Fred's Downhome Burgers - Los Angeles, CA

Having recently been to Mom’s Burgers down in Compton and having such a positive experience, I  was craving another delicious “hood” burger.  A quick look into my Yelp bookmarks led me to decide on Fred’s Downhome Burgers located in the Park Mesa Heights district of Los Angeles.  After a trip down La Brea and a left on Slauson, I soon found myself at Fred’s.  Hopping out of the car, I was met with an unassuming little building housing the burger shack.  The short line of people that were ahead of me went quickly, but the wait for the burger took about 15-20 minutes.

After a brief look at the menu, I decided to go with the Royal Burger, a monstrous meat-eaters paradise.  The mega-burger only clocked in at $8.25, yet packed two eight-ounce patties, fried egg, bacon, chili, pastrami and cheese all under its colossal buns.  The service was great and when my burger did finally arrive, it was so big that it was popping the box open.  One bite in and I immediately knew that I made a great decision coming here.  The meat packed so much flavor and had just enough juice.  Every component complemented each other perfectly, with each adding a unique element to the burger.  The bacon brought a little crunch, while the not-too-sloppy chili brought some extra juice.  The pastrami packed some flavor into the mixture and the fried egg was the perfect item to combat all the meatiness.  Also, for the size this burger held together great.

If you are one who is fearful of a neighborhood that might be considered unsafe though, I would not recommend Fred’s.  Personally, I love getting a feel for all kinds of areas and never felt in danger myself, but the neighborhood definitely had a pulse, between the borderline domestic dispute taking place on an apartment balcony across the street and the guys hustling bootleg DVD’s and perfumes.

As a Los Angeles burger connoisseur, I would put Fred’s in my list of top burgers in the city.  The trip between the freeways is well worth the trip and one that you will not regret.  Simply put, a burger this big and this good should not be this price.  (But I am sure glad it is!)

Price: 10

Food: 9.5

Atmosphere: 3

Overall: 9.5

Rok Sushi - Hermosa Beach, CA

Rok Sushi sits on the corner of Pier Avenue and Hermosa Avenue.  The spacious restaurant offers a trendy, modern atmosphere.  An expansive menu features numerous specialty rolls, many featuring avocado, some classic sushi offerings, pasta, appetizers and soups.  Even if not a sushi fan, there should be a little something for everyone at Rok Sushi.

I ordered the Surf & Turf Roll, a specialty roll with marinated steak, crab meat, and citrus wasabi.  The roll came with about 14 pieces, a sizable portion so keep that in mind when noticing the higher prices attached to the specialty rolls.  Although it was a unique concept and I normally love steak, I was not crazy about the roll being warm, so I think I will stick to sushi itself in the future.  Also, the citrus wasabi was not quite what I was expecting.  I also ordered the octopus sushi, my favorite, which was very fresh and tasty.  My parents got the yellowtail cut roll, tuna cut roll, and yellowtail hand roll.  They each liked the yellowtail hand roll best.  After a tip for our outgoing sushi chef, he gave us a beautifully designed and extremely fresh fruit plate with oranges, bananas, pineapple and strawberries all glazed in chocolate.

Rok Sushi offers a great happy hour Monday through Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30, as well as Sunday night after 9.  I would generally suggest only trying to go during these times, especially given the plethora of options in Hermosa Beach.  However, for the ambiance and pretty good food, I would recommend Rok Sushi.

Atmosphere: 10

Food: 7

Price: 4.5

Overall: 7

Hot's Kitchen - Hermosa Beach, CA

After a cold winter in Los Angeles, the weather finally broke, allowing for a weekend to be spent by the beach.  Heading down to Hermosa Beach with my parents, we decided to go to Hot’s Kitchen.  Being a frequent visitor, I had long heard good things about this controversial restaurant.  The controversy around Hot’s stems from the fact that, despite the foie gras ban they still serve the dish, getting around the ban by not charging for it, instead serving it as a free side with the THE Burger.  Hot’s menu consists primarily of burgers and tacos, with a variety of unique twists on each.  They also serve fries, wings and some other dishes.

