Original Tommy’s World Famous Hamburgers in Los Angeles
Original Tommy’s may have had humbled beginnings, but it has since spawned into a burger empire with, at the time of this post’s publishing, has nearly thirty locations throughout Southern...
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional restaurant critic, nor has this restaurant offered me any incentive to write this post. My opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience only.
Los Angeles is home to millions of people and is a mega-popular travel destination. Each year, millions of people flock to LA to eat delicious food, hang out at the beach, tour celebrity homes, see the filming locations of their favorite movies, and more.
In fact, if you look at Google, many of those visitors (and newly minted locals) often search for the best burgers in LA. When you do, there are many restaurants that come up but there’s one that tends to get thrown around quite often, and that’s Original Tommy’s World Famous Hamburgers.
My wife and I, plus a couple of our closest friends, recently made the drive out to Tommy’s original-original location, while in town for the Green Day Saviors Tour, to try it out for ourselves and in a nutshell, we were not disappointed. Below, I’ll discuss how to get there, the parking situation, show photos of the food, and more.
Quick Stats
Location: Los Angeles, California
Address: 2575 Beverley Blvd.
Hours: 24/7, 365
Type of Food: Burgers, fries, hot dogs, chili, tamales, and a variety of breakfast sandwiches
Cost: $5 - $15 per person, depending what you order
Seating: None. It’s all outdoors and standing/counter-style eating areas only
Alcohol: Not served
Website/Full Menu: www.originaltommys.com
My Visit(s): September 2024
Original Tommy’s Parking and Locations
Original Tommy’s may have had humbled beginnings, but it has since spawned into a burger empire with, at the time of this post’s publishing, nearly thirty locations throughout Southern California and three in the Las Vegas, Nevada, area. You can view the full list of locations here.
While they do a great job at maintaining quality throughout the chain, if you’re anything like me, you agree that it’s always best to visit the original location of any popular eatery, as they have historical significance behind them and the food is generally that much better.
In order to visit Tommy’s original-original location, you’ll need to make your way to the corner of Rampart and Beverley Blvd’s in Los Angeles, which opened back in 1948. There’s technically two restaurants in one here, with the small hut placed right on the corner, and another order station across the parking lot.
Speaking of parking, you have two options at this location. First, there is a small lot between the two service areas. It can maybe handle a dozen vehicles or so and due to the popularity of Tommy’s, it tends to fill quickly. However, I did notice that spots opened up quite frequently, so you could always circle around if needed.
Your second option for parking is their back up lot across Rampart Blvd. This one is larger, capable of holding about twice the amount of vehicles as the on-site option. You can’t miss it, as there’s an “Original Tommy’s” sign and an old statue of a man riding a dolphin next to its entrance. I tried to find the backstory of the statue, but haven’t had much luck.
Original Tommy’s Los Angeles Food, Menu and Prices
You can order your food at either of the two counters, as each one has the exact same menu. If they don’t have what you’re ordering, there’s a chance that they’ll instruct you to take your receipt to the other side to collect your oder there. This happened to me when I ordered a soft serve cone.
Tommy’s is known for their delicious cheeseburgers, but they’re famous for their chili, which often gets topped onto the burgers, fries, hot dogs, and even tamales. Despite this, I didn’t get chili on my burger, as I’m a ‘plain and dry’ cheeseburger type of guy.
However, I did have a change of heart and went back to order a side of their chili-cheese fries and man, I’m glad I did. All four of us agreed that their chili is top notch. The next time I’m at Tommy’s (and there will be another visit), I’ll likely pull the trigger and get chili on my burger.
Initially, I ordered a ‘plain and dry’ double-classic cheeseburger with a side of regular fries (no drink). The burger cost me $7.25 and the side of fries was an additional $4.50. As stated above, I later went back and ordered a side of their chili-cheese fries as well ($7.05).
The burger patties are seasoned well and are smash-style, with a generous amount of cheese included. The buns are also thrown on the griddle, giving them a slight, satisfying crunch. Each bite felt like the burger was melting in my mouth. The patties were cooked perfectly, seemingly to a medium to medium-well doneness.
The fries (normal) were about as basic as they come, but were salted well and had a nice crisp to them. However, the chili-cheese version of the fries is the clear winner of the two. You would think the fries would be soggy being buried underneath all that chili, but they managed to maintain their crisp well.
As far as seating goes, in short, there isn’t any. There are no indoor areas open to diners either, it’s just the outdoor area and there are no tables or chairs. However they do have plenty of stand-up counter space where you can enjoy your burger. Tommy’s Beverley location is truly an old school burger joint in every sense.
If you’re asking me who serves the best burger in Los Angeles, I’d be hard-pressed to send you anywhere but the original locations of “Original Tommy’s”. The burgers are flavorful and generous in size, and their chili is truly something to experience. You won’t regret it.
