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Original Tommy's

  • United States
  • Since 1946
  • $
  • 2 burgers · 0 made at home

The Los Angeles chili burger stand so famous it has dozens of imitators.

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About Original Tommy's

Tom Koulax, the son of Greek immigrants, opened a small stand at Beverly and Rampart boulevards, just west of downtown Los Angeles, on 15 May 1946. He sold hamburgers and hot dogs smothered in chili. Business was slow at first, then it never stopped: the original stand still operates, and the family still runs the company.

Tommy’s is so woven into Los Angeles that a 2019 Los Angeles Times count found 67 restaurants with some version of “Tommy” in the name and similar signs and menus, more than double the number of real ones. That is why the word “Original” is on the sign, and why the chain has gone to court over it.

Around thirty restaurants, almost all in Greater Los Angeles, plus a few in Las Vegas.

Burger menu

Signature burgers first. Only burgers and sandwiches, no sides.

Where to find Original Tommy's

8 locations on the map. Tap a pin for directions.

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Locations as mapped by OpenStreetMap volunteers, updated October 2026. The count can trail the chain’s own figures; check the chain’s store finder before you travel. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Original Tommy's on YouTube

Copycats, taste tests and challenges from the channels in the encyclopedia.

If you like Original Tommy's

Chains whose signature burgers are built the same way.
  • Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries (United States, since 1991). A 1950s-style North Carolina diner chain, named after the state highway it grew along. Also built on beef, chili and cheese.
  • Wayback Burgers (United States, since 1991). A Delaware burger stand that grew into a franchise from Buenos Aires to Tokyo. Also built on beef and cheese.
  • Spangles (United States, since 1978). Wichita’s 1950s-themed steakburger chain, famous in Kansas for its odd TV adverts and a six-patty burger called The Beast. Also built on beef and cheese.
  • Burger Street (United States, since 1985). A Texas double drive-thru burger chain from the man who created Taco Bueno and Casa Bonita. Also built on beef and cheese.

Not affiliated with Original Tommy's. Trademarks and logos belong to their owners. Descriptions are my own; nutrition figures come from the chain’s published information, checked September 2026.