Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles with Skin

What is a person to do when they are torn between craving a buttery maple drenched waffle and a juicy piece of fried chicken? Well if you live near a Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles, you can have your artery clogging combo all on the same plate!

For a place that’s infamous for entertaining hordes of breakfast hungry patrons and soaking up late-night drunks, it’s took me some time to finally make it Roscoe’s. I always thought of it as one of those kitschy places you don’t make your destination, but more a place you stumble upon to magically, like a shining beacon of help when you’re hungry and lost in Hollywood.

This somewhat describes my visit this past weekend, when I was looking for someplace to eat a late breakfast before catching The Godfather at the Arclight on Sunset. Located surprisingly just a few blocks away, there was the waffle and chicken logo beckoning me to enter. Street parking was tricky, and its two entrances confused me, but I finally made my way inside.

The interior has a funky design with wood paneling, a bit of neon, and in one room split level floors. We were seating in a much more simplistic room with a basic table layout and graffiti-style art on the walls. Only a few people were spread around the room but everyone was clearly indulging in the restaurants signature offering.

I went with this as well, ordering the Carol C. Special which came with “one succulent breast and one delicious waffle.” My girlfriend went with the similar Country Boy Breakfast, which came with 3 chicken wings instead of the breast. Actually, there are quite a few combinations in the menu of bird and waffle. Some include gravy, some include biscuits, and there were plenty of other possible additions like mac n’ cheese or giblets.

Orders away my food finally arrived. One piece of fried chicken, one waffle with industrial strength butter plopped on top, and a small cup of syrup on the side. I was unclear how to go about eating it, so I started slowly dissecting each one.

For a place with the word “waffle” in the name I was expecting a lot, and frankly this waffle was just so-so. It would satisfy someone simply wanting a waffle, but this was a tad overly sweet for my taste. I prefer something lighter and milky, or even nutty, but this just didn’t do it.

The chicken on the other hand does deserve to be used in the signage. It was nice and hot with fantastically crispy skin and a wonderfully juicy bite. The chicken wings on the plate across from me were equally delicious, especially if you’re someone who prefers more skin then chicken.

Now I decided to get into a bit of mad science by combining chicken, waffle, and a bit of syrup on one fork. It sounded like it would work but it utterly failed. The flavor of chicken and waffle are not meant to be married. So I went simpler and tried just chicken and syrup. Unsurprisingly this was great, sweet glazes on fried chicken always works.

What’s left? Hmmm… I got it! Skin without chicken, waffle, and syrup! How did the frankenfried waffle fair? Wow. This was… wow. Ok if you go and order a waffle with fried chicken you have to do this. I practically rose from my chair and shuffled through the restaurant with outstretched arms in groans of delight.

In the end Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles is not a place I’d leave my driveway for, but if I’m in the area and hungry for chicken I’d be willing to brave the parking situation. Roscoe though should seriously consider renaming the place “Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles with Skin,” but that’d probably be a hard sell.

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Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles
1514 N Gower St.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 466-7453‎

Address Los Angeles, CA

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Paid for Eating and Writing!

Surprise, surprise! I was tapped by AskMen.com a month or so ago to do a series of articles about certain LA restaurants to be featured in their "Fine Living" section over the coming months.

So far my impressions of Katsu-ya have been published as of this past weekend, but you can expect more within the coming days. I'll be making announcements here when that happens. But don't worry, you'll also be getting more posts based on places of my choosing and my dime solely on Famished L.A.

Right now, I'm trying to decide on someplace to eat for breakfast this weekend in the San Fernando Valley OR in Hollywood. Suggestions?

Joe and His Ripper

Slow down while heading through Reseda along Tampa Blvd, or you just might miss the new hot dog locale Fabs that has been burning up the boards with talk of some snappy dogs, and dare I say, a fried dog called "the ripper." No it has nothing to do with the serial killer who terrified London, but is actually a regional specialty of New Jersey that has made its way west.

A ripper simply explained is a hot dog deep fried in oil until the casing tears or “rips.” It is then either served in a steamed bun plain or with a slathering of mustard relish. This explosive frank was made famous by Rutt’s Hut in Clifton, NJ during the 1920s. Now thanks to owner Joe and Fab’s, you to can live like someone from Jersey without the cross-country trip.

