Lucky Boy Drive-In

There's a soft spot in my heart for Pasadena. It feels like a greener, more metropolitan version of my town while maintaining a minimum of traffic and insincerity seemingly more common to other parts of Los Angeles.

Dat Bacon!

Lucky Boy Drive-In closes at 2am with only 4 hours of downtime before starting back up with their amazing breakfast burritos. These breakfast behemoths are packed with delicious thick cuts of dark brown crispy bacon, and the whole sausage links create a structural integrity not unlike rebar. Hash browns, cheddar cheese, and fluffy eggs assembled like the cook might have made this burrito a million times leaves only the cups of fresh spicy salsa to pour on at your discretion.

There was no way I could finish the burrito, but not for lack of trying. The only disappointment was in myself. Why can I not get all of this in my stomach?

It was so good I went back the next afternoon for a pastrami sandwich. Not for any other reason than I love a good pastrami, and I'm on a constant search for one to beat my all-time favorite here back in Bakersfield. I'm happy to report they don't only make amazing breakfast burritos because this was on point.

Lucky Boy is one in a long line of traditional diners. It can be greasy. It is definitely not healthy, but these flavors and techniques are the backbone of American comfort food.

Oki-Dog on Pico Blvd.

What happens when the people of Okinawa create their own hot dog recipe? Well, they put two inside a tortilla along with some pastrami and fill the damn thing with chili, of course. 

The heart-attack inducing monstrosity known as the Oki-Dog is a very filling, very polarizing food thing.

There are two Oki-Dog’s in LA. The one under review today is the Pico location which some say is less authentic or at least less shady. Fairfax will get its day in the sun, soon. 

This particular spot has a main island where all cash is paid and food is made servicing both the small inside seating area and the outside walk-up. 

I took a bite and felt like I’d spun the chamber of the gastrointestinal gun loaded with a single diarrhea bullet, but the taste was actually not bad. Think Wienerschnitzel with better ingredients. The chili is of the Cincinnati ilk, and I was surprised by how much I liked the tortilla flavor and dry, almost crispy, texture. 

It didn’t feel healthy. It didn’t look nice, but for around $6 I was happy. No intestinal disturbances, only smiles and a full stomach. 

Fairfax, here I come.