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Fried Stuff

Las Vegas: Buldogis

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The Skinny:  I was surfing the net looking for places to eat with a few of my friends.  I came across this place called Buldogis.  I read an article saying that the hot dogs were like the ones from LA’s food truck Kogi.  I was SO excited that this place is right by my house and I finally get to try Korean infused hot dogs.  I love hot dogs & Korean food so this was a definite treat.  I walked in and it was like walking into a subway, but with the smell of bulgogi cooking in the air.  I ordered the Buckeye dog, Bulgogi beef dog & angry fries.  I wasn’t that hungry but definitely had to try a bit of it all and save the rest for lunch the next day.  It took about 15 minutes for my food to be ready for take-out which I’m fine with because that just means everything is made fresh and to order. As much as I loved it, it’s not something I can eat every day.  The best part of it all is that the hot dogs are 5 bucks.  You definitely get a bang for your buck here.

The Good:  The Buckeye dog is delicious!!! It starts off with 100% beef frank with pork belly bacon, corn relish, cheddar & garlic mayo on top.  Who can resist?!  The Beef bulgogi dog is good too, but it was just way too much meat for me.  It was topped with asian slaw (carrots & radish), green onions, sesame seeds,  bulgogi mayo. I definitely needed a fork to finish this the next day.  I think this dog would probably be better on top of rice.

 The Bad:  The Angry fries.  It’s not really a bad, but just not something I’d order again.  It was good for 2-3 bites, but then it was just too much. One order is huge!  It’s sweet potato fries topped with spicy pork bulgogis, kimchi, give cheese blend, fried egg, green onions & jalapenos.  Your behind will be angry at you after you eat it lol!

Would you come back again?  Yes I will, I saw a euro special on their menu I’d like to try.  I don’t think I’d order so much food again though.  I do love that buckeye dog though.

More Info:  2291S. Fort Apache Las Vegas, NV 89117 | (702) 570-7560 | Mon-Thur 11am-9pm; Fri & Sat 11am-10pm; Sunday 11am-5pm | Very reasonably priced.  Nothing over $4.95.

– Sniper Tam


Manhattan Beach: Simmzy’s

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The Skinny:  Simmzy’s is a small crowded American style gastropub in Manhattan beach that serves over 20 kinds of beers on tap, wine, burgers, and salads.  The place was recommended by my brother who said that their burgers was 2nd to none, especially the Bacon Blue Deluxe which is stacked with wood-fired grilled Sterling Beef, Bleu Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Garlic Aioli, fried Shallots, and Candied Bacon.

So I went with that, along with some Shoestring Fries and 15 Minute Wings.   As for beers, I ordered the Monkey Knife Fight Pale Ale and a Dogfish Head Punkin Ale.  I also had to finish my brother’s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout since he later remembered that he was on antibiotics.

 The Good:  The medium well done Bacon Blue Deluxe was juicy and delicious.  I usually don’t like Bleu Cheese but it wasn’t too overwhelming in the burger.  But what I really liked about the burger overall was how the bun managed to soak up all the juices flowing from the beef patty and still maintained it’s form.  It was just a tasty and well built burger.

The 15 Minute Wings were also good.  They were crispy, messy, salty, sour, sweet, and had a nice heat that crept up on you later.

 The Bad:  The chopped up Candied Bacon didn’t seem candied at all, it was just salty.

 Would you come back again?  Yeah, I think I would, but parking is a bitch.

 More Info:  229 Manhattan Beach Blvd | Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | www.simmzys.com 

– MJ


Cheesecake Factory: The Farmhouse Cheeseburger

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The Skinny:  I went to a birthday get together at a Cheesecake Factory in Irvine and I haven’t been to one of these restaurants in over 3 years.  When I got there I ordered the Farmhouse Cheeseburger which has a Runny Egg, Beef Patty, and a smoked Pork Belly packaged into one meal.

The Good:  The Pork Belly was delicious, and as my brother would say, “it’s very hard to fuck up Pork Belly.”

