Happy Kid at Taco Bell in LA

 In the Philippines, we (me and my siblings) absolutely love Taco Bell. It's our only introduction to "Mexican" food, of course, now that we're in Canada - we know better and have tried better Mexican food and not even the Tex-Mex kind.

Our meal at Taco Bell

Anyway, my husband and I were flying out of Los Angeles Airport this evening and slept in (woke up late) to enjoy our last day. For our last meal (outside the airport) in LA, we saw Pizza Hut, Denny's, and other American chains, but we all have those in Vancouver. Meanwhile, there's Taco Bell - they have branches in Metro Vancouver, but not the city itself. Boo!

Mexican Pizza from Taco Bell
Seasoned beef and refried beans between two Mexican Pizza shells with Mexican Pizza sauce, a three-cheese blend, and tomatoes on top.

Nacho Fries from Taco Bell
Golden, crisp Nacho Fries seasoned with bold Mexican spices and nacho cheese sauce for dipping.

We took a Lyft to Taco Bell, and I picked everything I used to order back in the Philippines. I feel like a high schooler again hanging out at the Taco Bell in Gateway in the middle of Cubao.

Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes from Taco Bell

Chicken Quesadilla from Taco Bell
Simple flour tortilla with grilled chicken, melted three-cheese blend, and creamy jalapeño sauce.

We got chicken quesadilla, nacho fries, and my absolute favourite: Mexican Pizza and the Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes. I happily and giddily devoured things.

Cinnamon Twists from Taco Bell

It also made me miss my high school best friend and how our once-a-week date would be at Taco Bell in Trinoma when we were attending different universities. Thank God for the many Taco Bell memories.

Drinks at Landings Bar in Hilton LAX

After our adventure at SoFi Stadium and being safely back in the hotel, I planned to go to Griffith Observatory. However, we couldn't get a Lyft or Uber to take us. After an hour of trying, we called it quits and decided to hang out at Landings Bar, adjacent to the lobby of Hilton Los Angeles Airport.

Drinks at Landings Bar in Hilton Los Angeles Airport

Fries from Landings Bar in Hilton Los Angeles Airport

As always, I'm feeling snacky, so I got the fries and cocktails. We watched the Sunday Night Football game on one of the many TVs in the bar. We also discussed the project we were doing with close friends. My hubby and I don't drink alcohol, so when we do, it always feels special.

In-N-Out Burger near SoFi Stadium

After watching our first-ever NFL game in person at SoFi Stadium, we struggled to return to our hotel. Lyft and Uber are nowhere in sight, and traffic is horrible, with thousands of cars trying to leave the stadium simultaneously. We walked to Hollywood Park Casino, hoping it would be easier for ridesharing, but we were wrong.

We discussed plans for the rest of the evening, and the primary goal is to have dinner at In-N-Out, and it just so happens that there's one nearby. We walked there praying that traffic would be more manageable after our meal. The line in In-N-Out was LONG, but service was quick. It's the first time my brother has had the burger since 2007!

Hamburger from In-N-Out

It's also the first time I've tried it inside a restaurant since I was 18. Wow. It's genuinely an excellent classic burger and fries. It's crazy how real potatoes cut and fried in-store mean quality and taste. I'm so happy.

Cheeseburger from In-N-Out

After enjoying our meal, we tried to figure out the best way to return to our hotel. I explored walking and taking transit. There is a bus that will stop in front of our hotel. Woohoo! The trip should take 15 minutes, but the traffic makes it closer to 30. We're happy to be back at our home away from home.

Nachos, Tater Tots, and Churro Bites at SoFi Stadium

The primary reason we flew to Los Angeles was to watch the National Football League (NFL) match between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers.

In 2016, my brother watched NFL games on TV and would teach me the rules so I could understand it better. I told him that we should watch it in person. When I said that, he was still in college, and I was unemployed in Canada.

After 7 years, we finally made that dream a reality. We're inside the beautiful SoFi Stadium to watch the game, and of course, I'm here for the food, too. Honestly, none of the items looked super appetizing, so we went for what looked like a safe bet.

We got the Barbacoa Loaded Nachos and Churro Bites from Olvera Street and the Korean Chicken Loaded Tots from Sawtelle Blvd.

The Barbacoa Loaded Nachos is the perfect game-day food, with the crisp tortilla chips topped with tender barbacoa and covered with gooey melted cheese. Yum!

Barbacoa Loaded Nachos from Olvera Street inside SoFi Stadium

Meanwhile, the Korean Chicken Loaded Tots features crispy tater tots topped with succulent Korean-style chicken covered in a sweet-spicy sauce.

Korean Chicken Loaded Tots from Sawtelle Blvd inside SoFi Stadium

To end our meal are the churro bites. They are bite-sized pieces of delight! They are oh so perfectly crispy on the outside and irresistibly soft on the inside. They are tossed in a generous coating of cinnamon sugar. I want more.

Churro Bites from Olverra Street inside SoFi Stadium

The Los Angeles Chargers lost, but I am happy and blessed to be able to watch an NFL game in person with my husband and brother. Thank God!