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MIKEY: They say nothing good happens after 2:00 a.m.
I beg to differ.
Whoo!
I'm Mikey Roe.
A night owl by nature,
I've spent years seeking out the most extreme...
Look what I have created!
...and delicious nighttime food possible.
[ All cheering ]
Now I'm on a mission
to find the best late-night chow-down spot
in each great American city...
Late-night food is so much fun. There's no rules.
...all before the sun comes up.
Tonight I'm in Los Angeles, California.
Yes!
From a Hollywood hot spot...
Good times! Hollywood!
...with over-the-top pizza ingredients...
Put all of that on a pizza?
...to a K-Town joint that sets taste buds on fire...
[ Clears throat ]
...to a place that piles their patties
with an unbelievable assortment of toppings.
This is an epic burger.
[ Imitates eating ] Oh, man, it's so good.
The options are endless, but only one place can be the best.
We got to go fast, bud. Let's get there.
Get ready to...
ALL: Feed the beast!
-- Captions by VITAC --
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Los Angeles, California,
the most populated city on the west coast,
can be a little tricky for late night.
Most restaurants close early,
and the bars shut it down at 2:00 A.M.
But I'm on an extreme mission
to find the best late-night food spot in L.A. in one night.
So, I have a plan that will keep me moving all the way till dawn.
It's midnight,
and I'm kicking off my mission at Cole's in downtown L.A.
It's not only the oldest pub in the city.
It's the best place to get the iconic French Dip sandwich
up until 2:00 A.M.
Now, sandwiches are a late-night staple,
a filling handheld foundation for the night ahead.
But the French Dip is truly special.
A roast beef sandwich dipped in its own juices called au jus.
Well, I'm a huge French Dip enthusiast.
It's my favorite sandwich.
Here, the roll is amazing.
It's soft yet crispy, and the au jus
is some of the best au jus that I've ever had.
It's a damn good French Dip.
Why is it so perfect?
It's got a little something called good grease.
As any late-night warrior knows,
there's no better after-hours ally
to help you soak up your night out.
It has a lot of umami.
[ Laughter ]
I like that you know the Japanese flavor.
Well, we don't have an American word for, like --
We don't have a word for it. You're right.
...for grease, good grease.
12:30 A.M. Clock's ticking.
I got to get my hands on
what might be the best late-night bite in all of L.A.
Not only does Cole's make the French Dip
better than anybody else.
According to legend, they invented it.
So, legend has it a customer walked in with sore gums
and asked the chef to dip the bread in the drippings.
'Cause he had sore gums.
That makes sense.
Well, I appreciate that person having sore gums
because they created a sandwich that I love,
and especially late night.
Okay, sore gums. I got it.
It's only six hours till sunrise.
I got to eat.
We make everything from scratch.
We roast our own bones, roast our own vegetables.
All our meat drippings and trimmings go into it.
Sounds delicious. May I have some now?
The au jus tastes different every day,
but it's just as good as the day before.
Ooh. Au jus.
When you make it,
you have to taste it and just get it right.
Okay. That'll work.
See, this is so much better than coffee in the morning.
Just a little sip of this, this will get you going.
That's good.
Not only is the au jus served as a side,
but it's also used to cook the roast prime rib.
We dip it in the hot au jus.
We don't dip our bread. We dip our meat.
They actually cook the meat in the au jus.
And to take this late-night miracle
even farther over the top, Jason breaks out a condiment that,
in my opinion, should be essential
for every late-night meal -- atomic mustard,
Cole's special blend of Dijon
mixed with habanero and horseradish.
Let me have a little taste first.
Oh.
It's that painful, good, pleasureful burn, though.
It's just the right amount of spice
to keep you moving late night.
I'm gonna start with a little bit on there.
I know I'm a brave man. I know that looks dangerous.
It's okay, though. It's okay.
I have a beard, guys! I have a beard.
This is all right.
Wow. Dripping off the beard.
Fantastic.
Got a little kick with the mustard.
I maybe went a little overboard.
Yeah, my voice hasn't cracked like that since sixth grade.
It's got a little kick.
The mustard [bleep] up my brain.
This sandwich is fantastic.
Just a good comfort-food sandwich.
But put that mustard on, and you're gonna continue on.
This will get you right up. A little jacked up.
I love it.
1:00 A.M. Only 5 1/2 hours till sunrise.
I'm ready to move on to my next spot in L.A.
when Jason makes an intriguing proposition.
