The Unvegan

Lucy’s Drive In

March 13th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

What's with the greens?

On a late-night drive back from a party, the glowing fluorescence of Lucy’s Drive In lured me inside.

While standing in line, I had plenty of time to check out the menu on the wall. I was temporarily distracted by the burgers on the menu, which I decided were only there so they could put “American Food” on their sign. Brushing this distraction aside, I chose the chicken taquitos with guacamole platter. The menu said it came with rice and beans, but I asked the ingredients of the taquitos to ensure that I wouldn’t end up with any unfortunate vegetables inside. The woman told me there weren’t any, so I felt confident as I waited for my grub. Continue Reading»

No Comments

food, Late-Night, Los Angeles, meat, Mexican, restaurants

Subway

March 4th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Is there any meat in that mess?

A few years ago, Subway changed the name of the “Meatball” sub to the “Meatball Marinara.” I’m not sure why this particular change occurred. Maybe it was to placate healthy people who would be more attracted to the word “marinara.” I never felt this was a particularly bad thing, after all, rebranding to increase sales is a huge component of our capitalistic system.

That all changed when I went to the Subway at Pico and La Cienega. I ordered a Meatball Marinara sub on Italian herbs and cheese bread, with provolone and parmesan cheese. It seemed like such a great idea, until I started watching the man behind the counter make my sub. Continue Reading»

2 Comments

American, Fast Food, Franchises, Late-Night, Los Angeles, meat, National Chains, restaurants, Sandwiches, subs

The Caravan Cafe

February 23rd, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

A sorry substitute

As the night of the glorious buffet wound down, I incomprehensibly became hungry yet again. Perhaps that was because it was 4 am, or perhaps it was because I’m a fatty. Either way, I got it into my head that I only wanted Hooter’s wings (which were on special after midnight for only 25 cents a wing) or another buffet. Ridiculous as it seems, these were my only culinary desires in my late-night state. Unfortunately, despite my expert debate skills, I was unable to convince my friends to take me or accompany me.

Instead, we ended up back at our hotel, The Sahara, at a sad little 24-hour diner called The Caravan Cafe. While complaining about the lack of buffet/Hooter’s wings and how I refused to eat anything but, I was finally coerced into ordering the chicken strips. Continue Reading»

No Comments

American, Casino, food, Las Vegas, Late-Night, meat, restaurants, sahara

Taco Truck at Venice and Centinela

February 18th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

"No onions" got lost in translation...

When eating at a taco truck, I am typically drunk and there are few demands that have to be met. One of those demands is that my food have no vegetables, the other is that the food is edible. When I recently ventured out to the Taco Truck at Venice and Centinela, I was in for a rude surprise.

I stumbled up to the window to place my order. When I inquired about the ingredients in the chicken quesadilla, I was told that there were no vegetables. Then, I asked about the carne asada taco, which I was told came with onions. I asked the lady for no onions, and to make it offensively clear, I also said, “no cebollas” (cebolla being the spanish word for onion). Continue Reading»

2 Comments

food, Late-Night, Los Angeles, Mar Vista, meat, Mexican, Mobile, taco truck

Taco Bell: Bacon Cheddar Gordita Crunch

January 22nd, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

The Gordita Crunch...of DOOM!

In reading this article today, I knew something had to be done quickly to defend the good name of Taco Bell.

If you haven’t noticed yet, I am uncomfortably (and unhealthily) in love with the Cheesy Gordita Crunch, without lettuce. It represents all that is good in this world and I often find it difficult to push myself to eat anything else.

Recently, a friend alerted me to the newest Taco Bell creation, the Bacon Cheddar Gordita Crunch. The name alone is enough to make the weak queezy, but I simply could not believe that my world could be graced with genius! If bacon can improve donuts, why not the gordita? Continue Reading»

One Comment

Cheesy Gordita Crunch, Fast Food, Franchises, Late-Night, Los Angeles, meat, Mexican, National Chains, restaurants

Canter’s Deli

December 31st, 2008 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Who could ask for anything more?

Another LA landmark restaurant that has managed to evade me since I have lived here is Canter’s Deli, located at Fairfax and 3rd Street. Canter’s is a good old-fashioned Jewish-style deli, heavy on meat and character.

