SoCal is a paradise for burger lovers, the birthplace of the cheeseburger and ground zero for some of the most famous chains on the planet. One of them is Original Tommy’s, which opened its first location in 1946 in DTLA.
This May marks its 80th anniversary and, to celebrate, the chain is rolling out a super pocket-friendly promo. This Friday, the 15th, from 12PM to 8 PM, customers can buy a chili hamburger for 80 cents at any Original Tommy’s location, according to a post on the company’s Facebook page. Guests can purchase up to three discounted burgers, while supplies last.
The Story Behind Original Tommy’s
Original Tommy’s was founded in 1946 by Tom Koulax at the corner of Beverly and Rampart as a small chili burger stand that slowly built a loyal local following.In its early years, growth was modest, but by the 1950s and 1960s it had already become a recognizable L.A. staple known for its messy, chili-topped burgers and fast, no-frills service.
Expansion came in the 1970s, when the brand began opening additional locations across Southern California. Over time, it moved beyond L.A. County into Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Riverside counties, and later expanded into Nevada as well. Today, the chain operates roughly 30+ locations, mostly across SoCal with a smaller presence in the Las Vegas area.
The menu has stayed intentionally simple and centered on its signature item: chili burgers, where beef chili is ladled over hamburgers, along with fries, hot dogs, and tamales.
