When in Los Angeles, Check Out In-and-Out Burger

Whether you live in the Los Angeles area, or are just visiting, the City of Angels has some of the world's best restaurants.

The first establishment that comes to mind when one thinks of L.A. and exquisite dining is Wolfgang Pucks' world famous Spago.

This chic restaurant is located on North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. Executive Chef Lee Hefter uses the freshest and finest local ingredients to produce seasonal masterpieces of epicurean delight. Spago is world renowned for its outstanding cuisines, exceptional customer service and the chance to spot a celebrity.

In downtown Los Angeles, you'll find one of the city's best fine dining experiences, a restaurant called Cicada. Adelmo Zarif's world class establishment occupies the bottom two stories of the Oviatt Building located on South Olive Street.

Chef Suzay Cha's menu combines northern Italian cuisine with Asian influences. While enjoying the delicious fare, you'll marvel at the inviting atmosphere that includes art deco architecture, mahogany pillars and a magnificent chandelier.

If you'd rather partake in a truly unique and exclusive dining experience, try the sublime Urasawa. This restaurant on Rodeo Drive seats about 10 people and they have no menu. Instead, customers are fed a 29-course, four hour meal prepared by Chef Hiroyuki Urasawa.

Ingredients are flown in from Japan daily and Chef Hiro prepares them with a meticulous attention to detail. Be careful though, the tableware is 300 years old.

While these restaurants represent the glitz and the glamour often associated with Los Angeles there is another restaurant worth mentioning that's a little more down to Earth and a lot more affordable.

If you live in the area, it's a comforting friend. If you're a tourist, it's one of the must-visit attractions of Southern California. It's a Los Angeles legend and it's called In-and-Out Burger.

While it's tempting to call this restaurant chain "fast food," In-and-Out Burger's cuisine is far and away superior to any meal produced by the clown or the king.

In business since 1948, In-and-Out Burger prepares everything fresh to order. The beef is never frozen; you won't find any microwaves or freezers in their kitchen. And their French fries are so fresh that they actually taste like real potatoes.

Your dining options are limited, although that's part of the restaurant's charm. You have your choice of a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a Double Double (that's two patties and two slices of cheese), an order of fries, a drink and a shake (made from real ice cream).

However, if you want to sound really cool, you can order from the "secret menu." Ask for "Protein Style" and your burger will be wrapped in lettuce instead of on a bun. Ask for "Animal Style" and your hamburger will be cooked in mustard. If you're feeling really adventurous, try asking for the "Flying Dutchmen."

Certainly you won't need reservations months in advance to dine at In-and-Out Burger and your odds of catching a movie star ordering a Double Double is quite low. However, In-and-Out Burger serves the best burgers around and eating one is a quintessential L.A. experience.