Cary Brown
Google
Climb aboard John and Pat Wolfe's Union Pacific dining car, parked at it's "Ventura Boulevard Station," and experience some of the best dogs or burgers you've ever had.
Pulitzer-prize-winning, LA restaurant critic Jonathan Gold's "List of 99 Essential Los Angeles Eateries" praises CARNEY'S RESTAURANT
Since 1981, their Studio City dining car menu has included all beef hot dogs, burgers, and french fries, as well as, in recent years, vegan and turkey burgers, salads, and chill. Gluten-free hamburger and hot dogs buns are available. (If you're a celiac patient, ask them to clean the grill.) The serving of French fries, cooked to order in gluten free oil, is generous. (I ask for extra crisp.) No onion rings or other fried vegetables are available.
The staff is efficient but not talkative.
Prices are moderate and the proportions are large.
Napkins are replaced with paper towels from dispensers located in the center, as well at either end of the dining car.
Be sure to pump ketchup from the self-serve dispenser. There's also a selection of whole and sliced jalapeno peppers. Paper and plastic dipping cups are located to the left of the dispenser.
I ordered a vegan, well-done, Hungry Planet Burger, which came loaded with lettuce, tomato, chopped onions, ketchup, and pickle slices. It is huge and surprisingly good. The large order of well-done, unsalted fries is enough for two or three. (Packets of salt are offered.)
Since this is a real train car and caboose, to enter, there are many stairs to climb. They added a long, fairly steep ramp for wheelchair accessibility. The multi-level patio is not wheelchair accessible.
Seating is available both inside the car and on the multi-level patio. However, you order and pick up your meal, from the counter, inside the car.
Because Carney's is popular, and the order taking is one customer at a time, expect a delay. If you're with a party have someone look for an empty table. The "passengers" fill the tables inside, but the umbrella protected patio is generally available.
GrubHub deliveries are available.
Parking is wheelchair accessible and free. The bathrooms, located in the attached caboose, are ADA accessible. All aboard!