Big Mike's Philly Steaks & Subs

So my good friend Leigha decided to move far away from me, all the way to El Segundo. When she told me, she softened the blow by letting me know there was a cheesesteak place right around the corner. What can I say, she knows me well. Last weekend I went for a visit, after Leigha lured me over with promises of cheesesteaks and bead shopping. I was pretty pissed on the drive over with traffic and all, but once I got there, I completely fell in love with the neighborhood.

Once I arrived, I was pleased to learn that Leigha lives within walking distance to Big Mike's. We strolled over there, and as soon as we walked in the place, I knew I would like it. The atmosphere was really cool and casual. Very homey. And there were Tastykakes on the front counter.

Even though it was super casual, it was very clean and organized inside. They keep a roll of paper towels on each table, which is so convenient and considerate! And look at this cute little station:

We both got a regular cheesesteak with American cheese, mine with onions. I am happy to report that their American cheese is white, just the way it should be. We made them combos, with fries and a drink, and the prices were very reasonable!

These cheesesteaks are pretty yummy! The meat itself was seasoned perfectly, just the right amount of salt and pepper. Leigha agreed, and was happy that she didn't need to add salt. It was perfectly cheesey all throughout the sandwich, so you got some in every bite. I didn't know what to make of the roll at first. It was a little tough and waxy on the outside, but it actually had a nice flavor to it, so in the end I didn't mind so much.

The fries are amazing, and really fresh tasting. Every single fry was super crispy. These may be my favorite fries out of all of the places I have visited so far!

We both left full and happy, and we took a nice walk around Main Street. There are a lot of cool little shops around, and yes there was bead shopping.

I definitely can't wait to go back and try a chicken cheesesteak and a hoagie. I guess with my good friend Leigha living so close by, I will be chowin' down at Big Mike's pretty often.

Big Mike's Philly Steaks & Subs

507 Main Street

El Segundo, CA 90245

310-726-9638

South Philly Experience

Cheesesteaks on wheels!

So I finally got to go to the cheesesteak truck, South Philly Experience. It saddens me to say that my good friend Leigha couldn't escape her office for lunch, so I met up with my cool coworker Ty and Ian M.

I have heard quite a lot about this food truck, and I was very excited to try it. I already had my lunch planned out in my head: cheesesteak with fried onions, Hank's Black Cherry Soda, Herr's chips, and possibly a Tastykake. So I was very disappointed when the guy taking my order told me that they were out of Hank's sodas, and had been for quite some time. Ugh, whatever. So I ordered my cheesesteak with onions and American cheese, and I decided to be adventurous and have the Herr's creamy dill pickle chips, and Ty went with the always yummy cheddar and sour cream.

The cheesesteak was ok.

There was a decent amount of cheese on the steak, and the meat was chopped to a good size. I was having trouble telling how the steak was seasoned, because overall there was a funny aftertaste. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, so I broke it down, and then I realized that it was the onions. They were really overpowering and had a sweetness to them that I didn't particularly enjoy. They also got pretty mushy, and I can't stand that. When I made cheesesteaks back home, I always grilled the onions to a nice golden brown, but they still had a bit of a crunch to them.

I don't know if it always tastes like that, or if it was a fluke thing, but if I ever wind up at the truck again, I'll play it safe and get no onions. Ty and Ian thought the bread was chewy, I agreed that it didn't taste really fresh. I know they use Amoroso's, so maybe it was frozen for too long or something. Overall, Ty said his cheesesteak was dry and disappointing. Ian also got fries, and they were thin shoestring fries. He was bummed out that they were a bit soggy, but he liked that there was pepper on them.

For dessert, Ian went with the classic Butterscotch Krimpet:

I decided to try the Shave Ice truck since it was hotter than hell outside.

There were all kinds of crazy combinations and flavors, but I went simple and got a cherry ice.

I have always said that water ice would be the next big thing out here...the next "Pinkberry" craze. I appreciate what they are trying to do here with the Shave Ice truck, but its just not the same. The ice is so thin it almost has a powder consistency, and I like mine to be crunchable. The cherry flavoring also had an odd aftertaste, and like a snowcone, there were some bland bites with no flavor. This is why water ice is better, the flavoring is mixed all throughout. It isn't ice with syrup poured on top. But, on a hot day, shaved ice is better than no ice. And the guys in the truck were really very sweet and they were handing out cute little stickers which I liked.

I would go to South Philly Experience again if I happened to be in the right place at the right time. It wasn't the best I've ever had, and I think they're a bit pricey, but its a fun idea, and the fact that they have Herr's chips scores major points with me. Now they need to restock the Hank's sodas!

South Philly Experience

http://southphillyexperience.com

Philadelphia Sandwiches

CHEESESTEAKS. TWO. DAYS. IN. A. ROW!! Well, yesterday didn't really count I suppose. It wasn't authentic. My cool coworker Ty and I had a hankerin' for a good steak, so we headed off to his usual cheesesteak spot, Philadelphia Sandwiches in North Hollywood.

