(Not obvious please) I’ll start with Roscoe’s. It used to be good but massive quality decline. What are your opinions on overrated spots?
Edit: I meant places specific to LA not food chains like CFA/ Wendy’s lol
Hard agree.
Street tacos are just as good for considerably less.
Street tacos are 100x better than the crap they push there
100%
I like Danny, but that food did not sit well with me. Twice.
Yeah it’s overpriced meh
The donuts are better but still not fantastic.
Unpopular Opinion: Most establishments in West Hollywood are overrated
That's not an unpopular opinion at all. WeHo is probably #1 in tourism and celebs so the prices are insane
West Hollywood in its entirety is overrated, unless you're a fan of getting roofied.
Transplants LOVE WeHo. We warn them, but the transplants keep recommending it to other incoming transplants.
It's insufferable. I had a friend visit from Chicago just the other week. Tried to warn him. He wondered why he blacked out after 2 drinks (and he has high tolerance from drinking regularly). ¯\(ツ)/¯
Is it just heavy pours?
Heavy pours of GHB.
I don’t want to just say roofies or any other drug… but the times I’ve gone with my gay friends to WeHo at least one person in the group has gotten pass out drunk… I regularly drink with these people and the only place that has happened is in WeHo… It’s literally every time we’ve gone, which is a lot over the years.
Don’t want to blame one establishment since it’s just speculation. But we all know the place this happens in a lot.
True. I've had the same experience. I can drink a lot almost anywhere (at home or otherwise) but two drinks at the Abbey and you're like blackout drunk.
And it was indeed that place for my friend.
(The Abbey)
I think there has been news coverage on this happening at The Abbey before. But fresh transplants and tourists might not know the longer reputation.
The cecconis happy hour burger is still my top burger of all time. The rest of the food is a huge let down.
This is only a hot take if you’re talking to transplants
Al Basch is pretty good. BBQ+Rice is pretty good. They're not trendy places to go to.
Plan Check makes incredible hamburgers but they used to be $16 they're like $30 now lmfao
Haven’t been there in years but I remember their Jidori chicken sandwich being super reliable as well. But yeah, that was back when it was $15
And only one restaurant left :( loved the place at fairfax
They still make good food, but definitely it's absurdly overpriced. I think they're going to have a hard time surviving now that Tuktuk's opening a smash burger place down the street.
Roscoe’s 💯💯 i like chicken & waffles, just not theirs. they’re coasting on the name
Hungry Fox in Noho has some pretty good shit
Yoooooooo this is the correct answer.
All Roscoes are not the same. The original has fallen off dramatically. The one in Pasadena is ironically much better.
The quality has gone absurdly down over the years.
In the 90's it was good.
By 2015 I didn't finish my plate and walked out. Haven't been back.
Imo it's not bad at breakfast time, last time I went in the morning the chicken was actually fresh and crispy, but I imagine they fry it all at the start of the day then just keep it warm til closing
They go through so much chicken I can't imagine this is something they could do even if they wanted.
I have no other way to explain it being better in the morning and worse in the afternoon besides maybe the day shift cook just sucks, but that would only explain the one location I usually eat at on Gower.
Could just be that! Busier during the day so perhaps they're rushing and cutting corners.
Yep was very disappointed last time
I don't know...being drunk as hell and then eating their fried chicken smothered in the onion gravy....it's freaking heaven.
Try eating it sober I guarantee you will realize why people are shitting on it
I didn't like their waffles but their chicken was one of my favorites
User deleted comment
2mo
Javiers is shit everywhere
Some epic people watching at the Crystal cove location in OC though
Agreed. I fail to understand why people talk about Javier’s as if it’s the pinnacle of fine Mexican cuisine. Blows my mind.
No joke, I think it was in part because it's been hyped on Real Housewives of Orange County.
Their original location in Laguna used to be great. Once they relocated to Newport Coast and expanded like crazy the quality went downhill.
Tito's Tacos
I had it and I was like… I get that this is a gringo taco you don’t really get anywhere else and this is a nostalgia trip for most of the customers, but your average taco dorado at any of a 1000 taquerias in this city is just so much tastier
It's funny how people call them gringo tacos when there are almost never any gringos actually eating there.
The only thing better than a Tito's Taco is a taco somewhere else.
Name checking Tito's is such low-hanging fruit. Even people who grew up with it will say that nostalgia does a lot of heavy lifting. Now, maybe the higher prices outweigh everything, but the hate reminds me of NorCal hating on SoCal. The haters get so triggered and the people they hate don't care. The funny thing is, it's not white people standing in those lines.
Tito’s has some of the best red chile sauce I’ve ever eaten in my life.
