The Good Grub
 
Dino's
There's nothing more thrilling than turning theory into fact.  Well chalk up another one to the scientific method because The Good Grub's on the precipice of discovery.  So here it is ... if a place looks like a dump, and it boasts everything from burgers to tacos to pastrami sandwiches ... and here's the kicker ... a buddy tells you it's freaking amazing, well, 11 times out of 10 that buddy is a freaking genius.  And so we bring to you the pride of Lincoln Heights ... courtesy of our one-part-scientist, one-part-visionary friend Jimmy X  ... Dino's Burgers.  Okay, so maybe this was only Jimmy's second time there, and maybe he was just as confused as me about how to order from the beat-up little window outside ... but what he did know is what dish we had to get ... the 1/2 chicken plate.  This giant plate ... nay ... tray  ... of yummy delights is loaded up with their super-flavorful, what-did-you-do-to-'em, slow-cooked beans, a healthy dose of seasoned rice, a giant pile of crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside french fries ... all serving as a bed for the marinated chicken to rest upon and prepare for the feast.  And boy, that chicken was super juicy and marinated in some sort of secret blend that gave it Dino's soon to be patented neon glow.  Sure you might be a little weary of exactly what's in that secret blend, but thinking is way overrated ... sometimes you just got to let your belly lead the way.  Accompanying the marvelous plate are some piping hot, freshly fried corn tortillas and possibly the greatest gift Dino's has to offer ... this spicy, sweet, mouth-tantalizing fresh tomato salsa where the ingredients aren't mashed up too fine, so you still get a chunk of tomato and a punch of cilantro as you layer it on your soon-to-be scarfed down self-made taco of glory.  But let's not let the salsa overshadow the rest of the amazing food that came on our plates, from the chicken down to the tortillas everything was bursting with flavor ... so much so that you should probably be prepared to have the taste of Dino's in your mouth for the next 36 hours.  It's not like it's a bad thing ... I mean pizza that night tastes better with Dino's, Lucky Charms the next morning ...  better with Dino's.  And sure I felt like I took in my weekly serving of salt ... but hey, I'd be cool with eating just once a week if that once-a-weeker was this good.  On top of it all, it was just an experience dining at Dino's ... the charbroiled smoke from the kitchen filled up the entire place ... and not just like a hint of smoke, but a full on sauna-of-charcoal.  It was without a doubt the first grub-hot-boxed restaurant I've taken part in ... and the crazy thing ... it was damn worth it.  Sure the seat next to us was made out of some sort of seemingly-home-made wire mesh, and when I went back up to the counter to get some more of their mind-blowing tortillas (side note, they really do crisp 'em up to order, as I got to stand there and admire the glory from the front row) there was a guy up there half-joking, half-serious shouting out a threatening "Hey ... that's my sandwich.  Better make it good!"  But that's the kind of wild card you get when you're on a journey through GRUB.  Would I go back?  In a heartbeat ... truth is, I'm in the parking lot right now going for round two ... okay, I'm not, but I wish I was.  And so lives on the quest, as we welcome Dino's to the adventure through all that is Good Grub.