

Why you need them: A good cafe is an incredibly valuable resource, and the growing LA chain Go Get Em Tiger is a collection of particularly good cafes. On a national scale, Guisados would be an excellent way for folks to find Mexican cuisine beyond the burrito. They’re loaded onto thick, fresh corn tortillas-the real star of the show-and served in either standard size or in miniature to make a sampler platter. Those Chiles Torreados are a marvel, of course, but the mini-empire’s growth has been built on the back of its eponymous guisados, stewed proteins like Chicharron simmered in chile verde, Bistek en Salsa Roja, and an interpretation of the Yucatan-style Cochinita Pibil. It is a taco that could play badass trumpet in a mariachi band and sing sweet love songs to your girlfriend.” In the 12 years since that review, Guisados has seen stunning success and expansion, and the De La Torre family now owns some eight locations spread across LA and into Orange County. Why you need them: In 2011, the late legend Jonathan Gold described the Guisados fiery charred Chiles Torreados Taco as “a taco that could go 15 rounds with Oscar De La Hoya. The rest of the world should be so lucky as to have access to these-the best chain restaurants in California that the entire country needs: There are also a ton of other chain restaurants in California that deserve greater acclaim and a broader reach. There are the iconic California burger chains that we all know and the fast food tacos that have conquered the world, but that’s far from the end of it. And California has some of the best chain restaurants in the country.Ĭalifornia is, after all, the state that gave the nation the first-ever drive-thru burgers, the state that lays claim to the invention of the cheeseburger, and the state that gave the country its first fast food crunchy tacos. At their core, chain restaurants are gratification factories. All of those corporate resources, the research power, the investment, the massive access to capital, the weird ingredients, and the corner-cutting are dedicated to giving you the most delicious food and the most pleasant experience at the most affordable price. If you strip away your adult cynicism, your wellness anxiety, and your ethical concerns, you are left with one remarkable fact: The best chain restaurants are designed to deliver pure pleasure. Kids love chain restaurants and for good reason.