Given that the burgers were small and each taco order came with just one, we got an assortment of different items.  However, the opinions of my family differed on many items.  I loved the Crispy Shrimp Taco, which had a nice cooling taste and a bit of a softer feel.  The Philly Taco had a nice cheese sauce and was a simple twist on the Philadelphia cheesesteak.  The Fat Burger was a bit messy as a result of the egg.    The burger was decent, but I preferred the tacos.  Also, I found the lettuce to detract from the overall taste.  Next up I tried the Original Shrimp Taco, which had a little bit of a lime salsa taste.  This one was well enjoyed by my parents, but I preferred the Crispy Shrimp myself.  Starting to get full, I made my final order, a Buffalo Taco and a Ken-ee Taco.  The Buffalo Taco came with a very big piece of uncut chicken slathered in buffalo sauce and with a cream topping it off.  I think that I would have preferred the chicken chopped up, but it was still pretty good and I was impressed with the amount of chicken in the taco.  The Ken-ee was my Dad’s favorite, with some chopped up onions, peppers and jalapenos, a spicy salsa and diced marinated steak.  While I didn’t hate this one, I wasn’t so enthused by it.  It did have a bit of kick, but tasted a little like a sloppy joe to me.

Although I liked some better than others, I walked away pretty impressed by Hot’s Kitchen overall.  The only thing I really did not find too appealing were the Lime Fries.  I look forward to returning so I can try some of the other tacos, including the Cubano, Chorizo, Ancho, BBQ, Korean, and Dirtybird).  They also have a great craft beer selection so if that is your cup of tea, head on down.

Atmosphere: 8

Food: 7

Price: 4

Overall: 7.5

Mom's Burgers - Compton, CA

As a self-proclaimed food adventurer, no trip is too inconvenient for me and when my mind is set, well there is no going back.  This particular trip involved a trip one weekend to Compton for a well-reviewed burger.  I went with my friend and fellow food adventurer, Brian.  Unfortunately, we were met with bitter disappointment when Mom’s Burgers was closed (despite being a Saturday afternoon when it should have been open).  Discouraged, we trekked down to Fronk’s Restaurant (review upcoming) instead, but vowed to return to Mom’s.

A few weeks passed and then came a perfect weekend to head down.  Once again, I met up with Brian and his roommate, this time at the Compton Swap Meet, where we walked around and I found a few pieces of clothing that I needed for a great price.  Heading over to Mom’s we were enthused to find it open this time.  There was no line so we stepped right up to the window and took the advice of the cashier, ordering the Chronic Burger, which comes topped with a fried egg.  The cashier was extremely friendly, eager to chat with us, hooking us up with a combo meal and offering us a free CD and some buttons of her friend, an aspiring rapper.  The burger arrived after roughly a ten to fifteen minute wait.  With a couple condiment modifications, my burger arrived ready to be dug into.  Despite high expectations for this burger, I was pleased to say that they were met.  The patty had an excellent flavor to it, juicy with a little pepper flavor.  Everything else came together nicely, a strong blend of egg, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mustard with a touch of hot sauce.  (One of us did think that the mustard was too strong though)  After scarfing down this well-sized burger, I was feeling pretty full, yet accomplished.

This was a burger well worth the trip and a fun little excursion to The Hub City, a part of town to which I do not typically make it.  I would rate Mom’s amongst my best burgers in LA, so if you live in the city, get down there and check it out.

Food: 9

Price: 10

Service: 10

Atmosphere: 5

Overall: 9

Quiznos - Chain

Ever since Subway utilized Jared as the face of their company, as well as their weight loss and healthy eating ad campaigns, Subway has been the dominant sandwich chain in the country.  They continued to pick up steam with the slogan that you can’t get out of your head: 5 Dollar Footlong.  These factors, among others, have allowed Subway to overtake McDonald’s as the most franchised fast food restaurant in the world.  Meanwhile, chief competitor Quiznos has struggled mightily in recent years.  I have always considered Quiznos to be better than Subway and recently made a trip to a near Quiznos for lunch.

