I mentioned Oinkster to the husband ONCE after reading about it somewhere. We looked it up and he's been in my ear about it ever since. So, on our way home from spending the morning in Pasadena, we stopped in for a late lunch. It wasn't too busy when we arrived with a couple available parking spots right in front. The team member at the register was friendly and helpful as he answered our questions. Given our mutual love for pastrami, we decided to begin our experience with both versions -- House and Oinkster with chili fries to share. We were given a number, then got ourselves seated. Our order arrived just a few minutes later. Both pastrami sandwiches were pretty solid -- fresh and tasty. We can't say it's our favorite, compared to others we've had, but well prepared overall. I enjoyed the caramelized onions and red cabbage coleslaw in the Oinkster. The husband is a fan of the small container of horseradish mustard that comes with it. The chili fries were ok. The vibe is old school. The space is clean and bright. There was a constant flow of customers while we dined. It was apparent that most enjoyed having a beer with their meal. The husband on the other hand was admiring the Horchata smoothie. Maybe next time. :) read more

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I discovered the Oinkster while driving down Colorado and was immediately drawn in by how busy it was and its old school diner ambiance. I was surprised to find that it had been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives a few years ago! After ordering at the counter, seating is available either inside or outside. We ordered the Cluckster and BBQ Pulled Pork combo. Portions were generous for both and it was overall filling. Looking back, I wish I had tried the pastrami, which seems to be what they are known for. Overall, a great find, though on the pricier side! read more

The Oinkster - BBQ Pulled Pork - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

From my experience, anyone who's heard of Eagle Rock often associates it with The Oinkster. For me, it's a part of Eagle Rock history, and just up the street from Casa Bianca Pizza Pie (est. 1955) and the Women's 20th Century Club (est. 1903). I've been coming here for so many years, I can't even count that high. I've seen this place packed during the day, busy at night, and sometimes a mellow afternoon. It's always clean and the minimalism in decor help keep it that way. Chef Andre Guerrero opened this "slow fast food" joint in 2006. Their pastrami is specially seasoned and house-cured. It's delicious because it's all about the sloooow-roasted pork. Generous portions are packed into the fresh rolls with slaw and sauce. Suffice to say, The Oinkster has become this neighborhood's staple pastrami place for 20 years now. My go-to is the OINSTER PASTRAMI with red cabbage coleslaw, caramelized onions, and Swiss on a French roll. I love there's always a fully stocked bar of jalapeños and banana peppers to dial up the heat with every bite. The spice blend from the HOUSE PASTRAMI, however, was a bit on the saltier side for my tastebuds. If you're craving chicken, THE CLUCKSTER is tasty with its buttermilk fried chicken breast, pickles, lettuce, and buffalo sauce smooshed into a bun. Or the CHICKEN & BRIE is quite savory and delish too. It's got tomatoes, onion, and garlic aioli, served on grilled sourdough. As for the Belgian fries, I order it with garlic aioli and it takes me back to my wanderings in Bruges, especially when they have Stella Artois on tap. Oh and let's not forget dessert! If you're an ice cream aficionado, then try one of their handcrafted shakes made from Fosselman's Ice Cream (est. 1919). It's a real classic. read more

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Visited this place while working in the LA eagle rock area and so glad I did. The hamburger was delicious and had that old school taste and flavor that I was looking for. The ambiance was old school diner with small seating inside and but plenty of seating outside and with great LA weather, perfect to have a burger and a great soft drink. The service was good as as you order at the counter and the team was very welcoming and friendly. Will certainly be back when in the area. read more

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Damn good burger! Made to order and not a minute sooner. I love how fresh the ingredients taste. In a fun and walkable neighborhood with lots of other shops and restaurants nearby. Establishment is super clean and the staff is very friendly. When I visit I enjoy sitting out on the patio and enjoying my meal. Can't go wrong with ordering anything on the menu. read more

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First time here. Solid! The pulled pork sandwich is overflowing with meat. Cool outside dining for people watching. Give it a try. read more

