Garrett SnyderSt. Patrick's Day food and booze traditions are pretty much set in (blarney) stone: a pint of Guinness, a plate of corned beef and a shot of Jameson if you want to go nuts.
There's nothing wrong with celebrating St. Paddy's the old-fashioned way — Casey's Irish Pub, Tom Bergin's and the Tam O'Shanter all will be hosting huge parties — but if you're determined to experience the weirder culinary side of March 17, here are a few places to get your druthers.
Credit: Courtesy Hopdoddy
Luck-o-the-Doddy Burger at Hopdoddy
The Austin-based burger and beer chain, which has recently opened locations in Playa del Rey and El Segundo, is offering a green sandwich called the Luck-o-the-Doddy, available on March 17 only. It's made with a green-colored egg bun, green beer cheese, Kennebec fries, beef patty, white onion, tomato, lettuce and “sassy sauce.” 12746 W. Jefferson Blvd., #1120; Playa Vista, (310) 410-2337; or 850 S Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo; (310) 414-2337, hopdoddy.com.
Credit: Courtesy acuna-hansen
Habanero Thin Mint Custard at Haché L.A.
If you've never tried the ultra-thick ice cream custards at Haché L.A., they're good enough to warrant their own visit to Silver Lake's hip-kid burger shack. For St. Patrick's Day, Haché is offering a special custard flavor made with crushed Girl Scout cookies and a “dash” of spicy peppers. Like Notre Dame's famed Irish mascot, it's got a bit of fight in it. 3319 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; (323) 928-2963, hachela.com.
Corned Beef Bubble & Squeak at Bruxie
Santa Monica's waffle-themed café — already known for sweet-savory waffles sandwiches filled with things like fried chicken and pulled pork — is putting its own spin on an Emerald Isle classic: warm corned beef, crushed potatoes and braised cabbage stuffed into a crispy waffle. The sandwich runs as a special until Sunday, along with loaded waffle fry Irish nachos and a green peppermint shake. 1412 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica; (424) 268-9955, bruxie.com.
Credit: Courtesy Fritzi
Beer Cheese Irish Nachos at Fritzi DTLA
Neal Fraser's brewery-adjacent pub is slinging some fine Irish drunk food to pair with your Arts District Brewing stout (sorry, no green beer here). You could opt for a corned beef–topped hot dog, or a corned beef sandwich with purple cabbage on a pretzel bun, but we're more enchanted by Fraser's version of “Irish nachos”: tater tots, house-made beer cheese and crispy flecks of corned beef. 814 Traction Ave., downtown; (213) 537-0340, fritzidtla.com.
Pot of Gold at Harvard & Stone
OK, these specials aren't food, but we love Harvard & Stone bar manager Aaron Polsky's hilarious St. Patrick's Day drinks too much to not give them a shout. If the “Leprechaun Piss” cocktail — made with Green Spot Irish whiskey, green chartreuse and sweet vermouth — sounds too complicated for you, there's always the Pot of Gold: a shot of Redbreast Irish Whiskey, a pack of Skittles and a can of Olympia beer. That's class in a glass. 5221 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz; (323) 466-6061, harvardandstone.com.
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