One of the positives of Quiznos is their menu.  It offers a wider variety of options compared to Subway.  The options also offer a gourmet flair, with options such as the French Dip, Chicken Carbonara and more.  There is also a little less of a factory assembly feel.  Unfortunately, the commitment to quality has gone down a bit from about a decade ago.  The sandwiches feature a bit less meat and now occasionally do suffer from the factory assembly quality that is too resemblant of the Subway standard.

Before heading over, I went online and found a coupon for a free small sandwich with the purchase of another and a fountain drink.  For my first one, I got the Chicken Bacon Ranch, with the second being a Chicken Carbonara.  The bread was a bit thin, but everything in the sandwiches had a decent taste.  The creams worked well and while it could have used a little more meat, I still walked away with a higher opinion than the bland Subway offerings.

Food: 4.5

Price: 5.5

Overall: 4.5

In N' Out - Los Angeles, CA

As an East Coaster, everyone hears the legend of In N’ Out and is always eager to try it upon a visit to the West Coast.  Partly due to its limited expansion, as well as their fresh ingredients, In N’ Out has developed a cult following, with many devoted fans.  After years of having In N’ Out on vacations, I never quite saw the obsession, though it was always a decent burger.  However, about a year ago, one day the light finally went on.

What makes an In N’ Out burger so good is the way that all the elements blend together.  A double double wedges two patties and two slices of cheese in between a pair of lightly grilled buns.  Also in between these buns, there is lettuce, tomato, onions and their spread, somewhat similar to Thousand Island Dressing, but much better.  The toppings add a nice cooling sensation to the warm meat, and the ingredients are so fresh that it feels as though you can taste some water splash out of the lettuce with each bite.  Part of the reason that the ingredients are so fresh is that they are not frozen and each restaurant is located within a days drive of one of their regional distribution centers.  Additionally, all the potatoes are sliced into fries right in customer view.  The fries are unspectacular, a bit chewy and tasting much more like potatoes than at other fast food chains, but still a recommended addition for the price and to complete the meal.  If you do add on fries though, be sure to use a packet of salt.

As a family owned restaurant chain that moves slowly to expand in order to ensure quality control throughout all its locations, In N’ Out does what it can to do the right thing.  They treat their employees well, paying them well above industry standard, as well as offering benefits.  The prices also stay respectable, making it one of the few fast food chains that does not seem to be raising prices daily.  It may have taken a while, but I finally realized what I had been unable to realize was the magic behind In N’ Out and am I glad I did.

Price: 9

Food: 9

Overall: 9

The Oinkster - Pasadena, CA

As a frequent Yelp user, The Oinkster quickly found its way onto my list of places to try in Los Angeles due to its 2,000 reviews touting the Pastrami Sandwich and their burger.  This information was verified when my friend Brian raved about the Pastrami Sandwich as the best he ever had.  On a recent trip to Mammoth, we stopped at the Oinkster and so I was excited to give it a shot.

We arrived at 11 AM, just before they had opened, yet there was already a line.  Fortunately, the line moved fairly quickly and within about 15 minutes we were seated outside digging into our meal.  At the time, I was not in the mood so much for pastrami and with all my friends getting the Pastrami Sandwich, I figured I would try a little of theirs and go with the burger myself since I rarely make it to Pasadena and wanted to give both a shot.  To top off the burger, I did add a little pastrami to it.  With the pastrami added on the burger came out to about $8.50.  Unfortunately, it just did not impress.  The toppings overpowered the patty and pastrami, which were both rendered almost tasteless.  The bread was also unimpressive.  As for the Pastrami Sandwich, that was much better.  This one, served on a roll, blends cabbage and caramelized onions with the pastrami itself.  Not usually a fan of cabbage, the combo actually worked pretty well overall, giving a complement to what could have otherwise been a little too dry of a sandwich.

