers who find us on twitter and follow us in all kinds of weather, in all kinds of places. I get a kick out of seeing a familiar face when I’m at an event somewhere near his or her home or job. It lets me know we’re doing something right.

You have a surprising array of career experience in such areas as the armed forces, politics, public relations, sales, and non-profits. What motivated y into owning your own food truck business enough to get it all started?

JF: Yeah, I’ve kind of always been a jack-of-all-trades. This food truck idea is one that I’ve been kicking around for years. When I saw Kogi was having a good deal of success and the number of trucks that were sprouting from it, I knew now was the time.

When did Taco Dawg first open its windows?

JF: Halloween 2009…and yes I saved the twenty from my first sale.

How did you get the astonishingly delicious idea to combine tacos with hot dogs?

JF: Well anybody who knows me knows I can’t go more than a couple days without one of these two tasty treats. The inspiration for the name, which also influenced the whole concept, was my former roommate’s dog, “Shadow.” The dog had a proclivity to eat my tacos and one day I heard my then roommate yelling “Get away from that Taco, Dog!” And it was my light bulb moment.

What is your favorite item on the Taco Dawg menu?

JF: I would say The Beach Comber is my favorite taco and The Cowboy Dawg is my favorite dog. Off the menu, I would say is the Taco Papa. That’s our deep fried taco split open and stuffed with choice of toppings.

What is Taco Dawg’s most popular dish?

JF: The Cowboy Dawg hands down.

Can you tell me what items will be on Taco Dawg’s OCFF menu?

JF: The Cowboy & The Beach Comber for sure, along with our Seoul Man, Chili Dawg fried mac & cheese and nachos. There may also be an exclusive menu item just for the event.

Thank you for this fantastic interview! Where will you be at the event so we can meet you? 

JF: I will be everywhere… just follow me on twitter @thetacodawg

“Stay hungry!” Sarah is the author of brokeintheOC blogspot.

Photos courtesy of Meg Strouse, OC Foodie Fest, Great Balls On Tires, and bakerytruck

The restaurant changed owners in 1973 and in 1985, along with a new partner, the “Steer n’ Stein” transformed into The Hungry Bear Restaurant as we know today. While still maintaining its local customers for almost a decade under the original name, the restaurant gained even more popularity as the town of Fullerton grew. Over the last few decades, generations of patrons continue to bring their families to dine at the establishment.

You are welcomed immediately by one of many friendly hosts upon entering the restaurant. The actual size of the Hungry Bear is about half the size of regular restaurants which provides a more "at home" atmosphere.

Once inside, you’ll find yourself surrounded with painted portraits of grizzly bears, various stuffed teddy bears, the iconic stuffed "Hungry Bear", and a decorated interior that makes you feel like you’re dining in a cozy log cabin. It’s one big dining room complete with a quaint fire place that comprises the entire restaurant.

Hidden between a sandwich – yogurt shop and a dry cleaners, you’d never know that there would be this type of quality steak house in this local shopping center. The only clue that’s obvious, is the smell of great steaks being cooked wafting across the parking lot. Now let’s forget about what the restaurant looks like and its location, let’s talk about Hungry Bear’s food.

If you desire an appetizer, I highly recommend their legendary fried clams. Available in full or half-orders, Hungry Bear’s golden fried clams are absolutely to die for. Garnished with a side of lemony cocktail sauce, it is hard to stop dipping and eating them. Note – Proceed with caution – don’t spoil your dinner getting filled up on their appetizers!  It’s just like being served fresh tortilla chips and salsa before a Mexican dinner. Be careful. Along with the clams, the Sauteed Mushrooms and fried zucchini are some other mouthwatering options. But above all, the Hungry Bear has the reputation for having one of the best cuts of steak in Orange County.

Each Hungry Bear steak is cooked to your liking and available in many different cuts. Personally, I never stray from the Stockyard Steak which is a generous adult cut priced at $14.45. It’s accompanied by a choice of one side, fresh garlic bread, and a soup or salad. If the Stockyard is too hefty, there’s also the classic "specialty steak" served with the same sides for $12.45.

