guacomole + pastrami

[mr mouther]

A couple days ago I wanted a Langer's plain hand cut sandwich for lunch. I went and got it. I met my girlfriend and she was having a Chipotle burrito (see why we don't go to the same place for lunch??)

She had a cup of guac and I couldn't resist - I slapped some on the edge of my sandwich and it was freakin fantastic: the two kinds of fats (plus the salt in the pastrami and the mild sweet in the guac) blend just perfectly.

Now I don't know any places that serve very good pastrami (or corned beef, which is what is usually prefer) AND make good guac.

But does anyone else? And are there restaurants/ places in LA that have also discovered this sublime combination?

(Before you start with the chipotle-bashing, please realize that I am only talking about their guac, which I think is, at least, significantly above par)

[Midlife]

Sacrilegious!!!!!!! Kinda like when my daughter used to prefer corned beef on white bread with mayo.

Buy, then................. whatever you like is just fine, and this probably tastes great. If Carls Jr. can sell a hamburger with pulled pork on it............... go for it!!!

[wienermobile]

I can beat that my son used to eat tuna and pepperoni sandwiches.

[Midlife]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rlgarcia]

I don't know of a place that makes pastrami sandwiches either but there's a small burger/burrito joint called Manny's El Loco that make's a "Special Quesadilla" flour tortilla w/ pastrami cheddar guacamole and I think salsa or diced tomato. It's no Langer's but they certainly know how to combine pastrami and quacamole and I don't know about lettuce in a quesadilla, as mentioned above.

Manny's El Loco, Covina
845 W. Cypress St.
Covina, CA
[phone]

Manny's El Loco, West Covina
437 Glendora Ave.
West Covina, CA
[phone]

Manny's El Loco, E. Los Angeles
5161 E. Pomona Blvd.
[phone]

[Tripeler]

"...pastrami cheddar guacamole..."

Now why is that so hard for me to wrap my head around?

Still, it sounds good.

[kiwi]

Pastrami quesadilla (I believe it is known as Tom's special quesadilla) with pastrami, cheddar, lettuce, and guacamole, maybe sour cream, too (I can't remember)...it is HUGE and tasty arterial poison, but it sure as hell fits the bill.

Tom's Burgers
5571 Cahuenga Blvd (SW corner at Burbank)
North Hollywood, CA 91601
[phone]

[PaulF]

I actually have the answer for you.

There is a little Mexican-American place in Westwood Village called Jose Bernstein. (Just the name should be enough to satisfy ... but I'm a wordy baastaad and can't help myself ...)

On one level, Bernstein's does better than average Mexican fare. They have the usual combo plates with tacos and enchiladas and whatever. Rice and beans -- that sort of thing.

Good breakfast burritos, too.

But Bernstein's is better known for -- IMO -- their special burritos. They call 'em gourmet burritos.

They've got a Galbi burrito (Korean barbecue), a spicy Galbi kimchee burrito, a teriyaki chicken burrito, a ground turkey burrito ... pretty interesting and tasty list, actually, if you don't mind eating things you never really considered before.

They've also got burgers and sandwiches.

They've got a pastrami sandwich (you should see where I'm headed here). They've got

I have not had the pastrami here. I tend to go for the gourmet burritos or the breakfast burritos or the more typical burritos.

But they've got the pastrami sandwich and they serve guac and chips as a side.

You can guess the rest ...

Good luck on your interesting search.

[a_and_w]

Wow...very interesting, esp. the Kalbi burrito! How, out of curiosity, are the ordinary burritos?

[PaulF]

How would I describe it? Hmmm ...

They're fine, they're good. Fresh ingredients, pretty good salsa bar. Well above fast food/chain level, but probably not drive across L.A, in traffic level.

On a scale of 1-10, 7-8 range. Nice size, but not so big you can't pick it up and eat it.

After careful consideration, I would describe them as satisfying. Not sure if that means much, but I'm having trouble being exact.

Let's put it this way: If you worked in or near Westwood, you'd go there sometimes and find several things on the menu to keep you coming back. Not sure if the food is outstanding enough to deal with the Westwood traffic/parking hassle.

The gourmet burritos are worth a few tries.

[Das Ubergeek]

The kimchi burrito is edible only after a very long night of drinking in K-Town. :)

[Grubber]

It's not guac (or Langers for that matter), but I always order avocado on my pastrami dip at the Hat. And I go to the Hat only when I can't get to Langers.