The place is small with only two teeny tables and a couple of stools. When you walk in the owner himself will most likely be the one taking your order, and you’ll even get to watch him cook it up before your very eyes since you’re practically already standing in the kitchen.

The menu board on the wall has much more then just a single dog. Along with their specialty they have a list of other eye opening concoctions that are also notable in their own areas. There is the “Carolina Slaw Dog” and the “Kansas City Dog” that uses BBQ sauce. He has even found inspiration straight from LA itself with the “LA Street Dog” with bacon, and his version of the Oki-Dog called the “Fairfax Burrito Dog.” With these choices and more (he even has burgers) I decided to keep it simple. I ordered “the bald eagle,” a ripper with the relish mix, along with the tater tots. How can you pass up tots?

I took a seat and watched as Joe strolled about his kitchen cooking up what I wanted. I actually started to feel like I was sitting in someone’s house watching them make dinner. He picked up a hot dog and dropped it in the oil, then took a step over to coat the tots before dropping them in their own vat. There were even times when he would pause and we would start chatting. Mostly about how I’d never heard of a ripper before, and how I’d heard great things about this place prior to visiting.

Minutes passed and I was handed my order with a chilling bottle of ketchup. I had to take a moment and actually look at what I was about to eat. Not only to take a picture, but because it looked so nicely prepared. But I was ready to stop admiring and I readily took a bite.

In the pillowy soft steamed bun the dog had a crisp snap and the relish a delightful tang. It was surprisingly not as greasy as I thought it would be. This hot dog was like nothing I had ever had before, and I loved it. As for the tater tots? I made the right choice. They were a potato trip down memory lane.

I already have plans on going back. Not only to try something new I’m sure will be great, but to take a seat in my pal Joe’s kitchen and say “hello.”

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Fabs
Placement on map is approxi6747 Tampa Ave
Reseda, CA 91335
(818) 344-4336

Address 12851 Riverside Dr. Studio City, CA 91607

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A Healthy Way to Start the Day

When I wakeup every weekend morning I always find myself pondering the same question, what will I eat for breakfast? I’ll be honest and say that I run with a healthy crowd during the week, usually beginning my day in a hum drum bowl of oatmeal with a side of egg whites. I know my body so I know that if I don’t start the day out right I’ll be a hungry zombie in an hour.

This is why I look forward to the weekends. It allows me the rare opportunity to have someone else make me breakfast, or eat something any doctor would raise an eyebrow to. Something that emerged from a pan grease or is stacked high and drenched in maple syrup.

Still there are Saturdays where I lie in bed feeling conflicted, not knowing if I really want to go all out but still knowing I don’t want to be eating celery sticks. Presented with this conundrum I go to such a place where everything on the menu is somehow bad and good for you at the same time, Hugo’s in Studio City.

Arriving in the early morning hours with my girlfriend I could park easily, a feat which would become impossible if I had arrived anytime after 9. Seating choices both inside and outside were plentiful, so I took a seat on their plastic enclosed patio.

Opening the menu and you’ll see why I called this place somehow “bad and good for you” all in the same moment. Hugo’s is all about using organic ingredients and manages to turn the usual greasy spoon fare into a zen like experience. They have various vegan and vegetarian options and a variety of egg, pancake, and even pasta dishes. That’s right, pasta for breakfast. One popular item is their eggs benedict creation “Eggs Blackstone,” which uses black bean cakes in place of an English muffin. They also have “Strawberry Chai Pancakes” that come with organic maple syrup. With all this healthy eating expect a price bump from the usual diner food with everything hovering around $10.

For our breakfasts my girlfriend ordered the “Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Pancakes” off their specials menu. It was described as including “shredded carrots, walnuts, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg,” and coming topped with “sliced bananas, maple candied walnuts, and agave sweetened vegan cream cheese icing.”

I on the other hand couldn’t decide between the “pumpkin pancakes” or “cinnamon swirl french toast.” Since I couldn’t make up my mind I asked our waitress what she would pick, to which she gave me an even better option. I could order half and half and save myself from orderer’s regret. Thanks for the tip!


As far as looks are concerned Jenn's was certainly the most appealing. I could see someone ordering those for dessert. Although I was glad to see that my french toast wasn't just some generic swirl imprint but in fact rolled and sliced bread. The pancake appeared to me like any old pancake.