They also serve delicious bacon-wrapped filets, rib eye steaks, and other cuts of meat and its iterations are available from the Hungry Bear menu.

Most other steakhouses, such as the Outback Steakhouse chains, are easily five or six dollars more a plate making The Hungry Bear economically sound as well as delicious. For the kids, it’s one of few places that children can have a kid’s meal with adult items like fried shrimp, baby back ribs or steak.

To compliment your meal, nicely priced homemade desserts are also served. Homemade peach, blueberry cobbler, parisienne truffles, and Mississippi mud pie are all delicious options if you have room.

Ultimately, you and your family can have a generously proportioned steakhouse meal at a moderate price. Take it from this steak lover, you won’t be sorry. The Hungry Bear restaurant has withstood the test of time and will always be one of O.C.’s favorite restaurant/steakhouses.

Over forty-years later, The Hungry Bear continues to serve up their classic steaks to a new generation of families as well as their familiar ones. The restaurant prides itself on having “the same great tasting menu that’s been servicing the Fullerton area for forty years.”

In 2009, they expanded their menu to include breakfast. With that particular area of North Fullerton expanding in the last decade, due in no doubt to the St. Jude Hospital expansion, the Hungry Bear not only attracts regulars and locals, but now attracts a lot of business customers as well.

All-in-all, The Hungry Bear is one of the premiere steakhouses in Orange County and there is only one location.

In 2008, it was awarded the title of "Best Vegetarian Restaurant" in the O.C. Register’s "The Best Of Orange County" issue. It has always been known as, and still is, a health conscious restaurant with huge portioned individual salads, homemade soups, fresh pastas, and a variety of imported beer and wine.

Upon entering the restaurant, you’re invited to seat yourself in any table available in about four different dining rooms. There’s a big selection of fine wines with everything from Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio, to Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay. As for beer, there’s also a great selection of standard imports. Their service is excellent, along with their energetic young staff, it’s obvious that people of all ages enjoy their meals here.

Rutabegorz pride themselves in their vegetarian dishes, but they also offer white breast of chicken, turkey, tuna, and an assortment of other lean deli meats, as well as rich pasta dishes.

My personal favorite is the Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad. It’s served to you in a bowl that’s a little over a foot in diameter and four inches deep with generous portions of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, tortilla chips, and pepitas. The salad is completed with two pieces of perfectly golden brown Italian cheese bread laid on top. Most salads will run between nine and eleven dollars and you’ll definitely get your money’s worth–not to mention your stomach’s works.

When you exit the restaurant, you’re greeted by the pleasantness of downtown Fullerton and may end up taking a walk with your loved one around town, or maybe even a walk over to the Fullerton Museum, which is right next door.

Rutabegorz is the perfect spot for a healthy quick lunch on break or a nice dinner out with a significant other. This is one of Fullerton’s most well-known and reputable restaurants with its nice, friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

For sure, besides the original Fullerton location, Rutebegorz has expanded over the years to have two restaurants in Orange, and one in Tustin.

Rutabegorz Restaurant
211 North Pomona
Fullerton, CA 92832

Hours
Monday-Thursday: 11:00am-9:00pm
Friday-Saturday: 11:00am-10:oopm
Closed Sundays

Located at 1667 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles, it looks like a normal restaurant, serving sandwiches, salads, and soups. But, upon further investigation, The Village Kitchen isn’t just a restaurant.

It’s “Food that Warms Lives”

The Village Kitchen is part of a much larger organization dedicated to providing, “with dignity and love, a continuum of care from homelessness to self-sufficiency for women and their children.”

For 25 years, the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children has provided basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, plus supportive services for homeless women and children. Through programs such as mobile outreach to transitional shelter to long-term housing for mothers with disabilities, The Good Shepherd Center offers women a chance to restart their lives.

Included in the Good Shepherd Center is the Languille Drop-In Center, which provides basic services for nearly 400 women per year to the Lanquille Emergency Shelter, which provides a temporary home for up to 30 women who are taking their first courageous steps toward a more stable and productive life toward the Women’s Village, which includes three stages of transitional housing. The Good Shepherd Center assists women and their children every step of the way.

