You won't believe what I finally got around to doing the other day! I finally caved and made a pilgrimage to Tommy's Burgers, the legendary spot famous for those incredible chili burgers everyone's always buzzing about. And wow, I totally get why it's such a big deal now. My mind is officially blown! I'll be honest, when I saw the menu, I did a slight double-take at the prices, but trust me, every single penny is worth it. This isn't just fast food; it's an experience in itself. These aren't just ordinary burgers; they're *the* iconic chili burgers, and they absolutely live up to their reputation. As soon as I bit into mine, it was pure bliss. The rich, savory chili, the perfectly cooked patty, and all the fixings just melted together in a glorious, wonderfully messy symphony of flavors. It was exactly as amazing as everyone described, and I'm officially obsessed. I think I've found my new favorite indulgence! So, I had a thought - if you, Art, or Beverley ever find yourselves in the vicinity, you absolutely, positively *have* to stop by and treat yourselves. It's truly a unique culinary adventure, and I have a feeling you'd all be singing its praises too. read more

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The overall Yelp rating reflects the customer experience--not the food ( i.e., what customers experience while waiting, before ordering and receiving foods ) Part I: Production of Service Employees earn 3 Stars ***** The customer experience is awful--not awesome. I avoid this location, for sure, on celebratory occasions and may drive-by if the vibe is off--hence a little. Although, this iconic location is nestled in the middle of a busy street intersection, homelessness, and the hostility of the neighborhood--You could easily experience a great experience (the food) or a bad visit (the food and experience). This Los Angeles institution has built a reputation for serving the public--not the community or neighborhood. A successful business model in malnourished neighborhoods is a crucifix. However, I don't think Original Tommy's should carry the cross alone. But, I would be curious to know how they benefited the community and not their bottom line. By celebrating 80 years and to charge .80 cents for a chili burger is Good--but ".80 cents" every eighty years--not so much. This location's only production is to manufacture and produce hamburgers. The irony is that customers need to communicate beforehand. The employees are not trained properly in how to communicate with patrons or retain their knowledge of products and use of terminal operations of cash and credit card systems efficiently will make less than stellar occasions, for the following reasons: - wait longer than necessary to order and receive - processing food orders without customers request - you will receive someone else's order by mistake - after waiting in line (your turn to order) and the credit card systems is down "but you have no cash" -constantly watching out for moving vehicles "driving in or backing out" - the uncertainty of conflict and confusion that arise in long lines - offering promotional opportunities with failed knowledge and understanding of the PROMOTION! - the inconsistency of staff asking customers "for their telephone" to credit their purchases with "points to earn" or when customers supply their food requests and tele- information the employees appear clueless and customer are repeating their orders "over and over" and reconfirming their order "over and over" again. -depend upon your visits your hamburger may have been prepared (the patty pre-cooked) not on the grill. So your hamburger experience may be "super hot" on busy days and nights but "Luke warm" on other days and nights. - the uncertainty of the "other" section where customers can place orders are "open or closed" I haven't figured it out yet--neither have they. The reason why most ppl will order at the original location because the emphasis of production is placed on the landmark location--not the side bar to handle crowd overflow, etc... Original Tommy's Burgers has mastered the art of food not public relations--for example, read Yelp Reviews. Part II: Customer Satisfaction Foods earn 3 - 4.5 Stars ***** The food is enjoyable and can easily bring a smile to your face. No one enjoys going from "smiling to frowning" for any reason (before, during or after). I hope that personnel do better to improve customer experience before customer satisfaction--hence "customer" is before customer service. I recommend this location. Buyer BeWare. read more

