LA is often described by foodies as the fast food capital of America - for good reason. Joints like In-N-Out were founded in LA, thrived to great magnitudes and became wildly successful all around the world. While you’re here in LA, here are some of the best fast food options the city has to offer. Forget calorie-counting for a day and embark on a feast of these fast food joints you won’t forget!
In-N-Out
No guide to Los Angeles should leave out the most popular fast food chain in California, as the city is known for being In-N-Out’s home. While the chain has come to Singapore a number of times for special pop-up events, there’s no better way to enjoy its burgers than right here in its hometown. Sink your teeth into In-N-Out’s famous burger and fries, or challenge yourself to a 4x4 burger that comes with four of everything - patties, tomato slices, cheese and more! Its tasty burger patties are made fresh (the chain prides itself on not using frozen patties, even its fries are made on location from fresh potatoes) at all, so you know each burger is gonna be delectable and juicy. In-N-Out is famous for its “hidden menu” items, while the 4x4 burger, animal style fries is common knowledge, there is a whole host of other popular orders, including “protein style” (burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun), “grilled cheese” (cheese burger without the patties), and the "Neapolitan Shake" (half and half vanilla and chocolate milkshake).
Umami Burger
This is more of a restaurant than a fast food chain, but we’ve included Umami Burger here nonetheless because of its gourmet hamburgers that makes it a standout among the burger chains here. The Umami Truffle Burger is highly recommended - it’s packed with a juicy beef patty, truffle cheese, truffle aioli and truffle glaze. The combination of flavours here is multi-layered, and the different ingredients come together to give a meal that’s full of different textures. Pair this with truffle fries if you’re feeling like some truffle overload. Other popular favourites include the Umami Classic (pictured above) and the Umami Bacon Manly that’s all rich in savoury flavours. For vegetarians, the restaurant also has The Original Impossible Burger that’s packed with not one, but two impossible patties and a special ‘ooh-mami’ sauce!
Lucky Boy Burgers
A warm and filling breakfast burrito is always a great way to start your day, so why not have the best one that the city has to offer? Lucky Boy Burgers in Pasadena has been serving up their take on the breakfast burrito for decades, and sees many customers every morning from across Los Angeles County getting in line for it. Each burrito is filled with eggs, potatoes, bacon and cheese, with the tortilla wrap grilled to perfection. This, if nothing else, makes for one hell of a hearty breakfast and will give you enough energy to last for quite a while. Even if breakfast burritos aren’t your thing - though we can’t imagine why - Lucky Boy Burgers serve so much more than that. They’ve been around for ages, and also have solid burgers, sandwiches and vegetarian items on the menu. If you’re making a visit, take note that their breakfast is served from 6am to 10.30am daily.
Original Tommy’s
One of LA’s staples, Original Tommy’s is best known for its chili burgers. The emphasis on its burgers is less on the beef patty, but its world-famous chili sauce. It’s smooth, tasty and reasonably spicy, giving your burger the kick that you wouldn’t usually get from normal cheeseburgers. You’ll also get a generous serving of Original Tommy’s chili in their chili cheese fries - one of their best sellers. It’s a great late night snack after you’re done with your evening - as the crowd at Original Tommy’s past midnight will show. This place is so famous and well-loved that there are other restaurants that have, well, ripped off their concept, so do look out for the right Tommy’s before you enter!
The Habit Burger Grill
The Habit Burger Grill is a cult-favourite in California that specialises in charbroiled hamburgers, which have been labelled the best regional fast food chain by USA Today in 2019. It was first founded in 1969 as a small family business in Santa Barbara, but quickly expanded around LA and the rest of California because of its signature Charburger, which was voted as the best burger in America. The meat is 100% fresh ground beef that’s never been frozen, charbroiled to perfection, and the other condiments like the caramelized add more flavour and texture to the burger. You can’t miss the opportunity to try the best burger in America right here!
Hiho Cheeseburger
Hiho Cheeseburger is known for its light beef, which are from farms that are committed to sustainable ranching practices. The beef comes from cows that are also 100% grass-fed with no additional hormones or antibiotics - you know you’re getting your meat 100% natural and as environmentally-friendly as possible. They are the only fast food restaurant to serve this, so you’ll definitely be dining at a one-of-a-kind fast food place! For vegetarians and vegans, you won’t be missing out on their burgers as Hiho also makes their own in-house gluten-free vegan patty that’s pretty tasty as well! Hiho has two locations - one in Santa Monica and another in Mid Wilshire.
Zankou Chicken
A small family-owned Meditarranean chain, Zankou Chicken was founded in 1962 first in Beirut, Lebanon, and was brought over to LA in 1984 when the Iskenderian family moved there. Everything here is made fresh and is of the highest quality - chicken is processed and marinated on-site, and their pita bread is also freshly baked each morning. Their secret garlic sauce is one of their best secrets, and there are many recipes online that attempt to replicate it - not with much success. Their popular Chicken Tarna is also actually a trademark of Zankou Chicken, meaning you certainly can’t find it anywhere else. It’s hard to describe how good it tastes, so we guess you’ll have to come here and find out yourself!
Ono Hawaiian BBQ
Ono Hawaiian BBQ was first started in 2002 by brothers Joe and Josh Liang, both of whom share a deep love and appreciation of Hawaiian culture and cuisine. Since then, almost 18 years on, the menu has undergone plenty of changes to reflect an eclectic mix of Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and American dishes in true multicultural Hawaiian spirit. Plate lunches are the way to go here, and it consists of two scoops of rice, one scoop of mac salad and your choice of entree over steamed cabbage. Originally just street food for sailors, plate lunches have now become a beloved meal choice for all. This is a fast food experience that’s great for those looking for something different, or healthier!
El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco is Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken” and crazy it is. It’s one of the best places to get your LA-Mex food. El Pollo Loco saw its beginnings in Sinaloa, Mexico, and opened its first American outlet 5 years later in Los Angeles. Get ready for overstuffed quesadillas and tacos, amongst other Mexican-inspired food that caters to any diet and is always reminiscent of its Sinaloan roots. Chicken here is fresh and marinated with citrus, garlic and spice before being fire-grilled slowly for 55-minutes to ensure that meat is tender and juicy. Ready to get loco?
Los Cincos Puntos
Literally meaning “the five points”, this joint is best known for their carnitas and handmade tortillas. Located in East LA, it has one of the best Mexican food you can find in the area and that’s saying something, as it’s usually assumed that the further east you go in LA, the more amazing Mexican food you’ll find. There’s no dine-in area, but we recommend that you eat your tacos right after you buy them instead of waiting till you get back to your accommodation, as their delectably warm tortillas deserve to be eaten fresh on the spot. It’s a favourite of many locals in the area, and this is really how the restaurant has lasted for decades - on the support and love from the local communtiy. So join them in the queue for this LA gem and find out what’s so great about it!
Forget McDonald’s and KFC. While you’re in LA, these are our top 10 fast food places you just must try for some quality food. Don’t limit yourself to just burgers and fries, sink your teeth into the other multicultural options that reflect LA’s crazy diversity!