If you venture to Pasadena and enjoy Pastrami, I would say The Oinkster is worth checking out.  Stay away from the burger, though, as the pastrami is the clear cut winner in this one.

Price: 7

Pastrami Sandwich: 7.5

Burger: 3

Atmosphere: 5

Overall: 6

South Philly Experience - Los Angeles, CA

Being a cheesesteak fanatic, one of my first missions when I arrived to Los Angeles was to find a great cheesesteak.  Now, growing up close to Philly, I was raised on the originals, and that meant whiz was the cheese of choice.  The problem is that few places in Los Angeles offer up a cheesesteak with whiz as an option.  I did, however, hear of a food truck that offered a fairly authentic cheesesteak accompanied by good reviews.

Thanks to the age of technology, I became a Twitter follower of South Philly Experience.  When I caught wind of the truck in my neighborhood, I decided to check it out.  The cheesesteak was convenient for a quick lunch break, as it only took a few minutes to prepare.  As for the flavor, I found the cheesesteak to be appetizing, but a bit lacking.  The bread was an amoroso roll, the classic Philly style.  South Philly Experience claims to import it, which is a bonus.  However, it was just average and lacked the pizazz required in one of the key ingredients.  The meat was pretty good, chopped as is usual in a cheesesteak.  It did have some type of seasoning that I could not quite put my finger on.  Being accustomed to a classic cheesesteak, I found that to be a minor blip, but others may enjoy it.  As for the cheese, it was in fact whiz, giving the sandwich a boost.  Unfortunately, the sandwich overall, while not cold, was not piping hot, which decreased the gooey liquidity that makes whiz so appealing.

South Philly Experience offers up a pretty good cheesesteak, better than just any average cheesesteak spot.  It does not, however, separate itself above the pack.  I would and have returned, but would not go out of my way to get it.

Price: 6.5

Food: 6.5

Speed: 8

Overall: 6.5

Saddle Ranch - West Hollywood, CA

Growing up, one of the first places that I always wanted to go when visiting Los Angeles was the famed Sunset Strip.  Full of iconic places, one of the most unique landmarks is the western-style Saddle Ranch Chop House.  Notable for its mechanical bull and being the subject of a VH1 reality show, this was one of the first spots I decided to check out upon turning 21.

The menu features an assortment of classic American barbecue style foods.  They have a half-priced Happy Hour that runs from 3-6:30 and includes some phenomenal appetizers.  The  wings have a great spicy flavor that is just the right amount of kick, without overpowering.  The Jalapeno Mac and Cheese is another standout, extremely rich and cheesy, and topped with a bread crumb coating.

Along with its western theme, Saddle Ranch is also known for the rock music that pipes through its speakers and the TV’s with the accompanying music videos.   This comes as no shock given its location on the Sunset Strip, the birthplace of some of the greatest bands of all time.  The mechanical bull serves as a prime attraction for folks frequenting the bar at night, where you can order their specialty drinks, such as an AMF, Long Island Iced Tea, Arizona Sunset, among others, served in large vases.  These run you $15, but with a good pregame one (maybe two) should be all that you need.  The outside fire pits prove worthwhile on a chilly night and you can even purchase S’Mores to roast over the fire.

A popular tourist destination, Saddle Ranch is a pretty fun place to go and they serve bottomless mimosas daily until 3 with the purchase of a meal.  This can make for a fun group outing on a nice sunny weekend.

Food: 8.5

Atmosphere: 7.5

Price: 5

Overall: 7

Wood Ranch - Los Angeles, CA

Located across the street from Wood Ranch is a Southern California barbecue-style chain.  The menu is pretty typical barbecue fare, including steaks, chicken, ribs, wings, burgers, baked potatoes, and any other items that belong in a man’s diet.  

Living across the street, I love the fact that there is a wing place (one of my favorite foods) in walking distance. Wood Ranch features a round bar with a number of TV’s making it a great place to catch happy hour or go to watch part of a game and grab a bite.  The prices are pretty standard for this type of food, but happy hour goes from 3-7 and features a good amount of appetizers and sliders.