Ok, ok. So I know that I'm cheating on Leigha bigtime...but we are on different schedules these days, and a girl has needs. Cheesy, delicious needs.

We walked in and immediately I liked the look of the place, it reminds me of a place you would see back home on the East Coast.

Ty told the guy at the counter that I'm from PA, and he immediately said "We don't have cheezewiz, it didn't really do well here." I said, "Yeah that's cool, I really just think its for when you're drunk or hungover." Then he said that they used to carry Tastykakes, but that they didn't sell enough of them or some bullcrap like that, so they didn't have them anymore. He actually blamed it on the people of California. At first I thought, "stupid savages in California, eatin' their dry-ass little debbies or whathaveyou," but then I thought they must not have pushed them hard enough. Because once you eat a Tastykake, you just get it. They're the best snack cake on the market. Period. And if you don't agree, your tastebuds must be off. I challenge anyone to try a butterscotch krimpet and tell me they don't like it. As my friend Katinka says, "The butterscotch krimpet is like God's twinkie."

I ordered the Famous Philly Cheese Steak. The guy at the counter (I feel bad I don't know his name because he was so cool) ran down the way he was going to make it, I think to make sure I would approve. He said American cheese (yellow, he called it) onions, no bell peppers? Yeah no bell peppers. I wanted it the way he normally would make it. In 4 mins, we had our steaks and fries, and they were pipin' hot.

The bread was great...toasty on the outside, lightly toasty and soft on the inside. The meat was nicely seasoned, just the right amount of salty. I would however have liked a little pepper. The meat was chopped to the perfect size, and was nice and juicy. The cheese was melted and mixed throughout just the way I like it...this is something I really, really appreciate. The sandwich was very light on the onions, and I actually would have liked a little more.

This is actually a pretty big sandwich place. The walls are covered with old Hollywood type pictures.

Ty is a fellow foodie, and we spend most of our time discussing food, and yummy places to go eat. The fact that this was his pick for a cheesesteak place impressed me, and I'm excited to try some of his other recommendations.

I definitely have to bring my good friend Leigha to this spot, and when I do, I will get the Chicken Cheesesteak. I bet its good!

Philadelphia Sandwiches

11112 Magnolia Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 91601

818-985-4929

Carla's Cafe

I had just been thinking that it had been way too long since I ate a cheesesteak. I was grabbing lunch the other day at Carla's, and on my way out I saw that the next day's special was a Philly cheesesteak. It was fate!

I didn't have very high expectations, but the food at Carla's is pretty good, so I thought maybe I would be pleasantly surprised.

The staff at Carla's is very friendly. If you're a girl, you get cute little pictures drawn onto your to-go box. Sometimes its a bird, or a flower. One time it was taking awhile and my cool coworker Ty asked if he was drawing me an entire beach. I got my box, and it was in fact an entire beach. Here is an example of one of the pictures:

The wait time is never too long for your food. It can get a little backed up at the cash register sometimes, but Miss Betty always gives you service with a smile.

Ty and I both got the cheesesteak special, so that we could compare notes. We hung out by the grill to see how the steaks were being prepared.

The steak was in long strips, not chopped up very much. The peppers and onions were placed on top at the end, right on the cheese. They did not melt and mix the cheese in, but there was enough covering the entire steak, so it was fine.

I took my first bite, and the meat was tender, not too chewy. It reminded me of pot roast. Unfortunately, it was bland. There was no seasoning on the meat, and it really could have used a little S&P. The roll was a little soft Italian roll, and while it didn't really feel like it was a cheesesteak roll, I didn't mind it. The peppers and onions felt very separate to me, and never really blended with the sandwich. The fries at Carla's are always good.

I have to say, I felt very sad eating a steak without my good friend Leigha.

Ty and I were pretty much on the same page. Not great, but fine enough. It really could have been much better with just a little seasoning. Here is a random shot of the dining room:

Ty said "It's a typical example of a place that makes too many different things for the cheesesteak to be special. Not much thought or consideration goes into it." I think he's right about that. I still love this place, so in the future when I go to Carla's, I think I'll just stick with the soup!

Carla's Cafe (the Commissary)

4024 Radford Ave.

Studio City, CA 91604

818-655-5000

Yummy Philly Cheese Steak

New year, new cheesesteak place. They can't all be good ones, I know that. But I'm never in the mood to have a bad one.

My good friend Leigha and I set off to Yummy Philly Cheese Steak in Van Nuys. We walked in and were greeted by three guys behind the counter who were very friendly. It was clean and very bright inside. I saw this picture on the wall, and I really hoped that this would not be what my steak looked like with the cheese just hangin' out on the roll all unmelted and whatnot:

I asked how they normally serve their Philly Cheesesteak. Normally it comes with fried onions, green bell peppers, mushrooms, and mayo. I ordered it just that way, except no mayo. As usual, Leigha ordered hers with just steak and cheese. We both made it a combo with fries and a drink.

