"Of all LA’s pandemic-era pop-up success stories, none captured the city’s attention quite like Calabama and its breakfast sandwiches lowered via red bucket from a fire escape. These days, the one-woman show operates out of a tiny walk-up window near Santa Monica Boulevard and Highland. And though her red bucket is gone, the delicious cheese-oozing breakfast sandwiches remain. Think of Calabama’s signature item as a breakfast grilled cheese, built on two pieces of griddled white bread stacked with eggs, avocado, and bacon. It’s buttery and salty, but also surprisingly balanced, especially after you apply their signature smoky dipping sauce with a sweet-spicy kick. Meals at Calabama happen fast, too. The time between placing your order and demolishing a sandwich on the sidewalk won’t last more than 15 minutes, making this place a no-brainer for a quick breakfast or lunch in Hollywood. photo credit: Brant Cox Food Rundown photo credit: Jakob Layman OG Breakfast Sandwich This is the sandwich that put Calabama on the map in 2020, and we’re thrilled to report it’s just as good now. It’s a simple sandwich: soft scrambled eggs, avocado, grilled onions, crispy brown sugar bacon (there’s a vegetarian option as well), and a few slices of perfectly molten American cheese, all on white bread toasted with a generous amount of butter. It’s a decadent sandwich, but not such an undertaking it’ll send you back to bed. photo credit: Brant Cox Biscuit Sandwich The other half of Calabama’s menu features three-inch-high biscuit sandwiches filled with eggs and a choice of caramelized bacon or pimento cheese. These are just as rich as the OG sandwich, except the fluffy biscuit is slighty overpowered by the eggs and cheese. So we like to order a biscuit a la carte instead. They’re $5 and taste incredible dunked in the same sweet-spicy dipping sauce that comes with the sandwiches." - Brant Cox
