Carney’s Express Limited
12601 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA, 91604
Carney’s Express Limited Menu
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Address :
12601 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA, 91604 - Phone (818) 761-8300
- Website https://www.carneytrain.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
- Mon : 11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
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Adriana R.
The outdoor look of this place really attracted me so I decided to try it. I had a bacon cheeseburger. It was delicious. The chili cheese fries were fantastic. Definitely had a food coma after eating. My girlfriend had a hot dog and she said it was alright. Personally, I loved the burger and fries!
(4)Brandon B.
Food is amazing. I got a Carney's dog (chili, mustard, tomatoes, and onions). Their chili is freshly made in house and has a smooth texture with a little bit of spice! Very delicious. I only give this place 4 stars because of the horrible restrooms outside. They do a great job of keeping the restaurant clean, but nothing else.
(4)Nahal K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE, I forgot out delicious this place is. Had a dinner date with the bestie and stumbled across this place when driving in Studio City trying to figure out where to eat. She had never been and I knew the best decision to be made was to take her here. Nothing fancy but sure good. Especially because she loves burgers. I had the chili cheese burger and chili cheese fries and she had the cheeseburger and chili cheese fries. YUM YUM YUM the line was huge but so worth it. One of the best dinners I've had in a long time. Baby in my tummy sure was happy too.
(4)Jackie G.
What a cute idea to make a restaurant out of a train. And the food is good too. The customer service, even better. They are famous for their chili - which looks a little gross - but tastes really good. I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Refills for drinks are half-price which I think kinda sucks, but otherwise - two thumbs up.
(4)Seth G.
This location is a two minute walk away from my office, so it takes a lot of willpower to resist. Just as good as the location on Sunset, and just as iconic (it's also in a decommissioned train). Always get the Carney's Dog... and add some cheese to the top of your chili. You'll thank me later.
(4)Evan L.
What more is there to say? A real train perched in the middle of Ventura Boulevard that serves really good chili hot dogs & hamburgers. The owner is on-site and takes pride in the food and the service is fast. The hot dog has great texture, and the burger feels like quality meat. If there are complaints, it's that the buns (on both) are too soft and don't hold up to the chili. The taste is awesome, though, even if the price is a bit high (six bucks for a dog, for instance, when a full-sized man needs two to be satiated). Then again, you're paying for experience, and it doesn't disappoint. Also, great place to take a kid.
(4)Erik M.
Service: 2/5 I would have given the service a four given how clean the place was and at first the guy taking our order was very helpful. However, I can't stand when people tell me they think what I order isn't good and I should get something else (chili dog with slaw on top). Food: 4/5 My chili dog with slaw was awesome. It covered the rather nasty looking chili that looked exactly like dog food but it did taste good. The slaw however was excellent and tied everything together. Also they need sport pepper at the counter.
(3)Self O.
High quality junk food. Open late. Real iced tea. Good hot dogs. In competition with Poquito Mas for the favorite fueling station for yoga moms and their indulged kids. Also popular with fat women and men who shame-dine alone...a good sign.
(3)SW R.
You can't beat Carney's cheeseburger and fries. You wouldn't believe how far we drive just to eat at this location.
(5)Jamie P.
After driving past this train on the side of the road multiple times I decided to give it a try. I came here at night time and the train had flashing lights along the top. Very catchy. We were greeted right away by the lady taking orders and even the cooks. They noticed I was with my kids so right away they gave them a small bowl of French fries while I ordered, for free! I thought that was really nice of them.. I wonder if they do it for everyone? The inside of the train was clean. The decor was simple with framed pictures of trains and historical Los Angeles. They were playing relevant and updated music. My little girl was rocking out eating her free French fries while waiting for our food. Also I noticed they have plenty of outdoor seating with shade. Oh and there was a security guard walking back and forth the train. I ordered a cheeseburger protein style with train wreck fries. Train wreck fries are fries with melted cheese, chopped grilled onion, and 1000 island dressing. Very similar to In-N-Out animal style French fries, but way better! The fries have the perfect texture--- not too soft and had a nice crunch to it. Also ordered chili cheese fries, chili cheeseburger, and a 1/2 pound chili cheeseburger. Everything was good and not greasy as I expected. I ordered all of my food to go and I must say I really appreciate how they packed the fries. The container that my train wreck fries came in was taped on the sides so it wouldn't open on the way home. Also I was expecting the chili cheese fries to be really soggy by the time I got home but luckily they packed the chili separately from the fries itself. That saved the fries from becoming too moist. Thank you!
(5)Suzy T.
The train cars are really cool, and this place is a favorite of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. The hot dogs are ok, and the chili is similar to Tommy's. It's worth it to go during off hours to avoid the long lines.
(3)Kevin P.
I haven't been here for a long time and would like to give this place more stars but I just can't. Their service here fine not to friendly tho. The food Chili Cheeseburger was ok. The patty was nice and moist. Their burger was well put together. One problem the chili was so bland and kinda dry. Maybe I went on an off day. My daughter and my son did enjoy there burger with the chili. Their fries are pretty damn good freshly cook so it had that crisps to it. I give them another shot one of these day again, but my kids did had a blast on the train.
(3)R S.
A staple in the Valley, Carney's never disappoints! The burgers with or without chili are great. The hot dogs are my favorite with multiple variations and concoctions. The star here is the Chili Cheese Fries with Cheddar Cheese. If you like onions, get some grilled ones added. Been coming here for years and the owner and staff are awesome. A must try!!
(5)Jordan R.
If there was no train, I don't see them lasting as long as they have. The food is forgettable and overpriced. Silver lining was the Chili cheese fries. They were legit.
(2)Kevin T.
This place sure hadn't changed. Still the same chairs. Ketchup bottles on all the tables. Orders written on boxes. Everything in boxes. Not sure they always played adult contemporary. Perhaps a sign I've gotten older. I certainly changed. I don't weigh what I did in high school. I figured out pretty quickly I don't eat as much as I did back then, having a bit of trouble with my usual. Still there's something charming nostalgic decidedly Los Angeles about the place. The trains. The twinkling lights. A trip back in time for me and I imagine, everyone else. Not sure the prices had stayed the same. I live closer to the Hollywood location, but this was the one. I drive by it occasionally and often think I should go back. This time I finally did. The hot dogs were exactly the same. Like this visit, Carney's was often just a stop in a late night open late and serving this sort of fare. That much hadn't changed. Then just as now, the cheese was just a slice thrown on top. And tomato seemed like a better idea than it may have been. Or that additional hot dog to begin with... Music could have come from my collection, what would be called decidedly adult contemporary. I shuddered a little. I wore glasses now. I wore fewer t shirts. The menus, cups all the same. But maybe like most things given to nostalgia, to late night dining runs and driving just because you could, maybe it was just ok.
(3)Carrie G.
My family was on vacation looking for good burgers. We were driving around and voila! We found the spot! Great burgers, great dogs, and fantastic chili cheese fries. Next time I'll know exactly where to come for my burger craving
(5)Andy G.
The spicy hot dog was so good. The meat was really great quality. It will fill you up. The restaurant is in a train and is really hip. They also have outside seating. The workers are really nice. It's not fancy and you can go dressed really causal.
(4)Max B.
Dirty tables. Smells good. Train carriage concept looks cool. Not enough vegetarian items. Creative food items.
(3)Symba S.
I've been eating at Carney's for 24 years, and every time, save one, I've gotten the tuna melt... I'M ADDICTED!!:) I get it with just mayo, lettuce and cheese. (Fyi, they cut their tomatoes REALLY thickly... so, unless you like them that way, either ask for a thinly sliced one, or go without.):) Great owners, sweetest employees, delicious food!! Try to go on "off" hours, as it is so popular it can get very crowded. The one on Sunset is great, too.:)
(5)Donald R.
Love this place. Some of the best burgers in town. Been eating here for over 20 years. Just wish they had more locations.
(5)Sally W.
I have driven by this place many times and finally decided to give it a try last month. The sauerkraut dog was right up my alley and service and decor was a refreshing change. The owner came out to our table and asked if everything was good. How often does that happen with fast food? We will go back and try the burgers soon.
(4)Felix K.
Disappointing. A few weeks ago I asked my wife why we stopped coming here for lunch? I recall that six or seven years ago we would come here a few times in the summer. Well, now I know the reason! I ordered their "Chicago Dog". What a joke. Anyone who has ever eaten a Chicago dog knows that the bun is supposed to be covered with poppy seeds and should be thicker and denser than a standard cheap bun; the relish should be sweat and bright neon green and the relish and onions should be topped with a couple of small, whole , peppers. What you get here is the only bun they serve ( a not very good bun at that) , standard relish, and diced onions and mustard... That's what they call a Chicago dog. Very, very disappointing and at $3.40 way over priced (considering we also had to wipe our own table before we sat down)... I could have made this at home. I won't be back. Ever.... Nice rail cars, though! There is a place further down Ventura toward Van Nuys called "The Infield". They serve real Chicago dogs. They get 2 stars instead of 1 because the chili fries were o.k. and for the rail cars.
(2)Rocio R.
I decided to go because the train seemed very cool but I got there and the two women working there were very rude. I ordered a Dr pepper and it tasted like a flat root beer. The fries we're not good either. I ordered a chili cheese burger and that was pretty good. Two stars because the chili was good and the train concept was cool. However, I'm not going back.
(2)Christine C.
The Thai Wrap is the best if you are looking for a burger alternative! Love their french fries too.
(5)Benny N.
Chili (no beans) polish dog. Not a fan of beans in my chili, so it was pretty cool that this was bean free. Both the dog and chili had great flavor. Also tried the pineapple cole slaw which really made the meal. This stuff is great. Fair price.
(4)Hugh L.
Carney's is just shall we say, uh . . . . Carney's
(5)Atticus M.
This place is still as good as ever, train or otherwise. Get the chili burger or hot dog (or better yet, get the chili burger with a split hot dog) and be ready to feel guilty about what you've done to your body. Trust me, it's worth it. Add fries, and maybe a frozen banana and you're solid. Honestly the chili itself is the highlight, and it's just that good. I don't know about the other reviews--could be a cook thing and lack of consistency, but every time I'm here it's perfect.
(5)Steven G.
I've been coming here (also the one on Sunset) on & off for almost 20 years! The Dogs still have that Great Pop when you take that first bite! A lot of my friends like the Chili Dogs! But, I am traditional Old-School and still like the Yellow Mustard Dogs (no Catsup here). Don't get me wrong I will spruce them up from time to time with some Relish, Cheese, Bacon, Tomatoes and the traditional White Onion. You just have to try it your self & the way you like it!
(5)Food M.
Every so often I have a mad craving for a good hot dog. The problem with living in LA is that there aren't any really good hot dog joints in town. If you think Pinks is good, you should be taken to the wood shed and beaten like a red headed step child. A good hot dog should have a good "a snap" not like Pinks that make you "crap". I have lived in LA for 20 years and I can only think of 2 places that serve a good quality dog. I'm considering the quality of the hot dog itself NOT all of those added toppings used to disguise a hot dog. In this instance, less is MORE. One of the places that I have always considered a quality hot dog spot is Carney's. I have always gone out of my way for a Carney's hot dog. With that said, I drove all the way from Northridge to Studio City to introduce my friend (a recent LA transplant) to a good hot dog while satisfying my own hot dog craving. I like my hot dogs pretty simple: mustard, relish, diced onions, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese. I ordered a "Carney's" dog which includes the toppings that I like. However, I didn't feel like chili which the Carney also includes. The guy (owner) that took my order seemed a bit perturbed when I ordered a carney's dog with no chili because the moment I said "carney's dog" he assumed I wanted all of the toppings and got his panties in a bunch when I told him with NO chili. It's NOT my fault that he jumped the gun and started writing my order on his little cardboard box before actually "LISTENING" to me and my order request. I suppose it's such an inconvenience to have to scribble out "chili" or whatever it was he had to do to put the order through. I hope he reads this review because his customer service attitude was very "douche" like. I chose NOT to order a 2nd hot dog because I didn't feel like spending more money at a place that made me feel like I was a burden. NOTE to owner: When you are in the business of serving people, be more polite, patient, and courteous. Afterall, you want to keep them coming back for more. I'm a fan but I also feel it's important to point out the obvious so that Carney's will hopefully read this review and make necessary adjustments to satisfy repeat customers. For now, I'll be going back to my other spot called Fab Hot dogs in Reseda. Due to the impatient order taker (the owner) and the fact that they slice tomatoes too thick to enjoy with a hot dog (try dicing), I have to give Carney's a 3 rating.
(3)Daniel L.
As far as chili dogs go I found the taste here just okay. My main problem is the chili was way, way too salty. Tongue puckeringly so. Everything else was just over average, but standard hot dog stand fair. I'm a sucker for gimmicky buildings and the railroad car is really cool (the patio was nice too) but I just wish I enjoyed the taste more.
(3)Shane R.
Absolutely amazing! I tried it for the first time today and I was in love after the first bite of the half pound cheese burger. Great quality and taste
(5)Lauren C.
I love this place. A little something for everyone. And on a train !!!! Carney's dog smothered in chili, with everything for the boy. Sweet potato fries with spicy mayo. Coke. Garden burger, protein style for me. Diet coke. Plenty of food. Friendly service as always. And they give back to their community on a regular basis. Great food. Good souls. LOVE.
(4)Lissy B.
The atmosphere can't be beat... it's a REAL TRAIN CAR turned fast food restaurant. This yellow railway train looks like it's right out of a movie set (think Universal Studios Hollywood). yelp.com/biz_photos/carn… yelp.com/biz_photos/carn… This is one of those UNIQUE places where you just HAVE TO bring the kids! And I don't mind one bit because I just happen to love their double chili cheese burgers! yelp.com/biz_photos/carn… Their chili cheese burgers taste much better than Tommy's. Their chili cheese fries are good too. I also like their 1/2 pound beef patty burger (Angus). It is a whooping burger, that I was not able to finish in one sitting. They have some of the best hot dogs in town as well. There's outdoor seating, but I prefer to sit inside so that I can absorb more of the actual train car atmosphere, and watch the madness as customers start to pile up all the way to the door - a very popular stop indeed! The workers really hustle to get your food out fast, even when they are swamped during peak times. So I have no complaints about the service at all. I've been coming to this L.A. Institution for over 10 years and they've never made a mistake with my order. And we've never experienced any tummy troubles after eating here either. They have a BIG private lot, so you can kiss parking chaos goodbye. It would be really nice if they started rolling this thing down to Riverside! We can use a fun place like this in town :)))
(5)Eric F.
This place hypes itself as the best hot dogs in LA. So does Pinks. So do a lot of places. So let me examine the hype. Pluses for Carney's are... all of its restaurants/stands are inside of a train car... that is fun. It offers mostly hot dogs and burgers and so they have to be great... and they are not. The fries are good, but I don't need to get on a train car to get good fries. McDonalds has good fries. Most decent places have good fries. Finally, Carney's is a fast food place... so how fast are they. In my experience, pretty darned fast. The food comes out fresh and decent... the drinks are cold... and the people behind the counter are accommodating. So why am I not giving it more stars. It's close. It could deserve a 3. But I want to have a good experience with the food first. I am from Chicago where hot dogs are a serious business. That is why I can't stand Tommy's, and I am even critical of Pinks. Because Hot Dogs are specialty items, not merely slop on a bun that you have to pay too much for (hear that Tommy's). I will try Carney's again (I have tried them 4 times so far, and came up with the same conclusion... fun... but not delicious or even totally satisfying). In the future I may do a search in LA for the best hot dog. This really is a hot dog town, with stands everywhere. It is just not a "good" hot dog town.
(2)AJ R.
I recall a time when I use to love this place. Not sure what it is now, but pretty sure it is nostalgia about the train cars or thinking my last visit was a fluke for bad taste. I've returned a few times and I think it just gets worse. To me the taste has deteriorated and the cooks seem like they are doing you a favor by asking you if you want tomatoes and onions and stuff. I do think the price for what you get is fair, but again, I think taste is what is important here. I also do not see it as busy as before so it should be telling me something. Anyway, I would look elsewhere for chili burgers and dogs.
(2)CJ F.
The dogs are good. Worth the long wait? Eh. I will say that when I bit into my Chicagoan wiener it snapped like a Slim Jim. No idea if that is a sign of a good dog, but figured I mention it in case that's your thing. I thought it was cool how the place is on a old train car, which is kept fairly original. Along the wall where you wait in line you'll see old photos taken when they transported the train cars to make the restaurant. Neat stuff. The service was efficient, but it did take us about 20 minutes to get food when the line reached the door. I would recommend this place if there wasn't a line, otherwise probably not.
(4)daniel s.
A hot dog joint in a train car? Love it! Great dogs, fries, chili, strawberry lemonade. This is junk food at it's best.
(4)Karen V.
This place is amazing !!!!! The spicy dogs have just enough spice to them. And if not you can add the spicy slaw to it. The sweet potatoe fries are good too. And if you ask the crew what is good they will help you to decide.
(5)Gypsy G.
Super rude opening cashier, basic questions asked(may I use restroom-after I paid)! I assume they don't make her to come in for free. Great food horrible cashier(she cost you 2 stars)
(3)Kimberly N.
Fun place! The burger was great, and the trainwreck fries were awesome. Plus my son loves trains, so it was definitely something new and different for us to try in the Valley. The line was a bit slow (this was around 1 p.m. on a Saturday), so next time I'd probably try to go during an off-peak time. Whatever you order, definitely get it with the grilled onions - very good.
(5)Andy S.
I wanted to give 4 stars but everybody else made me do 5
(4)Scot P.
Great hamburgers. Chili on everything!! And you get to eat in a train! Had to go out of our way on trip in to LA BASED on friend's recommendation - well worth it in every way!
(4)Trevor F.
Loved the food. Burgers were great, the hot dogs had a 'snap' to them, and the trainwreck fries were awesome!
(5)Jen R.
One of the best burgers in the valley. The staff are really nice and patient to our students with special needs.
(4)Albert M.
In a city obsessed with looks and health, Carney's is a fat boys escape! this place is greasy food mecca in a city of organic, gluten free, soy, botox. Burgers and hot dogs covered in chili and cheese! Greasy fries. All inside of a converted train car. This place is great!!
(4)Christopher A.
I love coming here!! Food is always delicious and we always get great service!! My favorite fast food restaurant in Studio City. I highly recommend this place to anybody!!
(5)Myra H.
I pass through carneys on my way to work everyday so I finally decided to come and try it out with my family. I'm a pesceterian so I had to try there spicy tuna melt. By far the best tuna sandwich I've ever had. I also love that it's inside a real train cart.
(5)Mona R.
The ambiance is great, the parking was good. We went there but I wasn't hungry. I ordered a small chili cheese fries. It was delicious. However, I knew there would be ramifications when the last few bites of chili had turned into globs that wouldn't separate. I'm sure I will go back , just need some time for my stomach to recover. Next time will try the hot dogs.
(3)Anthony A.
