I had the same experience when I ate at a Freebirds in Austin, TX last year.

Easily the worst fast food meal I've ever had. Cold, bland and flavorless food that not even hot sauce could salvage.

Makes Chipotle look like gourmet grub, and I despise Chipotle.

I agree. It would have been nice to have another eatery there (unlike the predecessor, Roman's). The immediate neighborhood is sorely lacking quality choices.

But, Chase Bank is exactly what the neighborhood needed, after all, I'm sure their local customers appreciate not having to go all the way down to Ventura/Sepulveda (where they have a "mega-branch") to do their banking. For crying out loud, they also just built one on Burbank/Van Nuys Blvd., since Van Nuys/Sylvan (less than one mile) must have been too far away.

In both cases, while being built, were hoping for some kind of restaurant to go in, but was dissapointed both times. Sad reflection on our neighborhoods. Sigh.

There is a booth at the Encino Farmers Marke on Sundays that does knife and scissor sharpening.

Never used him, but usually seems quite busy.

Jen, not sure if you know of Lido Pizza in Van Nuys, but if not, I think you should check them out.

I used to love Ravanelli's as well when I lived in that neck of the SFV, but now I'm in Sherman Oaks so Lido fits the bill well. Both have been (or were, in the case of Ravanelli's) around for 45-50 years or so, and I believe for that reason the pizza at these places is similar in style, crust thickness, cheese ratio, etc.

It's certainly not gourmet or groundbreaking pizza in any way, just good old fashioned, kinda thin to medium crust pizza (with a tasty sauce and generous, but not too much, real mozzerella cheese) that was popularized in a bygone era in neighborhoods all across the USA.

Please give it a try and report back!! I know it may be a bit far (where do you live?), but I'd bet you and your family will enjoy. My nine year old daughter LOVES it!!!

The S&W shrimp is definintely cooked the same way (with a light coat of cornstarch, I believe). The Orange Shrimp, I'm not sure about the cornstarch part, but the shrimp in this dish definitely have that crispness to them.

Oh, forgot to mention, that the Orange Shrimp is not served with broccoli, so it sounds as if they'd have to add it to the dish for you. Sounds kinda good actually, to have their yummy orange sauce coating some broccoli!!

Nosh, since you like Aromatic Shrimp at BF, I recommend you also try their Sweet and Pungent Shrimp, as well as their Orange Shrimp, of course customized as you request.

Something for the next golf outing!! Let us know what you think.

I'm really glad to see BF get some love on this board, especially from an established poster like Nosh.

I didn't, Nosh.

I usually get my food to go, and so I stock some La Yu (I think is the brand) chili oil at our house, purchased from the 99 Ranch Market on Victory/Sepulveda, just for this purpose.

I too live near Bamboo Forest, and really enjoy it for what it is - Americanized chinese food.

They are open for lunch Tuesday thru Saturday. Sundays they only open for dinner, and they're closed on Mondays.

I really like their orange chicken, orange shrimp, mu shu chicken, aromatic shrimp, and shrimp sizzling rice soup. My nine year-old daughter loves their chicken wonton soup (which I think is bland as hell, and needs lots of chili oil to pep it up).

They use really tender white meat chicken in their chicken dishes, which I know is not very Chow-ish, but turns out really nice and tasty. Their orange chicken is the "gold standard" IMO.

But, as with any Americanized chinese resto, YMMV.

If one goes to Cambria, and one enjoys fudge, one MUST stop to visit the fudge lady (Erika) for the best fudge on the PLANET!! Seriously!!

So many types of fresh (and I mean FRESH) made fudge, you won't be dissapointed. Erika only uses real stuff (butter, sugar, cream, nuts, etc.) in her fudge, which is why it's so high quality.

http://www.cambriafudge.com/

Glad to see that others have been able to rekindle their love affair w/WF's dogs (alas, Kevin and Sher of WF are still MIA, still heard nothing of their post-WF life...).

The Wien truck's turkey dog rocks my world!!! With mustard, chili and onions...that's how I roll (loved Cupid's as a kid).

Joe's Falafel; see this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/852663

Best I've ever had.

Well, this may not be the original Weiner Factory, but a darn close facsimile!!

See my post dated September 7, 2011 and beyond in this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/803286

Which is referring to this: http://www.thewien.com/

I really enjoy the dogs from this truck, and for what I order (turkey dog, mustard, chili, onions...same flavor profile as a Cupid's dog), it's pretty damn similiar to the original WF. I've heard their beef dogs are the same as well as the old WF's; they are made by the same sausage maker and have a great "snap" to them.

Les, I'd be curious to get your thoughts on this.

Second the recommendation for Joe's.

As a matter of fact, I just had lunch there. You can't go wrong with either the falafel or chicken schwarma lafa sandwiches.

The schwarma is delicious, however, best to get it early in the day when it's still freshly cooked on the spit and moist....had it for dinner once, and it was pretty dried out.

If you guys will be anywhere near Universal Studios, there is a park across the street where between 2 to 7 trucks will be there on any given weekday.