How does The Village Kitchen fit into this scenario?

It’s an actual working example of what can be done when women are transitioning from homeless to independence.

All the “employees” of The Village Kitchen are residents of the Good Shepherd Center, working their way back into a normal and independent life. In addition, all the proceeds from The Village Kitchen go back into the Good Shepherd Center.

As far as the food they serve simply put, it’s delicious:

I ordered a soup and salad combo; the Vegetable Lentil Soup, which included a piece of French Baguette, plus the Cobb Salad pictured above. Now, I know this salad looks delicious, but it looked much better than the above photo, because as soon as it arrived at my table, it looked so good, with the spring mix bordered by avocado, hard boiled egg, bits of real bacon, tomatoes, and topped with blue cheese and chicken, I started eating it and forgot to take the photo before I mixed it about.

A friend of mine with a bit larger appetite ordered the ⅓lb. cheeseburger with fries:

When we left my friend’s plate was empty, but I took a doggie bag for both the unfinished Vegetable Lentil soup and a small container of their homemade Ranch dressing.

One other item to be considered when you go to The Village Kitchen is their baked items.

You see all of those cookies, cupcakes, cheesecake, and pound cake above tastes even better than they look. Trust me on this one–the red velvet cupcake I had later that evening was melt in your mouth delicious.

If you don’t have time to sit and eat, the people at The Village Kitchen will be more than happy to take your orders to go over the phone and have them ready for you to pick up. This happened several times while I was there. So, just give them a call: 213-235-2284, and tell them Travelin’ Local recommended them.

Because I live so close to Little Saigon, I’m able to get whatever food I want pretty much whenever I want it. For example, this past weekend I had a hankering for dim sum and there was no shortage of options to choose from. Luckily I knew exactly where I wanted to eat, at Seafood Cove #2, a reliably tasty restaurant that offers dim sum in the morning.

Most likely, you’ve heard of or know what dim sum is. It’s widely popular and affordable all over the LA and Orange County areas, so forgive this brief definition if you’re already savvy.

Dim sum, or yum cha as it’s sometimes known, consists of sitting at a table while servers push carts of food around.  When you see something particularly yummy, you can order–or point—at the dish, which can be a plate of food, or small individual portions.  This food is intended to be shared with your party, but I say intended because if you’re fast enough with your chopsticks you can eat a whole plate before anyone even notices when it arrives. To be expected, it’s served with hot, refreshing tea. 

When my craving for steamed barbecue pork buns (Banh Bao Sa Siu) gets out of control, I often times head over to the aforementioned Seafood Cove #2 (or as it used to be called “Dragon Phoenix") on Bolsa Street in Westminster. They open at 8:30 every day, but I usually come in sometime between 10 and noon on a Sunday.  They don’t take reservations, so I know I’ll have to wait, but usually if the party is less than 8 people, the wait isn’t bad at all—this past Sunday, it took approximately 20 minutes to get a table for four, right next to the window.

There is constant foot traffic in Seafood Cove, so I keep to my seat to avoid collision with carts full of rice noodles, chicken feet and boba drinks.  The cool thing about dim sum is the action comes to you, and Seafood Cove is certainly quick about getting their food to your table (they get an A + in service from me, it was like all I had to do was think of something and it materialized in front of me).  They bring you the food, and you decide what you want, and then they stamp your card to total your bill.

Speaking of the bill, it’s certainly a pleasant surprise when I’ve eaten my fill and then some and the bill doesn’t reflect it at all.

A downside about the restaurant is that their parking sucks. Knowing that ahead of time doesn’t make it easier.  But a little patience goes a long way here.  And if you really can’t find a spot, park across the street at the Asian Garden Mall (their website proclaims that they’re “the largest majority Vietnamese owned and operated mall in America"), which is a great place to walk off the meal you’ve just eaten. If you have the time, check out the local neighborhood for bakeries, sandwich places, grocery stores, and tons of other unique shops that aren’t food related.