The Bad:  The Farmhouse Cheeseburger was dry, the cheese was the shredded version you find at the Sizzlers salad bar, and the Beef Patty wasn’t seasoned well if at all.  The Fries also sucked ass.  After reading the menu’s nutrition handbook provided by the Cheesecake Factory at each table, I was even more pissed that I wasted 1530 of calorie intake on that piece of crap.  I now officially hate the Cheesecake Factory.

Would you come back again?  Fuck no.

More Info: www.thecheesecakefactory.com

MJ


Ktown: Beer Belly

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The Skinny:  Beer Belly is a relatively new pub that opened up in the center of Koreatown.  It’s like a “where everyone knows your name” kind of place and is a welcoming hang out for the non-Koreans living in K-town.  It’s owned by a young couple who for some reason, seems to know everyone, even my co-workers and cousin!  The beer selection is solid and meant to pair up  with the items found on their good size menu and daily specials.  While they do offer full steak meals to justify having dinner there, they also have fried Twinkies and Oreos; so you don’t have to wait for the county fair to get that fried lard induced heart attack.

 

I went with Echo and my cousin Wendy, who works at Beer Belly, and we ordered:

Citizen Garlic Tapatio Wings (which uses the Cismontane Citizen Steam Lager),
Duck Fat Fries w/ Raspberry Mustard and Duck Skin Cracklings
Cornbread Fried Okra w/ Frankenstein Ketchup
Mac n Beer Cheese (w/ Bacon, Orzo Pasta, and a Sunnyside Egg on top),
Grilled Cheese (4 decker w/ Asiago, Gruyere, Goat cheese, Bacon, Maple Syrup Drizzle)
Lamb Meatballs (on Baguette w/ Red Curry Marinara, Tzatziki, Dill).

And we drank:

Bootleggers Spring Ale
Ladyface Blind Ambition
Craftsman Triple White Sage
Taps Irish Red

The Good:  Everything was solid and the beer we drank did match well with the food we ate.  The Cornbread Fried Okra were tasty Hush Puppies that were complimented with the A1-ish dipping sauce which gave them a nice bold kick and zing.  I didn’t really notice the Okra, but I guess it kind of balances out the guilt since it’s a vegetable hidden in fried corn breading.  The Duck Fries were really crispy and the scent of Duck Fat was quite noticeable, but what really helped the fried strips of potatoes taste good was the Raspberry Mustard.  It helped cut through the fat with it’s play on salty and sweet.  I just wished the Duck Skin Cracklings were a little big larger and more noticeable.  If you’re going to make a guilty pleasure even more guilty, then you might as well go all the way. The Citizen Garlic Tapatio Wings were good too and had a nice heat that creeps up on you after your done eating them.  The Mac N Beer Cheese with Bacon and a Sunnyside Egg was as gooey, creamy and salty as it should be.  I just wished I had some Tobasco sauce to dot that runny yellow eye for good measures.

By the time we got to the Grilled Cheese with Bacon & Maple Syrup, I was pretty much tapped out on space in my stomach.  I can’t say I liked it because of the state of mind I was in at the time, but I do think it’s a nice play on the Montecristo.  The slices of Bread used to make that sandwich were actually pieces from a Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  I did have to force myself to try the Lamb Meatballs, and while they were tasty….I kind of wished they were in a bowl of Chili.  mmm…Red Curry Marinara Chili with Lamb and Tzatziki sauce!

Of the beers that I had, the most memorable one was the Bootleggers Spring Ale.  It was herby, a bit spicy, and had a nice hint of Honey.  I think it would be the perfect Autumn beer to have since it reminded me of Pumpkin Spice ice-cream.  I do remember liking the Ladyface Blind Ambition Ale, but at the moment I don’t remember what it tasted like.  However, the Craftsman Triple White Sage was….well….SUPER SAGEY.   It wasn’t bad and it did pair up well with the Lamb Meatballs, but it wasn’t my favorite.

The Somewhat Bad:   They don’t have a burger and it doesn’t seem like they’ll be having one any time soon.  I think a good quality burger at an affordable price with some unique creative touches would be well respected and garner a loyal following anywhere.

Would you come back again?  For the prices they offer and the friendly staff that works there, I can see myself being a regular there.  I think I’ll have everyone call me “Norm.”