Well, our menu's pretty small, pretty limited,
but customers can just play around with it
and make up their own combinations.
Yep. At Cole's, you can create your own sandwich.
It's like a late-night dream.
This is definitely worth a few more minutes.
Exactly.
We've had people put lamb, turkey, mac and cheese
on a sandwich.
I'm really into this right now.
I want to go with the pastrami, turkey,
a lot of that mustard, cheddar cheese,
maybe some coleslaw,
and then I want to top it with fries.
Nailed it.
Look what I have created!
Cheers first.
I think I hit it.
Could be a new menu item.
I knight you the Beast Dip.
That's a perfect sandwich.
Not that yours aren't perfect.
I'm just saying mine's perfect to me.
That's amazing.
1:15 A.M. I've hit Cole's.
For my money, the best French Dip in L.A.
But is it the best late-night spot?
I got to keep moving to find out.
Next up, Korea Town.
I've heard whispers of a den of spicy food so authentic,
so underground that even the name is a bit of a mystery.
Damsa-- Dansungsa.
I feel like I'm gonna get very lost in Korea Town.
Dang.
No, it's Dansungsa.
Dangsunsa.
[ Laughs ]
[ Laughing ] I'm telling you right now, dude, it's Dansungsa.
I'm gonna find Dangsungsa-sadangsa.
So, apparently Dangsung -- Dangsa -- whatever it's called
is the best late-night spot in Korea Town
'cause their spicy sauce is on another level.
Well, this is definitely something that --
[ Clears throat ]
Like 5-alarm fire level.
[ Exhales ]
1:30 A.M., Los Angeles.
I have until sunrise
to find the best late-night chow-down spot in the city.
I've already experienced an L.A. icon.
Next up, Korea Town,
a neighborhood with the largest concentration
of 24-hour businesses and nightclubs in all of L.A.
This round-the-clock lifestyle
takes after its model city of Seoul, South Korea,
a true late-night Mecca.
K-Town has the largest enclave of Koreans in the United States.
Not many signs and storefronts written in English,
so navigating these parts...
...it's not that easy.
I don't read Korean,
but I'm pretty sure this is Dansungsa.
Yes.
Ha. Found it.
But for night owls in search of spice,
real, legit, wake-you-up spice, Dansungsa is the place.
Blazing hot.
And when it comes to real Korean flavor,
you don't get more authentic.
Just burns the [bleep] out of your face.
MIKEY: I see you got a little sweat on you.
It's a little hot.
Yeah. My sinus is real clear right now.
A little hot?
Really hot. Do you see this?
There's sweat.
There's -- I don't know -- snot.
Fiery flavors define Korean cuisine, and at Dansungsa,
the source of their heat is all in their flaming hot sauce.
Spicy food is perfect for a late-night meal.
It actually stimulates circulation
and raises your body temperature.
It definitely keeps you moving.
[ All cheering ]
1:50 A.M. 4 1/2 hours till sunrise.
But I got to make time
for two of their spiciest, most incendiary specialties --
the chicken wings and the pork ribs.
Can you explain the process to me of Korean barbecue?
I think every Korean places...
The chicken wings and pork spareribs are marinated
for three to four hours
in a sauce of Cheongyang gochu peppers.
Koreans don't mess around.
This pepper is more than three times hotter than a jalapeƱo.
That will keep me going all night.
Now, I don't want you to hold back, though.
I want these spicy.
Are you sure, Mikey?
Make this green-eyed guy cry.
2:00 A.M., and I'm on my quest
to find the best late-night food joint in L.A.
Now, spice is one of the biggest conundrums of late night.
It'll either really pick you up in a time of need,
or it can really burn you out.
This is a risk I'm always willing to take.
I'm going right in.
I can handle it. I can handle it.
I'm gonna dip it all the way in there.
Cheers? We always cheers.
All right. Here we go.
Whoo. [ Chuckles ] Wow.
Oh, sure.
That's hot.
No. I'm actually not sure.
I have no idea what I'm doing.
That's really hot, but I can't stop, though.
If you stop, then it burns.
So you got to keep eating.
And it hits right about...
[ Exhales ]
[ Explosion ]
[ Clears throat ]
The wings have got me sweating.
It's hot.
Sweating's not a bad thing. It just means it's spicy.
It burns, but I still have to try the spicy pork ribs.
I can't back down now.
And besides, I got a gorgeous Korean woman
feeding me pork ribs like a little baby bird.
Will you take care of it?