Here are my recommendations for weathered vets of dim sum and newcomers alike at Seafood Cove #2–try something new every time, keep an open mind, and definitely don’t forget dessert. I always like getting an iced coffee on my way out to soothe my taste buds during my drive home. 

Seafood Cove

9211 Bolsa Avenue Westminster, CA 92683-5568
(714) 893-3682

After a few minutes, I discovered a cute little Thai place. If you’re in the mood for some Thai food, or rather a lot of Thai food, then consider heading over to Quickie Thai – The Best Thai BBQ since 1992.

But before I talk about the food, I wanted to mention their seating. Because it was the beautiful first day of this year’s summer, my place of choice was to eat on their patio.

In case you can’t tell from the photo, it’s current under construction, hence the tipped over chair in the back. However, they did have two nice tables that are available, plus, the entire inside to sit in to enjoy their delicious food, which is also cozy and comfy.

After perusing Quickie Thai’s menu, I thought I’d give the Lunch Special a try:

I chose this dish—it had one stick of BBQ Chicken, another of BBQ Beef, two egg rolls, and noodles. The soulful location and lunch was a perfect way for us to satiate our hunger and chill.

A friend of mine who was with me, ordered the same thing except with rice. We both shared the beef and chicken. The Lunch Special normally comes with either chicken or beef.

After we finished eating, we sat back for a few minutes relaxing in the shade of the umbrella and were enjoying the Thai BBQ smell in the air. Our waitress, a very friendly person, brought our check, which was extremely reasonable, and we said our good-byes.

So if you’re in the mood for Thai and happen to be in the Silver Lake area, be sure to check out Quickie Thai, located at 2920 West Temple.

I checked out the pictures on the pub’s wall–some were of family, some of patrons, lots with a smiling George in them during lulls in conversation and action in the game.

The deco at K.C. Branaghan is standard Irish pub, with low ceilings, and all the servers were friendly. The walls touted the upcoming events, for instance, Tuesday night is pint night, and whatever beer you order comes with a signature glass that you get to keep (as in, take home with you to impress your friends), and all refills in theses aforementioned glass are $1 off.

George Sabbagh is the Publican of K.C. Branaghan’s, which is located on 2nd Street in the Long Beach community of Naples. KC Branaghan’s is an Irish pub with a full kitchen and a big menu with breakfast (including a traditional Irish breakfast), lunch and dinner.  On Saturdays and Sundays they offer "bottomless mimosas" and not bottomless but great Bloody Mary’s. There’s a good chance you’ll see George as he pours your drinks and stops to chat with you for a moment.

It so happens that my first trip to K.C. Branaghan’s was during the world cup (Germany vs. Australia), but there wasn’t an overbearing amount of people in to watch the game (although there were some great screens to watch it on). There was a fair amount of people in on Sunday for dining and bottomless mimosas, and an equal amount of game watchers settled in at the bar with a pint (20oz Imperial pints, 15 different brews).

The food includes traditional Irish Fayre and boxty dishes, as well as burgers, sandwiches, ribs and steak.  My french fries came scattered over a paprika sprinkled plate making for quite a nice presentation and a tasty seasoning to rub on. I had George’s favorite BTLA (delish) and fries.

Unfortunately, I forgot to flip the menu over, otherwise I would have ordered breakfast, which includes a traditional Irish breakfast.  But I figure it gives me a reason to come back.

If you find that you’re a little tipsy after one too many mimosas, then you’re in the perfect place to take an afternoon walk: check out the coastal community of Naples in Long Beach, by walking up to the canals and seeing kayakers make their way through.

The houses in the neighborhood all have private docks, and the views can be impressive, humorous, or both. Look for Captain Morgan, an alligator, and other spectacles on the boats as you’re walking by. Maybe even a friendly sheep dog in a yard will give you a moment’s attention as you meander by, and if it’s evening already, 2nd street offers multiple shops and bars with which to entertain yourself.

Definitely an enjoyable way to spend the day.