Ambiance: it's a sandwich place located in eagle rock area, they have limited parking spots outside the entrance, as well as two gender neutral restrooms, gross odor inside Service: very fast and efficient, you place the order at the counter, grab a number and find your own seats, it takes about ten minutes to have the food ready Food: classic choices for sandwiches and burgers, and I liked their self served chili and pickles THE OiNKSTER PASTRAMI - **** Pastrami with caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, and red cabbage cole slaw on a French roll, rich in flavors, recommend CHICKEN & BRIE - *** Grilled chicken breast, brie cheese, tomato, onions, and garlic aioli on grilled sourdough bread, chicken is a bit dry, overall bland taste Price: moderate portions and affordable prices, about $20~$25 per person for a quick bite read more

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This was SO GOOD!! Really good Reuben (and I do advise you use the mustard they provide on the side). I almost ordered a second sandwich to take home for lunch on Monday. The tater tots were OK ... not as good as the Parmesan fries at The Counter Burger but, made better with the side of garlic aioli. The staff were SUPER FRIENDLY! Bathroom is locked with a code and very clean. This is a place I frequently recommend when you find yourself East of L..A. They are solid. read more

The Oinkster - Pastrami Reuben Sandwich - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Great pastrami sandwiches with huge portions. They also have amazing burgers I haven't been able to try yet. Great friendly service. read more

The Oinkster - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Walking into this place took me back to old-time fast food restaurants. Not quite a diner, not quite full restaurant. The prices were reasonable and the food came out fairly quickly. Service was swift and polite. The interior was a bit drab, but it's about what you'd expect from a fast food place. The food was mostly good. The piggy fries were great. Crunchier than I prefer but good enough to make up for it. The chocolate malt I had was perfect. I had to dock some stars because my burger was undercooked. I'm perfectly happy for some pink in a burger but this was excessive. You just can't get a high rating if you're giving undercooked food. read more

I have always driven past this place on the way to my grandfather's and never had the chance to try until one in our party kept mentioning it, along with BuzzFeed (haven't heard of them in ages). It's definitely a local favorite, many of the tables were taken, though we got tall counter seating and we were able to get parking in their small lot. There was a small line to order but our food came out decently quickly. We got the: 1) Ube Milkshake: -Very rare that an American establishment has this as a constant flavor option for their milkshakes, so I had to get it. -Super sweet, dessert drink, very thick and dense. Not cheaply watered down so you can tell that they used a lot of the ice cream in this. Perfect for sweet tooth ube lovers out there. 2) Belgian Fries: -Can never go wrong with twice fried fries. Adds such a delicious extra crispiness to them. Perfectly seasoned, not too salty and very addicting. A must. 3) Oinkster Pastrami: -The restaurant's name is in the title! You gotta1 This is their house cured pastrami with red cabbage coleslaw, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese on a French roll. Definitely enough to share amongst a group of us after we did some light eating before. -Great mix of salty, sweet, and sour in a sandwich. Would definitely stop by again and maybe take my grandpa too. read more

Burgers are always juicy and service is great and consistent, they're always so friendly! Everything on the menu is a solid choice, including chili cheese fries and cluckster chicken sandwich. Only con is that the meals are on the quite pricey side. The fries really are the best, always fresh and crispy. the garlic aioli and spicy ketchup combo is amazing. They also do a burger and shake of the month every month and often have cool and unique flavors which i think are fun to try! great eagle rock local restaurant. read more

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The Oinkster was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (Triple D) years ago, but they have not maintained the quality or consistency that was once featured on the show. Being a fan of pastrami, my boyfriend identified this spot for our lunch one weekend. We made the trek out to Eagle Rock. Definitely an old school location. Restrooms are located outside with keypads for access. The interior is really dated, and not that functional. The tables were bolted in place so you can't even move things around. They also have a patio area for outdoor dining when the weather is nice. You order at the cashier and they give you a number to bring with you to any table of choice. My boyfriend had the Oinkster Pastrami ($19.95) and upgraded it to a Combo (additional $7.25) for the fries and drink. I had their BBQ Pulled Pork ($12.95), and there was a sign that disclosed how they would have to charge extra due to the increased cost of eggs, but I still wanted the Garlic Aioli ($0.91). The order took a while to come out. Honestly the sandwich size looked smaller than the photos and videos we've seen of this place. My pulled pork sandwich had an incredibly soggy bun. If it wasn't so soggy I would have saved half for later. Also the filling was uneven where when I ate the first half all I tasted was the caramelized onions but when I ate the second half, all I tasted was the red cabbage slaw. It would have been better if both were spread equally. My boyfriend wasn't really impressed by the Oinkster Pastrami either. We both agreed our favorite thing about this place was the fries. They use the same potatoes as In and Out, so if you like In & Out fries, you'd like these. Fun to try but poor execution. It's too out of my way to consider coming back when I'm not that into it. read more