Currently, I have tried four of the items on the menu, but hope to discover more as the restaurant lies within a quick walk.  The wings were pretty good, nice and meaty with a buffalo style sauce.  However, I personally found myself wishing that they were a little more wet and coated with sauce.  The BBQ Tri Tip Sliders featured their own brand of barbecue sauce and a fantastic roll.  However, I found myself wishing that there was a little more meat as the sliders were a little overpowered by the bread.  The Prime Top Sirloin was my favorite dish, a 10 ounce “baseball” cut, which I ordered with a baked potato and mac & cheese.  I ordered the steak medium and layered it with steak sauce, one of my favorite additions.  The perfectly cooked steak hit the spot and I would definitely order it again.

The Grove features many good dining options, and Wood Ranch is no different.  With the variety of restaurants offered in The Grove, the only decision making needed is what type of food you are in the mood for.

Food: 7.5

Atmosphere: 7

Price: 6

Overall: 7

Pink's - Los Angeles, CA

Hardly anyone who visits Los Angeles or watches TV has not heard of Pink’s.  The landmark hot dog joint is visible in many a commercial and featured on various food shows.  Starting out as a hot dog cart, it later morphed into the spot that it is today, perched on the corner of Melrose and La Brea.

Frequented by numerous celebrities, Pink’s is most known for its chili dog.  The chili used to top this simple treat is not the thick kind, which can leave the hot dog extremely messy.  The taste, however, is excellent.  A trip to Pink’s can lead to a long wait in line due to its tourist status.  If you are looking to avoid the line, Carney’s on Sunset is a good alternative.  

A variety of other options are also featured, many named after celebrities and frequent Pink’s visitors.  One of my favorite alternatives is the Philly Cheesesteak Dog, which plops a cheesesteak with peppers and onions on top of a hot dog.  This one is a little more filling than a plain old chili dog andadds in a whole new flavor to the simple American classic.  Also quite tasty is the Chili Polish dog, my personal favorite, which is offered either spicy or mild and boasts a thicker dog than a traditional hot dog.  The final dog that I have tried thus far is the Lord of the Rings Dog, a hot dog topped with BBQ sauce and onion rings.  Unlike the other dogs, this one actually gets a lot of the hot dog taste, while still adding a bit of the sweet BBQ sauce that leaves your hands sticky afterward.  To top things off, the onion rings add a little crunch.

Living pretty close to Pink’s, I stop by every so often as long as I have some cash on me (cash only!) and the line is not too long.  Try to stay away during peak lunch hours, as well as weekends.  Most weekday evenings are a good time to go in order to avoid too big of a line.  Worst case scenario, drive by, scope the line out and go elsewhere if it extends too far.

Price: 8

Food: 8

Atmosphere: 5.5

Overall: 7

Killer Shrimp - Marina Del Rey, CA

One of the smaller, more unique areas of Los Angeles is Marina del Rey.  This little slip is home to many of the boats and yachts in Los Angeles.  Often used as a filming location, it lies just south of Venice.  A number of restaurants lie along Admiralty Way, but the standout is definitely Killer Shrimp.

Most famous for its namesake dish, Killer Shrimp offers picture perfect views of the Marina if you are lucky enough to grab one of the outside tables.  They also have a bar that offers Happy Hour inside, as well as a number of TV’s to watch the games on, yet still provide a waterfront view.  The original Killer Shrimp recipe is a southern style broth with a little kick.  After simmering for 10 hours, the shrimp is added upon your order and served with French bread.  While most rave about this dish, I found it good, but not the highlight of the restaurant.  Instead, that spot is reserved for the Killer Shrimp Mac & Cheese.  This scrumptious dish is not too rich and features a bit of the broth mixed in, which adds an explosion of flavor and a little juice to create a unique twist on the American classic.

Not much else needs to be said: just go with the Killer Shrimp Mac & Cheese.

