Road food for Vegas Trek?

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Dommy and I are heading for Vegas this weekend. Unfortunately Amtrak doesn't run trains between the two cities, so we must drive. We'll need dinner to eat on the way if we want to make it to Vegas before 3AM. I don't get out of work until 8 pm on Friday so quickness, closeness to our route [I-10, CA-60 and I-15] and car eatability are a must. Things we have done in the past are Subs from Victor Jr's [Excellent but messy] Bao from a place in MP [excellent road food but it took 45 minutes to get the Bao]. Burritos from Beto's on Jefferson. [good but I'm having company sponsored Mexican for lunch]. In-n-Out [been there, done that]

I was thinking of Cook's Tortas in MP which has been on our list for a while and might give that a try.

Any other Suggestions?

Take Care

- P.

[willworkforcheese]

How about omusubi @ Sunny Blue on Main Street in Santa Monica? It's our go to when in need of portable Japanese yumminess for hikes, picnics, road trips etc.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

That would be a good Idea with pre-planing. For this trip though I would rather not head west before heading east.

[Servorg]

How about a "Go Bowl" or a Breakfast Burrito from Farmer Boys? http://farmerboysla.com/

[A5 KOBE]

Tacos and Burritos at El Rey taqueria in Chino.

Also Din Tai Fung for pork chop fried rice. They come in a pretty travel friendly container too.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

You can eat fried rice while driving? You are a better man than I.

[TonyC]

won't you have 2 people in the car? feed each other?

BMCC has banh cuon & nem nuong cuong for like.. $3? I'd rather do those than ho-hum BMMT sandwiches.

[A5 KOBE]

spork?

[Mattapoisett in LA]

I'm reviving this thread since we are about to head on another trip. We've done various Banh Mi's and had a fresh Jalapeño experience which caused us to pull over at the nearest In-n-Out to cool the fire in our mouths with a Neapolitan shake. Plus we've done Dim Sum, beef rolls and other little things on the way out of the LA Basin. I think tomorrow, we'll try a place called Rika's Empanadas in Glendora to see if it's any good.

Are the any other thoughts on placed to find stuff for the trek out? Same rules apply.

[ipsedixit]

I think tomorrow, we'll try a place called Rika's Empanadas in Glendora to see if it's any good.
_______________________________________

Donut Man? Strawberries and Peaches are in season.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Dommy! has already done Donut Man this season and I'm not a big fan.

[J.L.]

peaches? already?

[chowmominLA]

Why did it take 45 minutes to get baos? I don't know if they're open late, but you could get some from Noodle House on Garfield just west of New Avenue -- they're the best baos I've ever had -- and you could order ahead of time to save time. Get that green onion pancake too. They're cut up like a quesidilla so they're excellent finger food and NH's version is not too greasy. The dumplings wouldn't travel as well but an order of them wouldn't hurt.

I've also done take out dim sum from the dim sum express shack on Garfield and Emerson in Monterey Park on the way to Vegas -- quick and pretty easy to eat in the car. Not sure when it closes though.

[chowmominLA]

Noodle House is open until 9:30 so it would work (Dim Sum Express closes at 7). So first check out exilekiss' review and decide what you want to order: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/536676. I think 2 orders of baos, 2 orders of the green onion pancake and an order of dumplings should do it.

Pack frosty beverages, a few sturdy paper plates and lots of napkins and wipes in a cooler.

Then when you're about 15-20 minutes away (in the downtown area or before) call [phone] and pre order.

Take the 10 to New Ave. and go toward Monterey Park (right.) Go about 1/2 mile and turn right on Garvey. Make your first left (pretty sure it's the first left) into the strip mall and NH will be on the left side of the strip mall, facing west. 958 E. Garvey Ave. You should be back on the road in a few minutes and in Vegas Baby Vegas in another 4 hours.

Always split aces and eights.

[chowmominLA]

For some reason I can't edit my posts, so note that Noodle House is on GARVEY, not Garfield as I had said in my first post.

Why can't I just go to sleep?

[BeenThereAteThat]

The Hat on Atlantic and Valley, just north of I-10 in Alhambra! Pastrami goodness.

[luckattack]

I think you mean Garfield and Valley?

[spkspk]

Last time I went to Vegas, we stopped by the Galleria Market in Koreatown and loaded up on kim bap (Korean rice rolls) and assorted Korean and Japanese snacks and crackers. Kim bap is the ultimate road trip food for me... Hated that my parents would pack it for family trips when I was a kid, but man do I appreciate it now!

[J.L.]

Dry, portable, and delish...

The beef roll at 101 Noodle Express. No joke: I've timed how long it takes for a "to-go" order: 10 minutes, 39 seconds.