Original Tommy's - Proof of Purchase - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Man. I take no pleasure in writing this review. I almost never review anything on yelp. Tommy's was so disappointing that I feel kind of obligated to. Stopped in for a late night burger with my girlfriend who had never had Tommy's before. I'm a local so I hyped it up a bit based on somewhat distant memories. Either my memory failed me or Tommy's quality has gone significantly downhill since I last ate there. I got a chili burger, girlfriend got a cheeseburger. The burgers were bland, veggie toppings were chewy and tasteless, and the chili was the most boring, uninspired chili I've ever eaten. Buns were cold, stale and soggy. The fries are obviously frozen and barely reheated under a lamp. They were like 5 degrees above room temperature, completely unseasoned and rubbery. And to top it off, there was only one option for soda. Every single options besides standard Pepsi had no syrup, just straight carbonated soda water from every tap. Staff said nothing about it when we ordered two things that were not Pepsi. Speaking of the staff, they could not be less engaged. We awkwardly stood at the "order here" area for about 2 minutes before I moved slightly closer to the window and ducked my head down to make eye contact. one of them reluctantly took my order. I would rather eat at any other fast food restaurant. Even McDonald's is better quality. read more

Oh gosh what can I say... Employees are rude.. the food is so so.. not a fan or my cup of tea but yet im not from LA so maybe thats why.. I do like the fries though with ice-cream LOL my family did enjoy it though.. Maybe ill give it another try someday but the rudeness of the employees was disappointing... read more

What can I possibly say that someone else hasn't already? This place has been around since 1946! Original Tommy's is a very historical spot known for their chili burgers. We popped in here around 3:45pm this past Saturday and the line was ~10 minutes long. Overall, I thought the burger was pretty good, but I think the ambiance/history is what makes this place special. I'd say Original Tommy's is definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

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The staff is rude. They barely know English. And its not always about racism but l over heard her telling one of her coworkers "great another black customer who is confused and can't talk" then switched to spanish. Since I'm soft l just bought the food and couldn't eat something handed out to me with no respect. I gave out the food to a homeless person at the end of the day. TOMMYS!!!!!! read more

Nostalgia 5+ stars: The original 1946 location for Tommy's Hamburgers & Hot Dogs, an LA institution and the restaurant that popularized the Chili burger in the world (although the honor of the Chili Burger's invention goes to another Tommy (Deforest) in the 1920's). Tommy's is also a popular post-game tradition for USC fans and many alumni, particularly on Saturday nights after home games. It brings back a lot of memories for me personally. Location and Venue 3 stars: Northeast corner of Beverly and Rampart Boulevards near DTLA. There are two service counters on the small lot and you can order at each one. The smaller stand on the west end is the original one. There is no seating per se. You take out, eat in your car, or eat standing up at the counters against the walls. There are a handful of parking spots on this same lot and there is an overflow parking lot across Rampart Blvd, on the Northwest corner of Beverly and Rampart. You cannot miss this parking lot as it has a couple of large Tommy's signs. Street parking is practically non-existent. OPEN 24 HOURS! Service 4 stars: Basic, efficient and polite. Food and Drinks 5 stars: Essentially Burgers, Hot Dogs and Chili. They do have a Chili Tamale, a Breakfast Sandwich and Breakfast Burrito. The Chili Cheese Burger is my fave! It is definitely on my "Last Meal on Earth" list. The combination of the beef patty with cheese, the abundant and gooey chili, the pickles and tomatoes, and the soft bun is simply perfect! Personally, I'm not too fond of their hot dog (a little too dense for my taste... It does not "pop" in your mouth quite like (say) a Cupid's hot dog. The Chili Cheese Fries or just Chili Fries are wonderful also and highly recommended. You can also buy the Chili by itself in 8, 16 and 32 oz. containers. They have recently added some spicy options via their "Caliente" menu. Drink choices are limited to soft drinks and coffee. The Bottom Line 5 stars: Tommy's gets 5 stars in my book: For the Chili Burger, its historical significance and the nostalgia. A MUST-VISIT for tourists and locals alike! read more

