Fusion Burgers

Fusion Burgers
5933 York Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90042
(323) 257-8705

Hours:    Mon - Sun: 3:00 pm-10:00 pm


We thought we'd try a new burger joint on the way to the Dodger game, and Fusion Burgers seemed to have some unique burgers on their menu.   So off we went....

Let me tell you that driving down York Blvd to get here is not one of the most pleasant drives.   It seems like a pretty rough neighborhood.... at least compared to what I'm used to..   Bars on the windows to almost every business, graffiti in all forms is abundant.    Nothing specific made me feel unsafe, as it's not the worst neighborhood I've visited for a meal, but just the atmosphere outside had me questioning myself - Is there a place for a $10 burger (fries and drink not included) in this neighborhood?   That's what we were here to find out....

The locations is on a corner of a two main streets in a small strip mall with very little parking.   I'd say the parking lot had about 10 spots, maybe 12.   I parked in the last available spot in front of the UniSex Hair Cut business (which also sold Mexican insurance.)   There is street parking as well, but it seemed crowded as well.

We walked into the burger place and were taken back by the prestige of a nice restaurant.  Nothing fancy, just nice.   We were greeted immediately and asked if we were there for pick up or dine in.  The server seated us next to a window seat with a view of York Blvd (if you could look past the graffiti etched into the glass.)   The interior is really well done.

Onto the menu.   For those loyal readers, you know that I'm a glutton for spicy (pain!) and anything along those lines grab my attention immediately.  I quickly focus on Dan's Inferno Burger.  Described as ground chicken and turkey mixed patty, Dan's Inferno sauce, 1000 Island, pepper cheese, roasted peppers, and onion ringlets.  I wasn't too sure about the chicken/turkey combo patty as I came here for a burger, but the description was calling my name.  I also had to try their chili cheese fries and the Cheese Tosos (tater tots.)

The food is definitely made fresh here, it took a little while for our food to arrive..  Don't come here in a rush, I would say it took between 10-15 minutes to get our food.. This isn't fast food...

The food comes presented very elegantly on nice plates.  They are sure trying to impress in this neighborhood.   Now for the food.....

The chili fries were good.   Nothing special, but decent.  It tasted home made and not your fast food chili.  However nothing stuck out on my palate about the chili.  It was just chili on fries with a slice of cheese melted on the top.

The cheese tosos were pretty good, and if I were to come back I would get these over the fries.  The fries (assuming they're the same fries by them selves as the ones in the chili cheese fries) just had no real flavoring or seasoning to them.  The cheese tosos were basically hash browns and cheddar cheese shaped into jumbo sized tater tots and deep fried.   Really good...  They were cooked perfectly and the cheese didn't really overpower the fried potato taste.   I liked 'em!

And now.... the main attraction....  The burger...    My first bite into the burger I was focusing on the flavor of the patty, because that was my biggest concern.   Oh yeah.....  They must add some seasoning.  This patty would make a great burger substitute in any burger..  Then.....  Dan's Inferno sauce kicked in..  It kinda had a habañero flavor to it, but it didn't have the heat I would have expected from the flavor.  Don't get me wrong, it was hot...... but not habañero hot.   I'm guessing the sauce had a very very small concentrate of habañero to give the flavor but not all the heat..    I couldn't really taste the the pepper cheese as described on the burger.   It must have been a very very mild pepper jack..  I think this is where the burger could have used some improvement.  If it was me, I might have substituted a more flavorful or sharper cheese.   Oh... The onion ringlets.   Annoying....  They just seemed to get in the way while eating the burger and provided no help with the mixing of the flavors.   I would have liked to have seen just a few unfried onion slices on the burger..  Maybe raw onion to bring out the flavor...

One more thing.. I'd be remiss to not mention the jalapeño dip they serve with the sides.   It was awesome!  Not really spicy, but had a mild ranch flavor with dill and some jalapeno flavors.  The fries that weren't covered in chili I dipped into here and they were good!   If I were to come back, I might just get the fries just to dip them into this dip..

Would I come back?   Well, the burgers were good..   If I were in the area with no other lunch plans I'd probably come back.  For me, it's not a special trip worthy of a place...  The food is good, but I can't say memorable...

800 Degrees

800 Degrees Westwood Village
10889 Lindbrook Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90024
424-239-5010

Hours:
11am-2am 7 days a week

I've been wanting to come here since I read about this place late last year....    Customizable Neapolitan pizza's that cook in 60 seconds and that are actually good?      Well, I figured I'd try them out....

My wife and I were in the area about a month ago, and decided to come here for dinner.  Not only was parking scarce, the line was out the door and down the block to the corner!    At the time we were going to a show in Hollywood, so we decided we didn't have time to wait in line.     But today, my work sent me close to this area so I figured I'd give it a shot again during lunch time.

I arrived at 11am sharp, found parking on the street just a couple doors down... and guess what?  Somebody left an hour on the parking meter!   My lucky day...  I knew this was a good idea...

I walked into the restaurant and it was empty...  There was one lady ordering in front of me and I believe I was just the second customer of the day...    By the time I left after eating, there were about 15 people eating and  another 15 in line to order...  I came at the right time!




First off, I walk up to this "Chipotle" style ordering counter where you meet a guy tossing pizza dough...   He hands the freshly tossed dough to the guy next to him who asks which pizza would I like..   I could just make my own creation, but I figured for a first timer - I'd order one of their specialty pizza's..