Their menu is immense, but the best way I know to judge a Jewish deli is the pastrami. As goes the pastrami, so goes the deli. Canter’s offers a hot pastrami sandwich, which I promptly ordered after the waitress told me it was simply pastrami and rye, without any wasted add-ons. Continue Reading»

2 Comments

Delis, food, Jewish, Late-Night, Los Angeles, meat, pastrami, restaurants, Sandwiches

Pink’s

December 19th, 2008 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

There is nothing pink about this feast.

Pink’s is one of those places that you have to experience in Hollywood. It has been around since 1939 and is a staple. If you live in LA, you know what Pink’s is. If you visit LA, there’s a good chance you’re going to drive by Pink’s and be intrigued by the constant line emanating from the place. With that said, it took me over a year in LA to finally stop and see what it had to offer.

When I arrived, the line didn’t seem too long, but it wound and wound for a good 20 minutes until I finally made it to the counter. Along the way, I stared at the menu on the wall that should have had a disclaimer reading: “Do not eat if you are pregnant, have a history of heart conditions or are on a pacemaker.” In other words, just about everything looked amazing to an unvegan. Continue Reading»

2 Comments

American, food, Hollywood, Hot Dogs, Late-Night, Los Angeles, meat, restaurants

Kogi BBQ

December 17th, 2008 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

This is what Mexico and Korea should look like. Don't worry, that green stuff is cilantro.

Over the weekend, a friend of mine enlightened me to the existence of Kogi BBQ, a Korean taco truck. The very concept of this blew my mind, in a good way. The truck’s whereabouts can be tracked via Twitter. Now I’m not entirely sure what Twitter is (perhaps a polite way to say twister without offending people with lisps?), but we found out that the truck would be outside of a bar called The Brig on Abbot Kinney that night.

We set off, and although most of my friends were looking forward to the bar, I really only cared about the taco truck. Continue Reading»

One Comment

food, Korean, Late-Night, Los Angeles, meat, Mexican, Mobile, taco trucks, the brig

Taco Bell

December 3rd, 2008 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Behold! The Cheesy Gordita Crunch...and partner.

People look at Taco Bell in many different ways. Some worry about the meat quality. Some are willing to wait 30 minutes for it on their lunch break. Some think it is true Mexican food. Some refuse to eat it. Whatever can be said about Taco Bell, there is no denying that it is a late-night refuge for the hungry and/or intoxicated.

I am lucky enough to have a Taco Bell in LA that is open until 4 am. Every time I go, I leave with a story, so with these thoughts in mind, I set off for Taco Bell around 2 am. Continue Reading»

2 Comments

Burritos, Cheesy Gordita Crunch, Fast Food, Franchises, Late-Night, Los Angeles, meat, Mexican, National Chains, restaurants

Rants and Raves

Global Shrinking

August 27th, 2010

Is this the future unvegan?

As if we don’t have enough to worry about with global warming. What with the crazy 110 degree weather I’m experiencing in the hellish valley or dwindling glaciers, now we have to worry about shrinkage. Now, not that kind of shrinkage. That kind comes with the cold. No, the shrinkage I write of affects all unvegans, whether man, woman or beast.

Going Global at Plan Check

Fries of the world.

A couple of weeks ago, The Backyard Bite invited me to The Burger Culture Clash, sponsored by Stussy (which apparently still exists) and Plan Check. Plan Check, by the way, is a sort of new (since February) restaurant in West LA with Chef Ernesto Uchimura of Umami Burger fame. As my love of burgers, especially those of the umami variety, I jumped at the opportunity.

Although I arrived alone, I was not the only lone eater. Just next to where I was seated, I met e*star LA and we decided to share a meal called loneliness, because it’s better than eating alone. We made quick friends over our respective blogs and Midwestern roots, then got to work at dissecting the special menu, which Plan Check will be featuring for the next month if anything tickles your fancy.

‘Late-Night’

Lucy’s Drive In

Subway

The Caravan Cafe

Taco Truck at Venice and Centinela

Taco Bell: Bacon Cheddar Gordita Crunch

Canter’s Deli

Pink’s

Kogi BBQ

Taco Bell

Rants and Raves

Global Shrinking

Going Global at Plan Check

What is this?»

Unvegan Friends