Their bean & cheese burrito is the only thing I’ll ever stop there for.
Rather go to cinco de mayo at corner. On serious note, tacos Don Felix down the street is a great hole in the wall.
My dads been going since the 70s or 80s, he literally loves and hates this spot lol
Very popular for this subreddit. Transplants always are hating on it
As others have stated, the food is actually not bad. The wait just isn’t worth it. Cinco de Mayo gang all the way
I gave them a try once after many years of passing by it, had the driest breakfast burrito of my life. No thanks. Maybe need to try something else there
Behold, a taco with all the waxy cheese on one side and all the nondescript meat on the other. Now every bite is all meat or all cheese, just how people like it.
Place is a cult
Tito’s is solid. It’s the pricing that’s out of whack.
Agree here.
Egg Slut
THE most overrated garbage of all. If anyone is really craving egg dishes, try Egg Tuck instead.
Egg tuck is amazing. I thought egg sandwiches were “solved” until I had theirs.
Egg Tuck singlehandedly cured my depression.
Egg Tuck rules
What’s the difference? I don’t know how you can fuck up an egg sandwich.
Eggslut has all the hallmarks of a brand designed by venture capital bros with a name aimed at appealing to quirky millennials. It's all branding. Packaging. It's the blandest sandwich you'll ever have at a premium price. Food for yuppies & suckers.
Except that it’s not, it’s founded and still owned by a local chef Alvin Cailan. That dude is very nice and still keeps his hand in the business.
Soft, runny agree.
I very much look forward to trying Egg Tuck.
My partner works out in Santa Clarita and says The Flying Yolk is quite good.
Weird seeing so much hate here, I enjoy it. They actually know how to cook eggs and potatoes, good sauces, decent price.
Call me old fashioned but I refuse to patronize an establishment with the word “slut” in its name, it’s just sexist and off putting. I may be incorrect but it’s not even woman owned (and yes I know men can be sluts, but the word has a certain connotation against women)
I love you for saying this. I agree completely. And it's not old fashioned, it's just giving a shit about misogyny. And on top of that, it sounds so stupidly edgelordy. It sounds like a 12-yo named it. It bums me out to see so many younger people who know better than we did to handwave away so much misogyny.
It sounds like something a college bro would name a business for a school project. “For our presentation we created a business model for an office supply store and we’re gonna call it Pencil Skank” haha
Thank. You.
I live less than 2 miles from one of their locations and I've never been, or even looked at their menu. Misogyny kills my appetite.
I HATE this place! I'm at the one in Beverly Hills... the vibe, the food, the atmosphere is all whack!
So stupid, it’s like LA people who didn’t know egg sandwich existed had their minds blown by the most boring egg sandwich possible. 1000% hype
5 guys = overpriced for what you get
That's a chain so the comment is irrelevant. OP specifically said no chains.... what small restaurants do you frequent, or refuse to?
El Coyote has great vibes but the food is v mid
Casa Vega is the same. Kinda fun place but the food is very average.
Very very average.
Mel’s Diner is absolute trash food, not sure why people go, it’s also very expensive. But the vibe is great I guess.
Mel’s Diner is absolute trash food, not sure why people go
Have you ever had a night out? People don't go to Mel's just to go to Mel's. People end up at Mel's.
Go to swingers instead
Mel’s is a place that is near all the clubs, is open at nights, has tables, can accommodate groups of bar hoppers, and has food. That’s the reason.
Canters , In N Out, and Denny’s have the same purpose.
I always recommend that people visiting LA go to Canters at 7am on a Sunday morning. The mix of 80 year old Jewish couples and party monster vampires is hilarious and peak mid city culture.
The West Hollywood Astro Burger is the best diner food I’ve had in LA
Fucking Pink's hotdogs. To me who tried it for the first time back in 2012 its always been mid at best. Tbh I like $2 Wienerschnitzel corn dogs way better even if Pinks were that cheap.
If you want a great old classic corn dog then you gotta go to Craig’s hotdog on a stick on the Redondo Beach pier across/near El Torito. Same recipe and similar prices as his father who originally owned a chain of Hotdog on a Sticks from the 1960’s
Edit: I think last summer they were $2.75 per corn dog. So with a handmade lemonade was ~$10 for 2 dogs and a drink. Worth it for the nostalgia.
Tail of the Pup is excellent. Also Two Hands in K Town
I used to go to the original Tail of the Pup as a kid. Now it just feels like a licensed merchandising opportunity.
Don’t disagree, but food is excellent. Same story with the reconstruction of Irv’s Burgers.
Wienerschnitzel corn dogs are better than most other food. The chili dogs too.