PSALM 91
Base Camp Pizza: An Excellent Option For Pizza in Tahoe
We’ve all been there. You’ve been outside, hiking or skiing all day long, and you’re completely famished. To make matters…
3 minute read | contains affiliate links
We’ve all been there. You’ve been outside, hiking or skiing all day long, and you’re completely famished. To make matters worse, you have no idea where to eat.
Thankfully, in Lake Tahoe, there is no shortage of amazing eateries to choose from. You’ll find everything from fine dining establishments to burger shacks and everything in between.
If you and your family are looking for delicious pizza, though, we believe we have a great recommendation for you; Base Camp Pizza.
Located in Heavenly Village in South Lake, Base Camp Pizza offers up amazing, mouth-watering pizzas with all sorts of creatively unique toppings.
In this post, we’ll discuss our experience dining here and hopefully help you determine whether or not you and your family would enjoy it as well. Let’s get into it!
Pertinent Info
Location: South Lake Tahoe in Heavenly Village
Address: 1001 Heavenly Village way
Cost: $10 - $15 per person
Food: Pizza and other Italian food
Open: All year
Seating: Indoor and outdoor
Alcohol: Full bar w/ extensive cocktail menu
Website/Menu: www.basecamppizzaco.com
Our Visit(s): 2017 & 2022
The Restaurant
As stated above, Base Camp Pizza is located in the Heavenly Village complex in South Lake Tahoe (the busiest and most developed area of the lake).
If you park in heavenly’s parking garage, you’ll find Base Camp across from the garage’s exit just past the bathrooms and ATM machines.
If you don’t want to pay for parking, park in the Safeway parking lot across the street from Heavenly Village Cinemas.
Simply cross the street and walk past the movie theatre. You’ll soon see a mini-put course in the center of the walk-way. Base camp will be just past that on your left.
The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor seating. If your visit coincides with the busy summer months, both will likely be full.
One downside to here is they don’t accept reservations. So if it’s busy (or if your group is larger) we would recommend eating during non-traditional times to avoid a lengthy wait.
The Food
Much like most pizza eateries, Base Camp offers a variety of creatively topped pies. Of course, they also offer your garden variety types such as combo, pepperoni and plain cheese.
So as long as everyone in your group likes pizza, chances are, no one will go without. In the event that someone in your party doesn't , however, they do have other options. Such as:
Spaghetti Bolognese
Italian Herb Shrimp Pene
Four Cheese Ravioli
Gouda Mac & Cheese
Tomato Basil w/ Meatballs
A variety of soups and salads
As far as appetizers are concerned, we were impressed with Base Camp’s offerings. Typically, pizza eateries don’t put too much thought into those.
We went with the beer battered parmesan garlic fries and loved them. They were perfectly crisp and came with a generous amount of garlic and parmesan.
Our one and only critique was we wish they got a little more creative with the dipping sauce rather than serving basic ketchup. Aside from that, they were great.
Now we get to the pizza. The hero. I assume that’s why most of you are reading this post, correct? As stated above, they have a variety of toppings to choose from but if you’re into the classics, they have those.
I ordered the smokey bbq chicken with bacon. It was topped with roasted chicken, crispy bacon, red onions, bbq sauce, cilantro, creamy smoked gouda cheese and their signature four cheese blend.
In short, it was delicious! I’m usually a pepperoni guy, so this was a break from my normal. If you’re picky (like me), go with this one. It doesn’t have any “scary” ingredients on it.
We also ordered the restaurant’s namesake pizza, The Base Camp. Its toppings include pepperoni, Italian sausage, roasted onions, portobello mushrooms and their signature four cheese blend.
This one was full of flavor, but all the heavy toppings caused the crust to get a bit soft towards the middle. Just fair warning if you plan on ordering this one.
They also have an extensive drink menu with a full bar. If you don’t see a drink you like on the menu, they can make most cocktails if you request it.
Since it was a stormy day I ordered an Irish coffee with a shot of Baileys. Kisha ordered the, Tahoe Toddy. Both drinks were delicious and hit the spot.
Our Thoughts…
We’ve eaten at Base Camp Pizza twice and both times were stellar experiences. The service was good and the food was great. We really don’t have much to complain about.
The only negative we can come up with is the price but honestly, you’re eating at a restaurant in the Heavenly Village complex. You’re going to pay more for everything here.
All things considered, you could bring a large group here, order a couple large pizzas and still get away with feeding that large group for a decent price. Especially if the group splits it.
So in reality, a family eating here would make the most economical sense versus a place where you would each order your own own entree at $15 to $20 (or more) per plate.