More Info: www.beerbellyla.com  | 532 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90020 — (213) 387-2337  |  food prices range from 5 to 20 bucks  |  beer on tap range from 5 to 9 bucks while their bottled selection can go up to about 20 or so.  |  The place is Iphone friendly, so if you have a playlist you want to share, you can do so at Beer Belly.  Just DL the app. | Ask for Wendy, she’ll help you figure out which beer goes well with what.

MJ


San Pedro Fish Market + Restaurants

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The Skinny:  The San Pedro Fish Market is a favorite family weekend hot spot for seafood stalls, beer, and a festive atmosphere.  It’s also the most crowded place ever, which means good luck trying to find parking.

The Bad:  This blog entry, because I didn’t pay for the food so I don’t know where they came from.  I also had 2 big gulp sized plastic cups full of Corona….sooooo….I didn’t bother to find out.

The Good:  Everything we ordered was pretty solid…especially the fried Squid and Garlic Shrimp.  The Garlic Shrimp, with tasty bits of garlic chips underneath the juices…was well….garlicky and as savory as it should be.  The fried Korean-ish style Squid was the perfect beer food because it was salty, crunchy, and tender all at the same time.  And I know it was Korean because I recognized the style in which it was cooked and my brother said he did get it from a Korean food stall.  So that’s a clue if you want to find out where he got it from.

We also got some French Fries, Garlic Bread, Octopus Ceviche, BBQ Shrimp Fajita, and a small charred up baby Tuna.

The Somewhat Bad:  Anything that came covered in red seemed to be made with Ketchup.  So the Octopus Ceviche and BBQ Shrimp Fajita all had that sugary dried up Tomato paste taste to them.  Also, that day they had a small adorable karaoke show where little kids were singing Justin Bieber songs.  I thought the heat from the sun was making my ears sweat a bit, but no…it was just blood pouring out from the pain.

Would you come back again? Yes! Being able to drink cold beer out in the open on a nice sunny day with a bunch of happy strangers….is worth the parking space hunt.

More Info:  www.sanpedrofishmarket.comyelp | 1190 Nagoya Way – San Pedro, CA 90731

MJ


Casey’s Irish Bar & Grille

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The Skinny:  Went to an Irish Bar & Grille in Down Town Los Angeles for a quick dinner before a night of heavy boozing at a friend’s birthday.  Casey is a place that has a full bar, pool tables, television sets all over the place, and a menu with actual Irish food.

I got the Shepherd’s Boxty, Irish Pub Fries, and a pint of Bass Pale Ale.

The Good:  Casey’s Shepherd’s Boxty is pretty much like Shepherds Pie, but it is made with ground Lamb, celery, onions, and carrots.  It is served rolled up in a savory Pancake and with some gravy on top.  The dish itself was tasty and the subtle gaminess of the Lamb added some nice depth to the flavors and whatever seasonings they put in it.  The warm pillowy Pancake was nice too, even though it didn’t really taste like anything.

The Bad:    The Irish Pub Fries weren’t bad, but it wasn’t as crispy as I wanted them to be.  Since they were pretty big Potato wedges, I think they weren’t fried long enough and was steamed up from the inside while in the fryer.

Would you come back?  Yeah, I’d like to try the Fish N Chips that cost $16.50.

More Info:  www.caseysirishpub.com | 613 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017 | (213) 629-2353

MJ


Gaja Okonomiyaki + Ryo Izakaya

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The Skinny:

Gaja is a Okonomiyaki restaurant that allows you to grill up Japanese style savory pancakes for Lunch or Dinner.  It’s located in the City of Lomita and sits in a tiny plaza next to two popular Udon Noodle shops.   Along with the Okonomiyaki and the vast variety of toppings, like Cheese, Seafood, and mystery Meats, you can also get Italian style Pastas, Soupy Noodles, and Beer.  A good time to go to Gaja is during lunch because they have specials where you get 3 personal size Okonomiyaki with 1 topping each, a side salad, and a drink for just about 15 bucks.

Ryo is a Izakaya not too far from Gaja and serves Japanese style Tapas, Sushi items, Ramen, and Yakitori.  It’s located in the Rolling Hills Shopping Plaza in Torrance and sits right in front of an AMC Movie Theater.  The interior has trendy old style wooden furniture and uses empty alcohole bottles as decorations.

