I’ve been in a chili fries state of mind, lately, odd for me, usually it’s a twice a year kinda tre
at thing, but lately I’ve been imbibing every time they show up on a menu. First time in this round was in Ukiah, CA, late at night on the current version of this road trip, which started a month ago, and has continued with a couple of brief hiatuses in the middle.
At Be Bops Diner, the chili was hot, meaty, the onions fresh and crispy, and the cheese bountiful. I’m not usually a cheese guy on chili fries, tho I love it, a girl has to watch her figure!
The next stop was Boulevard Burgers in Woodland Hills, CA. This was a food service type chili, the one that has that undertone of cinnamon, as I have mentioned so often, this is a popular food service offering, but I am not sure who it belongs too. I’m starting to think it is from Vienna Beef. It’s a good one, but I’d like it jazzed up a bit, and no, I am not sure what that means.
On to Jack’s Classic Hamburgers in North Hollywood, where they goofed a little, and gave me the chili on the burger, instead of the fries. I had to do a little self-service relocation on that one, but fortunately, the chili on the burger was ample, so there was plenty to adjust. I won’t make you suffer through the pix of that ordeal, it wasn’t pretty in the end!
Johnnie’s Pastrami in Culver City, Cailfornia, served up a nice order, again, I think this was Vienna’s product, but this might have been jazzed up a little. It was the perfect accompaniment for the famous Pastrami dip. I do love freshly diced white onions as my topping of choice!
Then it was on to the I-15 trek from Los Angeles to Vegas, and stopping at Original Tommy’s in Barstow, just for a side of their chili fries, on my way to lunch, needed a little something to tide me over. Their presentation is usually a little prettier than this, I take responsibility for dumping them over in the sack and trying to make it good again on my own. I failed, obviously, at the aesthetics, but won during the consumption round!
On my recent trips, by far my favorite chili, was the little local hot spot in Tulsa, Ron’s, where not only the fries, but the burgers, are buried under pounds of deliciously meaty, mildly spicy chili! Yep, there is a burger under there somewhere!
Chili fries. It’s what’s for dinner.