You might recall that I mentioned how uninspired and unmotivated I was when trying to decide what to eat after returning from our trip in an earlier post. I mentioned aimlessly driving up and down Clairemont Mesa Boulevard with no objective in mind....yes, here I was...the Missus was working and I was just going up and down, back and forth....wasting gas.
So finally I made a choice.
A very questionable choice........
It had been a while since I'd been to Tommy's and even longer since I'd actually had a chili burger.
We had an Original Tommy's down the street from us in Rowland Heights. When the late night munchies would hit; maybe once every couple of months, we'd go grab a chili burger. The Missus used to love the chili but it gave Her heartburn....I was fine. For some reason, I don't recall the chili being as bland and gluey as this. In fact everything seemed to have the same texture except for the tomatoes. I asked for extra onions and even that didn't help. It was like eating mush....... The best thing about the burger was the generic bun.
I'm certain that something has changed here....that or this location does something different from the locations in LA. When did the food here get so bland? Perhaps I should have gotten the Caliente Burger.
On the good side; this was like hitting rock bottom.......the only way to go was up.
Original Tommy's
7415 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111
I think it's that location. I tried eating there a few months after it opened, and it just did not taste like Tommy's up in L.A. They would not put the seasoning on the fries unless I asked, either (in L.A. it was automatically added). Sorry to hear it doesn't seem to have improved.
Posted by: Jessica | Thursday, 23 July 2015 at 11:25 PM
:(
Posted by: kat | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 12:30 AM
Unfortunately the SD location isn't even open late enough for the traditional negative time run.
Posted by: Hao | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 02:34 AM
Hey, at least you've hit bottom and now can move ahead with your food "recovery." After all, fine dining isn't for those who need it, it's for those who want it......
Posted by: ken | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 05:42 AM
Oh no... Thanks for taking one for the team! I'm gonna go to Hodad's for my next burger.
Posted by: Soo H | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 08:44 AM
There is nothing that can fix a Tommy's burger other than a trash can. I tried the Caliente also.
Posted by: dereck | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 09:01 AM
Seems like the only reliable Tommy's is the original.
Posted by: Kyle | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 09:45 AM
Hi Jessica - I think it's gotten even worse since they opened...sad.
Totally Kat!
Though Hao....you could apply for heartburn for breakfast because I think they open at like 7am?
No where to go but up Ken!
I'm not even that big a fan of Hodad's Soo.
I dunno Dereck; the locations we've been to in LA have been ok.
Hey Kyle - Something happened when things got past the OC I think!
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 11:04 AM
Been once and never been back. I would've went to Anny's.
Posted by: Junichi | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 01:13 PM
My uncles took me to the original when I was 5. I didn't return until they opened the one in San Diego. Not that I remember the original, but I was rather disappointed. By the way, I think they mush up canned tamales in their chili (or just use a lot of corn meal).
Posted by: janfrederick | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 01:41 PM
Sad to say I never did cross Convoy....though I should have Junichi!
I think they use a lot of flour and masa Jan.
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 24 July 2015 at 02:15 PM
The chili looks...not good. :(
My husband swears by the original Tommy's. He and his friends used to go for Tommy runs in college.
Posted by: caninecologne | Sunday, 26 July 2015 at 08:47 AM
Hi CC - We used to go when we lived in LA as well....this.....was kinda bad.
Posted by: Kirk | Sunday, 26 July 2015 at 06:17 PM
Nostalgic burger...
Posted by: nhbilly | Monday, 27 July 2015 at 05:50 AM
Hey Billy - Unfortunately, this was a far cry from what I remember getting in LA.
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 27 July 2015 at 06:24 AM
I'm a chili-burger fanatic, and the only two Tommy's I've been to are the ones in Barstow and the one on CMB. Both were consistent: their chili tastes like hamburger meat, tomato paste and spiced with only chili powder and nothing else, it's beyond bland. On a scale of 1 to 10 for chili, it's about a 2-3 at those two locations. SER and Sysco chili have more flavor.
Posted by: MikeC | Monday, 27 July 2015 at 12:49 PM
Hi MikeC - I don't claim to be a chili burger fanatic, but will claim that the versions I've had in LA were much better. This tastes like artificial beef flavor, very little chili powder, and too much masa.
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 27 July 2015 at 01:05 PM