Food: 9.5

Atmosphere: 8.5

Price: 7

Overall: 9

American Junkie - Hermosa Beach, CA

Just like Hennessy’s, located along the pier in Hermosa Beach, is American Junkie.  Recently renovated and renamed American Junkie, the spot that was formerly known as Sangria, now features a Brooklyn-style look, striking a blend between warehouse and garage, all with the outdoor beach setting that is what makes everyone love California so much.

One of the best features of American Junkie is that fact that the right hand side of the bar has an open feel, perfect if you are looking to sit outside and all the seats along the pier bars are taken on a beautiful day.  One major renovation that was made in the short time that the spot remained shuttered was the newly installed sound system.  Featuring Pioneer decks and a resounding bass, this is one of the probably the best sound system I have ever experienced in a bar.  American Junkie features an assortment of TV’s, making it a good spot to watch the games.  Unfortunately, the TV’s are poorly connected to each other which makes it a hassle to get a game that you want to watch and resulting in them showing the same game on two TV’s right next to each other.  Additionally, one of the managers (typically there on Sundays) is not the most helpful when it comes to accommodating requests.  That aside, the service at American Junkie ranges.  Some are pretty friendly and on the ball, while at other times it can be a bit of a pain.  The prices are very reasonable, and one of the best deals on the menu is the wings.  An order costs about eight bucks and includes about 12-14 wings, all smothered in a nice spicy buffalo sauce.  

During the week, there are always good specials being run, and different liquor companies frequently hold promotions here.  Also, American Junkie is signed up through the up-and-coming company Mogl, which allows linked cards to get 10% back on all bills.

So if you are in the Hermosa Beach area and looking for a lively scene, this comes with my stamp of approval.  A combination of great prices, beautiful weather, and solid people watching makes it a place to check out.

Hawkins House of Burgers - Watts, CA

As anyone who has spent some time in the city can tell you, Los Angeles is a mecca for burgers.  The options are endless and burger lists comparing the top picks in the city are plentiful.  Being an avid list reader and Yelp fanatic, I came across one burger that I felt the need to try.  Being situated out of the way, I wasn’t sure when the opportunity would arise.  However, my roommate and I ventured down prior to picking up our friend from the airport.

Hawkins is pretty easy to locate, right off the 105 Freeway close to the intersection of the 110.  A word of warning, though, Hawkins is located in Watts so maybe not the best idea to bring the Ferrari.  The hole in the wall joint has an outdoor seating area that resembles a holding cell, and the inside area is small, mainly used for placing orders.  The menu has quite a variety and a number of various combos, from fries to wings to spaghetti.

I spotted the burger that I wanted, however, the sheer size of it was a little too much for me so I modified the Whipper Burger, a monstrosity in itself.  The slimmed down version weighed in well over a pound, featuring two patties, two eggs, bacon, a hot link, chili and pastrami.  This is the point where some poor decision making played a role in my order, for despite facing this daunting burger, I felt the need to give the fries a shot as well.  After about a ten to fifteen minute wait, off we trekked with our burgers and fries towards Dockweiler State Beach (a short drive on the 105), where we would eat with a gorgeous view of the sunset..

Plopping the burger on the table, next to my can of root beer, revealed the true mass of the task at hand.  Eager to try it, I dug in like a hungry dog.  As an unrepentant carnivore, the smorgasbord of meat hit the spot.  Though at first a little dry, I added some hot sauce to help liquidate the burger.  Fortunately, in an age where burgers are frequently too small for the price, this one did not fit that bill.  The bread was almost forgotten as the meat fell out with some of the bites that were too big to handle.  After eating about half the burger and most of the fries, I decided it was time to call it quits, with a solid meal saved for work the next day.

As noted before, the number of burger places in LA is endless, but Hawkins finds itself nestled on my list of the top burger spots in town.  So next time that you are in town and headed to the airport, if you feel the urge to try a real locals spot, give this a venture.  Just don’t get lost or stray too far if adventure is not your cup of tea.

