Hit the road with 9th edition of Jane and Michael Stern’s ‘Roadfood’

The ninth edition of Jane and Michael Stern’s “Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 900 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More” is out. This 624-page book from the writers who have won not one but three James Beard Awards is always a handy companion for a road trip.

Fully revised, this edition includes the new Roadfood Honor Roll, a tip sheet to the 100 must-visit stops. Any of them in Southern California? Sure thing. That would be Du-Par’s in Los Angeles and the Cottage in La Jolla.

Among the 900 entries are El Campeon in San Juan Capistrano, the Hitching Post in Casmalia (not to be confused with its sister restaurant the Hitching Post II in Buellton), Jocko’s Steakhouse in Nipomo, La Super Rica in Santa Barbara, Mama’s Hot Tamale Cafe in Los Angeles, Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood, Orange Inn in Laguna Beach, Original Pantry in Los Angeles, Pann’s and Philippe the Original (did you think they’d leave that out?) in Los Angeles, Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood and the Waffle in Los Angeles.

So don’t wait for the big road trip, take a little road trip right here in SoCal to one of these roadside haunts. I’ve been to most, but still have to make it to El Campeon in San Juan Capistrano -- when the pigeons aren’t around. A portion of the Sterns’ description: “Located in a nondescript Orange County shopping center, El Campeon is a large, bustling cafeteria, bakery and fresh juice source specializing in sleeves-up Mexican food.” More on the menu follows.

Re the Hitching Post in Casmalia, the Sterns write, “Ambience in this old, family-run roadhouse evokes a forgotten California, when the Golden State was cattle country and its people were frontier types.” Wear your cowboy boots.

As for Musso & Frank, the Sterns judge this old Hollywood grill’s food as “some of the tastiest ordinary food anywhere.”

The thick, large-format paperback has a decidedly old-fashioned feel. Too big for the glove compartment, it’s generous in size and scope. But it also seems perfect for an app you could keep on your smartphone.

Maybe one is in the works. Who knows? There is an e-book, which is almost as good. See www.Roadfood.com.

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