If you can get out of work (or your jammies) NOW you may still have time to hit the road, or, better yet, catch a flight, up to the Sacramento area, where in a town called Orangevale, one medical marijuana dispensary is giving out free pot today. more ›

That's what a hamburger, customer service, value, and being fast is all about: In-N-Out Burger comes in at the top of Consumer Reports' first-ever major ratings of fast food restaurants. more ›

Ok reader Renee you're on. You claim to be a french fryologist, let's do this thing. Here is the bold assertion put forth by one sassy spudster: "I am a french fryologist and these were the most delicious ever," Renee says of a trip to the now defunct On Fire Grill. "This is a side of fries and Israeli Salad along with the Chicken Shwarma." more ›

Inquiring minds want to know: Which of the fast food chains operating here in Southern California make the best french fries? Actually, it is the Fast Food Maven at the OC Register who is wondering, and you can chip in with your pick in their poll. Wendy's is about to debut a "hotter, crispier" box of fried starchy goodness that are "skin-on fries seasoned with sea salt." Sea salt! How chic! Meanwhile, you might be a loyalist (McDonald's), a purist (In-N-Out), or non-conformist (Jack in the Box's curly fries). However, we can't fathom who would select "tube steak smothered in underware [sic]" from the list. You must really hate fries. more ›

I have a bone to pick with Mark Peel. Actually, I have a couple. more ›

In this town, burgers are like agents: everybody’s got one. Wait, that’s not quite right. But at least you get the idea: there’s no shortage of burger opinions, as we’ve already seen plenty of on this site. But one thing we should all be able to get behind is simple, delicious, cheap food. more ›

All this talk about burgers means only one thing: FRIES! So how about a little side-order tastebud teasing with these Eye Nosh pics of fries from all over town found in our LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. more ›

Rick's Drive-in in Pasadena serves old-style burgers, shakes, and fries, but those in the know go there for one thing - the spuderito. Stuffed with french fries, tomato sauce, cheese, onions and salsa, this messy burrito comes with a huge handful of napkins. Really, it is so spicy it is almost more like a salsarito. If you like, you can add meat for a dollar ten, but that really isn't what the spuderito is all about. more ›

Are we all over our New Year's resolutions to cut out fatty fried foods yet? Because if you're in the mood to Cherchez Les Frites in Los Angeles, it's time to spill the beans potatoes on where you like to go. more ›

School cafeteria food doesn't have the draw it used to, it seems. The Daily News is reporting today that the LAUSD is having to lose out on millions of dollars in federal funds "because just half of its eligible students are taking advantage of a lunch program in which kids eat for free or at reduced prices." more ›

It may look like your average, everyday taco truck, but the Shabazz Good Foods truck is not slinging the usual carnitas. Every Sunday, you can find their truck parked on 43rd and Crenshaw at Leimert Plaza Park. They sell not only the infamous bean pies, but blueberry cream pies, pineapple cream pies, and a few soulful lunches. more ›

If you're anything like us and still incorporate large quantities of instant ramen noodles into your diet (is that shameful for a food writer to admit?), this morning's news might cause more than a little worry. We woke to our local news broadcasters discussing yet another American health worry: salt. Apparently Americans consume 50% too much salt in their diet, much of it locked up in processed and canned foods, and the FDA is... more ›

The unwritten rules for laundromats built before 1987 are as following: A. A half dozen washers or dryers must have Out of Order signs B. A crazy looking person who doesn't appear to be doing laundry at all must stare randomly at people. C. A musty classic arcade game such as Ms. Pac-Man or Galaga sit in the corner for entertainment. Now, I'm not a slack-jawed obsessive classic arcade gamer by any means but I... more ›

Pink's, shminks. No, honestly. Who wants to stand in that line on a hot summer afternoon just to get a middling dog covered in shitty chili on top of an untreated white flour bun? Not me, dudes and dudettes: but I sure will walk far (twenty minutes tops, depending on footwear and levels of drunkenness) for a Skooby's Hot Dog. I want my bun infused with garlic, my dog compact with flavor and deep-fried... more ›

Tomorrow night Safari Sam's will be doing something so unusual that it kind of confused me at first. Yet upon second glance, it seems so obvious that it makes me wonder why clubs have not been doing this kind of thing all along. Sam will be holding a "town hall" meeting to allow members of the community to ask questions and voice their opinions. For those who are wondering, both the bar and the kitchen will be open for service during the meeting. more ›

Wendy’s – home of square hamburger patties, decent fast-food chili and the Frosty – is giving aspiring musicians and producers a chance to show off their stuff by promoting their new “Baconator” burger. (That includes six strips of bacon! At 830 calories and 51 grams of fat for the Baconator, LAist asks only one thing: What obesity epidemic??) But we digress: By submitting an original song, contestants will get a chance to win “a... more ›

Hey kids, it's Friday the 13th! That means that our Aqua Teen Hunger Force Contest ends at 4:20pm today because the movie comes out today, which means if you haven't entered yet, you need to go over to this post and do so. We're giving away a prize package to a lucky winner that includes an ATHF beach ball, koozie, sticker, poster, post card, socks, and a CD sampler. And yes, we did say... more ›

Never saw the show. Loved the movie. And I suspect having no frame of reference in which to interpret the behavior of flying french fries and/or the motivations of an amorphous meatwad might have actually added to my experience. This landmark film is like the search for the holy grail meets the Terminator for a string-theory stroll through time and space with pregnant, gym-techno loving robots, poodles with laser beam eyes, creepy Abe Lincoln,... more ›

