5 Fried Chicken Entrées in the Los Angeles Area You Must Try This Fall

Cuisine all around the world has its variances depending on the location and region. While each culture has its own flavors and uniquer ingredients, many places utilize the same base dish to deliver the flavor. For example, you can find fried chicken just about anywhere in the world. However, the flavor of the fried chicken will greatly depend on your location and where you get it from. Sure fried chicken in itself tastes great, but many places like to add their own personal twist to fried chicken. Check out these five places in the greater Los Angeles area that you can get some tasty and unique fried chicken.

5. Howlin’ Rays‘s Nashville Hot Chicken

When a place takes upwards of two hours from getting in line to receiving food for customers, that either means they work slowly or they have sky-high demand. Luckily for Howlin’ Ray’s, they fall under the latter case. In fact, they even boast when their line only takes an hour to get through. So this Howlin’ Ray’s place in Los Angeles’ Chinatown only opens for five hours on five days of the week. No matter what day or time you go there, expect to wait at least an hour to finally receive your food. Why does it take that long? Howlin’ Ray’s makes the best Nashville Hot Chicken this side of the Mississippi. Nashville Hot Chicken does not taste like any ordinary spicy chicken – it has its own unique combination of savory, zest, zing, tart, and spice that no other type of chicken can match. You could only find better Nashville Hot Chicken in Nashville itself. If you find that you have up to two hours to kill, why not spend it waiting for some Nashville Hot Chicken from Howlin’ Ray’s?

4. Jumping Däk‘s Korean Fried Chicken

If you visit Jumping Däk, you will get Korean Fried Chicken and not much else, but you will get Korean Fried Chicken made very well! Having just opened about a year ago, Jumping Däk boasts a menu specializing in the savory food, along with sides and desserts to accompany the main course. This fast-casual restaurant replaced an old Hawaiian BBQ fast-food restaurant that never really saw too many customers. However, with the recent opening of a ramen restaurant next door, it made sense to open something here to take advantage of the overflow of the ramen restaurant’s customers, and here we have Jumping Däk. For those who have never tasted Korean Fried Chicken, luckily Jumping Däk provides samples of their three flavors: Sweet, Spicy (pictured below), and Fiery. Sweet and Fiery explain themselves, while Spicy represents a happy medium of the Sweet and Fiery. Basically, imagine popcorn chicken tossed in their signature sauces. Customers can enjoy this Korean Fried Chicken a la carte, as a sandwich, or as a combo with sides and a drink.

3. Densetsu no Sutadonya‘s Karaage Don

We moved from Nashville to Korea, and now we move to Japan. Fried chicken exists all over Asia, and each country does their fried chicken a little differently. In the case of Japan, each city or region cooks differently. However, for the major cities of Japan, they have a locally popular place called Densetsu no Sutadonya, known for their Sutadon. The word Sutadon consists of “suta” for stamina and “don” for bowl, so Sutadon literally means “stamina bowl” in Japanese. While originally found in Japan, Southern California now has a Densetsu no Sutadonya in Mitsuwa Marketplace in Torrance. This location prepares food the same way they do in Japan – using extremely high temperatures to cook everything quickly and all at once. You can taste this best in their Karaage Don. They basically flash-fry the meat, so it gets cooked without having it soak in all the oil. That way you can enjoy the chicken’s true flavor instead of a mouthful of oil.

2. Abigaile Restaurant‘s Fried (Jidori) Chicken

Have you heard of Kobe Beef? Kobe Beef represents a higher quality of beef, much higher than that of Angus beef. A higher quality grade of meat applies to more than just beef – it applies to chicken too, but in this case, we refer to it as Jidori Chicken. Just like how Kobe Beef tastes better than normal beef, Jidori Chicken tastes better than regular chicken, and you can taste the difference at Abigaile Restaurant in Hermosa Beach. Although appearing upscale and fancy, Abigaile actually functions like a casual gastropub, especially given their location by the beach so that beachgoers can dine at Abigaile without worry of their outfit. Perhaps Abigaile appears upscale due to their food menu, which contains some highly eclectic items such as their simply named Fried Chicken. Abigaile’s approach to Jidori Chicken contains togarashi in the batter, giving it a kick in each bite without the need for sauce. Speaking of sauce, this chicken comes with housemade hot sauce and preserved lemon gribiche, along with papaya slaw. $15 allows you to taste this upscale version of fried chicken.

1. Jimmy’s Famous Tavern‘s Southern Fried Chicken

If you seek classic American cuisine with an artisanal touch, look no further than Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (JFAT). Reinventing traditional restaurant faire, JFAT covers many grounds of cuisine familiar to many with their high-quality approach to cooking. Currently boasting five locations between Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County, JFAT takes what you know about traditional American restaurants and turns it up to eleven. Between brunch, lunch, dinner, and a full bar, any time of the day makes for a great time to stop on by JFAT and enjoy a bite or sip or more. Any time of the day makes a great time to sink your teeth into JFAT’s Southern Fried Chicken. The batter contains Herbes de Provence, which gives the chicken so much flavor that you do not need any sauce or condiment for it – enjoy the chicken on its own for true bliss. Anyway, this fried chicken comes served with garlic mashed potatoes, thyme gravy, and green beans, all for $20 a plate.

