San Diego Burger - Burger Lounge

With locations spreading throughout both San Diego and Los Angeles, I had to get to Burger Lounge. The establishment boasts all organic ingredients and grass-fed single-source beef. Fortunately, the upscale ingredients don't elevate the prices. The Burger Lounge has only been around for a couple of years, so you might get to try this place before your friends do.

The Lounge Burger ($7.95)
Lounge bun, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, house-made 1000 Island,organic cheese - white cheddar or American, and fresh or grilled onion

Westlake Sandwich - Langer's

You probably won't find a more famous pastrami sandwich in California than Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant. Langer's has been a strong force in serving sandwiches and breakfast for more than 60 years next to MacArthur Park in downtown LA. The legendary pastrami is cut thicker than usual while still maintaining its mosture and flavor from added spices. They have a menu with a long list of numbered combination sandwiches, but the one everyone goes to try is the #19.

#19 ($15.20)
Pastrami, Swiss cheese and cole slaw with Russian style dressing

Chinatown Sandwich - Philippe's

Philippe The Original is responsible for inventing the French Dip Sandwich. In a very happy accident in 1918, owner Philippe Mathieu dropped the french roll of the sandwich he was making into a hot roasting pan and the customer wanted it anyway. Philippe's makes their own hot French mustard and offers french dip sandwiches with beef, pork, ham, lamb, or turkey and different levels of "wet". If you are at The Original, make sure you order the original version of the sandwich.

"Single Dip" Beef Dip ($6.50)
On a crusty French roll dipped in authentic “jus” created from freshly roasted meats.

Hollywood Taco - Pink Taco

Pink Taco came from Las Vegas but has become established as a necessary stop on Sunset Boulevard. The themes inside the restaurant make use of the name with various innuendos, in a similar fashion to the Hooters chain. You will also find pink tacos on the menu. This signature dish is made with pickled onions to give it the unique color.

Pink Tacos ($14.00)
Traditional tacos from the state of Yucatan, corn tortillas stuffed with black beans and topped with arbol salsa, grilled chicken, pickled pink onions and avocado. Served with rice and beans.

Hollywood Sandwich - Greenblatt's

Greenblatt's Deli-Restaurant & Fine Wine Shop is a Jewish deli that has been a fixture of Sunset Boulevard since 1926, before the famous road was even paved. Their fine wine bar attracts all the local rich and famous, but that doesn't stop them from making a variety of afordable groumet sandwiches and sides. It is visited by tourists so often that their menu contains a bucket list of all the food that one needs to try there. Needless to say, this blog is going to direct you to order from that part of the menu because you know your friends already have.

#5 Combo ($14.95)
Hot & juicy corned beef and pastrami on double baked rye with fresh homemade cole slaw, Swiss cheese, & Russian dressing

San Diego Restaurant - Blue Water Seafood

Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill in Mission Hills is one of the many fish markets in San Diego. What makes this place unique is that you can also order a sandwich, taco, salad, or plate with a choice of over 13 kinds of seafood and 6 kinds of marinade inside. An exotic fish taco or sandwich is something a lot of people have already gone here to try. You aren't going to go wrong with any of your orders here, but here are a couple of interesting options.

Bourbon Butter Shark Sandwich ($7.25)
Served on a soft bolillo roll with lettuce, red onion, and tartar sauce.

Yellowtail and Hawaiian Wahoo Tacos ($4.00, $4.00)
Served on warm El Indio tortillas with cabbage, tomatoes, onions, cheddar cheese, homemade white sauce, marinated in spicy chipotle.

San Diego Burger - Hodad's

Ocean Beach's coastline attracts a lot of hungry people to Hodad's located right on the sand. A "hodad" is a 1950s term for a beach bum, but they are ok if YOU come to experience their burgers too. All the components of the burger are large and the bacon is formed into its own entire patty to ensure that its presence is also noticed. The atmosphere reflects the name of the place and you will be able to eat your burger on a bench, barstool, or VW van seat.

Single Bacon Cheeseburger ($6.75)
with mayo, mustard, onion, ketchup, pickle, tomato, and lettuce

San Diego Taco - Mama Testa

Fish tacos are a very common sight on menus in San Diego restaurants. The fish tacos of Mama Testa Taqueria in Hillcrest were popular enough to win a throwdown against chef Bobby Flay. They are made with locally caught catfish and lightly deep-fried corn tortillas. All of the food choices of Mama Testa are based on regional dishes from different parts of Mexico. This, combined with an extensive salsa bar and brightly colored fiesta atmosphere, is what keeps San Diegans coming back for more.

Mividitas $11.99
Two catfish tacos served Querrero style (deep fried but not quite crunchy). Topped with Mexican coleslaw and queso fresco. Served with rice and black beans.

San Diego Sandwich - Donovan's

Donovan's Steakhouse is a fancy restaurant and very pricy for a normal meal, but all your friends know to get to this place during their happy hour for FREE sandwiches. Not only are they free, these Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches are made fresh throughout happy hour with 16-hour marinated beef. Just order a cocktail at the bar and watch as the free sandwiches come your way.

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches FREE
Shredded Filet Mignon marinated with mushrooms and onions on a hoagie roll with cheddar cheese

Donovan's has restaurants in La Jolla and downtown San Diego. The happy hour is much more popular in the downtown location so that is where your friends would prefer to meet you.

San Diego Sandwich - Point Loma Seafoods

Point Loma Seafoods is a deli located directly on the Point Loma fishing and boating docks. Along with selling fish by the pound, Point Loma Seafood makes fried fish sandwiches. You probably aren't going to find a fried scallop sandwich on many menus which is why your friends have made sure to get to this spot. The outdoor seating with a view of the ocean and many sailboats is also a draw.

