Across the Nation (Best of List) - Eating The Road

enginecapt


You forgot one, Dale.

Yes, I must have forgotten to mention something that I told the Stern's to write about (insert sarcasm smiley here) in their PRE-WEBSITE ROADFOOD books. Pray tell what did I forget that hasn't  already been mentioned in one of these books?

By the way, I must have told this person what to write too!

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1129547&start=0&tstart=0

(look under appetizer and drink)

You forgot to mention the third leg of your traditional So Cal trifecta: the veggie garbage.

enginecapt


You forgot to mention the third leg of your traditional So Cal trifecta: the veggie garbage.

I'm sorry, you must be mistaking me for Jane and Michael Stern, I never had anything to do with that they did NOT me, nor do I go around the web, telling others what to write about (as indicated in the previous link), or telling ballparks to serve california rolls when the Dodgers or Angels come to town.
It's not "MY"  traditional So Cal trifect- it IS THE tradtional So Cal Trifecta

Never mind. My point has apparently eluded you. Carry on.

Gentlemen....settle down now...let's at least agree to disagree.

Wanderingjew I've spent considerable time in the west and am well versed in the smoothies and sushi out there. You're absolutely right, there is nothing comparable elsewhere. It's almost hard to find a bad sushi place in California (I'm sure plenty will dispute that).

..another easy to find meal in California, Mexican food...next on my trip the delicious Mom's Tamales: http://eatingtheroad.word...09/10/20/moms-tamales/

Me, I've always enjoyed my Sushi Smoothies when I hit the City of Light.

bill voss


Me, I've always enjoyed my Sushi Smoothies when I hit the City of Light.

...but uh actually isn't Paris "The City of Light"...Los Angeles would be "The City of Angels".

not if you're a doors fan.
besides, they serve Snail Smoothies in Paris.

I love Mom's but my Mom didn't.  

Something about the area although she used to owna shopping center around the corner from there.  *shrugging*

I just wish they had later hours.  Other than that it's perfect!

I had a delicious meal and dessert at Mrs. Knott's Fried Chicken Dinner Restaurant:
http://eatingtheroad.word...ken-dinner-restaurant/

Seems we travel the same paths.  I love Knotts Chicken dinner.

When I have out of town guests it's sometimes (often) on my list of places to eat.

Our assessments are even similar except that I love the rhubarb. Wish that I could take home gallons of it.

Once when there with a group of 5 the gave us our dessert pie in whole form to take home.  Now that's thinking!

mar52


Seems we travel the same paths.  I love Knotts Chicken dinner.

When I have out of town guests it's sometimes (often) on my list of places to eat.

Our assessments are even similar except that I love the rhubarb. Wish that I could take home gallons of it.

Once when there with a group of 5 the gave us our dessert pie in whole form to take home.  Now that's thinking!

This would be such a good place to bring a large group....much better than Buca Di Beppo or Cheesecake Factory or Chevy's. It still has that "down home" quality.

That's great that they gave you a whole pie, I love that!

Yeah....I don't know what it was about that rhubarb "slaw" it was just too sweet for me.

What are some of your other local favorites?

My favorites are gone.  :(  

For Barbecue I now like Joey's which is in the Inland Empire.  Years ago it was a weekly visit to Stern's BBQ in Culver City.  They'd make a killing if they came back.

Pizza there is a small place that serves pizza by the slice or whole.  Amazing crust and toppings:

LaRocco's Pizzeria
www.laroccospizzeria.com/
3819 Main St.
Culver City, CA 90232


For cheap crispy tacos and simple burritos it's always been:

Tito's Taco's
www.titostacos.com
11222 Washington Pl
Culver City, CA 90230

Many will argue this one.

That's all for now because this is your trip which I am loving.

mar52 those both look good. I love LaRooco's hours "Open 11:00 AM and when we run out of dough we close…that’s it!" ...classic.

Well thanks. Unfortunately I'm no longer in that area otherwise I'd give them a shot. Next time though.   

Next stop, The Cottage in La Jolla, CA:
http://eatingtheroad.word...009/10/22/the-cottage/

That looks like a great way to start the day.

ETR, Your link isn't working and you have me curious!

Sorry...working now?

Yes!  I was persistant and kept refreshing the link.  Your pictures are superb.  Thanks for fixing it.

Next stop....the self-proclaimed "world's best burger" from Hodad's:
http://eatingtheroad.word...com/2009/10/23/hodads/

Hodad's!  

I ate there just last Friday when my dogs were being spayed in El Cajon.  (Which I find ironic as they are girls)

I shared an order of Frings (onion rings and fries) had a small hamburger and a chocolate malt.

The place was mobbed.  It was lunch time so I'm not sure if this is an all day occurrence or not.

When we finally got our talbe (we didn't want to sit at the surf board table) and we ordered.

