• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • TV Recaps
  • Streamliner
  • Vulture Lists
  • Books
  • Theater
  • Art
  • The Gold Rush
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • About Vulture
  • How to Pitch
  • Newsletters
  • Games
  • Vulture Festival
  • NYMag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
Subscribe Give A Gift
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • TV Recaps
  • Streamliner
  • Vulture Lists
  • Books
  • Theater
  • Art
  • The Gold Rush
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • About Vulture
  • How to Pitch
  • Newsletters
  • Games
  • Vulture Festival
  • NYMag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
+Comments Leave a Comment
Advertiser Content from
This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.
Sponsored By DoorDash Sponsored By DoorDash
July 14, 2021

The 7 Best Movies Set in L.A. — and Their Perfect Sandwich Pairings

By Jasmine Li
Photo: Ashlie Juarbe

Los Angeles is the movie-making capital of the world. People flock to the city for the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and to get a glimpse inside Universal Studios. But L.A. also serves as a backdrop — and sometimes even a character — in many iconic films, each of which tells a different story about the vibrant yet violent city.

Aside from film enthusiasts, L.A. also attracts foodies like bees to honey, and the city is home to countless buzzy restaurants like Fat Sal’s Deli. In feats of both artistry and engineering, Fat Sal’s has mastered the over-the-top sandwich, serving its substantial subs to Californians for over 10 years. Fat Sal’s piles the ingredients of your wildest dreams between two pieces of bread, lathers on decadent sauces and seasonings, and tops it off with the perfect amount of cheesy meltage. With three bustling locations in Encino, Hollywood, and Westwood — and ready to reach more neighborhoods with DoorDash — Fat Sal’s is a bona fide Los Angeles institution.

To see L.A. in a new light from the comfort of your couch, here are seven incredible films set in the City of Angels, and the perfect Fat Sal’s sandwich to indulge in during your viewing.

Speed & The Fat Breakfast

Speed nails many quintessential ’90s blockbuster tropes, including “villain explains premise of film via sinister call at conveniently placed payphone.” Terrorist Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) sets it up for rookie LAPD officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves): “Pop quiz, hot shot. There’s a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do?” It’s a high-concept idea, but Speed could not have taken place in any city other than Los Angeles, where staying above 50 miles per hour in freeway traffic is only possible with the help of movie magic. The city’s size and sprawl give the film its momentum, and setpieces are designed around distinctive L.A. landmarks — including a tense opening sequence at the Gas Company Tower and a crowd-pleasing grand finale on Hollywood Boulevard. Speed is a two-hour adrenaline rush, full of twists and turns like Jack’s attempt to detonate the bomb by cruising underneath the bus on a mechanic’s dolly, and a physics-defying “bus jump” across a gap in a freeway. Fuel up for Speed with Fat Sal’s Fat Breakfast sandwich. A cheesy concoction with breakfast staples like fried eggs, bacon, and tots — plus a drizzle of Tapatio — the Fat Breakfast will start your day right.

Order Now on DoorDash

Her & The Irresistible Italiano

Set in a near-future Los Angeles, Her follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a professional love letter writer in the midst of a divorce, who develops a romantic connection with his computer operating system, Samantha (Scarlett Johansson). Heartbreaking yet slightly absurd, the film chronicles the trials and tribulations one might encounter in taking Siri out for dinner, through the eyes of someone in dire need of connection. Spike Jonze’s vision of a futuristic L.A. is the perfect backdrop for Theodore’s melancholia, capturing the dichotomy of exposure and isolation that characterizes urban life. Elevators are packed, yet everyone’s staring straight ahead. The streets are bustling, yet everyone’s looking down. Theodore finds the antidote to loneliness in Samantha, who only exists in the form of pixels and soundwaves. Her poses the question: Can you truly love something without a human body? Try Fat Sal’s Irresistible Italiano sandwich, and you’ll find that the answer is yes. Stacked with ham, salami, and pepperoni and topped with Italian spices and vinaigrette, get ready to fall head over heels.

Order Now on DoorDash

Mid90s & The Fat Anthony

Jonah Hill’s directorial debut, Mid90s, is a shameless period piece that captures Los Angeles’ skate subculture, well before Blink-182 went mainstream and Thrasher got co-opted by hypebeasts. A solid entry in the “hangout movie” subgenre, Mid90s follows 13-year-old Stevie (Sunny Suljic), who begins spending time with a crew of older skateboarders he meets at a local skate shop. Shot on 16mm film to replicate a VHS look, soundtracked to Nirvana and Nas, and peppered with cultural touchstones like Super Soakers and Ren & Stimpy, Mid90s wears its nostalgia on its sleeve. Yet the highs and lows Stevie experiences are timeless: the adolescent desire for belonging, trying on new personas, and that first taste of freedom. (For Stevie, it’s running from cops at the West L.A. Courthouse Skate Plaza and skating down a four-lane freeway at dusk.) Sink your teeth into nostalgia with Fat Sal’s Fat Anthony — stuffed with chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, and french fries, this sandwich will take you back to the good old days.