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We recently went to the Oinkster for dinner but was very disappointed. After ordering 2 burgers, a chicken salad and 2 orders of fries, we sat down and waited for our dinner. And waited. And waited. Forty minutes later our dinner arrived cold-and not just the salad that we ordered with dressing on the side but came dressed! And by then our 10 year granddaughter was understandably hungry ( as were we) and we were then pressed for time. We didn't have time to complain and ask for new hot food. It will be a long time, if ever, before we return. read more

Had lunch here today with my daughter. She devoured the pulled pork sandwich (half of it), and I had half a reuben. I loved the sauce/horseradish mustard that came on the side. Leftovers will be enjoyed. Both sandwiches were so good. We sat on the patio and it was quite pleasant. The fries are excellent. read more

I came here many years ago and I liked it. Now I came back to have a refresher of how good the food is. I had the cheeseburger which was simple yet so flavorful. read more

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I came here for lunch between work and it was pretty relaxing to sit closer to the right back side of things. I ordered with ease and the girl taking my order was super nice. Parking is super easy. The ambiance is simple and there is plenty of seating inside and outside of the restaurant. I ordered an ube shake, a small garden salad with ranch dressing, and an order of chili cheese fries. The ube shake was perfectly sweet and a nice finished to the meal. The fries are crispy and the skin is still on them. The chili isn't overpowering and they put the right amount along with the cheese. The salad was finely chopped with cucumbers, tomatoes, and pickled radishes. It was a nice refreshing break from the fries. I would definitely come back to try other items too. read more

The Oinkster - Ube shake, small garden salad with ranch, and chili cheese fries - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We came here during a bustling Sunday lunch. There were many families and the patio was gorgeous with the beauty of 80 degree LA January winter weather. We had high hopes but none of us was wowed by our orders. It tasted ok, but it was not great food. The burgers looked amazing, but the patties were too big and we all left half of our burgers. The veggie burger was tasteless and dry. We all enjoyed the Parmesan tater tots and Belgian fries were enjoyed by all. We were hoping to find our secondary go to burger spot, but we will need to keep searching. read more

Not a local spot to me but when in the area or looking for something in the area this is my first choice and suggestion. Good fresh pastrami, good burgers and fries. Friendly and helpful staff, indoor and shaded outdoor seating. read more

The Oinkster - Patio signage - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I recently had the unfortunate experience of dining at The Oinkster, and I have to say, it was a far cry from the vibrant establishment I remember from its time on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." What was once a beloved spot for hearty comfort food has sadly fallen from grace. First and foremost, the pastrami -- I couldn't believe how dry and lackluster it was. I was expecting the rich, juicy flavor that made The Oinkster famous, but instead, I was greeted by a sad, overcooked slab of meat that had no redeeming qualities. It was almost as if it had been sitting out for too long, and I couldn't help but wonder if this was the same quality of food that once caught Guy Fieri's attention. As for the bread, it was stale and unappetizing. Instead of a fresh, soft bun that would complement the pastrami, I received a rock-hard piece of bread that felt like it had been sitting around for days. It was a disappointing pairing that overshadowed the meal entirely. The atmosphere, too, felt off. It lacked the lively energy and character I used to associate with The Oinkster. It's disheartening to see a once-great diner fall so far from its roots. I left feeling regretful and wishing I had opted for a different place for lunch. Overall, my experience at The Oinkster was a big letdown. I hope they can find their way back to the quality and vibrancy that made them a standout in the first place. Until then, I can't recommend this place, especially if you're craving good pastrami and fresh bread. read more

All five stars! The pastrami was excellent. Very good roll, packed with pastrami, Swiss cheese cabbage slaw and stone ground mustard. And the fries, real potatoes, were perfection. The milkshake make with real ice cream, not flavored syrup. I couldn't resist. Don't miss this place. read more