I can't say there was anything particularly thrilling about my burger here. I'd argue the novelty of the location is more memorable than anything else. Went with a 1/2 lb. Angus beef burger, no mayo or 1000 island, with jalapenos and spicy brown mustard. It didn't come with fries and I didn't feel the need for a side of them, so that's all I got. Personally, I think fries should always come with a burger. They're naturally complementary. Anyway, burger came up quickly. The bun they use is pretty bland, existing only to hold the contents inside. It doesn't provide much in terms of taste or texture. The meat tasted great - very fresh and juicy. All of the standard toppings - lettuce, tomato, onion - were crisp and flavorful, adding a nice refreshing component to the hot burger. The ketchup and spicy brown mustard were applied conservatively, allowing the meat to stand out while they just played a strong supporting role. You're not going to come here and get a meal that'll blow you away, unless you don't eat out much and are easily impressed. But for a quick bite at a nice price, you could do a lot worse.
(3)Rod K.
Bring your appetite and make sure you order accordingly. Carneys will fill your need!
(5)L. L.
This was my last stop before going on a long diet. My colleague, who was about to embark on the same dietary plan, took me to Carney's for lunch on a Friday afternoon. I totally splurged by ordering a cheeseburger, an order of chili-cheese fries, and a bucket of diet soda (to make myself feel better). LOL and J/k about the diet soda though. Got my food and all I could think was "WOWZERS!" The portion was much larger than I expected. The burger was awesome and the chili-cheese fries were just as decadent. I ended up splitting my lunch into two meals so I could enjoy the artery clogging goodness later that evening. I would definitely recommend Carney's and I plan to bring my family here next time they visit from out of state.
(4)Guadalupe R.
I've tried turkey burgers from everywhere: Umami, Gordon Biersch, Hard Rock, etc...this is hands-down the best!
(5)Arash A.
First time of being here. Everything is awesome. This traditional american burger salon reminds me old chili Hollywood burgers. Huge sizes , and delicious. Try it.
(4)Lianne O.
The service here was very prompt (could be because of the time I went in-10pm) and the workers were super friendly and welcoming. I prefer eating outside just because the kitchen makes the inside a little stuffy. Loved there fries (the large was not that big) and there hot dogs were ok. Nothing that wowed me but still pretty tasty. Wouldn't mind coming back here for another quick bite
(5)Dave E.
A good burger, but no one can try and compare their burger to Tommys. Overpriced for what you get.. but it is nice and fresh. I though missed the chili... They were a little skimpy today, which made it not as a sloppy and good as yoi-know-who's burger.
(3)Charlette T.
Very poor customer service! My son went in to order food. The cashier refused to give him a receipt for the order. When I went in to ask for one she told me no because she had already given my son one. She said if she gave me a receipt she would get charged for it. One of the other workers pulled the receipt out of the trash that she swore she had given to my son. When I got home she didn't give me my entire order. Since I lived to far to go back I didn't press the issue. Even if I did I still wouldn't have gone back because the evil lady behind the counter would have poisoned my food!!!
(1)Derek S.
My aunt loooooves this place. I think this was more of a big deal 20 years ago but it still has the allure and appeal that keeps people coming back. Also it's kind of a tourist attraction too I think. The food was good not great, it's a bit over hyped in my opinion. Between the reputation and my aunt raving about it I left feeling meh about it. It kind of reminds me of Pinks Hot dogs in LA. The authenticity of train car is really cool don't get me wrong. But I am wayyyy too much of a foodie to pretend this is a 4-star food place. we ordered regular fries, chili cheese fries and regular burgers. 3 people 3 meals came out to $33, that's on the high end of things in my book for essentially glorified fat burger. They definitely are doing something right though there was a line pretty much the whole time we were there. The meat quality was good, the buns are whatever and the fries are decent. The chili cheese fries had too much cheese for my liking but that's me, the chili is tasty, it's possible I just ordered wrong too? If I go back I would definitely get a chili dog next time and regular fries. I probably won't try this place again until I need to go to bed bath & beyond again which is right next door.
(3)Tatiana C.
Today I came to carneys. Maybe my third time, usually came in night but I came in afternoon today. Pretty crowded and tends to get messy easy. I ordered the 1/2 lb angus burger, fries, the New Yorker dog and the original chili carney dog. I also got a side of chili because it's so yummy and saves money and a messy meal by having it separate. My boyfriend prefers the original chili dog which he claims is the main thing he enjoyed. He wasn't so into the angus burger. I enjoyed it esp bc unlike him I didn't mind it medium rare cooked. He is very simple and I like to play with my food. I like the taste of sauerkraut with chili even on fries. Overall pretty good. I just sampled a lol bit of everything but I will surely be going back for my leftovers tonight!
(4)Brett P.
This like the Hollywood location is one of my favorite places to get a hot dog, let the tourists and hipsters go to Pinks for over cooked, over priced, food. If you want a great chilidog Carney's is the place. Lot's of food options and even though the food's cooked to order they're always pretty quick.
(4)Suzie Q.
Really, what's to complain about? Carney's is an LA institution. Carney's has been serving tasty dogs and burgers since before I was born. I was around five years old (I'm now in my mid-thirties) when my family started coming here on the occasional lazy weekend afternoon, or for an early evening meal in Spring or Summer. While, as a kid, I occasionally had a chili burger - with mustard, I recall, though I never eat burgers with mustard now - it's the chili dog (the "Carney's Dog") that has captured my heart, then and now. This specialty hasn't changed much in the last thirty some-odd years. The Carney's Dog still is a nice, skinny, long dog with a casing that snaps satisfyingly as you bite through it. The bun supports the chili con carne (no beans) well, absorbing it without collapsing entirely under its weight. The sliced half-moons of tomato are a uniquely Carney's touch. The raw onion adds a satisfying bite to cut through all the richness. And mustard will always have a home on my dog. I'm sure that Carney's has added modern menu offerings in recent years, such as cilantro turkey dogs or tofu dogs or whatever, but these may as well not exist. I only have eyes for the Carney's Dog. When I have chili fries to go along with the dog - a healthy pile of crisp, yummy fries practically buried in the meaty chili - I can't resist licking my fingers to suck off every morsel of the stuff. On my most recent visit, my lunch companion - a childhood friend who grew up in the same neighborhood in the Valley, and who also had happy childhood memories of lazy summer meals at Carney's - introduced me to Mr. Carney's himself, one of the owners. I'll say this: He was quite a character, looking charmingly disheveled and distracted. I gushed a bit about what Carney's meant to me as a kid, but this dude barely acknowledged me. He seemed like he'd just woken up or something. I wonder if he lives behind the train car? Sigh. Until next time! Meanwhile, Carney Dogs will invade my dreams.....
(4)J B.
I'm not a fan of the taste of their chilli but everything else is okay. Excellent Service and acknowledges people when they walk in if there's a wait at the ordering counter.
(3)Thom P.
Yesterday as I plowed thru a 3 piece at Popeye's my thoughts: "good God, do I feel like total shit...never again!" 12:40PM I end up at Carney's in Stud-City. As I'm walking out...(see response above) Thank God the food came fast, as I would've had 2nd thoughts about shoving the Carney's monstrosity into my gullet. Yes, life is about regrets. This one had plenty of parking. Even during lunch rush. Love the train motif. (anecdote: the 1st Carney's I've ever visited was in Hollywood on Sunset. As I was leaving I walked past Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green. A table of teeny boppers recognized them and squealed with delight...keep in mind this is about, at least, 10 years after "90210") They were super friendly and signed chili soaked napkins, and moved on. These two still pull more tail than a kid at a petting zoo.
(4)Sabrina M.
The food is.. okay. Nothing amazing, but the hot dogs do "snap" when you bite into them, which is wonderful! We love to include it in our "train day" adventures.
(3)James B.
I've driven past this place so many times and it always catches my eye becauseit looks like a train car! Other than the unique exterior, nothing else really set this part from other small burger joints. The burgers were decent and cheap. The chili fries were good, not great.
(3)Shorty D.
Great spot for a quick burger but I went with a dog with chili fries. I got the NY dog with a spicy dog but the dog was topped with way too much kraut. I thought it was going to be a spicy polish dog like I get at other spots but the dog was the thickness of a normal dog and not that spicy. The fries were cut thin but very crispy and the chili was good. I took it to go and they gave me the fries separate from the chili which I appreciate so they won't get soggy. I'll be back to get a burger next time. service was great.
(3)James S.
I know Chicago hot dogs. I grew up with Chicago hot dogs. Carneys: You serve Chicago hot dogs. Can't tell if they're Vienna Beef or David Berg, and the otherwise very helpful staff won't spill the beans, neither. I had a whatevertheycall a Char Polish. That is, a polish sausage ("Would you like that split and grilled?" they ask, and I know it's gonna be good.") Had read on Yelp to try the Chili Dog, so, even though I typically prefer those ingredients separately--- I just went for it....and it was good. Really good. Really MESSY, but c'mon, this is not Bastide, 'k? The other hot dog served also had that crisp snap. The Fries were fine, but nothing amazing. Mickey D's-esque. The thai chicken wrap was OK, but next time if ya want to try something healthy, I'd vote for the Chix Breast sandwich, or....somewhere else. Great fun surroundings, at least for this virgin.
(4)Amanda A.
Hands down, the best snappy wiener I've ever had. The flavor of the hot dogs in the delicious casing is the BEST. My friends and I did a "hot dog challenge" between Carney's and Pink's, and Pink's didn't even come close. Carney's has it down to a science. The chili is to die for (but make sure you have some Maalox available!). I'm sure everything else on the menu is good, but I always stick to hot dogs and chili cheese fries, cuz they're the best. P.S.-The menu does include some healthier items as well as a couple vegetarian items. I see them making the stuff all the time and they look great.
(5)Vic S.
The ambiance is nice, but the food has a lot to be desired. Ordered the chili cheese dog and chili cheese fries, my spounse order the terriakyi chicken wrap. Employees were very friendly. Somewhat clean, lots of parking
(2)Paul H.
Downhill Alert ! Red Flag Warning! Wow, this was really bad. After biting into the burger and swallowing the first bite, I realized that it was only cooked around the edges. The rest of the burger was beet red raw. Sure enough I got sick the next morning but at least I had only eaten one bite so it wasn't deadly. The staff looked like it was their first day at work and they didnt' know what was going on, had no training (well, obviously they'd had no training on how to cook a burger.) Avoid this poor excuse for a burger joint.
(1)Noel K.
Awesome burgers and dogs!! I take my three year old son to Carney's after each visit to Travel Town by the LA Zoo. A perfect way to enhance our train experience. I have been coming to Carney's since I was a kid and I love all their food! Their chicken sandwiches have been my latest craving recently!
(5)Debbie H.
The Red Baron Polish Dog is what to order here. The tasty purple relish on this dog is so incredible. This place comes to mind every time I think of a hot dog.
(5)Robin W.
My wife had a craving for a chili dog this evening and insisted we go to Carney's. Being a vegetarian, I know there's limited choices for me there, but I went anyway, out of love for her. To cut a long story short, the very charming and accommodating cook at Carney's consented to make me a Thai Chicken Wrap, substituting a sliced-up Garden Burger for the chicken. It was delicious! If anyone from Carney's is reading this, might I suggest you add some wording to your menu that a Garden Burger can be substituted for chicken in any of your dishes? I'm sure that would please many vegetarians!
(5)Ashley S.
One of my favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat. They have good food. Quick service and I enjoy the atmosphere. It can get crowded during lunch on the weekends,but its well worth it and it goes by fast.
(5)Valerie M.
I always have an orange soda here. I NEVER drink orange soda, so that's sort of weird. But there's something about that wildly sugary nectar, laden with piles of crushed ice, that complements their hot dogs and fries perfectly. Sometimes I fear that nostalgia colors my opinion of Carney's. But I have plenty of friends who did NOT have the pleasure of practically being raised in this train-car-turned-hot-dog-paradise, as well as a boyfriend with finely-tuned, discerning hot dog tastes, and they all enjoy it, so it has to be good. See? Science. I like that their dogs are slender with a satisfying snap. The buns are spongy and sticky. Their fries are salty and sinfully good. I don't really eat chili, but from what I've heard, it's the tops. I love that they've had the same frozen banana sign up since the 80s. And I love that they understand that paper towels are just "really big napkins". In my ever so humble opinion, this location trumps the Sunset one hard.
(4)Brian C.
Lets be honest, the food is awful an you're paying to eat in an old railroad cart. Fab hotdog over this. The guy who takes your order talks real softly an gives attitude when you ask him to repeat himself.
(1)Steve M.
good hot dogs, nothing special
(3)Kevin W.
Had a great time with the kids. The fun of eating inside a train car brought us, but the kids said the hot dogs and lemonade was the best they've ever had! A fun change from typical kid-appealing burger joints.
(4)Jessica A.
What can I say? After a sufficient mourning period had elapsed over the loss of the beloved Wiener Factory, I became a Carney's convert. It's the next-best thing to Wiener Factory's chili cheese dog.. and now that they offer shredded cheese on their dog, it's almost as good. It's one of the few places you can get a legitimate dog with the natural casing, which is an absolute must. Carney's satisfies my chili cheese dog craving like none other (in the valley) and it's good that this place is a decent walk for me to get to, otherwise I'd be in trouble. Also, a nice find was the spicy kraut dog, where the kraut is mixed in with minced pepperoncini's and thrown on the grill for a bit of char. Thanks Carney's.. for mending my broken heart & stomach.
(4)Kim B.
I tried this place out last Sunday, I was in the area with some friends and we were in the mood for a Burger! and of course I used my handy dandy yelp to find us a place close by. I was mostly intrigued by this place because it was an old train car, so we stopped in and checked it out. I ordered the chili cheeseburger fries and a drink, my total came to about $8bucks which is not bad.....But as another Yelper mentioned, the fries are forgettable but the burger is wonderful. It taste so fresh and after eating it, i had to stop myself from ordering another. some of the others ordered regular burgers and one of the girls got a hot dog and she said it was AMAZING. I think i saw this place on food network ......I definitely will be back
(4)Mario S.
I had a double chili cheeseburger, chili hot dog, n chili cheese fries.... BOMB!!! the flavor of the chili and taste of the burgers is VERY similar to Tommy's Burgers, n for me, thats a lot to say! The place is pretty sweet since its all inside an old train! Service was EXCELLENT! the cashier Marco was very friendly n helpful! the other workers were also very nice! it was definitely a pleasant surprise! This place is now one of my TOP spots to go for a chili burger n chili fries!
(4)Michael M.
The best chili dog in L.A.! Screw Pinks!
(4)Artin F.
The place is very casual, great location. Tried couple of the hot dogs but weren't that good. DO NOT get the chill fries, it's very greasy.
(3)Matthew W.
It's not exactly Pink's, but the chili dog is pretty good.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I think their chili is seriously overrated. There's no heat in it, no flavor! Their hotdogs were pretty good but their chili burger was so dry, I've DEFINITELY had better. I get that this place is one of LA's oldest food stands but it was only decent when I went. Maybe I went on a bad day, but if this were any other fast food place I'd definitely never go back. The only really good thing were their french fries. Unfortunately my boyfriend got chili on his which just ruined it for me. Seriously, how is this good chili?
(2)Sara C.
Turkey burgers on the cheap. Low carb style is my favorite.
(3)Robert S.
From my experience the environment here is always less than welcoming. The staff has the kind of upbeat attitude and cheerful demeanor you generally find under six feet of dirt. This is such a shame because the food here is quite good. Perhaps a staff of workers fed on nothing but chili fries and spicy polish sausage is bound to be a little sluggish with a smile. I'm sure they're all good people. And no one has been rude. It just that eating on a giant yellow train car is whimsical and fun...why is there such an epidemic of upside-down smiles all-aboard the wiener train? This last experience was not fantastic either...My girlfriend ordered a small lemonade and got a thimble of lemon inspired water. Order a round of small fountain drinks and you and your family will be doing shots of sierra mist. I can't believe how small the small drinks are...I mean seriously. This is America, we're all two things: Fat and Thirsty. Can I get a little love in the soda department. Chili cheese does not go down very easy. One might opt to drink a gallon of gas instead of that small soda...it's the cheaper solution. The lemonade lacked sugar and lemon...and for some reason tasted a lot like water...wait...a...minute. To wrap it up with a stupid poem: The food is good, the service is not. I won't eat dog, unless its hot.
(1)William R.
If you are a TRUE hamburger lover get the 1/2 lb burger. They make it exactly how tell them and it's incredible. Get a split, grilled spicy link added on top of your 1/2 pounder and enjoy! p.s. If you get the 1/2 pounder don't worry about ordering french fries to go with it - it's huge and you'll be too full to waste time on french fries.
(5)Kevin H.
Carney's is great if you like traditional basic hot dogs. I'm pretty sure you won't find any deep fried dogs here. I'm a chili cheese dog person and great chili fries are a major bonus. If you try to eat two chili dogs and share some chili fries with your PiC, you'll be stuffed! I have never come here just to eat a little snack. Make sure to get some of those little yellow rocket hot peppers, too. HOT TIP: If the peppers are too hot for you to eat but you want some spicy flavor, squeeze the pepper juice onto your chili dog or chili fries. The grilled dogs are what I would call medium-size, but they are very fresh, have a great snap, and the meat is seasoned just right. I think Carney's has about the best plain hot dog of any I've tasted. The chili dogs also include tomato slices, which go well with the chili. The chili is delicious and great on both dogs and fries. I must admit I've never eaten plain fries here. Parking is always super easy here and you never have to wait in a ridiculous line. Plus you get to eat on a train! The only slight downside is that Carney's isn't cheap. Two people will pay $25-30 for the kingly meal of 4 chili cheese dogs, one chili cheese fries, and two sodas. You'll be fat and happy though!
(4)Kelsey T.
Liked this place a lot, very chill, and casual. Wish there tables had more, But I liked the place. and The food was yummy.
(3)Park D.
Fun place. I'm a big fan. There is whatever you want here. From turkey burgers to chili dogs. If you don't know already this place is in a train car. Choo choo. All aboard!
(4)Rowyn B.
The search is over. This place without a doubt has the best chili dog in the world! My son agrees.
(5)Tania K.
Came here for a quick bite with my brother and fiancé. I'll start from the beginning. I honestly missed this place. I've drove down Ventura several times and I have never seen it. It's not that it's small because it's a restaurant inside of a train, but I think it's because there are no big signs directing you to it. Once you find the place and get inside its a pretty cool idea. I've seen one just like it in Hollywood off of sunset. I think it's even the same company. The train is a real train turned into a fast food establishment. They also have outdoor seating. It was rather clean and smelled like their chili, which actually smelled really good. The guy at the counter was fast and efficient and had a good attitude. The cooks also seemed very friendly and would smile at you if you looked in their direction. I order a single chili burger and train wreck fries. The fries are plain fries topped with chili, grilled onion and thousand island dressing. The cheeseburger had chili, lettuce, raw onion and tomato. My fiancé ordered a double chili cheeseburger and fries. My brother got a grilled bbq chicken sandwich. The food tasted really good. We all enjoyed our meals. I would recommend this place to anybody in the mood for a really good burger with chili. I'd like to come back and try their hot dogs also.
(4)Patrick D.
Good quality cheeseburger. The chili is Tommy's-style both in taste and texture. My only quibble is that I ordered a large chili-cheese fries. When I got the order it looked like the tray was only half full. They should either use slightly smaller trays so it looks like a large order or go the extra mile and really fill up the trays they use. Minor details aside, still holds up as a fun place to eat in LA.
(4)Tina D.
I had a cheeseburger and chili fries. The chili wasn't too greasy which I liked. I wish they had steak fries instead. Overall the food was okay. Service was quick and prices are reasonable.