For the first few bites I actually thought it might be. I couldn't detect any pumpkin and started to think they left the pumpkin out of their pumpkin pancakes. But the more I ate the more pumpkin like it became. It seemed to me that maybe the batter wasn't stirred properly and perhaps led to this fickle cake. My french toast on the other hand was great. The cinnamon shown through brightly and I loved its pull apart consistency. The maple syrup I could tell wasn't some generic high fructose blend. This was the real deal. If you are faced with choosing between pumpkin or cinnamon, go cinnamon.

My girlfriends choice I think looked better then it tasted. When she cut into it I could see the carrots but the pancake tasted weak. I think Hugo's seriously needs to up the signature ingredients of their pancakes if they want to make them more of a winner. Still I should mention that they do have their cooking technique down. Both our pancakes were light and airy. A quality I look for in a well made pancake. I also loved the toppings that came with the carrot.

Usually when I go to Hugo's for breakfast I go for their egg dishes, with this visit being my first foray into pancakes. My experience is that they execute them very well and I've never been disappointed. So I think next time I'll either do the same or order the cinnamon french toast to assure I leave with a smile.

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Hugo's Restaurant
Placement on map is approxi12851 Riverside Dr.
Studio City, CA 91607

Get Directions(818) 761-8985

Address North Hollywood, CA

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Parking My Butt at Luna Park

I have a personal issue with brunch. For the rare special occasion it can be a lovely thing and something to do on a slow Sunday morning. The menu from place to place is generally the same, consisting of various poached egg and fish offerings with the usual bubbly champagne. I go for “Mother’s Day” and “Easter,” and other random days throughout the year at the behest of friends.

My personal preference is to have breakfast and lunch separate. I like waking up to an omelet or french toast, then progressing a few short hours into something like a burger or sandwich. When I go to brunch I feel pressured to make a decision between the two, leaving one sacrificed and me normally dissatisfied throughout the day wishing I’d chosen the later. A few Sunday’s ago I braved the decision at “Luna Park,” a trendy restaurant on La Brea known for its mojitos.

At around 11:30 in the morning the place was practically empty and we were seated in one of the few wooden booths. On busier nights these would be ideal if you’re looking for privacy. There’s even a curtain you can close to give you and your party a feel of seclusion.

The brunch menu was certainly varied but I could clearly see some breakfast bias. Breakfast was divided into a “sweet” and “savory” section, with “sweet” being carbs and “savory” being protein. I was disappointed in the lack of sugary options. If you want something like pancakes forget it they only have french toast, cream of wheat, and granola for anyone with a sweet tooth. If you’re all about ham and eggs then consider yourself set with triple the options. Lunch was what I expected, consisting of appetizers, a few salads, and a wider assortment of sandwiches.

I found myself juggling between either the fried egg or pastrami sandwich, finally settling on the fried egg. My girlfriend was toying with the idea of french toast but ended up with the salmon and brie frittata. For a starter we both agreed on the goat cheese fondue which comes with bread and apples for dipping.

The fondue arrived quickly. So quickly in fact that while it was wooshed to our table the candle went out. It took some time for us to flag down someone to relight it. For me the appetizer was cute but ended at that. I don’t know why but I always think I’ll like goat cheese more then I do. There is something about the texture that I always find off putting. Plus when you think about it this close to $10 appetizer was just goat cheese and apples, nothing special. I was hoping that lunch would make up for my appetizer ordering faux pas.

Our selections arrived a short while later and the results were in. It didn’t as far as my ordering skills were concerned. My egg sandwich was bland and messy with the fries being forgetful. A big complaint I had was with the cream cheese, which for this sandwich just didn’t work. It needed something stronger like melted cheddar to pull it all together. My girlfriend’s choice was the much better of the two, being something I actually wish I would have ordered. I grudgingly ate the rest of my sandwich and watched her all smiles consuming hers with glee.

Fried Egg Sandwich with Bacon, Avocado, Arugula, and Cream Cheese on Brioche with Fries

Smoked Salmon and Brie Cheese Frittata with a Green Salad

Moving beyond our meals we looked at the dessert menu and gave it some thought, but after my previous two choices we decided to leave and make our way to “Joan’s on Third” for some tried and true cupcakes.

