Los Angeles - July 29, 2005

Shine and Dine

Handy J Car Wash and Outdoor Grill

You’ve got big plans for your lunch hour: The “wash me” scrawled on your windshield is driving you out of your neat-freak mind.

But by 1 p.m. your stomach begs to differ.

Before your OCD and famished belly get into an all-out brawl, bring them to the Handy J Hand Wash and Outdoor Grill, which pairs the sacraments of barbecue with a clean vehicle.

You drop off your wheels like you would at any other car wash — but once you’ve paid, follow your nose to the Outdoor Grill. Rumored to have the best ’cue west of Texas, it serves ribs, pork, chicken, and tri-tip. The mac and cheese, technically a side dish, makes a great meal in itself. 

While you eat you can relax in the knowledge that your precious auto is being pampered with a thorough hand wash (and, no, they don’t neglect the undercarriage like so many car washes do). Help yourself to a beverage and retire to the balcony upstairs to enjoy your lunch and watch the symphony of hands towel-drying your baby below.

Then bask in the afterglow of a good meal, a shiny ride, and a satisfied brain and tummy.

Assuming you’re not prone to indigestion.


Handy J Car Wash, 12681 W. Washington Boulevard, at Washington Place, Mar Vista (310-398-6211); Outdoor Grill, 12630 1/2 W. Washington Place, at Washington Boulevard, Mar Vista (310-636-4745).