(3)Marcella B.
I love this place! We have been coming here for 10years. Staff is friendly and good is absolutely delicious.
(5)Gina J.
I love Carney's! In the interest of my health, I don't come here too often, but when I do, I enjoy every bite. First of all, the service is excellent. The workers are super nice and are really quick about getting your food to you. Secondly, parking is a breeze. Love that! As for the food, here are my faves: Fries - thin and crispy, just the way I like 'em. Chili cheese fries - uh-maze-ing! New Yorker - hot dog with mustard and kraut. Absolutely my favorite item here. Steamed and softened bread, the wonderful 'snap' of the dog...drool worthy. Milkshakes - brings the boys to the yard...nice and thick and filling. Tuna salad - for those days I feel guilty about being at Carney's. Generous portion of tuna with huge chunks of cucumbers, tomatoes, and shreds of carrots. With the balsamic vinaigrette, it is very yummy! Turkey burger - nice and juicy, not dry like most other places. Make sure you let the cashier know you want it even if you're waiting in line since it takes a little bit longer to cook.
(5)Adam R.
Best burgers and hotdogs in Studio City. The Thai Wrap is also fantastic. Parking is easy and service is quick. You can also call ahead and place an order.
(5)Brian C.
Good place to stop if you're in the mood for a hot dog. Food is tasty, service is efficient. Can get crowded and seating can be a little rough.
(3)Kevin P.
Ok I never really understand how places that specialize in such a simple item can last for so long. This establishment shows me why. :) I've had the ball park franks, the hebrew nationals and the like, but places like this; and Brats Brothers, Insider Dogs, and Pinks that show us that if you honestly love what you're selling then you can prosper. It's like the people who make frames... it doesn't seem like a big job, but you don't just want to buy a presized frame from Wal-Mart do you? No. You want it to look like that self portrait in finger paint should be in the Louvre! And a frame can do that, because that person who made your frame is an artists, the best of their craft....and so are the chefs at Carney's. Though their hot dogs and burgers are good, you gotta get the chili (no beans) or sauerkraut and mustard - both excellent toppings for their dogs here. Plus.... it's in a train car... I mean that's awesome.
(4)Shel W.
Year in and year out, this is always the place I head when I start jonesing for a hot dog or a simple, old fashioned chili cheeseburger. Their stuff is always the freshest and you can taste that in the tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, meat et al. There's also the nostalgia about this place that comes from eating your food in an old train car...like a kid again. Best thing about Carney's is that they are always consistent. Always good.
(4)Gayellen D.
I wish I lived closer to Carneys, I'd go way more often, but then again, maybe it's a blessing in disguise because I'd gain weight fast. I have been going there for years and always look forward to their hot dogs. I take mine with a little catchup and relish. Sometimes it's hard to decide what to eat, because everything is so darn good. You can see what's being cooked, and the staff is fast. I just love that place.
(4)John A.
Stopped in today with my 4-year-old daughter to grab a burger and fries. Reasonably cheap with a large 1/2 lb. burger and fries! The train atmosphere was nice and the staff was friendly. My order took about 10 minutes to come out, but that might have had something to do with my SF hat. Either way, I'll be back soon.
(4)Alexandra A.
Not my kinda burger. Too much grease, and I'm not a chili fan. The fries aren't good either. I love the train, and the ambience you receive when you walk in. You really feel like you are getting on board. It's a beautiful sight to see when driving by.
(3)Lauren T.
One of the best chili spots out there! I love their chili! Chili fries? Oh my gosh! The restaurant is cute. It's inside a stationary train. Burgers are decent. Yummy stuff!
(3)Charlie Y.
First time at Carney's...might be back, might not... The food was good, but a very off-putting food server might keep me away. She was preparing my salad with a glove on her left hand, but grabbing all the ingredients with her right hand. When I asked her what was the point of the glove on the other hand, she took it off instead of putting another one on! It was a Thursday, so maybe she was doing TBT, going back to a time when people didn't care about food safety...
(3)Jessie F.
Love this little train of a restaurant. Carney's is a burger joint build out of an old Pacific Railroad passenger train. There is also an location on Sunset strip, which is the original. The menu is simple and unpretentious. The food and the fun atmosphere speak for itself. On our most recent visit, I had the Polish spicy dog and sweet potato fries, while the hubby had the veggie burger. The spicy dog was really spicy but tasted delicious. The sweet potato fries were one of the best I've ever had. Even the veggie burger was pretty tasty. I've also had the cheese burger before, and it was wonderful as well. Just remember to listen for your order number around the pick-up counter. The place can get kind of noisy sometimes. If you are not paying attention you may not hear you're number being called, which results in your food sitting on the counter waiting for you. May be it's a good idea for the management to install some kind of loud speaker system so that people can hear their numbers being called.
(4)Jay A.
Finally gave this baby a try. Chilli here is really good! Also, had the red baron hot dog, which was also amazing! Good local spot for anyone in the area!
(4)David W.
Chili burgers is what Carney's is known for...in fact they're known for chili everything. But as for the quality of the food...It's just OK. I had high expectations for this place based on yelp reviews, but I can't say that Carney's is that great. Their food is good but not great. I ordered the chili burger along with chili fries. And I really didn't find anything spectacular about it. The prices were OK and average. But I don't know...I was really disappointed (but how good can chili burgers even be?!). The decor of Carney's is really cool though - it's literally inside a train. A bright red train in fact. However, it can get really squished inside especially because it is so narrow. I remember sitting right next to the line and as I was ravaging my chili burger, I was also listening into the conversation of the guy who was literally 2 feet to the right of my shoulder. Free parking in the lot outside (if you find a space). WIll I be back? Eh...we'll see but Carney's isn't a place I'd die to come to.
(3)michael i.
Best ten bucks I've spent. I ordered chili cheese fries and a burger with bacon. Carneys easily beat fatburger Tommys and pinks chili. Burger is awesome also. They both went together perfectly. After a long day this definitely hit the spot. Thanks Carneys I will be back!
(5)Lucil C.
Burger was good, the patty is very soft. The chili really sucks.... almost flavorless? but it has a strong dried chili powder smell? fries are like mcdonald fries, the skinny fries. :) Overall, burger and fries tasted good, but really over priced. I think I'd rather just go to In n Out...
(3)John P.
Good food quick and friendly service. Had the thai chicken wrap and the veggie burger.
(4)Luis D.
What can I Say? Yummy yummy yummy. One of the best dogs I've had. Little spicy, great ingredients, awesome condiments and great chilli as well. The burgs are also great tasting, except for buns which are generic but as far as the meats go, great freshness and quality. Prices are also great and atmosphere is unique since the restaurant is an actual train car. Last time i was here I orders the half Linder burg with chilli. It was out of this world, beef was juicy but not overly greasy, it didn't have much condiments which made it original and true to its nature if being just beef. The fries are thin and nothing special but good nonetheless. The chilli, the chilli oh man, it was good. Some of the best chilli I've had, chunky, not to greasy, meaty and tasty. I come here often and you shoud come too!
(4)Julie N.
I was in the mood for a chili dog and chili fries, so we took a short drive to Carney's and had a great meal. Here's what we got: Carney's dog: chili, mustard, onions and tomatoes (2 big slices) Double cheeseburger Large chili cheese fries with onions Large Iced Tea: Total bill: $16.79 The hot dog they serve was crisp and tasty. Their chili is pretty damn good and not greasy. The double cheeseburger was pretty good too, but I still prefer In-N-Out. They only have 2 or 3 ladies working in a small kitchen, so be prepared to wait a while for your food.
(4)Nora B.
Would like to add more star's. .. but the service is ridiculous and rude! ! Had to repeat my person order 3 times and they still messed up and then tried to charge for their mistakes! ! Just take the extra drive to noho!
(3)Susan H.
Food is good been coming here for years but their service is horrible the employee's are not friendly and act like you are bothering them when you place an order but we still come back when ever we are in the area for a burger
(3)Bee G.
[ [ [ G O N G ] ] ] Orient Express now arriving Track 2! With a RED EYE (polish sausage dog), split and grilled, topped with a homemade SPICY ASIAN pineapple SLAW. Ooh doggy! Hot meets Cold, Heat meets Sweet, and East meets West for this treasurable tastebud treat. Ahso, I piled on an order of CHILI CHEESE FRIES. This is a staple starter and standard fare that should be acquirerd immediately and always. It'll beget basic survival sounds and sensations like: Scoop, shovel, suck, swallow, snatch, swirl, smack, [don't bother me] scoop. . . I washed it all down with a thick smooth COFFEE MOCHA SHAKE. My non-Carney's dinner mate grudgingly ordered a NEW YORKER (split and grilled with sauerkraut and mustard), FRIES, and a CHOCOLATE SHAKE. After 15 minutes of face cramming silence she admitted she liked it. REALLY? Mark downs were: No salt on fries, and overflowing trash can.
(3)Elssy C.
We always like the chili dogs, split on the grill. Not healthy, but a nice treat once in a while.
(3)Helen T.
Great selection of dogs especially the chicken variety. Chicken sausages are great and the service is fast and efficient. Prices are decent and theyre usually open late. Great for coming by after outings on Ventura. The place is bigger than it looks because it is very long. I usually find seating without any problems. The food is made to order and you can see the chefs cooking your food which is very nice. If you enjoy hot dogs and sausages especially different kinds, then give this place a try.
(4)Susie R.
Super super awesome place! I found this little gem while I walked walking up Ventura Blvd. just exploring and such. I saw this train and went to get a closer look and it was a little restaurant! The atmosphere is as great as the food itself. You can choose to sit inside the train car or eat outside. I will say if you eat outside, beware of the pigeons! The food is cheap and if you aren't that hungry at least grab the sweet potato fries, they are delicious!
(4)Maria R. G.
Heard about this spot from the show The Big Bang Theory so i just had to have lunch here when I saw it. Thoughts: good chili cheese burger but skip on the fries. Would I recommend/re-visit? Yeah, I guess it's a cool spot for a date.
(4)Morgan F.
Do you know about this place? Carney's is the cutest place on Ventura Blvd. Its in a old train car caboose . You will feel like you are a kid again when you dine here. They have the best chili hot dogs ever. Also good are the hamburgers and chili fries. There is always a line but it moves fast. If you in a mood to feel like a kid again, come and check this place out.
(4)Toryanni E.
Pretty cool! I liked eating in a train. The hamburger was good and so were the fries.
(4)Lee F.
It is Carney's. You're on a train car on Ventura Blvd. Carney's is known for their hot dogs and burgers. Good fast food for your liking. I come here for their chicken tacos. They are filling and pretty descent. The chili fries are good and messy here, but I try to avoid it.
(3)Keith W.
Flame grilled veggie burger and fries are both awesome at good prices! Shakes are good, but no different than any shake at a fast food place for the price.
(5)Rick S.
The fact that they butterfly the polish dog and grill it to a crispy perfection is the beginning of a beautiful relationship, add chili and it's called paradise!
(3)Know It All Nelly X.
This is the dirtiest Carney's we have ever been to! Trash all over the floor where the cooking area was and they were just barely getting around to cleaning it up! The girl working at the register had a totally bad attitude and a mean "I hate my job" look on her face. She tried to rip us off 80 cents for a spoonful of extra chili on our hamburgers - how ridiculous is that? How cheap can they be? No wonder the place was almost empty!
(1)GH L.
The carney dog was ok. It was very oily and the hot dog itself was ok. The atmosphere was kind of weird. It seems like a place where you would get big smiles and great service but it was totally opposite. Its kinda weird and uncomfortable. Also, theres a tip box although everything is self serve.
(3)Mell M.
As far as the signature "Carney Hot Dog" you might want to leave with 3 or 4. The chili is better than Wienerschnitzel, and Tommy's. Onions fresh, it is the best..Hot dogs juicy, buns fresh and soft. As far as the cleansiness it's a little on the down side. So if your OCD you might want to try another location.
(4)David W.
This is hands down one of my favorite places to eat. Ever since I was like 7 my grandpa would take me here after the driving range. When I was younger I didn't eat red meat, but I loved the chicken sandwich at this place. When I grew up and started eating red meat, this place got even better. This place is just like Tommy's but about 20% better. Also it's in a train car. If you go on the weekends there's tons of children so be prepared for that. Its cheap and even when there's a line youll get your food quick. Love this place. It's amazing
(5)Pratik P.
This is more about the experience over the food. Iconic part of the valley. Even BBT's Sheldon Cooper raves about it, and he's from Glendale! I grew up in Studio City and remember passing by all the time. Parking is easy and the menu is simple. They kept the train intact for the most "train" experience.
(5)Miss N.
I was forced to try this place. And I. Am. Glad. Yum. I dont like messy foods, neat eater, but this wasn't too bad considering, and it was so good! I love the little train restaraunt! Locals love it, and my bf grew up on it!
(4)Doug W.
I've had more meals at/from Carneys than any other restaurant. Great food, great people. Probably more repeat customers than just about anywhere. Especially love the chili burgers and chili dogs and their fries and shakes. Eat inside the train car, or outside on the deck, or take it to go. The vibe here is always upbeat because people are enjoying themselves.
(5)Frank C.
Good food for good prices. I dig that you eat in a train. The people are nice. The only bad thing is it's kinda a depressing place. Very quiet and plain. But other than that I would go again. Just not often.
(3)John A.
The Best Hot Dogs in town, make sure you get the frozen bananas for dessert. Great combination.
(5)Foodie X.
Love the train car, great ambiance. Delicious food consistently, great lunch spot. Good prices, combo deals. The wait can get ridiculous, I've had several visits that took 30 minutes plus to get my food. Carney's is a fun and casual place that serves up great burgers, fries, dogs and sandwiches.
(3)Lloyd B.
I've been coming here for years and this place never disappoints. The chili is incredible. It's beanless chili and not too salty. It's actually pretty good by itself. The chili dog is my absolute favorite but the chili cheeseburgers are just as good. Don't forget to order fries with chili on the side too. Their menu has expanded quite a bit to include sandwiches and salads, but the best thing to order is anything with chili!
(4)Heny H.
Came for a quick dinner with my bf as we do like twice a month.. Were fans but tonight was weird.. Ordered my usual red eye new yorker.. Sauerkraut and mustard.. And sweet potato fries. Boyfriend got a burger and chili cheese fries.. The burger was good and the hot dog was bomb but the fries.. Well, the fries were super greasy this time which left an oily residue on our tongues. Idk if they changed their type of oil or if maybe they just needed fresh oil but it was super unpleasant. We havent had this prob before so im gonna come back (even if just for my red eye fix)..
(3)Peyman K.
Always amazing!!! Their hot dogs are so delicious, I always get the Carneys red eye split and grilled with no tomato. It comes with mustard, chili and onion. They also have amazing tacos and the chili makes anything you order good. I wish it was closer to me because I would eat there all the time!
(5)Adam B.
I've long wanted to try Carney's out. After all, it's one of those iconic divey places in LA. After all, it's a restaurant that's a train! Not something you see every day. It's kind of the Pink's that doesn't get all the publicity Pink's always gets. And some people think it's even better than Pink's. And there's a Valley location too. But is it really any good? Hard to tell. I'm having a tough time breathing. Seriously, my girlfriend left before I completed my meal. She couldn't take the fumes anymore. I don't know what grade this place has got, but if it's A, they probably paid for it. It just doesn't come across as a sanitary place. I held up better than she did, but she just wanted to gag. I was worried I'd end up in food poisoning hell as what happened to me once at Apple Pan. Fortunately, not the case, but I shouldn't be worrying about Pity because the food isn't too bad. The chili is really good and they put a ton on the food. It's very thick and has some good spice to it. The fries are shoestring style but really crisp and good potato flavor. The chili dog had good snap from the casing and if I had any complaint it was that the dog was boiled and not grilled. The hamburger was the only awful thing in the mix. Half pound on an ordinary bun. Ordered it medium well, but it sure didn't taste it. Actually, it didn't taste like much of anything. Kind of dry, not enough seasoning, if any at all. I threw half of it out. Coffee Mocha shake was pretty thick. Overall, decent texture although you can get better shakes. So it's a good hot dog place but lousy burger joint. Chili alone is great but the atmosphere completely loses it. I'm not saying lose the train or lose the concept. But like places like In N' Out or Coney Dog, there are ways to make this place pristine while still serving up divey treats.
(2)Tony H.
Not the worst I've ever had but it's not all that great either. I had a chili cheese dog & fries, the hotdog itself was good but the chili is pretty plain, it taste like there's a ton of sodium in it & not much else. Honestly I think the chili at Wienerschnitzel is better tasting.
(2)Christina K.
Quaint that the restaurant is inside of an old train car, but I dislike fluorescent lighting. I had the Carney's: chili, mustard, onions, and tomato hotdog. I have to say, I liked the chili a lot more than Tommy's Burger.The hot dog wasn't anything special, but I'd eat it again. My friend had the Chicken Apple Sausage: Split and Grilled, Served with Regular Pineapple or Spicy Asian Slaw. It was surprisingly good. He substituted the bun for lettuce wrap. Tasted fresh and light, buuuut it was such a small portion. Not filling at all. You'd need 3 of them. Parking: private lot with spots wrapping around towards the back.
(3)Mike S.
Burger was great, service was just very ok and the place was clean. i keep coming back to this place. the chilli was also very good.
(4)Jonathan G.
For 25 years I pined for Carney's. I used to eat there 2x a week for four years in jr. high and high school, but I left the Valley in 1987 never to see the train again. Every day thereafter I blew Carney's up in mind, knowing it would never achieve the lofty status I laid upon it in my mind. I didn't care, it was better than Magic Johnson. The end of 2011 delivered me to LA and back to Carney's to bring myself back down to Earth and crush my hopes and expectations that Carney's was the Messiah of the chili burger. Fortunately for myself, my psyche and my brain, Carney's was exactly as I remembered and didn't disappoint in any way. Sitting outside, watching the cars on Ventura Blvd. and seeing other happy customers is a great way to spend 30 minutes. Housed in a train that I always love going into, Carney's immediately brings your nose the aroma of chili and your stomach the anticipation of success. The burgers and dogs are sloppily overflowing with chili. The chili is the perfect texture and consistency, it drips but doesn't ruin you meal, clothes or smile. Feel free to use between 5-10 napkins for the meal, but also feel free to enjoy the best chili burger I have ever had. If you are feeling like going for the whole boat, go chili fries and say thank you once you clean your face off. Carney's, I really still love you. I would like to maintain a long distance relationship with you. You are on Skype, right?
(5)Richie D.
Okay okay... so I've driven by this train-shaped burger restaurants countless of times! and FINALLY stopped by to have a simple burger! YES! I ordered a cheeseburger with EVERYTHING! ...including chili and grilled onions :) a side of small french fries and small lemonade. I enjoyed the cheeseburger. It was decent. I used a few fries to scoop the chili off the side of my burger. I noticed that the ketchup was very sweet, interesting! But I think the one meat patty kind of got lost in the burger. Maybe a double will do it. Plenty of parking.
(3)Jessica C.
Came here on a Wednesday night with a small group of friends. When I first arrived, I must say, I loved the sitting areas! I thought it was a very cute idea and I also loved how everything was set up inside and out. However... I wasn't a big fan of the food. It was ok. The chili is chili and doesn't really feel like it's anything special. I had the chili cheeseburger and small fries. The burger patty is super thin and the fries are really not special... I definitely felt like I was over paying for my food. Felt like I was kind of eating Tommy's food... but at a more expensive price.