Baby Blues BBQ doesn’t take reservations, and the wait can be long if you show up at night. Maybe 30 minutes, or more.  However, I hear the lunch hour is not too bad. Be patient, come prepared to wait; I’ve always seen people waiting out front when I drive by, which is usually the mark of a worthy restaurant. They opened in 2004, and I reason that if a restaurant can keep ‘em coming back and waiting on Lincoln for years, it should at least be worth one try. Parking can be tough: but you can park in the Fox parking lot across the street which will save you time and energy of cruising around and looking for street parking.

Even after you’ve gotten a table, you’ll still have to wait, but good food should take awhile, and the decor of the place offers enough to entertain. According to the menu, the fastest thing you can get is the beef brisket or the pulled pork sandwich, which took about 20 minutes to show up when I ordered it last Saturday. It was delicious, and I was eating before the people at the next table over had finished dissecting their ribs (I was eyeing them when we first sat down at our little table, complete with what appeared to be a church pew reupholstered).

The vibe is good, the music is loud, and the beer is in cans.  The service has always been outstanding, which might have to do with the fact that the servers are trying to keep the ravenous masses under wraps while waiting for their ribs. Water and sodas are tended to so well they’ll never get half empty, and the roll of paper towels on every table is indicative of the mess that’s about to happen to your face.

One of the best parts of the BBQ isn’t just the dry rub (that’s slow cooked for hours), it’s the sauce. On every table there’s 4 different kinds of home made sauce, that vary in degrees of spiciness and sweetness. I recommend not committing to just one until you’ve tried them all. And the brisket is a great way to test them out.

So what type of BBQ is it? Well, the sauce is described as inspired from the west side of North Carolina, while the ribs are Memphis-style, dry-rubbed baby back, or Texas-style beef ribs. The menu is pretty big, but obviously it’s not a place for vegetarians to graze at, however there are meatless sides to enjoy. That mashed potatoes are pretty standard, but the mac n cheese is definitely something to try, along with the blues on the cob and coleslaw, etc.

It’s not uncommon to see large groups show up, and that’s because it’s such an easy way to feed a lot of people (and it offers a good chance to try a little bit of everything on the menu). "The Feed Bags" on the menu offer possibilities for 6-8 people ("The Teaser"), 10-13 people ("The Beggers’ Banquet") and 15-20 people ("The Extravaganza"). Although I haven’t personally partaken in these large feasts, I always stare jealously when large plates of BBQ are placed on tables that seem to bow under the weight.

If you don’t feel like waiting, you can order take out, and they also deliver (free to many parts of the west side), although I recommend just dealing with the wait to get the whole experience. Listening to Lynard Skynard while wiping sweet bbq sauce off my face feels so right sometimes. Although I must digress, I think anyone who eats at Baby Blues BBQ too often would have little chance to be as svelte as their cartoon poster girl. I know after I finished my pulled pork sandwich I needed a change of clothes, a face wash, and a nap.

Sadly, I fell into the category of people who knew about the world famous Pink’s, but had never been there, and worse, I found out that my dad, who grew up in the Valley, had never even heard of Pink’s.

That being said, on a recent lazy Sunday, my parents and I packed up the car with the Sunday Times, and headed out to Hollywood for some dogs.

Parking is limited (there’s a parking lot attendant for a tiny lot at Pink’s, but it was full), so we found street parking and got in line, which was wrapped behind Pink’s, all the way to its restrooms.  The line stayed approximately the same length the entire time we waited. During our wait, a constant stream of people would get served, and more and more people would show up,  so during the wait, we read the paper, and debated what dog to order from the menu.

As time dragged on, we changed our order at least 3 times, switching back and forth, and finally starting asking the opinions of those around us:

"Have you ever had a Martha Stewart dog?" and "What are your top picks?" Pink’s has expanded far from the original chili dog (with the famous Pink’s secret chili recipe), to hot dogs with a myriad of toppings, hamburgers, sides, and deserts. Many of the hot dogs are named after the celebrities who ordered them special, like the Ozzy Spicy Dog (A spicy Polish dog, Nacho Cheese, American Cheese, grilled onions, guacamole and chopped tomatoes) or the Martha Stewart dog (10" stretch dog, relish, onions, bacon, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut and sour cream…although I can’t picture Ms. Stewart eating this).

