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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Food

Goin' Back to Cali: The Golden State, Redux

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It's summertime (shhh, don't tell the calendar) and the livin' can still be easy when you grub on burgers and beer. The Golden State on Fairfax is one of the newest burgers on the map (and, yes, it also happens to have made it onto this map of some of the city's Essential eats) and after LAist Lifestyle Editor Julie Wolfson got a taste of the place, it wasn't going to be long before the rest of us got on board.

The Golden State was the perfect Sunday night stop last weekend before hitting up a nearby concert. It was laid back inside the tiny storefront-style eatery, but the food packed a super-sized taste and the service was all smiles. We ordered up a house burger, done medium-rare and...grab a napkin!...that sucker is juicy!

Okay, so we got a little greedy with the sides; in addition to getting the Persian Cucumber Salad with the burger, and the Potato Salad with another diner's Chicken Apple Sausage, we had to add on a plate of Jalapeño Slaw and a side of Sweet Potato Fries. Those are some kick-ass sides, folks. The potato salad was creamy and comforting, the Persian cukes crisp and refreshing, the Slaw light with that extra oomph of mellow afterburn, and the Sweet Potato fries extra thick and crisp on the outside, tender on the inside. Paired with the Green Flash Le Freak, one of the daily beer special selections (described as "If a Belgian Tripel and a California IPA had a baby, this is probably what it would be",) that was one mighty fine dinner. And, yes--we saved room for dessert. A scoop each of Scoops ice cream.

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