As you might have seen by our excitement to get the Aqua Teen Hunger Force's music playlist yesterday, we're stoked that the Adult Swim cartoon is going to come out with a full-length movie on Friday the 13th. So we were super excited when they contacted us to tell us that we can give away an ATHF prize package to one lucky LAist reader. Gentlepeople, behold, the package includes: an ATHF beach ball, koozie,... more ›

We wanted to wait a while before checking out the new-ish Oinkster in Eagle Rock--and, admittedly, gear ourselves up for a major pig out on what they call their "slow fast food." So recently we stepped inside the red and white "shack" on Colorado in Eagle Rock for some lunch. Sitting in the interior made us feel like we'd crossed over into one of those nouveau "indie" films with big budgets; maybe it was... more ›

Because Fries Always Go Better with Belly Button Lint more ›

Every city tries to accommodate transplants in the best way they can with some nosh from their home city. BJ's offers "Chicago Style" pizza. If anyone has ever tried their Chicago Style pizza, they know BJ's is as confused about their pizza as their own name. more ›

There comes a time in most diner's lives when clearly the palate should be expanded. Sometimes this means heading into unchartered waters. It helps to have a guide along for trip; at the very least in dining out it is nice to be taken somewhere new to you by someone who's been there before. That is precisely how this LAist was introduced to Peruvian seafood at Los Balcones Del Peru. more ›

We aren't churchgoers or religious, really, but we think if there is a hell, that's exactly where the man is going who shot several rounds into a Riverside home on Christmas, killing an 11-year old boy. more ›

When we spotted a place called Paris Baguette on Western near 1st Street, we naturally thought French pastries. But that's because we've never been to South Korea. There, Paris Baguette is a well-known chain, about as French as french fries. Enchanted by the cross-cultural oddness, we were lured inside. We like the little boxes for your pastries, the fancy self-serve, the extra-polite staff in bakery outfits. We tried the enormous triangle toast, somewhere between sponge cake and bread with a crispy sugar shell, and the delicious thing we forgot the name of because we immediately began calling it the red bean bear claw. Judging by English-language blogs about Korea, Paris Baguette is a step above Dunkin' Donuts -- but not a big step. It certainly isn't making the best croissants in LA, but it's got the best darn red bean bear claw around. more ›

Well, it's another month in magazine publishing, so it's another month's list from the folks at Los Angeles Magazine. This time, like they do every year, they're apprising their readership of their picks for the "Best" in LA. We've noticed over the years that there's no particular method to their madness, just for them to make mention of 101 things that have struck their fancy this year in this city. In looking at their food and drink selections, we're frankly not surprised. They invoke a handful of the currently most dished about spots for dining in town; places they've name-dropped as recently as last month's "Cheap Eats" feature, like KP'S Deli, and places we've talked about, like The Farm of Beverly Hills (renowned here for their brownies), and The Border Grill (amazingly, for a non-alcoholic cocktail, the Minty Lime Cooler). We noticed a heavy favoritism towards restaurants in the Beverly Hills and adjacent areas, with only the ethnic entries coming from elsewhere around town (Middle Eastern at Mandaloun in Glendale, Tamales at Tamales Liliana in Boyle Heights). Naturally the inclusion of a "Small Plates" category was to hail the popular A.O.C., and we're also basking in the obviousness of the "Best Chowder" choice of downtown's Water Grill, highly reputed for their seafood. Some, like us, may balk at their assertion that Canter's Deli serves the best waffles, that the higher end Jar is the spot for french fries, and that a Curry House in Little Tokyo is the best spot for kids. So what was missing? We wish they'd settle our "Best Burger" debate, and also offer us insight on eats near and dear to us, like cupcakes (no mention, despite frequent foodie talk on the topic), ice cream, group dining, happy hour, and sushi. While we know that LA Mag's LA is not our LA, or that there's no such thing as one LA, but we sure wish they would up and surprise us. more ›

Admittedly, we like Gordon Biersch, although it had been probably a good two years or so since we'd last sat in the brewpub and sipped a microbrew. We adore the smashing way they pair garlic with french fries, and hear that now you can even buy them at good old Dodger Stadium, which, if you're headed there, seems like a good thing. Our table ordered various shades and flavors of beer--Hefeweizen, Blonde Bock, and Marzen being the top choices--as well as various items off the menu. Plates were passed around to share the wealth of appetizers, like our Spicy Ahi Spring Rolls, Shrimp and Chicken Potstickers, and Calamari. Some swore by the Goat Cheese Ravioli, a pizza was split three ways, and burgers with piles of aforementioned garlic fries were gobbled with gusto. Desserts, like the generous Carrot Cake and the Key Lime Cheesecake, met with eager forks. The food is good--not stellar, not revolutionary, but good--and everything is better with beer. Moreso, everything, including life in general, is better with a mojito, we think, and GB's is a winner. We think they sub Sprite for sugar and soda water, which, granted, takes away the rugged authenticity of the cocktail, but makes it incredibly refreshing and sippable. When the bill came there was the usual chaos of group dining--who owes what, who needs change, were we overcharged, is the tip added in?--and after some fussing, it was settled. We did notice, however, that there's an item called "Gratuity Tax" listed; this seemed odd, and even our pleasant server was stumped to its purpose. A good old Google search unearthed this piece from Seattlest territory, that assures us it's completely legit. So the tale of "where do we go?" woe ended on a happy note, and we left, full of beer, and garlic, and the sweet fizz of mojitos. more ›

In-n-Out is the obvious choice for number one. It's a tradition, it's a legend, it's a SoCal staple. We like that they have a secret menu, that they were the first to offer a burger "protein style" and that from what we hear, they treat their employees well. We like what comes with the burger, too--creamy milkshakes and tasty french fries. The Double Double is one of our favorite burgers, hands down. more ›