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Luna Park
672 S La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-2110

Address 672 S La Brea Ave Los Angeles, CA 90036

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It's an It's-It!

Have you ever heard a new word only to hear it time and time again within the next few days? Unless it was gibberish or your attempt at creating a word, most likely it’s not that the word came into being the moment you heard it. More so the word, or even thing, was suddenly added to your brain bank and therefore is more likely to be acknowledgedwhen it catches one of your senses.

I can’t remember when I first heard it, but at some point within the past month I heard the word “It’s-It” but had no idea what it was. I didn’t really think much of it, but the word was strange enough for me to remember. A day later, I was poking around on Yumsugar and saw it referenced during a photo tour of the food facilities at Google. I now knew it was an ice cream sandwich. Then a few days later on Chow, people were buzzing over it being spotted in Los Angeles grocery stores. I think fate was telling me I needed to posses it, and it was about time I went to the website and did a little reading.

The “It’s-It” is an ice cream sandwich created in 1928 by entrepreneur George Whitney, a San Franciscan native, who one day decided to take two oatmeal cookies, slap some vanilla ice cream in the middle, and drop his Frankendessert in dark chocolate. For more than four decades the “It’s-It” picked up it’s local cult following until finally being sold to the Shamieh brother in 1974 who took the product to wider pastures, adding flavors like mint, chocolate, and cappuccino. It’s thanks to them you can now find the “It’s-It” in 15 other states, and why I was able to find one in my local Von’s thanks to tips on Chow.

Spotting it in my grocer’s freezer I already loved it. The packaging looks vintage like something illustrated by Disney animator Mary Blaire. Inside you’ll find three individually wrapped sandwiches, most likely in vanilla since that’s the flavor you’ll find most often away from the Bay area. I tentatively pulled one out, unwrapped it, and took a bite.

The cookies are soft with a pleasant oatmeal spice. The vanilla ice cream is not gourmet or completely all natural, but it certainly tastes of vanilla and not nearly artificial. As for the chocolate I often find that the word “dark” is thrown around very loosely in the mass production world, and almost always lacks bitterness, this is no exception. Here I have a hard time telling it from milk chocolate, especially when the product contains milk and cream for the vanilla ice cream. But the layer is thin and not meant to be a standout, so I’m fine with its ordinary chocolate flavor. My favorite part of the whole experience is when I hit a harder chocolate chunk. I really like eating food with a nice crunch.

I’m not about to compare these taste-wise to the freshly baked and scooped ice cream creations at Diddy Riese in Westwood. What sort of case could you make against a place that bakes various cookie options, offers you choices of Dreyer’s ice cream, all for the low-low cost of $1.50 a sandwich? But I’ll give the “It’s-It” one thing. I liked how the bite was clean through from cookie to cookie. At Diddy Riese it’s a bit messier, falling apart and crumbling through as you eat your way through. I think ice cream sandwiches work best when matched with soft baked cookies.

The “It’s-It” does not pretend to be something better then what you could make from scratch with an oven and an ice cream maker. What it does is provide you a better than average option for when you’re on the go and don’t have time to act like Martha Stewart. I can understand why people went zany when spotting these away from the Golden Gate Bridge. They’re better then good and did wonders with satisfying my lazy sweet tooth. Right now I’m really jonesing for one in mint. Maybe a vacation to San Fran is in order.

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It's-It
Southern California
Various Albertson's and Von's
Call Ahead

A Lesson in Perspective

My favorite theater in all of Los Angeles for seeing first run films is the Arclight in Hollywood. Yes the tickets are expensive, but for the price you buy the peace of mind that your seats will not be kicked, incessant talkers will be tossed out, legroom is aplenty, and the worry of shoddy prints or terribly audio is obliterated. When I wandered in a few years ago by chance and heard "Back to the Future" playing over the sound system I muttered, "this is the theater that God built." Not only is everything topnotch from seats to concessions, but also the location is right on Sunset amidst some great restaurants and local hangouts.

