Chili John’s, American Chili, Burbank, CA
2018 W. Burbank Blvd
Burbank, CA 91506-1319
(818) 846-3611
Famous from Coast to Coast, Chili John’s is Burbank’s oldest restaurant, in a fading white painted brick building, with a U shaped counter and stools that were completely filled, and with a chili serving station in the middle. They give you crackers and you can get your tasty beef chili served in 3 levels of heat (though they must have screwed up my hot because it was not hot at all for me, in fact the yellow peppers on the counter were hotter).
Birds, American Food and Bar, Hollywood, California
5925 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028-5515
(323) 465-0175
A Hollywood bar hot spot, that I considered my living room for quite a few years. Weekend nights there is such a huge crowd at late night that it gets hard to move. The food is filling, though not too special, with a mostly chicken menu (birds get it?). I live in the neighborhood and can attest that the parking is brutal so you might want to consider the valet.
Fuddruckers, American Hamburgers, Burbank, California
221 N. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91501
(818) 848-4856
Right in the heart of Burbank with the old AMC 14 parking right next store (meaning depending on when you go it, parking can be a pain to park), this place is all about Hamburgers and they do them very well. And even better you get to put on your own toppings. Lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, jalap
Houston’s, American Hamburgers, Santa Monica, CA
202 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-576-7558
This excellent chain opened up down in Santa Monica a few years ago, on the South East Corner of 2nd Street and Wilshire, 1 block West of the 3rd street promenade right at the top of it. It has a main dining room with a bar, and a sushi car upstairs where the bathrooms are. I don’t recommend it for the Sushi, but the burgers are excellent. Actually this has been my grandmother and grandfather’s favorite restaurant. We used to go to the one in Georgetown in Washington D.C. when she worked for Reagan, and when my dad worked for Bush Senior, and then the one in Century City, but since this one has opened my family usually goes here when we go out to eat. Well worth checking out. You can park with their valet or in the parking structure on 2nd street just down the block.
Fred 62, American Diner, Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 667-0062
One of the few 24 hour diners in Los Angeles, and since it is in near the Dresden, you get yourself quite a hip retro place. It has seats inside and seats outside (so you will wait unless you want to sit at the counter and you want to sit inside). There is some valet parking, or you can try and find street parking.
Elephant Bar and Restaurant, American Fusion food, Burbank, CA
110 North First Street
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 842-1334
So my girlfriend (this was Nan Lan) and I were going to go see Jarhead in Burbank, and we were hungry, and this restaurant is right by the parking structures at the AMC burbank 16, and it had a line of people waiting, so we thought it might be good, and decided to go for it. The menu was fusion, with good sounding dishes, and some really strange tropical drink creations that were pretty tasty, but the food was pretty bland, but fairly inexpensive, but…
Alcove Cafe & Bakery, Los Angeles, California
1929 Hillhurst Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 644-0100 GOOGLE MAP I was on my way someplace else when I spotted this place, and it’s cute outdoor seating, and saw it was totally packed, so I decided to give it a try. The restaurant is mostly outdoors with all their seats under umbrellas in a nice shaded courtyard with trees and flowering plants (there are a few inside, but with all the people in line, it is a little nuts, so you had better try to find one outside, and bring your sunglasses, and remember their are also places to sit along the side, and remember the chairs are not too comfortable, nor are they or the tables well balanced). To order you go inside, and order at the counter, they quickly give you your drinks, and then you take a number to your table, and your food is delivered fairly promptly. They have an excellent selection of breakfast foods, scones and the like, coffee, and excellent all fruit smoothies, and the lunch menu is pretty fantastic as well. The line itself also moves pretty quickly, and gives you time to check out the menu as you wait to order (and remember to grab your drink before you go to your table, as the drinks come at the counter).