I thought it took a wee bit long for our food, but that's ok. I unwrapped the first half of my steak, and there was nothing pretty about it. It looked a little burnt and dry. The fries looked a bit darker than they should have been, which tells me they need to change the oil in their deep fryer.

I took a couple bites, and I could tell right away that there wasn't enough cheese. The cheese was not mixed in with the meat and veggies, just placed on the roll. At least it was melted though. The whole thing just tasted pretty bland and burnt, and most of my bites didn't have cheese in them. The bread wasn't bad; a little flaky on the outside and soft on the inside.

I asked Leigha for her thoughts and she said, "dry and not enough cheese." Then she casually informed me that their rating on the door was a B. Somehow I missed that on the way in.

I feel guilty writing negatively about this place because the guys who worked there were so sweet. Twice they asked us if we wanted any coleslaw, they made sure we had plenty of ice for our drinks, and when the cook saw us dissecting the sandwhich for a picture, he wanted to make sure that nothing was wrong. I really just wanted to go behind the counter and show them how to make a better cheesesteak, because I liked them and I want their place to do well.

I didn't eat most of my steak, and I left hungry :-(

Yummy Philly Cheese Steak & Grilled Chicken

6348 Van Nuys Blvd.

Van Nuys, CA 91401

818-988-8869

Philly West Bar and Grill

I had to give my good friend Leigha her Christmas present before she went home to Texas, so I thought it would be nice to catch up over cheesesteaks! We decided to check out Philly West Bar and Grill.

We walked in, and immediately I had a good feeling. The inside is small and cozy, and I liked the atmosphere. I recognized a bunch of the pictures on the wall too.

The food is very reasonably priced. A regular cheesesteak is just $4.75! I got their regular cheesesteak, which comes with fried onions, American cheese, and just a touch of their marinara sauce. Leigha ordered her's with just steak and cheese. I also ordered an IBC cream soda, and an order of fries for us to share.

The food came out pretty fast and looked good. My steak was super cheesy and gooey. There was just the right amount of sauce to give it some flavor, but it wasn't drowning. Between all of the cheese and the sauce, the steak had a mushy texture, which sometimes just hits the spot. The steak and onions were cooked perfectly, and the meat was chopped to the perfect size. My only complaint was that the meat was actually bland. Leigha added salt to every bite. I thought it could have used a little pepper as well. Even though there is cheese and sauce, it is still important to season the meat. We weren't super crazy about the fries, but we've had worse. I will definitely go back to watch a Philly game and try a hoagie!

What did we have for dessert? Tastykakes of course!

We decided on the classic Butterscotch Krimpets. After her first bite, Leigha decided that Tastykakes are indeed tasty.

Side note, Leigha was totally happy for me that Cliff Lee left the Rangers and came back to the Phillies, no hard feelings. She is a good friend, and here she is with her Christmas present!

Happy Holidays!

Philly West Bar and Grill

1870 Westwood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90027

310-474-9787

Jersey Mike's Subs

Happy Thanksgiving cheesesteak heads!

I had been wanting to try Jersey Mike's Subs for awhile now. I have seen a bunch of locations scattered about, but Leigha and I decided on the West Hollywood Location.

Jersey Mike's was bigger inside than I expected, and was pretty busy. It was clean and decorated nicely. I ordered Jersey Mike's Famous Philly, which comes with grilled onions and bell peppers.

The steak looked pretty good, and my first bite confirmed it. The steak was seasoned well, and there was a generous amount of melty cheese. I did have a few bites of meat that were a little too chewy, but overall it wasn't a big problem. A lot of places will only use green bell pepper, but Jersey Mike's uses green and red, and the red was a nice extra flavor. The bread was not bad, although it was too big for the meat, so I had to pull a bunch of the roll off. I don't really like it when the roll is not proportionate to the filling, but again, not a huge deal.

Leigha enjoyed her steak and was thrilled that she didn't have to add salt like at Hoagie Steak Out. I enjoyed my cheesesteak too, and would definitely order one from Jersey Mike's again.

I was excited to see that they had lemon bars, and Leigha was excited for their pickles.

I have a thing with lemon bars. Either they're really good, or they taste like how a wet dog smells. There is no other way for me to describe it. I am happy to report that the lemon bars at Jersey Mike's are pretty tasty.

Unlike Hoagie Steak Out, I can't wait to go back to Jersey Mike's to try a hoagie! And Leigha can't wait to go back for another cheesesteak.

Jersey Mike's Subs

7100 Santa Monica Blvd.

Unit 153

West Hollywood, CA 90046

323-850-1111