The Oinkster - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The burgers are insanely juicy with bold, smoky flavor, and everything tastes fresh and intentional--not just slapped together. The fries are a standout on their own: perfectly crispy, well-seasoned, and dangerously addictive. But let's talk sauces--the garlic aioli is unreal, rich and garlicky without being overpowering, and the chipotle ketchup adds the perfect smoky kick. Once you start dipping, there's no going back. The vibe is laid-back, very good service and welcoming, the food comes out hot and fast, and it's the kind of place you keep craving after you leave. If you're a burger lover, this spot is mandatory. I'll definitely be back read more

Never had Oinkster before, so this was our very first time trying it! I heard it's an iconic staple to Eagle Rock, so I got to finally try it today. I am very familiar with The Hat since I had it pretty frequently in my childhood. So that may be the closest comparison to this. Oinkster wasn't busy, but it does feel like a more "cleaner" version of The Hat. It still has that "diner" feel to it, so it feels like a nostalgic and classic joint. Parking wasn't too bad at all since it wasn't too busy. There were a few others dining here for lunch. We ordered the House Pastrami Sandwich and the Chili Cheese Fries. The portion sizes were surprisingly smaller than expected. We actually mentally prepared ourselves that we would feel greasy and heavy from eating this, but luckily the portion size was doable haha. Trying out the pastrami sandwich first, the horseradish and the Dijon mustard combination was pretty nice. The pastrami sandwich itself was also pretty decent. The meat was a bit on the dry side, but overall it tasted okay. The chili cheese fries was a bit underwhelming. It was a tad flavorless, but also with flavor. It might have been either the fries or the chili that wasn't as much flavor? Though, it overall tastes fine. For the prices and the portion for this, it didn't really feel that worth it. It was nice to try, but that's about it. I do like that it didn't make us feel too gross about it, but it did leave us feeling a bit unsatisfied. read more

The Oinkster - Chili Cheese Fries - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Atmosphere: You can't go wrong with sitting inside or outside, both are equally cute, well designed, and spacious. Food + Drinks: I never realized what a difference homemade ketchup could make. I think all of their condiments are made in house and they're all delicious! The fries are just as delicious. I liked the chicken brie sandwich but next time I order it I'll probably ask to add lettuce or arugula. I'm looking forward to trying their ube milkshake next time I go in as well. Staff + Service: Everyone was very friendly, patient, and helpful. read more

The Oinkster - Chicken and Brie Sandwich - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I don't even like to talk like this, but the attitude I saw coming from the manager here at the oinkster (Alma is her name) was just not right. She was talking to her employees with such a foul tone and you can tell it upset them. When one of them brought our food to the table, you can visibly tell their mood changed. I just thought it was highly inappropriate!! read more

So I've tried their pastrami sandwiches, their chili cheese fries, regular fries, and their shakes. Everything is amazing! Ohhh I can't forget about their Coke which is crack!!! They're always hosting car shows or small events so I'll definitely be back. read more

Best pastrami & pulled pork in LA. Omg wow. Homemade sauces meats everything. Yes please

A reliable spot with friendly staff and delicious food. There's a reason this place gets packed on weekend nights full of locals and their families. Great vibe and parking is super easy. Bacon Crispinator - Yeah, the Wendy's baconator got nothing on this. They really are generous with the bacon, and the chipotle ketchup and crispy onions really bring it together. The only thing this burger suffers from is decadence. Garlic Parmesan Tater Tots - Phenomenal. They really dress these things well. If I had one gripe about this restaurant, it's that they don't consistently have tater tots available. They're as common as a working McDonald's ice cream machine. If tots are available, order them! I'm glad that they adjusted their hours to be open later! read more

Dry bread tuff hard to chew.cold meat not fresh sliced sitting in a open air container.Chinese chicken salad came with Italian dressing?!

