[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]n the land of the never-ending debate between In N’ Out vs. Shake Shack and the oldest McDonald’s in the country, ‘hood burgers just hit differently.
What’s a ‘hood burger? All the Jims, Patras, Tom’s, Arry’s, Tommy’s, and any other old-timey name that illuminates all those famous corners in our respective neighborhoods.
There’s something special about driving through streets that are heavily filled with the aromatic scent of quarter-pound charbroiled cheeseburgers and freshly salted, golden, crispy, unapologetically thick-cut steak fries. That primal scent has a way of setting off the most vivid sense of voracious hunger as you drive, walk, skate, or jog by these places.
If you grew up in Los Angeles, you undoubtedly have a soft spot for these delicious community beacons of salt and fat: chili cheese fries, a watery fountain Coke, and greasy empty packets of ketchup. If you recently moved here, you’ve probably walked by to check it out, and hopefully, you tried a burger that genuinely represents Los Angeles food culture.
It’s important to remember that these are the places that have fed many inner-city families. When many classified parts of Los Angeles as “food deserts,” those $19.99 family value packs of burgers and fries fed many mouths.