Their dumplings may be eatable in the car, too, assuming you gulp each one whole in one bite...

Roll over to Tea Station a bit further past on Valley Blvd. for a sealed boba (or boba-less) drink, and that should hold you over until L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon.....

[jessejames]

In-n-out burgers, wrapped perfect, and a shake that will stay cool long into your ride. Fries me not so much there but those burgers and shakes are great car food.

[lotta_cox]

That sounds perfect to me...protein style wrapped tightly in lettuce and paper with a diet coke. There must be at least 4 In N outs between LA and Vegas.

[OCAnn]

Philippe's The Original for French dips?

[Mattapoisett in LA]

I could Imagine an au jus saturated french dip disintegrating in my hands while merging on to I-10

[sbritchky]

I'm not sure why you're dipping down to the 60 from the 10. If that route isn't required for other reasons, I recommend going right at Vegas via, e.g., 10-605-210-15. That way it will be easy to stop by the Glendora Petrillo's for a take-out pizza (slightly better than their branch on Valley Blvd., in my experience) and then swing by the great, great Glendora Yum-Yum's donut shop! Just kidding, of course. Donut Man is right down the street. So you could exit north from the 210 at Citrus, then east on old route 66 (initially, Alosta Ave.). Make the two stops and head south on Lone Hill back to the 210. Be careful of those maniac Friday-night drivers going to and from Vegas on the 15!

[notmartha]

That's a thought, you can always do drive-through from Original Tops at Pasadena, right off 210, easy on/off. I think the pastrami sandwich shouldn't be too messy.

We usually stop at Barstow for In-N-Out and a pit stop.

There's a restaurant week at LV 9/2 on.

[kjs]

if pizza is too messy, you've got the Hat between petrillo's and donut man. you got tommy's in barstow. how about chick-fil-a in, gee, i guess that's upland ? might be too sloppy, but you can get a sammie at canyon city bbq in azusa.

[BeenThereAteThat]

The Chick-Fil-A is in Ontario at the I-10/I-15 intersection (next to the In-N-Out north of I-10).

I had it for the first time ever a few months ago...didn't do a thing for me.

[AquaW]

How 'bout banh mi? Perfectly portable and easy to eat en route, and not too heavy so you can enjoy Vegas eats and drinks as well. There's a plethora of those shops in SGV, if you're taking the 60 or 10, so choose your favorite.

And not exactly a meal, but the donut man is also a nice stop-by for dessert/breakfast; it's by the 210, which also connects to the 15.

~H.C.
http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

[cant talk...eating]

If they're open that late, I'd hit Saigon Sandwich for banh mi definitely. The iced coffee will also be a plus on a long road trip. This place has - in my opinion - the best bread of them all, and gets orders (e.g., no mayo) right the first time.

Exit the 10 at San Gabriel and head north to Valley. The whole stop shouldn't be more than 20-30 min. from when you leave the 10 til when you're back on.

-----
Saigon Sandwich & Bakery
718 E Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776

[OCAnn]

coffee = pit stops

[Professor Salt]

Mr. Baguette in Rosemead?

[Mattapoisett in LA]

I like the thought, Have to check with Dommy first.

[JOHNO2]

Be careful with the sandwiches that have the green peppers. One time on the way to Vegas my buddy was eating the #1 while at the wheel and got the pepper juice on his fingers. When he scratched his eye, it starting burning so much that it eliminated half his vision. If he had touched the other eye, he would have been blinded for sure. It would have been automotive death by banh mi !!!

[Dogbite Williams]

That's a killer sandwich.

[JEN10]

How about a picnic basket full of some goodies to eat on the road? You could hit up Bristol Farms and see what they could do for you.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Unfortunately we won't have time even to do that since we will be doing a lot of cooking and prepping for stuff. I will be making a gallon of my Famous Roasted Jalapeno guacamole for the aforementioned Mexican lunch plus home made mayo and wheat buns for the weekend. We literally want to grab and go.

[Servorg]

Cruise through Famima next to the take CPK on Venice Blvd. at Overland.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

I think we can do Better than that. If Yum Cha Cafe was open late, that might be perfect.

[monku]

You really want dim sum to go....New Won Kok in Chinatown sells dim sum to go day and night. They close at 3am.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

We'll Keep that in mind for next time to try.

[monku]

Yum Cha Cafe in Chinatown closes at 5pm.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Yeah, I know. Its unfortunate that all their operations seem to close around 5 pm

[monku]

Their other locations are open until 8pm. I think they close in Chinatown because no street (tow away) or lot parking and its dead down that end of Broadway at dinner time.