Calabama

"Fans of Cara Haltiwanger’s pandemic-era “bucket drops” can now come to Calabama’s permanent home in Hollywood for a dependable dose of Southern comfort. Headlining the menu are Haltiwanger’s signature breakfast sandwiches layered with bacon, egg, cheese, grilled onions, and avocado and served with a proprietary spicy-sweet dipping sauce, along with other staples from her Alabama childhood, including sweet tea, delicate biscuits, and pimento cheese. — Cathy Chaplin, former senior editor" - Rebecca Roland, Matthew Kang, Mona Holmes

"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

"Fans of Cara Haltiwanger’s East Hollywood fire escape sandwich operation Calabama were thrilled when she opened a permanent space on November 15 in a tiny, free-standing building on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and McCadden. Haltiwanger is preparing her signature breakfast sandwiches layered with bacon, egg, cheese, grilled onions, and avocado, along with other staples from her Alabama childhood, including sweet tea, delicate biscuits, and pimento cheese." - Mona Holmes

"Calabama, originally a pop-up started by Cara Haltiwanger during the COVID-19 lockdowns, is now a permanent restaurant in Hollywood. The venue serves Southern-style breakfast sandwiches and other Alabama childhood staples like sweet tea, biscuits, and pimento cheese. Haltiwanger, who started her culinary journey with pop-ups, chose this location to offer a steady dose of Southern comfort in a 256-square-foot space. The restaurant features takeout service only, with its open kitchen visible to customers, and a simple menu focusing on quality Southern food." - Cathy Chaplin

"Calabama in East Hollywood has ceased breakfast sandwich production and is focusing on hot sauce and pop-ups instead." - Farley Elliott