Mighty Good Eats

I’ve passed by Roadside Eats many times on my way in and out of the Arclight Hollywood, and never thought to go in, probably due to its corporate looking logo and signage, which make it seem like a slick new fast food concept restaurant hoping to become the next Chipotle. I was pleasantly surprised when I finally did check it out because even though the decor was clean and modern, the food reminded me of the great mom and the pop barbeque joints I encountered on a recent road trip through Kentucky and Tennessee.

You order at a counter from a menu which features mostly sandwiches. There’s Hickory-Smoked Tri-Tip, Low and Slow Brisket, Pecan Fried Chicken, and even a classic Fried Bologna, Egg and Cheese. But the must-have sandwich here is the Carolina Pulled Pork; an overflowing mound of crispy and tender pieces of shredded and sauced meat topped with vinegary cole slaw and pickle chips, all on a sweet bun. As they say in Dixie, it’s flat cold good!

There’s also a large variety of Southern sides. My favorites are the Baked Beans with Trimmings, a Southern-inspired Brussels Sprouts Salad, and crunchy, tart and salty Fried Green Tomatoes. You can end your down-home meal with a slice of pie — chocolate pecan, buttermilk custard or apple, deep-fried on request and served a la mode. It will leave you grinnin’ like a possum eatin’ a sweet tater.

Roadside Eats is located at 6374 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (in Hollywood) across from the Arclight movie theaters.