Order Now on DoorDash

The Fast and the Furious & The Amazing Albacore Tuna

Before the Family took on Abu Dhabi, Rio de Janeiro, and outer space, The Fast and the Furious introduced us to a crew of street racers speeding through Los Angeles. It all began at Toretto’s Market and Cafe, where we meet undercover cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) by way of his sandwich order: “Tuna on white, no crust.” Possibly the most consequential tuna sandwich in human history, it leads Brian to meet the Toretto siblings, Dom and Mia. In six subsequent films, he’ll race across the world with one sibling and have a kid with the other — and somehow The Rock and Helen Mirren get involved, too. But first, we get a blistering fight scene outside the cafe set to Benny Cassette’s “Watch Your Back” and street races down the Arts District and the Pacific Coast Highway. Pair this film with Fat Sal’s Amazing Albacore Tuna sandwich — it could be the beginning of something great.

Order Now on DoorDash

La La Land & The Fat Banh Mi-ki

From the opening minutes of La La Land, you can already tell that you’re in for a treat. The meticulously choreographed long take of Los Angeles drivers breaking into song on a freeway sets the tone for a colorful celebration of the city. Aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and struggling jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) romp through pool parties, jazz clubs, and tourist attractions — with a hunch that opportunity is right around the corner. La La Land is full of Easter eggs that pay homage to old Hollywood, like an Ingmar Bergman poster on Mia’s wall, Rebel Without a Cause playing at the Rialto, and a tour around the Warner Bros. lot. Damien Chazelle’s film, which was mistakenly awarded the Best Picture Oscar for two minutes, celebrates the “fools” who come to L.A. to chase a dream. Pair this film with Fat Sal’s Fat Banh Mi-ki, which has both style and substance. The sweet and spicy soy sauce harmonizes with the sour notes of pickled vegetables and Szechuan slaw, and the jalapeños and sriracha bring it to a crescendo. The Fat Banh Mi-ki will sing and dance in your mouth.

Order Now on DoorDash

(500) Days of Summer & The Perfect Pastrami Reuben

(500) Days of Summer is the ultimate vibe check movie. You can easily figure out somebody’s philosophy on relationships based on whether they sympathize with Summer (Zooey Deschanel) or Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) — the girl who doesn’t believe in love or the hopeless romantic who falls for her. For most of the film, Tom sees Summer not as her own person, but a character in his idealized love story. She likes The Smiths, holds his hand at IKEA, and kisses him in the copy room — so she’s the only person in the universe who can make him happy, he thinks. Once-aspiring architect Tom also has an affinity for L.A.’s overlooked landmarks, like the Continental Building and the Fine Arts Building. Tom’s delusions finally shatter in a devastating split-screen sequence that compares his expectations against reality. (500) Days of Summer may be a cautionary tale about the dangers of expectation, but we promise Fat Sal’s Perfect Pastrami Reuben won’t let you down. Hot pastrami and sauerkraut are served on a buttery hero, and topped with melted Swiss and Russian dressing. It’s the whole package.

Order Now on DoorDash

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood & The Fat Jerry

The year is 1969, and Hollywood is in crisis. As is Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), a television actor well past his prime who struggles to stay afloat as the golden age of film studios wanes. He spends his days meandering through Los Angeles with Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), and dreaming of befriending his new neighbor Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) to revive his career. Tarantino’s depiction of Hollywood’s changing tides hits close to home — it’s easy to get cynical about the industry as studios pander to smaller screens and pump out franchise films. Rick and Cliff are jaded and indifferent about the industry, but a bright-eyed Sharon Tate beaming at the big screen proves that the magic of the movies isn’t going anywhere. In classic Tarantino fashion, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood culminates in a bloody twist ending. Pair this film with the Fat Jerry sandwich. Filled to the brim with ribeye steak, melted American cheese, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks and crisp bacon…it’s gonna get messy.

Order Now on DoorDash

This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.

Tags:

  • advertiser content
  • new york stories
  • entertainment
  • food
  • doordash
  • guide
  • More
+Comments Leave a Comment
The 7 Best Movies Set in L.A.