Pork Yeah! Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Now Features a Monthly Specials Menu

They say that variety adds to the spice of life. One can live life completely routinely and habitually day by day, but that leads to a dull and predictable life. These type of people live by the motto, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In other words, why change something if it already works just fine? I would argue about how boring that sounds, but another would argue “Better safe than sorry.” While you may not successfully convince the stubborn people, many others accept variety in their lives. Trying something different makes life much more interesting, especially when it already changes on a set schedule. In this case, I refer to things that change monthly, such as a monthly pint nite, bottle share, or food specials menu. Speaking of the latter, you can find a terrific monthly specials menu at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern.

Dedicated to the heart of true craft, Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (JFAT) understands that cooking requires more than simply skill – cooking requires HEART. Sure their menu contains plenty of amazing dishes that you will want to come back for over and over again in order to try everything. But did you know that JFAT carries a monthly specials menu? In addition to continually updating their menu and adding new items, all JFAT locations now offer a limited-time monthly menu with seasonal eats. This month, I got to try three items from their current specials menu:

• Grilled Prosciutto-wrapped Figs with Arugula, Goat Cheese, Pine Nuts and Balsamic Syrup – Four halved fresh figs, wrapped with prosciutto, lightly grilled, served around arugula lightly dressed with sherry vinaigrette, and sprinkled with crumbled goat cheese & toasted pine nuts. Figs come drizzled lightly with balsamic syrup
• Grilled Zucchini, Corn, Red Pepper, Ricotta and Squash Blossom Flatbread – Flatbread topped with Fontina, Ricotta, Parmesan, grilled zucchini, roasted corn, red peppers, and zucchini squash blossoms
• Pasta with Clams, Andouille Sausage, Corn and Tomatoes – Thick-cut pappardelle pasta tossed with Manila clams, spicy Andouille style sausage, white wine, garlic, tomatoes. and corn

Enjoy something unique at any Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern location while the season lingers! Check out JFAT’s Facebook and Twitter pages to see what else they have that you may like your taste buds to tango with.

Take A Sweet – Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Now Doles Out Refreshing Summer Cocktails

Summer has undoubtedly arrived, what with the heat wave and all. The weather does not appear to get any cooler in the next month or two, so cool off with a nice cool treat. The summer season has a great effect on the types of food and drinks that people consume, as more people start to prefer light and refreshing things to consume. Your body just craves it – when you feel hot, your body tells you to go find something cold to eat or drink. If you plan on powering through this heat wave, then Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern has got you covered.

We know and love Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (JFAT) for their amazing food and great ambiance. Their menu always impresses with rotating and seasonal dishes, and they have plenty of weekly specials that you will want to come back for over and over, such as Happy Hour, Burger & Beer specials, and early dinner (supper) specials. The food menu contains many customer favorites, plus a lot of dishes that depend on the month or season. However, JFAT does not limit seasonal rotations to only their food menu – they apply a seasonal rotation to their drink menu too. Having just launched in early July, JFAT has added six new summer-inspired cocktails to their drink menu. JFAT already had a large list of drinks, and now you can enjoy any of the following to cool yourself off:

• The Pearfectionist – Tito’s Vodka, Absolut Pear Vodka, Pear Nectar, Agave
• SoCal Sour – Bulleit Rye, Lemon and Orange Juice, Diseño Malbec
• Summer Sunrise – Ketel One, Blood Orange Juice, Blood Orange Liqueur, Sparkling Float
• Blackberry Sangria – Troublemaker GSM, Sacred Bond Brandy, Schnapps, White Grape Juice
• Peach Sangria – Simi Sauvignon Blanc, Sacred Bond Brandy, Peach Puree, Peach Schnapps
• Classic Sangria – Simi Sauvignon Blanc, J-FAT Homemade Lemonade, Sacred Bond Brandy, Razzmatazz & Peach Schnapps

Treat yourself to a cool treat at any Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern location while the season lingers! Check out JFAT’s Facebook and Twitter pages to see what else they have that you may like your taste buds to tango with.

Rise & Dine – Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Wants to Brighten Up Your Weekend with Sunday Brunch

For all of our lives, we have always heard about the importance of breakfast as the most important meal of the day. Whenever told about this, have we received an explanation about the origin of that? The statement exists as more than just a phrase – breakfast truly does monitor and control your mind and body for the rest of the day. What humans consume within an hour of waking up ultimately determines how a person will feel the rest of the day. A person that eats a breakfast full of vitamins and protein will take on the day with superior energy than someone who has something less nutritious for breakfast, such as pancakes with just butter and syrup. While a breakfast such as that will provide a heavy dosage of carbohydrates necessary for burning energy, a human body requires protein and vitamins in order to strengthen and grow the body. For this reason, nutritionists recommend eggs for breakfast, as eggs provide an abundant amount of protein in a small package. Many restaurants that serve breakfast will serve eggs in some fashion. For those that crave breakfast done right, seek out a local spot that specializes in quality ingredients, such as Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern.