(3)Klindt M.
The chilidog is divine and the double cheeseburger is just right. If you're not too sensitive with smell, this place is great. They have a small space so the smell is very overpowering. Although, they do offer outside seating. Great service and friendly people.
(4)Kirk G.
This is my second time at Carneys in Studio City. I ordered the same menu and am still hungry. I loved the atmosphere, it was cold inside and hot outside the train. I wish they open the second train next to it due to limited capacity. And best of all, this place is one of the top best chilli burgers & fries ever!
(5)Pete C.
Cool looking restaurant in a train. I had to look twice to find the entrance to the place. I tried the chili dog and chili cheese fries. I really like the chili dog. The bun was very soft. The chili, hot dog, and bun all complemented each other. The chili cheese fries were ok. I like Tommie's chili cheese fries more.
(4)Gil K.
The food is great. If you want the best chilli fries and chilli burgers in town, no need to look further. The fries are piping hot and smothered in chilli and cheese. You can easily share an order with a friend. Tommys is a close second. Prices are reasonable too. You can't go wrong with this place.
(5)Angela F.
Took the family to Carney on a weeknight at around 8:30pm. My boys were completely in love with the train car and would have been ecstatic just seeing that. I had a New York style hot dog, which is basically mustard and sauerkraut. The casing on the hot dog was crispy which I like. There was nothing especially exciting about the toppings. They were good. The rest of my family had hamburgers. After reading all of the claims on Yelp we were extremely disappointed in them. It's not that they were bad but they weren't great. You can get a better burger from In-And-Out. My husband ordered the chili cheese fries and he was very happy with those. For me to give something 4 or 5 stars it needs to stand out. While Carney's was good, it doesn't stand out as a "must return."
(3)Sam L.
Yuck! I'm thinking this place must have gone down hill... I remember coming here with my dad as a little kid and really enjoying it. I came here a several months ago...and realized it was terrible. I don't know HOW this place could be considered "the best hot dog in LA". It's not! Not by a long shot! The hot dogs are...I guess...in their natural casing? I don't know... but mine was dry and I don't like a "crunch" to my hot dogs. Yuck! I think I had a couple bites and ended up tossing it. The fries are mediocre... but the hot dogs are terrible. I mean really really bad. The one positive thing is the cute boxcar interior... but it's not well cleaned nor maintained...and is much "cuter" on the outside then on the inside. If you want an excellent hot dog, try one of the Let's Be Frank food trucks... now that truly is "the best hot dog in LA".
(1)Sarah K.
My man wanted to take me here bcuz he used to eat here years ago, he said it was just as good. Made-to-order food was great! Outside dining is nice with the lights of the train to light up the night.
(4)Greg N.
The first thing you'd notice walking in to this place is that it's built inside a couple hollowed out train carts. I thought that was great and definitely unique to say the least. very diner-like inside too. I've yet to try their hot dogs but i did order their chili burger with their chili cheese fries as well....neither disappointed. i had a great meal at a reasonable price, so what else is there to say. if you're looking for what i had and havnt tried this place yet, make sure you do.
(5)Andrew R.
Great chili burgers and chili fries. Staff is friendly business is clean. Will definitely come back again. I recommend this place!
(5)Straight Shooter T.
Stopped in about a week ago for some take-out. No hot dogs this time around (though they are the absolute best, especially with chili and cheese). Wasn't really in the mood for a dog so I ordered a cheeseburger and some fries. The women working in the kitchen looked a little frazzled but I can understand since there were only two of them and it was lunchtime. Also, this was just a few days away from Christmas. Aren't we all a bit rattled at this time of year? Got home with my meal and was not disappointed in the least. The food was made with love is all I can say. These women know what they are doing in that kitchen. The burger was LOADED with the standard ingredients. Yet despite there being so much on the bun, it was arranged perfectly. Held together nicely. No sloppy work here. The quality of the ingredients was superb. The onions were fresh and sweet. The burger meat juicy and tender. Carney's is one of the few places that continues to serve up great food every day. I have never been disappointed. But here is the best compliment of all. My wife does not eat red meat. Yet even she said that my burger looked so good she would be tempted to eat it. You can't get much better than that.
(5)KD K.
Grew up in the North Valley, hadn't heard about Carney's until recently. First visit had a chili cheeseburger. The small fries are actually generous compared to Mickey D's, and fresh. The $1.35 soda is tiny. Give me a break. Bun is meh. Beef was all right. The chili is great! Whips Tommy's butt. Cooks are friendly and personable. 2nd visit brought my daughter on a Sat. night. She loved the train. Long line, behind a teen bday party with parents. Had the 1/2 lb. chilicheeseburger. Meh... Bit into my daughter's hotdog. Eh. Maybe it was the long wait, but it wasn't worth it for me.
(2)Jack R.
yummy!!
(5)Nitu B.
My family and friends are always raving about this place. So we decided to check it out over the weekend.This place looks really cool from the outside, an actual train turned into a diner. Pretty cool eh! But from the inside, it's kinda dirty. I really wish in future they decide to hand out table numbers or have servers because i didn't like the fact how close people were breathing next to my food. I understand it's always busy, but there should be a decent distance between the cooks and customers.I also felt really bad for the cooks, they looked cramped with people hovering over them. This place definitely needs an upgrade in the kitchen. Food was OK. Burgers were greasy, and sloppy. Infamous chili cheese fries were good.I also had a chocolate/vanilla shake which was surprisingly pretty good. Overall, this place is eh! it's more of a tourist attraction than anything else.
(3)J M.
Gotta be honest, the fact that this place is a bright yellow train car would probably be worth at least 3 stars to me. The fact that they've got some of the best hot dogs around doesn't hurt either. Chili burgers are fine too, but your basic, crisp-snapping dog is really the reason this place exists. There are some alternative options on the menu (chicken sausage, tuna melt), but don't bother. Oh, and not much point bringing vegetarians along either. They write your name on the box when you order, then you just sort of hang around until they call your name. There are tables inside, and napkins in dispensers on the wall for those of you who can't find 'em. I always prefer the picnic tables outside. Practical tips: Bathroom is in the caboose. If you can't find a parking spot in the lot, then the line is going to be too long. Come back another day. PS: Frozen chocolate-dipped bananas!!!
(4)Robyn R.
I too went to this place because of Big Bang Theory! haha! The food pretty food. We tried a good spread of menu options. Some were really good others were just normal. Its more of a novelty restaurant and not for gourmet food but it was still fun and with the trip. I will probably go back there.
(4)Alex M.
Great food, cheap prices, nice interior - plus they gave me a free veggie sandwich bc I voted! On the downside, the workers seemed kind of dour and I had to repeat that I wanted a vegetarian sandwich (which is on the menu and all) twice before they accepted that I wasn't ordering a hamburger.
(4)Josh C.
I went in based on the menu on line, and when I went to order I found out the prices are way out of date. I even showed them the online prices and they said they were old and out of date and they would not honor them. I had the fries, which were good, but the rest was not worth the price. There are better dog places all around now, I would not recommend it.
(2)Sarah R.
My God do I love Carneys!! Way less of a line than Pink's.. awesome chili burgers and fries.. as well as other delicious items. Very awesome that this place is in the inside of an old train car. Can't leave without having a chocolate covered banana for dessert!!
(5)Jessica C.
This place use to be sooo much better then I remembered.. Ordered a hot dog and chili cheese fries... No stomach thrills. I've had better hot dogs from the ladies frying them on the cookie sheet.
(2)Beneta P.
This place is not that special, the food is not good quality I did had better food in Carl's Jr. The staff were very friendly.
(2)Rose S.
Came here with one of my boy toys awhile back. Good thing he treated because I did not really enjoy my hot dog much. Most of the unique dogs had slaw & am not into the slaw. But I did enjoy the fries which was cool. Cool place though. An actual train cart. Good vibe.
(3)Brian B.
No one seems to like this place as much as I do but I've been coming here for years and the meat chili (among other things) is just so fucking excellent. The ingredients are fresh, the service is excellent, and they have the option to order thicker patties (unlike most places). Surprisingly simple and old fashioned for a big yellow restaurant in a train. Also, crushed ice. Nuff' said.
(5)Joe C.
This review is about carneys restaurant. great food , mouthwatering delicious,they specialize in chili burgers and dogs. All the food you try at carneys you will find is GOOD and TASTY. CARNEYS even has something for the vegetarian sect. This reviewer gives them an A rating and I think this is really cool that Carneys restaurants are a train boxcar, and gives you that being on a train experience. I also love the original one in Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. Keep up the GREAT WORK GUYS! My friends and I will see you soon!!!
(5)Jeff C.
I'm often in this area of Studio City, so I've gone to Carney's a few times. It's a pretty novel little place specializing in traditional, all-American style artery-clogging hot dogs. Novel? Well... it's located inside an old train car. Anybody who doesn't find some charm in that hates life. There isn't much to say other than that these are old fashioned hot dogs. You can get them covered with the usual condiments, and the (rather messy) chili dogs are a particular favorite of mine. The fries aren't bad, either. Despite being off of Ventura Blvd, this isn't a fancy frou-frou type of place. Carney's is very much in the fast food vein, although pretty good by those standards.
(3)Ethan S.
Great, greasy food for a great price. The atmosphere is great, because the restaurant is in a converted train. It's kind of cramped, so if there are a lot of people it gets pretty noisy. The food is good old comfort food: hotdogs, burgers, fries, sausages and all that. I love the chili slaw dogs, but they're so filling, eating 2 is a challenge. The slaw is worth noting as well; it has chunks of pineapple, which usually I'm not a fan of, but just brings some sweetness to the slaw. The chili is unbelievable and you should order it on basically anything you get. I also see a box of tomatoes that are of high quality, which just proves the quality of food here is high, if they care that much about their tomatoes. I recommend eating outside on their patio because it's nice to see Ventura and it's not as noisy/crowded as it is inside. Parking is easy and free in their lot, or on Ventura if there's no space. Always a blast.
(5)Christopher L.
Always satisfying, great snap in the dogs. Go with the chili cheese dog.
(4)Edward B.
My favorite hamburger place of all time. The line seems to have gotten longer, but they are pretty quick. Great chili, all three hot dogs are great, but gotta go with the Carney's dog. My typical order, two single chili burgers and a root beer.
(5)Matt W.
I have been coming here for a very long time and let me just say that Carneys has by far the best Hot Dogs, Chili and Chili Cheese Fries I have ever had. I have eaten at so many other places all over Southern California but no restaurants compare to Carneys for the type of food. I also must say that the staff is so nice and friendly. Great place to bring the family!
(5)Ailyne H.
I'm still wondering if the chili is just as good as Tommy's... I don't think so, but it's definitely a close second!! The burger and hot dogs are good, and the hot dog has a nice snap to it too! Prices are decent, venue is unique (train car), and the staff was friendly and helpful with recommendations. Thanks guys!
(4)Irwin B.
Don't see what all the hype is about; especially when you ask for everything on the burger EXCEPT tomato and all you get is tomato. YEESH
(2)Bianca M.
I'm purely giving Carney's 2 stars based on the atmosphere. The drinks were flat and the food was horrible,. The hot dogs were nothing special, iv'e had better at Costco and the hamburgers/fries were just ok. Wouldn't recommend it, theres better food places in the surrounding area!
(2)Michael M.
Cool train burger joint. More fast food than sit down. Thought it was overrated in general. I think we'll stick with In-N-Out, but will probably be back to this place when In-N-Out's line gets more than a mile long.
(3)mike v.
This place really is a gem. Their chilli burgers and chilli cheese fries are the best in the business. In a place like SoCal it's almost silly to say anywhere is the best for a particular type of food, because there are often 4 or 5 bests in each category. Doing so would just be close minded. To say this is better than In N Out is not really a correct comparison, since In N Out is much different and awesome in it's own right. Carney's is more closely compared to Pinks or Tommy's, for which it easily bests both, hands down.
(5)Marina G.
Talk about a little old school gem. The owners did a wonderful job in creating this yummy joint in a train- how awesome is that! The food is solid ( I had the turkey burger, and fries), and the prices are extremely reasonable. The staff is super nice and helpful. This is a must try, even more so if you have children. I am looking forward to more meals in this train!
(4)Matt P.
I was happy to find out that Carney's had a restaurant in the valley. Decided to finally give this place a drive after years of torment from driving on Sunset. I like the novelty of being able to eat inside of a train car. I bet you Sheldon Cooper would be ecstatic. BAZINGA!!! It's a neat and unique concept. There's seating inside and outside of the car. I like how open the kitchen was. It's nice to see your food being made. Marc Summers, eat your heart out. I ordered the Chicagoan which came with spicy mustard, relish and onions. If you are a fan of Pink's, then you will appreciate the snap factor on these wieners. Actually, the wiener has a bigger snap then Pink's. I noticed the meat had a sweet hint to it. The bun was very fresh and soft. I also had their chili burger and chili fries. Firstly, the chili has to be the best I've had. It's even better than Tommy's. It tasted fresh and was not too thick and not too runny. It really went well with the fries and burger. The fries are more of a McDonald's size cut. I kind of liked it because it's crispier than the thick cuts. Or at least compared to Tommy's. Their fries are on the soggy/soft side. The burger was exactly like Tommy's as far as condiments go. But the bun and overall taste was a lot better. Keep in mind that this was my first time here. So I will have to come back to make sure they are at least consistent. The only drawback about this place is the pricing. Tommy's is a lot cheaper, but Carney's is better tasting. Worth the extra bucks.
(4)Erin B.
Just what the doctor ordered for a day like today!!! Ugh. Is the word of the day. This little girl woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and can just not shake it. So when it came time for deciding what to eat for lunch, it seemed like too much pressure. lol I decided to just drive down Ventura. I saw Menchies, which is usually my fav lunchtime spot. Ugh. I saw Baja Fresh. Ugh. I saw Ralphs, and thought maybe I could just go to the deli there. Ugh. Then I saw Carney's. YUM! I went in an got a cheeseburger with chili on the side. So good, fulfilling, and took the edge off. I'm kinda feeling guilty about the calories and my attitude this morning, but hey, I'm only human!
(4)Victoria S.
BETTER than Pinks! Oh Yeah! This place is a Valley original! Awesome hot dogs, fresh ingredients and yummy chocolate covered frozen bananas! :P It's a neat place that is definitely kid friendly! Staff is wonderful and atmosphere is casual and relaxed.
(4)Denis S.
Finally, a burger on a train, going nowhere, with no wheels... who thought this was a good idea? So you have the dirt and grime of a train without the movement or destination. Great. At least they have great food right? Nope. The fries were very bland, no salt, no pepper, no nothing. They were crisp, but very bland. The chili cheeseburger (1/4 pounder) was somehow small. The chili was good, but the patty seemed really week and, once again, without much flavor. The chili dog, on the other hand, was very good. It's rare that I like a hot dog over a burger, but this must be the exception. The dog was somehow crisp, the chili was a perfect compliment to the meat, and the beefsteak tomato really topped it all off.
(3)Theresa K.
My husband and I started going to Carney's before we were married, over 30 years ago. We love the chili cheese burgers and chili fries. No upset stomach, always feels good afterwards. The employees work hard and try to please. We love it!!!
(5)Kevin O.
Both Pinks and Carneys are my two favorite hot dog joints because they are the same quality. However there is never a long line at Carney's and they a inside a real life train. How cool is that? It's what makes Carney's unique and one of a kind. Pinks will have much bigger selection but if can it up with waiting in line for at 1 hour.
(5)Arthur S.
I have been coming here for 6 years now and they never dissapoint. I always get their chilli cheeseburger and fries. Its preety cool that there open late on the weekends. The idea of eating in a train is preety awsome lol. Also a lot of celeberties go here especially late at nights, i seen Tommy Lee here a year ago, and recently saw Dead Mou5.
(5)Andrea C.
Yelpers, you have lead me here. While staying literally down the street, distaster struck. And by disaster, I mean hunger. So, to quell the beast (and by beast, I mean hunger again) I made sure this place was legit (cause I'm hella Bay) and rolled out. Ok, first off, it's in a bright yellow train which is probably the dopest thing EVER. Second off, I like greasy little diners that arn't pretentious and just focus on the food. Third off, I like food. And this place serves it. So, since Yelpers said it was worth a shot, I went with the Yelp-recommended chilli fries, as well as a chocolate shake and a hotdog. Well, yum. The chilli fries were the stand out part of the meal, the chilli was very well done for the fries and had just the right amount of everything. The hotdog was good, but I've had better in the Bay. The milkshake was thick, just the way I like 'em. Yeah baby.
(4)David D.
Did something happen to this place? I remember I used to LOVE coming here 2-3 years ago. Now, the food is whatever and the place had a weird odor. My beloved took one bite from her quesadilla and couldn't eat the rest. My burger was average, fries - average, customer service - annoying. Sorry, won't be back here for a LONG while.
(2)Scott R.
Food was great - snap on the dog, chilli was great. Service was ...well not great. There was no one there Sunday mid day but they rushed us thru, did not speak good English and were not helpful.
(3)Jamie P.
My husband dragged me here because he goes to the one on Sunset all the time. Yuck. Food looked super bland and greasy. Never again.
(2)Wheels G.
The kids and i went here on a Saturday for a late lunch. Apparently, the whole valley had the same idea 'cuz even at 2:00, this place had a line. I don't mind a line, but their entire system of ordering is kinda cattle call style. They must've already had a dozen orders ahead of ours. Instead of letting the kitchen catch up, they just keep takin' orders. Ours was pretty simple. Plain hot dog w/just ketchup. Spicy hot dog. Chili cheese fries w/fresh grated cheddar cheese. Vanilla shake. Chocolate shake. We paid, sat down and waited...and waited...and waited. So i finally go up to the counter (which was a ZOO!!) to see what's going on. I see our two hot dogs just sitting there...for god knows how long...waiting for chili cheese fries. Waiting and waiting 'til some guy finally sees the hot dogs waiting for their accompanying fries and makes them. Except he puts american cheese on them. Now, this is the same guy who took the order. I don't expect him to remember my order, but he wrote the order...shouldn't he be able to read his own writing?? He calls my name, i tell him i ordered the fresh grated cheddar. He says "oh, too many chili fries today". Really?? Their thing is chili...shouldn't they be making tons of them every day?? So he remakes the fries and we start eating. The hot dogs have good snap and taste good. I was a little disappointed that my spicy dog didn't have grilled onions like the menu on their website said...but that was my fault as i should've read the menu there. The buns were soft and fluffy. The chili was good as well. Much less greasy than another chain restaurant i won't mention, although many of you already did. The fries were thin cut, so if you don't like them that way, you won't enjoy them here. They were crispy, though, and had good taste. Would i go here again?? If i had to, but i don't like giving my hard earned cash to places that don't give me good customer service. Not to mention the tip jar at the cash register. It shouldn't be there, it should be at the pick up point. I saw everyone leave a tip...and they got lousy service, just as i did.
(2)Eric R.
Boy, do I love this place. I've been coming to Carney's since... yikes. Since the mid 1980's, and I always - ALWAYS - have a chicago dog. Snappy hot dog, the world's best chili, cheese and a honkin' tomato. Now I live out of state, but I'm in LA every month or two for business, and I always make it a point to go out of my way to pick up a couple of dogs and some chili cheese fries here. LOVE IT.