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First, let me explain how Tommy's went from one star to five. Today, my coworker offered to treat a couple of us to Tommy's. Everyone was talking about how much they love Tommy's. I didn't want to complain and ruin it for everyone, so I ordered my usual. Chili dogs with mustard and onions, no cheese, and well-done fries. Today, my hot dogs had that snap that I'm always looking for in a hot dog. I also asked for yellow peppers. We ordered through DoorDash. They got everyone's order right, and the food was good today. I hope they keep up the good work. read more

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Honestly, this was my stomping grounds back in the day. After the clubs closed, everybody would just show up here. Oh, the 80s! Great time! I have gone to the different Tommy's on and off since, but this one, I have not been to since probably back in the day. I was with my mother and husband and I said, we're doing it! We were nearby and I wanted to see if it was as good as I remember. Y E S !!!!! Just as a warning, plan on standing while you eat or take it to go. The people are great, the vibe is good, and just get chili on E V E R Y T H I N G! You won't regret it. I love the burgers and the chili and chili fries. Oh, yum! ....... .. . .. .. read more

My boyfriend is a regular here, and he loved it as always. The food is nostalgic for him, and they deserve credit for staying so consistent over the years. It's nice knowing he can come back and have the same familiar, enjoyable experience every time. We'll definitely be back! read more

Original Tommy's - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Tommy's is an iconic hot dog and burger joint. It's was established in 1946 (nearly 80 successful years). It's a simple menu with the chili being the star of the show. You can get it on your hot dog, burger, fries or a chili tamale. They are very generous with the chili, they just slather it and pour it on your food. The usual comes with a thick slice of a beef-steak tomato, pickles, mustard, chili and cheese. I love the combination of the zesty pickles and tangy mustard. It's messy and super delicious. Late night munchies are so delicious (*:*) Sincerely, Rosemary read more

Original Tommy's - Chili Tamale topped with cheese, pickles and beefsteak tomato - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Est. 1946- This 10' x 15' ft. cinderblock stand was purchased for $800. It launched a burger dynasty and a Southern California institution. With 29 locations in LA, you can't go wrong with the Original Tommy's! There really is only one thing to get: The Original Tommy's Chili-Cheese Burger. The chili is subtle, but tasty, and it doesn't overpower the rest of the burger. It reminds me of other excellent chili-burgers around town (Carney's, The munch Box). The fries are adequate, but nothing spectacular, and they can come out a bit under cooked at times. Also, Tommy's is a 'no Coke, Pepsi' establishment. On the plus side, there is plenty of parking across the street. Tommy's is the OG, family owned burger joint in LA and it is very much worth a visit. Good for Tommy's, still doing it after all these years! read more

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Updating my review from 4 to 1. Service completely fell off. There were only about 3 people ahead of me, and even they were getting frustrated with the cashier. Orders were getting mixed up, people had to repeat themselves multiple times, and she kept telling customers to "wait" before even letting them speak. One situation stood out--there was a customer trying to order in Spanish, and the cashier couldn't understand him. Meanwhile, other staff behind the counter were speaking Spanish to each other but didn't step in to help. Another customer who was waiting for their food ended up translating just so the order could go through. That shouldn't happen. When it was my turn, I tried to be patient. I downloaded the Tommy's app since there was a sign posted right at the register and asked if she needed my barcode--she seemed confused. I ordered a triple cheeseburger, and she repeated something completely different back to me. I had to slowly repeat myself several times and was still told to "wait" again. Maybe she was new or overwhelmed, but with that many staff behind the counter, someone should have stepped in to help. The lack of coordination made the whole experience frustrating. Food is what you expect, but the service alone made this a bad experience. read more

Original Tommy's - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It's Original Tommy's so we're not talking salad here. We got hamburgers, hot dogs with chilli and fries plus a soda. All were good and didn't seem to be overly greasy. The service was efficient and helpful. The exterior was bright and neat. Parking lot was well lit and there was a security guard there willing to help you park in a tight spot or be a set of eyes for backing out. read more

