Goodbye to Patra’s in Echo Park, my favorite burger stand in all of Los Angeles

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Patra’s, my favorite burger joint of all time in Echo Park, is closing its doors following this weekend. A staple in the neighborhood for over 50 years, there are countless families—mine included—who have relied on the team there for an affordable breakfast, lunch or dinner for generations, and who will now miss it indefinitely as a new landlord seeks a new profit margin from the land.

If you’re in the neighborhood, please check it out to grab one of their world-famous charbroiled burgers while you still can, or tell someone you know!! Their absolute last day is on Monday, the 23rd, the day–or night–just before Christmas Eve. Below you’ll also find a collection of comments by those who came to know and love Patra’s regarding its sudden and heartbreaking loss.

Patra’s Memorial on IG via @forgottenmadness_la.

There will also be more to note soon; for now, please just stay vigilant, stay tuned, and continue supporting local.

PATRA CHARBROILED BURGERS FOREVER!!

🍔🍔🍔

J.T.

food tied with strings on tray

Check Out Virgil Village’s Newest Tamalera this Weekend 🫔🫔🫔

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These days, there’s nothing like a warm tamale for your morning meal, or lunch or dinner! But while these treats are always a blast, they’re even more delicious when they’re part and parcel of a brand new business. That’s exactly what’s happening on Virgil avenue thanks to 27 year old Desteney Montoya, a life-long Virgil Village denizen who placed her stand out at the intersection of Virgil avenue and Burns St. for the very first time this past weekend, where she sold all 200 of her debut tamales. Desteny will be back at it for just the second time this upcoming weekend from 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM, unless she sells out earlier; and I got a good feeling she will in fact sell out earlier. If you’re unable to make it out but would still like to support her new investment in honor of the holiday spirit, you can donate “tamale funds” via Desteny’s Venmo at @deestamales. Tell her J.T. sent you! 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

J.T.

BOO’S: PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS IN K-TOWN

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Andrew Ahn, the owner of Boo’s Philly Cheesesteaks in EastHollywood/Silver Lake and K-Town, joins us for this special bonus edition of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast. We discuss the making of Boo’s after his Korean-American parents couldn’t find a cheesesteak sandwich in L.A., how the city’s homelessness and rising gas prices have affected business, and how to define success for one’s self instead of just “playing the part” that’s been popularized.

To make a one-time donation to my fundraiser for the 9th anniversary of JIMBO TIMES, please do so through jmbtms.com. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, please see my new page at PATREON.

J.T.