(5)Denise V.
The food was good. But I prefer Pink's Hot dogs better.
(3)Brian V.
Why does everyone like this place? I was so disappointed. The food quality was horrible. The chili was bland and even the sweet potato fries were tasteless. My girl could of made better food at home. Even the chocolate milkshake was nothing to brag about. If you want great chili and Hotdogs do yourself a favor and just go to Pinks. The best thing about this place was the train.
(2)John T.
I love this place. I've been coming here for years and the service has always been fantastic and the food has always been exactly what I expect. It's a L.A. original. I don't know why you would wait in line at Pink's when you can eat in a train car! Love it, hope it lasts forever.
(4)Melissa A.
And I quote... "You don't go to Carney's and get a salad!" and that couldn't be more true. So I'll have no admit, my coworker took me here because at that moment, we just needed comfort food and girl-talk. I've passed by there and totally judge a restaurant by it's caboose... First impression, are you kidding me it's actually an abandoned train! Bring on the Pepto! This restaurant had been around for some time and from what I've heard is a great and popular burger joint with amazing chili cheese fries. I've passed by it and because it's an old train converted to a restaurant I never gave it the time of day. They have indoor and outdoor seating, the first time I was there we are outside, I went there again and we sat inside. To be honest both seating situations will suffice. The best way to describe the ambiance of Carney's is that it reminded me of a little league snack shack, the menu is limited, Burgers, Hotdogs/Polish Sausages, Variation of Fries (i.e. Chili), Sandwiches/Wraps, Shakes and Floats, oh and of course salads, they have the concessions where you pick up the order. The registers are located in the corner of the kitchen where you order by the fountain drinks. The person taking your order writes it on a box and you wait until it's ready. Concessions available are your basic ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, peppers etc. The portions are reasonable, it's fast food so there's only so much one can handle, if you're very health conscious this is definitely not a place I would recommend, if you enjoy a burger every now and then it's not a bad spot, now, if you're in the mood for some good chili cheese fries - Carney's! When I'm in a burger mood I can usually finish a whole, their sizes are similar to a Whopper Jr. form Burger King, but both times I wasn't pleased with the grease patty I barely are it. They serve your food in cardboard containers, if you don't pay attention to it after you finish your meal you may not notice all the greasy oil your food was prepared with/in that's left. I was at a loss if I would go back to Carney's, not because the food wasn't good, it was because the food wasn't healthy! If I'm going to splurge and have a burger I still want it to be high quality. The food did set heavy. It's a fun place to go but not something I would incorporate in my diet.
(3)Travis R.
Get the CHICAGO dog because that's the only way to have it!!! Go BEARS!!!!!
(4)Brian B.
Nothing particularly special about the food, but eating it on an authentic train car is just cool, especially when it's part of "train day" with the family, including visits to Travel Town and Live Steamers.
(4)Eric R.
chili cheeze fries are awesome here!! great food. I love the burgers here!!
(5)Scott F.
Always a nice group lined up for the city's best chili dogs. Easy going, unpretentious and just amazingly good. I get my usual Chicagoan, but my friends love experimenting.
(5)Sammie C.
It's a restaurant in a train, what's not to like? We came here around 8 on a Friday night and were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't packed. We got to the front of the line almost immediately and the person who took our order and the cooks were hilarious - really friendly vibe. I got the 1/2 pound hamburger and I'd suggest the same to anyone who's a little weird about the quality of their meat. It was top notch and very delicious. My friend who had the chili didn't love it but the fries were excellent. I was very excited to try the frozen chocolate covered banana, that was fantastic! It's just a cool place to be, the train is large and spacious and there's something very nifty about eating in a train. There was a large corral of kids outside who were very noisy and several of the tables were kind of dirty but other than that it was a great experience at a very good price.
(4)Steven K.
This restaurant is in an old train car. The hot dogs and hamburgers are hot and juicy. They are busy all the time.
(4)Matthew F.
Theres not much to say about this place - but hands down the best hot dogs and Hamburgers in LA. I have been coming here since I have been in high school and it never disappoints!
(5)Michael D.
Wow, good food and great atmosphere for the family. I love eating on an old train. It just makes it taste so much better! If you read my reviews (and you should you lazy punk!) you'll see that I love my hot dogs! We eat here about once or twice a month. Forget about what the kids eat, this is what I like: NY style hot dog and chili cheese fries! They have excellent chili here and I love the peppers they have in the can next to the pick up area because they are spicy hot and will burn your a_s! On the good days, I'll order a chili cheeseburger, NY style hot dog, chili cheese fries and a diet Pepsi (cause I don't wanna get fat!). It's a good mix of everything related to the dining experience that makes me give them a five star. Parking is close and easy, restrooms are tolerable, has outdoor seating, quick servers and food prep. I love this place and I'll always go back.
(5)Tamara M.
The chili-cheese fries are quite good. The line to order is always long. And you are in a train. I like it. Cheeseburger was good, not the best ever, but I wasn't expecting that either. There is a very easy and free parking lot as well, which always makes any experience better. I'd recommend it to people who've never been. It's a fun, kitschy experience.
(3)Zak W.
One of the best places to grab a burger or a couple of hot dogs in LA. Some of the greatest chili this side of the Mississippi. The menu has expanded a lot over the years, but the classic elements remain the same.
(5)Lilly G.
A much better alternative to Pinks Hot Dogs. This is a fun place to go and climb aboard a real train car and have some good eats. The chili fries are pretty good time. I like that the owner is here often working side by side the kitchen staff.
(4)Svetlana S.
I got a groupon for $16 worth of food for $8 dollars. The whole idea of Carney's is that your eating on a train. Besides being in an actual train car, everything else looks like a normal food joint. I ordered the chili cheese cheeseburger and chili cheese fries. AWESOME! My cheeseburger came with mustard, which I absolutely despise, and it was still reallllllly good. The chili is reallly damn good! One of the better that I've had. Portions are a bit on the small side, especially the hotdogs, but the fries really help to fill you up. My only complaint is it made my stomache hurt beyond belief for the next couple hours. I guess that was the price to pay for that amazing chili. Give it a try if your in the area.
(4)James B.
The hot dogs and hamburgers are good. The fries are sometimes underdone. The prices are high, but it's a good location so I guess it's not unfair. The main gripe I have (and have had for a while) is that the drinks from the fountain taste terrible. There is a metallic aftertaste on the lemonade, the orange soda, the sprite, etc., and they never seem to do anything about it. For what they charge for a large soda ($1.85) they could slap a filter on the water couldn't they?
(2)Jin N.
Keepin' it real: Chilli Cheese Fries- 5 star. BOMB diggs. Super pounder burger - 3 star. It was aite. Thing was gigantor and couldn't finish. Chocolate chip cookie- 3.5 star Oatmeal cookie- 4 star I'm def a fan of their chilli cheese fries...worth going back for that FO SHO.
(4)Al T.
I am not a big meat eater but on rare occasion when I feel like a hot dog (about once a year) I will buy two of them from here - the spicy New Yorker is great. The burgers are also great, comparable with The Habit and Tommy's. They're far better than BK/McD and most others. The burgers and hot dogs are affordably priced. The other menu items are not. They want 8 bucks plus tax for their Thai wraps, which are delicious, but you can get something that tastes about the same at any number of other restaurants for 5-6 bucks. The chili at Carneys should have beans in it. I don't know why it doesn't, when their basic recipe is so good. The atmosphere? Meh. It's too hot and too crowded and crawling with Hollywood Hills/Studio City yuppies and their little rugbrats. When I come, I always take the food to go.
(3)Anthony M.
I love Carney's I've been going there scince I was 8 years old Im almost 21 now but I love this place and its grate for dates, sports banquets, and just eating by your self. EAT HEAR YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Denise A.
Went here for the first time last Thursday. I ordered the Red Eye Carney - spicy polish dog with chili and "fresh" cheddar cheese and onions. I even asked the guy behind the counter what made it fresh and he explained that they grate the cheese themselves from a cheese block. Everyone was nice and helpful and the hotdog was delicious! Will definitely be back again.
(5)Keelan E.
Always enjoy going here. Everything tastes great and I love their chili. I always like getting a milk shake as well
(5)Braden V.
So we're driving around Ventura trying to decide where to eat. Our choices can be limited with an energetic toddler in tow. We saw this place that looked like a train an decided to give it a try. Our little boy was so excited to have dinner on a train! And I have to say, the food was pretty good. The staff was super friendly too, they even gave our boy a small helping of fries while my wife and I were ordering ... It's the little things. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Sandra W.
This place is pretty cool - the whole restaurant is in an old train - well, it IS a train. The chili fries and burgers are really classic tasting. I like their chili cheese dogs - yes, they rival Pink's in quality and you don't have to wait in line. I'll be back when I crave a hot dog...
(4)Carla B.
After hearing so many great things about Carney's I decided to give it a try when I saw that groupon had a deal for it. My husband and I went in for lunch. The food was incredibly disappointing and the service was junk. The chili was bland and tasteless. The guy who took my order, who I am pretty sure is a manager, was incredibly rude. When I gave him my groupon voucher he was visibly annoyed by it.
(1)Adam H.
This will be the best hamburger or hot dog you'll ever eat in your life. I always get mine with chili.
(5)LookwhosYelping I.
Best. Turkey Burger. Ever!
(5)David And Monica Y.
We love coming here with the kids. It is very family friendly and the hotdogs are delish! Never have tried the hamburgers. Our oldest daughter has tried the hamburgers and loves them. Plenty of parking and service is quick. The little outdoor patio area is nice. Lemonades, shakes...they have it! I gave it four stars because I feel they could improve on the cleaning.
(4)Maggie D.
Love this place, it's just a classic! The Red Eye dogs are great, not too spicy but more of a kick than the regular hot dogs. I always asked for it grilled instead of fried. The chili cheese fries are so good. The fries are skinny, just the way I like it. Shakes are good too! It needs some updating on the decor inside, but great simple food!
(4)Felicia M.
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(5)Marisol G.
i went to this place after a fun day at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The setting is really cool since its a real train and all. I ordered a cheeseburger and small drink. The portion was perfect for me and is fairly priced. The burger was average, just okay. In-n-out still remains my favorite burger. However, I would come here again just because its cheap and I liked it. My siblings got chili burgers and chili fries. I 'm not such a big fan of chili but they said it was pretty good. So, if you're looking for quick bite and a good value, I'd recommend this place.
(3)Jenna M.
Best burgers and dogs in town! The chili cheeseburger is unreal and under $5! Also kudos for letting me bring my pooch for outdoor seating.
(5)Mike B.
My father first took me to Carney's around 1975 on sunset,I have been eating there off and on ever since,from Glendale,to sunset , to studio city.. I still think its good food,its not gourmet dining ,it sloppy,fatty salty ,deliciousness :) Its not a diet joint so if that's what your expecting forget it..its a chance to treat yourself to food that you could eat all you wanted when you were a youngster,but now its just an occasional treat. I wish they would add tums to the menu for dessert..lol sucks to get older and have your body rebel on you .. :) Oh well that's OK the food is great and the memories of my childhood and my father are even better :)
(4)Miguel M.
No chili?!?! Wtf are they still open if they ran out of chili an hour before closing?!?
(1)Goli A.
Yummm! Good food, good service! Fast and great prices! Fun environment and super easy parking!
(5)Dianna H.
This place has a fun and unique atmosphere-it is a restaurant in a train after all..and their food is pretty cheap...but honestly I wasn't impressed. The hot dog was really rubbery and chewy and the chili was just ok. The fries were actually pretty good from what I remember but nothing to write home about. I guess I am giving it 2 stars because they advertise all over town as the #1 place for dogs and it just isn't true..but again this is just my opinion...I'm not a hater. In fact they have a nice big parking lot right on Ventura in Studio City and I'm sure children would have a lot of fun here.
(2)Shelley V.
Carneys, how do i love thee? Let me count the ways. I love your Spicy Red Eye with Chili. I love a good old regular Carneys Dog, Chili only. I love a Yellow Dog. I love a Chili Cheeseburger. And damnit, I even love your shoestring fries when I usually prefer steak cut fries. I have been eating at Carneys on Sunset since 1984 and the one in Studio City since 1997. Thankfully, my visits are spaced out so I don't resemble one large Chili Dog!!! Granted I have a six-pack of Rolaids that I need to pop before one of these little beauties but don't hold my tempermental stomach against me. Some people prefer Pinks, some Vicious Dogs, others like to go to Skoobys. My #1 choice will always be Carneys. The people who work there ROCK, the crazy "Jay and Silent Bob" look-a-like security guard who carries a boombox and the fact that you are eating inside a freaken train car will always have my loyalty.
(5)Ram O.
Their chili is a close 2nd to Tommys... No chili is better than Tommy's, but there's is close enough! They have a great hot dog, the kind with the casing that snaps every time you take a bite from it! They have a pretty decent pork apple sausage with this slaw, worth a try! Prices are decent, and a Double chili cheese burger with grilled onions... thats the way to go!
(4)Dave F.
I had a choice for a quick lunch: Jerry's or Carney's. Hmmm, eating in a train car versus a bowling alley? Train car wins hands down! The food was good and the chili is so thick, it sticks to the inside of your stomach for 7 years. Just like swallowing gum. (OK, I'm guilty of more exaggeration.) Realistically, this isn't a place I could eat more than a couple of times per year, but the Dog's were better than Dodger Dogs and the fries were ok. Not, McDonald's quality. Great quick lunch!
(3)Rick B.
Ever since Art's Chili Dogs closed, probably in the mid-1960's, LA has suffered a hot dog void. Then came Carney's. Don't waste your time with over-hyped dumps like "Pinks," go straight to Carney's and get your fix.
(5)Mark A.
Hello, writing this review from my iPad is just a bit tough. In the early 90's I lived just a few blocks away from Carney's but never went. I am back visiting and was looking for a place to eat. My wife suggested we go to Carney's. I liked the fact that it is in a train car and thought it would be fun. And not having gone 20 years ago made it the right choice. The people working there were very nice and friendly. When my wife wanted to add fries to our already paid for meal, it was not a problem. The sign says they have the best burgers and dogs in L.A. so I was pretty excited. I ordered a Chicagoan and my wife a Carney's dog and the fries. When I bit into my dog I was excited because I got a nice snap to my dog. That was the last of those. The snap was gone. The flavor of the dog was ok, but nothing to Yelp about. I asked my wife how the chili was and she said it was just ok, and nothing more. The fries were acceptable but not in any way great. They were just good. The interior of the restaurant was not clean at all. I don't know if that was because they were so busy, but I don't think so. That train car has been there at least 20 years now, and I think it has just aged badly. I think if I come back to L.A. again, I just might look for somewhere else to satisfy that craving for a really great dog.
(2)Joanna Y.
How have I never reviewed Carney's?! Their food is delicious in a "if I die of a heart attack right now, at least I'll die happy" sort of way. Yummy chili, burgers, hot dogs, fries, and lemonade. This is my best friend's fave place and I am all too happy to accompany her here!
(5)Jack B.
When you want a tasty burger for cheap and need a break from In-N-Out then slide on over to Carney's and hop on the fasttrain to Flavor Town. The cheeseburgers a covered in cincinnati chili, and when that shit drips all over your fries you cant help but smile and think "Life is good". I personally get mine without tomato because i feel it ruins the consistency of the burger. One of the things that sets this burger apart from many others is the smell. It seriously smells fantastic. I think that is mostly due to the chili and the mustard marrying their fragrances in mid air and spending the honeymoon in my nose. The people that work here are also super friendly. Some of the patrons can sometimes be a little bit rude and get confused about which order is theirs. But that isn't this joints fault.
(4)Dena G.
Where else can you get a chili burger and fries in a train but at Carneys? What a fun hamburger and hot dog joint! They serve sweet potato fries as well as regular fries, and my husband is addicted to their chocolate shakes. I tried their tuna melt once, and you know what? For a burger joint, they did all right! They're open late, the chili is great (not as good as Tommy's, though...but Tommy's doesn't have the train motif), and the line moves along quickly. If you haven't been, definitely check it out.
(4)Waxy B.
I love eating at Carney's!!!! They have delicious food, and the chocolate covered bananas are the best!!!!!!! I love all of there food, and I highly recommend this restaurant too!!!!!!!! I will definitely go back to Carney's again!!!!!!!!
(5)Lina O.
my mom and i were in the valley last week so we went to carneys for lunch. its literally an old train car converted into a small restaurant. you order your food, sit down if you can find a table, and when they call your name, you pick up your order. they are pretty quick too. i got the Chicagoan Spicy Polish hot dog, which came with onions and relish, and your choice of yellow or brown mustard. i got the brown. it was spicy and juicy and the bread was so soft. it was really good. i recommend it! only thing was that its small. like the size of a regular hot dog. my mom got the hamburger with chili, which came with lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, mayo, pickles and onions. it definately was a "neat" chili burger. it didnt get all over the place and unfortunately it was a bit bland. dont expect it to be like tommys style.
(4)Ron H.
In my opinion Carney's has one of the best hot dogs in LA. There are others, but who that lives in Los Angeles wants to stand on LaBrea Ave that long waiting in a long line for a hot dog. Service is great, it's clean, friendly, fun and if I just hadn't had a sandwhich I'd be on my way there right now. Yay for Carney's!
(5)Sal L.
Reminds me of the good ole Tommy's Burger back in the 80's on Rampart and 3rd street. Taste the same, looks the same, but we all know Tommy's don't make it how they use to, ever since they commercialized the chili, it's not the same. It's NOT a restaurant!!! I Dunno why they labeled it a restaurant. No servers, no waiters, no tips. Just order it, sit down, shut up, eat it, and go! But I'm GLAD I found this place. I go at least once a week!!! Place is addicting, BEST CHILI EVER!!! Anyways, this place is the BOMB if you LOVE CHILI!!! They have good chili burgers, chili dogs, chili fries. Everything is good here. The most important part is the chili, which is some authentic sh*t!!! I saw an old white guy working there, so we all know it's some good chili. LOOK FOR THE TRAIN! It's literally inside a train. Note: I have to give my 2 cent about this women below my comment, complaining about the security guard looking creepy at her. Look women, maybe you just showing too much skin, nah saying? If you're fat, old, ugly, and etc, he won't even go near you.... just common sense. If you don't like it, wear a sweater... Keeping it real. =)
(5)Carmelee O.
I pass this place sometimes when I'm heading towards work. I love the idea of a restaurant in a train. Carney's was also featured in the Academy Award winning movie "Crash" if anyone caught it. I went here with a friend who had gotten accepted to the #1 med school in the Philippines. I was so disappointed that they didn't have beer. We we're going for happy hour $1.50 for domestic beers and the cashier told me that it was only available in their w. hollywood location. LAME! They should put that important piece of info in their website under the HAPPY HOUR section! They have it indicated under their Beer & Wine section but c'mon please put it under the happy hour section as well- that's where anybody's eyes wonder to when they look at a menu! Aside from that their prices are pretty good and cheap. I ordered a cheeseburger w/o onions ($3.20) and chili cheese fries ($2.80). I've had bad experiences with anything that has chili and my stomach can't usually take it but theres was awesome! I didn't feel sick or anything. We ordered regular fries as well and since our chili cheese fries had so much chili we just mixed the reg. fries in there as well. If you LOVE CHILI then this is the place for you! They have frozen chocolate dipped bananas too! NOTE: Aside from not serving beer at this location all was well here! This place is great for families... children would love the idea of eating inside a train! Mothers would love the idea that their children love eating in a train. The Fathers would love that their wives and children love eating in a train and they can enjoy their beers... ohhh wait, no, cross that, they don't serve beer there... poor poor dads :(
(4)Jack F.