The High:

Gaja was an interesting experience and cooking your own savory pancakes with a few friends is always fun.  We ordered their “Sparking Beer” which either has Blueberries or slices of Grapefruits. Both were good and refreshing.  Since I was in a party of 3, two of us ordered the lunch special to share and topped them with Cheese, Mushrooms, Scallions, Octopus, Teriyaki Chicken, and Shrimp.  I ordered some Takoyaki with a Spicy Sauce.  Of the 6 toppings that were ordered and shared, the Cheese was the best one, that is after we finally mastered the grill and made some decent well-done pancakes.    The way the Cheese crisped up on top of the stove was pretty awesome.   It was also fun seeing all the shaved Bonito flakes come alive as you place them on top of each cooked Pancakes.  The Takoyaki balls were decent and the spicy sauce needed more spice.

After Gaja, I went to Ryo Izakaya with a party of 4.  We shared Ramen with Pork, Yakitori items, a whole grilled Quail, Takoyaki, fried Squid Legs, Shrimp in Chili Sauce, Lamp Chops, Unagi, Asparagus in something-something sauce, and stewed Tendon in a spicy broth.  Of all the items that stood out, the stewed Tendon was my favorite.  It was gelatinous, tasty, and left a lovely sticky film on my lips.  The Ramen that one of us ordered had the thick porky broth and it was as good as those specialty places that only focuses on making really good Ramen.  The grilled items we ordered were the Chicken Hearts, Breast, Wings, Liver, Cartilage, a whole Quail and Lamb Chops.  The Chicken Hearts were pretty beefy in flavor while the Quail and Lamb Chops were both juicy, charred, and seasoned just right.

The Low:

I have no real lows about Gaja, it’s a fun place to eat at and once you master the grill, eating rare Okonomiyakis and half cooked seafood won’t be a problem.  You don’t even have to cook the stuff yourself, you can ask the waiter to have the in-house cook make it for you in the back kitchen.  Actually, one complaint I do have is that the Octopus came out raw and after grilling it with the pancake mix, it was super rubbery.  I think they should have precooked or prepped seafood items like that before hand so it’ll be easier to cook later.

At Ryo Izakaya, the tapped Kirin Beer during happy hour seemed to be really watered down.  It also came in a pitcher that has a pint size indent from the bottom for regular water to freeze up and keep the beer cold.  That’s just BS.  I didn’t really like the Chicken Cartliage, but only because it just isn’t for me.  Other than that, no real complaints about the environment or food.  The female waitresses were all friendly and the cook came out once in a while to see if the customers were cared for.

Would you come back?

Gaja: Only if I’m with a group of people. They have a menu that has as many combo items as a karaoke book has songs.

Ryo: Yes!  It’s a fun place to drink and eat among friends.

More Info: www.gajamoc.com | 2383 Lomita Blvd. Ste 102 Lomita, CA 90717 | (310) 534-0153 | Ryo-zan Paku | 2589 Pacific Coast Hwy. Torrance, CA 90505, Torrance | (310) 530-8720

MJ


Oinkster + Black Boar + Pitfire Pizza Company

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The Skinny: In one night, I went to a gastropub in Eagle Rock called The Oinkster and stopped by The Black Boar, a no frills bar.  Then on whim, I ended my evening at The Pitfire Pizza Company that’s located in between Culver City and Venice Beach.

Oinkster is popular hipster-ish restaurant that got spotlighted by Guy Fieri on his show Drives, Dives, and Diners.  The establishment is known for their Pastrami and BBQ Pulled Pork sandwiches.

The Black Boar is an Irish style pub I Yelped and went to after eating at the Oinkster.

The Pitfire Pizza Company is a relatively new and trendy place that had a live DJ, wooden decor, Sangrias, and really good Pizza Bread.

