Chili My Soul-Closed

Chili My Soul
4928 Balboa Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316
818-981-2202

Chili My Soul has a unique way of making chili. Their chili is a long process that is suppose to be leaner and more healthy for you then regular chili. They have 30 different flavors of chili, of which 11-15 are picked and served daily. All chili is served with your choice of corn bread, tortilla chips, or garlic bread.

I got a cup of chili, $6.95, Rio Grande, lean ground beef in a rich beef stock with baby pinto and tender black beans topped with sour cream and cheddar cheese. Chili My Soul has a spicy scale from 1-10, 10 being the hottest. Rio Grande was a 5. For me chili has to have beans. This was a tasty chili, lots of flavor, they put a good amount of cumin in their chili. Rich, thick, a bit thicker than I like chili but still good. Good amount of beef and beans. The corn bread was pretty good. Nice and moist inside. But I prefer cornbread that the crust is a bit burnt and crunchy. Overall I was impressed with the chili.

Service is very good. The lady at the counter allows you to try any chili you like. I only had 2 chili the rio grande and Texas Pride, The classic Texas-style beef chili brought "up-town" without all that fat. Lean bacon is simmered into this wondrous blend of thee rich, red chiles, black pepper, roasted cumin, and rich beef stock, also a 5 on the spicy scale. But the Texas Pride was more spicy. As I said, I prefer chili with beans, that is why I didn't order the Texas Pride.

I would go back to Chili My Soul. I do think the prices are a bit high but the quality of the chili is great. I will be back if I'm in the area.

Update April 28, 2009

Somebody asked if Chili My Soul is better than Chili John's in Burbank. Two words, HELL YES. I thought Chili John's was overpriced and they charged for extra toppings, sour cream, without telling you they were extra. I did like the fact Chili John's had spaghetti with their chili. Nothing better than a four way!!!!!!

Clearman's Galley

Clearman's Galley
7215 N Rosemead Blvd
San Gabriel
626-286-1484

Back in 2006, I reviewed the Original Clearman's Galley and told readers of The New Diner, that The Boat, as Clearman's Galley is called, was being torn down to make room for a Kohl's and eventually The Boat would reopen.

Well here we are in 2009 and The Boat has finally opened. The Boat just moved a little bit south of their original location, The Boat is facing Rosemead Blvd. The new Boat is so much bigger than the old boat.

I ordered the fish and fries, $8.25. The fish is cod and you get three decent sized pieces. The batter is light and pretty crispy. The cod is flakey and moist. It's pretty good but nothing outstanding. The fries are cut thicker and was pretty bad. But I don't normally eat fries. So it's not that big of a deal.

Service was OOOOOK. When I got there the line was so long, it wasn't even funny. People were there to watch the Lackers play Cleveland, so that was part of the reason for the long time. Also the reopening of The Boat, has brought back a lot of people. But one hour to place my order? Then another ten minutes for my order to arrive? Not good. The food certainly wasn't worth the long wait. But then again I wasn't going to make another trip back here to try the food. So I waited and waited in line. But the cooks who take your order, the cashiers, and the young ladies who bring you out your orders are nice and friendly. They are working as hard and as fast as they can. But man it wasn't fun waiting in that line.

I sat outside because they have a covered patio and I didn't want to be around fans who root for a rapist on the Lackers. The only problem is that a bunch of damn smokers are near you and since those scumbags can't go for more than ten minutes without lighting up, they go outside and smoke.

Like I said, I wouldn't go out of my way to come back to The Boat. I wanted to go to the reopening and really, nothing has changed. The food is decent and a good price. I would come back but I wouldn't wait in a long line again.

Update Feb 10, 2009



After going to Charley Brown's for appetizers I went to meet a buddy back at The Galley. While the Lackers were on, it wasn't as crowded as the last time I went. This time I had the chili size, $6.95. A chili size is a cheeseburger patty covered with chili. It comes with a garlic cheese bread and salad. The chili is a very mild chili, no beans, and I think a bit bland. But the thing I didn't like was the chili wasn't hot. Maybe luke warm. I don't think it's asking too much for hot food to be hot. The burger was a bit overcooked and nothing special.

The bread is great. It's more cheese than garlic but it's good. The salad is very fresh and just drown in blue cheese dressing. It's really just lettuce but it's good.

The one difference I noticed between the Original Clearman's Galley and this new Galley is that the chili size comes on a plate, not some paper plate.

Chili John's

Chili John's
2018 Burbank Blvd
Burbank
818-846-3611

I heard a few good things about Chili John's so I decided to try it for myself. Chili John's isn't that impressive. I went on Feb 4, 2006 and they had a B rating from the health department.

I ordered a regular bowl of mild beef chili over spaghetti for $6.60. When the chili arrived she asked if I wanted sour cream and cheese. I said yes. She forgot to tell me that sour cream and cheese are extra.

The chili was OK but it wasn't even spicy and while I did order mild, that doesn't mean no spice!!!! The spaghetti was cooked just right but the portion is nothing. $7 for a little bowl of spaghetti?? Come on now.

I thought Chili John's was overpriced and the chili was nothing special. I wouldn't go back even if I'm in the area.

Red Rock Chili-Fashion Island-Closed

Red Rock Chili
401 Newport Center Dr.
Suite A 106
Newport Beach
949-760-0752

Red Rock Chili is located in the food court at Fashion Island. I have heard so many good things about Cincinnati style chili but I've never had the chance to try Cincinnati chili. I sure as hell ain't going to Cincinnati since the city isn't a vacation paradise and I hate the Reds and the Bengals suck.

So when I heard about Red Rock Chili in Fashion Island, I knew I had to go and try it. Now Cincinnati chili is made with cinamon and it's not as spicy or thick as some other styles of chili. I ordered the chili dog with Cincinnati chili and the Red Rock Spaghetti with Cincinnati chili, cheese and onions. In Cincinnati that's called a three way.

First bite and I knew the Cincinnati Chili isn't for me. Just something about the spices doesn't taste right. Red Rock chili had nice pieces of ground beef in their chili but again I'm not a fan of the Cinncy style chili.

But the hot dog said it's suppose to be grilled, but this hot dog didn't have any grilled marks and was cold!!! Not a good start. They actually cut the hot dog in half and it's basically served open faced. Hot dogs are finger foods!!!

The spaghetti with Cinncy chili and cheese wasn't anything special. The spaghetti was cooked just right. Some places, Italian restarants being a strange offender, overcook their pasta.

The service is ok. The cashier tried to be a comic by asking if I wanted a picture taken with the food, after he saw me take a picture of the food. He got concerned when I told him why I was taking picture of the food. Maybe they should worry about getting the food right instead of being a comic.

While the Cincinnati chili isn't the kind of chili I like, I wouldn't go back to Red Rock. First the prices are high. The chili dog and spaghetti was $13.23. Yeah it's in Fashion Island and they give you a good portion it's still overpriced. Also the hot dog wasn't grilled at all and wasn't even warm.