This place has a cool restaurant made out of a train. Burgers. Hot dogs. This is what i come for. I recommend the New Yorker (Sauerkraut, Mustard) and the Carney's (Chili, Mustard, Tomato, Onions) hot dogs. I usually order one of each, to have it different. I also Love their double cheeseburgers. I always ask for chili on the side, so i can scoop it up with the fries. It gets really messy if the chili is inside the burger.
(4)Marc E.
Basic hamburgers and hot dogs, but they do it well. There chili is downright good for the soul. There is something magical about eating on a train. (for those of you who think I'm a weenie for saying that, you are correct.)
(4)Enrique G.
Well after all the hype my co-workers build towards this place, I was somewhat disappointed. It was not bad just not the greatest in world, I wouldn't mind visiting the place if its convenient. I do have to say the atmosphere is nice and clean. I had ordered a Chicagoan hot dog (not really a Chicago hot dog), hamburger, and chili fries. The hot dog was okay, nothing that wowed me, probably the hot dog stands in downtown could do better. As for the hamburger, it was pretty good except for the loaded onions. And finally for the chili fries, something was missing. I don't know if it was 'cause they were not spicy enough or the lack of meat. Overall my experience here was fair, not bad or great, just average. Its not a place I would drive half way across the valley to have some good fast food. But if I were in the area, I wouldn't mind visiting for the atmosphere.
(3)Leeza P.
I've been going to Carney's since I was about three years old. Back then, I was fed cut up hot dogs and water. Now, however, I enjoy the best chilly cheese fries I've ever had, the best hot dog known to man, and the thickest, most delicious chocolate milkshake around. I have never been unsatisfied with my meal. Carney's is located in Studio City, CA, right in between Staples and Aaron Brother's Frames. Not a typical restaurant, Carney's resides in a bright yellow train car. Including the train tracks. Among the normal hot dogs, hamburgers, and fries, there is a decent sized menu that includes salads and tacos. Although, I'm always too busy inhaling my hot dog. If you haven't had the chance to dine at Carney's, I highly suggest you put it on your bucket list, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kana N.
Love this place. The outside patio is super lovely. And food is great, love it love it. SItting outside in the summer time, love love love it with my beautiful hubby :D The only thing is that there's this creepy security guard. SUPER CREEPY and I dislike!!! He stares, sweeps right next to you while you eat, randomly talks to you..... ugh.... please just chill out!!! I really hope everytime I go that he's not there....... yuck.
(4)Amy P.
And so begins my heartbreak .. I have recently given up meat, but just reading these reviews makes my mouth water. Y-u-m! Uh-I mean ......NOT yum because hot dogs are bad, bad and evil !lol Sorry gotta retrain the brain. Kidding aside, Carney's is so fun and fantastic. Great eats, love(d) the chili dogs and fries, but the plain hotdogs are great too. Lots of ketchup please! Everyone else has mentioned the train car atmosphere, so I'll skip the describe. Alright, sigh, off to channel my rage into some sauerkraut or hay or whatever else I will let myself eat now. lol Definitely pay a visit! ( and think of me lol)
(4)Shirley G.
I think it's worth trying for the experience! I think that the dogs are pricey for what they are, but you get to eat in an old train car! It is pretty packed during the lunch hour, so make sure to grab a seat when you see one!
(3)Dana L.
One of my fav. chili places! Off the top of my head I can't think of any other place that has better chili then Carneys. Always fresh and made to order. CRUSHED ICE is bomb in their drinks it seriously makes your drink 10 times better haha. Do not touch my left over ice I will attack =P Anyways customer service has always been great every time I've been here and even though it can get pretty busy I somehow always find a place to sit at (rare for how small of a place it is). I can't think of anything cons about this place. Happy Eating =]
(5)David D.
This train fell off It's track. Gross. I went here today because I wanted to relive my childhood when I thought it was cool to get a burger inside of a train. Fast forward many years and It's not cool to get a veggie burger inside of a train. I started this review a long time ago, but the grease, tasteless veggie burger and fries still lingers. Keep on truckin', woo woo!
(1)Laurice F.
I am currently craving their spicy [but not too spicy] polish sausage w/saurkraut and no mustard. Yum! The place itself used to be a train - so cool! Not super clean, but it's super laid back so who cares. Service is fast and friendly. I'd eat here again if I was in the 'hood.
(4)Ali W.
I have been eating at Carney's for over 10 years and absolutely love it. Their sweet potato fries are fabulous and so is the chili. The main reason I keep going back are for their chicken tacos which are the best I have ever had! The chicken is flavorful and moist and it is topped with homemade pico de gallo, lettuce, and cheese. They are filling and cheap. I go at least once a week for lunch and as soon as I walk in the door, all I need to do is hold up my fingers indicating how many tacos I want. I also really like that it is in a train because it adds some diversity to the monotony of eating out.
(5)Zack K.
ATTENTION TOURIST: Despite what you heard on television pink's"s is equal to a snack shack as far as hot dogs go. Actually I've been to some tasty snack shacks, maybe a step below that. If your looking for a tasty dog don't look to the over hyped, look to the wiener train. At Carney's they have the best hot dog Ive ever had. It has a snap like no other hot dog and I can tell they use a few spices in their meat blend to make it extra tasty. The chili is some of the best I've had, maybe Tommy's is a shade better though but no way does Tommy's have a better hot dog and that's what it all comes down to, if you don't have a good wiener what good is the toppings if your just covering for the dog?
(5)Robert R.
Great place to eat if you're on a budget. This is really close to house of blues. If you're going to a show at HoB, find cheap street parking, eat here then go to the show full and happy. The prices are great, about $8 a person for burger, fries, and a drink. I would recommend the chili fries and a cheeseburger without chili.
(5)Leslie G.
I love the grilled cheese here - I can't remember now if it is actually called that, but it is basically a burger without meat (like in-n-out's grilled cheese). This one is better than In-n-Out, and the fries are good too. Fast service, cheap prices - a classic!
(5)Gretchen U.
A drive down the Boulevard and bam! If you're in the mood for some comfy sloppy goodness with a bun or without... this place is quite satisfying. I do love their hotdogs. But I decided to try a sloppy burger yesterday, not my favorite but still same tasty chili. And chilling in a parked train isn't half bad, especially at lunch time. Satisfying!
(5)Janet Bellydance B.
I've been an inhabitant of Carney's since my childhood days when my dad would take me and I would seriously pretend that I'd be on a choo choo train. Yes Carney's is not your typical restaurant/diner. You walk in and you're aboard a stationary train. That's where the inspiration came from because, from what I know, it used to be a train. I always love going back to places that take me even a little bit back to my childhood. This time I returned for their chili cheese burger to split with my other half. What's not to love. Toasted buns with some hearty beef in the middle, melted cheese, and chilli slattered all over. And for the record, splitting a burger with someone is genuis because it's the perfect amount of burger to have. You still indulge but don't leave feeling guilty with yourself. If burgers aren't your thing, they're known for and have won awards for their hot dogs. They also have healthier options like salads and wraps, tacos too. Dessert includes chocolate covered bananas, cookies and milkshakes! I highly suggest coming here and ordering anything with chili followed by a milkshake.
(5)Kim M.
Carney's is an OK place for hot dogs and hamburgers. I really love the way it looks from the outside. It's a converted train car made into a fast food joint. It's so cute. The food is just OK. There is absolutely nothing unique about the hot dog, chili, or hamburgers here. They also have turkey burgers which is a nice touch but I've never been that impressed with the food. The french fries are good though.
(3)D M.
First time there. Food was awesome. Had the Thai Chicken wrap... So good. Floor is kinda dirty slimy... But I guess it's ok since so many go thru there all the time.
(5)Kevin L.
Somehow the fact that food is being served on a stationary train caboose never gets old! Nice place to hang out and the burgers/hot dogs are decent. Prices are a tad more than I'd like, but let's just pretend it's for the ambiance!
(4)Tara M.
I Love Carney's! I've been eating here since I was a kid and it hasn't changed one bit! My dad used to take me there after school when i'd tag along with him while he worked and made his rounds to the studios like Universal, Warner brothers which aren't too far away. The Chili is orgasmic! haha Put it on a burger, chilidog, fries... geez eat it by itself and its just yummy. Whats also fun is that you eat inside this old train compartment which made coming here as a kid very enjoyable. I'm a big fan of chili and Carney's is one of the places that has never let me down. Check it out!
(4)Richard F.
I moved to LA from NY in 1983. Within the first few months I was introduced to Tommy's and Carney's. I've been frequenting Carney's ever since. Been to Pink's some, but Carney's is by far the better chili dog. The dog itself is meatier and juicier. The chili is tasty and seasoned just right and the bun is soft and holds everything together. Good fries too. Even though I live in Valencia I still go to my home in the valley on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.
(5)Cynthia S.
Fun place with a lot of Junk food! They do have a chicken wrap with peanut sauce that is outstanding!
(4)David J.
I like the food. The people. And the ambiance. Eating chili fries on a train. Yummy.
(4)Stephy S.
I don't know what I love more about this place, the fact that they pile chili upon chili upon meat and more meat or the fact that after you eat one of their burgers you can't get the smell of the pure evil you just consumed off your hands for hours. I think it's a tie and the fact that it looks like a train is pretty damn cool too. Note: Bring TUMS ;)
(5)Matt E.
Carney's. What can I say? Eatin' a burger inside a train. That's awesome in itself. But the burger is quite good too! When I used to eat meat the chili dog is where it's at, with shredded Cheddar and onions and two big slice of tomato, hell yeah! Now that I'm all veg, the garden burger they cook up is pretty good. Not a huge fan of shredded iceberg, but I can deal with it. They have the usual road side burger joint fare, but this being LA they also serve up wraps and salads. Plus, dipped to order frozen chocolate bananas?!?! Are you kidding? This is a great place to treat a kid for being a cool cat.
(4)Chad B.
Just got back from my first visit and I am indeed a fan of the Carneys. I didnt think anything could come between me and my Tommy's, but I was wrong! The whole train thing is awesome and i dont know what people are talking about with long lines and it being too crowded. I got there at 10 after 12 and there was like a 2 min line and pleeeenty of seating. This may be a bad BAD thing considering I work 2 miles from this chili haven....
(5)H Q.
Except for the novelty of eating a in a train, I didn't find the food exceptional in anyway. I had the chili burger, fries and a soda. Not much bang for your buck. Portions were average. Everything tasted good. The chili wasn't too spicy which is good because everytime I eat chili I have the fear that I'll get the sh*ts. That didn't happen, so I'll say I liked the chili. I'd say go here at least once in your life to say you've been here. I can now say I've been here twice in 25 years.
(3)Emma B.
I've been here a few times over the years, but my visit today was delicious. I had the Chicagoan Red Eye and it was so good I kinda wanted to eat like four more even though one was more than enough to for my small appetite. I love that it's in a train and it's so basic. yay Carney's!
(4)Mary H.
the only reason we decided to go to carneys was because of the billboards advertising "best dog in town" let me tell you, it wasn't! i would have rather gone to in&out. my boyfriend and i went there on a friday night, the place was pretty much empty. ordered our food and sat down. it didnt take that long for the food, but as soon as we started eating it... we were kinda disappointed. it wasnt great. it was ok. tried it once, won't be going back there.
(2)Josh K.
Been coming here since i was 5. i dont live in LA anymore but i travel to So Cal quite frequently and my first stop is ALWAYS Carney's. great food. absolutly the best chili & sometimes you might even see a movie star or 2. Doesnt get better than Carneys. ive brought some Nor Cal friends here and now they also make it a priority to stop here
(5)John T.
this place has good hot dogs, kinda expensive for what u are getting but it's worth the money I think, the train enviroment is nice.
(5)T E.
The Hot Dog Train! An institution! Even though more and more reports come out about the negligible nutritional value of hot dogs, you still have to go eat a hot dog now and again. And if you like Chili Burgers you can't go wrong here.
(4)Jonathan G.
I worked there in high school so I'm quite partial to Carney's. i remember the large parking lot and the car shows. Thos were the days. However, the place hasn't changed and some of the people I used to work with are still there. So Im throwin' a shout out to Paulie because the man scared me so much as a kid.
(4)Chris C.
cool atmosphere, easy to find. nice patio seating. but PINK'S is much better.
(2)Julian K.
As a resident of LA for 25 years, I have to say this is the best grease pit there is. Awesome hot dogs (make mine a chili dog), phenomenal chili burgers, and solid chili-cheese french fries... is that too much chili? Hell, they can dip my index finger in the chili here and I'd probably scarf it down... oh wait, that's Wendy's... sorry I digress. Anyhow, those who think that Pink's is better or even compares to Carney's are sheep who love gimmicks and listen to celebrity recommendations. Carney's rocks and you don't have to wait in line for 45 minutes like the rest of the sheep. Not to mention, the train is a way cooler motif than that dumpy stand. Most importantly, Carney's does not make my stomach feel like it's stashing some WMDs when I'm done eating. I'd much rather go to Carney's for a quality experience than wait an eon to eat a bunch of slop at Pink's for the hope to see Lindsay Lohan or one of her skanky celebrity friends stuffing a hot dog (or anything else for that matter) in her pie hole. Chooo Chooo!!!
(5)Gina s.
Just a few words not that of a fanatic i give it 4% it wasn't that great of deal meh... I stick to old good Costco dogs r the best so far oops forgot to mention the TJ dogs selling in the street r way better 2..but nope we weren't pleased with the meal over at carney's don't get me rong service was ok..
(2)Blair M.
Good old Fashion american food!!!!
(4)Che'Ron Q.
I like Carney's. I love the fact that restaurant is actually a train...its cool! The food was good! I love the Chili! The tacos are pretty good and the burgers a great.
(4)amy s.
I love this place. The dogs are awesome. I'm a hotdog purist so the fancy, putting all sorts of weird crap on hotdogs, doesn't appeal to me. Carney's isn't that kinda hot dog place...thank goodness!! Their french fries are thin and delicious. Also a big fan of the lemonade. I'll also note I've seen several celebrities here. I guess the stars love their hotdogs.
(4)Aaron D.
Best damn hot dogs in the world, period. Double Chili Cheese, two Chicagoans, large fry and a Super Pepsi. Mongo Super Huge Dude!
(5)Alex M.
Carney's is another one of those places I just love. The whole restaurant sits in two train cars: one for the kitchen and the other to seat customers. If you come here at noon, good luck getting a table. This place has a line going outside around lunchtime. I always get a Spicy Tuna Melt (which is amazing) and a Hot Dog with ketchup and mustard only. They have many other stuff on their menu as well such as salads and hamburgers. Don't forget a drink which come in such sizes as Pee-Wee Herman and Wimpy Large. The food quality and atmosphere is what makes Carney's so great in my opinion. The Hot Dog buns are steamed and the Spicy Tuna Melt isn't too spicy. I could eat here for days if I had to.
(4)Daniel B.
Holy Gutbomb Batman!! Talk about a bad idea before bed. The chilii was good, the burgers were good. The buns terrible (I think they were stale or cheap). Probably not the best burgers in the world and no beer. The chili was trying to climb out of my nostrils at one am. Two thumbs down on this one guys.
(1)Shaun A.
Rocking vegie hot burgers, greasy non-veg chili. Great for birthdays with your 8 year old nephew or 16 year old younger sister or brunch with your ornery uncle. This place has been around for so long but hasn't lost its charm.
(4)jack a.
They have great chili burgers here. If your real hungry get the pound burger. Don't wait in line go up to them and ask them to put it on the grill so you won't have to wait long for it.
(4)Erik J.
theres nothing quite like eating chilli out of someones caboose. um, i mean theres nothing quite like downin' a spicy dog. nevermind. i first went to carneys as a little kid. nothing cooler than eating in a train car. well times havent changed much. great (chilli) dogs, great (chilli) burgers, great (chilli) fries. they have good chilli too :) oh, and theyve got beer so you can help push that hangover out by a few more hours. if you dont put chilli on it, just go away. if its not messy, dont mess.
(5)Dale B.
Love this place compared to Pinks. No question Carneys is better with the quality of the hot dogs and the chili. I have tried a number of hot dog places and Carneys is the best so far. The cost per hot dog is a bit high but within reason. The owners really care about their restaurant and I have seen them bus the tables themselves and ask their customers how they liked their food. Give them a try the next time you are in the valley.
(5)Kitt H.
I get a couple of Carney's split & grilled hot dogs (with tomato wedges and chili) and a side order of chili-cheese fries. The dogs are good though not transcendental, but the chili cheese is pure trashy delight.
(4)Chandler B.
Went today for the first time... I had a double cheesburger. Great! Cool atmosphere in a train... I hear the chili cheese fries are good too.
(4)Amiel C.
their food is okay but the atmosphere is really fun.
(3)Pam R.
this is the only place i know that sells frozen bananas covered chocolate. yum.
(4)ben c.
Ok this place is great. I used to only eat the regular cheeseburgers but I've evolved. The huge burger (i can't remember how big it is) is really good. The hot dogs are also great. Not only do they taste great but when you bite into them you get that snappy thingy. The only two downsides are they serve pepsi and that's gross. The fries aren't good. I really love fries and it shocks me because everything else is great here.
(5)Jay F.
I have been to Carney's at least six times over the past year and for some reason overlooked writing a review about them. I think they have one of the top three hot dogs in LA but not as good as Wiener Factory. Carney's dogs have a little too much skin for my taste, it can get thick and instead of the snap that I love, can be rather chewy if left in the steamer too long but the flavor is excellent. The buns are cheap and fall apart and resemble what you get at the market. Love their chili and I think that their burgers are better than their hot dogs. However, you can get your dog split and grilled if you like which I tried and liked a lot. I have not tried their fries but they are looking good from a distance. Carney's is way better than going to the chain burger joints and has a taste all their own. I can see why they are so busy. I will most likely stop by another six times next year.
(4)Jason S.
Undoubtably the best chili burger on the planet. No one comes close. The Hat serves a respectable one, but Carney's is on a different level altogether. I've heard the dogs are good, but truthfully, I'll never eat anything besides a double chili burger with onions, tomatoes, pickles and mustard. I could eat this every day if I didn't think it would kill me after a week.
(5)Collin O.
Who doesn't like to eat their food on an out of service train car ?I know I do! I have been to Carney's (both locations) a handful of times and had pretty decent experiences each time. The menu is pretty basic. You have your burgers, dogs, fries and then a handful of random menu items they make like a Thai Chicken wrap?!?! ( I saw one being assembled and it looked like a big Thai Burrito). Chili is decent. Definitely not my favorite though. As another reviewer pointed out though they DO fully cover whatever you order with chili. Every hot dog I have ever had here has had the bun fall apart from moisture absorption. Not a bad thing at all! The dog itself has a good snap and the service is decent although they can take a little while if there are over 5 people in there.
(3)Nancy M.