If you seek classic American cuisine with an artisanal touch, look no further than Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (JFAT). Reinventing traditional restaurant faire, JFAT covers many grounds of cuisine familiar to many with their high-quality approach to cooking. Currently boasting five locations between Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County, JFAT takes what you know about traditional American restaurants and turns it up to eleven. Their beverage offering alone always stays current with the seasons, as they routinely rotate out their craft beer offerings as well as their fine wines. People also love the cocktails at JFAT, as the drinks here range from sweet to spicy, mild to bold, and more. Between lunch, dinner, and a full bar, any time of the day makes for a great time to stop on by JFAT and enjoy a bite or sip or more, especially in the morning.

JFAT offers some exclusive items found only their brunch menu, which they only serve on Sunday mornings. Get there at the right time, and you can kick off your Sunday brunch right. Arrive before noon for Early Bird Happy Hour, and you can get mimosa, champagne, or their Famous Mary for just $7 each. But even if you cannot make it to Early Bird Happy Hour, JFAT’s brunch menu awaits you with lots of succulent choices, such as the popular Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Malted Ale Waffles. Enjoy JFAT’s signature buttermilk fried chicken with waffles made with real malted ale, thyme gravy, applewood smoked bacon, and maple syrup for $18. Perhaps you seek something with eggs for brunch? If so, JFAT offers two varieties of eggs benedict. One can go with the Classic Eggs Benedict – English muffins topped with black forest ham, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce. For a more unique spin, go with the BBQ Pulled Pork Benedict – English muffins topped with Anaheim chiles, barbecue pulled pork, poached eggs, and Tabasco Hollandaise sauce. Both of these come with tater tots and cost $17 per plate. For breakfast or brunch, some people like to eat with their hands. In that case, the Breakfast Flatbread makes for a great dish that multiple people can share. Normally cut into six pieces, this $16 flatbread comes with applewood smoked bacon, sausage, fried eggs, Fontina cheese, tater tots, and chives.

While the menu and food at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern looks and sounds familiar, one cannot judge a book by its cover. You cannot appreciate the flavor until you try it for yourself. Head on over to Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern at Point Loma (San Diego), Dana Point, Brea, Woodland Hills, or Santa Monica to savor American cuisine at its finest. Pay attention to their Facebook and Twitter pages for details about their current food specials, as well as new food and drinks that may arrive in the future.

Upcoming Events: February 27 – March 5, 2017

San Diego Burger Week
February 24 – March 4
Participating locations, San Diego County
http://sdcitybeat.com/burgerweek

Enjoy select specialty burgers from participating locations all over San Diego County during this 10-day period for just $6 each!

Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras
February 28

Many locations and businesses will have some sort of special going on this Fat Tuesday. Check out your favorite local restaurants or businesses to see what they have going on.

The Virus and Agression @ The Observatory
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, February 28
The Observatory, Santa Ana
http://www.viruspunks.com/
http://www.observatoryoc.com/node/2932

Punk band The Virus will headline a show in Santa Ana this Tuesday night. Tickets to this all-ages show cost $13.

OC Roller Derby Orientation
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm, March 1
The Rinks, Huntington Beach
http://www.ocderby.com/ticketsevents/2017/3/1/new-skater-orientation

If you ever wanted to try roller derby, you have a chance to join a league. Click the link to send your information to them, and then show up to orientation this Wednesday night in Huntington Beach.

38th Annual Food Fare
11:00 am – 9:30 pm, March 2
Barker Hangar, Santa Monica
http://pplafoodfare.com/

A high-class ritzy food-tasting event will take place in Santa Monica this Thursday. The afternoon session from 11am to 2pm costs $150 to attend. The evening session from 6:30pm to 9:30pm costs $250 to attend. All attendees receive unlimited food and drink samples while supplies last. Parking costs $10 per vehicle. The website does not specify an age limit.

Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern – Santa Monica Grand Opening
11:30 am – 4:00 pm, March 2
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, Santa Monica
http://j-fat.com/locations/santa-monica/
http://www.facebook.com/events/403898963293488/

Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern has opened the doors to their fourth location in Santa Monica, and they will celebrate with a generous 50% off all lunch menu items this Thursday afternoon. No coupon required – simply show up, order lunch, and you will get 50% off.

College & Food Truck Night
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, March 3
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/collegenight/

This Friday night, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach will open later than usual. They will have discounted admission for college students, and the aquarium will have gourmet food trucks parked outside to feed visitors.

First Fridays
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm, March 3
Various locations
Long Beach: http://firstfridayslongbeach.com/
Venice: http://www.abbotkinney1stfridays.com/

This monthly artwalk occurs on the first Friday of every month. Each location offers different activities, but most will contain food & drink specials, art exhibits & displays, street performers, and more. Venice and Long Beach have the two largest gatherings of all First Fridays. Other locations include Westchester, Fullerton, and City of Industry. Most First Fridays locations cost nothing to attend, while the local businesses uphold their standard rules (e.g. bars 21+ only).