Original Tommy's - There's a parking lot across the street - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It's a proper LA icon: less glitzy than one might expect; in a strange part of town, from a tourist's perspective. Worth a visit, if one still eats cow meat. There's usually a line, but it's only ever long on game days and special sales events. The food is quite good, and there's plenty of shelf-like tables around the primary parking lot to make grabbing a space not too difficult on a "regular" night. The only real issue is that it's gotten quite expensive (like pretty much all fast food joints since 2020. For the value hunter, it's best to check the company's social media feeds to find the days they offer 2-for-1 specials and whatnot. If one is rich... well, then "anytime is probably fine"; it's a decent and respectable way to get chili on the upholstery of your Rolls-Royce! read more

Original Tommy's - Outside the food-getting area. - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Wow, nostalgia at it's best. And get to experience it with my son. I can't believe how many times we would drive all the way down here to have a burger and chili fries in our youth. Today I was picking up my son from a concert at the Hollywood Bowl and we decided to come by and have a double cheeseburger and fries, which we shared [no way we're eating that at this time of night!!!!] Service was great, pretty fast considering that there were about 6 people in front of us. Offered us chili peppers and we were off to our car to eat our food. This place is the original and it is a landmark so don't expect sit down restaurant. Many great memories and loved that I have experienced it with my son. read more

Original Tommy's - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Classic old style burger. Personally the fries were not good to me. I think they're under fried and could be crispier. I got the chili cheese burger and it honestly reminded me of in n out with the big chunk of tomatoes but no lettuce. The burger is very mustard heavy but probably to cut out the greasiness of the chili. It was good but I won't lie when I saw I felt like I was only tasting the American cheese on the burger. I would've requested more white onion to balance out the flavors. Overall a classic chili cheese burger! read more

Original Tommy's - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Delicious. Best place to experience Tommy's. Where it all started in the small shack. read more

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Old school since 1946. This is by far the best chili cheese burger in LA County and other restaurants barely come close. The best part is that they are open 24 hours a day and they have now included a breakfast version of their burger for all the early birds out there. read more

Original Tommy's - Old school since 1946 - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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O'Yes I highly recommend The Original Tommy's. My 1st experience was back N the mid 70s a friend too some of us kid's there. We t to the Original Tommy's on Beverly/Rampart it was an amazing experience Tommy's became my favorite Hamburger spot. I'm now 64yrs old still my all time favorite and I made to Tommy's 80th Anniversary that 3hr wait was definitely well worth it. Met some good people. Keep being great Tommy's read more

This is the place where it all started! Tommy's location on Beverly Blvd is the original Tommy's location and it offers up two service windows here. Everyday they operate from different ones so make sure you pay attention to what window is open when you visit to place your order! We have been to a few other Tommy's locations but to us, this one is the best and the food tastes better here! This location is also a STANDING ONLY location so don't be surprised when you do not find any tables to sit at! If chili burgers aren't your style they do offer chili hot dogs and chili fries as well as serving breakfast (check your location for specific breakfast hours some may vary) My order is always the Chili Cheeseburger with no mustard, a side of fries and a drink! The Chili Cheeseburger comes with chili, chopped onions, tomato, pickles, and mustard. Everything on here make for an excellent chili burger! Tommy's pickles are supreme in my opinion and we always order a side of pickles as well. Once your order comes out you can ask for chilis and pickles on the side if you wanted! Now, the fries...these are some of the best fries I've had. They are just generic fries but they way they are prepared makes them so much more delicious! They always have a crunchy texture and if I don't need to use ketchup, I know the fries are good! The best drink you could have with this chili cheeseburger is the wild cherry Pepsi! It elevates the meal so much more! If you're ever in LA and want to visit the original Tommy's restaurant where it all started, swing by! It does get crowded fast and there is additional parking across the street. Especially after a Dodger's game, this place is packed! read more