Odd, I thought as they brought out the Frings as if they were an appetizer.  They were incredible!  The wedge cut fries had a sprinkling of spice on them for a slight crust affect.  Crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. They were delicious!  I tried the ranch dressing, hot sauce and Ketchup/catsup on them.  Ketchup still won out.  

The onion rings were also outstanding, but not my all time favorite.  I liked that they didn't come pre-prepared out of a bag.

However, I like eating my fries and rings along with my hamburger.  The hamburger didn't show up until about 15 minutes later.  I found that a bit slow as they are a hamburger place.  It did give us a chance to read a lot of the license plates.

The reason I ordered the small hamburger was because I was also ordering that chocolate malt.  The burger didn't thrill me.  It was greasy although it did taste very fresh.  I only ate half of it.  I thought the hamburger meat was strong tasting.  Not to my liking.

The malt!!!  OMG it was good.  I took a few sips out of the metal shake container and decided that I would pour it into the paper cup they brought out along with it and take it to go as I toured around the San Diego area.

It had the perfect amount of malt powder.  I could taste it immediately and didn't have to wonder if they remembered to put it in.  It was topped with a slab/scoop of chocolate ice cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup.  

It is the number one, top of the list, best malt I've ever had!

However, when I got up to pay, it was cleaned off of my table immediately and I never got the chance to really drink it.  I was crushed and thought that it might be best if I didn't order another.  I really was crushed.

My take on Hodad's...  the burger isn't necessary.  Just order the Frings and a malt!

I'd go back if just for the malt it was that good.

I agree with Mar52

The burger at Hodads, although monstruous in size was nothing special, I've had much better burgers this year and none of them were in California, although The chocolate malt, could probably be one of the best (if not the best) I've ever had.

Mar52 great assessment. I'm with you on the burger and fries. I really wish I had gotten the frings and malt too...live and learn I guess.

wanderingjew where were the places that you got good burgers this year?

mar52


My favorites are gone.  :(  

For Barbecue I now like Joey's which is in the Inland Empire.  Years ago it was a weekly visit to Stern's BBQ in Culver City.  They'd make a killing if they came back.

Pizza there is a small place that serves pizza by the slice or whole.  Amazing crust and toppings:

LaRocco's Pizzeria
www.laroccospizzeria.com/
3819 Main St.
Culver City, CA 90232


For cheap crispy tacos and simple burritos it's always been:

Tito's Taco's
www.titostacos.com
11222 Washington Pl
Culver City, CA 90230

Many will argue this one.

That's all for now because this is your trip which I am loving.

Is it like a NY type crust?

Well I can't say for sure because I've never had a NY pizza.

This is a thin crust and tastes good on it's own.  I think it's the yeast in it that I like.

They do slices that taste like it's from a whole pie fresh from the oven.

The last kind I tried there was a white pizza.  It had maybe a Bechamel Sauce on it with clumps of ricotta on top.

My favorite is the plain cheese.  If the plain cheese isn't good, then I don't care about the rest.

Next stop was Fidel's Little Mexico in Solana Beach:
http://eatingtheroad.word.../fidels-little-mexico/

Good eats at The Breakfast Club of Menifee:
http://eatingtheroad.word...akfast-club-of-menife/

Am I correct in thinking that I don't see any cilantro on your taco?  I might like this place!

I really think that it should be optional.

When I went home to San Diego last Christmas, my mother dragged me to Fidel's. I was sceptical. I was wrong.

mar52


Am I correct in thinking that I don't see any cilantro on your taco?  I might like this place!

I really think that it should be optional.

Yeah, no cilantro in that taco. You know, I used to not enjoy cilantro but now I'm a fan. I don't know if I ever really see it used in fish tacos anyways...it's more so in the carne asada...sometimes the pork or chicken. I guess it depends.

Poverty Pete

When I went home to San Diego last Christmas, my mother dragged me to Fidel's. I was sceptical. I was wrong.

That place is awesome. I really like the atmosphere. What'd you have?

EatingTheRoad

mar52


Am I correct in thinking that I don't see any cilantro on your taco?  I might like this place!

I really think that it should be optional.

Yeah, no cilantro in that taco. You know, I used to not enjoy cilantro but now I'm a fan. I don't know if I ever really see it used in fish tacos anyways...it's more so in the carne asada...sometimes the pork or chicken. I guess it depends.

Poverty Pete

When I went home to San Diego last Christmas, my mother dragged me to Fidel's. I was sceptical. I was wrong.

That place is awesome. I really like the atmosphere. What'd you have?

 
I concurr, Fidel's was one of my favorite stops during my Los Angeles-San Diego trip last spring. I had both the fried and grilled fish taco- I enjoyed them both equally.
***HINT HINT***
Fidel's could be on my top 10 list for 2009