I would pass here everyday on my way home from work and always wondered about this place. It wasn't that great. Really there are PLENTY of places that I've been to that are a lot better. I think this place was really hyped up with all the nostalgia. Maybe like some of the reviews on here...I came on a bad day?! Who knows?! But I wasn't impressed.
(2)Zaven H.
Probably the most unique restaurant I've had the pleasure of visiting. Came here on a late night food run with some old friends since I was visiting LA. I'd been here before, but it had been so long. Plenty of parking, and like a beacon of hope, a giant yellow train car. I had a cheeseburger and the three of us shared a plate of chili-cheese fries. That really hit the spot. Of course, late night, this place was virtually empty, so it wasn't busy, the food was prompt (and delicious). For a late night snack, definitely check them out.
(3)NYSD G.
5 stars: for their beef hot dogs which has the snap i look for in every dog. growing up eating nathans, grays papaya and sabretts its very hard not eating a hot dog with snap. the snap on a hot dog should go hand in hand always, imagine having fried chicken that's not crunchy. also loved the garlicky flavor of their dogs and i'm surprised they don't have just a plain dog without any of the crap toppings (cheese, tomato, chili) that takes away from the natural taste of the dog. when you have a crappy hotdog then yeah pile on the other shit cause it needs it but if its a hebrew national, nathans its great on its own but if you want a topping add a little spicy mustard and it will bring out the flavors of the all beef hot dog more. 1star: for their way of taking orders. people who order just dogs should have a lone line for just and for the people that order wraps, burgers and dogs can go on a different line. the dogs are steamed and ready to go and the people that ordered dogs have to wait because, oh that's right because of orders/boxes ahead waiting for burgers and wraps. the owners need to open a carney dog express line.
(3)Nadine E.
I've been coming here for decades and absolutely love it! They make the best turkey burgers! Add some chili fries to create a winning meal for under $10!
(5)Mae F.
New Yorker Spicy Polish Sausage - Spicy, grilled and covered in kraut; pretty good, but felt it lacked something, maybe some grilled onions? Chili Cheese Fries - The chili was just okay & nothing like the chili one would get somewhere in Chicago, although it covered the fries completely, which I liked a lot. Nothing like dousing ladle-fulls of chili on a small order of fries! Vanilla Milk Shake - It was awfully watery and lacked sugar. I was so disappointed. All in all, nothing really compares to Portillo's and Maxwell Street Polish in Chicago. This is why it took me over a year to finally try a hotdog in LA. As expected, it was a complete disappointment and would have loved to fly home for a meal. Although, I must say, I loved the train concept. So cute.
(2)Christyn K.
One star for super cool train-y interior and setting. Another star for plenty of parking. Star three for seeing David Coruso from CSI inside the restaurant (and another 5 stars to him for being friendly!). Forth star for offering vegetarian food! Veggie burger and fries - yeah! No 5th because I thought that, for the quality and type of food, the menu at large was a bit overpriced. Also, the ketchup and mustard containers on the table were really, really greasy. EWW. Or maybe I was distracted by trying not to be caught staring at Davic Coruso the whole time to notice...
(4)Nikki L.
Cooler from the outside than it is on the inside....sweet potato fries were good and waaaaay better than the chili cheese fries which looked and tasted cheap...even for a chili cheese fry which already is a cheap thing to make. The apple sausage was ok with the pineapple coleslaw, but honestly the apple sausage from Trader Joes is thicker, juicier and cheaper. Just go there for the experience of eating in a boxcar or if you want a late night doggg and 711 or Pinks isn't an option.
(3)Stevie W.
Who ever knew that killing yourself tastes sooo good. The chili at Carney's is the shit. Its thick and rich, but you gotta eat it while its warm or it solidifies and bonds to anything that its touching. The hot dogs have a nice snap to its casing that is only comparable to the Stand's dogs. Ive never been to big of a fan of Pink's. So i say try Carneys instead.
(4)Scott M.
Been 15 years. On my way home from LA and decided to indulge. Same high quality service and Bill is still there (since 1981). They have every city dog you remember or wish you had so for me it was the New York with brown mustard and sauerkraut.
(5)Jasmine L.
Yum, Yum, Yum! Carney's rules! the hot dogs, chili cheese fries and entire vibe of this place is awesome. the restaurant is actually an old train car, which is really cool. the food is prepared quickly but it doesn't sacrifice the great taste! i love Carney's and can't wait to go back.
(4)Dennis I.
I ordered a chili dog, chili burger, and chili fries. Probably would have ordered chili ice cream if they offered it. You walk into the train and you immediately smell the frying grease, chili, and can see those beautiful babies being born right in front of you. I love that. This was one of the few places on my hot dog hit list where I deviated and had a burger as it was too irresistible pass up. This place is a 3.75 as I'm sort of a fan, but it's not good enough for me to make the drive as a destination restaurant. I mean you got Tommy's for the killer chili burger and then you have other chili dog places so it's hard to say this is the absolute best. It's up there though as they have a nice chili but the bun and hot dog aren't the best in town. If you could combine their chili with cupids down the street it would be a fiver. I have been to the Hollywood location as well. This one is further for me but nicer as it's less crowded and has much better parking. Food quality is consistent at both locations so I just go to whichever one is closer at the time the grease craving hits.
(4)Jax U.
If you have an odd urge to eat in a yellow train, then this is the place for you. Known for the hotdogs & sauerkraut but they also serve hamburgers, veggie patties (surprisingly good), wraps, salads (a few to choose), tuna sandwiches and french fries (nice & crispy). If you feel like eating something sweet after try the chocolate covered banana. Sooo good! One thing you'll notice are the funny names of the drink sizes...Little Peewee, Macho, something along those lines. Always a hoot to see a burly man order a peewee. Others don't even bother and just ask for a small instead. Maybe their embarrassed or think the idea is dumb. Most of the people who work at Carney's have been there for a long time. Always friendly but sometimes in a hurry to get the line going. Know what you want to order when you get to the register. Expect to see a line on weekend afternoons. At least you'll be able to browse the restaurant awards, newspaper clippings and an article featuring Jay Leno (he's a fan and was once this close to wrecking my car). That's a different story. Location is good along Ventura Blvd., but can be missed. Look for the yellow train and you're golden.
(4)fooloof f.
The food was overpriced and mediocre. The hot dog didn't have any real flavor, nothing I couldn't have picked up at Ralph's (local grocery chain). The Chili was nothing special; in fact, Wendy's chili is far better. The fries were HORRIBLE. Skinny, which I hate. If you're ever looking for me, don't look at Carney's!
(2)Ryan O.
I had the Carney dog and it was good. chili was tasty and the hot dog had a nice snap to it. The customer service was excellent.
(4)Paige K.
Blech! If you're under 8 years old, it's a 4 star restaurant. Over 8? Want to be healthy ? Forget about it. It's McDonalds in a cute environment. Except that McDonald's is cleaner. The tables are ALWAYS dirty! The ketchup bottles on the tables are sticky with days of not being cleaned. Do they clean daily? Probably. However, this is a restaurant. The dining area needs to constantly cleaned! If you happen to be a veg, you are out of luck! They offer a grilled cheese, but it is cooked where the beef is cooked. The vegetarian sandwich offers the choice of American or American cheese. Gross! Come on guys! Clean it up. Add some actual healthy items to the menu. The ONLY reason I go here is because my kid likes the train. My lips won't touch a thing except a bottle of water.
(1)Amanda C.
Carney's has always been a perennial favorite of mine since childhood. I am completely in sync with their philosophy on chili - "the more the better." Though their burgers are always worth a test, I have to highly recommend the hot dogs. The regular dog has that awesome snap when you bite into it. Since the closing of the Weiner Factory (sniff) I will absolutely support Carney's for the best hot dog in LA - though some places may get by on exotic topping arrays (cough Pinks cough) I believe that Carney's stands alone in the quality of the weiner. I'm also a fan of the Polish variety dog. Also, I must take the time to discuss the chili itself. I recognize that people certainly have their chili preferences. Many like their chili to be a rather heterogeneous mixture, with each of the components appearing individually present. Carney's falls into the other school of chili (my personal preference) - their chili is a greasy delicious beast that is thicker and more "blended" (so to speak) in overall consistency. Few chili joints in LA can compete with the Carney's formula, which single-handedly renders all fries and chili entrees with an automatic 200% increase in deliciousness, a statistic which of course was scientifically calculated. For the type of food that Carney's serves up, I truly don't believe you can go wrong here.
(5)Yelpito R.
This place gives free refills to certain people, every one else has to pay for theirs :-\
(1)Samantha T.
I love the fact it's in a train. I love the fact that you pretty much serve yourself. I HATE that the fat Hispanic woman taking orders was pretty much the rudest person I've ever met. I was there with 3 of my first graders and they were really excited. She was so rude. There's a line of make up your mind okay. Seriously they are 7. Anywho the hot dog was good, fries sub par.
(3)Jeff D.
Carney's has THE best hotdogs I have ever had, by far. I've eaten at almost every hotdog stand in L.A. and nothing compares. The staff are very friendly and always get the order right. Also, it's not just the hotdogs, everything on their menu I've tried was excellent. Good job guy's. Jeff......customer for life!
(5)Gavin M.
great food. great staff!!! eat here all the time. chilliedogs and chillie fries.. yummmmmm
(4)Matthew K.
I heard a steady diet of Carneys and Coke are what legitimately killed Chris Farley, John Belushi, and JFK... seriously. I can feel my arteries clogging and stopping as i write this missive. The mere thought of two red hots split and grilled with chili cheese fries has a multifaceted effect on the human body, my brain swims as all energy is going to digestion, my heart skips as it is not getting enough blood due to clogging and my stomach grumbles from overfilling... we'll just stay above the waist. Everything is pretty cheap and they always seem to be open, if you was a down and dirty heart stopper jump on this train... seriously, it is is a train car. Oh and i love the ghetto, useless, and creepy security guard. Does a Studio City carneys really get a alot of gun-play or robbery?What is the worst that could happen, two flamers fighting over a red hot and clawing each others shirts off? on second thought... i feel safe.
(5)Travis D.
Average/mediocre, nothing shiny and extremely over-priced!!!! $20 I wish I still had in my pocket. Superior places, the hat; Tommy's; (not to mention) PINKS.
(2)Sylvia C.
Whenever I come to LA, my niece and nephew and I always have to go to this place! I love their chili cheeseburgers and their chili cheesedogs! Their french fries could be better, hence only 4 stars!
(4)Joanna V.
I was craving a greasy dog, so I was able to convince Anna to go here for lunch instead of El Tremmezino. The staff was so friendly and outgoing! The manager was also very nice. Our food was deelish and served within minutes. Love the whole " train car " atmosphere effect! Dimitri loved the fact that we had lunch on a train :-). This place is a winner!
(5)Philip L.
To me, Carney's was essentially a Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers, but on a railroad car. I was in Studio City visiting a buddy before he shipped off on his US Concert Tour, and we decided to try this place out. Being that we had indulged ourselves the night before.. chili dogs and chili fries seemed like a great way to recover from the inevitable hangover.. The food was priced well-- pretty cheap for the whole meal and hit the spot, but wasn't anything special other than the novelty of eating on a railroad car. It made a good hangover cure. If ever in the area and looking for a quick chili fix, Carney's can be your savior with its quick service and no-nonsense attitude.
(3)Joe L.
Really good chili dogs.
(4)Alex M.
Had a great burger and chili dog meal. Burger was bloody as hell and juicy to an insane degree. Chili dog was solid, using Hoffy dogs (the choice of all of LA's classic hot dog joints), but not great. For my money I'd stick with Chronis. Fries were great. Setting had tons of personality.
(4)Alessandra I.
Although the train was really cute (but extremely hot inside!), and the outdoor seating was nice, I think the food was average at best. I had a simple hotdog, but it was the most chewy hotdog I'd ever had in my life. Boyfriend had the cheeseburger, which he said was okay as cheeseburgers go, but that it was nothing to write home about. The service was ok in that they knew what they were doing and it went by very fast but the workers seemed seriously disinterested in their jobs. There was some confusion on who's food was where, but I think that was bound to happen considering we were a group of 11. I don't think I would make the trip back down to Studio City just to eat here again.
(2)David H.
Best chili in California. The hamburgers and hot dogs are great. Highly recommend.
(5)Eric L.
Great dogs and chili!!!! Burgers are good nothing crazy but i enjoy them, they have a huge slice of tomato which is cool if u like them!!! I love the old school style with the train as the joint!!!
(4)Ashley J.
Carney's is my favorite place for hot dogs in the Valley. It is always a lot of fun just to pull up and get on the train! It is a place the whole family loves to come and eat inside the train car. Service is fine and sometimes it takes time for your order to be made. Everything is fresh, from the tomatoes on the burgers to the delicious fresh hot french fries. Most of all I love the Chili Cheese Hot Dogs. They also have delicious turkey burgers too! I am definitely a fan of Carney's!
(4)Ayleen G.
Having been here a couple times now, I would give Carney's a solid "meh". The food is alright, but nothing I would crave. The hot dog itself is pretty good, but I wasn't a big fan of the chili. I thought it was a little bland and next time I would go for the chili dog sans onions, mustard, and tomato. It's a decent place for a quite bite, especially late at night.
(2)Seth P.
Fresh off a trip from Chicago I was hankering for a Chicago dog. I have had good Chicago dogs in LA but I wanted to try something new so off I went to Carney's on Ventura. Unfortuantely, this place doesn't know a Chicago dog from a German Sheppherd. First off Chicago dogs have the foillowing ingredients: neon relish, onions, tomatoes, celery salt, and a pickle spear. Carney's "Chicago dog" has: mustard, onions, and normal hamburger reslish. WTF!!!!!! Don't even think about using the word "Chicago" in a dog's title if it doesn't have celery salt.! Now on to the cheese fries. They put the cheese on cold and put the small bowl of fries and cheese in some sort of steam box. I was hoping this would thouroughly melt the cheese, but alas, when I got outside the center od the cheese was still cold. Being that the restaurant is built inside a train this place could be good for kids and families, but if you are looking for serious hot dog heavan I urge you to try elsewhere. Next time I am going to Fab's.
(2)Corazon R.
For the longest time as a little girl, I dreamed of eating at the "Train Place." I was (and pretty much still am) in love with trains, and the thought of being able to eat hot dogs in one was amazing. I finally got to eat there one time when my uncle took me and my cousin visiting from Pennsylvania there, but at the time I didn't know any better and was super picky. I basically didn't want anything tasty on my dog, but my uncle insisted that I get whatever that I didn't want on the side, so there I was, with my hot dog, and a million paper cups full of chili, onions, relish, etc. I'm rather happy that I have a little more sense 20 years later, otherwise I'd be missing out on something good. I'm pretty lucky that this Studio City location exists, for it's pretty much down the street from work for me and it's in the area where I usually run errands. It also happens to be the best chili source in the area that I've found so far. When taken to go, they pack the slice of cheese in the cup first, then pour the chili to allow the cheese to melt, and then put your bag of fries in a bowl to pour on the goodness later. This beanless chili is very tasty, though not seasoned as well as Tommy's but is much lighter tasting and feeling, so you don't feel as though you're eating wet concrete. I'm also a fan of the skinny fry, which they fry up well but isn't too greasy. The other day, I decided to make up for the ultimate insult to this place and actually order the dog with everything on it. Not being the hugest fan of meat in general, a chili dog from there could have easily done me in (not to mention I was debating on going either here or to Dupar's for a Reuben), I ordered the next best thing: the New Yorker, spicy style. They get their dog, split it, then throw it on the grill, then toss some sauerkraut on the grill as well, chop some chilis, mix that in with the 'kraut, and to top it all off, I asked for the spicy brown mustard they put down the split. The thing may look messy, but it's totally worth the messiness to pick up the dog and sink your teeth into it to get that great snap from the casing. When you get it right off the grill, you have to watch out, because it's not only spicy hot, but it's heat hot too, but it's totally worth it. Having the perfect kick of spicy from the chili peppers and the sourness from the 'kraut is a perfect assault to your taste buds that somehow makes sense. What could have been better was their lemonade mix, which I assume is from a syrup, was way too watery. I'm one who usually adds water to her lemonade from the sweetness, so my finding this stuff tasteless is pretty bad. It also seems that the people behind the counter tend to pick and choose what they want to make and when, regardless of who ordered what first. Other than that, the people behind the counter are courteous, and really, nothing beats eating in a converted train car where the luggage racks are used to hold up the speakers for the place, and they've kept the sun shades on one side of the car for when it could still be used.
(4)Ashley T.
Definitely a cute little place to have a hot dog. I had their spicy hot dog and it was decent, I just didn't really enjoy their chili. The fries are really good though! Anyone who loves chili dogs will love this place, I guess it was just a little too heavy for me.
(3)Michael R.
After an epic dining experience at sign Carney's which consisted of a chili cheeseburger, chili cheese dog, and chili cheese fries, it raised the simple question what does Carney's do best? I suppose the answer to that question is whatever they decide to put chili cheese on. The burger is fantastic, and unlike the Tommy Burger that looks like it got hit by a chili grenade, the Carney's chili cheeseburger is wrapped nice and neat in a tidy little chili diaper that retains all the chili exactly where it should be, on the burger. The recipe to success for Carney's Burger, besides its ridiculously greasy and delicious chili, is the balance. Since the chili is contained every bite is as consistent as the last. One topping does not overpower the next which can be a challenge when chili is in the mix. Carney's is as good as it gets when it comes to greasy gastronomy in L.A.
(5)Jody M.
I ate here again a few days ago and every time i do i'm always surprised and just a little bit giddy over how simple the food is ...but how OH SOOOO GOOD it tastes. Here's the deal, i'm a hotdog girl. Give me a good hot dog any day of the week and twice on Sunday and i'm in heaven. A good hot dog gets even better when you put onions, cheese and chili on it! OMG...cheap and good!!! The chili burger is hard to beat too. So on one of those rare bad days...whether it's work, PMS, or maybe a long night at the bars or clubs and now you want something better than Mel's - go to Carney's! It isn't health food by any stretch of the imagination but after your first bite it won't much matter until the gym the next day. Sinfully good! Not sure why or what the train car theme is about but it could be a giant beehive for all i care i'd still eat there
(5)Andy O.
Imagine Tommy's, only about five times better, a bit cleaner, and inside a converted traincar. If you don't know what Tommy's is, you fail. If only there were more Carney's around. I wish they still had one in Glendale.
(5)Omar K.
I've always loved Carney's...Always called it Carney Train, because the actual restaurant is a beautiful old train. Only two in L.A, one on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood and the other in one in The San Fernando Valley that I've been going to since I was a kid( Studio City ) The Burgers are always good, they get a 3 1/2 star, delicious chili cheese fries, but the chili cheese hotdog with onions are my fav. on it's own, I give them a 4 star..... way better than Tommy's and Fat Burger, cool atmosphere, you're sitting in an old vintage train and eating good food... it is what it is, 4 star fur sure!
(4)panida r.
The food is good. I had a chili cheeseburger on the way to a movie thinking it would be quick. It was not. It took forever. There was a line...then I waited an eternity to take my food to-go. They don't seem to be understaffed but don't expect fast food here. Its rather slow. Took half an hour from time of arrival to time received food. I was afraid of being late so yes I was keeping track. And it was just two burgers and an order of chili cheese fries.
(3)AaRoN G.
