Original Tommy's — Chili Cheese Fries from the original Tommy's location, on Beverly & Rampart in Los Angeles, California.

Food on the go

The best fast food in LA

Local chains you won't find at home, what to order and the best location. Fast, cheap and typically LA.

18 places

📷 Jackg98 · CC BY 4.0
From LA$
In-N-Out Burger
BurgersBaldwin Park, 1948
The California burger: fresh, cheap and with a secret menu everyone knows.
Order: Double-Double Animal Style, fries well-done, Neapolitan shake
Tip: Say 'Animal Style' for grilled onions and extra sauce. Lines are short outside peak hours.
- In-N-Out Westchester (LAX)9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045Planes land right over your head; the first stop after landing. Order a Number 1 with Animal Style fries and onions, plus a Neapolitan shake.
- In-N-Out Hollywood7009 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028Right by the Walk of Fame; busy but fast.
- In-N-Out Baldwin Park (Replica van 1948)13752 Francisquito Ave, Baldwin Park, CA 91706Replica of the very first store, with a small museum.
📷 Coolcaesar · CC BY-SA 3.0
From LA$
El Pollo Loco
Grilled chicken, MexicanGuasave (MX) 1975 · LA 1980
Marinated chicken off the grill, healthier than most fast food and typically LA.
Order: Fire-grilled chicken with tortillas, pinto beans and avocado salsa
Tip: Ask for extra salsa verde; the guacamole is made fresh.
- El Pollo Loco Alvarado (de eerste in de VS)450 S Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90057Where the US story started in 1980.
- El Pollo Loco Santa Monica2423 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403Handy after the beach.
📷 Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
From LA$
Original Tommy's
Chili burgersLos Angeles, 1946
LA's chili burger, 24 hours a day, at a curb on Beverly & Rampart since 1946.
Order: Chili cheeseburger and chili cheese fries
Tip: No tables at the original: eat standing, like the locals.
- Original Tommy's Beverly & Rampart2575 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057The original. Always open.
📷 Arnold Gatilao · CC BY 2.0
From LA$
The Hat
Pastrami sandwichesAlhambra, 1951
The San Gabriel Valley's pastrami sandwich, huge and dipped in jus.
Order: World Famous Pastrami Dip, pastrami chili cheese fries
Tip: Share the fries, it's a lot.
- The Hat Alhambra1 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91801The first one, with the neon hat.
📷 Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
From LA$
Tito's Tacos
Crispy tacosCulver City, 1959
Old-school crispy tacos the whole Westside queues for.
Order: Two hard-shell tacos with cheese and a bean burrito
Tip: Cash is quicker; the line moves fast.
- Tito's Tacos11222 Washington Pl, Culver City, CA 90230Same corner since 1959.
📷 Alexis Doine · CC0
From LA$
Zankou Chicken
Armenian-Lebanese rotisserie chickenBeirut 1962 · Hollywood 1984
LA's most famous garlic sauce with Armenian-Lebanese rotisserie chicken.
Order: Half chicken with garlic sauce, pita and tabbouleh
Tip: The garlic sauce is strong; take an extra tub home.
- Zankou Chicken Hollywood5065 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027The first US location.
📷 https://www.flickr.com/people/miheco/ · CC BY-SA 2.0
From LA$
King Taco
Tacos, MexicanEast LA, 1974
Started as a taco truck and became the institution of East LA.
Order: Al pastor and carne asada tacos, sopes, horchata
Tip: The red salsa is hot. Really hot.
- King Taco 3rd Street4504 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90022The original; open late.
📷 danlev or Dan Leveille · CC BY-SA 3.0
From LA$
Pink's Hot Dogs
Hot dogsLa Brea, 1939
A hot-dog stand with a line of tourists and stars, since 1939.
Order: Chili dog or the Martha Stewart Dog
Tip: Go in the daytime; evenings mean an hour's wait.
- Pink's Hot Dogs709 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038Next to Melrose; combine with The Grove.
📷 Cbl62 (talk) · Public domain
From LA$$
Roscoe's House of Chicken 'N Waffles
Chicken and wafflesHollywood, 1975
Chicken and waffles became a culture here.
Order: Obama Special: 3 wings and a waffle
Tip: Weekend brunch is busy; weekday breakfast is calm.
- Roscoe's Hollywood1514 N Gower St, Los Angeles, CA 90028The most famous branch, by Sunset & Gower.
📷 Sean Russell from Knoxville, TN, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