It's so good. Wow.
I'm great.
This is definitely something that...
Wow.
Look at you.
You make them, and you can't even handle them right now.
I'm fine.
This will wake you up at the end of your night,
no problem.
Korean barbecue at its best by far.
I'm gonna miss Carol.
2:30 A.M. Two incredible spots down.
But are they the best?
Could be, but I have a lot more city to see
and only four hours to see it.
I got to move. I know where I'm heading next.
It's got an after party like you wouldn't believe...
No, no. No picture. No picture. No autograph.
...and a special ingredient that takes pizza to epic, new levels.
This is insane.
MIKEY: It's 2:45 A.M. in Los Angeles.
My mission -- find the city's best late-night chow-down spot
before sunrise.
I downed an L.A. icon at a place that made it famous
and some spicy Korean at a K-Town hot spot.
Both were insanely good late-night joints
with great food and an amazing scene.
But only one can be the best of the night.
I'm heading to Hollywood when I spot something on a side street.
This isn't exactly on my list,
but we're taking a detour for sure.
I find myself at a street festival
called the Italian Feast of San Gennaro,
an annual celebration of everything Italian.
And in L.A., there's a lot to celebrate because the city
has the nation's fourth-largest Italian-American population.
Let me get meatball and a ravioli.
Thank you very much.
This is what I love about L.A.
Walking down the street,
an Italian-food festival just pops up.
Great late-night eats on the fly.
Ahh. This is fantastic.
With just 3 1/2 hours left till sunrise, it's time to move.
Next up, I'm heading to one
of my favorite food joints in Hollywood, Berri's Pizza Cafe.
I've been here countless times
and know this is a must-hit on my late-night list.
Not only does it have the after-hours Hollywood scene,
but it also serves up one of the most legendary pies in L.A.
late into the night.
A lot of times when I'm doing an awards show,
that's where a lot of people go afterwards.
Drivers are definitely your ultimate late-night resource
when you're really trying to find a place to go.
You'll see the brothers around Berri's after 2:00.
It'll be happening.
And you see a long line coming out.
MIKEY: It's a popular spot.
Yeah, it's a popular spot. It's a popular spot.
A lot of people like it.
That's, like, one of the hangouts.
You know, everybody want to have a place
where they see, you know, somebody.
3:00 A.M., we pull up to Berri's.
By day, it's a quiet place to get a slice.
But at night, this place is insane.
It's like an exclusive nightclub.
Beautiful people, velvet ropes, celebrities, even a bouncer
all lined up for pizza.
No, no. No pictures. No pictures. No autograph.
And I'm kind of shy in front of the camera.
You're really proving that.
Even though I have five cameras on me.
But I can just break it down like that.
I don't even have a show anymore.
This guy's stealing my show over here.
Look at that.
I love you guys.
See, late-night food --
It's not about the food.
It's about the good times and good people.
Good times! Hollywood! Hollywood!
This guy's amazing.
God bless.
Anyway, the specialty pie at Berri's is...
the lobster pizza.
Lobster pizza.
What's your favorite thing to eat here?
Lobster pizza.
Ah. See, they know. They know the good stuff.
The idea might sound a little strange,
but in the middle of the night when you've had a few
and are looking for that perfect thing to keep you going,
trust me, it is genius.
It's always so good.
Amazing.
MIKEY: 3:15 A.M.
Just 15 minutes to close, I got to make my way into the kitchen.
Gabriel.
Gabriel piles on a mix of mozzarella and provolone cheese.
The sauce is a secret blend
created to balance perfectly with the lobster.
Is this a *** pink sauce?
Yeah.
That's why I'm doing a food show.
Yes.
Anyway, we load up the pizza with lobster,
and into the oven.
Look at that chunk of lobster right there.
I've had it so many times,
but it never lets me down at all.
Your big chunks of lobster
makes it a little bit more refined, high-end.
Sir.
It's 3:30 A.M.
I've had the French Dip at Cole's,
spicy wings and ribs at Dansungsa,
and Berri's lobster pizza.
All amazing, but the best?
I got to keep moving to find out for sure.
My next stop is open 24/7
and the ultimate late-night burger joint in L.A.
Look at how epic this burger is.
But on my way there, I see this.
[ Techno music playing ]
And it changes my night completely.
MIKEY: 4:00 A.M. I'm on a mission
to find the greatest late-night chow-down spot in L.A.