Average food at an average price... seriously, I couldn't think of any praise to give here, on the other hand, I don't have any negative thoughts about it. What stands out here though is the fact that your eating on an immobilized train, other than that it's just a typical fast food place for me.
(3)Josh G.
My name is T-Bone. This is our second date. Yay! Messy. Embarrassed.
(4)Linda L.
The hot dogs and chili cheese fries are such a wonderful drunk binge esspecially considering that its right on ventura blvd.
(3)Khody A.
Classic chili cheese hot dog, burger, and fries were very good.
(5)Andy S.
This is a good place to come have lunch. The restaurant itself is an old train car that was converted into a restaurant and they have old pictures of the train decorating the inside, how cool is that. Their menu has burgers, hot dogs, polish sausages, chicken sandwiches, chilli fries and many other items youd find in a diner. I myself had the spicy polish sausage with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard with an order of fries and a delicious lemonade.Mmmmmmm!!! There is also an outdoor eating area with umbrellas to provide shade while you enjoy your meal. Parking is no problem. Food=4 Service=4 Prices=3
(4)David R.
ALWAYS GOOD!!!! Chili Burger!
(5)Lisa T.
Great chili dogs. Good fries, too. My son loves it...what can be better than a hot dog in a train? If you hit it at the wrong time, it can be kinda crowded. And you never really know when your order is ready...you have to lurk to try to hear your name called, and I never seem to hear it unless I'm standing right at the counter. Good stuff, though.
(4)Zach G.
Absolutely my favorite burger joint in the valley. Hot dogs to rival (and in my opinion, beat) Pink's. Chili cheese fries to die for. Terrific burgers. Even the wraps and salads are solid options, all at affordable prices. I've been going here almost my entire life and theres just absolutely nothing else like it. Carneys is an LA institution.
(5)Lee M.
First I gotta say the food was good , BUT what a bad taste the help leaves in your mouth. I faxed my order in and after arriving to pick up my food found that nothing was prepared . When I asked the young man why, he said you still gotta call. I asked why since I had faxed the order in and he replied without so much as looking up "talk to the man at the table". I said I will, but even your printed menu says to order by fax and nothing about also calling and again in a whinney voice, "talk to the man at the table ". My food was ready and the "man at the table who was engaged in conversation as I waited was still talking so I decided to leave while the food was hot. I guess next time, I'll just call and not fax as suggested because it does no good.
(3)Jono S.
Chili cheese dog, a soda with that crunchy ice, and a chocolate covered banana. Perfect meal.
(4)jonathan s.
the carney's is a pretty big dog. not sure i would need it with giant tomato slices next time but its a lot to handle. good chili.
(4)Matt D.
Love going here for burgers and dogs. The fries are super. How cool is it to eat in a train car?
(5)Laurie B.
Who doesn't want to eat in a train? Their burgers are delicious, their hot dogs are amazing and their food is very fresh. The chilli cheese fry's are melt in your mouth yummy. Don't pass them up!
(5)Minnie F.
Pink's or Carney's, that is the Question?! I'm all for Carney's! The classic box car train restaurant that delivers amazing food (hot dogs, chili dogs, burgers, and yes frozen-chocolate-dipped bananas). Carney's is the kind of place I will drive to no matter the weather conditions or time of day. When I have a hankering for their New Yorker Dogs (mustard & tons of sauerkraut), nothing else matters!!
(5)Joanna R.
Carney's makes me feel like a kid again. Delicious hot dogs, burgers, fries, milkshakes- all of which are enjoyed in an old rail carriage! Carney's is NOT presumptuous and overrated like some other hot dog joints in town (cough...Pinks...cough). Simply the best!
(5)Ben R.
The hot dogs are really great... the kind that crunch a bit when you take a bite. Don't waste your money on the fries. It is a very self-serve place and could be a bit cleaner.
(3)Dave S.
One of my guilty southern Calif. pleasure that I miss. Saturday afternoons, and a trip to Carney's. A simple hot dog with chili, hold the fries. You can't beat the "snap" of the dog, and of course who doesn't love the train cars. This place should be here forever, now if I could just figure out how to get them to air mail a dog to me in Montana, I'd be a happy man. Not much left in So. cal to keep you happy, but this place is one of those. While sitting on the freeway for endless hours, breathing the smog, just the thought of a "Carney's hot dog" can bring a smile to your face. enjoy!!!!! Now that I think about it, I have not had a hot dog since I left Calif. almost two years ago, mmm, sure would taste good!!!
(4)Cynthia Q.
Nothing fancy, but definitely a good hot dog. Ive never tried Pink's so I dont have anything to really compare it to, but for a regular hot dog, it was pretty good. I really enjoyed the cheese fries too! But then again....anytime I allow myself to EAT cheese fries, they're USUALLY good. Lunch for 2 people cost us $11. Can't really beat that. Cheaper than fast food! I would go back, for sure, in the event of a hot dog craving.
(3)Matthew W.
This place has really quality food for a fair price. Located inside of a train car you can't beat the atmosphere. They also have a very sizable parking lot, which is very convenient. The food is very tasty. The chili cheese burgers are great and so are the carney's hot dogs with their great chili. You have to love this place, it uses quality produce to make some tasty food. For all of you people out there counting calories, I'm sorry this is not for you. At least the chili cheese isn't, they do have wraps and salads I think, but I have never seen anyone order those things, because honestly who would when you can get the goodness of chili cheese. So come in here when you are really hungry and enjoy the greatness that is Carney's!
(5)John C.
Quality dogs, frys and burgers. (Make sure you give them a head's up on a turkey burger cuz it takes a while to cook!) I was surprised by the very attentive service as well.
(4)George G.
Better than Pink's and no insane wait. Good service, clean place. I love their Chicago style dogs with the mounds of eye stinging onions and tasty relish. My peppy companion, El Senior Picky got the chilliburger, loved it and the whole notion of eating on a train. Demanded to know why we hadn't gone sooner. I miss the Carneys that used'ta be in Glendale. :(
(5)April C.
Man I love me some Carney's! Their Carney's dog is my favorite!! I'm typically not a fan of any burger I can't order medium rare but Carney's gets that delicate blend of lettuce, onion and sauce just right and the burger ends up being a great burger! We've got lots of great hot dog places...but when I want the best, I drive 15 miles to Carney's!
(4)Allan H.
I hate to admit it but I think I may have an eating problem.......... I have been to Carney's three times this week [it's Wed.] and have ordered the following: Split Grilled Redhots, Chicago style, 4 Hot Dogs with chili. 3 Double Cheeseburger, 2 Regular Cheeseburger, 1 side salad [just kidding] Parking, fast service and ample napkins.. The only thing I am not crazy about here are the large number of SFV douche bags that eat and leave their trash and condiment dripping on the table after they are done. Other than that - perfect hotdogs and damn good burgers. Food 5 Decor 3 Service 4 Other eating in a train car 4
(4)Eric W.
Hot Dogs and the burgers are AMAZING here. I worked for In-N-Out for 5 years and must say the burgers at Carney's are a lot better flavor wise than INO. Their hot dog has got to be the best i've had as well. I am a huge fan of the cheap Costco hot dogs at the food court, but these were something else. The fries were very tasty as well and I could not get enough of them. Their shakes are decent as well and it put the icing on the cake for my meal. Good job Carney's I am rather impressed!!
(5)Bob W.
Why go here when you can drive over the hill to Pinks or go to Tommy's. Lets start with what they call the " Chicagoan" just adding onions does not make a dog a Chicago Dog. A real Chicago Dog has mustard, onions, relish (lime green), tomato, dill pickle, peppers and celery salt. Their chili must come from a can, go to Pinks or Tommy's when you leave your hands are red with grease YUM.
(2)Anna B.
I never thought I would like a chili dog. I am SO wrong. Carney's has the best best best. Yes, WAAAYYYY better than Pinks, and cheaper too. And with no stupid, lame-ass, I-saw-this-place-on-Food-Network, don't know how to order tourists. Sorry, but I am easily annoyed. Anyway, the dog itself. . . I could write paragraphs about it. How it has a perfect crisp "snap" to it. How the meat actually tasted like meat, not some kind of powder-keg of animal offal. Then the chili. Messy, but not TOO messy. Meaty, but ground up enough to add texture without being super chunky. Savory, but without distracting spices. Add some chopped onions and a slice of cheese and it's a delicious mess in a cardboard box. Add a side of skinny, perfectly cooked fries, and it's a meal for the ages. When I only have $6.00 in my pocket and know I'm sleeping alone that night (the farts, you understand,) then Carneys is tops on my list.
(5)abe m.
this place was awesome. cool atmosphere, very well priced and excellent hot dog. if you are in the area stop by, you wont be dissapointed. there is parking in the back too so you dont have to spend all day looking and paying for parking
(5)Paul G.
If you have strong arteries, and a strong stomach, bring them here. Alternatively, if you've just had a drink or six at Saddle Ranch and are looking for a place to recharge, this is it. It's in a train, they have amazing hot dogs and burgers and everyone is friendly. Healthy? No. Sophisticated? No. Delicious? Absolutely.
(4)jaker s.
Carney's doesn't need another review, but since I was on my hot dog tour, (The Wien Truck... OK... The Infield... disgusting.... QT Chicago Dogs... good quality but boring...) I thought I'd add the obvious review of Carney's... If you want the SNAP in your dog, the steamed bun, the whole mega-indulgent chili dog... you will get it, but you may still be kind of disappointed. It's not great. It's just OK, but his is a place to 'get a fix'' and you can't deny you do get that greasy chili dog fix satisfied. But there's really better fixes out there. I tried the new pineapple slaw... yeah, it's OK. I don't like their burgers that much... they're just OK... too much stuff piled on them. The fries too, are too thin, you can almost taste the ice from the frozen bag.... But for a chili dog... in a pinch... could be worse!
(3)Ben S.
After stumbling onto the idea that there is some sort of hot dog battle for supremacy between Pinks and Carney's I was forced to try Carney's. What can I say? It's a good hotdog, fun little restaurant and all but doesn't compare in the slightest to Pinks. Pinks has such a LARGE selection compared to Carneys, and tastes a whole heck of a lot better. Would prob go back for a late night craving (if I had those for chili dogs), but other than that its easily Pinks all the way!
(3)Elizabeth H.
I've been driving past this place since I moved here, but never ventured in. Regarding the food - it was pretty good. I had a chili cheese burger with everything (only cause I figured that's the way it's supposed to be eaten). I was surprised to find that pickles & mustard actually go pretty well with chili & cheese. We got there just at the right time - no waiting in line. I don't know if I'll go back, per se... But, I'm glad I finally gave it a try!
(4)Lowell H.
A place for very good chilli dogs and burgers. In an old railroad car, so it's a bit unique. Great place to take kids and seniors, and everyone else.
(4)Bruce K.
Well, blow me over with a tortilla - I'd only been to Carney's once before, sometime in the late 70s or early 80s, and my memory is it didn't hold a candle to The Wiener Factory, although I'm sure they'd LIKE to hold a candle to The Wiener Factory - literally. In any case, I dined at The Wiener Factory a couple of weeks ago and the magic just wasn't there. So, imagine my surprise to have two GREAT hot dogs at Carney's today - perfectly cooked, perfectly tasty, and perfecly perfect. I had one with mustard and onions and one with red cabbage and cheese. And their chili cheese fries are the best I've eaten anywhere. Of course, I want to throw up right now, but boy was it good and boy will I be going back regularly, especially since I live but a mere four blocks away.
(5)Christopher C.
I've always loved Carney's (c'mon, guys, there's an apostrophe in the name!) for their chili burgers and red eye spicy chili dogs. Now a good thing got even better - they took my suggestion and added a "dogburger" to the menu! (Can I get some credit here? Maybe call it a "Spike Burger???)That's right, now you can get the best of both worlds and have a chili cheese burger with a SPICY RED POLISH DOG, SPLIT ON THE GRILL - ON TOP OF THE BURGER!!! Kinda like the poli-chili-cheese burger at Pink's, but better. And a much shorter line! (And I'm perseverating on apostrophes today.) Heaven.
(5)Mike F.
I have been going here since I was 3 years old. I LOVE this place. Still my favorite hot dog EVER! The red eye Chicagoan is my regular order and their fries are perfect. Seriously try this place! I mean it! If you like hot dogs and burgers this is a must try in LA. To top it off it's in a train, which for kids and adults alike that is pretty cool.
(5)Tiana T.
BEST EVER. There is no need for a lenghty review. Its the freaking BEST chili cheeseburgers EVER.....Need I mention Chocolate covered frozen bananas?!? A+++++++++++++
(5)Evan F.
Best hot dog in LA. Why stand in line for an hour at Pinks when you can get a better dog at Carney's in a fraction of the time? I've been coming to Carney's for over 20 years and I have never had a bad experience. My favorite it the Red-Eye with chili. A polish sausage split and steamed, smothered in their amazing chili. This is normally enough to fill me up, but on those especially hungry days, I'll add some chili fries in there. Add in the parked train setting and its a winner all around.
(5)Bob E.
been coming here for years. great spot on a sunny day with great chili.
(5)Mojo S.
It's a train car! It's a diner! Put your hands together. If you're looking for hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, shakes, and loads and loads of chili then you can't miss this Hollywood institution. Every time I'm back that direction I always make it a point to stop by good 'ole Carney's.
(4)Paul L.
I thought it was kinda sloppy and there was nothing special about it... almost like a downgraded Tommy's. Or maybe I'm just biased cuz I love Tommy's so much. And yea I know Tommy's is sloppy too but it tastes better to me.
(3)Chris O.
Went to SoCal this Summer and my friend took me to Carney's for my first time. I'd heard about Carney's before, and it sounded like a place that was right up my alley (hot dogs, burgers, chili...). Once she told me we should go to Carney's while I was visiting, I knew the place must be good... because... she's vegetarian... Hey, wait a minute!!! Carney's is one of those places that you can love after going only one time. First of all, it's in a train. But more importantly, the food is great. I got a Carney's dog w/everything (chili, mustard, tomato, onions and cheese). Instantly addicting. Every aspect of it from the dog itself, to the cumin and chile-spiked chili, to the fresh-as-hell, thick-cut tomatoes were perfect, delicious, and worked together beautifully. Yes, I just got all poetic about a chili dog. The fries were golden and perfectly crisp for mopping up the excess chili. I washed it all down with an ice-cold Pepsi. I don't know why I like when some types of food are served in a box like at Carney's. I also don't know why I'm not overweight eating the way I do sometimes... My friend got a New Yorker (w/kraut and mustard). She ordered it so deliberately and naturally, it sounded as if she'd done so every day like some guy named Anthony from the Bronx. I've been to Pink's a couple of times and though like it, it didn't have the instant impact that Carney's did on me. In my opinion, the Carney Dog w/chili beats Pink's version by a long shot. As I'm writing this, I am absolutely dying for another Carney Dog. Especially since I live in the Bay Area where a good chili dog is as elusive as... well, just elusive. After I got home from that LA excursion, I got an e-mail from my "vegetarian" friend. "I went to Carney's the other day" it read. She got another New Yorker. "I thought of you" she continued. "You're killing me." I wrote back. "You know, I had to go to friggin' A&W and eat one of their god-awful Coney Dogs???!!!". I had even gone to the lengths of making my own chili from scratch, buying Nathan's hot dogs, getting a fresh tomato and everything else to try and recreate that Carney Dog. Everything tasted great separately but once assembled... my Carney Dog wanna-be... fell... short... DANG!!! But how could I be mad? If it weren't for my friend, I may not even have tried that... that... aw, never mind!
(5)Talia L.
Carneys is a great, affordable, and fun place to go to for lunch. There's plenty of parking and the line always moves quick. I always feel like a little kid at Carneys, squealing over the fact that I'm eating in a train. Their veggie burgers really are pretty good, though the chocolate covered bananas are definitely the highlight for me. I love you, Carneys!
(4)Harsh K.
I used to come here all the time in highschool cause it was close and they'd have student discounts. There's nothing like being a socially awkward 15 yearold half covered in chilli, scarfing down a messy burger, trying to act cool cause the girl you're into just came in with all of her bulemic friends (whom you hear muttering such gems as "oh gross he looks like an animal") unfortunate moments from my youth aside, I love this place, the chilli cheese burger is delicious. Greasy, messy, disgustingly good I go for the huge chilli cheese burger with mustard and grilled onions I'd say it gets a 6 on the burger scale( but I may have to update cause it's beena while since I've been back)
(4)John A.
Ah, Carney's. What a great L.A. icon. Several times I had been to L.A. and tried to go to Pink's only to be discouraged by the line (I actually got off the line a couple times, tired of waiting). Then I read somewhere online about Carney's, and how it's better than Pink's and not touristy and more of a "real Los Angelino's" type of place. Well, I'm glad I read about it. Great hot dogs. I'm from NJ which is also hot dog country, and these would hold up fine in the Garden State. Chili was excellent, good spice. Hot dogs were even better, great snap and flavor. VERY messy to eat, which I don't particularly like, but hey, that's OK. Prices were good. Tried a burger, it was OK. Those who complained about the burger and gave Carney's a low rating because of it are nuts - this is a Chili dog place, not a burger place. That's like rating a steakhouse on their kiddie mac-n-cheese platter. I actually like the Studio City location a little better, I think. The train car is an awesome way to eat, it reminds me of some of our diners back in Jersey, but they have that on Sunset Strip also... But in Studio City eating outside is a little nicer, and I love the L.A. weather. Also, one of my all-time favorite TV shows, CHiPs, once opened with a shot of the Carney's sign, panning down to Ponch and Jon downing a couple of Carney's dogs just before getting a call to some kind of emergency. Now that's longevity! A good testament to Carney's history and authenticity as an L.A. icon! To sum up - this is a great dog and well worth visiting. The fact they have no line like Pink's makes it the better option most of the time. I actually liked Pink's hot dog slightly better, but it's not worth the wait and the difference is subtle; I still loved the Carney's dog. Go here. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Courtney B.
Every time I go in here I get the same thing: burger and chili cheese fries. First of all, who doesn't love eating in a train that doesn't move! haha. But, seriously. This place is a good spot. Especially their chili cheese fries. I purposely don't eat a lot when I know I'm going here because they are a lot of calories, but I swear these are some of the best fries you will have in the Valley. As for their burger, it's a good burger, not too bad and not amazing, more like something that your dad would cook on the grill, but only a little bit better. In my opinion, if you are planning on going bowling come here before or after! But, if you're a health freak: stay away, this place is all about the fact that you want to enjoy your food, even as greasy as it is. :)
(4)J S.
Carney's is the best! I have been going for 20+ years, and while it may not be gourmet grub, it's always delicious, satisfying and fresh. Plus--you're on a train!!! First, milkshakes: thick and good, but not so thick that drinking from a straw is impossible. Fries: good outside crispy-ness and not oily or too salty...just right! Chili: so good...I'm don't even really love chili, but here, it is always a must. Tacos: nice and big on a grilled tortilla, so even one is a nice-sized meal. Chocolate bananas: a Carney's staple. And then lastly, I love that they have good-tasting turkey burgers--that's what takes it over the top for me (compared to places that don't have non-red meat as an option). The people who work there are always accommodating and polite, and it's fun to eat on a train. In-n-Out may be great too, but Carney's has a homey, neighborhood feel that makes the experience more likeable for me.
(5)Sheldon L.
GREAT Dogs!!
(5)