Their drive-through menu is a good bit faded and hard to read, but some of their specialties are the avocado and bacon cheeseburger, fried zucchini (sliced long ways, not like the little zucchini chips most places serve up), and a chili-cheese breakfast omelette (not for the faint of heart – seriously). Their Bobo’s Classic is one of the best standard hamburgers I’ve ever had, and their french fries are the large “steak fries” style with delicious magical seasoning.

So next time you feel like hamburgers, do yourself a favor and pass up Carl’s Jr., In-n-Out, and even Tommy’s, and head over to Bobo’s Burgers in Pacoima. When you order, it takes a little while, so be sure to contemplate the hand car wash place across the street, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see some of the wild cats that live there frolick and play.

Bobo’s Burgers is bringing on the yummy at 13433 Van Nuys Blvd, in Pacas. I mean, Pacoima. You can also find more Bobo’s in Hunington Park, Gardena, and Lynwood if you happen to be out that way.

Having moved down south, I miss New Saigon a lot. I’ve been on the lookout for something similar, and I think I’ve found it’s sister joint in North Hollywood’s Phở 999.

Just down the street from Krua Thai, Phở 999 is located in a similar narrow strip mall. It was a little empty when I went for lunch, and as a sample, I ordered my standard: bbq beef over vermicelli noodles, with vegetables. Their lunch comes with crispy fried rolls, called “imperial rolls” some places. Everything was just as I hoped it would be… delicious, cheap, and plentiful! I also sampled their Thai Iced Tea out of curiosity which was delicious… I’d normally get the Vietnamese Iced Coffee though.

I would definitely recommend Phở 999 to anyone looking for good, cheap Vietnamese food in the Valley. The place is a little light on romantic ambiance, but having been there for just one lunch, I can tell it’s a haven for a slew of regulars. I’ll be going back for sure, and you’re all welcome to join me.

Phở 999 is located at 12905 Sherman Way in North Hollywood, CA.

For the love of all that is holy, do not go to Islands in Porter Ranch.

I rarely have an experience as bad as I had there at Islands. I’ve eaten at many a shady food place, and never before have I experienced the most incredible combination of badness as I did the other night… it was stunning! Sure, maybe the food could be bad, or the service slow, or the waitresses bring the wrong drinks, and maybe the fries could have been the bottom of the barrel fries, but everything rolled up together in one trip was too much to be a coincidence.

Stay away… you’d be better off going to Tommy’s if you’re in the mood for a burger and fries.

My first excursion into local cuisine was Krua Thai on Sherman Way. If I had been driving, I’m pretty sure I would have missed it, as it’s in one of those little strip mall type places on the corner, along with a “water store”, which I’d never seen before, and a Russian restaurant you couldn’t see into thanks to full-window drawn curtains, reminiscent of the ever-shady Russian Bear on Clement St. in San Francisco.

The place was well-lit and clean and fairly large. While we were waiting for our take-out order, a group of 9 came in and the staff hardly blinked an eye, so you know large parties are welcome. They also have a space towards the rear called “The Green Room”, which is for private parties, and I think also karaoke.

Their menu was what you’d expect from any respectable Thai place, and we ordered some pretty good benchmarks when it comes to Thai food. Naturally we got the Pad Thai, Tom Yum Gai soup, and Cashew Nut Chicken. The pad thai was just ‘ok’… I was expecting something more flavorful. The cashew nut chicken and soup on the other hand were beyond everything. It was probably the most delicious thai food I’d ever had, and I highly recommend it. My mind was so blown by the cashew nut chicken that I don’t even know how to describe it, so you’re just going to have to try that one for yourself.

They also had an impressive selection of fruit smoothies and boba teas, but since I was in the Valley, the thought of those things hadn’t occurred to me. Next time I’ll be sure to try the Thai Iced Tea, too.

All in all though, I have to say it was pretty delicious. The parking lot can be crowded, but they do take phoned in orders, so with good timing, it’ll be ready right as you walk in the door.

Krua Thai is at 13130 Sherman Way, in North Hollywood. Don’t forget to pick up a to-go menu when you stop by!