Starpool: Live in Riverside
8:00 pm – 12:00 am, March 3
Romano’s Concert Lounge, Riverside
http://www.starpoolmusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/1625133217782719/

Local ska band Starpool will headline a show in Riverside this Friday night. Tickets to this show cost $12 presale or $15 at the door. No one under 21 may enter.

2nd Annual Downtown Anaheim Community Yard Sale
8:00 am – 2:00 pm, March 4
Center Street Promenade, Anaheim
http://www.downtownanaheim.com/

Local Anaheim residents will join in on a large communal yard sale in Downtown Anaheim this Saturday morning. Visitors can explore this event for free, while residents wanting to set up a spot to sell things must register for $10 per spot.

The Straw – Grand Opening
8:00 am – 10:00 pm, March 4
The Straw, Costa Mesa
http://www.facebook.com/events/1456671431034077/

Say hello to the next level of hipster food this Saturday as Costa Mesa’s The Straw officially opens their doors to the public. They will not have any specials on this day – just pop on in and buy one of these fancy milkshakes so you can show it off to all of your social media friends and post selfies with it.

34th Annual Porsche & Vintage VW Literature, Toy & Memorabilia Meet
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, March 4
LAX Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles
http://www.lalitandtoyshow.com/

See dozens of vendors this Saturday near LAX all exhibiting posters, brochures, toys, models, gifts, press kits, literature, accessories, and more for Porsches and vintage VW’s. Admission to this all-ages event costs $10 per person.

4th Annual Los Angeles IPA Festival
9:30 am – 9:30 pm, March 4-5
Mohawk Bend, Echo Park
http://www.laipafestival.com/

Find over 60 different California-brewed IPA’s at Mohawk Bend this weekend during the LA IPA Fest. This event operates more like a tap takeover than a typical festival – instead of tickets, all 10oz beers cost $5 each, while souvenir glasses cost $5 each. Guests should park in the neighborhood north of Mohawk Bend.

The Original International Tiki Market Place
10:00 am – 3:00 pm, March 4
Elks Lodge 1952, Garden Grove
http://www.facebook.com/events/1273487682690729/

For $10 admission gain access to a plethora of tiki-themed vendors in Garden Grove this Saturday afternoon. Admission comes with a $10 voucher for a drink.

San Diego Travel & Adventure Show
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, March 4
11:00 am – 4:00 pm, March 5
San Diego Convention Center, San Diego
http://travelshows.com/shows/san-diego/

Interested in traveling and getting out to explore? Find all the information and resources you need and more this weekend at the Travel & Adventure Show. Presale admission costs $11 for one day, or $18 for both days.

SoCal Etsy Guild Market – San Diego
10:00 am – 9:00 pm, March 4
Westfield Mission Valley, San Diego
http://socaletsyguild.com/

Free to attend for all ages, the SoCal Etsy Guild will hold its monthly vendor market this weekend, filled with dozens of vendors selling apparel, accessories, and more.

Holi Festival of Colors – Riverside
11:00 am – 3:00 pm, March 4
Martha McLean Park, Riverside
http://www.festivalofcolorsusa.com/festival-of-colors/festival-colors-riverside-ca/

Want to get covered in color without the necessity of moving for five kilometers? Check out the Festival of Colors this Saturday. As simply a celebration of color, guests will enjoy live music the entire time, all while mingling and showing off colors. Color throwing occurs every hour. Admission costs $5, and guests can purchase colors at the festival.

Noble Ale Works 6th Anniversary Celebration
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, March 4
Noble Ale Works, Anaheim
http://www.noblealeworks.com/

Noble Ale Works celebrates their sixth anniversary this weekend, and to commemorate, they will throw a beer fest at their brewery just like previous years. General admission costs $50 and provides four hours of over 30 different brews, unlimited pours, live music, food trucks, a souvenir glass, and more. No one under 21 may attend this event.

Akiba Day #1
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm, March 4
Weller Court, Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles
http://akibaday.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/1247962838619465/

Check out this free and all-ages meetup for fans of anime and manga. Expect to see a handful of cosplay here as well.

2017 Spring Busker Festival
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm, March 4-5
Seaport Village, San Diego
http://www.seaportvillage.com/events-calendar/busker-festival

Basically, Circue du Soleil. This artful all-ages outdoor festival brings out performers of various entertainment trades (jugglers, contortionists, stilt-walkers, etc) to entertain visitors. Free to attend, guests should seek alternate methods of transportation to arrive here, such as carpooling or public transportation, as decent parking will likely take a long time to find.

16th Annual Lantern Festival
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, March 4
Chinese American Museum, Los Angeles
http://www.camla.org/lanternfestival.html

This free and all-ages festival celebrates Chinese tradition with recreations of street fairs filled with illuminating lanterns, music, lion dance, interactive arts & crafts, and more, all culminating with a glow-in-the-dark dragon dance at the end of the day. Local food businesses will sell authentic Chinese food and drinks as well.

2017 Get Shamrocked Fest Launch Party
1:00 pm – 7:00 pm, March 4
Tin Roof, Downtown San Diego
http://www.getshamrocked.com/

The Get Shamrocked Fest normally takes place in Murrieta in September annually, but this Saturday afternoon, they will have a special concert party in Downtown San Diego. Admission to this concert party costs $20. No one under 21 may attend.