I like their fries too.
Pija Palace. Not sure why people would wait in line for this.
Especially with a 19% service fee
And with tables on top of each other and the host trying to push you out as soon as you eat.
Gotta disagree here. Think it’s unique and extremely good
That place literally made me puke. Ugh that sweet pizza thing… overcooked pasta. Not ever been back and it’s in my neighborhood
Dodger Dogs. I wish they would replace them with Costco Hot Dogs.
I wish we could replace Costco hot dogs with Costco polish dogs.
They taste like tofu dogs.
Uncle Paulies
In and Out. Nah I'm just kidding. Could you imagine?
In and Out is pretty incredible. Super cheap, consistent food and excellent service.
I hate their fries but I recognize I’m in the minority
Trust me order the fries "light well." NOT "well" then they're too crispy like potato chips. Light well means they're just actually fully cooked and taste much better.
Give it a try! But don't tell anyone it's my secret.
Yep, light well is my go to too
I think you are in the majority on the fries, unless maybe the animal-style people.
People always look at me like I’ve insulted their mother when I dare disparage the fries. Good to know I’m not alone.
Their fries suck. Never order them, just burgers.
You had me in the first half, NGL.
Nobu. Canter’s.
Canter’s isnt great food and its crazy anybody thinks it is. Its in a good location that has a lot of history with entertainment.
Canters was never particularly good just open late. The one time I went to Nobu was magical but that was in 2010.
Langers over Canters any day. The quality at Nobu is good but it’s the incessant use of Nobu as a status symbol and its vapid influencer/celeb wannabe crowd that make it obnoxious and overrated for me. Many people elevate it to near god-like status which I find disingenuous.
I wish Langers had better hours
Hard agree on Canters
Hard disagree.
King Taco. Most taco trucks / stands on the street are better and cheaper. Plus, their red salsa ain't what it used to be.
King Taco is local shit. They've been around forever and a lot of us grew up on it.
King taco is played out. Their food isn’t as good as it used to be. But tacos are like pizza, even when they’re bad, they’re still pretty good.
As I get older I’ve been enjoying their green salsa now lol
I’ve always said the only reason people love King Taco is because 99% of them are hammered drunk when they eat it.
Everything. Everything has turned to sh*t
Very true. Too many people have become ok with mediocrity and high prices.
Cooking at home is so much better. Make everything exactly how you like it. And no service charge!
Yup pretty much only eat at home or work.. miss me with wasting money on mid food
Craig's
Apple Pan. Tasteless burger.
Erewhon. Nuff said.
The Habit
I really don't understand this comment lmao it's fairly priced for what it is and is a fast food chain serving above average food.
Finally! I absolute don’t get the hype w this place.
I still like the Habit for cheap grub. Compared to most other „burger wars“ places it’s normally priced.
Easy Street Burgers was recommended by some friends of mine as a place that gets a lot of influencer traffic. The wait was long and the burgers were pricey and under seasoned. Definitely not as good as In-N-Out in my opinion.
I hate to leave negative feedback without calling out something I love, So Win-Dow burger was really good for the price considering the area.
Huh, I actually like East Street quiet a bit. I think they beat out In-n-Out imo (I actually think in-n-out is overrated based off the typical wait times). I also went at a time where I didn’t wait longer than a couple minutes to order, so that helped
Have you had a chance to try For the Win burgers? They just opened one here in the valley, they were amazing!
Agree. I've been to most of the smash burger places and like most of them, but this one seemed too smashed and reliant on the sauce.
I must have went on a bad day because those parties were salty AF.
I enjoyed Easy Street a lot more when they had the lot in EaHo and the wait wasn’t days long
Mochi nut. It’s never fresh. Instead go to Mochi Dochi on Sawtelle.
Dave’s hot chicken. It was so much better when they were in the parking lot. Then they started franchising and the quality DROPPED
Tito’s Tacos are completely average
Casa Vega is a fun place, but the food is borderline inedible. Same can be said about Don Cuco’s.
House of Pies. I don’t care how many screenplays Tarantino wrote there.
The Apple Pan really underwhelmed me relative to the hype. I guess it's a nostalgia thing if you were born in LA? In a city defined by great burgers, thought it was pretty meh.
I think they’re gone now but umami burger was so bland and overrated and made me sick and I’m still not over it lol
This one is a travesty. Used to be one of my favorite burgers and went down the moment they sold.
Way gone, and evicted from at least the one on Broadway in Santa Monica.
You came too late. It used to be super gourmet and amazing, then they got bought out by someone and changed the whole business, different suppliers and cooking methods and everything. Now it’s even worse than In and Out.