Original Tommy's - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I stopped in after the Who concert at the Hollywood Bowl - just like old times! I got myself a double chili cheeseburger, and a drink. In the old days, there were coolers filled with bottles of soda pop, and openers and metal boxes that collected the bottle caps. There was a large variety of pop. My Dad would take me to Tommy's, and my favorite part was choosing a soda pop...Tonight both the shack and the counter across the parking lot were open, but I preferred the shack. Of course the burger was delicious but it could have used a little more chili! I also bring my son to Tommy's to carry on the tradition! read more

Original Tommy's - After the who concert treat! - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

An LA staple in the heart of Dodgers country. Went on a Sunday evening - ordered a chili cheeseburger and some chili cheese fries. Food came out right away. Stood near one of the walls and quickly finished my meal - was delicious! Not the prettiest of places, but gotta have the chili burgers here - no-frills deliciousness. read more

Original Tommy's - Chili cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Always the best place for original Tommy chili cheeseburger fast service and fresh ! Congrats to Tommy burger 80th anniversary

Food service was fast and straight forward. First time trying the breakfast burrito it did not disappoint. This gave me memories since I grew up down the street by carondelet to be exact. Wish the brought back the chili peppers where you can grab all you want like the old days. read more

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For chili lovers! I've never tried anything from Tommy's that didn't have chili on it lol. Have loved this place since childhood (my dad used to take us to the Florence Ave location next to the Budweiser brewery) on road trips to LA and I'm so glad they haven't changed with the times. Still get a chili cheeseburger and chili cheese fries with onions and pickles. Plenty of parking available on the side streets or across the street in their overflow lot. read more

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What I Ordered: -Double Chili Cheeseburger $7.70 -Chili Cheese Fry $7.40 I was craving a Chili Cheeseburger and fries. I knew there was only one spot to-go. I've longed wanted to visit the Original Tommy's location on Beverly and Rampart. I've heard people say that Original Tommy's is the best spot to go as the other locations cannot compare. I've had other locations and they were hit or miss. I was up early and wanted an unhealthy breakfast to start my day. I've read some people complaining about the employees and they certainly weren't friendly, but I'm not here for five star service when I'm eating a Double Chili Cheeseburger at 5 AM. I want to order, pay and eat in that order. Man, my stomach was bubbling that morning. It wasn't the best idea to start the day with a Double Chili Cheeseburger and Chili Cheese fry, but I'm not one that makes good decision except when it comes to food. ; ) The food does not look appetizing to the eye, but I can't resist a chili cheeseburger and fry. Now, that I'm living like in LA. I must do as the locals do and ask for peppers. Grab the peppers and squeeze them over the chili fries to add some spice. Original Tommy's lives up to the hype! This is not something my body can afford to eat everyday. I hope to come back soon to grab some burgers, dogs and fries to bring to the Dodgers game. That's the ultimate LA move! Tommy's, I'll see you soon! read more

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Great burgers, in&out competition. Need seating area, but I can stand, no problem. Everything fresh read more

Original Tommy's - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went to get lunch today to take advantage of Tommy's 79th Anniversary promotion. Not a big line when I went. I don't think many knew about this. Rating: 4 Stars read more

Original Tommy's - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This chili burger with fries combo is hard to beat. What really takes it over the top is the chili. Every bite is messy in the best possible way. It's the kind of meal you crave when you want something indulgent. read more

Original Tommy's - Caliente Burger - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

If you love Chili. You'll love this place. I grew up eating this place and always stop by when I'm near this location since it's the original and it's open 247. The workers are friendly and the food is great. The area is not the cleanest as its LA, but this location has been here for so long and the chili is amazing. The parking lot can get full easily but theres another lot located across the street and theres lots of street parking as well. Theres something about the ingredients as well that i love so much. I never crave innout when i crave a burger. I crave this burger with extra chili! Don't forget to get the yellow peppers on the side and ask for a spoon or fork to help eat the burger and napkins! read more