Tater Tots & Beer Festival
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, March 4
Montecillo De Leo Politi Park, Elysian Park
http://tatertotfestival.com/events/los-angeles-ca/

Snack on tater tots and craft beers this Saturday in Los Angeles. General admission costs $40 while VIP admission costs $75 and provides access to a VIP area. All attendees receive unlimited food samples while supplies last, and a beer stamp card good for one beer from each participating brewery. No one under 21 may attend.

Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience 2017
3:00 pm – 11:00 pm, March 4
Empire Polo Fields, Indio
http://www.rwbexp.com/

Partying, loud music, and alcohol collide in one epic mashup in the desert this Saturday evening. Taking place where the famous Coachella and Stagecoach concerts occur, this all-ages concert will have stoner music, beer, wine, and overpriced food for you to indulge yourself and the kiddos with. Tickets start at $70 and go up to $5000.

Orange County Restaurant Week
March 5-11
Various restaurants in Orange County
http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/

For one week, numerous restaurants in Orange County will offer prix-fixe multi-course meals, ranging from $10-20 for lunch and $20-40 for dinner.

Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show
5:00 am – 2:00 pm, March 5
Fairplex, Pomona
http://www.pomonaswapmeet.com/

See thousands of original and restored classic cars at the Fairplex this Sunday morning. Many of the vendors will also sell automotive accessories, parts, and more as well. This all-ages show cost $10 to enter, while children 10 and under get in free with a paid adult admission. Parking costs $10 per vehicle – guests must enter via gate 17 on Fairplex Drive, directly off the 10 freeway.

626 Golden Streets
8:00 am – 2:00 pm, March 5
South Pasadena to Azusa
http://www.626goldenstreets.com/

A ciclovia comes to the San Gabriel Valley this Sunday morning, which will close off many streets to through-traffic to allow bikers and pedestrians to freely roam the streets. Plan your commute accordingly.

So Cal All-Porsche Swap & Car Display 2017
8:00 am – 3:00 pm, March 5
Phoenix Club, Anaheim
http://www.lalitandtoyshow.com/related-events.html

Check out a bunch of classic cars this Sunday morning in Anaheim. Admission to this all-ages car show costs $10 per person.

San Diego Vintage Flea Market
9:00 am – 3:00 pm, March 5
The Observatory Parking Lot, North Park, San Diego
http://sdvintagefleamarket.com/

At this free all-ages outdoor market, visitors will find modern to vintage inspired clothing, housewares, furniture, smalls, and more for sale from the various local vendors.

2017 San Fernando Valley Comic Book Convention
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, March 5
Granada Pavilion, Granada Hills
http://www.facebook.com/SanFernandoValleyComicBookConvention

This annual local comics event returns to the San Fernando Valley this Sunday. General admission costs $5 while children under 12 enter for free with paid adult admission, and admission grants full access to the show floor, which contains dozens of artists, vendors, professional actors, and more.

San Diego Magazine’s Brunch Bash 2017
11:00 am – 2:00 pm, March 5
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, La Jolla
http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/December-2016/San-Diego-Magazines-Brunch-Bash-2017/

Splurge on breakfast foods, beer, cocktails, coffee, and more this Sunday early afternoon in La Jolla. Tickets cost $50 per person and includes unlimited food and drink samples while supplies last. No one under 21 may attend.

Stone IPA Madness
11:00 am – 5:00 pm, March 5
Stone Brewing, Escondido
http://www.stonebrewing.com/events/stone-ipa-madness-festival-hops

Submerge yourself in hops this Sunday at this beer festival at Stone Brewing in Escondido. $15 gets you five 4oz beer tasters, while $25 gets you ten 4oz beer tasters. They currently have 20 beers listed, and may potentially have more added by Sunday. Bring cash for food, which you can buy separately once inside the festival. No one under 21 may attend.

South Coast Roller Derby Recruitment
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, March 5
Laguna Hills Community Center, Laguna Hills
http://www.southcoastrollerderby.com/

If you ever wanted to try roller derby, you have a chance to join a league. Show up to orientation this Sunday evening in Laguna Hills for more information and to meet current participants.

D.I. and Narcoleptic Youth: Live in Riverside
4:00 pm – 10:00 pm, March 5
Aurea Vista, Riverside
http://www.facebook.com/events/170507356783333/

Get your weekly dose of punk rock this Sunday evening in Riverside. Tickets to this all-ages show cost $10 presale or $12 at the door.

5 Desserts in the Los Angeles Area You Must Try This Winter

Everybody eats out of necessity, and not always just for the luxury. Basic meals come and go, as they simply provide fuel to make it to the next meal. But do most people simply consume their food and continue with their day, or do they stop to enjoy the sweeter things in life? Ask yourself this: do you eat to live, or live to eat? Nobody can honestly consider after-meal desserts a necessity in life, even if they possess a sweet tooth. Despite this, nature causes all creatures to prefer sweets over anything else. Should you have dessert with every meal? Not always. Can you have dessert any time you want, regardless of other factors like time and weather? Of course! Despite the increasingly cold weather approaching, one should never sacrifice desserts for uncontrollable reasons. By that notion, continue reading to see five desserts in the Greater Los Angeles area that I highly recommend consuming this winter.