You can check this link, updated daily by about 10am or so.

http://universalfoodtrucks.blogspot.com/

Based on the OP's review, I tried Joe's a week or so ago.

Since I love falafel, and since the name of the resto is "Joe's FALAFEL", I of course ordered a falafel sandwich.

I have tried many, many falafels over the years, and I must say, this is the BEST I have ever had!!!!

From the warm, fresh, yeasty and soft lafa bread that it came wrapped in, to the veggies used (VERY fresh and crunchy), to the falafel balls (perfectly fried, crunchy, and seasoned just right...none of that funky saffron, cinnamon or other weird spices that some places use in their falafels), to the tasty hummus and tahini used to sauce the sandwich, the combination of all these wonderful ingredients combined to make Joe's falafel practically a life-changing experience!!!!

Since this is near my office, I plan to return many, many times. Do yourself a favor and check them out for yourself.

Not particularly, especially when it's just gooped on as is common. Sometimes its both mixed into the tuna as well as spread on the bread. That's just waaaay too much mayo for me (and, its for taste not health reasons).

I don't mind it if it's very, very light in texture and not noticable in flavor. Otherwise, forget about it!!

The one I bought from CML a week or two ago cost $13, and I recall thinking that it was a buck more than the Lobsta Truck's which I had about a month ago.

I haven't tried the CML crab roll yet, but plan to when they make it over to NBC/Universal again for lunch.

As for the Maine/Connecticut style debate, you're going to get folks who prefer butter (Connecticut) or who prefer mayo (Maine). I guess there might be some folks who actually like both (instead of one or the other), and I'd be curious too which those folks prefer.

Me, I don't like mayo, especially near fish (I just don't get it) so its always the butter-dressed roll that I choose.

I did detect a slight, and I mean slight, chewiness to CML's lobster, but not enough to be off-putting or make me prefer Lobsta Truck's instead. I really liked the way CML dressed its roll, btw.

I'd love to do a side-by-side taste test, but fat chance of those two trucks being at the same location for a "taste off", don't you think?

The Lobsta Truck is really good.

However, these guys do it even better...I found the lobster tastier, better dressed (just a real light drizzle of butter and seasoning) and more plentiful than Lobsta Truck's roll.

I got the Connecticut Lobster roll....YUM!!

http://cousinsmainelobster.com/

P.S. I also like how Cousins is based on sustainably harvested lobsters.

Consistently excellent food and service. Been going there over 20 years.

http://www.palacegrill.com/

Kevin, I'm confident you won't be dissapointed, and that goes for anyone else, who fondly recalls and missess the ol' Wiener Factory.

Whether it's the turkey dogs, or their beef dogs (which a good friend of mine tried, and said they were the same...he was in heaven!!), or polish sausage, the Wien Truck's got it goin' on, just like the old WF days!!

Kevin, did you ever sample the Wien Truck's turkey dog?

I'm convinced they're the real deal. Same as our beloved WF turkey dogs, same buns, chili, cheese and other fixins!!

I respectfully disagree about B&J's combinations not making sense.

Some of them, yes I agree (such as the stupidly named "Schwedy Balls"), but others make perfect sense, such as:

New York Super Fudge Chunk (Chocolate Ice Cream with White & Dark Fudge Chunks, Pecans, Walnuts & Fudge Covered Almonds). Come on, seriously, chocolate and nuts, it makes TOTAL sense to me (and I'm sure, plenty others!!). Or,

My newest favorite, What a Cluster (fka "Clusterfluff", which B&J changed to "What a Cluster", despite no apparent public outcry, unlike Schwedy Balls, which had a huge public outcry but they didn't change). This wonderful flavor has Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Caramel Cluster Pieces, Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Swirls. It really is heavenly!!

I could go on and on, b/c B&J's is my favorite ice cream, plus they have so many great flavors, but really, I must go back to work now!! :-)

The should have included "The Wein Truck". It's a former incarnation of the infamous "Weiner Factory", including all the dogs formerly carried (and made exclusively for) Weiner Factory.

Not to mention WF's chili, which is soooooo good. On par with Cupids', in my book.

http://www.thewien.com/

Based on its title, I thought this was going to be a thread about the "after effects" of eating said tacos!! :-)

I tried JITB tacos once and only once. Truly one of the worst things I ever ate in my life.

If you're in the LA area, Fatburger has some of the best onion rings I've ever tasted.

Yes, real onions and a tasty, lightly crispy crunchy batter (not thick and greasy, like some beer battered onion rings tend to be).

I'm sure someone will have a tip for you. :-)

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Seriously, though, try Brent's Deli in Northridge. I know they cater, but not sure how inexpensive they may be.

Oy vey and good luck!

Shannon, that's exactly why I don't buy them anymore!!! My waist line thanked me for stopping.

Encino Farmers Market, on Sundays. Have seen both types there, but only bought the smaller variety (Fuyu?) b/c we prefer those.

They're just getting going, which mean they're still kind of unripe, or crunchy in texture. I like them that way (kind of like eating an apple or pear), but I know to some they need to be really soft to enjoy.

Good luck!!

P.S. Withnail - LA is a big place, next time you may want to specify what area you'd be interested in making your purchase.