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Friday, September 17, 2004

Rate-A-Restaurant, #51 in a series

Restaurant: Chili John's

Location: 2018 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank

Type of restaurant: Chili joint

They stipulated: No table service, counter-seating only.

What we ordered: Medium-spicy chicken chili with beans (my friend Jamile); medium-spicy beef chili with spaghetti (Maria), both orders under $6

High point: A Burbank institution, this is one of those gems that you can find only there. And yes, they've been serving chili since the '50s.

Low point: They close the place for a month or so in the summer. If you're not careful, you may find yourself slowly weeping when you drive up and see that "Gone Fishin'" sign -- when all you really want is some good chili.

Overall impression: Chili John's has other entrees like hot dogs, sloppy joes and tamales on the menu. But people mostly order their chilis with beans, with spaghetti or both; sour cream and cheddar cheese are optional and on the side. I like sitting on the big u-shaped counter, which makes me feel like a regular. Plus, the neon sign on top of the corner building is a masterpiece.

Chance we will go back: The baby wants more chili.

For a complete archive of our Rate-A-Restaurant reviews, check out our companion ratearestaurant.blogspot.com website.

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