5. The Loop Handcrafted Churros‘ Glazed Churro

We live in an age of technology, the internet, social media, and smartphones. The days of face-to-face interaction have died with the past, as most people spend their time in public with their faces buried in their smartphones. People use this as their means of interacting with others, and social media provides an outlet for that. Social media has also paved the way for one-upmanship, or posting something to gain more attention than the previous person – basically, “Oh yeah? Well check this out!” Especially today, we have Instagram food – basic foods made to look pretty so that customers will share it online. Plenty of Instagram food exists, such as at The Loop: Handcrafted Churros. Oddly located in a heavy Vietnamese area of Westminster, The Loop takes the basic churro and fancies it up for customers to snap away at it. Sure you could go to, say, a Costco and get a simple churro for a dollar, or you could spring $4.50 for one of The Loop’s Glazed Churro. The Loop takes one of their ready-made churros, dips about half of it in a glaze of your choice, and coats that part with a topping of your choice. It just looks so cute and fancy that you will want to share this with the digital world before you actually bite into it!

4. Pie ‘n Burger‘s Peanut Butter Meringue

Two major archetypes of people exist: the adventurous and the safe. By human nature, people prefer the familiar – after all, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This explains why corporate products can survive for so long because they continue to serve the exact same product that people grew up with. Because something has never changed over time, that must mean that people love it, right? For something traditional that the people always go back to, look no further than Pie ‘n Burger. This little diner in Pasadena has withstood the test of time with their simplistic approach to traditional diner foods in burgers, milkshakes, and pies. Pie ‘n Burger not only makes food that all customers recognize, but they make them delicious as well that rivals corporate equivalents. When it comes to pies, their Peanut Butter Meringue sets the bar high. Very few places make peanut butter pies like this, and Pie ‘n Burger does it right with just the right amount of peanut butter without making this slice feel too heavy. While the $4.50 price tag per slice feels steep, each slice more than holds its weight up.

3. Confetti Italian Ice‘s Parfait

Everyone loves sweets, but no one can deny that teenagers represent the worst demographic for controlling dessert habits. Teenagers usually have money to buy whatever they want (as long as they can afford it), and they have not grown up enough to make sensible spending decisions. As such, lots of places take advantage of that by introducing desirable foods priced just within reach that young customers will want to come back to, especially cold treats. Starbucks does this well with their blended drinks, as do some Italian Ice places. Take a stroll over to Confetti Italian Ice and you will see that they value quality in their treats instead of simply catering to as many customers as possible. Tightly nestled in a strip mall in Costa Mesa near the Orange County Fairgrounds, Confetti Italian Ice may resemble another popular Southern Californian place that does something similar, but Confetti has vastly unique flavors in their Parfait. Many places do something like this already: Italian Ice combined with soft-serve ice cream or custard. While the competition sticks to common flavors, Confetti aims for a more unique experience with flavors such as Cookie Batter, Chocolate Brownie, Cookie Dough, Birthday Cake, and more. You can get a Parfait for $3.75 for a small, $4.25 for a medium, or $5.25 for a large.

2. My Delight Cupcakery‘s Breakfast Cupcake

For over seven years now, My Delight Cupcakery has doled out some of the best cupcakes this side of the Mississippi. During their early years, I recall that they only had their mobile food truck to serve their scrumptious cupcakes out of. Since I discovered My Delight, they have since opened as storefront in a corner of Ontario close to Upland and Montclair. My Delight utilizes organic and all-natural ingredients to give their cupcakes the texture, moisture, and sweetness that makes a cupcake worth it. Prominently, their frosting does not taste overwhelmingly of butter, which many other cupcakeries seem to not pay any attention to. This allows their cupcakes to portray more of the true flavors of the cupcakes rather than the richness found in most other frostings elsewhere. My Delight rotates the flavors of their cupcakes monthly, but they will always carry their standard lineup of cupcakes, such as their popular Breakfast Cupcake: a light & fluffy buttermilk-based cupcake with bits of applewood-smoked bacon, iced with a light & buttery maple frosting, topped with more bacon, and drizzled with maple syrup. You can enjoy breakfast for dessert for $3.25 for a regular-size cupcake or $1.75 for a mini cupcake.

1. Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern‘s Old School

If you seek classic American cuisine with an artisanal touch, look no further than Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (JFAT). Reinventing traditional restaurant faire, JFAT covers many grounds of cuisine familiar to many with their high-quality approach to cooking. Currently boasting four locations between Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County, and with a fifth location opening soon, JFAT takes what you know about traditional American restaurants and turns it up to eleven. Between brunch, lunch, dinner, and a full bar, any time of the day makes for a great time to stop on by JFAT and enjoy a bite or sip or more. Their beverage offering alone always stays current with the seasons, as they routinely rotate out their craft beer offerings as well as their fine wines. People also love the cocktails at JFAT, as the drinks here range from sweet to spicy, mild to bold, and more. On the food side, JFAT pays close attention to not only the quality, but the portions of their dishes, especially in their desserts such as the Old School. In a large glass goblet, JFAT combines warm chocolate chip cookies, vanilla bean ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, and roasted peanuts. This massive dessert that can feed at least two people costs only $12. Of course, if you have a huge sweet tooth like I do, you will want this entire bowl of indulgence to yourself. The classics never go out of style at JFAT, so check them out soon and get your dessert on.

