Los Angeles into the Desert

Best Fish Taco in Ensenada - Glendale , CA
Cooked-to-order fish and shrimp tacos are the only selections at this small Los Angeles-area eatery, and they are utterly fantastic. Payment is by cash only.

Hadley Fruit Orchards - Cabazon , CA
The grown-up farm stand that claims to have invented trail mix (and still makes a great one) is one of SoCal's top sources for date shakes as thick as a Midwestern concrete. The only thing richer and, IMO, even better, is a date shake to which bananas are added.

Wheel Inn - Cabazon , CA
The Wheel Inn, knownf for its lifesize dinosaur statuary, is the great southwest truck stop, featuring round-the-clock hours and a menu of cut-above burgers, hot turkey sandwiches, and excellent pies.

Sherman's Deli & Bakery - Palm Springs , CA
Sherman’s is an old-fashioned Jewish deli that attracts customers for its lox and bagels, salami omelets cooked pancake style (unfolded), and corned beef hash that is fried crisp and made from the same corned beef used for sandwiches, hence deliciously seasoned in that unique deli way.

LG's Prime Steak House - Palm Springs , CA
Prime steak paradise in Palm Springs. The dry-aged beauties are accompanied by great parmesan-garlic mashed potatoes with optional peppercorn sauce and/or wagon wheels, which are thick-cut onion rings.

El Gallito - Cathedral City , CA
Serving locals for nearly a quarter century now, El Gallito offers a broad menu of mostly familiar Mexican dishes such as tacos, chilies rellenos, enchiladas, and burritos.

Shields Date Gardens - Indio , CA
Located in a grove of stately palm trees, Shields is an airy showroom for dates and date products available by mail order. There are a few old wooden booths where visitors can sit and enjoy date ice cream and date shakes, the latter unbelievably luxurious, and one of the culinary glories of old California.