Original Tommy's - Double Cheeseburger extra chili! - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It was cute and I appreciate the historic value. However, the food was worth neither the cost nor calories. Service was fine, ordering was a bit confusing read more

Always a wonderful experience when I come here. Nella was my cashier and my server?She is a wonderful person every time I come.She always has a smile on her face! And always makes me feel like one of the family. And I can't forget about sonia as well.She makes my hamburgers to perfection.That's the reason why I always come back read more

Security guards, extra parking, Pepsi purgatory--but still, the original and eternal chili burger temple. If Los Angeles had a holy site for the hungry, it wouldn't be a cathedral--it'd be the neon sign at Original Tommy's on Rampart. This isn't just food, it's a pilgrimage. The kind of place you tell out-of-towners about with the reverence of a Bourdain monologue and a chili stain on your shirt as proof. I actually met Tommy himself when I was a little boy, back when the stand was already an institution. Founded in 1946 by Tommy Koulax, this place is the beating chili-covered heart of Los Angeles. The original chili burger. The reason napkins were invented. The legend. Let's get real: the fries? Better than In-N-Out. Crisp, golden, perfectly salted, and sturdy enough to stand up under a lava flow of chili and cheese. The burgers? If you're really hungry, grab the 1/4 pounder--it's a life choice, not a menu option. If you double it, kiss your diet goodbye. Now, about the scene. Tommy's knows exactly where it lives--Rampart at midnight isn't Disneyland. They've got security guards on-site to keep the hungry safe from the, let's call them, "L.A. nightlife regulars." Across the street, there's even an overflow parking lot, because yes, this place gets THAT packed. You'll see cops, Dodgers fans, lawyers, and drunk college kids all scarfing chili burgers together like it's the most natural thing in the world. The only downside? They serve Pepsi products. Which I hate. I'm a Coke guy, and Pepsi tastes like it lost a bet. But here's the thing: at Tommy's, you deal with it. Because when you've got a chili burger dripping down your arm at 1 a.m., Pepsi becomes a small price to pay for legend. This isn't just a hamburger stand--it's Los Angeles in a paper wrapper. Messy, iconic, unapologetic, and absolutely unforgettable. read more

Haven't had Tommy's in years because I had a bad experience in San Diego. I even came to this location a while back with some friends and didn't even order anything. This location has changed my mind and reminded me what I've been missing all these years. Got the caliente chili burger and chili cheese fries. It was so delicious. Came here after a Dodger's game so it was super packed but the line moved pretty quick. Place has stand up tables only to eat. read more

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I've always wanted to try Tommy's and I was not disappointed. Their burgers are full of flavor, cheesy, and smashed to perfection. Totally worth the drive out there. I'm only bummed that I didn't try the chili, as I've now heard it's equally as good. Especially when you put it on a burger. Definitely trying that out next time. read more

Stopped by this iconic LA spot for a breakfast burrito. It's definitely a heavier breakfast, but good for the soul. Their breakfast burrito includes sausage, hash browns, eggs, and chili and everything was cooked well; I actually really liked the scrambled egg inside! Awesome and friendly service. I came when there was a big order in front of me and I appreciated that the staff member acknowledged he'll get to me soon instead of leaving me just standing there. read more

Original Tommy's - Breakfast Burrito - Burgers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My husband and I use to come here all the time as teenagers. We drove 45mins one way for our middle of the night Tommy's run. It was always cheap and delicious. But now it's almost $16 for a combo! I get times are tough, but that's a little pricey. We went for the first time in years and got so sick. Not sure we'll go back after that's. I loved this place, but it's not as good as it used to be to be. read more

Excellent customer service. Fast. The original location, delicious food. This morning was perfect. The weather was cool, nobody was there (customers), and always a pleasure to recognize the staff that has been working here forever. read more

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Original Tommy's is an LA late night classic and that is usually when i find myself there. Chili cheeseburgers always hit - especially after midnight. Solid, greasy, late night food. read more