So far, I've had the French Dip at Cole's,
spicy wings and ribs at Dansungsa,
and Berri's lobster pizza.
And I've still got more to see
before deciding the absolute best spot.
There's a driver's rule
that you don't talk about who you drive.
When you're dealing with certain paparazzi,
that's something, you know, that's one thing --
I don't like to be chased.
You're not gonna have to worry about that with me, Gary.
We ain't dealing with none of that.
You saying that I can't be chased,
that I will not be popular enough to be chased?
Is that what you're saying, Gary?
At this hour, L.A. is winding down.
But I know one spot in the heart of Hollywood
that keeps going all night long.
The Roosevelt Hotel.
It's an after-hours playground
with some kick-*** bars and the revolutionary theater,
the one and only Beacher's Madhouse.
[ Techno music playing ]
It's made for the late-night crowd.
Think nightclub meets circus meets strip club.
What more do you need?
The show was insane. And the best part --
right next to this crazy scene is Twenty Five Degrees,
the best place to grab a late-night burger.
Right after work, it's easy.
You just go to the Twenty Five Degrees.
Big burgers. Big ones. I eat half of that.
I take the rest of that home.
I'm like, "I'll save it for the next day."
They're so good. Yeah. They're huge, dude.
I'm like... [ Imitates eating ]
Oh, man, it's so good. It's so good.
But, yeah, so that's the spot
we always, you know, get our grub at
for a late-night snack.
Right upstairs for you guys.
Right upstairs, dude. Right upstairs.
Easy. Just bam, we're there.
I trust this man.
There's something about him
that just says, "Trust me, Mikey. I know what I'm doing."
So, let's do it.
So, after all, it's all about these guys here,
hanging out with your friends, the food on the table,
and there you go.
You got a complete night.
MIKEY: First things first.
25 degrees is a temperature difference between overcooked,
well done, and perfect medium rare.
'Cause, yeah, nothing makes me hungrier than math.
But Twenty Five Degrees the restaurant
is one of the best late-night burger joints in the country.
Their massive 9-ounce patties
topped with an assortment of 13 cheeses are incredible.
When those burgers come out, it's almost daunting.
MIKEY: It really is.
And they're beautiful.
They're legendary.
MIKEY: Performers, revelers,
anyone seeking L.A.'s best late-night burger
is faced with a delicious choice.
Get the number one -- toasted brioche bun, caramelized onion,
a blend of two cheeses, Thousand Island dressing,
arugula, and bacon.
Or the number two -- prosciutto, pesto,
burrata cheese, and roasted tomato.
All right, so you say the number one and the number two
are your top-ordered things.
One and two. That makes perfect sense.
I don't know which one to choose.
Let's go with both.
All right.
Luis is like a burger master.
He can make these things with his eyes closed.
Season it, salt, pepper.
As that's going, you turn around, you can do your setup.
You guys got it down over here, too,
where everything's lined up, ready to go.
We're ready to go.
You got your smoked bacon here.
Start cooking it on the flat top.
We flip them around.
Cover them so they can cook faster.
In no time, the number one is up, a blend of gorgonzola,
a creamy cheese called crescenza,
and apple-smoked bacon.
I mean, I don't even know
how I'm gonna attack this thing.
I should have two hands, but I'm not.
I'm scared I'm gonna lose this one.
Bite right there.
The caramelized onion on this is unbelievable.
Look how big this thing is.
Do you see that cheese?
And I love that I can get these big bacon bites.
Bro, you make one of the best burgers I've ever had.
Thank you.
Bring on burger number two --
prosciutto, burrata, pesto, and roasted tomato.
I mean, look at the size of this thing.
This is a beastly burger into the night.
I'm going in.
The pesto on there just pops.
And the prosciutto
takes it a whole nother level of awesome.
Luis, this is killer.
Final verdict -- not to be little league,
but I'm gonna give it a tie.
Go with the number one or the number two.
This is how you finish your night.
6:26 A.M., sunrise.
I hit as many late-night spots in L.A. as I could.
Time to decide which one is the night's best.
Every spot was amazing.
Cole's with its iconic French Dip.
Dansungsa brought the K-Town spice.
Berri's never disappoints with their legendary lobster pizza.
And some epic burgers at Twenty Five Degrees.
I know L.A. has so many more spots to see,
but for tonight, I got to give it to Dansungsa.
The food, the spice, the drinks were all so incredible,
plus it introduced me to a side of L.A.
that I'd never seen before.
I came, I saw, I fed the beast.