So, yes, we recommend giving Base Camp Pizza a try if you’re planning a trip to the South Lake Tahoe area. We don’t thin you’d regret it.
Your Thoughts…
Does Base Camp Pizza sound like a place you and your family would enjoy? Do you have a recommendation for another great eatery in the area? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from our readers!
Please support our website by sharing it with your family and friends.
Thank you for reading.
Burger Barn: The Best Cheeseburgers in Mono County
Whenever we go to (or through) the tiny town of Bridgeport, it’s hard for us to NOT stop at Burger Barn. After a long day of hiking…
2 minute read | contains affiliate links
Whenever we go to (or through) the tiny town of Bridgeport, it’s hard for us to NOT stop at Burger Barn. After a long day of hiking, it’s the perfect spot for a delicious, juicy burger.
They’ve been serving the people of Bridgeport and their visitors since 1983 and have no intention of going anywhere, anytime soon.
This is our inaugural foodie post on Inked with Wanderlust and couldn’t think of a better subject for the first one than Burger Barn.
*Side Note: We’re not restaurant critics by any means, nor do we claim to be. This is simply our honest opinions (from a customer perspective) about our particular experience to help you discover new places to try.
Pertinent Info
City/State: Bridgeport, CA
Address: 152 Main Street
Cost: $6 - $13 per person
Food: Burgers, Tacos, Ice Cream, Chili, etc
Open: Seasonally (usually closed throughout winter)
Seating: Both outdoor and indoor
Service: Walk-up order window/self-seating
Alcohol: Beer served
Website/Menu: No official website, but they are on Facebook
Our Visit(s): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022
Getting There
Once you’re in Bridgeport, Burger Barn is very easy to find as it’s right on Main Street (the main drag through town).
From Reno:
Travel south on US-395 for about 115-miles
Soon after arriving in Bridgeport, you’ll see Burger Barn on your left
From Yerington:
For a total of 65-miles, travel south on NV-339 and eventually merge onto NV-208 west
When you arrive at the US-395 junction in town, turn right
You’ll soon see Burger Barn on your right
From Mammoth Lakes:
Travel north on US-395 for about 50-miles
Soon after arriving into Bridgeport, you’ll see Burger Barn on your right
There’s quite a bit of parking here. Some along the side of the restaurant, more in front of the indoor seating building and others on the street.
If you have to park on the street, keep in mind that you’ll need to back into the spaces. Parking on the street facing the sidewalk is a citable offense here.
The Restaurant
To order your food, simply walk-up to the counter window. You’ll place your order, pay and receive an order number.
They’ll call your order over the intercom when it’s ready. Simply pick it up at the other window and enjoy your meal.
As far as seating is concerned, the outdoor portion sits directly in front of the restaurant and consists of several picnic tables.
If the weather is bad (or there’s no outdoor seating available), there’s indoor seating with more picnic tables adjacent to the restaurant.
The Food
While the name of restaurant gives away it’s main feature, Burger Barn actually has an array for food items to choose from.
Firstly, the burgers are amazing. They’re flavorful, juicy and cooked perfectly every time. Though to be fair, our burgers were over-seasoned a couple times.
If you’re not feeling like a burger, they have plenty of variety. One of their offerings, the California Burrito, is great. They also serve street tacos, chili, teriyaki rice bowls, ice cream and more.
Things To Do Nearby
If tasty burgers aren’t enough to convince you to make the trip, perhaps all the other activities Bridgeport has to offer will give you that extra push.
Just down the street from Burger Barn is the historic Mono County Courthouse and behind that is the historical jail. Both of which you can look around in.
About eight miles outside of Bridgeport is the area’s crown jewel; Twin Lakes. Both the lower and upper lake offer world-class fishing, kayaking and more.
In the surrounding mountains are a plethora of popular hiking trails. One of which is the Robinson Creek trail to Barney Lake (our personal favorite).
Another great feature of the area are the numerous hot springs. The two most popular/most easily accessible ones being Travertine Hot Springs and Buckeye Hot Springs.
Travertine is located just off of US-395 behind the Ranger Station. Buckeye is closer to Twin Lakes and is accessed by a maintained dirt road.
Bridgeport is also well known for being in close proximity to many major attractions in the county and state. The closest being Bodie State Historic Park.
It’s also only 38-miles to the east entrance to Yosemite National Park. If you’re a hiker, then this is the side of Yosemite you want to visit.
Additional nearby attractions include:
Wilson Canyon (Nevada)
and much more!
Something else you may not have known is how famous Bridgeport (and the rest of Mono County) is for the area’s fall colors. They’re simply stunning!
Your Thoughts…
Have you been to Burger Barn before? What was your experience with it? Tell us about it in the comment section below. We love hearing from our readers!
Please support our website by sharing it with your family and friends.
Thank you for reading.