The High:

The Oinkster: Since I went here with some friends, I was able to trade one half of my BBQ Pulled Pork for his “Oinkster Pastrami.”  The sandwiches came as a combo with Belgian Fries, a nice dill pickle, and my choice of a hoppy Eagle Rock beer on tap.  The BBQ Pulled Pork is described as being brined in Soy and Honey and then slowly roasted and smoked.  It came packaged with a Red Cabbage Slaw, Caramelized Onions and BBQ Sauce.  While my friend preferred the Pastrami that came pretty much built the same way, except without the BBQ Sauce and with Gruyere Cheese, I liked the Pork more.  It could have been because it was the first thing I ate while it was still hot, so all the flavors just felt that much more comforting.  When I got to the Pastrami, it was cold and falling apart and it didn’t have the same flavor impact as the Pulled Pork did.  It was still good, peppery and full of fatty goodness with the Slaw complimenting everything else.  The Belgian style Fries came with Garlic Aioli, and they were pretty addictive.  I also love the fact they have an outdoor seating area where I can drink beer openly during a nice Spring evening.

The Black Boar: The Black Boar is a pub not too far from The Oinkster.  Inside it the interior and vibe is that of an Irish bar, with dart boards, a Foosball table, old Celtic letterings everywhere, and left over St. Patty’s Day whiskey promos still hanging from the ceilings.  I liked the place and the indie rock music they had playing on the jukebox.  It’s the kind of bar I wish I had near my house so I can be a regular.  However their mixed drinks were watered down, but it’s forgivable because my friend had ordered a girly one in a seemingly no frills kind of bar.  Plus, the dark haired bartender girl with a nose ring was hot!

The Pitfire Pizza Company: I wasn’t really expecting to go here, but my friend decided on a whim to try it out for the first time after we talked about pizzas we had and loved in Los Angeles.  When we got there, the atmosphere reminded me of my design school years with the interior being in a big open area and the kitchen in plain view sight.  While we were waiting in line to order, the DJ was playing Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks”  as industrial lights guided us to the cashier lady.  It was cool, the atmosphere made me feel young again.

My friend and I ordered a pitcher of Sangria and two small Pizzas, one with Wild Arugula and the other with Pumpkin Squash.  Both were delicious. The Arugula pizza seemed to have very few ingredients, even with the haystack size greens on top.  The Burrata Cheese, Tomato Sauce, Caramelized Onio, Hazelnut , and Pesto Drizzle that were on it, all worked well together (or at least I thought since I was kind buzzed) on the light and airy Pizza Bread.  The Pumpkin Squash Farmers Market special had the good kind of cheese that actually stretched as you pull away from a bite.  These days, in order for Pizza chains to deliver 5 dollar specials, they opt for the cottage cheese kind that is texturely mushy even when hot.   Pitfire Pizza’s seems to be doing it right, with their fresh hippie like ingredients, that delicious pizza dough formula, and their art student music playing in the background.  Oh…and the Sangria was a bit too fruit punchy, but good enough to make me stumble as I walked out.

The Low:

The Oinkster: None really.

The Black Boar: The only thing that doesn’t really bother me is the watered down mixed drinks.  No biggy though, since all I was drinking was Jameson.

The Pitfire Pizza Company: While the Pumpkin Squash Pizza was tasty, the special ingredient was hardly noticeable.  It was a bit too subtle.  I think maybe if they caramelized the pieces of Squash a bit before cooking the pie in the oven, it would’ve tasted just a little bit better.

Would you come back again? Sure x 3.

More Info: TheOinkster: 2005 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock, CA 90041 | Expect to pay about 15 bucks for a Sandwich with a Beer and Fries.  |  The Black Boar: 1630 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041 | The Jameson cost me 7 bucks per order | The Pitfire Pizza Company: 2018 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035 | Expect to pay 10 bucks for a Small Pie & 15 for a pitcher of Sangria.


Dino’s Chicken with French Fries

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The Skinny: Echo, a friend known as Jazzy, and I went to Dino’s for lunch.  Actually, at first we wanted to go to Pollo a La Brasa on 8th and Western, but for some reason it was closed.   So we all headed to Dino’s Chicken and Burgers for our very first time. The flame broiling poultry pit is best known for their signature dish, which is the charred and vinegary chicken that comes in halves.  At the time we went, there were no wall menus to order from, but we knew what to get.  If you get the chicken, which we all did, you get it in a styrofoam box with some coleslaw and a bed of french fries.

