Columnist Harris David scours the country in search of some of the best metal and horror-themed restaurants, bars and cafes – highlighting the hardcore menu items found along the way.
Every month we try our hardest to find you great burgers, pizza, drinks, tacos for both the meat-eater and Vegan crowd; this month is no different. While doing our food research we noticed a theme with this month’s menu. American cookout foods seemed to be integrated into some cool menu items from our favorite restaurants around the US. For those readers who live abroad, just think of every American stereotype. We’re talking burgers, hot dogs, BBQ and PRIDE MILKSHAKES! June’s menu includes our friends Sizzle Pie, Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, Grill Em’ All, Kuma’s Corner, Terror Tacos and Evil Cooks. We hope you dig this month’s Americana menu as much as we do. Cheers!
Our friends at Evil Cooks are no strangers to thinking outside of the box. Pobre Diablo and La Bruja have been in business for over a decade but in the past few years have decided to focus on food production on a smaller scale to give more attention to their costumers. Los Angeles has some some of the best taquerias outside of Mexico, but their concepts stand out because of their ingenuity and imagination. They specialize in street gourmet tacos and are notorious for their black al pastor and black octopus trompo (meat spit).
You may remember when we featured their McSatan hamburger taco a few months ago, this months Evil Cooks offering is another take on an American staple. The Perro Negro is their take on a the good old fashioned hot dog and if you grew up in a latino household you may recognize this simple yet delightful treat. They take a beef hot dog, wrap it in their signature black corn tortilla, drizzle their house made monster sauce and crown it with fresh pico de Gallo.
Kuma’s started in 2005 with its flagship location at the corner of Belmont and Francisco avenues in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood. From their origins as a corner bar with solid American bistro fare, they’ve grown to five locations that offer the finest burgers available on this planet or any other.
This month’s monster of a burger takes Kuma’s signature 10oz patty, hot dog, bacon, cheddar cheese, neon green relish, sport peppers, pickles, tomato, onion and celery mustard. Kuma’s Corner has partnered with Howard Brown Health, $1 from every Goblin Cock will go to this special organization. Howard Brown Health has served Chicago and the midwest with affordable, LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare since 1974.
Founders Matt Jacobson and Mikey McKennedy came together and envisioned an independent pizzeria that would serve up the perfect slice. In 2011, they opened up their first location on East Burnside Street in Portland, Oregon. Since then, they have consistently ranked in the top 10 independent pizzerias in the country. They serve East Coast style slices and pies with a healthy blend of West Coast flair by turning the freshest, highest-quality ingredients into tried and true classics with bold new pizza visions in a variety of meat, veggie, and vegan options.
Every month Sizzle Pie partners with a different charity and donates proceeds. When ordering online or through their app, opt for the ‘Sauce Heart’ to support the charity. This month’s sauce hearts support Pride Northwest. Their mission is to encourage, support and celebrate the positive diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. They’re a also the beautiful folks behind the PDX Pride Parade.
This month’s specialty pizza is the Wet Hot American Summer, for you Vegan BBQ lovers. Sizzle Pie uses their olive oil base, Vegan mozzarella, chopped garlic, mild banana peppers, red onion, BBQ jackfruit, with a zig-zag of BBQ sauce.
Grill Em’ All has cemented themselves as a Los Angeles burger institution. Chef Ryan Harkins and former professional wrestler Matt Chernus started by serving gourmet burgers out of a food truck back in 2009. Before opening up their heavy metal themed brick and mortar they won the first ‘Great Food Truck Race’ and were featured on the ‘Best Thing I Ever Ate.’ Their popularity led them to lay their food trucks to rest and serve burgers and fries out their restaurant in Alhambra, California.
The Savage Master Burgers stacks spiced shredded chicken, house made green enchilada sauce, cotija cheese, sour cream, tortilla strips, pepper jack cheese, on their signature half pound burger.
Terror Taco was started by two brothers that grew up in the 80’s, who watched too many horror films, played in hardcore and metal bands together, and ate the best Mexican food the Southwest and West Coast had to offer. They created this brand and space to make the food they wanted to eat, to listen to death metal, and to give anyone willing to walk through our doors a completely different experience. Terror Taco offers an all vegan menu of classic Mexican food including tacos, burritos and nachos. VEGAN. METAL. HORROR. TACOS.
In keeping with the good old American food theme, there isn’t a venue in America where you can’t get an order of nachos. The good folks at Terror Tacos happen to make theirs better than most. They take corn tortillas and load them up with chipotle cheese, your choice of plant-based protein, seasoned black beans, red onions, pickled jalapeños, shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, cilantro and guacamole.
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab are famous for their inventive flavor combos and once you look through their menu you’ll see just how inventive they can get. The GOREmet eatery evokes a classic roadside burger stand but in a ‘post apocalyptic chic’ setting. They proudly pair fresh ingredients with expert preparation. Zombie Burger features their very own custom three-cut beef burger blend, specially-crafted buns, and hand-mixed shakes.
The Zombie Ahogada is a roll stuffed with crispy carnitas, jack cheese, guacamole, pickled jalapeños and lime crema. The whole sandwich sits in a tomato-chili broth and topped with crispy pickled red onion.
The Zombie Pride Shake ’23 blends vanilla ice cream, raspberry purée, sparkle sprinkles, whipped cream and topped with rainbow cotton candy and of course you have the option to spike it with Dr. McGillicuddy’s Vanilla Liqueur. $1 of every sale of the Zombie Pride Shake will be donated to Iowa Safe Schools. The mission of Iowa Safe Schools is to provide safe, supportive, and nurturing learning environments and communities for LGBTQ and allied youth through education, outreach, advocacy, and direct services.
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