Most Viewed Stories

  1. Ted Lasso Recap: Hats Off to Roy Kent
  2. The Weirdest and Most Divisive of Genesis, According to Tony Banks
  3. Swarm Is Not a Work of Fiction
  4. Dominique Fishback Found Her Motivation
  5. Succession Still Has a Few Surprises Left
  1. The Weirdest and Most Divisive of Genesis, According to Tony Banks
  2. Ted Lasso Recap: Hats Off to Roy Kent
  3. The Real Housewives of New Jersey Recap: Shore Losers
  4. Succession Still Has a Few Surprises Left
  5. Swarm Is Not a Work of Fiction

Editor’s Picks

  • tv review
    Succession Still Has a Few Surprises Left Succession Still Has a Few Surprises Left
  • games
    Who You Should Root For in March Madness (Not Alabama) Who You Should Root For in March Madness (Not Alabama)
  • screen time
    What YouTube Hustlers Can Teach Us About AI What YouTube Hustlers Can Teach Us About AI

The Latest

last night on late night 1:07 a.m.
The Tonight Show Goes Inside Brian Cox’s Method Acting MasterClass Jimmy Fallon teared up at Cox’s advice on acting.
overnights Yesterday at 11:15 p.m.
Snowfall Recap: A Dying Breed If Franklin is Prometheus, bringing fire to Compton in the form of rocked-up cocaine, then Louie is Icarus, flying too close to the sun.
overnights Yesterday at 10:52 p.m.
Vanderpump Rules Recap: Mexico Standoff Welcome to the pool party from hell.
comeback stories Yesterday at 10:06 p.m.
Ahmed Best on Joining Mandalorian Cast: ‘Good to Be Back’ The actor formerly played Jar-Jar Binks.
coming soon Yesterday at 8:41 p.m.
Vanessa: Blumhouse Is Making a Five Nights at Freddy’s Movie And Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard have just joined the cast.
overnights Yesterday at 8:30 p.m.
Swarm Finale Recap: Everything Is Love Swarm doesn’t provide any definitive answers, but it opens up the floodgates to an already polarized conversation.
vanderpumped Yesterday at 8:15 p.m.
Ariana Madix Joins Cast of Lifetime Movie Buying Back My Daughter At least something good came out of Scandoval.
impossible! Yesterday at 7:31 p.m.
Brandy to Resume Her Reign As Cinderella Alongside Rita Ora as the Queen of Hearts in Descendants sequel The Pocketwatch.
celebs of crypto Yesterday at 7:22 p.m.
Jake Paul, Lindsay Lohan, and More Charged With Cryptocrimes That #ad tag is more important than you think.
coming soon Yesterday at 6:40 p.m.
It’s Love, Korean Style in To All the Boys Spinoff XO, Kitty Kitty (Anna Cathcart) is about to have her love-expert status challenged.
the law Yesterday at 6:20 p.m.
Rick and Morty’s Justin Roiland Cleared of Domestic Violence Charges The Rick and Morty creator released a statement calling the charges an attempt to have him “canceled” by “an embittered ex.”
1.5x speed Yesterday at 3:23 p.m.
The People’s Maximum Fun A pioneering podcast company becomes worker-owned.
elder millennial bait Yesterday at 2:18 p.m.
It’s a Mighty Endorphin’ Power Rangers 30th-Anniversary-Reunion Trailer Rita Repulsa is back, and she’s like a robot now or something?
tv review Yesterday at 2:09 p.m.
Succession Still Has a Few Surprises Left In its final season, the HBO juggernaut keeps redefining itself, charting new business battlefields and emotional terrain.
overnights Yesterday at 12:46 p.m.
The Bad Batch Recap: We’re in the Endgame Now This is it. This is the show we’ve been waiting for, the episode everything has been building toward.
overnights Yesterday at 12:25 p.m.
The Mandalorian Recap: Nesting The Mandalorians, or at least Din Djarin’s branch, take the task of adopting strays seriously.
vulture 10x10 Yesterday at 12:00 p.m.
The Appalachian Puzzle 3-Down, Four Letters: Drag queen ___ Skye.
vulture lists Yesterday at 12:00 p.m.
8 Great Audiobooks to Listen to This Month Kelly Link, Victor LaValle, Paris Hilton, and more.
video games Yesterday at 12:00 p.m.
The Never-ending Storyteller Daniel Benmergui knew his innovative indie-game concept could work. He didn’t know it’d take him 15 years of development hell to put it out.
trailer mix Yesterday at 12:00 p.m.
Mae Martin Comes Home to Canada in SAP Their hour-long comedy special hits Netflix on March 28.
More Stories
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • What To Stream
  • About Vulture
  • About New York Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility
vulture is a Vox Media Network. © 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.