Southern Californian (Maybe all of California, too?) Local Eats

Californian Elitist

Californian Elitist

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
mickEblu said:
I know I already told you this but you gotta hit Sicily!
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Absolutely! I actually tried to add Sicily to my travel list last minute, but I spoke with a friend who’s from and lives there and he told me there’s really no public transportation. That concerned me, so I cancelled going. Once I plan my second trip, I’ll actually have time to study the logistics of Sicily and go.
 
SevenSevens

SevenSevens

Active Member
Let me throw in a recommendation if you're up for a drive to Long Beach.... Dean's Pizza. It's a weird little joint that is a combo pizza place and Thai restaurant. What makes their menu special though, is a variety of "Thai" pizzas, including a Thai Curry and Tom Yum pizzas. I'm not even a fan of Thai curry, but on a pizza it is fantastic. Everyone should try it at least once.
 
SuddenStorm

SuddenStorm

Well-Known Member
Anyone in Anaheim should make time for Varsity Burger... lots of solid food. Their breakfast burritos are my favorite item they offer.
 
Stevek

Stevek

Well-Known Member
SevenSevens said:
Let me throw in a recommendation if you're up for a drive to Long Beach.... Dean's Pizza. It's a weird little joint that is a combo pizza place and Thai restaurant. What makes their menu special though, is a variety of "Thai" pizzas, including a Thai Curry and Tom Yum pizzas. I'm not even a fan of Thai curry, but on a pizza it is fantastic. Everyone should try it at least once.
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My buddy swears that Domenico's in Long Beach is the best pizza he's ever had. I've yet to try it.
 
Stevek

Stevek

Well-Known Member
So let's talk Tiki Bars since I'm drinking a homemade Krakatoa ala Trader Sam's as we speak. Over the past few years, I've become quite fond of Tiki bars and generally visit as many as I can when traveling. Here are some of my favorites in So Cal area:

Bamboo Club - Long Beach. Reasonably good food as well as classic drinks. Only a year old but you can tell the folks really care about what they do.

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Stowaway - Tustin. Great food, small but fun. Great selection of drinks as well, great display of tiki mugs behind glass under the bar top including many from Trader Sam's. Bonus points for having an Ike's Love and Sandwiches about 50 yards away.

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The Reef - Palm Springs. I think I could live here. The attached Caliente Tropics hotel is nothing to right home about but the bar and pool setting were fantastic during our last stay. Food was very good.

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Tonga Hut - Palm Springs & North Hollywood. Have only been to PS, not as enjoyable as The Reef but they do have a great hidden room.
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Twisted Tiki - Santa Ana. Very small and quaint. Hidden in a small food hall with an 80's themed bar (video games) upstairs. Great drinks.
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Tiki Ti - Los Angeles. The classic. Again, very small and can get jam packed. Our only visit was on NYE 2019 before a Kings game and it was claustrophobic to say the least. The drinks are phenomenal though.
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Grass Skirt - Pacific Beach/San Diego. More of a hip or modern take on a tiki bar (kinda like Golden Tiki in Vegas). You'll have to walk through the Poke place next door to enter.
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False Idol - San Diego. Another classic tiki bar but themed very much like Trader Sam's...maybe even more over the top. The interior is tiki on steroids. Order certain drinks and special effects will be triggered, including simulated thunder (speakers in the seats) and lightning.
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and of course...

Trader Sam's, my home away from home. I know I could live here :p . Drinks are surprisingly strong and reasonably priced. The ambience is great, the skippers are fantastic. Yeah, its a little touristy but it's also got quite a few regulars and it's enjoyable whether you are sitting inside at the bar or outside under the stars listening to live music. Two very different but equally great experiences. I truly miss visiting and it will absolutely be one of the very first places I visit when we get through this pandemic...I might have to book a hotel room at the DL hotel as well.
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Communicora

Communicora

Premium Member
Stevek said:
So let's talk Tiki Bars since I'm drinking a homemade Krakatoa ala Trader Sam's as we speak. Over the past few years, I've become quite fond of Tiki bars and generally visit as many as I can when traveling. Here are some of my favorites in So Cal area:

Bamboo Club - Long Beach. Reasonably good food as well as classic drinks. Only a year old but you can tell the folks really care about what they do.

View attachment 526052

Stowaway - Tustin. Great food, small but fun. Great selection of drinks as well, great display of tiki mugs behind glass under the bar top including many from Trader Sam's. Bonus points for having an Ike's Love and Sandwiches about 50 yards away.

View attachment 526053

The Reef - Palm Springs. I think I could live here. The attached Caliente Tropics hotel is nothing to right home about but the bar and pool setting were fantastic during our last stay. Food was very good.

View attachment 526054

Tonga Hut - Palm Springs & North Hollywood. Have only been to PS, not as enjoyable as The Reef but they do have a great hidden room.
View attachment 526055

Twisted Tiki - Santa Ana. Very small and quaint. Hidden in a small food hall with an 80's themed bar (video games) upstairs. Great drinks.
View attachment 526056

Tiki Ti - Los Angeles. The classic. Again, very small and can get jam packed. Our only visit was on NYE 2019 before a Kings game and it was claustrophobic to say the least. The drinks are phenomenal though.
View attachment 526057

Grass Skirt - Pacific Beach/San Diego. More of a hip or modern take on a tiki bar (kinda like Golden Tiki in Vegas). You'll have to walk through the Poke place next door to enter.
View attachment 526058

False Idol - San Diego. Another classic tiki bar but themed very much like Trader Sam's...maybe even more over the top. The interior is tiki on steroids. Order certain drinks and special effects will be triggered, including simulated thunder (speakers in the seats) and lightning.
View attachment 526060

and of course...

Trader Sam's, my home away from home. I know I could live here :p . Drinks are surprisingly strong and reasonably priced. The ambience is great, the skippers are fantastic. Yeah, its a little touristy but it's also got quite a few regulars and it's enjoyable whether you are sitting inside at the bar or outside under the stars listening to live music. Two very different but equally great experiences. I truly miss visiting and it will absolutely be one of the very first places I visit when we get through this pandemic...I might have to book a hotel room at the DL hotel as well.
View attachment 526062
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I'm bookmarking this post for my eventual trip back to California in the After Times.
 
Mac Tonight

Mac Tonight

Well-Known Member
Last night I was fully prepared to order Taco Bell... but then I went on DoorDash and noticed a new place called Mr.Beast Burger. (https://mrbeastburger.com/)

After some preliminary research, it turns out it was started by a YouTuber called, you guessed it, Mr. Beast.

Apparently they run what they call "ghost kitchens" (not a physical location, so it's delivery only) all across the country (300 total) and you can only order them through the Mr.Beast app, or through third party delivery apps.

I had their "Beast Style" burger
MrBeastBurgerNearMe.png


and "Beast Style" fries.


Overall, I'd give it a 7/10. They call their burgers, "smash burgers" which were good, but left the edges pretty crispy, and there's just kind of an overall somewhat greasy "grilled" taste that permeates everything. The fries were good though, reminding me a lot of In-N-Out's "animal style", but with whole pickles, mustard, and mayo in additional to ketchup, grilled onions, and cheese.

Mostly, I think you'd get this for the gimmick of it all... It honestly reminded me of food you'd buy at a sporting event or county fair.
 

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