Burgers and Pizza

[Dining Dave]

From Chicago-here two years plus. Have yet to have a decent Hamburger or Pizza. Anyone know where I can get a great hamburger or pizza? I've had suggestions like Apple Pan and Toppers which are not even average. If we can't find good stuff here we should open our own place.

[chowchi1]

Casa Bianca is the closest to Chicago style thin crust: http://casabiancapizza.com/ Petrillo's is given high grades on the boards here but the Italian Sausage at Casa Bianca is much more authentic. I go to Little Toni's in NoHo here and there but flavor-wise it is a little flat.

[bboy]

Please enlighten -- what is the difference between Chicago thin crust and NY thin crust?

[sloanedone]

I believe Petrillo's and Casa Bianca get their sausage from the same place. The only difference is seasoning.

Avoid Taste Chicago. Suggestions above (Joe's, Vito's, Tony's) are right on. Go up to SF and try Zachary's if you want deep dish. Try Comme Ca for the burger, you will not have any more negative things to say about LA meat once you try.

[RSMBob]

Welcome to SoCal...I've been here 20 years now, and one, there are some great burger places, and 2, despite long-standing rumors of SoCal being a lousy pizza town, there are plenty of very good or better place in a variety of styles. Granted, it takes some work to find them, but they are there.

You can do a search here for deep dish/stuffed "Chicago-style" places, but you already know that Chicago pizza is 80+% thin crust, and their are places that do that as well, including cut 'em into squares. Not sure what area you are looking at, but if you narrow it down perhaps we can be of more help.

Of course, if you want to feel like back home, just head to Portillo's in Buena Park...good burgers there, too!

[ElJeffe]

Bob, any favorites for Chicago-style thin crust?

[RSMBob]

Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock probably sets the standard. Of all the places I visited in the last year, Romano's in Riverside stands out as being very good. Tony's Little Italy (ordered extra thin) is also good (though not as good as the stuffed). My favorite years ago when I used to live in or frequent the SFV was Little Toni's in NoHo near Universal Studios. Finally, I have never been to Petrillo's in San Gabriel, but that is on my list.

[Ogawak]

I am a fan of Chicago style pizzas, although it's been years since I've been out there. I found a place in Lakewood called Banducci's. They serve thick crust and stuffed pizzas. The stuffed reminds me of Giordano's. It's mostly takeout, though. Others on the Board have recommended Tony's LIttle Italy, but I have never ventured out that end of OC.

-----
Tony's Little Italy Pizza
1828 N Placentia Ave, Placentia, CA 92870

Banducci's
2706 Del Amo Boulevard, Lakewood, CA

[Dining Dave]

For burgers I like Alfie's in Glen Ellyn and Boston Blackies downtown. For pizza Pizzaria Uno but thin crust is fine.

[fergusmccool]

B&R burger's Royale is a monster and BBQ King's burger. They both take a long time to get. Order ahead.

[ElJeffe]

Dave,

Ex Chi-towner here as well. Where do you live? The good news is this is actually a great burger town, if you know where to look. On the other hand, pizza has been a disaster, but some recent developments have improved the situation quite a bit.

I couldn't agree with you more on Apple Pan, although thats one of the most heated debates on Chowhound and has many of its own threads.

My personal favorites for pizza are Joe's in SM and Vito's in Hollywood, but give Pizzeria Mozza a shot as well for a more gourmet take. Forget Chicago-style pizza although some threads will tell you otherwise.

For burgers, I go Father's Office, Hinano, In N' Out, or to one of the dozens of Jewish delis. Houston's and Bandera have also been rated really highly.

Here are some other relevant threads:

Burgers
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/450331
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/452266

Pizza
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/441827

[jonahlee]

I hated Father's Office when I had it. The cheese was so strong I couldn't even taste the burger, it was just overly salty, though big.

Just tried Pie N' Burger and it was decent for one on a griddle, and better than In N' Out. I do have to agree that Houston's is certainly good.

I used to actually toss New York Style Pizza on the East Coast, and have givven up on any good pizza out here.

[Servorg]

And a previous recent LA pizza thread to give you an overview of the territory under discussion. You can tell by the paltry number of responses that this is a very unemotional topic around here. ;-D http://www.chowhound.com/topics/57860

[kjs]

this thread can get you started

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/429948

for both pizza and burgers, give us an idea of your favs back in chicago...that is ... hat do you look for in a burger ? in pizza ?