Los Angeles is home to some of the best fast-casual dining options, proving that amazing meals don’t need to cost a small fortune.
Tail o’ the Pup in West Hollywood
Roll up to this iconic hot dog stand – an oversized wiener, constructed in 1946 – resurrected from storage and a museum last summer by the 1933 Group. You’ll find a Beefy Butcher Dog – a superior frank developed by the skilled butcher and chef Ralph Perrazzo, a New Yorker whose goal is to bring back the nostalgia and flavor of hot dogs he used to eat – combining those taste memories with high-quality ingredients.
Order the 1946 Pup, split open and grilled on a toasted bun with grilled onions and house mustard. Amp it with a boozy milkshake, enhanced with peanut butter whiskey or other interesting imbibing combinations. Try a Combo with the Chicago Pup, a sassy burger, or a corn dog. Kids can delight in The Puppy Dog, a classic pup served in a puppy bun. Pamper your pooch with an item from the Doggy Menu, literally “Doggy Beer” made with dog-friendly veggies, herbs, and bone broth; or skinless pups with bacon-flavor and pooch-friendly cheese.
Inside this little dinette, Chef Luke Reye’s newest project has unfolded into the ultimate juicy griddled burger and fried chicken sandwich (buttermilk and pickle brined with panko). The double or triple cheeseburger comes with cheese curds or crinkle fries cooked in beef tallow with optional sauces like Hot Garlic Honey, Herb Buttermilk Ranch, Chil Crunch Mayo, and Rita’s Sauce.
Make your burger “Deluxe” with bacon, chopped cherry peppers, and caramelized onions. Balance it all out with a specialty milkshake like Strawberry and Madagascar Vanilla, topped with sea salt and potato chips.
Loqui Tacos in Culver City, Playa Vista, Downtown LA
Inspired by Mexican taquerias, the lusciously soft and chewy flour tortillas at Loqui hold an addicting blend of mushrooms, beans, cheese, guacamole, onion, cilantro and salsa. The pork, beef and chicken are simply delicious, but meat lovers may find themselves running into Platform LA in Culver City just for these vegan fungi.
LOQUI serves ready-to-drink cocktails too, like agave-based Mexican classics Margarita and Paloma!
Transport to The South with the satisfying Taste of New Orleans. This James Beard Award recipient dishes up famous fried chicken with a spicy kick. Sides like cornbread, candied yams, mashed potatoes with gravy, and mac and cheese complement the flavors.
Savor the Creole Seafood Gumbo with chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, and crab – all beautifully presented in metal tins. Seafood lovers must try the light crispy fried shrimp or fried catfish, served at the Scotch House since 1957. Don’t miss a sweet ending of Bread Pudding with chocolate rum sauce.
HiHo Cheeseburger in Santa Monica, Mid-Wilshire, Marina Del Rey, Studio City
Los Angeles is saturated with good burger joints, but some stand out from the crowd and entice you to drive out of your way to sample a worthy meat patty. HiHo Cheeseburger delivers one of the best 100 % grass-fed Wagyu burgers in LA, along with the most sinful cheesecake, with a dripping strawberry drizzle. Even take home a whole pie like Key Lime and Banana Cream.
Born from one of the founders of Sugarfish, HiHo Cheeseburger gets its juicy tender meat from First Light Farms in New Zealand. Burgers are mustard-grilled for extra flavor and smattered with lettuce, pickles, onion jam, and a squeeze of Simply Heinz ketchup. The burger not only tastes better but is better for you, with lower saturated fat and higher heart-healthy Omega-3s, vitamins, and antioxidants. The buns are baked daily using locally sourced milled flour and made with no preservatives.
Order a double or triple patty, amped with pastrami and accompanied by some hand-cut twice-fried fries. Milkshakes are a must as they are from a family-run farm-to-table creamery. Try the mix shake or craft soda. Beer and wine are also available.
Vegetarians can rejoice too! The house-made gluten-free vegan patty made from a blend of grains, legumes, and spices is available in a lettuce wrap. For those who want to veer off from burgers, check out additions like The Willie Mae, a New Orleans fried chicken sandwich.
Colony in West LA (11419 Santa Monica Blvd) has 30 restaurants under one roof and Muy Thai offers a crazy flavorful Pad Kra Pao with green beans, basil, red Thai chili, and Jasmine rice that could easily be two meals in one. Select the spice level and protein options like chicken, pork, shrimp, beef, or duck. Add an egg on top. Umami heaven!
Tasty curries are on the menu too. Consider sharing an order of the Pad Thai with shrimp or chicken. Satiate that sweet tooth with Mango Sticky Rice. Delivery, pick up, and catering are available. https://www.ordercolony.com
World Famous since 1952, the original Inglewood location is open 24/7 to satiate those donut cravings. You can’t miss the iconic sign, its grand donut resting atop the roof. Besides the favorite glazed, chocolate-raised, and raspberry jelly-filled varieties, Randy’s often sells limited fun donuts like the Punk Cake Donut, with icing and neon sprinkles, and specialty donuts like Fourth of July, with red white and blue decorations. A new beverage line is available with options like boba, specialty coffees, milkshakes, and refreshers.
lalascoop.com 