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.