[Jelly71]

The last time I was at The Hat in Simi Valley, the woman in front of me ordered this exact thing and it sounded really good to me. Next time I go, I am going to try that. Because lord knows, the pastrami dip and chili cheese fries need more calories. I only let myself eat there 2x a year.

[Alan Divack]

Another combo from heaven is pastrami with muharrma, which is a syrian red pepper, walnut and garlic spread. The spices and fats are perfectly complementary. I actually had it first at a Hanukah party with (smuggled in ) Montreal smoked meat. the meat was a bit worse for wear at this point, having been brought down by the Canadian wing of the family and having sat for long hours in both car and buffet. The Watertown MAss cousins brought some muharrama from an arab or armenian grocery, and voila, the meat was revivied. I later tried it with pastrami in good condition and it was even better.

[JeetJet]

Langer's ? You are dreaming, but it is a good dream. The only idea I have is Quesadillas and burritos made with pastrami, cheese, guacomole and salsa and I agree the blend of flavors “Hits the spot.” In fact, there was once a place in San Dimas called “The Spot” which was well known for that combination of things in what they called “The Special Quesadilla.” I have had it at the places below but sometimes the “Special Quesadillas” are on the menu as asada or chicken only. Nevertheless, when you ask they will make it to order (but not with Langer's hand cut.....). As they say, "Dream Big." I am not sure whether the guacomole was a sauce or more a sliced avacado. But I think J&S is a guacomole and their “Special Quesadillas” will have everything you request including the salty pastrami.

Also, I just noticed a post by riceflour stating that Oki Dog has a Pastrami Burrito. I never had it but Wonder wether they have the guacomole?

J&S (American & Mexican Menu)
887 N. Garfield
Montebello, CA
[phone]
OPEN 24 hours

Jim's Famous Quarterpound Burger (special request but it will be salty pastrami)
915 W Duarte Rd
Arcadia, CA 91007
[phone]

Tops (Breakfast burrito w/ pastrami & egg, salsa)
3838 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107-3940
[phone]

Quesadillas in L.A.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/38751...

[ipsedixit]

Connal's in Pasadena will also make it for you.

Connal's
1505 E. Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91104
[phone]

[JeetJet]

Good pick. IMO Connal's would do it best. Moreover, you can have that Boston Shake (My fav is Peanut Butter & Banana with a scoop of ice cream on top). I feel a trip to Connal's is in my near future.

[ipsedixit]

Yeah, Connal's shakes and malts are great. Right up there with Fosselman's.

[eberhard49]

avacado tempura????

[LisaStitch]

That's pretty much the Avocado Spring Rolls at Cheesecake Factory! Yes - Cheesecake Factory - but I LOVE this dish and always get it whenever I have to go there. Great sweet (hoisin?) dipping sauce. I shudder to think how many calories are in them.

[LisaStitch]

correction - I meant Avocado EGG Rolls. Nice and fried :)

[chris1621]

Those avocado egg rolls are the best! After seeing your post, I think I am going to have to go Cheesecake this weekend and have some!

[ipsedixit]

Very few things don't taste better with guacamole and/or avocado.

[slacker]

Agreed!

[glutton]

And EVERYTHING tastes better with lobster and/or bacon. (This is one of the central rules of American cooking, apparently.)

[Das Ubergeek]

As opposed to the French rule that everything tastes better with (ick) foie gras.

[SilverlakeGirl]

There are no rules ...
Go for it!

[LisaStitch]

Hey, Chipotle rocks as far as fast food goes. The only downside is that the guac is expensive there, but yes, it is fantastic...

Pink's has a pastrami dog and pastrami burrito, and they have guacamole. I'm sure they could throw it all together for you.

[Woolsey]

Thank you! I dig Chipotle. They are the king of gringo burritos. La Salsa, Baja Fresh, the wretched Qdoba - which has taken to having their servers dress in Chipotle-bashing t-shirts - all pale in comparison to Chipotle. Can they hold a candle to, say, El Tepeyac? Of course not. But that's comparing apples and swordfish.

Anyway, given the wide array of Mexican stands like Chano's selling pastrami and burritos, I'm sure it would be no trouble at all to get a custom-made guacastrami fix in this town.

[Ciao Bob]

This reminds me of Columbus "discovering" America -- Carnitas and Guacamole is hardly a new concept. Howards Bacon and Avacado Burger also comes to mind.

[yinyangdi]

any longtime downtowners remember if guac was in the kosher burrito at its namsake (on First/Main)?

[ipsedixit]

Yes, it was.

And, it entire name was the Kosher "style" Burrito ...

(with "style" in very very small font)