Food: 9.5

Price: 10

Service: 6

Wait: 4

Overall: 8.5 

Hennessey's - Hermosa Beach, CA

Ah Hennessy’s, one of my favorite watering holes in town.  Having friends who live in Redondo Beach, I find myself frequently down there on weekends.  One of the best things about this is the fact that it is an easy bike ride along the beach stretching a few miles until hitting the pier at Hermosa Beach.  Hermosa Beach is a great spot for the young, beach loving crowd.  A far different atmosphere from the more trendy, Hollywood lifestyle, this is a more laid back area, and that is reflected in the bars along the pier.  The last spot until you actually hit the pier is a spot called Hennessy’s.

While Hennessy’s is a restaurant as well, we usually make our way there to enjoy some drinks and share friendships.  The bartenders are great, always friendly and willing to chat.  The upstairs deck overlooks the ocean and offers views of Palos Verdes, jutting out in the distance.  Although the drinks are a little more expensive than other spots nearby, stop in for a drink.  The view cannot be beat and conversation is always interesting.  One of these days, I will update this post with a mention of the food.  Until then, consider this a great spot to grab a drink next time you are by the beach.

Hummer's Sports Cafe - Amarillo, TX

I heard about Hummer’s Sports Cafe from an online compilation of great college sports bars.  Ironically, Hummer’s is located in Amarillo, which is not home to any notable sports colleges.  However, in Texas, football reigns supreme and it is not hard to envision crowds coming in droves on a Saturday afternoon. 

I happened to come upon Hummer’s with my mom as we were making our cross-country trip to Los Angeles.  Upon looking at my trusty Food Places guide on Google Maps, we pulled off I-40 in Amarillo.  Being a weekday afternoon, this Texas joint was not super crowded.  However,  there were still a few locals grabbing lunch.

The prices were great, as we paid only 28 cents for any type of beer (offer only stands for first beer though) and the food was cheap.  My mom got a good-sized bowl of chili and I got an order of wings.  I found the chili to be the highlight of the meal, as it was a truly delicious Texas chili.  The wings, on the other hand, were not my favorite.  The sauce was okay, but the meat was just not that tasty, and the breading did little to help.  However, it should be noted that my mom enjoyed the wings, so clearly it is just a matter of opinion.

Plenty of TV’s and a little bit of a Western atmosphere helped make the ambiance pretty enjoyable.  I could easily see why it was a college football hangout.  The Texas Panhandle was not quite my scene, but for a drive through, Hummer’s is worth a stop.

Food: 6.5 (Good chili, below average wings)

Price: 10

Atmosphere: 8

Service: 7.5

Overall: 7

Big Mike's - Hermosa Beach, CA

As an east coast guy from Jersey, it goes without saying that two of my favorite foods are hoagies and cheesesteaks.  Unfortunately, though they can be found, both these items are not the most prevalent in Los Angeles.  Luckily for me, I happened to have found the best the city has to offer.  I hold no qualms when I say that Big Mike’s is my favorite food spot in LA.

I first spotted Big Mike’s while out at the bars in Hermosa Beach with my friends who live the town down.  Immediately, seeing a cheesesteak place, I was forced to try it.  The first positive was the fact that Mike’s offered whiz, making my order easy: one twelve inch whiz without.  After three minutes or so, the cheesesteak was ready.  Immediately, upon spotting it, I was giddy.  As a result, the first bite came too soon, leading me to burn my mouth.  As for the cheesesteak, it tasted like heaven.  Amazing bread mixed with an impressive portion of steak.  The cheese was ecstasy too, nice and liquidy, the  perfect complement to the meat and bread.

The menu at Big Mike’s boasts a lot of great-sounding items, but I would be remiss if I suggested that you order anything other than the cheesesteak.  Keep it up, Big Mike’s.  As of now, you boast the top cheesesteak outside of Philadelphia, coming from a very tough critic!

Food: 10

Price: 8

Wait: 9

Overall: 10