Los Angeles: In-N-Out Burger on Sunset Blvd.

It’s pouring rain in New York today, so I’m dreaming about this:

Once, my friend and I had a hankering for In-N-Out. We were one block away when we realized we had to make a turn; in our panic for milkshakes, she suddenly swerved into the next lane and bumped into another car. No one was hurt, but thus is the power of In-N-Out.

I admit, my favorite fast food fries are from McDonald’s. However, it’s comforting to see real people slicing real potatoes in real time at In-N-Out.

Cheeseburger. The sauce (or spread) In-N-Out uses on its burgers tastes like Thousand Island dressing. Yummmmmm.

I don’t eat beef, so I get the grilled cheese which is the exact same thing as a cheeseburger — minus the patty. The grilled cheese, along with the popular Animal Style burger, is on the not-so-secret Secret Menu. There are more options on the complete Secret Menu, like Neapolitan milkshakes and custom fries.

In-N-Out Burger
7009 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028

San Francisco: Bob’s Donut & Pastry Shop

A 24-hour donut shop in the Nob Hill neighborhood. Hot donuts taste even better after midnight.

They start making donuts around 9-10 PM. You can call ahead or check their Twitter to see when they’re ready, but we got lucky and arrived in the middle of a live donut making session.

A whole rack of cooling donuts. Cool faster, damn you.

At last, paradise by the neon light. This classic glazed donut was fresh and hot and so, so delicious.

Lots of people come here for the apple fritters. I liked the fresh apple chunks inside, but after having a hot donut, a room temperature one just couldn’t compare.

We tried an old-fashioned cake donut too (not hot); I really learned the best plan is to get whatever’s fresh out of the deep fryer, regardless of what kind it is.

Late night donut paparazzi showdown.

If every neighborhood had a 24-hour donut shop like Bob’s, the world would be a happier place.

Bob’s Donut & Pastry Shop / @whatsfreshest
1621 Polk Street
(between Sacramento Street & Clay Street)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 776-3141

Los Angeles: Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles

I had chicken and waffles for the first time during my freshman year of college. One of my professors took us to a museum in Harlem; afterward, we went to a soul food joint where he foisted chicken and waffles upon us until we all (quickly) saw the light.

In L.A., I go to Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles to get my fix. I’ve only been to the Hollywood branch, but there are five locations throughout L.A.

You can order pretty much any combination of chicken parts and waffles. The Country Boy combo is three wings with a waffle (or french fries/potato salad):

I usually get the Carol C. Special, which the menu describes as “1 succulent breast, 1 delicious waffle”:

The chicken tastes like they serve it to you right out of the fryer; it’s piping hot, juicy, and crispy.  The waffles are good on their own, but even better with the fried chicken — an unexpected but delicious pairing of sweet and savory.

For side orders, I like the mac and cheese and smothered potatoes with gravy. The mac and cheese is more of the dry kind as opposed to the gooey cheesy kind, but it’s comforting.

These potato chunks are indeed smothered with gravy. Tasty tasty.

Roscoe’s recently expanded so the wait isn’t as bad as it used to be, but it’s still better to avoid peak lunch or dinner hours. If you don’t mind getting your food to go, they have special deals for take-out orders only (like five fried chicken thighs for $6.00).

Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles
1514 North Gower Street (corner of Sunset)
Los Angeles, California 90028

Los Angeles: Nom Nom Truck

Nom Nom Truck (of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” fame) serves two items: báhn mì — Vietnamese sandwiches — and Vietnamese tacos. The day I stopped by for lunch, they were parked in front of 5900 Wilshire Blvd., a food truck hot spot. There were five or so trucks parked on the same block, but Nom Nom had the longest line.

The grilled pork Vietnamese taco was basically the innards of a báhn mì (pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, cilantro, pork) served on a soft taco tortilla.

The lemongrass chicken báhn mì was tasty; the chicken was moist and the baguette was fresh and crunchy. I ordered mine without cilantro, because I’m on Team Anti-Cilantro.

The Nom Nom Truck is a solid and reasonably priced lunch option if they happen to be in the area; however, I don’t think I’d travel out of my way to eat there.

Nom Nom Truck / @nomnomtruck
Check their website or Twitter for the truck schedule.