Scallop Sandwich ($15.00) 
Lightly breaded scallops on fresh baked sourdough with their famous tartar sauce

San Diego Sandwich - Phil's BBQ

San Diego is credited as the birthplace of the tri-tip sandwich. If you want to try a famous one, the amusement park-sized line at Phil's BBQ should be a good indication of its popularity. As the name of the restuarant probably suggests, their specialty is covered in bar-be-que sauce and accompanied by a roll of paper towels.

El Toro Sandwich ($6.95)
Char-grilled deli sliced tri-tip topped with BBQ sauce

San Diego Restaurant - El Indio

El Indio intoduced tortillas to the United States in 1940 and they continue to exhibit their product to all customers while they wait in line to order. This traditional Mexican restuarant in Midtown is going to call for a traditional order. Their most popular item is a taquito, which is a term that was coined by El Indio's founder, Ralph Pesqueira Sr.

Mordiditas ($6.85)
Taquitos covered with Nacho Cheese & Jalapeno slices.

San Diego Sandwich - K Sandwiches

K Sanwiches is a Vietnamese market in Kearney Mesa that makes a huge number of sandwiches with Asian ingredients. Nearly every choice on the menu is well under $5. Their special sandwich is a classic bahn mi. If you have friends who like to eat bahn mi, those friends have either been to K Sandwiches or want to get there soon.

"K" Special ($2.99)
Banh Mi Dac Biet “K” with cilantro, jalapenos, house mayonnaise, pickled carrots, and daikon.

San Diego Burrito - Lucha Libre

San Diego is responsible for the invention of the California burrito which substitutes the traditional Spanish rice for french fries. Lucha Libre Taco Shop in Mission Hills is a very popular spot for giant and inexpensive burritos of all kinds. The addition of fresh San Diego seafood and a colorful Mexican wrestler theme is what brings your friends and the tv crew of Man Vs Food here.

Surfin California Burrito ($7.25)
Grilled Steak, Shrimp, Fresh French Fries, Avocado, Pico De Gallo, Cheese, & Super Secret Chipotle Sauce

Burbank Taco - Poquito Mas

Poquito Mas is a very popular spot in Burbank and its surrounding locations of Los Angeles. It started as a taco stand serving Baja style Mexican food in 1984 and has expanded to 10 restaurants that also deliver. If you order here, you'll want to go with their classic that started it all, The World's First Market-Price Taco.

Fresh Ahi Tuna Tacos (Market Price Range $6.25 - $7.95)
Two Petito tacos filled with fresh Ahi, served on handmade flour tortillas with cabbage, onion, cilantro and roasted red pepper sauce. Served with rice and black beans.

Burbank Burrito - Sharky's

Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill has locations throughout the LA area. This Mexican restaurant uses quality ingredients to create a huge menu of wood fired pizzas, tacos, burritos, and more. All-natural meat, organic rice and beans, and locally-grown greens give Sharky's food its uncommonly fresh taste. Fin-addicts who frequent Sharky's will tell you that the order to get isn't on the menu.

Fiesta Burrito With Tempura Shrimp ($8.49)

Tempura Shrimp with rice, beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa verde on a flour or low-fat whole wheat tortilla

Glendale Sandwich - Mario's Deli

Double decker burgers are extremely easy to find, but Mario's Italian Deli & Market in Glendale features double decker submarine sandwiches. Their most popular choice and probably the biggest of their sandwiches is the Bad Boy Sub.

The Bad Boy Sub $9.99
Honey maple turkey, mesquite bbq chicken, lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, mayo, mozarella cheese, avocado, and spicy italian peppers

Burbank Burger - Bob's Big Boy

Bob's Big Boy has restaurants across the US but the oldest remaining location is in Burbank. It is a California National Landmark and was a favorite spot of Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, and many other celebrities. You can sit at "The Beatles Booth" where the band stopped to eat during their 1965 US Tour.

The famous burger of Bob's Big Boy was the inspiration for the Big Mac at McDonald's. It is a fairly straightforward burger, but your friends have all had it.

Classic Big Boy
Two fresh seasoned patties with American cheese, shredded lettuce and Big Boy® special sauce on a sesame seed bun. Served with fries.

Burbank Restaurant - The SmokeHouse

The The SmokeHouse Restaurant is located across the street from Warner Brothers Studios, so a lot of celeb sightings happen here. They have a variety of sandwiches and other entrees, but this appetizer is what they are known for.

 

The World's Greatest Garlic Bread
Half Order  $3.95     Full Order  $5.95

Burbank Sandwich - Porto's

I currently live in Burbank, CA. A well-known place in Burbank is Porto's Bakery & Cafe whether you are looking for cakes, coffee, or a sandwich. The huge variety of menu items doesn't prevent quality ingredients from being used all around. Their popularity is evident by the long lines all day long. Luckily the service is fast and the wait time flies by, sometimes with the addition of free samples. This is what your friends might order at this Cuban deli.

Medianoche Preparada ($5.60)
Medianoche sandwich (slices of slow roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, butter, and mustard and mayonnaise mix on a sweet roll) with ham croquettes. Side of banana chips.

Potato Ball ($0.90)
A soft mashed potato ball filled with seasoned ground beef, fried to golden brown. 

There are also locations in Glendale and Downey.

Introduction

Hello!
I spend a lot of time on the internet looking for interesting food places and the signature dish that I need to try once I get there. I am always thrilled to find a unique sandwich, burger, burrito, or slice of pizza.

Then if I mention having gone to this place to friends, I find that everyone is already well-aware of the location and the best thing to order. Why don't I know this stuff? Do they find out from somewhere online?

I figure I should start sharing what I have found. Hopefully this blog can serve up some friendly points of interest. No reviews, just the restaurant food your friends have had!