From LA$$
Howlin' Ray's
Nashville hot chickenChinatown, 2016
Nashville hot chicken that drove LA crazy. Long line, worth it.
Order: Sando 'medium' (the 'hot' is serious)
Tip: Pre-order in the app and pick up in Chinatown.
- Howlin' Ray's Chinatown727 N Broadway #128, Los Angeles, CA 90012In Far East Plaza, with more hip spots.
📷 Gzagona · CC BY-SA 4.0
From LA$
Dave's Hot Chicken
Hot chickenEast Hollywood, 2017
Started in a parking lot, now everywhere. Fast hot chicken with a kick.
Order: Sliders 'medium' with cheese and Dave's Sauce
Tip: 'Reaper' is for real fans only.
- Dave's Hot Chicken East Hollywood970 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029Close to where it all began.
- Dave's Hot Chicken Culver City10704 Venice Blvd Suite B, Culver City, CA 90232Order the #2 with extra Dave's Sauce.
📷 Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0
From LA$
Fatburger
BurgersLos Angeles, 1947
LA's 'last great hamburger stand', big and made to order.
Order: Fatburger with a fried egg and fat fries
Tip: The XXXL is a challenge; the regular is already big.
- Fatburger Hollywood7050 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028On the Walk of Fame.
- Fatburger West Hollywood7450 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046Order a Large King Burger with egg, bacon and onion rings.
📷 Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0
From LA$
Panda Express
American ChineseGlendale, 1983
American Chinese that started in Glendale and conquered the US.
Order: Orange chicken with chow mein
Tip: Ask for a sample before you choose; that's always allowed.
- Panda Express Glendale Galleria (de eerste)2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, CA 91210Where it began in 1983.
- Panda Express Mid-City4700 W Pico Blvd Spc E, Los Angeles, CA 90019Orange chicken and Beijing beef, with half rice and half chow mein.
📷 Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
From LA$
Del Taco
Tacos and burritosYermo (CA), 1964
Californian taco chain, cheap and everywhere, with fresh tortillas.
Order: Del Taco with crinkle-cut fries and a shake
Tip: The 'Del Taco' with extra cheese is the classic.
- Del Taco Hollywood5400 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027Open 24 hours.
📷 Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
From LA$$
Philippe the Original
French dip sandwichesDowntown, 1908
Sawdust on the floor and the inventor of the French dip sandwich.
Order: French dip with lamb or beef, double-dipped, with the hot mustard
Tip: Coffee still costs next to nothing. Close to Union Station and Dodger Stadium.
- Philippe the Original1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012Since 1908; before a Dodgers game.
📷 Spatms · CC BY-SA 4.0
$
Raising Cane's
Chicken fingersBaton Rouge, 1996
One thing, done perfectly: chicken fingers with the famous sauce and Texas toast.
Order: The Box Combo, extra Cane's Sauce
Tip: The sauce is the secret. Ask for an extra cup.
- Raising Cane's Hollywood6300 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028Big store with a patio on Sunset.
- Raising Cane's Westwood10911 Weyburn Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024By UCLA; open late.
- Raising Cane's Inglewood3895 W Century Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90303Close to SoFi Stadium and LAX. Get a 4-piece with extra Cane's sauce.
📷 Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0
$$
Shake Shack
Burgers and shakesNew York, 2004
New York's answer to In-N-Out; a bit pricier, a bit finer.
Order: ShackBurger with a concrete
Tip: West Hollywood has a big patio.
- Shake Shack West Hollywood8520 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069Patio on Santa Monica Blvd.
- Shake Shack Crystal Cove7703 E Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92657The most beautiful Shake Shack in California, overlooking the ocean.
📷 Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
$
Chick-fil-A
Chicken sandwichesAtlanta, 1967
The chicken sandwich America argues about. Closed on Sundays.
Order: Spicy Deluxe with waffle fries
Tip: The drive-thru beats going inside.
- Chick-fil-A Hollywood5901 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028On Sunset, with parking.
- Chick-fil-A La Cienega2310 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034Be sure to try the Polynesian Sauce; the nuggets are great here too.