Original Tommy’s World Famous Hamburgers is celebrating 80 years of serving up one of Southern California’s most iconic burgers.

The original stand opened in 1946 at the corner of Beverly and Rampart, just west of Downtown Los Angeles.

I still remember my mom and dad loading us into the car and driving to the original location near downtown Los Angeles. There was something special about getting a chili burger from the place where it all started. Since then, Tommy’s has spread all over the Inland Empire, and seeing those familiar yellow and red signs still makes me VERY happy.

For many of us here in So Cal, Tommy’s is more than a burger stand. It is part of growing up in So Cal — late-night runs, family outings, and the art of STANDING while eating your chili burger.

Eighty years later, the chili burgers, fries, and tamales are still going strong, and the brand remains one of the true originals in Southern California food culture.