The High: The flame broiled Chicken was pretty tasty and it did have a distinct flavor.  As we ate we all speculated what they marinaded the chicken in.  Echo mentioned Tandoori because we saw a bunch of uncooked ones covered in something thick, vibrant, and very red.  Personally, I can’t remember the last time I had something Tandoori so I couldn’t make the flavor connection, but I do remember looking at photos of India where you see mounds of colorful spices used for Masala.  The pants-staining red used to marinade the chicken reminded me of that. The Chicken was also pretty sour, which we all assumed came from vinegar and not citrus juices.  There was also a nice heat to it and seeing how there were red pepper flakes all over the place, I guessed they used the chili oil you find next to the Sriracha at Pho places.  The char on the outer part of the chicken was good and the moist inside was welcoming, but my favorite thing about the meal were the fries.  The way they soaked up all the extra sauce and meat juices was pretty addicting.  It was like eating soft pillows of salt and vinegar potato chips that was drizzled with charred chicken bits.

The Low: Dino’s Chicken is a solid meal, can’t really complain too much about it.  Although, I do have to admit that it was a bit too sour and I think it would’ve tasted better if I was drunk.

Would I go to again? Not really, it’s too out of the way and if I had other choices, I’d go there.  However, if I was drunk, those sauce sucking fries would be worth the drive by a designated driver.

More info: yelp | 2575 W Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90006 | Credit Card Friendly | About 8 bucks for the Chicken and large drink

MJ


The Kalbi Burger

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The Skinny: A popular burger hub that’s been voted as one of the top 10 places in Los Angeles by the Huffington Post. Their signature dish is the Korean influenced Kalbi burger.

The High: The Kalbi Burger itself lives up to the hype.  It’s juicy, messy, delicious, and everything The Counter is not. (:-X)  The greens in it had the same vinaigrette at those $19.99 all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ places.  The flame broiled short rib and ground chuck patty was flavorful thanks to the Kalbi aioli; even though it tasted more like Bulgogi.  The toasted bread stayed together well despite my sloppy way of eating it.  It also served as a piece of sponge to soak up all the delicious juices that tried to escape.  The fries were crispy and tasty thanks to them being fried twice.

The Low: I remember the first time I went to Kalbi Burger I made the mistake of getting the Saigon.  I was expecting it to taste like a Bahn Mi….but it didn’t.  The pickled veggies needed more pickling.

Would you come back again? Yes! I got to try the Seoul Dog.

More Info: www.kalbiburger.com – $9.95 for a combo meal that has the Kalbi Burger, Fries, and a drink. $7.95 for just the burger.

MJ

in i


The Counter

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The Skinny: The Counter is a build-your-own Burger chain that has locations all over America.  You can either individualize your own burger using “Market Selection” produce or simply pick something from the menu.  They also have beer on tap and burger bowls, which are pretty much salads with condiments.

The High: Building your own burger is always fun, so that’s a plus.  The place I went to is in Torrance and they have an outdoor seating area, which is good for nice warm California days.  They also have Arrogant Bastard on tap and some tasty french fries and fried pickles.

The Low: My first visit to the Counter I picked the 1lb burger of beef topped with horseradish cheddar, jalepenos, grilled onions, mixed greens, garlic aioli, and a runny egg.  You would think all that stuff would be a burst of flavor, but it wasn’t.  For me, the biggest problem was that the cooks didn’t season the meat, and if they did, they didn’t season it enough.  The beef was beefy, but how could it not be?  It’s a pound of meat!  Even still, all the extra toppings didn’t really add depth to the overall burger, they seemed to be muted.  Maybe conceptually, the Counter creators thought subtle notes of flavor is best, but to me it was just bland.  On top of that, the cold hamburger bun was completely demolished by the meat juices and my burger ended up being a knife and fork steak meal.  Maybe it could have been the choices I made, like the patty size being too big and the toppings I picked just didn’t work well together.

So I went a second time and I had the same problems. Even though I got the 1/3lb beef patty with a chili theme, the meat was still under season and the cold wheat bun I picked wasn’t able to hold itself together.  And to add insult to injury, the Parmesan fries I got that time were cold and way too salty.

Would you come back again? Only if I’m with a group of people and I get out voted on where we want to go eat.  Then I’d ask the waiter to have the cooks toast the bun a little with some fat and to salt and pepper the meat well.

