Busy Bee Market

I often joke about how one of my all time favorite restaurants has no parking, no seating, and is cash only. It is basically a counter inside a small liquor store- in San Pedro. Then again, places inside liquor stores or gas stations have a special appeal to me. These places are worth coveting: you have to go out of your way for them. If I’m willing to navigate all these inconveniences to get there, the place must really be worth it.

I warned you. it's ugly

So let me suggest: put aside half of your day, drive down to the Trump golf course in South Palos Verdes and take a morning hike on the cliffs by the sea. When you are hot, sweaty, and hungry, go to Busy Bees. Order the BBQ chicken sandwich and drive over to Averill Park or Friendship Park, with a view of the ocean and city. Did you know San Pedro has beautiful parks? I can nearly promise you that this combination of activities and foods is as life-affirming as anything. If you are especially disciplined, you might split a sandwich and save space for a scoop at Kansha Creamery right down the 405. It goes without saying that you don’t need to be fresh off a hike to enjoy these sandwiches fully, but I think it adds to the experience.

I don’t even want to bother including a picture of this sandwich. It’s the definition of #uglydelicious. I should warn you that when I say BBQ chicken, it’s not really BBQ at all. Rather, you will get a soft roll with grilled (juicy, not dry!) chicken drenched in the house tomato sauce, with a little lettuce and cheese to dial it up a little. Other than this, there are no words for me to explain how delicious this sandwich is.

pastrami & BBQ chicken

Busy Bee’s also has a delicious sausage or meatball sandwiches with the mentioned tomato sauce, corned beef, cold cut sandwiches, and “belly busters”, where for a slight upcharge you can get two types of meat. This is the type of no-frills eatery that is really worth the trip, wherever you are. Please just go.

PS: The hot sandwiches are wet, which causes them to be sort of a time bomb. You can't get one and save it for later, or it will become soggy and disintegrated. However, not to fear! You can get a cold sandwich ahead of time.