After some time, camaraderie also began with the other troopers waiting in line so long for their hot dogs.  The man in front of us worked on La Brea, and had been waiting since the line was shorter. Finally, he realized there was no time of the day when the line is shorter, so he took his son for their first Pink’s. The women in front of him were “out of towner’s,” ticking off major Los Angeles landmarks on their to-do and go list–and Pink’s was one of them.  They took to waving at cars that drove by inspecting the line.

All in all, we stood in line for about 45 minutes.  The real pressure, however, came when we reached the front counter to place our order, and that’s when we began to see other people’s dog orders.  I didn’t know what I was going to order until it popped out of my mouth to the attendant, which happened to be a Coleslaw dog; while my dad went with a spicy Polish dog, and my mom had a Guadalajara dog–which contains relish, onions and tomatoes with a topping of sour cream. We finished it up with 2 orders of onion rings, and an order of fries, and some old time Dr. Brown’s colas, all for a little over $20. 

Sitting out back under Pink’s umbrella shaded tables, we enjoyed our first bite of Pink’s hot dogs, and the Hoffy’s all beef dogs in their natural encasing snap back, which is a novelty in of itself. I couldn’t finish the entire dog, as it was quite large, but no one else seemed to be having the same problem, although I did manage to finish all of my onion rings.

The prices listed on the menu include tax, and Pink’s is cash only. Check out all the framed and autographed pictures of celebrities as stated earlier. Bottom line, to enjoy the Pink’s experience, prepare to stand in line, but it’s part of the fun and the wait builds an excitement that can only be cured by a world famous hot dog. Perfect for a mid day meal, or a late night post bar munchies stop, Pink’s is open from 9:30 am to 2am every day. On Friday’s and Saturday’s, it’s open until 3am.

Los Angeles is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year, but Pink’s recently celebrated their 70th last year, so enjoy a nostalgic piece of LA and Hollywood history, served on a bun with a crisp snap; it’s one of the oldest (and tasty) icons of Tinseltown and Los Angeles combined.  Now, I and my family get to finally claim “bragging rights” that we’re now a part of a huge number of people who can proudly say that their favorite dogs and future culinary adventures lies in the land of Pink’s creations.

]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/pinks-the-best-hot-dog-stand-in-los-angeles/feed/ 3 http://www.travelinlocal.com/hearty-deli-not-your-mom%e2%80%99s-comfort-food/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/hearty-deli-not-your-mom%e2%80%99s-comfort-food/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:45:17 +0000 Lisa Newton http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=7582

As a fan of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives hosted by Guy Fieri, on the Food Network—sometimes he finds, like I did, a hole-in-the wall and cool little neighborhood joint, that serves mouth-watering and sanguine comfort food in the form of hamburgers, hash browns and breakfast burritos, and much more.

Located in the busy art, business, civic, and residential neighborhood around West Los Angeles, a place that serves the kind of comfort food that you wish your mother did—is called Hearty Deli. As the name implies, its food is both hearty, deli-like and made from scratch; and its fresh and in-your-face authentic.

With a menu that includes Breakfast Burritos, Teriyaki Rice Plates, Reuben’s, Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, and many other food choices–it’s a dive that uses all fresh ingredients to feed your inner-need for both comfort and good eats.

This morning I was ravenous having had a long but rewarding evening meeting with clients. So what’s the solution for that I kept wondering after I had my morning coffee? A quick jaunt over to Hearty Deli to have their famous Breakfast Burrito—fresh eggs, cheese, ham, onion, spices, and green peppers all wrapped in a warm tortilla. Add a little hot sauce, and it’s the perfect breakfast.

Yes, the Breakfast Burrito above, looks as good as it tasted. Needless to say I don’t need to say anything more. The adage that a picture tells a thousand tales, definitely applied in this situation.

So, if you find yourself in West LA for breakfast or lunch, stop by. Oh, did I fail to mention that the prices are extremely reasonable? Here’s the address and phone number, but beware—Hearty Deli’s food is highly addictive:

Hearty Deli
1618 Corinth Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 479-8616

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