Angelo's Drive In, Fresno

I remember rolling up to Angelo's with my Grandmother in a blue Chevy Malibu about 30 years ago!

Angelo's has been in its original location since 1954. For Fresnan's keeping track, 1954 is one year more than the founding of the Elbow Room. A few famous burger reference points, Original Tommy's in LA was founded in 1946; In-n-Out Burger was founded in 1948. Ray Kroc founded the McDonald's Corporation in 1955. Since its founding, Angelo's changed hands, but the menu has basically stayed the same. 

It makes me think about the path of these famous or iconic restaurants. The Bow is a Fresno icon, period. For the non-Fresno reader, The Bow, while not a hamburger joint, is the one place in town that is always busy. It's also the one place in town on the day before Thanksgiving that you're guaranteed to see 20 people you know, all from high school. Obviously, everyone knows the McDonald's story. Fresno as well as many other towns now have In-n-Out's, all growing out of a single location with a modest growth cycle since inception. Tommy's has had knock-off issues, but is still successful.

What do I remember from my first experience at Angelo's? Not much about the food really. I do remember my mother disagreeing with my grandmother about the general decision to take a young child to a drive-in burger and hot dog joint. It wasn't the first time grandma took me and one of my cousins somewhere in town my mother didn't approve of. 

So what did I eat after 30 years? A double chili cheese burger and fries with everything on it. Set me back $7.50. I usually don't do fountain drinks and was planning on having a 16oz coffee to help power down the double burger. What did I think? My first thought was Original Tommy's "Look for the Shack" down in LA. They make a double chili cheese burger with chopped onions and pickles too. Very similar to Angelo's. Tommy's is of course world renowned for their burgers. When I was living in LA, I ate at Tommy's a couple times. The fries at Angelo's were fresh, hot, and well salted so no complaints about the fries. Guess, what? Angelo's has a good burger and if my first reference point was Original Tommy's, all the better.

As I sat down to write this review, I had some mixed emotions. What made McDonald's successful? What makes their basic hamburger and cheeseburger so addicting to have more stores in the world than any other burger joint? What's in that special sauce?

What made Angelo's never grow beyond a single location? Or move to North Fresno? Honestly, the burger at Angelo's wasn't that much different than Original Tommy's and Tommy's is everywhere in LA, even the knock-offs. It's not as though Fresno doesn't like chain restaurants. In-n-Out is in North Fresno. We're bringing Eureka Burger to town. We've even got a Habit Burger. Hell, one visit from Guy Fieri and Angelo's Drive-In would become a Fresno icon again.

Go give Angelo's one more try for the chili cheese burger with everything on it...before it's too late.

Comments

[Bruce Snyder]

There was a MOAB in Modesto on Scenic Drive next to the cemetery that operated unchanged for at least 30 years. You could sit there and enjoy the same tasting burger from childhood to adulthood. Also never changing was the cardboard sign on the cemetery wall advertising " Free Dirt!"

[The Cured Ham]

There's another place in Fresno called The Triangle which is also near a cemetery. Too much of a coincidence for me. Burger joints near cemeteries.

[mary craig]

Circa 1958 a bunch of us used to hang out at "Angelos. Good cheap food...Wasn't there a BBQ beef sandwich?

Also remember the "Eagle" restaurant from those days. I think it is still there on Divasadero. Best BLT with avacado and a large iced tea on a hot summer day.