These Are Worth The Wait

Which Insanely Long LA Restaurant Lines Are Actually Worth Standing In?

Pink’s

Fairfax

• The wait: 12 minutes and 12 seconds on a Sunday afternoon at 1:15pm
• The food: Chili cheese dog and fries
• The taste: This is one tasty puppy; when you bite into it, there’s a good snap to the skin. The fries also are a cut above -- crispy on the outside, soft inside, and nicely seasoned. The chili, however, is just okay and the cheese basically acts as a glue holding everything together. The takeaway: Once a tourist mecca, always a tourist mecca. While waiting in line, you can look at the spread of cheesy 8x10 celebrity photos and ponder how many people actually order a Brando or a Rosie O’Donnell (they’re among Pink’s “star dogs”).
• The alternative: La Brea & Melrose offers a ton of other choices -- Chipotle, Hot Wings Cafe, and Lucifers Pizza -- but if you’re in a meat mood go to Bludso’s.
• The verdict: Do it -- if there is a hot dog worth standing in line for, Pink’s is probably it. The food range from good to great and the LA kitsch factor can’t be beat.

In-N-Out Burger

Hollywood

• The wait: 12 minutes, one second on a Saturday night at 9:10pm
• The food: Hamburger and fries
• The taste: It’s In-N-Out. Duh.
• The takeaway: It tries to keep the line moving with a bellhop guy taking your order on an iPad as you slowly snake forward in the line. Going inside the restaurant isn’t much faster as there are lines out to the door, too. The alternative: There’s a 24-hour IHOP across the street if you need something after hitting the Hollywood bars and, if you really want a burger, the Oinkster is less than two miles away on Vine.
• The verdict: Don’t do it -- some people don’t like In-N-Out. I’m one of those people. Sue me.

Philippe the Original

Downtown

• The wait: Five minutes, 29 seconds on a Sunday afternoon at 12:45pm
• The food: Beef French dip sandwich with coleslaw
• The taste: The French dip is old-school delicious, although the gravy can turn the bread mushy if you don’t watch out. If you like saucy coleslaw, then you’ll like Philippe’s.
• The takeaway: On the counter are big, scary jars of deviled eggs floating in lurid purple-y liquid, which looks like something from a ‘50s sci-fi movie.
• The alternative: When it comes to French dips, Philippe’s only rival is the now more upscale Cole’s, which is deeper Downtown. Around Philippe's, your choices are mostly Chinese restaurants.
• The verdict: Do it -- revel in the gloriously downscale dining: sawdust on the floor, tchotchkes on the walls, and cheap-but-tasty eats.

Complete list (Thrillist.com)