5 Burgers in the Los Angeles Area You Must Try This Winter

2017 has arrived, and we welcome this new year with the reinvention and reintroduction of traditional world events. While the world will welcome the Summer Olympics and the United States will welcome a new president, the notion of bringing back something familiar spreads to other subjects as well. When something goes away for a while and returns much later, we refer to those things as classic. Some people say that the classics never go out of style, but eventually, all good things must come to an end, and classics do too. For that purpose, millennials must continually search for ways to improve or adapt methods in all aspects of life. Today’s culture revolves around two types of people: the safe, and the risk-takers. Safe people will find something they recognize and stick with it, preferring not to deviate away from the norm. Risk-takers feel adventurous and love to try new things. In general, safe people live a bland, boring life, while risk-takers live an exciting spontaneous life. Excitement gets your adrenaline pumping, so add some spontaneity to your life by seeking out these five burgers in the greater Los Angeles area this season.

5. The Black Plate‘s Kobe Beef Bacon Jam Sliders

It appears that The Black Plate cannot make up its mind. It feels like every month, they operate as something else. Something here changes every month, such as the owner or the name of the restaurant. Perhaps its terrible location right off the freeway in Westminster lends to the inconsistency here. Thankfully, through it all, their food has remained consistently memorable. The Black Plate may carry a variety of foods, from sausages to hot dogs to sliders to phô to seafood to classic entrées and more. However, I always come back to the Kobe Beef Bacon Jam Sliders. The Black Plate does not serve full burgers. Instead, they have these premium Kobe beef sliders served with spicy maple jalapeño bacon jam and melted sharp cheddar on brioche slider buns. You get three to a plate for $11. You ought to hurry over to The Black Plate to try these, or they might go through some other transformation into another restaurant.

4. Ohana Burger‘s The Daniel-San

Asian food has remained under the spotlight for quite a long time, and still remains a favorite food choice for many people. Even better, people go crazy for the food when it contains an element of fusion in it. So when people discover an Asian fusion restaurant, naturally they all flock to it, such as Ohana Burger in West LA. Located in Little Osaka replacing the previous Bachi Burger, Ohana Burger brings Japanese and island flavors to the west by introducing them to a form that Americans easily recognize: burgers. Visitors can savor this fusion best in The Daniel-San. Ohana Burger takes a marinated Angus beef patty and tops it with chili mayonnaise, a fried egg, furikake, caramelized bacon, and crispy onion rings – basically, an Asian version of the western bacon cheeseburger. Anyone who loves Asian food will fall in love with this burger, as it basically represents Asian-style BBQ in a burger. Sadly, burgers do not come with any side, but once you sink your teeth into this $13 burger, you will not require a side, as you will want to prolong this experience as long as you can.

3. Little Bear‘s Liege Waffle Burger

Breakfast: the most important meal of the day. Traditionally, breakfast restricted our first daily meals to a select few types of foods, such as eggs, meat (bacon/ham/sausage), and some bread (muffin/toast/pancakes/waffles/etc). While we used to eat these with a knife and fork, why not combine it all in one plate? The folks over at Little Bear in Downtown LA have done that already. While one can easily spot Little Bear out in the open, not too many people drive down this street, so they often miss this fun little Belgian pub. As a Belgian pub, you can expect lots of Belgian beers and Belgian foods, including Belgian Waffles, which you can eat with the Liege Waffle Burger. Served only during brunch hours, Little Bear takes a fresh-ground Angus beef patty and tops it with sharp cheddar, bacon, and a fried egg. But to give it that Little Bear twist, instead of regular buns, Little Bear uses Liege Waffles as the buns, which they serve with a side of maple syrup. With the maple syrup, I suggest using a knife and fork. However, for the true burger experience, just pick it up and dive right in. You can start off your day the Little Bear way for $16.

2. VaKA Burger Express‘ El Porky

In a condensed city such as Los Angeles, hidden gems and hole-in-the-wall places exist in every nook & cranny. If you discover or someone tells you about VaKA Burger Express and you decide to go look for them, you may require more than one try to actually locate them. If you simply drive to the address, you may completely pass by them, as they have virtually no signage visible from the street. You have to actually enter Boyle Heights’ Ramirez Liquor and make your way to the back left corner to find the counter for VaKA Burger Express. Once there, you will discover a mini burger paradise with some of the best hidden burgers this side of Los Angeles, such as their El Porky. Blitz your taste buds with this burger that features provolone cheese, crispy pork belly, six-hour braised onions: French-onion soup-style, and housemade smoked barbecue sauce. Do note that they store their barbecue sauce cold, so the first few bites may feel like a blend of hot and cold. For $14 for this burger, you will never taste another burger like this again.

1. Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern‘s Jimmy Burger

If you seek classic American cuisine with an artisanal touch, look no further than Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (JFAT). Reinventing traditional restaurant faire, JFAT covers many grounds of cuisine familiar to many with their high-quality approach to cooking. Currently boasting four locations between Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County, and with a fifth location opening soon, JFAT takes what you know about traditional American restaurants and turns it up to eleven. Between brunch, lunch, dinner, and a full bar, any time of the day makes for a great time to stop on by JFAT and enjoy a bite or sip or more. Their beverage offering alone always stays current with the seasons, as they routinely rotate out their craft beer offerings as well as their fine wines. People also love the cocktails at JFAT, as the drinks here range from sweet to spicy, mild to bold, and more. On the food side, JFAT pays close attention to not only the quality, but the portions of their dishes. For a traditional pub entrée, go with a burger, such as their Jimmy Burger. This $18 burger comes with applewood-smoked bacon, spicy jalapeño jam, and southern pimento cheese. Although more sweet and hearty than spicy, a little bit of heat kicks in at the end, giving a full spectrum of flavor in each bite. While the menu and food at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern looks and sounds familiar, one cannot judge a book by its cover. You cannot appreciate the flavor until you try it for yourself. Head on over to Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern at Point Loma (San Diego), Dana Point, Brea, Woodland Hills, or Santa Monica to savor American cuisine at its finest.

Beef It Up – Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Reminds You of the Good Ol’ Days with Upscale Comfort Food

As we grow older, our tastes change to shape the life of maturity that has enveloped us. As children, we preferred generally simpler foods, or foods popular within our culture. As time passes, our palates expand to include many other flavors, opening our minds to trying out lots of different foods out there. But while we start to eat differently as adults, sometimes we crave what we once had during our youths. Today, we refer to that as comfort food – food that reminds us of the comfort of home and childhood. Many gastropubs specialize in comfort food, but they do so in varying degrees of quality. Sure one can go to the local fast-food joint and get a cheap burger, but one can eat comfortably and exquisitely at a comfy restaurant, such as at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern.

If you seek classic American cuisine with an artisanal touch, look no further than Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (JFAT). Reinventing traditional restaurant faire, JFAT covers many grounds of cuisine familiar to many with their high-quality approach to cooking. Currently boasting four locations between Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County, and with a fifth location opening soon, JFAT takes what you know about traditional American restaurants and turns it up to eleven. Between brunch, lunch, dinner, and a full bar, any time of the day makes for a great time to stop on by JFAT and enjoy a bite or sip or more. Their beverage offering alone always stays current with the seasons, as they routinely rotate out their craft beer offerings as well as their fine wines. People also love the cocktails at JFAT, as the drinks here range from sweet to spicy, mild to bold, and more.

On the food side, JFAT pays close attention to not only the quality, but the portions of their dishes. Even their appetizers and sides can function as a full meal. Most customers start right off with the ‘Buffalo BBQ Style’ Certified Angus Beef Meatballs, juicy meatballs sitting in spicy wing sauce and served with honey-garlic ranch. These meatballs come with some kind of caramelization on the outside, so you get a crispy, sweet, and slightly sticky outer coating that holds a juicy, meaty interior. At $13, you cannot go wrong with this starting appetizer. For the vegetarians out there, the Signature Grilled Santa Fe Caesar Salad represents a masterpiece. Grilled Romaine holds corn, salsa fresca, avocado, and green chile Caesar dressing. This large salad can function as an entrée, and tastes like one too thanks to the grilling of the Romaine that gives it a smoky and meaty flavor. This salad only costs $12, or for $6 more, you can add grilled prime flatiron steak, spiced shrimp, rare seared ahi, or grilled or fried chicken. As another side or starter, customers rave about the $9 Charred Brussels Sprouts, which JFAT serves with applewood-smoked bacon and pine nuts, all of which sits in a pool of maple syrup and bacon fat. For a traditional pub entrée, go with a burger, such as their Jimmy Burger. This $18 burger comes with applewood-smoked bacon, spicy jalapeño jam, and southern pimento cheese. Although more sweet and hearty than spicy, a little bit of heat kicks in at the end, giving a full spectrum of flavor in each bite. For a kinfe & fork entrée, JFAT’s Southern Fried Chicken represents a fan favorite thanks to the Herbes de Provence present in the batter. This entrée costs $19 and comes served with garlic mashed potatoes, thyme gravy, and green beans. JFAT proudly boasts a seasoned pastry chef that eloquently designs their desserts, such as Jimmy’s ‘Old School’ treat. In a large glass goblet, JFAT combines warm chocolate chip cookies, vanilla bean ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, and roasted peanuts. This massive dessert that can feed at least two people costs only $12.

While the menu and food at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern looks and sounds familiar, one cannot judge a book by its cover. You cannot appreciate the flavor until you try it for yourself. Head on over to Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern at Point Loma (San Diego), Dana Point, Brea, or Woodland Hills to savor American cuisine at its finest. Also pay attention to their Facebook and Twitter pages for details about their upcoming Santa Monica location, as well as new food and drinks that may arrive in the future.