I have an acquaintance with a trust fund that brought me to Umami Burger once because she was friends with the owner and swore up and down it was amazing.
I've never been so mad. Paid like $30 for a terrible slider and fries.
Really? I actually liked it. I went to the one downtown LA
Hot dog vendors outside Staples center
They used to be great until they got popular and the market has been overcrowded for at least 12 years. And now these friggin people are charging up to 8 bucks each and seem to have forgotten they're selling fucking hot dogs. Piss the fuck off with those prices it was awesome to get one for a buck or two after a show at the Palladium but unfortunately those days are gone.
For $3-$4 sure… not for the $7-$8 they charge now.
Oh and Monty’s >> Roscoes
Tito’s Tacos is trash
Mediocre at best and so overhyped
Anyone remember Hamburger Hamlet on Wilshire Blvd?......i miss that place...
Apple pan
Katsuya Over priced and only ok sushi. You're better off going to a mom/pop place anywhere else in LA
The Apple Pan.
Monty’s. Sage. Father’s Office. Saints&Sinners. Velvet Margarita. Kalaveras.
Velvet Margarita has been closed for years.
Monty’s is solid, anyone I bring there genuinely enjoys it. The burger spot I mean.
Love Monty's but then I discovered Hey Sunshine Kitchen down the street. Game changer!
Kalaveras is wack. They’re popping up everywhere now too
Fathers office Santa Monica any day over the other location.
I tried Kalaveras once. And I’ll never go back. Poor food. Poor service. Poor ambiance.
Fathers Office has delicious food but it’s just WAY overpriced. It used to be reasonable but during the pandemic it became like $75 for two people to go have a burger and sweet potato fries.
Plus their “we don’t carry ketchup” policy is super fucking pretentious and lame. Sorry, I don’t dip French fries in fucking flavored mayo.
90% of food trucks
trendy food trucks*
I haven't been to roscoes in years but that's sad to hear. Cheesy eggs were soooo good. Which one are you talking about?
I gotta say Tito's tacos sucks ass x2
Every Mexican place on Olivera Street. Fight me.
I do like their taquitos and green sauce
Guisados
Nonsense!
Guisados is the closest thing to home cooked food in a taco form. all of their choices are dishes I grew up eating at my grandmas house and I think they’re worth the price knowing how involved cooking them is.
Heathen (and by that I mean bummer it doesn’t resonate with your palette. For me they’re among the best tacos I’ve had since move from Mexico)
Huh?!
I always get a chicken tinga taco, and lay it on top of a bean taco, and eat them like that with a fork and knife.
Adds depth to both tacos.
Father's Office
You fuck off with that negativity
nah tried it again recently and still loved it lol. This burger was what made me start eating meat again after over ten years pescetarian.
No, they are still good
Give me ketchup bitch
Mess Hall
Low Boy way down on Sunset has a great burger. Also the burger at the Hermosillo on York is nice. Typical smash burgers, I suppose lots of local places have good burgers like that. Burger She Wrote was good too, but overpriced.
Stout. I hate soggy buns and the burgers got smaller
The McDonald’s across the street from Nobu
I don’t know the name but The ice cream truck on my block
Pink’s. I’ll die on this hill.
Phillipes, Guisados, Prince’s.
I don’t know about overrated but the Most Underrated is Bills in Van Nuys. Bill has been flipping Burgers there since Sputnik launched.
I can't stand Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles! I actually Google reviewed them and got a massive apology from a manager and an offer for free food - yeah right, like I'll waste my time and outfit to go out for another bad time. The food was terrible, the service was non-existent, and the atmosphere was a bit trash.
Another place, "Earle's Hotdogs" on Crenshaw and MLK, and "Dirt Dogs" at USC. I LOVE hotdogs but these places absolutely disappoint. At Earle's it's not great tasting, it literally tastes like canned chili, but the service and owner are nice so... It's a trade. At Dirt Dog's the service is the shitty pits and the hotdogs are over-priced for the same thing I can get from a street hotdog vendor for 1/3 the price! And it's pretty scuzzy on the inside. I reviewed them also and the manager promised to change... I won't be back to see if it happens.
Tito’s Tacos
In-N-Out, not worth the insane waits/parking/ drive-thru line, their fries are only good if you’re eating them straight out of the fryer, and now that they’re starting to raise their prices, it’s even less appealing.
To add to that, pizza/ chicken/ burger pop ups in general are ruining things. What used to be cheap/ cost efficient meals are now all running up to $20-$30 per person. A chicken finger should cost $6, Dave’s Hot Chicken
In-N-Out Burger. As a local, we have much better tastier burgers and I don’t understand the crazy lines
Trejo’s Tacos