More Info: www.thecounterburger.com


Santa Barbara’s Burger Bus

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The Skinny: The Burger Bus can be found in Santa Barbara, California and yes, the truck is an actual school bus. Owners Cheryl and Michael Gardner rely on local produce and ingredients from the farmer’s market and uses 100% grass fed free range beef from Shalhoob Meat Company.

The High: I ordered the CB&J burger which is a beef patty topped with melted cheese, onions, a seasonal  habanero jelly, and sandwiched between a toasted ciabatta.  From the moment they put the meat on the grill I could tell I was going to enjoy it even though the concept of a Cheeseburger with jelly seems kind of odd.  Usually, most burger restaurants don’t season their meat at all, but from the Burger Bus,  I could smell the black pepper (and probably salt if it had a smell) perfuming the fresh air .  When I took a bite of the burger itself, the play on the savory with the sweet reminded me of eating a peppery steak dinner with a side of spicy Chinese food.  The CB&J was tasty to say the least and the beef was beefy, however I didn’t really notice the cheese.

With that burger, I also got fried pickles which came out looking Chicken McNuggets but tasted like dilled zucchini.  The zing of the crispy pickles was balanced out nicely with the complimentary ranch dressing the Burger Bus Lady gave me.  They were simply delicious.

The Low: The Burger Bus is in Santa Barbara and I live in LA, so I can’t try the rest of their burgers.

Would you come back again? Only if I’m in Santa Barbara, but even still, it’s worth seeking out if you’re in the area.

More Info: twitter.com/TheBurgerBus for locaion.  They also have Fried Yams, Falafel and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.  Expect to pay aroune 12-13 bucks for a burger and side.

– MJ

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Apple Pam’s Hickory Burger

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The Skinny: Apple Pan has been around since 1947 and has been hailed as one of the best burger havens to reside in Los Angeles.  The old institute of high quality fast food is known for quick orders, unchanged decor, and the Hickory and Steak Burger.  For me, it was my first time being there.

The High: The quarter pound Hickory burger was clean to the taste and the toppings were generous.  The hickory relish complimented not only the beef patty but the pickles as well.  In a way, the sweet tang reminded me of the McRib but made with better and fresher ingredients.  The bun was nice and squishy too.

The Low: The fries were warm and tasty but as I was leaving Apple Pan,  I happen to see a Sysco truck delivering boxes of french fries in the back.  While I understand that part of Apple Pan’s charm is the fast service, freshly cut and twice fried fries would have made the overall burger experience better.   I can’t deny that the Hickory Burger was good and the size of it didn’t make me feel greasy after-wards, but I left feeling unsatisfied.

Would you come back again? If I’m in the area just to try the Steak Burger.  However, I wouldn’t go out my way to go there again.

More Info: 10801 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90064.  Cash Only.  Expect to pay about 10 bucks for french fries, a drink, and the Hickory Burger.  They also serve fruit pie and sliced bread sandwiches.

– MJ

Song: I Seen Beyoncé at Burger King – by Cazwell feat. Jonny Makeup


The Burger City Grill

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The Skinny: A burger grill shop that uses certified Angus Beef on a flat top grill. Also has alternative options to red meat, like Tuna, Veggie and Turkey patties.

The High: I had the The Works,” which is a burger topped with Pastrami, Chili and my choice of American Cheese. Every component of the burger stood out on it’s own.  The Pastrami was peppery and savory while the chili wasn’t laid on thick.   There was just enough of it to compliment the beefiness of the patty.  The toasted bun held everything together nicely and the veggies were fresh.  I also got the Chili Cheese Fries, twice fried for that extra crispness and topped it off with yellow mustard for my own enjoyment.  The Turkey Burger, aka “The Flyer,” was also tasty and satisfying.

The Low: Does not serve beer.

Would you come back again?Yes, and I have many times.  They have been consistently good.  Plus, they have flat screen TVs all over the restaurant for the latest updates in sports.

More Info: 2064 Pacific Coast Highway Lomita, CA, 90710.  Credit Card Friendly.  No Alcohol.

– MJ

Song: Hamburguesa by One-T