Chili John's

Today we decided to go to Chili John's for lunch. We have been passing by this restaurant for years and never gone to it for one reason or another. The main reason, being, that it isn't really open all year round. I think they are open every day until 4pm except only in the winter and then once it hits summer they go fishing. I wouldn't be surprised if the owners own another fish restaurant somewhere just for the summer, but that is off the subject.

There is a lot of parking around Chili John's. When we walked inside we saw that the only thing to do was to walk up to the semi-circle counter and take a seat. There are no tables--just counter space. The chairs at the counter are a red-orange color and very comfortable. When we arrived, there were a lot of people there but still a bunch of chairs together available. We sat down and were immediately presented with cups of oyster crackers.

The menus are hooked on the edge of the counter in easy reach. The menu has one main thing on it--chili. The chili comes in beef or chicken, in three spice levels, and with your choice of beans, beans and spaghetti or spaghetti only. You can also have your chili on a tamale or with a tamale and a chili hot dog and maybe a couple of other things. But just know, if you don't like chili, this isn't a place for you. You can also take your chili to go--but I recommend staying.

We were offered a taste test of the chilis because we had never been there but we passed and just got what we thought. I ordered the regular bowl of beef chili with beans, medium. My fiance ordered the medium beef chili with beans and spaghetti. They have giant bowls and regular bowls, and the regular size was MORE than enough for me.

Once you order the counter attendant turns around and dishes up your bowl from the center where there are several covered pots. It is instantaneous service. To drink they have Coke, Diet Coke, rootbeer, iced tea and lemonade. The lemonade is NOT the Minute Maid kind that comes on the soda fountain and is therefore delicious. For dessert they have two types of homemade pies.

The chili had a great flavor and was a little bit spicy but not too bad. You were given the option of cheese or sour cream. On the counter there were little bowls of raw chopped onions, salt, pepper, chili powder, oil, Tabasco and those little green hot peppers. I mixed my dish with cheese and onions and oyster crackers. It was delicious. It was a little oily--but still tasted wonderful. It was a really nice treat to have a bowl of chili on a rainy day.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was very friendly and at home. It seemed like a lot of the diners were regulars and were having conversations with the servers. Probably if I had been especially outgoing, I too could have had a conversation with the servers. As it was, I felt like we were part of the family.

We were too full for the pie when we finished our chili, but it was certainly tempting anyway. The restaurant is cash only, so be ready! I would go back there any time and am sad that it is only open in the winter because, I am always jonesing for a good bowl of chili.





Chili John's
2018 W Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506
Map