If flavor had a hype squad, The Oinkster would be center stage with a mic. This place delivered -- no fancy tricks, just bold flavor and serious comfort vibes. My BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich was smoky, saucy, and stacked right, while my partner's Chicken & Brie sandwich came out juicy and crisp like it had something to prove (and it did). The fries? Oh, we doubled down -- classic Belgian for the crunch, and piggy fries for the soul. And don't sleep on that homemade ketchup... we were this close to asking for a bottle to-go. Quick, casual, and absolutely worth the stop -- The Oinkster is that local gem that makes you glad you didn't hit the drive-thru. read more

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My better half mentioned this place as one of the "must go" hangouts in Eagle Rock. After our visit at Descanso Gardens we dropped by for the burger, pastrami and Belgian fries. To start with the latter, we do not know many places Stateside that would serve them double fried, which is highly appreciated by this born and raised Dutchman. Between the burger and pastrami sandwiches, we both preferred the burger as it was served with a brioche bun that's smaller than your typically oversized dough wraparound which takes away from the patty and other ingredients: 5/5. Pastrami was OK, salty as expected but it seemed a bit disjointed and underwhelming. Maybe it would have been a better experience without the burger (..). Lastly, service was OK but a bit indifferent. Oh yes, we had an ube milkshake which was great, no complaints. read more

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It was amazing service food came in 5 minutes, then we got a horchata shake it was so good free seating we sat outside the servers were very kind too i recommend this if you are looking for a fast restaurant to go to. read more

For "Fast Food", excellent! However, be prepared to pay like anywhere else. The pastrami was lean and plentiful, definitely shareable. The Beet Salad, very good! read more

I recently visited The Oinkster in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, and tried their famous pastrami sandwich. Overall, I would rate the experience at 3.7 stars. The pastrami was house-cured and had a pleasant smoky flavor.the meat wasn't greasy and was tasty. The sandwich was complemented by red cabbage coleslaw, caramelized onions, with fresh bread. There was nothing that stood out from a typical pastrami sandwich. It was delicious. read more

Such a fall from grace. Just like a majority of the people who came here over the years, I too found this place from Diners, drive ins, and dives. When I first started coming here it was a legit pastrami go to. Great portions and quality pastrami. Everything was great. Its been a few years so I decided to come after raving about this place to friends. I was so excited to show them a great pastrami. Boy was I wrong. I never complain about prices because I understand inflation but to pay $20 for a pastrami and there's barely any pastrami in it is criminal lol. This isn't even an exaggeration. There was more bread than pastrami. It's such a disappointment to see The Oinkster fall like this. Is there new ownership? Is it just hard times? I have no idea but I feel like this place could use a reset. read more

This place went downhill after the pandemic. Sorry. I've stopped coming here. Burgers at burger king is so much better.

Would not come back. Had the chicken and brie sandwich with a side of regular fries and a water and my total was $22. My friend has a burger, tots, and an ube shake and was $33. Food was fine, but not at that price point for me. Just not my spot. read more

I first reviewed this place in 2008! A life time ago for me but unfortunately a few reincarnations ago for The Oinkster. This is my open good bye letter to a place I've held near and dear in my heart. 323-255-OINK- I even have their phone # memorized. I don't even have my mother's phone # memorized. What is there to say? The quality, the menu, and the service have slowly slipped. It started around when they got rid of the chicken plate? and culminated yesterday when I bit bone fragments in my burger and saw that they had started charging for the aioli. The swan song started playing (over the metal) when I watched my food die on the pass as a server stopped to chat. I was 5 steps away. He didn't chat for long but this is an establishment that won't make your to-go fries until you get there. Any one of these faults in isolation would be fine, but all at the same time is a poor performance. Why is this restaurant, one that empirically has the potential of being a 5 star establishment, slowly removing or losing everything that made it exceptional? This spot used to have the best chicken plate, 2 types of ketchup, fresh tea, and great baked goods. Gone. Part of me wants to blame the sons or the GM. I went as far as to scroll through their instas and linkedins to see what I could glean, referencing interview dates and reading posts. Who knows. I'll stop here. What I can say with certainty is that the love is gone or going. At the end of the day I sincerely hope The Oinkster reinvents itself or finds its lost spark but for now I'm eating elsewhere. read more

Fraudulent and low level customer service . Food is horrible and expensive, never fresh.

Stopped by for lunch. Ordered the BBQ Pulled Pork with sauce on the side. I don't really like their sauce. Also ordered waffle fries with chil cheese. Well I got changed 91 cents for sauce I don't even use. The cashier didn't even mention anything. I got regular fries. Some fries were cold. The chili is room temperature and not appetizing at all. There is no way you can justify that little tub of sauce to cost 91 cents. This is how you lose customers. I won't be coming back. read more

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