Being that spicy always calls my name, I opt for the pizza titled Piccante.  This pie is topped with soppressata, garlic & Calabrian chilies...   Soppressata is spicy air-dried salami...     Sounds right up my alley...

I walk with my pizza down the line as they make it, and was offered to add a salad when I was towards the end of the food line..   I opted for a small caesar salad.....        Including a fountain drink, my pizza and the salad it was about $15 including tax.   Not too bad...

I watched my pizza get placed into a wood burning oven...   Supposedly heated to 800 degrees (doh?) so your pizza is fully cooked in about 60 seconds...   I thought mine was closer to 2 minutes, but I really wasn't watching the clock..   Maybe it was my hunger that was slowing time down for me...

First - the caesar salad.   It was really fresh..   The lettuce was dark green and the croutons tasted and had the texture of home made.   Like they baked them in their own 800 degree oven.  Really tasty.    The caesar dressing wasn't over powering.  For me, it was probably just right.  I couldn't really taste it unless I stopped to think about it.   I know it was tossed with the salad, but it was just so light..     Thumbs up for their caesar salad.

Now - What you've been waiting for....  The pizza...   The pie comes sliced into 6 slices.   With the salad, I'd say it would easily pass for two people - but I was by myself and being that I'm not a leftovers guy - I did eat the whole thing..

I picked up a slice and noted how flimsy the bottom crust was.   If you're not careful, the toppings could easily slide off on to your plate.  It seemed a little greasy, maybe that's the olive oil they layer onto the dough before they add any toppings?    The first bite.....  has a nice spiciness to it..    For those who aren't into spicy, this wasn't jalapeno or serrano chile spicy.   Think what the next step up from a pepperoni would be.. That's about where it was.    And there was plenty of fresh tomato sauce...  They make their own sauce here with fresh tomatoes and seasonings, and it was good!      The chile's on the pizza seemed no spicer than red pepper flakes.. They worked really nice with the soppressata...    The end crust was crispy on the outside and nice and chewy on the inside...

Greasy

Well - I'd say this would be worthy of another visit!    I'd definitely come back here if I was in the area..  I'm eager to try some of their other pizza's they have..

Happy Joes

Happy Joe's
9919 Route 20
Galena, IL 61036
815-777-1830

Do you ever wake up in the morning and just crave pizza?   You look in your fridge and then remember you ate all the pizza last night for dinner.   Man, what would I give for some hot, fresh breakfast pizza?

Well, Happy Joe's has solved your dilemma!   They make breakfast pizza's that are pretty darn good!     They'll even deliver in the morning too!

We ordered the Denver Omelet Pizza which was described as pan style crust pizza topped with eggs, cheese and Green peppers, onions, tomatoes and diced bacon.  Sounds good to me!   Here's what we received:

This was a fantastic pizza!   The crust seemed fluffy/chewy (in a good way) however it was crisp  on the bottom.    The cheese and eggs really had a lot of flavor.   And the veggies!  Wow, the bell pepper still had crunch!  All the veggie's seemed to be really fresh.   Overall, this was a really well done pizza.   I've never had a breakfast pizza like this and I wouldn't hesitate to get it again!   If I'm ever back in this area, maybe I'd try the Bacon & Bacon Breakfast pizza or the Three Meat Breakfast pizza.   Two forks up on my plate for this one!

Lucky's Sandwich Company

Lucky's Sandwich Company
3472 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
 
(773) 549-0665




My wife and I were in Chicago a few weeks ago and ate really well!   So many places to eat at.   So many that I've read about or seen on TV.  I finally got a little of bit of time to write and post some photos of the places we ate at...    Keep an eye on the blog for the next few weeks...

I saw this place on Man vs Food and figured it should be pretty good..    The Challenge at this place was to eat three of their sandwiches in less than an hour.    According to their stats, less than 7% of the people who attempt it are able to finish all three....    This challenge wasn't for me, so I just went to enjoy the food..

All of their sandwiches are topped with Tomatoes, Fries and Seasoned Coleslaw.    Sounds good to me!   I opted for the Two Bagger.   A sandwich with Roast Beef and Pastrami with Provolone Cheese.   Here's a picture of what I received:

Whoa!  This looks good!    I'm all about stuffing anything you can on a sandwich...  At $7.50 a sandwich, you definately get your moneys worth in food!    But how did it taste?  

The bread was very soft and fluffy.   It worked really well and tasted freshly baked.  The coleslaw, however, was too vinegary.   I like coleslaw, but to me it just tasted like vinegar soaked cabbage with no other seasonings.   I really didn't like it at all.  The fries were seasoned and were good.  With the rest of the sandwich being drowned out by the coleslaw, there really was too little meat to taste.  Eaten separately, the meat tasted fine, but nothing special.   The fries and coleslaw drowned out the meat.  A sandwich loaded with as much as this one is, there really needs to be more meat to balance the taste out.

My wife ordered a bacon and cheese sandwich..    She took the coleslaw off the second half before eating it and it was a really good sandwich!   Fries, bacon and cheese on some really good bread.   Can't go wrong there!

Although this wasn't a place I'd return to, it was busy at lunchtime.  Within 10 minutes of our arrival the place was packed solid!


Bottom line:  Skip this one.   Nothing special to see/eat here.