California - fast food recommendations and other trivia we may not know about

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

Big bucket-list road trip holiday that was originally meant to happen back before Covid. While we won't be eating in fast food places every day, I want to try some of these places I've been reading about for years, like Denny's, IHOP, Wendy's... also heard that Gordon Ramsay is a fan of In n Out burger.

Any recommendations for fast food we must try, or should avoid? Also, any other less well known advice or tips (never been to America before) would be appreciated!

Breakfast burritos and definitely in and out burger ask for it animal style.

I loved I hop. So many good breakfast options! Which parts of California are you doing?

I also recommend you go to a Cheesecake Factory at least once if one is near any of your trip locations

You could go to the oldest original McDonald’s, and you have to go to the Cheesecake Factory.

Oh yes ihop pancakes are worth it.

Definitely Cheesecake Factory and Counter Burger isn't exactly fast food but is really good!

I love Sonic. And Wendys.

Ruby's do the best peanut butter milkshakes on the planet.

Native Californian here, born and bread. I'm an Angelino.

In N Out and Poquito Mas are both absolute MUSTS!

And if you're in San Pedro near Los Angeles (go see the Korean Friendship Bell and Point Fermin State marine park, drive to the Glass Church in Palos Verdes for spectacular views along the Los Angeles coastline), hit up Sorrento's pizza for a proper pizza pie/the best meatball sandwiches in the world. Yes, in the world! I mean that. Old school Italian-American family institution.
Please drive through Palos Verdes and go to the glass church if you can. It's worth just sitting there and meditating. Glorious.
Head up to Ojai, California too! It's a hidden gem and there's AMAZING food there. Meditation Mount in Ojai is a true beauty spot deluxe.

jack in the box is pretty good, and Carl Jrs

Cheesecake Factory (really good salads randomly but all salads in California are amazing).

In N Out Burger but ask for animal style (not on the menu)

Coldstone for ice cream

www.sorrentositalian.com/
www.poquitomas.com/#

Just pushing my agenda here. 😁
In N Out is pretty much everywhere but here's the location map- just type in where you're at, i.e. Los Angeles and voila! Burgers- animal style. Very similar to Five Guys here in the UK, if you've tried them.
www.in-n-out.com/locations

Almost any donut shop. Lord knows why California has (almost) the best donuts in the country but they do. They are almost all mom n pop style set ups, though there are some fancy type places in the LA area. Winchells is the primary chain (with their hideous yellow and brown signs) and man, id kill for a maple longjohn right about now. They put Krispy Kreme to shame.

100% Cheesecake Factory, go hungry, you wont want to eat for a week afterwards!!

Oh my god. Tell me about it. The other day, I was like, I'd murder for a bear claw/buttermilk donut bar back home. Krispy Kreme is all glitzy and 'American' and overpriced. Don't get me wrong, their donuts are yummy, but I just miss a good ol' standard mom-and-pop donut shop, specifically, a buttermilk donut bar, which, again for emphasis, I'd kill for... right now.

Marie Callender's for pie! Savoury or sweet. I'm not going to mess around here. They still do damn good pie. And I still love IHOP.

If you're in the San Francisco area then try Mels Diner (think there's a few in LA too). I think the food in Rubys is better though but I think they're more Southern California.
If you're going to San Diego (I'm a native San Diegan) try Bronx Pizza. It's spectacular, and you can get 2 massive size of your head slices and a soda for just a few bucks.

Oh also, for sit down fast food try Red Robin. They do good milkshakes and bottomless fries which are more like huge chunky chips.

A few years ago we were driving through some dumpy part of Coalinga and came across Busy Bee Doughnuts and bought a few for the drive over the ridges to Monterey. I mean we saw a sign than said Donuts, the place looked relatively sanitary, so we did a U into the parking lot. So good and fresh that morning. None of that weird grease after taste of days old manufactured KK. Ill probably never pass through there ever again but Ill always remember the Busy Bee. And the yellow trays all donuts are displayed on in the US!

Instead of Taco Bell go for Del Taco instead, although you are better off researching an actual taco place in California. Jack in the Box also does tacos which are one of a kind because they are made with the highly processed american cheese slices - really addictive. Great hangover food.

I wouldnt waste calories on Ihop or Dennys personally, but I guess if you want to do the big pancake thing they are around.

Denny’s is quite dull compared to some of these suggestions. I am feeling very hungry reading this though! In N Out is fab. Another chain one is Shake Shack, although there are some over here now, and they are New York rather than Californian in origin.

We did a California roadtrip a few weeks ago! Yes to IHOP and In-N-Out burger, and I also really loved my strawberry fudge ice cream sundae from Ghiradelli in SF…

When we lived there we loved eating at
In N Out burger. The best burgers ever.
Macaroni grill, a chain that has musicians or singers wandering about (well they did at the one by us)
Chilis
Applebees
Round table pizza (kids favourite) don't do the open bar thing, order and actual pizza
We had great Chinese food too, but it was all small mom and pop kind of places.
Marie Callanders for pie
Carlos Murphy (not sure if it's a chain or even still about)
Mimis restaurant or bakery (or cafe) whatever it's called does lovely French onion soup with cheese melted on top

Rubios fish tacos.

Wonderful

California Pizza Kitchen
First place I’m headed for in November, 😂

So many great recommendations, thank you! I am definitely having an animal style burger, and I will post a photo to make you all jealous

So we're starting in San Francisco (there will be many meals in the Chinese/Vietnamese area). Then Jamestown, Yosemite, Mammoth lakes, Lone Pine, Death Valley, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Oxnard, Grover Beach, Big Sur, Santa Cruz, San Francisco again and then home. Four weeks in all, averaging 2-3 nights in each place.

Someone else we know is a massive Cheesecake factory fan, so that's another definite. We are going to get h-u-g-e....