It was last Saturday afternoon that I found myself here buying tickets for the May 22nd midnight showing of Indiana Jones, afterwards wandering off with my companions in search of something filling for lunch. I was in the mood for a burger creation, so off we went to "The Bowery" so I could finally try their burger. Arriving at a locked door and drawn shades I was sad to see they were closed until dinner service. Then I remembered “Molly's Charbroiler” on Vine, a burger stand I've passed many times but never took part in. I thought my mind was made up until we spotted the sidewalk signage ushering us towards "The Hungry Cat".

With a sharp turn we were walking towards their outdoor patio and large glass doors.

While the outside was growing crowded, the inside was practically empty except for another couple and the many employees busying themselves with their stations. Behind the bar the bartender was vigorously juicing in one of the many large metal hand juicers, while across the way at the raw bar a cook was shuffling seafood about. We were given the option of indoor or outdoor seating, so we opted for indoor near the juicers to escape the increasing heat outside.

In our seats we were handed brunch menus and a bowl of oyster crackers was placed on the table. I suppose this is their version of a bread basket, I’d rather have hot piping sourdough bread if they were going for a seaside feel. Seeing the crackers I thought clam chowder would be good, but there was none on the menu. I guess if you’re pregnant or have an upset stomach, score! Crunch away.

The waitress arrived at our table smiling to get our drink order, offering us either sparkling or flat water. Jenn said water, Kyle chose the $4 Mexican Coke knowing well and good they sell it at the 99cent store for $1. Maybe here it came fresh over the border this morning? I said diet coke, to which I was given a “sorry, we don’t sell diet.” Ok…water then. She wandered off and moments later a busboy brought the drinks. I was surprised to see a fancy bottle of water brought to the table, already opened, and already poured into our glasses. As it turned out the words “flat water” meant a $4 bottle of what probably came from the same place as tap water. Apparently to get “the other water” you need to say “plain ice water.” My bad I suppose for not dining at finer establishments more often.

As for the food I had known what I was ordering before I walked in the door, “The Pug Burger,” so I only vaguely glanced at the menu when the waitress came back. Jenn had a hard time making a decision, but ultimately ordered the special fish and chips, with Kyle upping the ante on the $30 half dungeness crab. Fifteen or so minutes later our decisions were put in front of us.

My “pug” burger was unexpectedly small and large at the same time. For $16 the amount of meat looked sparse atop and English muffin like bun, but with all the extra ingredients it still looked overwhelming. It came open faced with the blue cheese and avocado already falling off the small piece of meat. I had to get to this burger fast for fear it would crumble. I quickly put the top on and the thing was huge. With a very hard push down I managed a bite as juice leaked like a popped balloon out of this skyscraper. Would the burger live up to all the hype that surrounds it? Yes and no.

It did taste good, very good, perhaps even $16 good. The meat was incredibly juicy and certainly high quality. The fries that came with the burger were also plentiful and above average. But the problem with the burger lies in its execution. Earlier I had been debating the added $2 for the additional fried egg. If I had done that there would have been no way to handle this burger other then by cutting things bit by bit with a fork. That is not how a burger is meant to be eaten. Size may not have been such an issue if it was on a more traditional larger bun, and if the meat was pressed not quite so thick. There was also a problem with the blue cheese, which completely overpowered the subtle avocado. I think it would be best to skip the avocado and keep the bacon and cheese to loose a layer that is lost taste wise anyways. I like a messy burger now and again, but I needed a bib just to handle this one. Check out the napkin.

Around the table Jenn and Kyle had a similar experience dealing with things being small and large at the same time. Jenn enjoyed her fish and chips, remarking it tasted fresh, light, and not at all greasy. But for $16 she wished for more fish to go along with the grandiose amount of chips.

Kyle dish had the prettiest presentation, appearing like a large crab bursting out of large bowl of ice. Unfortunately he picked up the largest shell and there was nothing but ice beneath it. I guess when he ordered a half portion he got the bottom half which was mostly legs. Even so he really enjoyed his meal and was very satisfied with how incredibly flavorful it was.

Walking out we were all content with our decision to detour into “The Hungry Cat” even if it did feel a few dollars overpriced. The burger quelled my craving for meat and I left feeling full, but I don’t think it deserved all the accolades it’s been receiving. It truly is a burger to try once, but I don’t think I need to give it another go anytime soon.

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The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 462-2155

Address 1535 Vine St Los Angeles, CA 90028

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